Preman,
I did not claim that these things waste power. I said that "there are a number of steps you can take that can help."
Some applications can be put in the background with almost no discernible power draw.
But some apps can draw power while in the background:
*A streaming radio may require constant EVDO or WiFi streaming and continue to draw power even with the volume set to zero.
*An animated weather radar site set to update every few minutes can also draw power.
*Put the Google Maps or Sprint Navigation GPS programs in the background with sound off as you drive and they will continue to use the the GPS, Local Services, and the data network - all of which can draw power. As you go through low signal areas, they seem to draw even more power.
* Turn on the Pre music app, turn the sound volume to zero and put it in the background and it will continue to draw power even though it is not making a sound.
* Messaging apps keep you logged in even if the app is in the background or even if you close the app! -See the
Tutorial.
* One third party app was constantly refreshing even when in the background. That one is fixed now but you know that there will be others and this is not covered in the SDK.
I am an electrical engineer with a test and measurement background. I said this because I did test multiple scenarios on more than one Pre that did increase the power drain.
There are dozens of others that I do still want to test but at least this sampling proved to me that background apps can draw power.
Can you tell us more about your test results for these situations that showed that "Background apps do NOT waste more battery than with them being closed."
- Craig