I wonder if the more modern mobile network protocols require slightly more power than the 2-3G of old. It’s probably a rounding error; it would run forever™ minus an hour or so.
Thanks for bringing this up. Most places - even Finland where I still saw original 3310’s in use a few years ago - are shutting these networks down. The 3310 did not have 3G btw. I don’t think they even called whatever it had 2G back then.
Mind you, performance went through the roof compared to 2/3G. Performance per watt went up. But to get that sweet 200-600Mbps wireless, you need more power. More uptime on the modem.
A phone from 25 years ago would “stay connected” to the network but idle the modem or even shut down higher functionalities beyond the standard connection ping. A modern phone is CONSTANTLY streaming data. Push notifications. Optimised download of music, syncing of photos, emails, chat messages for your 74 different apps in their different protocols. There’s no built in protocol to optimise a specific channel (SMS/MMS/RCS usage is considerably lower than iMessage, WhatsApp, Messenger, Viber, Telegram, etc.).
All that creep uses up resources. And unfortunately, the Windows Phone approach of designing for the lowest common denominator, with sane background task rules etc., went out the window around 2014 (even on desktop).
All of this combined makes a modern 3310 nigh impossible.
Or, you can have it, but it’s not a phone worth having, because all it will be able to do is call, send text messages, and maybe have a basic browser built in…
A phone from 25 years ago would “stay connected” to the network but idle the modem or even shut down higher functionalities beyond the standard connection ping. A modern phone is CONSTANTLY streaming data. Push notifications. Optimised download of music, syncing of photos, emails, chat messages for your 74 different apps in their different protocols.
you have lost the point. the point is not all that apps. the question was about the bare minimum needed for voice over 3G/4G. no push notifications, no music streaming, no apps of any kind. calls, and sms
All of this combined makes a modern 3310 nigh impossible.
does not. a 3310 was not an entertainment center, and a recreation of it wouldn’t either.
Or, you can have it, but it’s not a phone worth having, because all it will be able to do is call, send text messages, and maybe have a basic browser built in…
Well, a Nokia style phone would not need all this permanent movement of data. That is basically the point of such a device. Just Phonebook, phone, SMS, clock, alarm. But no Facebook, browser, Instagram, YouTube, photos and videos.
Optionally, a simple camera that only stores locally, and uploads to the PC via USB, and/or a simple MP3 player, also to be fed via USB. No cloud stuff, no network.
Sounds a lot like the minimal phones that exist these days. Some of them really just call and text. Some are a bit nicer since they have navigation and a simple distraction free browser.
If you were to use only 2G and disable mobile data, it should last several days.
And that’s why this whole idea is getting increasingly unrealistic. The world has moved on, and there’s no going back. But in theory, it should still be possible to get amazing battery life with modern chips and batteries. You would also need to change the phone grid to make that dream fully come true.
I wonder if the more modern mobile network protocols require slightly more power than the 2-3G of old. It’s probably a rounding error; it would run forever™ minus an hour or so.
Thanks for bringing this up. Most places - even Finland where I still saw original 3310’s in use a few years ago - are shutting these networks down. The 3310 did not have 3G btw. I don’t think they even called whatever it had 2G back then.
Not just slightly more power. A lot more power.
Mind you, performance went through the roof compared to 2/3G. Performance per watt went up. But to get that sweet 200-600Mbps wireless, you need more power. More uptime on the modem.
A phone from 25 years ago would “stay connected” to the network but idle the modem or even shut down higher functionalities beyond the standard connection ping. A modern phone is CONSTANTLY streaming data. Push notifications. Optimised download of music, syncing of photos, emails, chat messages for your 74 different apps in their different protocols. There’s no built in protocol to optimise a specific channel (SMS/MMS/RCS usage is considerably lower than iMessage, WhatsApp, Messenger, Viber, Telegram, etc.).
All that creep uses up resources. And unfortunately, the Windows Phone approach of designing for the lowest common denominator, with sane background task rules etc., went out the window around 2014 (even on desktop).
All of this combined makes a modern 3310 nigh impossible.
Or, you can have it, but it’s not a phone worth having, because all it will be able to do is call, send text messages, and maybe have a basic browser built in…
you have lost the point. the point is not all that apps. the question was about the bare minimum needed for voice over 3G/4G. no push notifications, no music streaming, no apps of any kind. calls, and sms
does not. a 3310 was not an entertainment center, and a recreation of it wouldn’t either.
that’s the whole point
Those devices already exist tho. You can buy dumb/featurephones already. They exist with modern hardware and can last 2-4 weeks…
Well, a Nokia style phone would not need all this permanent movement of data. That is basically the point of such a device. Just Phonebook, phone, SMS, clock, alarm. But no Facebook, browser, Instagram, YouTube, photos and videos.
Optionally, a simple camera that only stores locally, and uploads to the PC via USB, and/or a simple MP3 player, also to be fed via USB. No cloud stuff, no network.
Sounds a lot like the minimal phones that exist these days. Some of them really just call and text. Some are a bit nicer since they have navigation and a simple distraction free browser.
If you were to use only 2G and disable mobile data, it should last several days.
Sure, but 2G networks don’t exist anymore. Even 3G is being phased out.
And that’s why this whole idea is getting increasingly unrealistic. The world has moved on, and there’s no going back. But in theory, it should still be possible to get amazing battery life with modern chips and batteries. You would also need to change the phone grid to make that dream fully come true.