Database Users

Idea: improve battery life with more blacks

Nexus uses AMOLED display where every pixel produces its own brightness. As far as i know, every black pixel is technically an off pixel. So if we used a black-heavy theme, it may significantly reduce display's battery draw. And since display is a major juice sucker, this may improve battery life.
What do you think?

The added contrast certainly would help the display be more visible during the daylight, too. We all know how artists love those bright white and gray gradients that have earned Apple so many UI design awards, but I'd much prefer to extend the lifetime of this gorgeous display as much as possible.

I always have a black wallpaper in order to save as much battery as possible.
If I really want a live wallpaper I go with the Starfield one where its black with stars...

ap3604 said:
If I really want a live wallpaper I go with the Starfield one where its black with stars...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
speaking of, is that even in the market anymore?

latyshev said:
Nexus uses AMOLED display where every pixel produces its own brightness. As far as i know, every black pixel is technically an off pixel. So if we used a black-heavy theme, it may significantly reduce display's battery draw. And since display is a major juice sucker, this may improve battery life.
What do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing to think, you're right, and personally my theme is close to black.

ap3604 said:
I always have a black wallpaper in order to save as much battery as possible.
If I really want a live wallpaper I go with the Starfield one where its black with stars...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd kill for a flying toaster live wallpaper. Brings back memories.

Nexus uses AMOLED display where every pixel produces its own brightness. As far as i know, every black pixel is technically an off pixel. So if we used a black-heavy theme, it may significantly reduce display's battery draw. And since display is a major juice sucker, this may improve battery life.
What do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for spreading the word, but most of the tech people here were already aware of this.

Another tip: I have Beautiful Widgets' brightness widget on my homescreen (so it only takes 1x1 icon) and tap it often so it goes to near darkness (11%) when I'm going to use it for a while (indoors). Saves quite a bit of battery.

Pretty dumb idea in my opinion.
33 hours, 30% battery left, factory battery, on froyo. If you want better battery life, a black wallpaper isn't going to help.

evilkorn said:
Pretty dumb idea in my opinion.
33 hours, 30% battery left, factory battery, on froyo. If you want better battery life, a black wallpaper isn't going to help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes it is.....

evilkorn said:
Pretty dumb idea in my opinion.
33 hours, 30% battery left, factory battery, on froyo. If you want better battery life, a black wallpaper isn't going to help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And the hourly Troll award goes to...

Blueman101 said:
And the hourly Troll award goes to...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You?
10char

evilkorn said:
You?
10char
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow, real mature
anyway, if infact true black color on the nexus ones screen is the off position then it will save battery. The only thing is, is that it must be 100% true black, dark colors wont do because they still require the same power as many other colors. It has to be true #000000

evilkorn said:
Pretty dumb idea in my opinion.
33 hours, 30% battery left, factory battery, on froyo. If you want better battery life, a black wallpaper isn't going to help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you save a dollar a day it adds up.
Everything helps.
android01 said:
My wife is black and her n1 battery lasts twice as long as mine does, but i'm caucasian not black. That must be why.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please, can you write this sort of posts elsewhere? Preferably off-topic/nowhere.

yes yes I've noticed that when I've used the default wallpaper which is fully black with the four colored "X"

I thought this was common knowledge. I use black everywhere I possibly can.

Ersdal said:
Please, can you write this sort of posts elsewhere? Preferably off-topic/nowhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It wouldn't fit in anywhere else.
(here have some of my sense of humor, I think I have too much)

android01 said:
My wife is black and her n1 battery lasts twice as long as mine does, but i'm caucasian not black. That must be why.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rofllllllllll
+1

android01 said:
My wife is black and her n1 battery lasts twice as long as mine does, but i'm caucasian not black. That must be why.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha! nice.

android01 said:
My wife is black and her n1 battery lasts twice as long as mine does, but i'm caucasian not black. That must be why.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was wondering how long it would take someone to get along to the joke I had in my head all day :-D
Thank you, good sir!

Brightness at lowest level is still really bright?

I tried setting my Vibrant to the lowest possible brightness level (with auto brightness disabled, of course). It still seems very bright to me compared to the lowest level on every other phone I've used. I realize this phone has a nice screen, etc. but is there no way to make it dimmer in situations where you just don't need that bright of a display and want to save battery?
Edit: I want to clarify, I love the screen's brightness, I'm just mainly asking for battery saving purposes.

I was running a black bg for a while. It would seem to be your best option for both issues. It was said in another thread that black uses the least amount of battery.
Vibe the XDApp

You can get tinted screen protector....The bright vibrant screen is the best thing on this phone.
Sent from my Samsung Vibrant using XDA App

All~G1 said:
I was running a black bg for a while. It would seem to be your best option for both issues. It was said in another thread that black uses the least amount of battery.
Vibe the XDApp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting idea, i'll try it.
STi489 said:
You can get tinted screen protector....The bright vibrant screen is the best thing on this phone.
Sent from my Samsung Vibrant using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that's not my complaint. No doubt this screen is awesome
What I mean is that I'd actually like to increase battery life further by going even dimmer, if possible.

Then a black background is a good idea, black pixels literally use no battery on an AMOLED screen because the pixels aren't on when they're black, so it's a true black. That's the wonderful thing about these screens, and why the contrast ratio is so ridiculously high. Also why the Kindle app has the color reversal option, making the background black and the text white, and a lot of the UI uses black in places I've seen stock android white or gray. I read a couple chapters of Sherlock Holmes the other day and my battery went down 2%. Awesome screen.

Also the web browser has a separate brightness setting.

Homestar1217 said:
..I read a couple chapters of Sherlock Holmes the other day and my battery went down 2%. Awesome screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
**slow reader..jk
maybe one of the genius phone gods could post a mod for a supper dim night mode. hint/nudge :burning eyes:

I would have to agree even on low the brightness of the screen is very high. I didn't realize this until today my friend wouldn't believe me I had brightness on low (his Droid's screen looked like crap compared to mine ).
Thanks for the tip on the black background... I really do need to find out ways to improve battery life on this thing.

I made a similar thread a while ago. For me it's too bright in low light situations. I'd love to see a way to lower the lowest setting.

+1, i'd like to see to an option to go even dimmer.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Same here. The browser is downright blinding in low-light.

Hey I'm not the only one who thinks the phone should have much lower brightness settings. I think I've seen it dim lower than the lowest brightness, but only on auto mode and only for a short time. Or maybe not. But I'm sure it can go lower because it would be weird if it couldn't. I also much rather have dimmer colors than a black vacuous screen for battery savings.

It does go lower. Put the brightness on manual and set it to lowest possible then wait for it to timeout and go to sleep. 5 secs before it goes to sleep the screen goes dimmer. On the G1 the lowest setting was this pre-sleep brightness. On the Vibrant we can't get that level as an option. Fingers crossed a non-samsung rom like CM6 will fix this.

SykesAT said:
It does go lower. Put the brightness on manual and set it to lowest possible then wait for it to timeout and go to sleep. 5 secs before it goes to sleep the screen goes dimmer. On the G1 the lowest setting was this pre-sleep brightness. On the Vibrant we can't get that level as an option. Fingers crossed a non-samsung rom like CM6 will fix this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good observation. Indeed hopefully its fixed in a custom ROM or even by samsung themselves (though i'm not holding my breath on that one).

Alarm Clock Plus
The "dim mode" in Alarm Clock Plus is really dim. It would be nice to have a setting that would allow me to drop the brightness down that much.

yeah, because even on low MY EYES, They BURRRN!
lol
seriously

+1 for supporting this thread!

+1 for lower brightness option.

+1 from me too. This thing lights that whole dang room when my wife is trying to sleep.

Sorry it took so long to reply to this thread. I had to go find my sunglasses.... Seriously though, I read in bed at night and yeah its way too bright.

Lowest brightness setting (lower than Settings limit)

If you are like me, who have no problem with lowest brightness setting on this awesome SUPER AMOLED, you might want to know what I found.
Note that after about 2 weeks of usage, I found lowest brightness setting is more than enough. Even outside! Granted, right now is winter time here, so it has not tested on super bright sunny day.
Ok, I found that the lowest brightness setting set by the default "Settings" app (Display option) is not true lowest.
I compared the "battery power" usage using "Power Tutor" app (http://powertutor.org/):
Display System Power Usage -> LCD
1. Lowest brightness setting set via default Settings Display option
versus
2. Set brightness to 1% using Widgetsoid (developer said 0% is not possible, error)
The 1% setting uses lower battery power!
The no. 1 give LCD power usage reading at 350 mW.
The no. 2 give LCD power usage reading below 350 mW.
So, there you go, you can save some more battery by setting it to 1%
Of course, you can use any other app to set to 1%.

Cyanogen also can attain brightness lower than the stock "lowest" setting. However, on AMOLED screens the colors become a bit distorted when the brightness is very low. I've had 3 nexus S's and all of them have a slightly red/purple tint at extremely low brightness levels.
If you really want to save power, use the renderFX filter on Cyanogen and set it to red, and reduce brightness as much as you see fit. If I'm not mistaken, red draws the least power for AMOLED screens.

dinan said:
If I'm not mistaken, red draws the least power for AMOLED screens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Black draws ZERO power. I'm not sure what's next lowest draw, though. Could red being the lowest be why the Nexus Ones tended to have a reddish tint to them? Mine was so oversatured in red I couldn't stand to watch videos with people in them. They all looked like lobsters.

distortedloop said:
Black draws ZERO power. I'm not sure what's next lowest draw, though. Could red being the lowest be why the Nexus Ones tended to have a reddish tint to them? Mine was so oversatured in red I couldn't stand to watch videos with people in them. They all looked like lobsters.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the red tint was a feature of AMOLED screens whereas SAMOLED screens have a distinct blue tint. Before anyone flames me for this, go talk to someone who know anything about how modern TV displays are tuned; they are always set to be slightly blue-ish as the human eye registers this very light blue as a pure white and is often used to make displays look brighter than they actually are.

I can't the 1% setting with widgetsoid to work. It does reduce momentarily but then jumps back to the default minimum. Auto brightness is off btw.
Any tips?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

I use the N1 Calibration app to make the color look better and lower the brightness.

Wow this app is awesome. Running it on CM7 nightly 15 and I was able to fix the slight green/blue tint that I had =)
unknown.soul said:
I use the N1 Calibration app to make the color look better and lower the brightness.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

You can use Screen Filter too. It works amazing.
http://www.appbrain.com/app/screen-filter/com.haxor

The screen calibration hack doesn't work with stock, right?

NexusDro said:
The screen calibration hack doesn't work with stock, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Needs root, and you also have to download the appropriate one for your ROM.

zephiK said:
You can use Screen Filter too. It works amazing.
http://www.appbrain.com/app/screen-filter/com.haxor
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 works really great

I keep my brightness on 0 so.....yeah

I got blue eyes and in the sun I cannot see a thing unless brightness is all the way up. Especially when blinded by the snow.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

I did some tests and when you use screen filter, it doesn´t go below 350 (power tutor). Using widgetsoid worked just fine.

In cm7 rom screen filtering is in cyanogen settings/ display.

[Q] Screen Brightness Levels

Hello everyone,
I don't know if my question has been answered already but I've used the search and haven't come across an answer.
My Nexus 7 is set to the lowest brightness at all times and it works great for me. But I want to be able to set it lower especially when reading at night with the lights turned off. At this point the lowest brightness is still too bright.
Is there away of adjusting the screen brightness slider to accommodate lower levels? Maybe an update I can flash?
I'm using PA 2.50 and Franco.Kernel #25.

Doesn't anyone have a similar question?
Is there anyway to tweak the screen brightness of the N7.?
any rom or kernel that allows this?

I think ScreenFilter is what you want.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ch_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5oYXhvciJd
Let you set the screen much dimmer and it saves battery life. Works great on phones (as long as it isn't bright outside).

magick86 said:
I think ScreenFilter is what you want.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ch_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5oYXhvciJd
Let you set the screen much dimmer and it saves battery life. Works great on phones (as long as it isn't bright outside).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I will check out that app.
But you think there's a way of setting it in the system? So that the lowest brightness setting on system is lowered?

magick86 said:
I think ScreenFilter is what you want.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ch_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5oYXhvciJd
Let you set the screen much dimmer and it saves battery life. Works great on phones (as long as it isn't bright outside).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This will do nothing. It will not lower the backlight. It just draws a semitransparent black filter over everything. Battery consumption will be the same. Some custom kernels, like the one in my signature, will let you lower the backlight well below the normal lower limit. This will actually save battery.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Metallice said:
This will do nothing. It will not lower the backlight. It just draws a semitransparent black filter over everything. Battery consumption will be the same. Some custom kernels, like the one in my signature, will let you lower the backlight well below the normal lower limit. This will actually save battery.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great! Thank you! I'll check out your kernel sir!

How to fix lg v20 screen burn in?

Assalam o alaikum!
I'm having a Lg v20 Us996
And I'm suffering from severe burn in issue in screen.
Can anyone please tell me how to fix this issue?
Thanks in advance

maxi65 said:
Assalam o alaikum!
I'm having a Lg v20 Us996
And I'm suffering from severe burn in issue in screen.
Can anyone please tell me how to fix this issue?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because it's an lcd, it doesnt actually burn in. It's image retention or ghosting. I'm having the same problem. Lowering the brightness will help. I use automatic brightness and it works great. I've heard that using an app [Twilight] that can put a filter on the screen might help. Apply 5% filter for 30% brightness, and for every 10% brightness add another 5% filter. Example: 30% brightness, 5% filter, 40% brightness, 10% filter, 50% brightness, 15% filter, and so on. I don't know how much it will help but if it does that's always a good thing.

Audacity001 said:
Because it's an lcd, it doesnt actually burn in. It's image retention or ghosting. I'm having the same problem. Lowering the brightness will help. I use automatic brightness and it works great. I've heard that using an app [Twilight] that can put a filter on the screen might help. Apply 5% filter for 30% brightness, and for every 10% brightness add another 5% filter. Example: 30% brightness, 5% filter, 40% brightness, 10% filter, 50% brightness, 15% filter, and so on. I don't know how much it will help but if it does that's always a good thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any permanent fix?
Thanks for advice

maxi65 said:
Is there any permanent fix?
Thanks for advice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no fix man, lcd will always burn in. its a hardware issue, the ghosting will go away so don't worry about it =).

maxi65 said:
Is there any permanent fix?
Thanks for advice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The maker of WETA has found if you lower the values of the screen just barely through KCAL compatible kernel it can stop the ghosting completely.
But that means you have to use a custom kernel that supports KCAL so if you aren't rooted you pretty much have to deal with it. It goes away eventually.

KUSOsan said:
The maker of WETA has found if you lower the values of the screen just barely through KCAL compatible kernel it can stop the ghosting completely.
But that means you have to use a custom kernel that supports KCAL so if you aren't rooted you pretty much have to deal with it. It goes away eventually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I've rooted my device and i have access to Kcal.
Please Confirm the values to setup in kcal to fix ghosting?

maxi65 said:
Yes I've rooted my device and i have access to Kcal.
Please Confirm the values to setup in kcal to fix ghosting?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe off the top of my head it was just lower RGB by 10 points is all it took. Ineed to double check but try that in mean time

KUSOsan said:
I believe off the top of my head it was just lower RGB by 10 points is all it took. Ineed to double check but try that in mean time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried by lowering it down by 10 but no fruit

maxi65 said:
I tried by lowering it down by 10 but no fruit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry dude only other thing to try is putting it to what his values are on the screen I attached but he said 10 was all it should take.

KUSOsan said:
Sorry dude only other thing to try is putting it to what his values are on the screen I attached but he said 10 was all it should take.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ThankYou for the help
But bad news is that Ghosting effect is getting stronger and worse day by day

maxi65 said:
ThankYou for the help
But bad news is that Ghosting effect is getting stronger and worse day by day
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try setting them to the lower values he personally uses and see. He says he likes it darker. I've noticed brightness seems to affect quite drastically on my end

KUSOsan said:
Try setting them to the lower values he personally uses and see. He says he likes it darker. I've noticed brightness seems to affect quite drastically on my end
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also thinks the same that brightness is key issue which is promoting ghosting
And auto brightness seems to work a lil bit

Audacity001 said:
Because it's an lcd, it doesnt actually burn in. It's image retention or ghosting. I'm having the same problem. Lowering the brightness will help. I use automatic brightness and it works great. I've heard that using an app [Twilight] that can put a filter on the screen might help. Apply 5% filter for 30% brightness, and for every 10% brightness add another 5% filter. Example: 30% brightness, 5% filter, 40% brightness, 10% filter, 50% brightness, 15% filter, and so on. I don't know how much it will help but if it does that's always a good thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got my LG V20 US996 Friday afternoon & of course tested it at full brightness most of the time but will start using automatic brightness more regularly if it really helps prevent such eventual screen issues, I just noticed today for the first time on my Moto X Pure, which also has an IPS display, what looks like burn in that appeared suddenly not gradually..?
How common is (IPS vs other screen tech) burn in-ghosting-image retention with the LG V20/US996 & best ways to avoid it's if not really totally repairable? -Thnx

Finally i fixed it, AlhamduLillah!

.... How?

Supposedly the burn in for LCD displays is rare, part of why I bought the v20 in the first place. Except it's not rare, seems to happen more than it should. I ended out sending mine in for repair, barely still in warranty. I suggest those of you with issues and warranty do the same.

Screen burn in.
bond32 said:
Supposedly the burn in for LCD displays is rare, part of why I bought the v20 in the first place. Except it's not rare, seems to happen more than it should. I ended out sending mine in for repair, barely still in warranty. I suggest those of you with issues and warranty do the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How long was the factory warranty good for ? I bought mine in march.

maxi65 said:
Finally i fixed it, AlhamduLillah!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How? You can't just say you fixed it and then be silent about.
I'm having ghost issues as well now.
Is it the heat that makes the problem for the screen to do it? If that is the case one more reason to use a big battery like the mugen 9300 battery which keeps the heat of the phone down tremendously. Sadly iv changed back and forward on the stock battery and my big mugenpower - and now have the problem of ghost. I do mostly have my screen on 100% light all the time as one is not even able to adjust the auto function - I ordered the phone at 2017-Marts-09 and the issue has just raised in the last couple of weeks. I bumped up from 2 minutes turn on time to 5 minutes which seemed to be the time I began to get the ghost issue, which seems to be getting worse - but that could just have been a coincident.
Its not a big issue as such but it is still a little annoying having it around.
If it is an heat issue with the LCD - had I known I would just have used my big Mugenpower battery 9300 mAh all the time which keeps the phone at an stable 21-22 celsius degrees all the time. Stock battery sometimes fly over 40 Celsius when working.
It seemed there is a one year warranty on the phone but I'm not sure if it is actually worth doing anything in that regards.
Yehovah - who was , is and is to come - God Almighty.

Jesus is God Almighty said:
How? You can't just say you fixed it and then be silent about.
I'm having ghost issues as well now.
Is it the heat that makes the problem for the screen to do it? If that is the case one more reason to use a big battery like the mugen 9300 battery which keeps the heat of the phone down tremendously. Sadly iv changed back and forward on the stock battery and my big mugenpower - and now have the problem of ghost. I do mostly have my screen on 100% light all the time as one is not even able to adjust the auto function - I ordered the phone at 2017-Marts-09 and the issue has just raised in the last couple of weeks. I bumped up from 2 minutes turn on time to 5 minutes which seemed to be the time I began to get the ghost issue, which seems to be getting worse - but that could just have been a coincident.
Its not a big issue as such but it is still a little annoying having it around.
If it is an heat issue with the LCD - had I known I would just have used my big Mugenpower battery 9300 mAh all the time which keeps the phone at an stable 21-22 celsius degrees all the time. Stock battery sometimes fly over 40 Celsius when working.
It seemed there is a one year warranty on the phone but I'm not sure if it is actually worth doing anything in that regards.
Yehovah - who was , is and is to come - God Almighty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thread starter seems retarded for me sir.

I tried without success to use the 1 year warranty and sent my phone in TWICE to LG. Both times they did nothing but wipe the phone and claimed they fixed it.
I ended out going through my carrier which sent me a refurb phone, but it looked new. I would recommend anyone with similar issues do the same. You can change the colors of the screen and it improves what you can and can't see, but the burn-in is permanent.