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Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

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Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#81
post #4

This happened to me today! I was using my phone and then it went all weird with no haptic feedback when typing. I finally figured out that battery saver was on and disabled it... This really bothers me... I am starting to think we need a truly open source phone. That is hardware and software. like GNU/phone or something. We must have full control over our hardware and software! Viva La Gnu! (no clue what this actuall…

I'd love something like the Fairphone[0] running a proper Linux distro. That would basically be my dream phone right now. (I have no experience with that phone or whether it's good, just found it mentioned recently and very curious about it in general) [0] https://shop.fairphone.com/en/buy-fairphone2-2/

This looks absolutely amazing -- reasonably ethically sourced and it runs LineageOS. Does anyone have one of these that would care to comment on what ownership is like?

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#82
post #4

This happened to me today! I was using my phone and then it went all weird with no haptic feedback when typing. I finally figured out that battery saver was on and disabled it... This really bothers me... I am starting to think we need a truly open source phone. That is hardware and software. like GNU/phone or something. We must have full control over our hardware and software! Viva La Gnu! (no clue what this actuall…

I'd love something like the Fairphone[0] running a proper Linux distro. That would basically be my dream phone right now. (I have no experience with that phone or whether it's good, just found it mentioned recently and very curious about it in general) [0] https://shop.fairphone.com/en/buy-fairphone2-2/

[deleted]

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#83

I think Apple remotely activated battery killing mode on mine. The battery was already in bad shape but since this morning it's been ticking down like a clock. It's much worse than yesterday. Anyone else? Am I just paranoid? Seems like an odd coincidence.

How can it not be a coincidence? Even if Apple did add a battery-killing mode, why would they purposefully wait until this Android bug to launch it?

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#85
I'm taken aback by how many, even in this tech forum, seem surprised to learn that automatic os updates means settings can be updated automatically.

Bugs are bad and all but I don't understand the "how could Google do this?!" questions. Am I missing something?

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#86
post #85

I'm taken aback by how many, even in this tech forum, seem surprised to learn that automatic os updates means settings can be updated automatically. Bugs are bad and all but I don't understand the "how could Google do this?!" questions. Am I missing something?

OS updates should not update your settings. They can update system frameworks, but they shouldn't just randomly change the preferences you have set.

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#87
post #62
post #4

This happened to me today! I was using my phone and then it went all weird with no haptic feedback when typing. I finally figured out that battery saver was on and disabled it... This really bothers me... I am starting to think we need a truly open source phone. That is hardware and software. like GNU/phone or something. We must have full control over our hardware and software! Viva La Gnu! (no clue what this actuall…

We've had several FOSS based phones. The problem is that no one buys them, their finances dry up and the whole thing goes down the drain.

People don't care for privacy and freedom as much as they care for features and convenience.

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#88

Could they face repercussions over this? That is unsettling that they can remotely manipulate your phone without your permission.

I wouldn't be surprised if both Google and Apple could do whatever they want with our phones remotely. It's just that they usually don't, so we never see it.

On iOS, at least, software updates require the user to enter their passcode, to prevent a San Bernardino-type backdoor. Though, I believe there are some assets that can be updated without a full system update.

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#89
Google is so deep-rooted in our life and they are doing it so elegantly without making much noise and the majority of people are least bothered about this. I want Google out of my phone, and I need it now. What am I going to do about it? Nothing because Google is so convenient.

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#90
post #77

I think Apple remotely activated battery killing mode on mine. The battery was already in bad shape but since this morning it's been ticking down like a clock. It's much worse than yesterday. Anyone else? Am I just paranoid? Seems like an odd coincidence.

This is more like an App (or a JavaScript website on safari) has gone havoc and is draining a lot of power. Look for statistics in power setting to identify a potential culprit. If nothing suspicious an it keep doing after a reboot contact apple support, they have a recall program rolling for some models.

Apps and websites that drain power will be quickly killed by the OS. More likely, there's a system daemon that's running amok, which should usually be fixed by a reboot.
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