paimon.soror
Android Enthusiast
Lol its part of the same logic of "leave all the lights on in the house, the water running, and all the TV's on, its wonderful how electricity works, just incase i plan on walking into that room at some point"
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Help Whats a good reason to Keep "enable always on mobile data"
- Thread starter greenrolaids
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- htc droid incredible
Lol its part of the same logic of "leave all the lights on in the house, the water running, and all the TV's on, its wonderful how electricity works, just incase i plan on walking into that room at some point"
bjanow
Android Expert
Come on, that is not the same at all. If you walk out to the kitchen do you turn the TV off? No, you get something to eat and come back in to continue watching your program. There is some functionality lost if you turn off 3G for some of us. Don't denigrate on this forum, it's unbecoming.
Anonimac
Your mom goes to college.
Please watch inflammatory comments about your personal perception of someone else's intelligence...you walk a very fine line when you venture into comments like that and any posts that are perceived as insulting to others or rude will be deleted and infractions handed out. Fair warning...
bjanow
Android Expert
Wait, what is that? I smell something brewing! No, can't be.
Squintz82
Well-Known Member
Hopefully this helps...
You won't see a difference with this setting turned off until the phone is idle for ~10 or longer. Mobile data will still continue to run right after the phone goes to sleep for a bit, then shortly after it will disconnect mobile data until you wake the phone again.
For some people, this is an OK trade off for good battery life. However, some apps, email, and in my case my company "Exchange" email will not update immediately as I need it to with this setting turned off and the phone being idle for ~10 minutes. I tried turning this setting off yesterday and figured this out.
It all depends on what you NEED the phone for.
You won't see a difference with this setting turned off until the phone is idle for ~10 or longer. Mobile data will still continue to run right after the phone goes to sleep for a bit, then shortly after it will disconnect mobile data until you wake the phone again.
For some people, this is an OK trade off for good battery life. However, some apps, email, and in my case my company "Exchange" email will not update immediately as I need it to with this setting turned off and the phone being idle for ~10 minutes. I tried turning this setting off yesterday and figured this out.
It all depends on what you NEED the phone for.
bryanlee81
Newbie
Are you sure?
I've had this off for 3 days, and my push emails (Activesync) is coming in just fine.
Today, just for the heck of it, I left that option on, and the battery is not draining all that crazy fast either.
I think the varying results here are probably a factor of how each app works.
Apps that actively go search for updates will probably still work, because they are the thing initiating the connection. So your phone will open the data connection when the app requests it.
However, apps relying on data being pushed to them automatically from the internet are not going to get their updates when this is disabled.
You can't test it while doing other things, because if you do something to start the network connection, like open a browser, all your other apps will start receiving data too because the connection is open.
Now some programs like Gmail may work, but slower. When your connection is "always on", they'll get email notifications instantly. When it's off, they'll only show up when gmail actively decides to go check (assuming you have auto-sync turned on).
And of course this will have absolutely no effect on your SMS messages or phone calls...these do not use your data network.
Also note that if you have some apps actively opening the connection, that creates a window of opportunity for other apps to receive their updates they otherwise wouldn't have either. So your results are likely to vary greatly depending on what apps you're using and how many of them/how often they are actively syncing themselves.
Edit: Emphasis on think. This entire post is speculative, I don't know how this works for a fact.
Apps that actively go search for updates will probably still work, because they are the thing initiating the connection. So your phone will open the data connection when the app requests it.
However, apps relying on data being pushed to them automatically from the internet are not going to get their updates when this is disabled.
You can't test it while doing other things, because if you do something to start the network connection, like open a browser, all your other apps will start receiving data too because the connection is open.
Now some programs like Gmail may work, but slower. When your connection is "always on", they'll get email notifications instantly. When it's off, they'll only show up when gmail actively decides to go check (assuming you have auto-sync turned on).
And of course this will have absolutely no effect on your SMS messages or phone calls...these do not use your data network.
Also note that if you have some apps actively opening the connection, that creates a window of opportunity for other apps to receive their updates they otherwise wouldn't have either. So your results are likely to vary greatly depending on what apps you're using and how many of them/how often they are actively syncing themselves.
Edit: Emphasis on think. This entire post is speculative, I don't know how this works for a fact.
well said. it totally makes sense to me know. i just wish there was a way to see which ones "request" a connection and which ones "get it when they can".
I noticed that with Pandora while running, that when the display turns off (when not the primary process on the screen), that the music will stop at the end of the song--but all I have to do is turn on the display and it will reload the next song!
I actually like it because I have had Pandora playing twice now with volume off (unknowingly) and it obviously killed my battery! I don't mind having to touch the top display button every 3-5 mins while running so it is an decent compromise for me
Espy
Newbie
I have noticed my chat program (Meebo) will disconnect me after so long of leaving the phone on "sleep" mode. The stock weather widget also does not update unless I go in and manually refresh it.
So, yep, I'd say I agree. Apps that need to be more consistently pushed data from 3G will just not get that data. Others that send out a request once in a while will probably still work as intended.
So, yep, I'd say I agree. Apps that need to be more consistently pushed data from 3G will just not get that data. Others that send out a request once in a while will probably still work as intended.
iowabowtech
root@android:/ #
This has been making me wonder. I decided to do a test using my work email to send an email to my Gmail account while the phone was idle and then another after having awoken it and actively in use.
Idle phone: Email took 2 minutes, 7 seconds.
Active Phone: Email took 42 seconds.
I can live with that, for email at least. This is with "always enabled" de-selected. Not exactly scientific but good enough for me.
Idle phone: Email took 2 minutes, 7 seconds.
Active Phone: Email took 42 seconds.
I can live with that, for email at least. This is with "always enabled" de-selected. Not exactly scientific but good enough for me.
If anyone is in need of their email instantly, they are using the wrong device. Computers are made for that, not phones.
howarmat
Android Expert
when you say "idle" how long since you touched it?
That's odd. I did two test emails and they both showed up under a minute for me.
The other thing - getting email in 2 or 3 minutes pushed to the phone (or even 10) is way better than waiting to go on the computer. plus you can manually check. Same as going on the computer imho.
iowabowtech
root@android:/ #
Good question and I may have flirted with the circa 10 minute mark if that's what you were referring to. So I did another test just now and this time, I waited exactly 23 minutes before sending the test email.
Good news is that it did still come through. Bad news (if u wanna call it bad) is that it took 13 minutes and 50 seconds to come through. Still not bad at all and in my mind proves that Gmail at minimum, still works. I'm guessing there's some "polling" that goes on in the background every so often, perhaps at a lesser interval that still catches the messages. Not instant push, but not bad by most people's account. I'm coming from Blackberry and if I can live with it, anyone can.
So now I'm going to try it with a separate POP account I have set up on my phone and see if it retrieves in a similar fashion.
howarmat
Android Expert
^^ see thats the thing, when the phone goes to sleep like you saw with the 23 minute deal, your data connection also does for the most part. the email will come in the minutes something initiates a data prompt and the phone isnt sleeping anymore.
Personally i have left the setting on and it may drain my battery faster but only by maybe 1.5-2 hours on a 20 hour day. So as long as i am still makeing it thru 1 day basically i wont complain
Personally i have left the setting on and it may drain my battery faster but only by maybe 1.5-2 hours on a 20 hour day. So as long as i am still makeing it thru 1 day basically i wont complain
iowabowtech
root@android:/ #
That's true but it seems they will come in irregardless. I just finished the email test using a POP3 which is my local ISP. It worked also and it took 20 minutes in this case.
Interestingly, but not altogether surprising, the times showing up in my phone's received messages are close to when I am actually sending them from the PC. In other words, they are landing on the various servers in a short time and being reported as such, both in the case of Gmail and my local ISP. But it just takes awhile for the audible alert to sound. Interesting that the POP check was almost 20 minutes on the nose, could be something there or could be a simple fluke.
Now I did have one experience earlier where an SMS came in while I was waiting an like howarmat said, that forced one of my test emails through along with it. I've had several instances where this has occured over the last several days and now I know why sometimes I get multiple alerts ramming through turning the phone into a notifications gone wild device.
But in the last 2 situations, nothing came into the phone except the emails themselves which is a great sign IMO. I'm going to call it "semi-push" email even when Always Enable is not selected.
howarmat
Android Expert
other things like weather or a facebook/twitter update might also initiate a data call though and that could be why you are still getting the emails coming in. I think those are classified as "background" services and they dont fall under needing the "always on setting"That's true but it seems they will come in irregardless. I just finished the email test using a POP3 which is my local ISP. It worked also and it took 20 minutes in this case.
Interestingly, but not altogether surprising, the times showing up in my phone's received messages are close to when I am actually sending them from the PC. In other words, they are landing on the various servers in a short time and being reported as such, both in the case of Gmail and my local ISP. But it just takes awhile for the audible alert to sound. Interesting that the POP check was almost 20 minutes on the nose, could be something there or could be a simple fluke.
Now I did have one experience earlier where an SMS came in while I was waiting an like howarmat said, that forced one of my test emails through along with it. I've had several instances where this has occured over the last several days and now I know why sometimes I get multiple alerts ramming through turning the phone into a notifications gone wild device.
But in the last 2 situations, nothing came into the phone except the emails themselves which is a great sign IMO. I'm going to call it "semi-push" email even when Always Enable is not selected.
iowabowtech
root@android:/ #
Absolutely possible and something I have considered as well with Weatherbug being a likely suspect IMO. Who knows though, could be multiple things. I don't care what is causing it really, it serves to get emails through in a timely fashion and I'm confident it saves a great deal of battery. I was blowing through battery like water. Now I'm at 75% and 9 hr of up time with average usage. Anyway, YMMV but I'm a believer at this point.
I made an unsuccessful call, and and didn't touch the phone since. A friend emailed me 10 min later, and 5 min after that, but it took an additional 30 min for it to get to me. So i would venture to say that After 5 min it might make one last check before this feature kicks in and disables push notification, then it does a sync to get the info later on.
But that's just my theory.
The point is your results are going to vary greatly depending on how you have other apps setup on your phone.
Gmail will NEVER update on its own if you have the always on data connection shut, because it doesn't initiate any checks. What happens is something else on your phone that you have set to actively go check data (like a weather app for example) starts up your data connection and when that happens, Gmail shows up because the data connection is up.
All the testing in the world will never tell another user how long it will take for their gmail to show up because they won't be running the same apps with the same configuration as you.
If all of your apps that actively update are set to do so a maximum of once per hour, it could theoretically be up to an hour before you see your mail. Of course that's unlikely because it's unlikely they all be synchronized, but you get the point.
Obviously, if you don't check your email more than once an hour on a regular basis anyway, no need to worry about it. However, if you're expecting something in email and want to make sure you know within a couple minutes of when it arrives, turning off your always on data connection is a bad idea.
Gmail will NEVER update on its own if you have the always on data connection shut, because it doesn't initiate any checks. What happens is something else on your phone that you have set to actively go check data (like a weather app for example) starts up your data connection and when that happens, Gmail shows up because the data connection is up.
All the testing in the world will never tell another user how long it will take for their gmail to show up because they won't be running the same apps with the same configuration as you.
If all of your apps that actively update are set to do so a maximum of once per hour, it could theoretically be up to an hour before you see your mail. Of course that's unlikely because it's unlikely they all be synchronized, but you get the point.
Obviously, if you don't check your email more than once an hour on a regular basis anyway, no need to worry about it. However, if you're expecting something in email and want to make sure you know within a couple minutes of when it arrives, turning off your always on data connection is a bad idea.
FunkyBoss
Well-Known Member
I have seen similar results with this setting OFF. My experience is this...
- Installed the 'NPR News Live Stream" app
- I start streaming one of the feeds (local Chicago station)
- Hit the power button on the top of the phone to shut off the screen
Exactly 5 minutes later, the feed shuts off. When I wake the phone, the app is still running and will start streaming again. As soon as I turn off the screen (or let it go idle for 1 minute and it turns itself off), the stream keeps going for exactly 5 minutes, then stops. My guess is the Incredible shuts off the data to save battery after a 5-minute period. I wonder if this is configurable?
When I enable (check) this data option, the stream always stays on after the phone goes to 'sleep'.
I have also noticed, now that I think about it, a slight delay sometimes on my gmail notifications when the phone has been idle for a while. This doesn't bother me much though, so I'll probably disable this option to save battery, and just remember to disable it when listening to streams.
- Installed the 'NPR News Live Stream" app
- I start streaming one of the feeds (local Chicago station)
- Hit the power button on the top of the phone to shut off the screen
Exactly 5 minutes later, the feed shuts off. When I wake the phone, the app is still running and will start streaming again. As soon as I turn off the screen (or let it go idle for 1 minute and it turns itself off), the stream keeps going for exactly 5 minutes, then stops. My guess is the Incredible shuts off the data to save battery after a 5-minute period. I wonder if this is configurable?
When I enable (check) this data option, the stream always stays on after the phone goes to 'sleep'.
I have also noticed, now that I think about it, a slight delay sometimes on my gmail notifications when the phone has been idle for a while. This doesn't bother me much though, so I'll probably disable this option to save battery, and just remember to disable it when listening to streams.
jasonb1985
Android Expert
i just unchecked the box for this option. i sent myself an email, and i do still get push gmail. the weather on my flip clock still updates hourly. google scoreboard still updates, but super slow like always.
so i really see no reason to have the box checked. if it will save battery to have it unchecked then why not do so. up until now i didn't feel like even messing with it, so i'll report back tomorrow on how it affects battery life.
today for some odd reason battery life was not so good. cell standby and phone idle were on the top of my list, so it wasn't me using it heavily. after about 4 hours i was at the 76% mark today, not good at all today for some reason.
edit, just realized data goes idle after like 5 minutes. no good.
so i really see no reason to have the box checked. if it will save battery to have it unchecked then why not do so. up until now i didn't feel like even messing with it, so i'll report back tomorrow on how it affects battery life.
today for some odd reason battery life was not so good. cell standby and phone idle were on the top of my list, so it wasn't me using it heavily. after about 4 hours i was at the 76% mark today, not good at all today for some reason.
edit, just realized data goes idle after like 5 minutes. no good.
DroidPower
Android Enthusiast
The Incredible is a smartphone that's built on, and around Data (programs/Apps) and updates requiring Date feeds.... so why would anyone want to turn off the prime function of the phone. If your shutting down data, then just but a old standard phone for calls and texting, don't waste money on a smartphone.
Leave your phone alone and let it work...