Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

I was thinking, since on my n95's battery last significantly longer in 2g mode, what if the n900 would default to 2g when there is no browser, internet radio or other network intensive application open? In standby mode there are only the wigdets, but they transfer so small amount of data so the lower speed is not issue. When the user requires a fast connection and opens, for example, the browser, n900 would then automagically switch to faster 3g connection. I thought this could improve the battery live greatly.

Here's a quote from a finnish forum confirming that the 2g standby time is a lot longer than when using 3g

So, I think this would be a pretty neat "official" feature, but if not, someone with programming skills could create a daemon or something to do the job.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

Yep, an app that keeps the default data connection you select (2g/3g/wifi if available) that switches to a 'data connection' (most likely 3g/wifi) when specified applications are open (eg internet browser, spotify, internet radio etc).

Surely this would be relatively easy to programme, amd would do wonders for battery life.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

It would also be nifty for people who live in areas with patchy signal: no need to remember to turn off 3g in case I drive through or into a dead spot.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

+1
I love this idea, especially as I live in a pretty weak 3g area!

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

No receiving of MMS or 3G video phone calls if you have a system like this. Won't be an issue with N900 for now at least, though ;) I love the idea though, i've been hoping for something like this to extend battery life.

@revdkathy, @steve4130 do you really need to manually switch between 2g and 3g modes, i would assume all phones know how to down to 2g if 3g is unavailable.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

xmacec: As I understand it, its still trying to find a 3G signal while you are on a 2G only network unless you force the phone to only 2G.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

Perhaps someone should post this to the brainstorm?

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

You can force the device to use only 2G in the device settings. Maybe somebody will create a widget for placing this switch directly onto the home screen or the status box for quick access.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

Yes, but then when you want to do some web browsing, you are limited to EDGE speeds.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

Receiving MMS doesn't require 3G.

And yes, this thread exists because if the phone cannot find 3G when set to dual mode, it will try to find one ever so often, that eats battery. Please, read this thread trough once more. Every 3G enabled phone has an force 2G -only mode AFAIK. The Nokias anyway.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

yes a switch on the homescreen would be nice to switch between 2G and 3G, also one to toggle bluetooth on/off :D

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

I waited for something like this for my e71 for ages now. Would be great someone would implement it for the n900. Maybe after that others will follow with another platforms. Of course, eventually, history will say that the iphone brought this wonderful development :)

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

A switch would be unintuitive. A programme that automaticaly switches for certain programmes is the best option surely.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

I love the idea! Web browser is the ONLY thing i'd need 3g. the ONLY. Chatting is very light data, a KB per direction, that's easily done over EDGE or GPRS. While web browsing would take forever. So I totally vote for this app! Someone needs to make this ASAP! :D

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

I have doubts whether you can seamlessly force 2G mode, and unforce it back to dualmode seamlessly...
I guess seamless only matters for IM-type things though, everything else is probably fine with the connection dropping and coming back up with a different IP.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

RevdKathy inspired this idea for me:

t-mobile has an OK 3G coverage map here: http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/pcc.aspx . It would be great if an app could once every 10 minutes or so check your location vs. the color of the 3g map and determine whether it should turn on 3g or not. This would be great for when I take long road trips. Of course, this is all assuming that it would save battery on the whole to check a coverage map via GPS rather than just check for 3G service.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

Nice idea in theory, but one small problem: the maps are horribly innaccurate in some places. For example, Orange shows a full signal where I live, but in reality, only certain rooms of the house have a signal, because of lumps and bumps in the landscape (I think they're called hills). To be fair, my experience of T-mobile maps is that they're a whole lot more accurate than Orange. But still not infallible.

Something that seamlessly switches down to looking for a smaller signal (or even off) when not in use would be lovely. Could it sit on the back of the 'mute when upside down' facility? Drop to 2g/ off the gprs altogether when upside down? I'm not even going to care whether my widgets are widgetting if the phone is face down on the desk/car seat, just that it will still pick up a call or sms.

I also believe that Maemo will seamlessly switch to wifi when I get home (which is brilliant if the battery is up to it!) so it is capable of knowing what signals are around and deciding, I assume.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

Unfortunately these maps don't necessarily reflect reality, but computer simulations of coverage areas.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

Yes, it does this automatic switching from and to WiFi well. And it detects when it only gets 2G instead of 3G.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

Getting a GPS lock probably consumes more power than scanning the 3G frequencies...

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

Not only getting a GPS Lock. It's getting a lock every X minutes, going online to verify where you are, and if the map returns with coordinates in a vicinity, it'll turn on 3G, scan for your provider again, and we start again! I can see that as a TOTAL battery hog.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

You you create a GPS throttle in the app too. This really shouldnt be too hard an app to create.

How can we go about persuading someone to create this app? It would be brilliant.:) (but not just for int browsing, for custom 'selected' applications..

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

Surely the point here isn't to avoid bringing the 3G up in non-coverage areas, it's to avoid bringing it up when the activity on the machine doesn't warrant a fast connection? In other words it doesn't matter where you are; if you're not running the browser you don't want to waste power on 3G.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

Brainstorm created here:
http://maemo.org/community/brainstor...battery_saver/

Anyone got any comments?

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

Sounds great if the only small disadvantage is not being notified of video calls. But I wonder how long the 3g will take to connect again?

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

All 3g phones I've used to date, including three Nokias, will use 3G mode in preference to 2G (if they are configured to use 3G when available).

Unfortunately they do this even if the 3G signal is very weak - too weak for usable voice calls and useless for data.

So you have to disable 3G so that you get a usable 2G signal. Then voice is usable, and data is faster.

I've also noticed that in places where the signal is borderline, that sucks the battery dry very quickly when it's repeatedly trying to establish a 3G connection then drops it. As in, battery lasts about 1/3 of the time, compared with being in an area with stronger signal.

Those have been my experiences, anyway.

Perhaps related: All S60 phones have a setting "use packet data connection when needed" instead of "when available". They seem to come with "when available" out of the box (at least when supplied from 3 UK). Manually changing that to "when needed" saves a significant amount of battery life on S60 phones, and I've noticed no side effects.

Is there an equivalent to that on the N900? Sure, you need packet data enabled if you have even just an IM account online (due to silly network design, but I digress...). But those are the sort of things you'd turn off to maximise battery life when going on a long trip with no power available.

Re: Switch automatically to 3g only when browsing.
 

could we merge this with the brainstorm post please
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=379409