Now, I have nothing against the internet itself as a whole, but when it comes to connecting to the web on Windows Mobile I come across a problem which I feel has a simple solution. Its little things like this which can make or break a mobile OS.
Its just a simple issue to do with the connection itself.
Being connected to the internet drains your phones battery, this is a well known fact & issue, but there isn’t really much we could change about that.
Start up your web browser, or game, app etc & when it comes to the web, it just connects itself & off you go. I like this.
When you close the app, finish browsing etc or simply don’t require the internet it disconnects itself. What was that you say? It doesn’t!?
This is my problem. Its a small problem, but it keeps on bugging me.
I know some phones are set to time out after some time, or you can disconnect manually
(my end key [long press] is bound to disconnecting my data connection) but WHY should we have to do something extra like this?
Our phones manage to know it should connect to the internet, but why did Microsoft not add a feature so it can know when to disconnect?
It could be made so simple.
If Microsoft decided to add a really easy way for developers to close the data connection with a line of code or two, it would make our lives that little easier & I would never have to create this mini rant. Battery lives would be extended & my sanity preserved.
Anyway, Its just food for thought.
Do you get annoyed by this or do you have a way around this problem that you use?
Let us know by leaving a comment below!
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
When I use Opera Mobile on Windows Mobile 6.1, my phone disconnects as soon as I exit the browser (as long as nothing else is using the Internet in the background). So I’m not sure why you’re having this problem, but apparently the way you describe is how it is supposed to work. Check out this post by Brian Farnhill (MVP): http://blog.brianfarnhill.com/2008/10/09/auto-disconnect-data-service-in-windows-mobile-6/
I think the reason is simple. It doesn’t disconnect to prevent frequent reconnection. Imagine that you are close browser, but you still want check your twitter app or download something from app market. If Microsoft used your scenario, it would connect to internet again every time you open new program, so you will have to wait longer to use it.
It could be also some legacy from times when mobile internet was expensive. I still don’t have proper data plan, because it’s not worthwhile for me. Instead I use data packages. Problem with them is that counting the data starts with 100kB every time I connect to internet, so if I would reconnect every time I close program which uses internet, I would have less data to use.
I for one don’t want that to happen and would want the device connected to the net at all times. Imagine each time you do something on the net you have to wait for the connection to be made… no thanks.
That said without a good data plan this might look favorable to some, plus the battery life that can be saved is a good incentive too
You can also use typical WM config apps such as TweakHD, BsBTweaks or the “classic” AdvancedConfig to disconnect your internet/data connection after a set period of inactivity as well. Of course, they’re just making registry changes so you don’t really need them (unless you don’t know the registry keys).
I have my HD2 configured to disconnect mobile data connections after 5 minutes of inactivity and my WiFi after 1 minute. “For me” this is a good fix 3G/HSDPA and WiFi reconnection delays.
Google for Modaco Nodata, a one click solution for turning the internet connection on/off.
curious question.
i can’t help replying. :p
i have a zte bluebelt, and i face no such problem.
it simply disconnects when it goes to standby mode.
quite effective, and no worries.
the phone is not much of a great machine, but for the essential, like mail, browsing, etc, is for a good solution.
i have it for 2 years now, and the only thing that i didn’t like in it, was disconnecting calls with any unattended touch.
solved with a firmware update.
:)
its an interesting observation but I have few points:
I use tg01 and its smart pocket pc that turns off all data connections as soon as I let my winmo lock the screen. My screen lock time is 10sec of inactivity. I think on winmos you always would end up using third party apps that use data so this works for me. Say if I was just using excel or wod or text msgs, then I switch off my connection using ‘nodata’ app mentioned above.
I think a better solution for you is to get winmos give better battery. Iphone uses more data than winmo at major times bt its battery does work like charm. Why can’t we have that sorta battery?
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