Need help with Sprint/HTC crap

[Esoteric55]

Hey guys. So I am still a bit stupid about Android (this is my first Android phone). So could someone point me to a thread, or post here about how to get rid of some of the Sprint/HTC crap from my phone?

I am having a problem with Qik, mp3 player, Sprint Navigation, and other programs randomly starting up and trying to update and eating up battery and resources. I use task killer, but I notice that even when I kill the task I don't usually get all the memory back (when I start up I have 200+m after about an hour I have 130m and I usually end up with 40m by the end of the day when I have to restart the phone).

Can you guys help a total newb?

Mike

 

[SirSlayer]

Hey guys. So I am still a bit stupid about Android (this is my first Android phone). So could someone point me to a thread, or post here about how to get rid of some of the Sprint/HTC crap from my phone?

I am having a problem with Qik, mp3 player, Sprint Navigation, and other programs randomly starting up and trying to update and eating up battery and resources. I use task killer, but I notice that even when I kill the task I don't usually get all the memory back (when I start up I have 200+m after about an hour I have 130m and I usually end up with 40m by the end of the day when I have to restart the phone).

Can you guys help a total newb?

Mike

First issue is the task killer. Causes all kinds of problems. I suggest reading the article on my signature first. You don't need a task killer. Second, if you want to remove stock apps I would suggest looking up how to root. Its the only way to get rid of stock apps.

 

[Esoteric55]

If I don't use a task killer my phone bogs down to the point where it takes several seconds to respond to simple touch commands like dialing (took me over a minute to dial a phone number).

Mike

 

[SirSlayer]

If I don't use a task killer my phone bogs down to the point where it takes several seconds to respond to simple touch commands like dialing (took me over a minute to dial a phone number).

Mike

Then you have worse problems. I have never used a task killer....and my phone is fast as hell. Maybe think of reset to factory defaults, don't load a task killer and just try it out. Its not windows, its not needed and causes issues once you install them like what you are having.

 

[Esoteric55]

So use a good backup and then reset to factory defaults?

Mike

 

[SirSlayer]

So use a good backup and then reset to factory defaults?

Mike

Well if you have other applications that are causing the phone issues.....I might think of just starting over...install apps one at a time...use the phone for a bit and make sure they don't jack things up. As far as contacts if you use google then they will load automatically when you re-sign in. Otherwise Titanium is a good back up.

 

[Esoteric55]

Well if you have other applications that are causing the phone issues.....I might think of just starting over...install apps one at a time...use the phone for a bit and make sure they don't jack things up. As far as contacts if you use google then they will load automatically when you re-sign in. Otherwise Titanium is a good back up.

I just don't want to lose the apps I have paid for (in case they are still good).

The problem is the stuff causing the issue is the Sprint stuff (Qik, Sprint Nav, MP3 player) that starts up randomly and I can't make stop.

Mike

 

[SirSlayer]

I just don't want to lose the apps I have paid for (in case they are still good).

The problem is the stuff causing the issue is the Sprint stuff (Qik, Sprint Nav, MP3 player) that starts up randomly and I can't make stop.

Mike

I don't have issue with that stuff, but the more you kill them off the more issues you are going to run into. Sounds to me you have reached the breaking point.

The paid apps will still be in the market under downloads and you will be able to download them when you need them.

 

[Esoteric55]

I don't have issue with that stuff, but the more you kill them off the more issues you are going to run into. Sounds to me you have reached the breaking point.

The paid apps will still be in the market under downloads and you will be able to download them when you need them.

So, how do I close apps that won't close on their own (ringtone apps, etc)?

Mike

 

[SirSlayer]

So, how do I close apps that won't close on their own (ringtone apps, etc)?

Mike

You don't. Android will do it for you when it needs the resources. Read the post in my signature. They are not running like you are thinking. I wrote that article just for cases like this. People complaining about how stuff is not working when they have been killing apps right and left. Trust me my wife and I both have Evos and never have issues with speed or anything like that. And we never kill apps. She is running stock and I am rooted. If you really want to get rid of the sprint apps then root and remove them. I suggest reading about it first though. There are quite a few steps to take.

 

[Esoteric55]

You don't. Android will do it for you when it needs the resources. Read the post in my signature. They are not running like you are thinking. I wrote that article just for cases like this. People complaining about how stuff is not working when they have been killing apps right and left. Trust me my wife and I both have Evos and never have issues with speed or anything like that. And we never kill apps. She is running stock and I am rooted. If you really want to get rid of the sprint apps then root and remove them. I suggest reading about it first though. There are quite a few steps to take.

I saw that. Friend rooted his successfully, will probably let him root mine if I decide. I will try running it without ATK for a few day and see what happens. If it slows down like it has been, then I will reset it back to factory defaults and try it without the ATK. It just took me days to get it set up, so I hate to undo all that.

Mike

 

[Esoteric55]

Also do you have no trouble with battery life? The first day I had my EVO my battery after I fully charged it lasted only about 4 hours.

Mike

 

[SirSlayer]

I am at 3.5 hours right now with 90% battery life. I would suggest rooting and using fresh rom. Removes most of the sprint and HTC stuff. So far I am pretty happy with it. Not task killer needed.

 

[superlinkx]

I can vouche for Task killers being a huge problem.

As for battery life. What will really help is keeping your sync services to a minimum. All of your Social accounts, email, weather, etc, turn them down to say once a day update or manual. I leave email push and everything else a day at maximum. Another thing is that you should exit apps correctly. Use the back button to exit apps. You will have to keep hitting it until you get to the homescreen. The home button puts the application in the background, so don't use it unless you need that app running. Some apps have an exit button on screen or under menu. Find it and learn to use it. For the few apps that my run after hitting back, such as the browser, use commantalb. It only exits apps, not kill tasks. I'm not exactly sure how it implements it, but I haven't had any problems, so I'm pretty sure it exits instead of killing.

Other battery drains are radios. Turn off wifi, bluetooth, gps, etc when not in use. Also, if you are in a bad coverage area, like the basement of a building, go into airplane mode. This is a huge battery waster, having the phone looking for signal constantly. I can easily get through a day with moderate use, and I'm a power user. If you get full root, try loading a custom overclock kernal and underclock the processor when the screen is off. This will definitely save you some power. Do these things and get rid of that task killer after resetting the phone, and your battery will improve. Also, Android tends to learn as you go, so battery will get better with use as will task managing. Let Android take care of you and you won't regret it.

Lastly, task killers are like drugs. They make your phone seem great, while they are working. But when you don't use them afterwards, the effects wear off and the phone is in worse shape than it would be if it never got addicted. Seriously, that's probably the best analogy of what task killers do to your phone. Good luck, and you can always contact any of us if you need more help. I have an Evo and a Hero, have done rooting and all the other stuff a lot, so I can usually help out.

 

[Esoteric55]

Thanks guys. Got rid of ATK and the phone is running really good now. I didn't remove ATK or restore the phone, I just don't use it anymore.

The only thing I want to get done now is to get rid of that Sprint stuff.

I used Revolution to root the phone, but when I uninstall the programs they just come right back.

Do I have to fully root my phone to uninstall? I am very nervous about fully rooting, because I am not usually really good with software hacks, and if I had to return the phone for any reason I don't want to get flack from Sprint.

Mike

 

[neodorian]

Unrevoked gives you superuser abilities (installing programs that require su, etc) but it's not a full root account so you can't remove certain system or protected files.

As far as tasks running, the only ones you really need to worry about are things that run on the desktop like widgets that always update. Also anything you see running at the top of the screen may be "active" and not just sitting there idle and using no resources.

 

[Esoteric55]

I meant Unrevoked. Thanks. I was trying to uninstall Amazon MP3, Qik, Sprint Football and NASCAR. Are those things that can't be removed or am I doing it wrong?

I am not worried about resources anymore (the unit seems to be running fine), but rather battery time. Don't want these useless programs eating up battery.

Mike

 

[SirSlayer]

I meant Unrevoked. Thanks. I was trying to uninstall Amazon MP3, Qik, Sprint Football and NASCAR. Are those things that can't be removed or am I doing it wrong?

I am not worried about resources anymore (the unit seems to be running fine), but rather battery time. Don't want these useless programs eating up battery.

Mike

Mike,

You have to full root to remove apps. I pulled the trigger and did full root after unrevoked using the idiots guide. And then unlocked nand thing and flashed fresh 0.3 Rom. Already had most of the bloteware gone and my battery life goes well over 24 hours on medium to heavy use. Well worth looking into. This post shows my path to full root. http://androidforums.com/tips-trick...must-read-new-android-users-3.html#post989727
If you follow step by step you should be good. I would read everything through first before jumping in.