Is my Sony Xperia Acro smartphone a dud?

[nerrrd]

Hey all you sophisticated techy-types, hope you can help with an explanation for what's happening with my phone. It's a Sony Xperia Acro, I've had it for about six months and have been trying to use it as a GPS on my bike.

AFAIK for it to work I have to have GPS, WiFi, Mobile data all turned on and the brightness turned all the way up (for visibility). When I do this, the phone loses charge even though it's plugged in to a USB accesory socket connected to the battery (charging icon is visible), to the point where if you leave it on for long enough it will run the phone battery down altogether.

As an experiment today I plugged it into the sony charger which came with it at my desk, switched everything on, started a google maps navigation (although I wasn't going anywhere) and left it going to see if the phone would charge normally. Turns out it got just as hot as it does on the bike, and although it didn't lose any charge, it only managed to gain about 4% in a couple of hours.

So overall it seems my phone is only barely able to power itself while running all this stuff. Is my phone a dud, or would the same thing happen with any other smart phone?

[skippa1]

Hey all you sophisticated techy-types, hope you can help with an explanation for what's happening with my phone. It's a Sony Xperia Acro, I've had it for about six months and have been trying to use it as a GPS on my bike.

AFAIK for it to work I have to have GPS, WiFi, Mobile data all turned on and the brightness turned all the way up (for visibility). When I do this, the phone loses charge even though it's plugged in to a USB accesory socket connected to the battery (charging icon is visible), to the point where if you leave it on for long enough it will run the phone battery down altogether.

As an experiment today I plugged it into the sony charger which came with it at my desk, switched everything on, started a google maps navigation (although I wasn't going anywhere) and left it going to see if the phone would charge normally. Turns out it got just as hot as it does on the bike, and although it didn't lose any charge, it only managed to gain about 4% in a couple of hours.

So overall it seems my phone is only barely able to power itself while running all this stuff. Is my phone a dud, or would the same thing happen with any other smart phone?

iPhone 5S does the same

[SMOKEU]

You shouldn't need WiFi to use the GPS, or how would the GPS work when no WiFi connection is available? You only need packet data enabled for A-GPS. You don't need 3G, 2G is fine for A-GPS. So basically turn off everything you don't need such as Bluetooth, 3G, WiFi etc.

I'm also going to assume you're running a crappy stock ROM. I found that after flashing a good third party ROM such as Cyanogenmod, you can get significantly better performance AND better battery life. It's like having your cake, and eating it too. Also delete /data/system/batterystats.bin

[Grashopper]

I had this problem today with my Acro. And I wasn't even doing any navigating etc. Generally it is not too bad, but it happened once before. For a few days it lost more than 30 % charge being in standby over night (all connectivity switched off). Then it went back to normal which is losing max 5% over night. I wonder if it has something to do with the heat. Or maybe something kept on running in the background that shouldn't have.

[EJK]

Hey all you sophisticated techy-types, hope you can help with an explanation for what's happening with my phone. It's a Sony Xperia Acro, I've had it for about six months and have been trying to use it as a GPS on my bike.

AFAIK for it to work I have to have GPS, WiFi, Mobile data all turned on and the brightness turned all the way up (for visibility). When I do this, the phone loses charge even though it's plugged in to a USB accesory socket connected to the battery (charging icon is visible), to the point where if you leave it on for long enough it will run the phone battery down altogether.

As an experiment today I plugged it into the sony charger which came with it at my desk, switched everything on, started a google maps navigation (although I wasn't going anywhere) and left it going to see if the phone would charge normally. Turns out it got just as hot as it does on the bike, and although it didn't lose any charge, it only managed to gain about 4% in a couple of hours.

So overall it seems my phone is only barely able to power itself while running all this stuff. Is my phone a dud, or would the same thing happen with any other smart phone?

Turning up the display to full on ANY smartphone consumes battery power like Hummer H2 drink fuel.

USB power supply (car/ bike) is generally much weaker than a normal wall plug.

So yes, what you have is normal. Especially with GPS + 3G data + Google Maps + nav + display all fully on, I think you'd be luckly if your battery lasts an hour.

I had this problem today with my Acro. And I wasn't even doing any navigating etc. Generally it is not too bad, but it happened once before. For a few days it lost more than 30 % charge being in standby over night (all connectivity switched off). Then it went back to normal which is losing max 5% over night. I wonder if it has something to do with the heat. Or maybe something kept on running in the background that shouldn't have.

Spot on. On many Android phones, useless background apps (thanks Google!) are silent killers.

[AllanB]

Is this not a English speaking site?

[nerrrd]

iPhone 5S does the same

Used to have an iphone and still mostly mac-based, so good to know shelling out the extra cash for another one wouldn't have helped.

You shouldn't need WiFi to use the GPS, or how would the GPS work when no WiFi connection is available? You only need packet data enabled for A-GPS. You don't need 3G, 2G is fine for A-GPS. So basically turn off everything you don't need such as Bluetooth, 3G, WiFi etc.

I'm also going to assume you're running a crappy stock ROM. I found that after flashing a good third party ROM such as Cyanogenmod, you can get significantly better performance AND better battery life. It's like having your cake, and eating it too. Also delete /data/system/batterystats.bin

All good to know (altho without WiFi my GPS is a fair way off, 100m or so). And as for all the ROM stuff, yeah, nah, can't be bothered messing with that but thanks.

Turning up the display to full on ANY smartphone consumes battery power like Hummer H2 drink fuel.

USB power supply (car/ bike) is generally much weaker than a normal wall plug.

So yes, what you have is normal. Especially with GPS + 3G data + Google Maps + nav + display all fully on, I think you'd be luckly if your battery lasts an hour.

Spot on. On many Android phones, useless background apps (thanks Google!) are silent killers.

Found the battery usage bit in settings, yup, screen is using most followed by 'google services' and 'google search'.

So CRAP, not going to be able to use it like I wanted to (except in short bursts), wish I'd known that beforehand. Might be time for an el cheapo in car GPS in a plastic bag - but I guess that probably would have the same problem .

[SMOKEU]

All good to know (altho without WiFi my GPS is a fair way off, 100m or so).

So what do you use a GPS for if you're always within range of a WiFi AP?

[EJK]

Found the battery usage bit in settings, yup, screen is using most followed by 'google services' and 'google search'.

So CRAP, not going to be able to use it like I wanted to (except in short bursts), wish I'd known that beforehand. Might be time for an el cheapo in car GPS in a plastic bag - but I guess that probably would have the same problem .

I bought a spare battery on Trademe for $30-ish dollar and simply flip change battery when I need a full charge instantly. Then when I'm home I recharge the two for my next venture.

Other option to power up on the go is to have a mobile power bank, something like this:
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=...r-Bank-6600mAh

[Gremlin]

Turning off 3G will only work if you're on Vodafone or 2Degrees, as Telecom doesn't have 2G.

I'm not sure if your phone does, but the Galaxy S etc have a battery option in the menu and you can see how much each item is chipping away at the battery. The screen is by far the biggest consumer, even without max brightness it can consume more than 50% of the draw.

As for charging, you may notice that plugging it into the wall charges it faster than plugging it into a computer. iPhones and iPads in particular, for full charging need select chargers to deliver enough amps. Less amps, and it will charge it slower (or not at all).

[nerrrd]

So what do you use a GPS for if you're always within range of a WiFi AP?

Dunno? Actually I don't really know how it all works, that's just an observation - if the phone tells me to turn on GPS/WiFi/etc then I just do it. That's about as complicated as I can handle (in my defence, digital watches were new tech when I was at school...)

I bought a spare battery on Trademe for $30-ish dollar and simply flip change battery when I need a full charge instantly. Then when I'm home I recharge the two for my next venture.

Other option to power up on the go is to have a mobile power bank, something like this:
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=...r-Bank-6600mAh

Yeah battery on the phone is non-user serviceable; power bank looks good, I've got a similar but much lower capacity one from my iPhone days - it'll still give the Sony a a decent boost in the tent overnight.

What I was hoping for from the phone though was a 'one device does it all' solution for touring - use GPS to navigate, jump off the bike, take a few pics, check out accommodation/Kiwibiker/Bookface?? online, back on the bike, navigate some more etc and not have to worry about running out of charge cos' the phone's plugged in on the bike. Turns out not to be that simple, and me like simple.

Turning off 3G will only work if you're on Vodafone or 2Degrees, as Telecom doesn't have 2G.

I'm not sure if your phone does, but the Galaxy S etc have a battery option in the menu and you can see how much each item is chipping away at the battery. The screen is by far the biggest consumer, even without max brightness it can consume more than 50% of the draw.

As for charging, you may notice that plugging it into the wall charges it faster than plugging it into a computer. iPhones and iPads in particular, for full charging need select chargers to deliver enough amps. Less amps, and it will charge it slower (or not at all).

Never thought it would actually LOSE charge when plugged in though (even on the bike), my expectations were unreasonable it would seem. The screen is a deal breaker, I just can't see it on the go unless the brightness is all the way up. Perhaps I should start touring at night...

[SMOKEU]

Dunno? Actually I don't really know how it all works, that's just an observation - if the phone tells me to turn on GPS/WiFi/etc then I just do it. That's about as complicated as I can handle (in my defence, digital watches were new tech when I was at school...)

In order to actually use WiFi, you have to been within range of a 802.11x AP AND be connected to that network. Basically, when you're out and about moving, WiFi is pretty much useless as you're not constantly connected to a WiFi network, or automagically connecting to every network you come across. You can still leave WiFi on, and it will probably chew up a bit of battery, but it won't be doing anything helpful to the GPS signal.

[Berries]

Never thought it would actually LOSE charge when plugged in though (even on the bike), my expectations were unreasonable it would seem. The screen is a deal breaker, I just can't see it on the go unless the brightness is all the way up. Perhaps I should start touring at night...

Don't get me wrong, but I would have thought that if you want to take decent pictures you get a camera, not like all these dicks you see waving their iPads around, and if you want GPS you get a cheap dedicated GPS?


Smartphones suck arse as far as I can tell.

[Gremlin]

To be fair, I'm currently running a Galaxy S4. Takes pretty good pictures, but the shutter lag means don't bother with fast moving stuff. For snapping off a few pictures tho, not bad. Load events and appointments into the calendar and if done right, you can launch navigation direct from the appointment, and linked into your helmet or car, it makes it easy. Also takes semi decent video as well.

However, given I need most of the battery life every day already, I'm not exactly keen to do even more with it, but the battery life is definitely better than an S3.

If you want to push the boundaries, really great shots or complex navigation, then certainly buy a device intended for that use.

[nerrrd]

In order to actually use WiFi, you have to been within range of a 802.11x AP AND be connected to that network. Basically, when you're out and about moving, WiFi is pretty much useless as you're not constantly connected to a WiFi network, or automagically connecting to every network you come across. You can still leave WiFi on, and it will probably chew up a bit of battery, but it won't be doing anything helpful to the GPS signal.

OK makes sense.

Smartphones suck arse as far as I can tell.

You might be right. The phone-y internet-y bit works OK, the radio could be better (but at least it's got one eh Steve?), music OK once it's on there but what's the deal with androids not having a volume control on their inline remotes, did Apple patent that or something??? Bloody annoying!

If you want to push the boundaries, really great shots or complex navigation, then certainly buy a device intended for that use.

If by pushing the boundaries you mean use GPS navigation for more than an hour or so at a time, anyone got any idea how long a cheap dedicated in-car GPS would be able to run off a USB accessory socket with the screen bright enough to see?