Maybe those free apps we've been downloading for years aren't really a bargain after all.
It turns out, these "free apps" have built-in advertisements so developers can make money without having to charge for the initial app download. And these free ads can account for 75% of your device's energy consumption.
The research, produced by at team at Purdue University looked at popular apps such as Angry Birds and Facebook.
Due to restrictions built into Apple's mobile operating system, the team was unable to run tests on the iPhone, but other platforms were tested.
In the case of Angry Birds, research suggested that only 20% of the total energy consumption was used to actually play the game itself.
Of the rest, 45% is used finding out your location with which it can serve targeted advertising.
How can smartphone and tablet users protect themselves from this practice?
It is unavoidable if users want to enjoy free, ad-supported games and applications, but if you don't play these games, you shouldn't have to worry.
However, one expert says developers should give more consideration to energy consumption when building in new features. That, and improving battery life in general on these devices.
