Help New HTC Desire S user: How to terminate running applications?

[ShortGamma]

Hello,

I'm a new HTC Desire S user. In fact this is my first smartphone so am still learning the ways of Android.

I'm not a heavy data user, and would like to optimise the battery life on my phone by disabling certain applications that run in the background.

I've noticed that Facebook (I'm not a user) is one such application. How can I terminate or remove the application, so that it doesn't keep firing up?

Also, is it a good idea to use the Wifi network when I'm at home instead of the mobile network for data? Or is this a larger drain on the battery?

I'm using the HTC Desire S, and the Android version is 2.3.5 and the HTC Sense version is 3.0.

Thank you.

 

[El Presidente]

Hi ShortGamma, welcome to AF!

You don't really need to worry about task management with regards to battery life, the stuff you see as running, isn't actually running per s

 

[ShortGamma]

Thank you very much for the information. What about switching on things like Google Services? Is that a bit of a battery drain either?

Likewise for the GPS (currently I believe I have it disabled)?

 

[El Presidente]

You can have GPS on, but it will only be active and eating battery when it's being used (Maps, an app wants your location etc). I have it switched off permanently though.

Also, Google services is ok to leave switched on. I have and I don't really notice any negative impact on batery life.

How long are you getting on average and how old is the phone? I've found battery life to be terrible in the first 10 or so days of getting phones, so if it's new, it will get better over time.

 

[ShortGamma]

The unit's brand new, and the battery life is not too bad. My first recharge was after about 3 days of moderate use.

I read somewhere that there's some trick to 'calibrating the battery', i.e. charging the battery a bunch of times, switching the phone on and off, watching the LCD turn green and orange. Does this really work?

I have an electrical engineering background, and must say am a bit skeptical.

 

[El Presidente]

You have every right to be skeptical, it's nonsense.

I'm at work, but I'll see if I can dig out the thread when I get home; HTC used to give that advice out but have since said it can actually harm the battery so it's not advisable to do "calibrate".

However, the first couple of charges are important as you're setting a precedent for both phone and battery so there's no harm in going for full charge/discharge cycles, the first couple of times. After that, you can charge as you like. Lithium Ion batteries actually benefit from partial charge cycles and don't really like being fully discharged, I tend to charge mine when it gets to 40%(ish). Apologies if given your background, I'm telling you stuff you already know though

3 days is very good, my main handset is the Desire HD, very similar to yours but with a smaller battery but bigger screen and I think I managed 8 hours out of my first charge!