Help Task Killers! Must read for new Android Users

[sikclown]

Very interesting read indeed!

I would think that ATKs are like Window's Task Manager. When you kill an app, it's like ending a process in WTM. I've had a lot of success with WTM when tasks just hangs up. Instead of rebooting, i would just launch WTM and end the process.

The main question now, is how would I know which process (task) to turn off when I need to - in an Android environment... Looks like I'll be learning the hard way... LOL!

I am telling you, you will really never need it. You have to change your WinMo mentality. If you open a task killer on an Android phone you will see a lot of programs and processes running just like you would on WinMo however they aren't running... They are hibernating so to speak until an app needs them. If memory gets too low Android automatically closes apps that may be running. It is leaps and bounds over WinMo memory management

 

[SirSlayer]

i am telling you, you will really never need it. You have to change your winmo mentality. If you open a task killer on an android phone you will see a lot of programs and processes running just like you would on winmo however they aren't running... They are hibernating so to speak until an app needs them. If memory gets too low android automatically closes apps that may be running. It is leaps and bounds over winmo memory management

+1

 

[Ky1e.YC]

To be specific, it kills the parent thread/process. So if there's an app that spawns several children processes, it kills the parent & the children.

do have a question. will all those killed processes restart when u reboot your phone?

 

[SirSlayer]

do have a question. will all those killed processes restart when u reboot your phone?

If the application they belong too starts up as well. If not then nope.

 

[Caloy]

I am telling you, you will really never need it. You have to change your WinMo mentality. If you open a task killer on an Android phone you will see a lot of programs and processes running just like you would on WinMo however they aren't running... They are hibernating so to speak until an app needs them. If memory gets too low Android automatically closes apps that may be running. It is leaps and bounds over WinMo memory management

I understand what you're saying, but I never really had a WinMo device. I was talking more into Windows PC OS....

One question though, does ATK have the CPU load that WTM has? Because that's how I can tell which app is hanging and which are just hibernating. I don't think I'll encounter any poorly written apps, but at least I have an option to shut one down just in-case.

 

[Clock]

Good stuff to read in here. I'm also coming from WinMo.

I think what I'll do is have a Task Killer installed, but I'll turn the automated stuff out and hang on to it strictly as a manner to shut down whacky / frozen processes.

Probably a stupid question, but do most Android programs have an actual "Quit" or "Close" function such that if I'm done with an app and know I won't be loading it up again any time soon, I can tell the program to gracefully quit?

 

[SirSlayer]

Good stuff to read in here. I'm also coming from WinMo.

I think what I'll do is have a Task Killer installed, but I'll turn the automated stuff out and hang on to it strictly as a manner to shut down whacky / frozen processes.

Probably a stupid question, but do most Android programs have an actual "Quit" or "Close" function such that if I'm done with an app and know I won't be loading it up again any time soon, I can tell the program to gracefully quit?

Some do and some don't. I have heard that even having the Task Killer apps installed can still cause issues. I would recommend Astro File Manager. It has a built in Task Killer for the rare times you might have an app out of control. Astro is non intrusive, is great for accessing and managing your SD Card, and offers task killing if its needed. There are other options in there too that are pretty cool.

 

[keatre]

I'm semi-new to Android (I have the

 

[SirSlayer]

I'm semi-new to Android (I have the

 

[keatre]

Nice Article, I will post it in the first post. I am not sure if the ins and outs of K-9. But I do know that you have to have a gmail account to use the phone. I don't know what would happen if you kill off the Google mail client. Only thing I could recommend is to give a shot and see....post the results if you do it ;-)

Thanks for the quick response. G-mail and K-9 were the two I thought of first, I meant it more as -- if the phone is running an app that I do not use (as I use another for it), would it be safe to kill.

However, after reading the article, it answers my questions more thoroughly. Thanks again for the speedy response.

 

[SirSlayer]

LOL speedy responses! Just sitting here working...to bad my boss doesn't think I respond that fast.......HAHA.

 

[dbpaddler]

If you're going to use K9 for gmail, just change the settings for gmail so it doesn't get email or show notifications. Pretty simple I would think.

 

[keatre]

If you're going to use K9 for gmail, just change the settings for gmail so it doesn't get email or show notifications. Pretty simple I would think.

Oh, sorry, perhaps I wasn't really clear as to what I was saying. What I meant was that if I dedicated K-9 for e-mail, Gmail would still run, regardless. The initial question was whether or not to kill Gmail at that point, as K-9 had all controls.

Now as I said above, this is a bad example, as you never want to kill a Google or "android." app running. But was just the easiest example I could think of at the time.

 

[tomhagen]

Is something like the 'Uninstaller' app by rhythmsoftware from appbrain also potentially harmful?

Fastest and simplest uninstall tool on android!

Features:
*Remove user application easily by single click!
*Display application name,version,install time and size
*Search application by name
*Various sort mode
*Ignore system applications that can not be uninstalled

v1.3.5: Fix force close on some devices.

Latest version: 1.3.5 (for all Android versions)Uninstaller - Android app on AppBrain

 

[SirSlayer]

Is something like the 'Uninstaller' app by rhythmsoftware from appbrain also potentially harmful?

Fastest and simplest uninstall tool on android!

Features:
*Remove user application easily by single click!
*Display application name,version,install time and size
*Search application by name
*Various sort mode
*Ignore system applications that can not be uninstalled

v1.3.5: Fix force close on some devices.

Latest version: 1.3.5 (for all Android versions)Uninstaller - Android app on AppBrain

Woot first time poster! welcome to the forums.....

I don't have experience using third party uninstallers except for using Astro File Manager to install and uninstall apps that I didn't get from the market. When you install from the market you can uninstall from the market as well. I would recommend that for sure. Use a third party uninstall app to remove them I know with Astro you can install and uninstall apps from the sd card which might be helpfull.

 

[tomhagen]

Woot first time poster! welcome to the forums.....

I don't have experience using third party uninstallers except for using Astro File Manager to install and uninstall apps that I didn't get from the market. When you install from the market you can uninstall from the market as well. I would recommend that for sure. Use a third party uninstall app to remove them I know with Astro you can install and uninstall apps from the sd card which might be helpfull.

Big ups! probably won't install it, cause seemingly your saying it is superfluous.

 

[SirSlayer]

Big ups! probably won't install it, cause seemingly your saying it is superfluous.

Well I am no expert on that app so I don't know its always worth a try if you feel you can use it. ;-)

 

[ShinyBrown]

No forgiveness needed. There are several task manager applications that let you kill apps and processes within android. Some even have auto-kill features.

Its been a long standing argument for android OS on weather or not to use them. So I just posted my opinion and some articles in hopes people will give it a try. It really does make a difference from using one or not. Some people have good experience with them and some people don't. For some reason though the people that do use them get upset with the people that don't recommend them. I don't care if people use them or not. I just know from my usage it seems to make things run allot better.

Good read. good info...but...I couldn't resist.
Hyperbole and a Half: The Alot is Better Than You at Everything

 

[SirSlayer]

Good read. good info...but...I couldn't resist.
Hyperbole and a Half: The Alot is Better Than You at Everything

ROFL - Well maybe my use of ALLOT was not in the right context but I did not use "alot". While I do agree it should have been a lot.

A lot or allot?

Thanks for pointing this out. We learn things every day.

 

[ShinyBrown]

ROFL - Well maybe my use of ALLOT was not in the right context but I did not use "alot". While I do agree it should have been a lot.

A lot or allot?

Thanks for pointing this out. We learn things every day.

Thank You kind sir for having a sense of humor, I genuinely meant no offense; the use of ALOT doesn't bother me, it's a common mistake, but ever since I read hyperboleandahalf's tale on ALOT, every damn time I see it I chuckle, imagining what the ALOT would be doing!

 

[SirSlayer]

Thank You kind sir for having a sense of humor, I genuinely meant no offense; the use of ALOT doesn't bother me, it's a common mistake, but ever since I read hyperboleandahalf's tale on ALOT, every damn time I see it I chuckle, imagining what the ALOT would be doing!

HEHE none taken, I am ALOT hard to offend.

 

[jdk4asu]

Ok folks, after several years of a Palm Treo 700P and "standard" cell phones, I am changing over to the EVO tomorrow like everyone else. So I was wondering if you can answer a few things...

What is a Task Killer?

I own a Mac and am going to use Mark/Space to synchronize. Does anyone else use this set up or know about? It worked great on my Palm, but Palm was designed with Mac in mind.

I use Earthlink for my email and MIGHT switch over to .mac since I have a Mobile Me account. Must you use G-Mail with a 'droid?

Since most of the time it will only be able to run 3G, at least until the end of the year or until the start of next, will that preclude the use of the internet modem? I am purposely buying the EVO so I can utilize the modem with my old laptop.

If anyone can help, that would be great!

 

[SirSlayer]

Ok folks, after several years of a Palm Treo 700P and "standard" cell phones, I am changing over to the EVO tomorrow like everyone else. So I was wondering if you can answer a few things...

What is a Task Killer?

I own a Mac and am going to use Mark/Space to synchronize. Does anyone else use this set up or know about? It worked great on my Palm, but Palm was designed with Mac in mind.

I use Earthlink for my email and MIGHT switch over to .mac since I have a Mobile Me account. Must you use G-Mail with a 'droid?

Since most of the time it will only be able to run 3G, at least until the end of the year or until the start of next, will that preclude the use of the internet modem? I am purposely buying the EVO so I can utilize the modem with my old laptop.

If anyone can help, that would be great!

Task Killers are used to close apps or running processes that may still be loaded after you have closed the app. Because the phone offers multi-tasking curtain parts of apps may remain loaded until needed again. Some people believe they should be closed, but Android was built to close them if memory is needed.

A Google account is not needed but highly recommended. You can (today) create your Gmail account, add all your contacts and even add images to them, and tomorrow when you get your phone and add your GMail account all your contacts will be there in about 3-5 seconds.

You can add third party POP/IMAP/Exchange email with ease.

There are several tethering options out there. Might want to check out appbrain and do some searching for those. AppBrain - the best Android apps and games on the Android market. You can use wired options for tethering as well. I know PDANet can do that.


Not sure about the other questions I never used MAC.

BUMP on the mac questions.........

 

[Bnice]

Ok folks, after several years of a Palm Treo 700P and "standard" cell phones, I am changing over to the EVO tomorrow like everyone else. So I was wondering if you can answer a few things...

What is a Task Killer?

I own a Mac and am going to use Mark/Space to synchronize. Does anyone else use this set up or know about? It worked great on my Palm, but Palm was designed with Mac in mind.

I use Earthlink for my email and MIGHT switch over to .mac since I have a Mobile Me account. Must you use G-Mail with a 'droid?

Since most of the time it will only be able to run 3G, at least until the end of the year or until the start of next, will that preclude the use of the internet modem? I am purposely buying the EVO so I can utilize the modem with my old laptop.

If anyone can help, that would be great!

I have a mac and i'm new to mac but i have a hero and you need a g-mail account to access the app market so i use g-mail for everything.

 

[Putty]

Is this the same as a app killer? BB installed "advanced app killer" for me and told me to use that as much as possible. Is that good?