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HELPSTATIONHOWTOOPTIMISEANDROID[ ANDROID ]How to optimise Android
QUICK TIPS AND SHORTCUTS TO IMPROVE YOUR ANDROID EXPERIENCE.
[ CHARLES HANDMER ]ANDROID IS THE most widely used operating
system in the world, and significant new
features arrive with every update. In this
article we look at how to use and optimise
some of the often overlooked aspects of
Android devices.STAY IN POWER -
LOOK AFTER YOUR BATTERY
Let’s start with a most important and
neglected item – looking after the actual
battery. We’ve all heard of near-new phones
unable to run a full day on one charge of the
battery. So what can we do to prevent this?
Years ago laptops and mobile phones used
nickel-based batteries that were prone to
reduced capacity “memory”, and the way to
avoid the memory effect was to be tough on
them: run them dead flat, then charge to 100%.
But things have changed, and there is plenty of
confusion about how to look after your battery.
Almost all mobile devices now run on
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, and they
respond to TLC. These batteries prefer top-up
charges, and running completely flat can
actually destroy them. That’s why most
Lithium-ion powered devices automatically
power-off before the battery gets too low.
Follow these rules for maximum Lithium-
ion life span:
* Aim to keep the battery between 50% and
80% charged.* Avoid running flat – brief top-up charges
are fine. A wireless charging pad is ideal if
your phone supports it.
* Avoid leaving your device on charge all
night when you can – frequent 100%
charging reduces battery life.
* Only use fast charging when you need it – it
can heat up the battery, and that’s bad for it.
* Remove any phone case when fast charging- cases can trap heat and reduce cooling.
GET THE MOST FROM EVERY CHARGE
Now that’s sorted and your battery is going to
last for years, head to ‘Settings > Battery >
Battery Saver’ on your Android device to
optimise power use – all Android devices
running Marshmallow or newer have this
feature, but menu terminology will vary
by brand.
Tweak the settings to find the best balance
between functions and battery life for your
usage patterns. Note that a dark theme or
wallpaper, and turning down the brightness,
will save significant power on most devices
with AMOLED screens.USE THE QUICK SETTINGS SCREEN
Instead of delving through Settings menus,
swiping down twice from the top of the screen,
or a single two finger swipe, opens the Quick
Settings screen. Tap on the item Icon to toggle
it on or off, or tap on the item name below theicon the access its settings.
You can customise the Quick Settings
screen too. Tap on the menu icon to access
customisation, then you can drag icons
around to set up the screen just the way it
suits you.
Quick Settings really are quick, and let you
do things like:
Quick Setting - Change the Power Mode
Those power saving settings we were just
talking about? Access them right there on the
Quick Settings screen.
Quick Setting - Swap Wi-Fi networks fast
Tap on the name of your current Wi-Fi
network (below the Wi-Fi icon on the Quick
Settings screen) to bring up a list of available
networks. Tap Details > Advanced to optimise
your settings and save power.
Quick Setting - Save mobile data
Tap on Mobile Data below the icon and you
have direct access to mobile data management
and data saving settings.Quick Settings access to
mobile data management.The Quick Settings shortcut to
available Wi-Fi networks.Quick settings are just a swipe
away, and customisable.Android is getting very
good at saving power.