Task killer apps " THE TRUTH"

[Impact9]

You don't have to kill all the task. I have the Advanced Task Manager app and can exclude any program from the Kill All list.

I have to agree with kotic, killing apps you're not using will keep battery life and speed optimized. Using memory does come with a cost. Changing the O/S doesn't change the physical properties of the hardware.

 

[sohc sti]

I've had ATK on my phone since day one. I just deleted it Friday and I've noticed no change in speed. Oh and now I get E-mail notifications too.

 

[johnlgalt]

I have ATM installed - and I get e-Mail notifications regardless (GMail that is).

 

[billd]

Ive had about 5 different people tell me that Android is very similar to Linux and it uses resources differently than window, the apps show up as running but it's in stand by( not slowing down the OS),

The Android kernel is a variation of the Linux kernel. It's not similar to Linux. It is Linux (or a subset of Linux with some special extensions).

Every app uses kernel resources, whether it is in a runnable state or not. This is true of Linux, and of UNIX, which Linux is patterned after.

Whether that makes a perceptible difference is another question, but it does use something. A lot of those background processes are also doing something. For example, WeatherBug. One might want to turn it off for a while.

 

[sohc sti]

Changing the O/S doesn't change the physical properties of the hardware.

No, but it does tell said hardware when to run. And unless the user interferes with that, it shouldn't when its in the background. Or so I hear.

 

[Jacqueline]

I added software to close programs on windows mobile because it didn't handle multitasking well and would require too many reboots. I have found Android manages it much better and I do not have the reboot problems.

 

[johnlgalt]

Sorry, dudes, but billd hit the nail on the head - it is a matter of whether the app does anything or not - and whether you want it to or not.

I, for one, start ATM, kill the apps I want to kill, and then kill ATM - no point in leaving it running if I want responsiveness and to conserve battery power, now it there?

There may not be a need in terms of the usual reasons for using one on Windows - to free memory - but there is most definitely a need for a device that barely gives you 7 hours of use when actively using the device. Any little thing helps.

If this were not the case, then SSDs would not have been designed for laptop use, and OSs would not be trying to get better and better at app and memory management in the first place - we'd all say "To hell with it, I'll just add more memory" and be one with it.

 

[Impact9]

When did volatile memory stopped using electrical power to store information? The more apps you have running the more power it's going to use. Sure it might be picowatts but still is wasted power. Then there are several apps out there that use GPS, CPU cycles, or the radio in the background. There are many that are buggy still and can have memory leaks.

If your sure of everything you have is running good then you won't need a task killer. But when I see the market place saying every app I have has an update available, I'll be sure to keep ATM installed.

 

[johnlgalt]

Not to mention the apps that actively seek a connection to update themselves (see weather apps, email notification, etc.).

For example - I have Corporate email always running when I start up - wtf?

I also have other tasks that I want running at certain times of the day, but other times I could care less - when I am in class from 8-12, I don't give a rat's derriere about the weather, and would like to kill weatherbug so it stops trying to get updates when it wants to, killing my battery using the 3G....

What's so wrong with wanting to kill those types of apps? yes, it is not windows - but yes it still uses my battery!!!!

 

[spectrrr]

yeah... i'm with both camps on this one.... Don't know what to think....

YES, its not windows.....

BUT if google maps is open and using my gps, I WANT TO KILL IT when I'm done using it, right???????????????

 

[lemodular]

yeah... i'm with both camps on this one.... Don't know what to think....

YES, its not windows.....

BUT if google maps is open and using my gps, I WANT TO KILL IT when I'm done using it, right???????????????

just kill the GPS; there is a widget built into the OS 2.0. that will toggle (on/off) your wifi, buletooth, gps, sync, and screen brightness.

 

[El Blacksheep]

This should REALLY be in a sticky somewhere!

 

[radikal]

i've heard this, decided to undelete today, i will check it tomorrow!

 

[Telexen]

Why is everyone automatically buying into this without any proof? Just because someone writes it in bold and enlarged text that it isn't Windows, magically they think Linux doesn't slow down when more applications are running (and are actually running) at the same time? That person obviously doesn't know Linux, because that's just false.

Someone needs to provide PROOF of this before everyone thinks it's fact...and that hasn't happened yet.

 

[Bolaz]

im with telexen on this one, i would like to see some proof....

 

[Apeman]

Im with Telexen, I think its time for some experimenting.
My droid is still as fast as I got it with ATM installed..... and its super fast. I think my Droid is the SuperDroid because I have only had one problem with it (Camera, like EVERYONE else), compared to the millions everyone else is having. Before I installed ATM, I had really crappy battery life but now I can get a full day out of it. Not sure if it was the battery calibration, or me killing apps like crazy.

 

[Nicks88]

Why is everyone automatically buying into this without any proof? Just because someone writes it in bold and enlarged text that it isn't Windows, magically they think Linux doesn't slow down when more applications are running (and are actually running) at the same time? That person obviously doesn't know Linux, because that's just false.

Someone needs to provide PROOF of this before everyone thinks it's fact...and that hasn't happened yet.

Well then please enlighten everyone. I deleted my task killer as I did not need it. If I want to kill something, i'll go through running services. Upon deleting that app, I started received notifications immediately, and the major difference was the smooth animation when I pull down the notification bar. Now you say that a certain person doesn't know linux and what he said was false, yet you offer no PROOF to back up your statement.

 

[Apeman]

Nicks, I think that you seem to think he was saying it in an attacking manner, which I think he did not. He was just stating that there is no current evidence for either side, and there should be some tests done. From my personal experience, it seems Task Manager has saved my battery, but I never had any speed issues before or after ATM install/uninstall. Judging that different people are having different issues with the Droid is a combination of manufacturing, the consumer use, and what apps people have installed and have running so we will never have a precise answer, and everyone's experience may vary.

 

[El Blacksheep]

ATK hasnt really been very useful for me; in fact it has caused more problems than it solved. I'd close Pandora with it, but then when I try to restart Pandora from the widget it just freezes and I have to run the app to get it working again.

 

[Nicks88]

ATK hasnt really been very useful for me; in fact it has caused more problems than it solved. I'd close Pandora with it, but then when I try to restart Pandora from the widget it just freezes and I have to run the app to get it working again.

I found that I really didn't need it at all. Some problems like yours occurred, but I found myself not using it at all after a while. Battery life stayed the same, even better, than when I was killing apps all the time. Basically, if you really want to kill apps, I'd say put a 'Running Services' shortcut on one of the pages. There are some threads on here where people have the proof that some people need. Not sure where, but I'll link it when I come across them again.

EDIT: Just do a search for advanced task killer, lots of info comes up. Also, I noticed some people are talking about task MANAGER, vice task KILLER. That could be the cause of confusion. Not sure.

 

[Nicks88]

Here is a good read about the need/lack of need to kill apps on another forum. Hope this clears some stuff up. PLEASE READ: Do NOT worry about Apps running in the Background - Droid Forum - Verizon Droid & the Motorola Droid Forum

EDIT: Skip to page 3 on that thread. The first post on that page is the meat and potatoes and explains a lot.

 

[Jorenm]

Interesting. Uninstalling ATK made my windowshade open much smoother. I never used ATK anyway, so I definitely don't miss it. The only thing you ever really need to kill is navigation, and there's a context menu option to actually close that.

 

[Nicks88]

Good read on another forum. Go to the first post on page 3. PLEASE READ: Do NOT worry about Apps running in the Background - Droid Forum - Verizon Droid & the Motorola Droid Forum

 

[aaron5610]

My phone is doing better with out the task killer apps. I'm a believer, its not going on my phone again that is for sure!

 

[Shiggs]

Ive had about 5 different people tell me that Android is very similar to Linux and it uses resources differently than window, the apps show up as running but it's in stand by( not slowing down the OS),

If you dont' believe me spend a whole day using Droid with Task Killer installed and killing everything like I did. and then try it for a day without Task killer. You'll find out that your Droid emails get through and battery life hasn't changed one bit.

Battery life is the key with cell phones, more apps running = shorter battery life.

I tested my phone with and without killing apps and it didn't make any difference with battery life.

Android is Linux