How to close apps without task or app killers?

[twilighter]

Ok, I'm very new here and am not tech savvy at all. I'm about to get my HTC evo, but I have read some people say get a app or task killer while others say its bad for an adroid phone. So, let's say I don't get a task killer app at all, how do you close applicatons?

 

[AMTrombley0924]

http://support.sprint.com/global/pdf/user_guides/htc/evo/htc_evo_ug.pdf

This is the User Guide for the EVO. Found it on the Sprint Website.

As far as I can tell, and this coincides with my Moto Droid, go to Settings>Applications. According to the Manual, you can clear the cache and data (I'm not sure this is the same as killing apps) on page 36.

What I do to kill apps, is Settings>Applications>Running Services. I then see a list of Apps that are running, and can stop them. This is safer than force closing them so you don't interrupt any services and mess up the app's abilities. I can also go to Manage Applications and force close any that I want, but I recommend only doing that if the App is frozen or malfunctioning.

Good luck with the Evo! I hear it's pretty damn sweet.

 

[Upright]

I'm very interested in this topic as well. I don't want to use a Task Killer if it's going to cause issues with the OS. I have removed the ATK but am too looking for the best way to stop apps from running when I don't need them to.

 

[nightfishing]

Most apps can be closed thru settings>applications, BUT there is not a reason to do this very often (and because you "don't need them running" is not a reason)

System Panel is also a very easy was to do this (and what I use to cycle the calendar off/on)

99.9% of the time leaving them alone is your best bet. If an app freezes or is doing something else unpleasant, I would just reboot. If it becomes common then remove the app.

 

[Upright]

Most apps can be closed thru settings>applications, BUT there is not a reason to do this very often (and because you "don't need them running" is not a reason)

System Panel is also a very easy was to do this (and what I use to cycle the calendar off/on)

99.9% of the time leaving them alone is your best bet. If an app freezes or is doing something else unpleasant, I would just reboot. If it becomes common then remove the app.

The thing is with an app like 'Shoot me' if you don't kill the app and leave it running in the background every time you shake your phone it takes a photo of the screen....in this situation the ability to kill the app is necessary.

 

[nightfishing]

I wouldn't run an app like that didn't allow for closing from within the app itself.

fixed the typo

 

[Upright]

I would run an app like that didn't allow for closing from within the app itself.

Not sure I follow what you mean here.

 

[Bluesman2008]

Probably meant "wouldn't".

 

[androidized]

Task killers are ok, as long as you don't kill main services.

 

[techgeek]

I'm new to android too and I am still learning how it operates. The research I have done to close apps is simply back out of them instead of hitting the home key. If an app is opened and not used for awhile, the os will close the apps. I hope this helps!

 

[TruFatty]

i used to use ATK(advanced task killer) to close apps that i didn't want running. while the concept is there, actually having it work correctly is not. applications like that need full access to your phone in every aspect of the word.

in my experience i have found that after installing the app, it would work correctly but i would start to notice small issues happening with my Motorola milestone, random re-boots, alarm clock not working, issues with sending a txt msg or MMS. i quickly uninstalled this app, rebooted the phone and has been running perfectly like it should.

the android os does an excellent job of putting any apps you are not currently using to "Sleep" and closing the ones you havn't used in a while. like many have said, you should use the arrow key instead of the home key to bring the app back to a sleep state.

i would stay away from task killers as the phone doesn't need them and you will probably have issues weeks to months after installing, thinking the hardware is faulty.

 

[lexluthor]

Don't bother closing apps (unless one gets locked up doing something and keeps the CPU going crazy).

Right from Android development team:
Android Developers Blog: Multitasking the Android Way

 

[Tre Lawrence]

The concept of closing apps is deeply ingrained to me as a BB user. BB users will tell you of the catastrophic results of daring to not close apps immediately after getting done with them...

My research into the way Android deals with open apps is one of the biggest reasons I am switching over to Android.