Previously deleted files still remain

[zajacattack]

No, it's not harmful. It's worth it if you are always adding/deleting music.

However, if you are like me, and listen to music much more often than you add/delete, then the battery will get more life with less spin-ups due to pointless updates. Know what I mean?

I would recommend simply re-initializing the database (Settings->General Settings->Database->Initialize now) everytime you add or delete music.

[studente]

I wouldn't recommend that. It will spin up the disk on every start-up then and use the battery more. Especially since it is only necessary to re-initialize or update when you add or remove files.

Perfectly understand

BTW: Can I ask you what features should be disabled to preserve more battery?

[zajacattack]

Here is a good list:
1a) Backlight: It murders the battery. With some players you can turn it off: Settings->General Settings->Display->LCD Settings->Backlight
And, even if you can't turn it off (e.g. the Sansa needs it), you can turn the time in the setting listed above down to preserve battery.
1b) On the same note, you can go to LCD Settings->Brightness and turn that down to reduce battery.
1c) Basically, turning any of the backlight settings down will reduce battery.

2) Hard disk spin-up. A few things here: If you use the database a lot, turn on Load to RAM. If you use the file browser instead, turn on dircache. Be away though, that these settings can actually use the battery more if you almost never use the database and/or file browser, accordingly

3) Turning on hold whenever you are playing a song or don't need the controls activated will save battery by preventing you from accidentally pressing something that will cause power to be used. As well, it might help cut power to the controls, but that is just speculation by me.

4) Turning off crossfade, EQ, etc. will all save battery when playing music.

5) Using lower power headphones will save battery.

6) Encoding you music in more performance efficient codecs will save a bit of battery. See http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/CodecPerformanceComparison

That's all I can think of now. If you need help with any of these, check out the manual.

[Llorean]

He means "turn on dircache" in #2.

I'm not sure what basis he's judging the hold switch one on, I don't believe there's been any formal testing at all.

[zajacattack]

The hold switch is mostly for the idea that if you accidentally bump the scrollwheel or a key, no battery will be used at all.

[Llorean]

Ah, then you should say that. As you stated it, it reads that simply having the hold switch on is what saves the battery. Not everyone accidentally presses buttons, or even keeps the player in a position where this is possible.

[studente]

Thank you all guys for posting
If you've got more ideas feel free to post.

[zajacattack]

If you want to extend battery life (time before battery dies and you need new one), there are a few things you can do:

1) Keep battery away from heat. I'm not suggesting you freeze your battery. But, high temps have been shown to hurt the battery.
2) Use it every once in a while to keep the electrons moving. Going more than one month without at least using your player once is a bad idea.
3) Don't do little charge cycles. Wait for the battery to be low(er) and then charge it the full way. This is due to the fact that studies have shown that battery life is based on charge cycles, not time.

[Llorean]

Battery life is based on time spent  charging, not "how many times it gets to 100%". Point #3 is erroneous for Lithium based batteries. While it might improve battery life very slightly, it misrepresents the reasoning for this, which is actually things like that Lithium batteries store best when at approximately half full so if you regularly charge it to full, it's in a state where it'll decay more.

I also have no idea where he's pulling #2 out of, as storing the player safely in a fairly cold, dry place at 40% battery and not using it at all is the best way to make it last as long as possible.

[zajacattack]

http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm
http://spicygadget.com/2006/12/24/guide-getting-the-most-out-of-your-lithium-battery/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_ion_battery#Guidelines_for_prolonging_Li-ion_battery_life

I know this might shock you, Llorean, but sometimes I do research and know what I'm talking about. More charge cycles and higher temperature have both been shown to decay lithium batteries faster.

[Llorean]

I actually said low temperatures are better for the player in my post. I never contradicted your statement about heat. I asked where you got the idea people should use their player a certain amount.

In fact, in the article you've tried to use to correct me, it says quite clearly

Fully discharging your Lithium battery frequently can actually be quite harmful to your battery’s health,

In the future, when trying to disprove me, read the articles you're using to do so. You could've left that one out and had a slightly stronger point. As well, attempt to disprove the points where I actually disagree with you, and ignore the ones where I backed you up, as rare as that is, it does happen, and did here on the "heat" issue.

[zajacattack]

3) Don't do little charge cycles. Wait for the battery to be low(er) and then charge it the full way. This is due to the fact that studies have shown that battery life is based on charge cycles, not time.

I didn't say to discharge the full way. I simply was suggesting a good way to keep charge cycles down. I know that there is a reason that players shut down before the battery completely discharges.

Sorry about the heat thing. I read your post wrong. That was my fault.

http://www.geeksquad.com/tools/detail.aspx?id=357
There is the source for the using and charging at least once a month rule.

[Llorean]

The fully mentioned in the article is not deep discharge. Complete discharge is non-recoverable, the battery can't be charged at that point. In fact all mentioned articles explicitly suggest using frequent little charges rather than waiting and doing larger charges.