15 Killer Battery Saving Tips For Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update

Battery Saving Tips For Windows 10 Mobile

Battery. This is something Windows 10 Mobile users are really proud of. On an average, a phone running Windows 10 Mobile lasts longer than the same phone running an Android OS. Take HTC One M8 for an example. This was even proved by MSPoweruser before.

Having said that, no matter how much battery backup you get, you always some a little something more. And of course, that's why you're reading this article. Alright, lets see how can we get at least 40% extra juice out of your current battery. You may already be aware with some of these tips, so I recommend you to follow the rest:

1. Turn off Location

I can't stress this enough. But GPS uses as much as 16.7% battery compared to idle state (per hour). To turn it off (when you don't need), just open your Action center by swiping your phone screen from top to middle, and un-highlight the Location option.

2. Turn off NFC

This is a feature that remains turned on by default in many of the phones. To turn this off, got to your phone's Setttings > Devices > NFC. Then turn off the option from there.

3. Turn off Bluetooth

Share.it has been here for quite sometime and honestly, I don't remember when was the last time I used Bluetooth. To turn off Bluetooth, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth and turn it off.

4. Turn off Mobile Internet

When you use Wi-Fi, you don't need to keep your Mobile Internet on. To turn off your mobile data, just go to Settings > Network and Wireless > Mobile & SIM > Data connection. You can simply turn off data connection from there.

5. Turn off Background apps

Multiple background apps running eats a huge amount of battery. You can easily find out which apps use the most and can prevent them from running in the background. To turn them off, go to Settings > Battery > Battery usage by app. This window will show you which apps use the most battery in the background. Simply click on any such app, and choose 'Never allowed in background'.

6. Use a dark theme

Luckily, we have a built-in dark theme for Windows 10 Mobile which can save you a lot of battery. To use a dark theme, go to Settings > Personalization > Colours. And then, under 'Choose your mode', select 'Dark'. 

Note: This tip is specially effective if your phone has a OLED or AMOLED display type.

7. Use a dark wallpaper

Even changing your wallpeper to a dark one can help you save some battery. Its simple. Just download a dark wallpaper for your phone, then go to Settings > Personalization > Start > Browse. Select the wallpaper you wanted to use.

8. Reduce your screen brightness

Changing the screen brightness from high to low can save you a lot of battery. Simply go to Settings > System > Display. Under 'Adjust brightness level', choose Low.

Note: DO NOT use 'Change brightness automatically when lighting changes'. This will make your phone's Ambient Sensor remain active all the time and use some battery.

9. Shorten screen time-out time

To decrease your screen's display duration, go to Settings > Personalization > Lockscreen and under 'Screen times out after', choose '1 minute' or '3 minutes'.

10. Sync email less frequently

You don't need to sync your mail every one minute unless you're a heavy user. Go to Settings > Accounts > Email & app accounts. Select the account that you want to change, and then select Manage > Change mailbox sync settings. Under Download new email, choose a longer time of interval.

11. Sync contacts and calendars less frequently

Go to Settings > Accounts > Email & app accounts. Select the account that you want to change, and then select Manage > Change mailbox sync settings. Under Sync contacts and calendars, choose a longer time of interval. 

12. Limit what you pin

Don't pin too many apps to your start screen. Putting too many apps will turn all of them into Live tiles, needing them to update the information all the time. For apps that don't really have anything to show on the Live Tile, simply resize them to icons by long-pressing the app icon and adjusting the size to an icon.

13. Limit what you upload

Don't upload all the Camera Roll pictures to OneDrive (unless its very important to you). You should only upload the photos that you think are important and may need later. To change this setting, Go to Settings > Devices > Default camera > Manage OneDrive upload settings, and then turn off the camera upload setting form there.

14. Let your phone completely charge

Don't charhe your phone until the battery falls below 10%. And once you've plugged in for charging, let it charge to 100% before you unplug it.

15. Bonus tip!

Use Airplane Mode while charging! (Note: You will miss the calls while Airplane Mode is ON).

Your phone will charge at a much faster rate in Airplane Mode as compared to idle state. To turn on Airplane Mode, go to Settings > Network & Wireless > Airplane Mode.

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Top ten features from Windows 10 Anniversary update for Mobile

Top ten features from Windows 10 Anniversary update for Mobile

Windows 10 Anniversary update (Also known as Redstone 1 update) was just released for mobile couple days back. One thing that sets apart Windows 10 mobile from its competitors is its very smooth and intuitive user interface. The current build number is 14393. Here's our top ten features from the update.

1.RICH ACTION CENTER : Action center is the most used part of a mobile phone. The anniversary update brings rich notifications and hero images finally to mobile. Any notification that contains images will show up with a big hero image on your action center which is pretty fantastic. Also, you can move the toggles around which is awesome.

2. NOTIFICATION PRIORITIES: With this update, you can actually prioritize notifications of any app into three categories. Top, High and Normal. You can also set the maximum number of notifications you want to see from a certain app so that your action center is clutter free.

3. LOCK SCREEN MUSIC CONTROLS: Most windows mobile fans were waiting for this feature since eternity and its finally here. And it looks gorgeous on your lock screen. Also, this update includes camera toggle for few phones like the 640 and 640 xl.

4. REVAMPED SETTINGS APP: The settings app has been changed slightly akin to the desktop app and it now supports icons for all the settings, which is pretty cool. You can pin any settings to start screen and also the Windows insider program settings are integrated directly into the settings page so you can change the insider rings within settings app just like the PC app.

5. PANORAMA FEATURE: The much awaited panorama feature is here and its fantastic. Microsoft included this feature with the latest camera app update. You can now shoot some pretty fantastic panoramas.

6. SKYPE UWP APP:  One of the biggest app updates with the anniversary update is the Skype UWP which has been completely overhauled. This new app supports new emojis and bots. Also, this app loads faster than ever. Microsoft is about to integrate messaging everywhere with this app in the near future.

7. NEW STORE APP: The Store app has also been revamped with quite a few UI changes. You can also filter the reviews and screenshots according to your preference. It also includes the recent activity for downloads which is pretty fantastic.

8. NEW WALLET APP: Microsoft now supports tap to pay through NFC which is pretty big update. Currently, its only available for US residents.

9. EDGE IMPROVEMENTS: Microsoft edge now supports background downloading and also brings back the much awaited swipe back/forth feature. Also, the UI has been made more aesthetically pleasing. Extensions for mobile are expected in the near future as they are already out for the PC.

10. OTHER IMPROVEMENTS: There are tens of other small improvements in basically every app. The messaging app now supports 'swipe to delete' feature similar to the mail app which is fantastic. You can also undo if you delete a message by mistake. The insider hub is now feedback hub, which is open to everyone including non-insiders and it supports comments section which is pretty awesome. Groove music also has underwent pretty nice UI changes. Make sure to check for app updates after you update your phone.

All in all, this update is a must-have for your phone. It feels so much faster and modern.

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Which is the best browser for your laptop's battery life? Chrome, Firefox, Opera or Edge?

There is no denying the fact that Google Chrome dominates the Internet browser world, both on mobile and workstations. We don't need to show reasons why it does so, either. It's pretty fast, supports tons of add-ons for those of you love customization and extra features.

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Ten iOS apps I would love to see on Windows 10 Mobile

The app gap is real. Windows 10 Mobile is the ultimate hope for windows fans to get all the apps they need and want with Project Islandwood coming into play. Here are the Ten iOS apps I would love to see on Windows 10 Mobile.

1. Quora : Quora is the best place to be if you want knowledge coupled with wisdom, in other words, if you are an intellectual.  Its a place where professionals answer your very specific and also general questions. Quora features some of the most in depth and mind bending answers you cannot find elsewhere. Unfortunately Windows users have to use the mobile browser for the time being as they do not have an official app yet and this is personally my most awaited app and we hope its headed soon.

2.  Reddit Ask Me Anything : AMA's take place frequently in the front page of the internet (Reddit). From politicians to artists to app developers, everyone has embraced Reddit AMA's and for the fans it's pure ecstacy to get an answer from their role models whom they look upto. It would be amazing if this app heads over to Windows 10 Mobile as there are many Windows mobile enthusiasts on Reddit. FYI, Joe Belfiore does AMA's on Reddit.

3.  Airbnb : Airbnb is a renting service available in 190+ countries. With it, you can rent your room and earn some cash or find a host and stay in an unknown city for a few days. It's an amazing technology and something I look forward to using. It is currently missing on the windows store and we hope to see it soon.

4. Periscope : Periscope took the world by storm when it first launched a year ago. Through Periscope app, you can broadcast a live video worldwide using your smartphone's camera. This is one of the best innovative apps of the last year and we would love to see it on the windows store.

5. Medium : Medium is a beautiful place to blog and let your heart out. It has some of the most innovative persons writing stuff. Unfortunately, no good blogging app is available on the windows store. This and Wordpress app (Which previously was available in windows phone) would make bloggers using Windows 10 delighted.

6. Coursera : Coursera is an online MOOC using which you get access to hundreds of courses by top universities. Basically, it is the future of education as the world moves forward. Much to the despise of Windows fans, Coursera, edX and Udacity ( Three top MOOC apps) are all unavailable in the Windows Store. Hopefully, as Windows 10 gains traction, we will get to see and use them.

7. Starbucks : Its annoying that Starbucks is still missing on Windows platform. Its a must have app for caffeine addicts and we hopefully will see the app coming. Windows Mobile has some great alternative unofficial apps but Starbucks simply doesn't have one.

8. Aldiko book reader : I used to have an android and the only app I liked was this. For Voracious readers, this app is the holy grail. Windows mobile has terrible ebook reader apps. We wish this app makes it over to the Windows store.

9. Firefox : I am loving the new edge browser of Windows 10. Its blazing fast but has lots of glitches which makes the experience of browsing bleak. I really wish Firefox comes over to Windows mobile as there is a dearth of quality broswers in the store and Opera is real bad.

10. Snapchat : No reason needed as to why we need this app. Snapchat is a teenager's el dorado but the CEO of Snapchat is an Windows hater, as it is reported. But it would be amazing if Snapchat makes it to Windows 10 Mobile.

P.S : I did not mention any google apps because we are well aware of  G(Scr)oogle's hypocrisy and hostility towards Microsoft.

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Microsoft may roll out Windows 10 Mobile update by 'late February'

Microsoft might have once again pushed back the update date for Windows 10 Mobile. The pushing-game began with an overestimated period of November, followed by December and now late February.

The possible reason behind the push-back couldn't be surprising regardless its disclosure. Microsoft has realized Windows 10 Mobile is not just yet ready for the masses, although they've already shipped the operating system on their Microsoft Lumia 950 and Microsoft Lumia 950 XL flagship phones the previous year to satisfy the fans.

In a tweet sent to Bouygues Telecom asking the status of the update, they replied:

It would not be before late February!

Microsoft is yet to confirm a firm date for the update. We hope it becomes available really 'SOON'.

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Download Windows 10 Redstone Build 11102 ISO

Microsoft revealed this build some times back, but as has been always the case with all the recent builds, it's only available through the Windows Insider program. Therefore, you cannot upgrade your Windows 10 machine to this build directly from your current build version unless you're an Insider.

However, these ISO files are created from the ESD files present in the Insider Ring and can be installed on any computer with a fresh install.

Download Windows 10 Redstone Build 11102 ENG (for 32-bit PC)
Download Windows 10 Redstone Build 11102 ENG (for 64-bit PC)

Should you miss something while upgrading, let us know in the comments below!

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20 Things Windows Phones Can Do, Androids Cannot

Windows Phone (or Windows 10 Mobile) fans often face criticism for "lack of apps" in the platform, no matter whether or not the user themselves feel the need. 

Sometimes, we are so busy complaining about the stuff we miss or hate, or do both, that we fail to see the good side.

Here, I'm listing 20 things that a Windows phone can do (or do more efficiently) but the most popular Android, on the other side, simply cannot.

1) Reading Mode (Available on Edge in W10M and Internet Explorer in WP8.1)

What can be more peaceful than being able to read your favorite news blogs or web pages at the comfort and style of reading a book? No more distracting ads! No more social buttons, no more pop ups! All you have to do is, tap a button! 

With Reading Mode enabled on the Microsoft's latest internet browser, you can have a clutter-free web browsing experience, be it on your Windows 10 PC, laptop or your phone. Reading Mode can also be configured to have a dark background, which is suitable for your eyes while reading at night.

2) Permanently Disable Background Apps

Say goodbye to the apps that run endlessly in the background, consuming your phone's memory and ruining your phone's battery. On Windows Phone / Mobile, you can disable apps from running in the background permanently, just through the phone Settings.

The feature, apparently, is also available on some versions of Android. However, the apps automatically start running again on a phone reboot. And sometimes, they just don't have to follow the rules at all. 

A popular Android app Greenify was released as an attempt to solve the issue but it came with another one. You get lesser battery backup while using Greenify because it kills every app that tries to re-open by itself every few minutes in the background.

3) Efficient Battery Management

Coming from the above scenario, this should really not be a surprise. Given the same hardware, Windows phone has better battery backup than Android.

HTC One M8 is available in both Android and Windows Phone version. ZDNet's Matthew Miller grabs the opportunity to play with both the devices with same number of apps installed. What he found out was really interesting. He observed that the Windows Phone version regularly showed 20% more battery than the Android version. He also pointed out that, this happened because Android had a lot more processes running in the background than the Windows Phone.

4) Do Incredible Things With Cortana

There's no trick here, but Cortana blows away Siri and Google Now easily. Her skills are not only acknowledged by her ability to chit-chat, but she's got the largest list of commands one can ever give to her in their entire life.

5) Universal Windows Platform And It's App Benefits

With Windows universal store, you can "Buy once, use everywhere". Once you buy an app or game on your phone, you don't need to buy it again for your Windows PC, laptop, tablet, Xbox or HoloLens. You can use the same app on up to 10 Windows devices. Not only are you getting the advantage of paying once, but the apps you purchase functions exactly the same way on all your devices. They also sync across the devices. It is made possible because of the same shared code the Windows apps are developed in.

6) UC Browser With Built In Video Downloader

You can directly download any YouTube video using the built-in feature of UC Browser for Windows Phone. On Android, you need an external add-on tool to achieve that functionality. While installing an add-on doesn't sound like a big deal, this might be a little questionable for those having low-end Android devices with limited RAM.

7) 99.9% Apps Movable To SD Card

On Windows phones, you can move almost all your apps to the SD card. Completely.

While most of the official Android versions doesn't allow moving apps to the SD cards at all, some of them make the cut by allowing the apps to be partially moved. That is, the app package files are moved, however, the app data still need to be installed in the phone memory for the apps to function properly. This ambiguity sometimes create a mess and confuse the users. Not to mention, the bigger part of the apps still remain in the internal phone storage.

On the other side, if you have a 128 GB microSD card on your Windows Phone, literally speaking, you can keep all the games from the Store on your device!

8) Use Your Phone, Forget The DSLR

When it comes to Photography, nothing can beat Nokia Lumia's PureView Carl Zeiss lens technology. While most Nokia Lumias (including my Lumia 930) already beats any Android phone easily, Lumia 1020 with it's 41 MP camera, still holds the crown for the greatest phone camera ever known to mankind in the history of smartphones.

9) Live Tiles!

Oh, how could I forget Live Tiles!? Live Tiles show all the latest news, texts, weather, email, messages, calendar appointments, and a lot more things, live on your Start screen!

You can also organize, customize and resize the tiles in whatever way you want.

10) Kids Corner

Do you have children? Then Kids Corner can save your phone from the unpredictable usage by your kids!

Even if you don’t have your own children, you might have nephews, nieces, cousins or siblings whom you may not want getting their hands into your Email, documents, photos or social media accounts.

With Kids Corner active, you can simply put a pass code for your account while they can just fiddle around your phone and play Ninja Fruit all day long without you worrying about your files!

Kids Corner allow you to select specific apps / games which can be accessed without needing a pass code.

11. WordFlow Keyboard

WordFlow does an amazing job  when it comes to swiping or typing through your keyboard. While Android users are blessed with many good 3rd party keyboard choices like the Swiftkey or Fleksy, but Microsoft's own system-integrated keyboard, WordFlow still beats their swiping execution speed.

Gaurav Sharma made a Guiness World Record by swiping a 25-word challenging text message in 18.44 seconds using the Windows Phone's WordFlow keyboard.

12. Say NO To Anti-Viruses

Windows Phones don't require Anti-Viruses. The fact that there is not a single Anti-virus available in the Windows store, puzzles newly switched Android users who are used-to having an Anti-virus running on their phone the entire time. It's safe to say the advantage of not using an Anti-virus surely helps your phone's battery last longer.

13. Play Xbox Games

Windows Phone has a big lot for Xbox enabled games. You can play Xbox games on your phone and get Achievements, compete score with your friends (called Buddies) and much more. You never get bored of trying out new Xbox games as they are released.

14. Scale-able Screen (DPI settings)

If you have a phone with a big screen, you can easily tune your phone into tablet mode. This way, you get a PC-like experience with much less wasted space on the screen. Above screen shot illustrates the Settings app in tablet mode on my Lumia 930.

15. Contacts Hub

Contacts hub is a place on your phone where you can see all the updates from the people you know. From  Facebook status updates of your friends to the latest tweets by the peple you follow, all in one place. You don't need to open ten different apps for that. Isn't that incredible?

16. Windows Insider

Microsoft allows all it's phone users to get an early taste of the next Operating System update. For example, an user with Windows Phone 8.1  can try out Windows 10 Mobile on their phone without becoming a developer. This not only helps the users to try out builds from the future but they also help Microsoft build the software the way they want, through the Windows Feedback app.

17.  Longer Software Updates Support

Three year old $50 phone, Nokia Lumia 520 (with 512 MB of RAM) is still getting the Windows 10 Mobile update. Tell me, how many three year old, low-end, $50 Android devices receive updates this long?

This is something Microsoft does same as Apple. They support their hardware for a much longer period than Google ever does.

18. Responsive UI

Windows Phone has always been appreciated for it's super fast navigation UI. Not only is it fast enough to help with your daily tasks, but it never lags or hangs, no matter how many apps you install and what you do on your phone.

A low-end Windows Phone with 512 MB of RAM performs much better than an Android with 1 GB of RAM. Thanks to the clutter-free and responsive UI to make it possible.

19. Reply To Toast Notifications

Got a message in the middle of doing something? No worries! Now make quick replies to messages or notifications without having the need to open the apps.

20. Continuum: The Future Is Here!

Last, but not the least. With Windows 10 on your phone, you can easily convert your phone into a full-blown PC with the help of a display and a wireless adapter.


What's your say on these features? Voice your opinion in the comments below!

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