Activesync vs IMAP Idle Push battery lives

[amirage]

Hi Kostya and others,

I have doing quite a bit of research on the above topic but I don't seem to get any conclusive evidence that one is better than the other. Hence I thought I'd post this question here to the email experts to get a proper feedback.

I do know that activsync push syncs email, calendar, tasks etc while theoretically app only receives an email when the server says there's one while IMAP Idle requires the app to have a live connection with the server almost all the time so that the emails get "pushed" to the app.

Given that I'm only interested in receiving emails (and least bothered about the syncing calendar/ tasks), which of the above options is less taxing on the battery? I'm not referring to the aqua mail app per se but any email app that supports both the protocols.

Looking forward to your comments.

[Kostya Vasilyev]

ActiveSync also requires a persistent connection to the server.

Without a server connection, how would an app get notified about changes? Extra Sensory Perception? Telepathy?

However:

AquaMail does not use ActiveSync when connecting to Exchange, it uses EWS (Exchange Web Services).

And at least for now, AquaMail does not have push mail for Exchange / EWS.

So there really isn't anything to decide, unless you want to compare AquaMail's IMAP IDLE vs. another app's ActiveSync.

[amirage]

Hey Kostya

Thanks for the update. I had guessed that the app would have needed an open connection to the server to get mails pushed.

Looking at the info I think IMAP idle is the way to go.

[amirage]

Hi Kostya

I have been doing some live testing on these protocols. To date, I have noticed that when my Google for work email is configured as normal gmail through Aquamail the mobile active is almost all the time that I have been on data. Now when I configure the same email as exchange using the stock app the mobile active is nearly 30% that of the imap times. I have run this test for weeks and it seems that exchange seems to have a lesser impact on battery.

I don't know if this is some sort of placebo effect or not and can only be verified if it's replicated by someone else.

[Kostya Vasilyev]

Since you mention "mobile radio active":

Please see the FAQ:

http://www.aqua-mail.com/?page_id=227

under "Android 5 and high battery use, 'mobile radio active'"

[amirage]

Yes Kostya. I'm well aware of the mobile active bug in L. The point is that exchange doesn't seem to keep the connection live for as long as IMAP. I could have only tested this using the data connection because on WiFi this is not reflected.

Also I have noticed that emails arrive faster on exchange mode than on IMAP. Just wanted to know your thoughts.

[StR]

For the IMAP connection, - do you have Push enabled?
If not, what is the frequency of e-mail checking for IMAP connection, and what is it for EWS (exchange)?

[amirage]

Yes, I have push enabled for IMAP. Besides, I don't have EWS but Activesync that's configured on the stock app.

[Kostya Vasilyev]

What what I know about ActiveSync (very little), it is somewhat more efficient than IMAP (not by a whole lot, but some).

Now cloud based apps (TypeMail, CloudMagic, MyMail) are a whole different story. Most of the work is done on their cloud servers, which then hand message changes to the mail app (on a plate with sugar on top).

[amirage]

Hahaha..Kostya...on a plate with sugar on top...good one...To me, I think these apps tend to mimick BB's email style although in a very bad way...I'm never comfortable in having a third-party software storing my email passwords in their servers...

Yes, I do think Activesync is slightly more battery efficient than IMAP idle at least my tests have proven so far. But think the best push mail for gmail is still the (rubbish) gmail app. I have had the app running on data throughout the day and the mobile active time was only 3 hrs when any other app (including the stock app configured on exchange) was on for far longer times...yet I never missed out on the push. The only reason I keep dumping the gmail app is due its rubbish interface...

[Kostya Vasilyev]

"But think the best push mail for gmail is still the (rubbish) gmail app"

Well, DUH!!!

Yes, it works off of Google Cloud Messaging -- and also gets state changes handed to it on a plate.

[amirage]

okie dokie...I guess this topic can be closed now...