There are many factors which affect the accuracy of battery level readings. Two of these include the manufacturer of the phone and the type of battery used. Both Battery Notifier BT Free, and Battery Notifier Pro BT display battery levels provided by the system, so often we have to investigate why the phone or tablet you own may be giving you an inaccurate reading if you are using the battery that came with your phone.
What complicates matters even more is if you use extend batteries. If you switch batteries a lot, or use different batteries of different sizes, getting an accurate battery level reading from your phone can be a tricky proposition. This is because there is a file inside your phone which attempts to give you accurate readings over time based on what it thinks is the standard battery for your phone from the manufacturer. If you root your phone, you can wipe this batterystats.bin file and start over if you start using a new or extended battery to get more accurate battery level readings. However, most users do not have this option. Therefore, I did some research to try and find out from manufacturers what they suggest in order to get accurate battery level readings from extended batteries.
SAMSUNG EXTENDED BATTERIES
I was unable to get the necessary information from Samsung support at their website or by using their live chat support, but I did find someone at Amazon.Com who had bought a Samsung extended battery, who left a review saying what the instructions he received from Samsung said to do to get accurate battery level readings. They said to completely discharge the battery, then to fully charge the battery with the phone off. They instruct you to then repeat this procedure at least three more times back-to-back.
MOTOROLA EXTENDED BATTERIES
While you apparently can use Motorola extended batteries that were meant for other Motorola phones or tablets in your device, according to Motorola it may not work correctly with the battery level meter software in your device. It may "show no battery strength left, when in fact, the battery will still last for a very long time". Therefore, be extra careful and make sure you have the correct extended battery for your specific Motorola phone or tablet. I also would follow the advice that Samsung gives for Motorola batteries as well.
HTC EXTENDED BATTERIES
I was unable to find any specific relevant information in regards to getting accurate battery level readings on HTC extended batteries. Again, I would just follow Samsung's advice.
THIRD PARTY EXTENDED BATTERIES (Not recommended)
1) Before you charge the battery for the first time, be sure and drain it completely until your phone or tablet turns off.
2) When using an extended battery from a third party, you may need to fully charge the extended battery after each drain. The reason is because the battery may exceed the amount that your device's firmware can handle, and your device may not recognize the third party battery you are using, even though the company you purchased it from says it will work in your device. You also will need to keep charging the battery for an additional 2-3 hours or more AFTER your phone or tablet reaches 100% or says it is fully charged. How much more may depend on the difference in ratings between the manufacturer's standard battery, and the third party extended battery you are using. So, for example, if the standard battery in your Samsung Galaxy Nexus is rated at 1850mAh and takes about 2-3 hours to fully charge, the third party Seidio extended battery rated at 3800mAh might take 6 hours or more to fully charge. I would just charge it for 8 hours the first time. Just be sure you drain it completely first.
3) This next step requires you to check with the instructions you received with your third party battery. If you lost them or did not receive any instructions, you will need to contact the manufacturer of your battery to ask them the procedure you need to take next to get accurate battery level readings. One manufacturer simply suggests you reboot once your device is reading between 40-50% and then "subsequent rebooting will give you consistent and accurate readings." Another has the following instructions at their website...
Troubleshooting (Inaccurate Extended Battery Readings):
Step 1: Charge battery for 8 hours prior to first use, then use battery until it dies
Step 2: Once your phone is 100% dead and has shut down, leave it shut off. Proceed to charge it until it reaches 100%; then leave it on the charger for an extra 3 hours.
Step 3: Turn on phone and use it until it dies. Repeat Step 2 five more times, and on the fifth cycle leave it on the charger for an extra 4 hours.
They then suggest if the battery still is not giving accurate readings, to download an app which measures battery voltage (which fluctuates), and in the app description it says:
NOTE: To get the most accurate readings, calibration can take several days.
So even if you follow all the above instructions, it seems it may take you up to two weeks to get "the most accurate battery reading" with an extended third party battery. For this reason, and because there are so many reports of third party batteries not performing up to specs, we recommend against using third party extended batteries.
SWITCHING FROM A STANDARD BATTERY TO AN EXTENDED BATTERY
If you are switching back and forth between standard batteries and extended batteries, you will have a difficult time getting an accurate battery level reading. To repeat, there is a file called batterystats.bin in your device that stores information on your past battery use in order to give you more accurate level readings going forward. You can delete or reset this file if you root your phone, but we do not recommend that you root your phone as this voids your warranty and leaves you more vulnerable to hackers. We again suggest you do what Samsung recommends, which is to completely discharge the extended battery, then fully charge the battery with the phone off, and to do this at least three more times back-to-back.
(NOTE: Fully draining your battery on a regular basis is not a good idea. To prolong the life of your Lithium Ion battery, it's best not to even let your battery level drop below about 25% before recharging. Partial charges are always much better for your battery than fully draining it to zero repeatedly. However, the steps suggested above may be necessary if your extended battery level reading is not accurate.)
If your extended battery levels are still not accurate after following Samsung's instructions a total of 5 times, you may need to wipe the batterystats.bin file. You can still wipe the batterystats.bin file without having to root your phone by doing a complete system reset. Although some may consider this to be a rather drastic step, it is better than having your phone turn off when it is still reading 40%. If you take precautions to simply backup your contacts and important information you don't want to lose, this step need not be that painful. Any apps you have downloaded will be gone, but Google Play will be able to restore the paid ones, and often some of the free ones. Google will be able to restore your contacts and calendar events as long as you sync them with Gmail first. Your network settings will be restored as well as your bookmarks.
If you do decide to do a system reset in order to wipe the batterystats.bin file, I highly recommend that you backup all your contacts and as many apps as you can anyway. (You can never be too careful.) Because I like to do this myself, I use the paid version of SystemPanel ($2.99) which has a really nice and easy to use archive feature which allows you to backup most of your apps to your SD card one at a time. The paid apps that don't allow you to do backups, can always be downloaded again from Google Play if they aren't restored after the system reset. Simply make a list of them, and use the same Google e-mail address that you signed up with, and you will be able to download the apps you paid for without having to pay for them a second time.
Getting an accurate battery level reading when using extended batteries seems to be a fairly well known problem on the Internet. Hopefully the information in this post can help. And a reminder for Motorola users with 10% increments, the 1% Motorola fix we provide is a workaround that is meant to work on STANDARD batteries from Motorola.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Automatic Shrinking and Dimming
IMPORTANT
UPDATE: 9/2/2013
Because Google has stuck to their decision to "shrink and dim" the notifications on the left hand side of the status bar starting with Android 3.x/4.x, before buying a new phone, you should take a close look at the notifications on the left hand side of the status bar. You should look for standard notifications that are bright white, not faded white or light gray. If they are light gray, (probably a stock version of Android 4.x), then nothing can be done to make the notifications brighter, and our battery level numbers may also look dim.
If you want the brightest status bar in Android 4.x and up, look to buy a phone with a skin or overlay which brightens up the left hand side notifications, and makes them as bright as the right hand side. These currently include the following phones and manufacturers:
HTC with Sense UI (All models - Highly recommended)
Samsung with TouchWiz Nature UX 2.0 (Samsung models with Android 4.2 and up)
LG with Optimus UI (Most models including Optimus F3, L7, L9, G, G Pro, G2)
Sony with Xperia UI (Notifications on Xperia Z at T-Mobile looked great in store, but in screenshots on Internet notifications appear washed out - Double check in store first)
Specific budget models: Huawei Ascend P6, Pantech Discover, Kyocera Hydro Edge
(Double check in store before buying.)
The following manufacturer is not recommended since updates will have stock Android:
Motorola with Motoblur UI
Special note on Samsung Models:
Most users who already have some Samsung device will most likely have a dim status bar, and will be using TouchWiz Nature UX 1.0. Having just had my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 updated from Android 4.1.1 to Android 4.2.2, I can tell you that there is quite a striking difference between TouchWiz Nature UX 1.0 and 2.0. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Samsung Galaxy S3 are expected to get updated to Android 4.3 soon, so users of those devices should see a striking improvement as well.
Below are recent pics I took from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, before the update with Android 4.1.1 and Touchwix Nature 1.0, and after the update with Android 4.2.2 and Touchwix Nature 2.0.
TouchWiz Nature UX 1.0 (Android 4.0/4.1):
ArialXL-b HD extra-large font (extra bright green) - Black background
TouchWiz Nature UX 2.0 (Android 4.2 and up)
Roboto HD standard size font (official green color) - Black background
TouchWiz Nature UX 2.0 (Android 4.2 and up)
Roboto HD standard size font (official green color) - Blue transparent background
Not only are the notifications brighter, they are also larger. And what is most shocking is in the first picture with TouchWiz Nature UX 1.0, the ArialXL-b font is used, the brightest and largest font we have, and yet the official green color Roboto standard sized font with TouchWiz Nature UX 2.0 is STILL brighter and larger. And using a transparent status bar as in the third picture actually can improve readability even more.
So the bottom line is, if you know your Samsung device will get updated to at least Android 4.2.2, then hold off buying that new phone and wait for the update.
If your status bar is dim, there are still two things you can do to make it brighter. 1) Uncheck auto-brightness and put the slider at the halfway point. 2) Go to Settings - Power saving - Uncheck Screen power saving.
If your Samsung device gets an Android OS update to something less than Android 4.2.2, be aware that you may be getting a dim status bar with the update. Find out how to revert to the previous Android version beforehand in case you don't like what the update does.
Manufacturers with stock Android 4.x which will have dim status bar notifications:
Google (All Nexus devices)
Motorola (All new phones to have stock Android)
ZTE (Older phones - New phones may have brighter UI)
Kyocera (Older phones - New phones may have brighter UI)
Original Post: 2/10/2012
For those running Android 3.x or above, or Android 4.x or above on their device, please be aware that beginning with Android 3.0, the Android OS "shrinks and dims status bar icons to minimize distractions, allowing users to focus on the foreground activity". Please understand that this was a decision that Google made, and there is nothing we as developers can do about this "automatic shrinking and dimming" feature Google chose to implement in their Android OS starting with Android 3.0 and going forward. The icons do remain full-size and at full intensity in the expanded notification area, however.
So if you currently have Android 3.0 or above, or Android 4.x or above on your device, it may annoy you (as it does us) to now have to make that extra touch or swipe to go to the expanded notification area when you are in a dark area somewhere, to be able to see the full size and non-dimmed icon to get an accurate battery level reading.
In response to numerous requests to so something about the "shrinking and dimming" issue, we have released the following "brighter" add-ons...
Roboto-b HD text
Play-b HD text
LcdD-b HD text
MingLiU-b HD text
BlueICS-b HD text
Due to Google's limitations, we could not achieve the brightness that prior versions of the Android OS had, but we have done what we could, and these add-ons now contain the brightest colors possible for users with dim status bars, while still keeping the colors after dimming as close to the official Google Android colors, including BlueICS, as possible.
Since shrinking is also an issue, we also have two "XL" extra-large four-color HD fonts.
RobotoXL HD text (also available in a "brighter" RobotoXL-b version)
ArialXL HD text (also available in a "brighter" ArialXL-b version)
In addition, we now have bright neon colors in Fuschia, Purple, Yellow, Orange and Red for users who want one bright color all the way from 100 to zero.
All our icon add-ons are still totally FREE, and all we ask is that you tell a friend.
Thank you for your support!
UPDATE: 9/2/2013
Because Google has stuck to their decision to "shrink and dim" the notifications on the left hand side of the status bar starting with Android 3.x/4.x, before buying a new phone, you should take a close look at the notifications on the left hand side of the status bar. You should look for standard notifications that are bright white, not faded white or light gray. If they are light gray, (probably a stock version of Android 4.x), then nothing can be done to make the notifications brighter, and our battery level numbers may also look dim.
If you want the brightest status bar in Android 4.x and up, look to buy a phone with a skin or overlay which brightens up the left hand side notifications, and makes them as bright as the right hand side. These currently include the following phones and manufacturers:
HTC with Sense UI (All models - Highly recommended)
Samsung with TouchWiz Nature UX 2.0 (Samsung models with Android 4.2 and up)
LG with Optimus UI (Most models including Optimus F3, L7, L9, G, G Pro, G2)
Sony with Xperia UI (Notifications on Xperia Z at T-Mobile looked great in store, but in screenshots on Internet notifications appear washed out - Double check in store first)
Specific budget models: Huawei Ascend P6, Pantech Discover, Kyocera Hydro Edge
(Double check in store before buying.)
The following manufacturer is not recommended since updates will have stock Android:
Motorola with Motoblur UI
Special note on Samsung Models:
Most users who already have some Samsung device will most likely have a dim status bar, and will be using TouchWiz Nature UX 1.0. Having just had my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 updated from Android 4.1.1 to Android 4.2.2, I can tell you that there is quite a striking difference between TouchWiz Nature UX 1.0 and 2.0. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Samsung Galaxy S3 are expected to get updated to Android 4.3 soon, so users of those devices should see a striking improvement as well.
Below are recent pics I took from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, before the update with Android 4.1.1 and Touchwix Nature 1.0, and after the update with Android 4.2.2 and Touchwix Nature 2.0.
TouchWiz Nature UX 1.0 (Android 4.0/4.1):
ArialXL-b HD extra-large font (extra bright green) - Black background
Roboto HD standard size font (official green color) - Black background
Roboto HD standard size font (official green color) - Blue transparent background
So the bottom line is, if you know your Samsung device will get updated to at least Android 4.2.2, then hold off buying that new phone and wait for the update.
If your status bar is dim, there are still two things you can do to make it brighter. 1) Uncheck auto-brightness and put the slider at the halfway point. 2) Go to Settings - Power saving - Uncheck Screen power saving.
If your Samsung device gets an Android OS update to something less than Android 4.2.2, be aware that you may be getting a dim status bar with the update. Find out how to revert to the previous Android version beforehand in case you don't like what the update does.
Manufacturers with stock Android 4.x which will have dim status bar notifications:
Google (All Nexus devices)
Motorola (All new phones to have stock Android)
ZTE (Older phones - New phones may have brighter UI)
Kyocera (Older phones - New phones may have brighter UI)
Original Post: 2/10/2012
For those running Android 3.x or above, or Android 4.x or above on their device, please be aware that beginning with Android 3.0, the Android OS "shrinks and dims status bar icons to minimize distractions, allowing users to focus on the foreground activity". Please understand that this was a decision that Google made, and there is nothing we as developers can do about this "automatic shrinking and dimming" feature Google chose to implement in their Android OS starting with Android 3.0 and going forward. The icons do remain full-size and at full intensity in the expanded notification area, however.
So if you currently have Android 3.0 or above, or Android 4.x or above on your device, it may annoy you (as it does us) to now have to make that extra touch or swipe to go to the expanded notification area when you are in a dark area somewhere, to be able to see the full size and non-dimmed icon to get an accurate battery level reading.
In response to numerous requests to so something about the "shrinking and dimming" issue, we have released the following "brighter" add-ons...
Roboto-b HD text
Play-b HD text
LcdD-b HD text
MingLiU-b HD text
BlueICS-b HD text
Due to Google's limitations, we could not achieve the brightness that prior versions of the Android OS had, but we have done what we could, and these add-ons now contain the brightest colors possible for users with dim status bars, while still keeping the colors after dimming as close to the official Google Android colors, including BlueICS, as possible.
Since shrinking is also an issue, we also have two "XL" extra-large four-color HD fonts.
RobotoXL HD text (also available in a "brighter" RobotoXL-b version)
ArialXL HD text (also available in a "brighter" ArialXL-b version)
In addition, we now have bright neon colors in Fuschia, Purple, Yellow, Orange and Red for users who want one bright color all the way from 100 to zero.
All our icon add-ons are still totally FREE, and all we ask is that you tell a friend.
Thank you for your support!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Battery Notifier (Big Text) hits download milestone
UPDATE: 6/04/2013
Battery Notifier (Big Text) is now known as Battery Notifier BT Free.
We are very happy to announce that just in the last few days, Battery Notifier (Big Text) passed 500,000 downloads which means that according to the last relevant stats I was able to find, Battery Notifier (Big Text) is now in the top 1% of all free apps downloaded in the Google market. Of course, if we could also be in the top 1% of all paid apps as well we would be ecstatic!
To all of you who have downloaded Battery Notifier (Big Text), and to all of you who have downloaded Battery Notifier Pro BT to enjoy all of the extra custom status bar and alarm features it provides, a great big THANK YOU!!!
Battery Notifier (Big Text) is now known as Battery Notifier BT Free.
We are very happy to announce that just in the last few days, Battery Notifier (Big Text) passed 500,000 downloads which means that according to the last relevant stats I was able to find, Battery Notifier (Big Text) is now in the top 1% of all free apps downloaded in the Google market. Of course, if we could also be in the top 1% of all paid apps as well we would be ecstatic!
To all of you who have downloaded Battery Notifier (Big Text), and to all of you who have downloaded Battery Notifier Pro BT to enjoy all of the extra custom status bar and alarm features it provides, a great big THANK YOU!!!
Updating your Android OS
Good news and bad news.
Who's the Smartphone OS Crash Champion?
Analysis: Apple claims its iOS is more stable, and Android gets the rap for crashes -- but a research report reveals the truth.
According to the latest Google statistics on our apps, over 50% of our users of either Battery Notifier BT Free or Battery Notifier Pro BT use Android 2.3.3 to 2.3.7. Unfortunately, almost 10% of crashes come from these Android versions.
Worse yet, Android 2.3.6 appears to have some serious battery draining issues...
How One Little Android Update Caused A Big Headache
If you update your OS, we strongly recommend that you uninstall and reinstall the latest version of either Battery Notifier BT Free or Battery Notifier Pro BT from the market, because even though updates are improvements, sometimes they contain bugs that are just waiting to be discovered.
In addition, there are now over 1000 devices out there that can use Battery Notifier BT Free or Battery Notifier Pro BT. So when you e-mail us about a problem you are having, please understand that we try to keep up with the latest and the greatest, but sometimes the only way to know about a new bug in one of these 1000+ devices with all these different Android OS's, is for you to notify us and tell us. Thanks.
Who's the Smartphone OS Crash Champion?
Analysis: Apple claims its iOS is more stable, and Android gets the rap for crashes -- but a research report reveals the truth.
According to the latest Google statistics on our apps, over 50% of our users of either Battery Notifier BT Free or Battery Notifier Pro BT use Android 2.3.3 to 2.3.7. Unfortunately, almost 10% of crashes come from these Android versions.
Worse yet, Android 2.3.6 appears to have some serious battery draining issues...
How One Little Android Update Caused A Big Headache
If you update your OS, we strongly recommend that you uninstall and reinstall the latest version of either Battery Notifier BT Free or Battery Notifier Pro BT from the market, because even though updates are improvements, sometimes they contain bugs that are just waiting to be discovered.
In addition, there are now over 1000 devices out there that can use Battery Notifier BT Free or Battery Notifier Pro BT. So when you e-mail us about a problem you are having, please understand that we try to keep up with the latest and the greatest, but sometimes the only way to know about a new bug in one of these 1000+ devices with all these different Android OS's, is for you to notify us and tell us. Thanks.
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