Update - How to save battery drain on Vodafone Smart 858

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Just an update on saving battery drain on a Vodafone Smart 858. Following up from my previous post - How to save battery drain on Vodafone Smart 858

I've stumbled upon another setting which should further restrict your phone from intermittent data access. In the last post turning off background data was the supposed silver bullet which I thought should solve the drain. Although, it had cut it down a good amount, there was still annoying cellular data transfer which I felt was unwarranted. These transfers occurred when apps were syncing or getting ads relayed to them.

The offending setting can be found under:

Settings>Wireless & networks>Mobile networks

• Data enabled (Enable data access over Mobile network)

Simply uncheck this option and the little 3G/G symbol should disappear. Now you've fully choked data transmissions and hopefully added to your battery mileage.

Disclaimer: This content is purely for informational purposes and should not be taken in mission critical scenarios. The author accepts no liability for any consequences arising from using this information. The previous part is dismissible, if and only, usage arising constitutes a favorable return and arouses generousness in associated user, who further, wishes to divulge part of generousness to author.

How to save battery drain on Vodafone Smart 858

I've just purchased my first ever smart phone courtesy of Vodafone.
**** Update: 7th Aug 2014 recently moved up to a One Plus One **** 

I'd noticed on the Vodafone site itself, the biggest complaint was how short the battery seemed to last. Chocking it up to just regular energy demands for a smart phone, I didn't think too much of it. At the price it was available I didn't care, much.

However, after having barely used it for a day the battery was almost completely drained. So I charged it fully before going to bed. The next morning what I awoke to was perplexing. No it wasn't a giant bean stock. The battery was less than 30 percent and i'd not even used anything.

I tried app killing software, turned off WIFI and everything else, but still nothing. But I did finally find the hitch. So here's what to do:

First off, make sure you do all the manufacturer recommendations to preserve battery. Then make sure to check if the following are off or on:

Settings>Wireless & network settings:

• Bluetooth
• Wifi

Settings>Location & security settings

• Use wireless networks (this can be kept on as long as Wifi in the previous menu is set to off)
• Use GPS satellites (as a default this is the largest drain on battery mentioned by the manufacturer)

Now the rascal that I got caught out with
Settings>Accounts & sync settings

• Background data (this actually uses your cellular connection to continuously relay info back and forth from servers to installed apps)

The last one was the kicker. Now with those settings turned off, your smart phone should see battery usage drop to that of a regular 'Dumb' phone. I don't rely too heavily on internet or app use or games. But occasionally turning them on to access the internet shouldn't drain the battery as much as say leaving them on.
With the background data setting on, my battery usage while on idle or standby was equal to the amount used by the Android system itself.

Apps will still have access via 3G or other connections which will have to be adjusted from within the Apps' own settings, however, turning off background data, should, drastically lessen the flow.

**** Check out my new One Plus One I recently bought ****

Disclaimer: This content is purely for informational purposes and should not be taken in mission critical scenarios. The author accepts no liability for any consequences arising from using this information. The previous part is dismissible, when and only, usage arising constitutes a favorable return and arouses generousness in associated user, who further, wishes to divulge part of generousness to author.

Wireless Keyboard and Mouse - PCLINE PCL-WOD1

Purely from a review perspective - On the PCLINE PCL-WOD1 wireless keyboard and mouse, while both devices were working, the keyboard wasn't as responsive as with some keys just failing to register while typing and having to retype it. The optical mouse didn't have the smoothest tracking, but, was adequate enough for average use.

Everything was fine at the get go but after a day the keyboard stopped working and I had to resort to my wired keyboard for a while. Nothing much occurred except a drop from a very low height of the keyboard since the purchase, and, I don't know if that was the reason it stopped working or not. Then again, it stopped working a day after that incident. I tried changing batteries, although I'm not sure the pack I had with me was that fresh or
not.

I was almost ready to take it back when I took it back out, put in the batteries I had in when it stopped working, and it started working perfectly. Just to note, the mouse had been working without a hitch all this while.

While searching online for anything to help I came across this resource about the same device. And other searches for a website for the company only turned up a portal for driver downloads. There weren't any drivers available for this particular device. Whilst this post was up, the keyboard has failed again so after much hunting and running around for proof of payment I got it replaced for the same model. 

And after just under a month and half, the keyboard has stopped working again. I've taken it back for a refund, and, at this very moment, I'm back to my old wired keyboard and mouse. I highly suggest to anyone looking at this model not to purchase it and pay the extra € 15-25 for trusted brand name devices.I opted for a Logitech.

Wireless Keyboard and Mouse

After having missed a chance at buying what seemed to be a really good wireless keyboard and mouse from Lidl, I managed to get another equally good bargain. This time it was from merging sales of PC World and Currys in Blanchardstown. I'm not sure what brand the Lidl offering was, although a little shout out to my neighbour, who bought it, would reveal it.They are both € 20, although the one from PC World was marked down from € 24.

I am currently using it as we speak, so to speak. Not too bad a response from the keyboard and mouse, however, I have yet to change any settings on the system apart from the mouse sensitivity. The sensitivity was way higher than my wired mouse.

There is an option of setting the resolution lower on the mouse although I might not try it unless there is significant battery savings. The keyboard has useful keys such as volume mute and up/down which is highly warranted for me as I use a laptop on a table near the couch.The single USB connection saves on an extra USB port and the wireless nature offers a lot less clutter and tangle.

I had used a wireless keyboard and mouse from Microsoft 5-6 years ago. The experience wasn't too great, and I couldn't justify owning something for that price so I decided to sell it. It wasn't the same usb stick type base. More like a chunky thing that sat there and took up space. Things have improved since then, noticeably the usb connections and the battery life. Something i'd really like to own was the Logitech keyboard and mouse combo for at home or just the Logitech wireless laser mouse with nano unifying USB receiver if I'm using a netbook or smaller laptop on the go. Although the PC Line wireless keyboard and mouse I have at the moment doesn't have extra buttons or features, I will be happy with it for a while to come yet. Read this for my further usage experiences.

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