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Google is making it easier to improve your phone’s battery life.
The company has built a new banner into Android, which warns you of any apps that are draining your battery.
It also includes a short explanation of what those apps are doing, and lets you fix the problem by putting a stop to the behaviour.
How to improve your phone's battery life
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The feature was spotted by Android Police, in the latest Android 8.1 Oreo Developer Preview.
While this preview software isn’t available to regular Android users yet, it should roll out in the near future.
The battery page in the current version of Android Oreo displays lots of information, including your screen usage time since your last full charge, how much usage time you have left on your phone, and a breakdown of your app usage.
However, the new battery drain warning system is much more practical, providing a call to action.
The warning message seen by Android Police flags reads, “Maps Preview draining battery. Requesting location frequently.”
Tapping it launches a popup message reading, “Your phone can’t manage battery normally because Maps Preview keeps requesting your location when you’re not using the app. To fix this issue, you can turn off location for this app.”
With a tap, you can instantly stop it from requesting your location when you’re not using the app, and extend your battery life as a result.
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