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That's your problem. The 3G-data part of the phone isn't working when you're on wifi. It's an either/or not both at once.

Remember how the first iPhone didn't have 3G because Apple said it still used too much power with the chips available at that time? Well, that phone still had wifi. Clearly wifi used much less power than 3G in 2007. I'd guess that it simply held onto that lead even though I'm sure they've both improved since then.

Ah.. well that clears it up. I guess I'll start using WiFi.
 
none of which you will be doing while your computer is in front of you.

Maybe in your case. I use apps on my phone that aren't on my computer, use Facebook's mobile upload, use the Maps app for directions, and download/update apps all the time when my comp is in front of me. Anytime WiFi is available, I use it.
 
My girlfriend leaves wifi turned on all the time with her 3G because she has the 200MB data plan, so add that one to the list. use less 3G data > use less battery for her.
 
Okay then.. well that is new to me.. doesn't really make sense.. you'd think that powering an additional antenna would result in more drain since 3G would still be running, just offloading SOME traffic onto the WiFi.

It uses significantly less power to transfer data over WiFi than it does for 3G. When WiFi is turned on, 3G is partially turned off (when your phone goes to sleep, all fetches and push notifications are still done through 3G). If you are going to just leave the phone on and not use it though, then it's best to turn WiFi off.

Edit: I stand corrected, ignore the gray part.
 
It uses significantly less power to transfer data over WiFi than it does for 3G. When WiFi is turned on, 3G is partially turned off (when your phone goes to sleep, all fetches and push notifications are still done through 3G). If you are going to just leave the phone on and not use it though, then it's best to turn WiFi off.

This is NOT true in iOS 4.0 and newer.

Wi-Fi is not turned off unless YOU turn it off.
 
Maybe in your case. I use apps on my phone that aren't on my computer, use Facebook's mobile upload, use the Maps app for directions, and download/update apps all the time when my comp is in front of me. Anytime WiFi is available, I use it.

Me too, sometimes in bed i use my phone even if my macbook is beside me, it is easier to hold and browse while laying on your back. Also some streaming news sites charge a fee to watch on the computer but stream for free over their iphone app so i use my phone to watch those sites.
 
There is no need to really turn WiFi off unless you are going for prolonged battery life.

You should really charge your phone every night regardless of charge level and for most people, leaving WiFi enabled all day with normal usage puts out batteries at about 50% at the end of the day. Not bad at all. Its convenient and also prevents you from using your data plan. Its also nice to not turn on and off.

Also, hit the link and scroll down on the left side and check out the battery info:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html
 
There is no need to really turn WiFi off unless you are going for prolonged battery life.

You should really charge your phone every night regardless of charge level and for most people, leaving WiFi enabled all day with normal usage puts out batteries at about 50% at the end of the day. Not bad at all. Its convenient and also prevents you from using your data plan. Its also nice to not turn on and off.

So, stop acting like you know everything OP. ;)

I'm not acting like I know everything.. stop misinterpreting things.
 
Oook.. read it again.

WiFi radio being on = drain battery

1.5mbps vs (in this case) 50mbps doesnt matter, at all. How much downloading/web browsing are you going to do on your phone if you're sitting in front of your computer? none.


Ah but you forget something really simple. If you load a page with 3g and it takes 30sec, and then on wifi it takes 10sec. Which do you think is taking up more battery? The phone trying to transfer data for 3 times as long, would seem to me to be more draining. Not to mention the performance increase of using wifi, and the fact that you are not using up your 3g data. I still don't get your point. Oh wait, thats because it doesn' t make sense....:rolleyes:
 
I'm not acting like I know everything.. stop misinterpreting things.

I removed it. ;)

Your first posts seemed like that though. I read it like this:

"My coworkers are so dumb. Can you believe they use wireless? Ha, who does that?"

Maybe my fault, maybe yours.

Anyhow, the rest of my post was good. ;)
 
Ah but you forget something really simple. If you load a page with 3g and it takes 30sec, and then on wifi it takes 10sec. Which do you think is taking up more battery? The phone trying to transfer data for 3 times as long, would seem to me to be more draining. Not to mention the performance increase of using wifi, and the fact that you are not using up your 3g data. I still don't get your point. Oh wait, thats because it doesn' t make sense....:rolleyes:

It makes plenty of sense.. I just wanted to know if people used WiFi and what they used it for..

After learning a few things about the power consumption being more efficient on wifi vs 3G I can now see why people do it, but I think I'll just stick to 3g because the only times I use my phone to browse the web/do other data related things is when I'm away from my macbook or ipad (where WiFi isn't available)
 
none of which you will be doing while your computer is in front of you.

Its for when the computer isn't in front of me. Whether thats across the room or across town doesn't matter, sometimes I like to browse on the couch or in bed and my laptop is cumbersome in those situations.
 
nah that's about right.. I never talk on the phone at all but I do a lot of texting..

I don't use it at all when I'm at work, other than to respond to texts.. everything else is done on the macbook... I don't use it at all at home, other then to respond to texts.. everything else is done on the iPad.

it's running caldav/carddav and polling 2 inboxes.. maybe twice a week if people call me (which they know not to do) or if i get lost (car doesn't have gps)

why do you even own an iphone or a phone at all?

PS, do some google search, wifi uses a lot less power than cellular connection.
 
Its for when the computer isn't in front of me. Whether thats across the room or across town doesn't matter, sometimes I like to browse on the couch or in bed and my laptop is cumbersome in those situations.

Yeah that point was covered in the original post.. there are times when it would make sense (when better means of accessing the net arent available)
 
Yeah that point was covered in the original post.. there are times when it would make sense (when better means of accessing the net arent available)

They are available most of the time i am using my iPod but this is just a "Tastes great! Less Filling!" moment.
 
What about people that have no 3G network at all? I use wifi for almost anything dealing with data. The edge network is close to worthless for doing anything other than checking email or quick google searches. I bounce between wifi connections at work, parent's house, girl's house, friends, restaurants, and at school. ATT has been promising 3G here for YEARS with no movement until here recently with "late summer" being the projected startup date.

So, wifi for me, is the only thing that makes my iphones, past and present, even worth having. Also, in my experience, wifi is waaayyy faster than 3G.
 
What about people that have no 3G network at all? I use wifi for almost anything dealing with data. The edge network is close to worthless for doing anything other than checking email or quick google searches. I bounce between wifi connections at work, parent's house, girl's house, friends, restaurants, and at school. ATT has been promising 3G here for YEARS with no movement until here recently with "late summer" being the projected startup date.

So, wifi for me, is the only thing that makes my iphones, past and present, even worth having. Also, in my experience, wifi is waaayyy faster than 3G.

Checking mail/browsing the net in an area with no at&t service..

Covered in the first post
 
How often is too often?

A curious question for the OP. You did mention above that you can go about a week before needing to charge the phone without using wifi, and that you are worried about battery drain using wifi.

So my question...is there a hardship of some sort with your situation where charging the phone sooner than once a week is a bad or inconvenient thing? It seems quirky to me that you seem worried about earlier charge times.

Have you tried a period leaving your wifi on with no change in your user habits and seen what your charge need is then? What would you consider a no deal charge time? Once a day, once every two days?

Just curious questions as your running on a different paradim (sp?) than I am.
 
I have WiFi on alot of the time. Infact now that I'm on a capped data plan I use WiFi as much as possible (therefor its always enabled) It's always on WiFi in my house. I get about 2 days and 12 hours of battery.
 
nah that's about right.. I never talk on the phone at all but I do a lot of texting..

I don't use it at all when I'm at work, other than to respond to texts.. everything else is done on the macbook... I don't use it at all at home, other then to respond to texts.. everything else is done on the iPad.

it's running caldav/carddav and polling 2 inboxes.. maybe twice a week if people call me (which they know not to do) or if i get lost (car doesn't have gps)

Well, I thought I was doing awesome when I made it a little over 2 days standby and 7 hours usage on my iPhone4.
IMG_0058.png


I would love to see a screenshot of your usage page. Its Thursday, so if you only charge once a week, it should be pretty high up there by now.

I keep WIFI on all the time, for pretty much all the other reasons posted. I'm around it most of the time, its faster, uses less battery for data and does not count against my data cap with ATT. Can't see any downside there. Now, sometimes if I'm travelling or know that absolutely I will not be around WIF for a few days and I need MAX battery life, I will turn it off, but otherwise I always keep it on and always jump on free networks whenever I can.
 
I have my iPhone set in 3 "settings"

@ Home:

3G Service - OFF
EDGE Service - ON
WiFi - ON
Brightness - 30%


@ Work:
3G Service - OFF (I turn it on when on break or lunch)
EDGE - ON (Turned off when on break or lunch)
WiFi - OFF
Brightness - 50%


Out and About:
3G Service - ON
EDGE Service - OFF
WiFi - ON (Set on Discovery)
Brightness - 60%

I tend to leave 3G off when near a WiFi hotspot since EDGE is good enough for phone calls in my area. When I'm out and about however, I tend to leave 3G on just to take advantage of the faster loading times.
 
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