"new" iOS App drains battery very quick

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11 comments

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    Ashli Baldwin

    Hi Stefan,

    Thanks for posting.

    Any difference between the use cases that you can think of?

    For example:

    1. Are your settings the same between Classic and new app?
    2. Were you using different apps, maybe taking pictures when using one app vs the other?
    3. Do you have a comparison track you can share with me, where one track was recorded with Classic and the other track recorded with the new app?

    Also, what version of iOS do you have installed?

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    big_b2000

    Hi Ashli,

    thanks for your fast response. I'm trying to answer your questions:

    1. In my opinion i set the settings the same in both classic and new app.

    2. in both cases i used OpenCycleMap. I did not download the maps before the ride, network coverage was good. Last week i used the classic app for about 150km in locations with and without cellular network coverage and never had any problem with the phones battery. After the rides the battery was fully charged. I didn't shot any pictures. When i use the new app the battery level decreases around one percent every 2 minutes or so (didn't have a timer) and when i then force close it and start the classic app it charges slowly, maybe one percent in 5 minutes.

    3. I did not always record the track, most of the time i was just running the app and looking on the screen to figure out, if i'm on track (or on route, depending on what i used for navigation). The phone in mounted on the bikes handlebar, connected to the e-bikes battery (Bosch e-bike system). For sure i could share the track, but i'm not sure that it would be helpful.

    I have installed the latest iOS 10.3.3 release.

    The next days weather is bad, but as soon as i'm riding again i will try to do some tests with cellular data switched off, using pre-downloaded maps, also different ones. Maybe also a test at home without moving could be helpful. You will hear again from me.

    regards, Stefan

     

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    Ashli Baldwin

    Stefan,

    Thanks for your notes!

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    charlenedeck

    This has been my experience as well, so much so that I went back to classic. The shiny new features are pointless if they're killing my battery.

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    Frank

    Any news on this subject since the above message was posted one year ago?

    My g/f has used the old app for many years with much pleasure. Recently, she migrated to the new app and experiences huge battery drain too. The settings and kind of usage between the two apps are identical.

    Please inform us about what has been found out about this issue.

    Thanks! Regards, Frank

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    big_b2000

    Hi Frank,

    i changed my iPhone 5s to a iPhone 8 this year and had no problem with draining battery any more.

    best regards

    Stefan

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    Frank

    Stefan, thanks for your answer. My g/f has this issue on her iPhone 6, running iOS 12.1.

    @Ashli Baldwin: can you tell me if the new Gaia supports iPhone 6 and iOS 12.1? Or is the battery drain issue a known bug on that hardware/software?

    Thanks in advance,
    Frank

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    Nathan

    @frank.oppedijk
    The current version of Gaia GPS does support iOS v12.1. For the issue you are having with battery drain, I recommend the following steps to conserve your battery usage on your iPhone 6:

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    Frank

    Hi Nathan,

    Thanks for your comment. We have already tried this, but this does no help.

    I can see the little arrow on the top of the iPhone screen (that indicates that an app has recently used location services) constantly on! No other apps are running, and location services on all other apps have been disabled. This means that it must be Gaia who is constantly making GPS fixes! Of course this will be a huge battery drain! The "no GPS until activated" option in the old app was very helpful to reduce battery drain, but this option can no longer be found in the new app.

    I'm disappointed that no-one of the Gaia team has informed me at an earlier stage that this could be the cause of the battery drain. Especially now that I've found a message from two years ago where it is confirmed (by you in person) that the "no GPS until activated" option has been removed from the new app...

    Until this option makes its way into the new app, the new Gaia is not usable for us. This is a big negative point for the otherwise so great app!

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    Nathan

    @frank.oppedijk
    The “no GPS until activated” option that was available within the classic version of Gaia GPS was replaced in the new version of Gaia GPS by adding a “While Using Gaia GPS” option within the iOS Location Services settings.

    • open iOS Setting app > Privacy > Location Services > tap the Gaia GPS icon > select the “While Using the App” option


    I apologize for the confusion over this - with the iOS Location Service set to 'While in Use', the app will only access your iPhone's Location Services when recording a track or the crosshair icon is activated.

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    Frank

    Hi Nathan,

     

    You state " with the iOS Location Service set to 'While in Use', the app will only access your iPhone's Location Services when recording a track or the crosshair icon is activated". I have just proven, by observing the little arrow icon in the top of the iPhone screen, that this is incorrect

    When the setting is set to "while using the app", Gaia will access GPS whenever

    * recording a track

    * the crosshair icon is activated

    * the app is opened

    * the app is in the foreground

     

    However, when the setting is set to "ask", Gaia will ask for permission and (when granted for one session) subsequently access GPS whenever

    * recording a track

    * the crosshair icon is activated

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