View Full Version : Dont Believe The Hype!
This morning I charged my NZ to 100% and started taking pictures. I was able to take 25 pictures with flash and I still had 94% battery life! What I've noticed is that you can't just keep taking pictures back to back to back. I waited about 8-10 secs between each shot. Really the battery life is close to the NX. I still have my NX and I tested them both. The problem is that we all love the FLASH! Hey, what do you expect! Try using the NZ like you use to use your NX but do not take pictures with the flash.
Like I said before, my wife has a friend who works for Sony and he said the battery on the NZ get stronger the more you use it. He said the key is to use the NZ until the battery is at 10%, then charge it over night. The next time you use the NZ it will last longer. It worked for me. Another big difference I love about the NZ, is the screen quality. The NZ is much more vivid and deep in color. My biggest beef is that I want a leather clip on case and I can't find one, other than that I LOVE IT! Man, when I whip it out people are amazed. I tell you the truth, I have converted to Ipaq uses over.
Hope I was some help. Sleep tight.
NZZZZZZZZZZ.........ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...............ZZZZZZZZZZZZ
lisabeth
02-22-2003, 07:56 PM
You may make a believer out of me. I drained my battery today; I'm charging as we speak. I'll report back with my results, commander!!!
oneeyesquare
02-22-2003, 08:42 PM
I did the total battery drain and a 18 hr recharge in the cradle. We had friends over, so lots of camera goofing off without the huge dips in battery capacity. I did drive my wife nuts trying to kill the battery by incessantly playing wav files over and over on high volume....Well worth the extra effort!!!!
jedix
02-22-2003, 09:01 PM
Instead of wav files, try loading a video such as a tv episode or something a little longer than a wav clip. Then, atleast your wife doesn't have to hear the same thing so many times over and over again. The longer the clip, the less replay.
starstreak
02-22-2003, 09:24 PM
I'm at 78% battery. took like 4 pictures 3 with flash, played around on the unit off and on for about 15mins or so. Sounds like a heavy drain.
On a 8 hour work day, with maybe 2 pictures and off and on use for maybe a total of 45mins, my battery will be around 35%....
rob_squared
02-22-2003, 11:40 PM
I just got a camera MS for my clie (the ancient NR70 :) ) and I never realized how useful having a cam on a PDA is. Too poor to try upgrading anytime soon though...
Originally posted by starstreak
I'm at 78% battery. took like 4 pictures 3 with flash, played around on the unit off and on for about 15mins or so. Sounds like a heavy drain.
On a 8 hour work day, with maybe 2 pictures and off and on use for maybe a total of 45mins, my battery will be around 35%....
Hey guys, turn the brightness down on your screen! Man, I didn't know it was turned down on mine until I checked today. There is a BIG difference in battery life! The NZ screen is so vivid and bright that you can turn it down. I still have my NX and when I compared the two, the NZ brightness at 75% is still as bright as the NX at 100%! Try it, it WORKS!
davy19
02-23-2003, 11:56 AM
Yep read this thread:
http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4729
as of now I got over 120 pics with flash
btw here is a big tip, never open clie viewer wehn you have over 100 pics...
that will kill your battery alone, and it takes about 10 minutes beore you can do anything else..LOL
Amen! I never use picture viewer! I hate when I accidentally tap the icon because it takes forever to get out of it!
starstreak
02-23-2003, 03:13 PM
davy19, how are you taking that many pictures with flash? Are you like taking one every minute? Or continusly?
I can't "picture" you taking that much and still having a usable pda.
I notced that turning the camera app on it'll go from 100% to around 85%. And go down 1% every 5 seconds or so. If I take a picture, it'll drop again around 5%.
Is your drain that bad?
And I still don't think backlight has that much to do with it. at 50% vs 100% backlight, it'll tell me it will last at least 1hour longer. But whenever I try and kill my battery at the end(less than 20%batt) I turn up my backlight and it still takes a long time to kill over.
And those saying "I turn it all the way" ask yourself why have a backlight thats so good? I too can turn it down all the way and see the battery light go up in hours, but the screen is dimm. I bought it for how bight it looked in the store so I really don't count that as real world use.
davy19
02-23-2003, 03:19 PM
i dont know why it is like it is..
i was tkaing about 20 pics continusly about one every 5 seconds.
I can tell you that the NZ90 did get very hot after doing this for about 10-15 minutes, I am guessing the battery is being used and it is getting hot but not really sure
starstreak
02-23-2003, 03:27 PM
weird. I'm on my second full drain. I'll see if this makes a difference today when I goto work.
oneeyesquare
02-23-2003, 05:52 PM
If you hit the home icon while Clie Viewer is "running" , it will pop out of it...Still takes 10-15 secs though. DON'T hit that little arrow thingy!!!!
aesopian
02-23-2003, 06:55 PM
I drained my battery to 7%, recharged overnight and have had no issues with battery life.
Prior to this I was concerned, but after using all afternoon either playing games, entering address & phone additions, cleaning up sync issues, and lots of photos I am still at 73%.
And that is after really using the NZ90.
jedix
02-23-2003, 07:34 PM
I finally did it! I got my NZ today!! Yipeee! It looks great. I can't wait until it is charged. I guess I won't get to use it much until tomorrow, but atleast it's all mine! (am I excited?)
Well, anyway, size is not an issue. Fits in my jeans pocket fine. I just don't care for the stylus. Oh, well....it can't be perfect!
PhilB
02-23-2003, 07:52 PM
Congrats Jedix. You are going to LOVE this machine!
Unregistered
02-23-2003, 07:59 PM
Originally posted by jedix
I finally did it! I got my NZ today!! Yipeee! It looks great. I can't wait until it is charged. I guess I won't get to use it much until tomorrow, but atleast it's all mine! (am I excited?)
Well, anyway, size is not an issue. Fits in my jeans pocket fine. I just don't care for the stylus. Oh, well....it can't be perfect!
Congrats Jedix let us know how it work out for tomorrow
Ah Yes! You finally got it! Congrats! You will love it! Please read all these threads reguarding battery life, so you won't have to go through what we had to.
ralchizar
02-23-2003, 08:29 PM
Re: Clie Viewer
As mentioned above, never use it, it is a waste of battery and time. I am using acidimage (the one for the NZ not the older one) and it is much faster and you do not have to have the thumnails so it can be even faster. I like that it can go full screen with ease and flip through the pics that way. I recomend AI to anyone out there (can you go wrong with free?)
starstreak
02-23-2003, 08:33 PM
K, tomorrow I'm taking the unit back to another if I can. There has to be something wrong. My unit since 100% has been on for maybe 15-20minutes. I'm down to 85%. Then I tried to take a bunch of pictures with flash(around 10). It dropped to 38% when doing so. Then once the battery caught up, its at 75%. And its only been off the charger for like 2:30hours.
ehartung
02-23-2003, 08:53 PM
Join the club starstreak !! Went to circuitcity to get an exchange today.. NONE IN STOCK...GRRRR
jedix
02-23-2003, 09:06 PM
Originally posted by MAJI
Ah Yes! You finally got it! Congrats! You will love it! Please read all these threads reguarding battery life, so you won't have to go through what we had to.
Thanks! Yes, I have been reading along, knowing I was going to get one (when I finally could find one). I hope that I can get mine to hold a charge alright.
jedix
02-23-2003, 09:07 PM
Originally posted by Unregistered
Congrats Jedix let us know how it work out for tomorrow
I will...I'll probably take it easy on my baby on its first day!:rolleyes:
sindu
02-23-2003, 09:20 PM
Lots of happy cowboys here....all armed with their latest "gun" ready to "shoot" with "flash" and still have tons of "energy" remain....Well I wonder if i made the right decision to cancel my NZ and waiting for the TG ???
starstreak
02-23-2003, 09:32 PM
sindu- is that picture of yours here in Hawaii?
I wish I can say my battery life is better.
sindu
02-23-2003, 09:49 PM
Starstreak,
That was my campus in San Jose State University. I went there 23 years ago and still a life time alumuni.
starstreak
02-23-2003, 09:56 PM
well you said someplace warm. :)
lisabeth
02-23-2003, 09:58 PM
So why are so many of us having problems with the battery life even after a full drain and charge? NTW-I'm not an nz knocker; I love my little machine, but the battery thing is curious anyway.
MythoFactory
02-23-2003, 10:12 PM
about CLIEviewer=
I unchecked all the icons on the upper right corner, so it lists NOTHING, and when I tap the icon accidentally, it takes only 1 sec. to go back. try it!
starstreak
02-23-2003, 10:20 PM
same here, I'm new to palm, but I like this SOny,which is why they (compusa) had better allow me to exchage this unit tomorrow.
lisabeth
02-23-2003, 11:03 PM
So how many times do you think I need to drain and charge before I should see results. I mean, my battery drops really fast (in a matter of an hour, playing a simple game).
ehartung
02-23-2003, 11:32 PM
AT THIS MOMENT MY BATTERY IS AT 1%.. If I turn on the device it will go off in 3 secods..
I'm gonna put it to charge it and I'll check it out tomorrow how did it go. But I'm gonna get a new one anyways (after that drop...)
eric2002
02-24-2003, 12:48 PM
it's great to read all of your emails.... this is all good info. for when my NZ finally arrives. I ordered it on the 12th of February!!!! ...lesson: never choose UPS ground!!! -I think they put my NZ on the back of a snail!
jedix
02-24-2003, 01:35 PM
My first full day with my nz90 is going great! I have taken about 10 pictures with the flash and have used it for about 1/2 hour besides that, and the battery is at 75 percent. Not the greatest, but its fine for me.
jedix
02-24-2003, 08:26 PM
Ok..first full day over. Took about 20 pictures and used it about 40 minutes besides taking the pictures. It still has 75 percent battery! I think that's great! Everything is great about the device, except the stylus. That is my only complaint. But, hey, nobody's perfect.
Originally posted by lisabeth
So how many times do you think I need to drain and charge before I should see results. I mean, my battery drops really fast (in a matter of an hour, playing a simple game).
Where do you have your brightness set?
starstreak
02-24-2003, 08:43 PM
I use mine at 50%. I can't see going less. Just wouldn't make sense to have a good screen that dim.
lisabeth
02-24-2003, 09:00 PM
I keep the brightness set between 1/3-1/2. Almost never higher, I mean, it's a great screen. I'm trying the camera test now (how many pictures can I take with the flash before the camera disables the flash). I can guarantee it'll be nowhere near davy's.
starstreak
02-24-2003, 09:02 PM
let me know. my "old"nz90 was useless if the battery was around 75%. It would drop to around 55% and go down fast from there. at around 60% the drop is greater. down to 38% and after 2-3 flash shots, it quits on me.
lisabeth
02-24-2003, 09:11 PM
I'm not a good scientist-I didn't start at 100%. I'll have to try that later. Bottom line, I started at 85%, got 11 pix with flash, then the flash disabled (around 35% batt?). Ater a couple of minutes, the batt went back up to 85%, but I could only get 4-5 pix with flash after that in one sitting. It's like the battery goes back up when the camera is off, but the battery keeps dropping rapidly as soon as the camera is activated, and thus deactivating the flash. Hmmmm I ramble.
starstreak
02-24-2003, 09:41 PM
at least it goes to 85% again. mine would be like 70-75%
LITTLESIX
02-24-2003, 09:44 PM
my screen is set to less than 1/3. regardless of how good the screen it is, it's all about prolonging the battery. i can see it just fine at 1/3
lisabeth
02-24-2003, 10:42 PM
Yeah, well I don't see just fine; at least not anymore! Must be old age!! ;)
lisabeth
02-24-2003, 10:43 PM
Just kidding, six; I'm usually in a brighter light that requires that range; but still, almost always under 1 /2.
I keep mine at 75% and it works perfect!
GoldenTiger
02-26-2003, 10:49 AM
Originally posted by MAJI
Hey guys, turn the brightness down on your screen! Man, I didn't know it was turned down on mine until I checked today. There is a BIG difference in battery life! The NZ screen is so vivid and bright that you can turn it down. I still have my NX and when I compared the two, the NZ brightness at 75% is still as bright as the NX at 100%! Try it, it WORKS!
Technically, 66% NZ brightness = 100% NX brightness according to specs Sony has posted :). No need to keep brightness high on the NZ :D!
jedix
02-26-2003, 12:18 PM
Hey, I'm trying to use mine to get a suntan!
davy19
02-26-2003, 12:23 PM
Originally posted by GoldenTiger
Technically, 66% NZ brightness = 100% NX brightness according to specs Sony has posted :). No need to keep brightness high on the NZ :D!
just curious how you found that exact number?
vansouza
02-26-2003, 03:13 PM
My brightness is really turned down, 20-25% ... way to the left of the dial and I turned off the IR always on thing. I used it all day at work taking pictures to show .... impresses some PPC bigots big time... Played a game through lunch and when I left work it was at 75%... played more at dinner and took pictures and video... it never dropped ... I wonder about two things... It acts like a Vet gas guage... drops fast in the biginning then levels off and that frequent charges are a good thing... I think...
Originally posted by GoldenTiger
Technically, 66% NZ brightness = 100% NX brightness according to specs Sony has posted :). No need to keep brightness high on the NZ :D!
Exactly!
ralchizar
02-27-2003, 12:10 AM
Last night I did not want to wake up my roomate as i came in, so i used the screen at 100% as a flashlight, no joke!!
Hey guys, i talked to my wife's friend who works for Sony. He said that the reason the battery icon drops when you use the camera is because the NZ is letting you know how much battery life you would have if you kept it in camera mode. That's why when we switch back out of the camera, the battery icon goe's back up. Now I get it!
starstreak
02-27-2003, 05:22 PM
I dunno, that sounds like a cop-out. To me the indicator is like a car battery. You start up your car (turning on the camera) and by keeping it in cranking mode(leaving on the camera mode) it'll show a big drop in power. But turn it off and it'll go back up to what the normal reserve is. What SOny needs is a battery with higher CCA(cold cranking amps). LOL
Well I know in my truck, if I run all day on 4 wheel drive my gas goe's like it had a hole in the tank! It's not to hard to believe.
starstreak
02-27-2003, 05:40 PM
well yes, but when you take your foot off the gas, your gas tank doesn't fill back up.
What I meant by cop-out is SOny knows about the battery drop (which in my opinon makes teh camera almost usless bellow 50% battery) and to coverup the battery drainage, they are saying its normal cuz we made it do that to show you your battery life with the camera...true, but not all true.
dorianne
02-27-2003, 05:44 PM
ralchizar, where did you get your acid image?
Originally posted by dorianne
ralchizar, where did you get your acid image?
Get Acid Image at www.redmercury.com If you have the NZ, you will need to purchase the upgrade.
blueprints
03-04-2003, 07:18 AM
Does Acid Image 2.1 work on e NZ?
No, you have to upgrade to version 2.4r
Acid Image is still having problems with showing pictures shot with the NZ at 1600x1200. I'm still waiting for them to fix it!
GoldenTiger
03-08-2003, 03:08 PM
Originally posted by ralchizar
Last night I did not want to wake up my roomate as i came in, so i used the screen at 100% as a flashlight, no joke!!
I use mine as a flashlight all the time... just toss memopad on, brightness to 100 and voila!
I called Sony about the blocky Movie Player playback and they agreed with me that this was a common complaint with NZ users. The rep told me that there will be a third party software that will improve the Movie Player playback coming soon.
ralchizar
03-09-2003, 09:40 PM
hooray!!!:D:D:D:D
I can't wait
starstreak
03-09-2003, 10:24 PM
Playback? I thought the blocky came from the recording, so upgrading a "player" should not improve the picture quality. if that was the case, playing the movie should look ok on my home computer.
Marudine
03-09-2003, 11:16 PM
I thought SONY should solve the issue rather than a 3rd party ? I agreed with starstreak, it should be the recording process that cause the "blocky"thing and not the post-process i.e the player.
the_iceman
03-10-2003, 11:55 AM
If you want to check to see how 'blocky' it really is..... transfer a movie clip you have taken to your PC .... and view it with Quicktime. I did it..... and did not notice all the blockiness. I would assume it is more in the player.. than the recorder.
The issue of 'blockiness' could be either the recording software/camera, or the player. It could even be a combination of both.
Take a 32bit color .bmp file and make it your desktop which is set for 256 colors. It sucks don't it? That is because of the color-set/pallete your computer is using (256 color pallete) compared to the picture's pallete (32bit). It has to translate the 32bit color (true color) down into 256 colors.
Same in regards to your Movie Player. If your Player isn't as good as your images... the images/movies may appear blotchy/blocky/out-of-color...etc.
I hope everyone has a great day! :)
oneeyesquare
03-10-2003, 03:45 PM
I tried it on the PC as well. Blocky to me. My one disappointment with the NZ.... Hope there is a 3rd party fix: though why it needs to be third party escapes me. A simple patch would suffice.
At the top , Maji, mentioned AcidImage problems. Make sure you have the latest version 2.4r or later and no leftover thumbs from previous versions. I have no problems viewing or generating thumbs for 1600x1200 pics...
Originally posted by oneeyesquare
I tried it on the PC as well. Blocky to me. My one disappointment with the NZ.... Hope there is a 3rd party fix: though why it needs to be third party escapes me. A simple patch would suffice.
At the top , Maji, mentioned AcidImage problems. Make sure you have the latest version 2.4r or later and no leftover thumbs from previous versions. I have no problems viewing or generating thumbs for 1600x1200 pics...
So I have to get rid of all my pictures then download them again?
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