Help Issues multitasking (white/black screen, etc) on the HTC EVO 4G LTE

[fattank]

I doubt the numbers matter, but fwiw, the LTEvo is 312 ppi.

Typo for 313, but 312[.5] ((1280/(cos(arctan(9/16)*4.7) is more accurate anyway. Corrected, thanks!

 

[IOWA]

I'm working on a fix for the multitasking issue, I think I may be on to a very simple "fix", but it's not perfect, but it is better.

To address about the GS3, I was very heavily debating the GS3, and still am. However, given Samsung's history of weak radios that kind of blows any performance increase out of the water in my opinion. An extra GB of RAM sounds great, but when a phone doesn't have great connectivity (I'm still amazed at the increase in performance in ALL the radios on the LTEvo)

Although, the mutitasking issue might be a moot point for me anyway, as I've always been a fan of CM, and CM9 is looking to be shaping up REALLY nice.

Linaro Android Nearly Doubles ICS Performance, And Now Parts Of It Are Being Added to CM9

 

[Bnice]

That looks real nice, I hope google is seeing this. Hey Iowa can you give a review of your thoughts on the EVO 4G LTE? (apologize for going off topic)..thanks

 

[IOWA]

That looks real nice, I hope google is seeing this. Hey Iowa can you give a review of your thoughts on the EVO 4G LTE? (apologize for going off topic)..thanks

Yes, actually I was planning on it already. After I get it set up to my liking I'm going to give a very detailed review.

 

[jj14x]

Yes, actually I was planning on it already. After I get it set up to my liking I'm going to give a very detailed review.

Waiting eagerly for your feedback

(trying to figure out whether to get SGS3 or EVO LTE
SGS3 - better multitasking, possibility (at least in theory) of global roaming by unlocking SIM (since vzn claims they will do it, it should be possible for sprint version to do so as well)
EVO LTE - better UI (my opinion), usually more timely updates/support, better display/camera)

Yes, I read http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-4g-lte/542768-compare-contrast-opinions-gsiii-vs-evo-4g-lte.html

 

[IOWA]

Waiting eagerly for your feedback

(trying to figure out whether to get SGS3 or EVO LTE
SGS3 - better multitasking, possibility (at least in theory) of global roaming by unlocking SIM (since vzn claims they will do it, it should be possible for sprint version to do so as well)
EVO LTE - better UI (my opinion), usually more timely updates/support, better display/camera)

Yes, I read http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-4g-lte/542768-compare-contrast-opinions-gsiii-vs-evo-4g-lte.html

Well to be fair, I'm probably going to get both lol

 

[3vodroid]

This is the one thing I can't stand about the evo... Literally every time I go to one of my recent apps.. It reloads the Page.. Super annoying... This definetly can't be what they intended

 

[rrs111]

Yes. I just upgraded to the EVO 4G LTE from HTC hero. When I have games open and return to them via recent apps, they do not take me back to where I left them...they restart. I didn't have this issue with the Hero, I now feel like I actually received a downgrade. Multi tasking is impossible.

 

[NeoteriX]

Someone mentioned multitasking with the game Cartoon Wars -- I was curious and tried it both on my Evo 3D and the Evo LTE. The Evo 3D can successfully multitask it with a few different apps, but the LTE cannot.

Does anyone know if the One X folks have made any progress on this?

 

[EarlyMon]

I'm running various tests on this using a One X rom modified for the LTEvo, but I'm testing various configurations, and it's too soon to give my version of the cookbook to solve this.

FWIW, I can say that I was unable to re-enter video streams for a service I subscribe to (anime) on stock, but now, I can hit Home, try something else, and go back into that video, in progress, just like I could on the 3vo.

So, I'm close, and it will require root, but it's looking very doable.

IOWA is definitely looking at the same thing, pretty sure novox77 is as well, and I know other rooters are, so, my point is a few of us are looking at different angles on how to do that, from different directions.

My issues were -

• 3-dot invasive screen menu bar (solved - it's gone)
• remapping hardware buttons (solved)
  • long press Home bring up menu from anywhere
  • long press multitasking (recent apps) button brings up QuickDesk
    • My preferred widgets, including Google search, and apps come up regardless of whether at homescreen or inside another app
  • rom I'm using gives a lot of flexibility on this, those are just my personal choices
• multitasking (in-progress, and a lot of positive data points/successful trials)
• battery life (must work right with multitasking fix selected)

So, that's where I'm at, fwiw.

PS - I've got a long press on the recent apps button bringing up QuickDesk, and I'm able to run some apps, launch QuickDesk to run others on the fly, exit them, and return to my running app in progress, no trouble for many apps. Given where I started on this one, that's not a bad report right there.

 

[NeoteriX]

Earlymon, is it the case that the One X folks have gotten/figured out a fix and you're working on implementing a similar solution for the Evo? Or is it more that your testing and experimentation is attempting to pave new ground for the One X and Evo alike?

 

[EarlyMon]

Earlymon, is it the case that the One X folks have gotten/figured out a fix and you're working on implementing a similar solution for the Evo? Or is it more that your testing and experimentation is attempting to pave new ground for the One X and Evo alike?

Maybe somewhere in between is a better answer.

The dev community for the One X and the LTEvo are both working at improving performance, but that's subjective. Many seem to trying to improve multitasking, other seem to be going for speed and smoothness, others are going for combinations, some are going for Sense implementations, others are providing hybrid Sense/Senseless - on some roms, everything works, on others everything works with caveats, and on others there are clear call-outs to work in progress.

So, rather than my usual tricks of doing whatever I needed under the hood for me (and often forgetting where my notes were months later), I decided on a different approach.

I had the following criteria -

• all functions had to work, as good as stock
• Sense 4 customizations that I hated (3 dot bar, buttons etc) easily fixed, along with missing features
  • this I got with the Charmeleon rom
  • no special skills required or flash this, superwipe that, stand on your head on Tuesday combo of tweak flashes that we usually face
  • it adds a set of customizations with a combo of either on/off buttons or menu selections that you use like a normal human while your phone is running, and the interface is clear and straightforward, very friendly
• Sense launcher and Sense widgets intact
  • At present, I'm in retreat on that, I'm using the Nova launcher
  • Biggest challenge was the Sense clock and after searching like crazy, I'm likely to recommend anything by Droid27 in the Store
  • My present homescreen is here
• and finally, full and comprehensive multitasking
• that anyone can get to with a series of 1,2,3,4 rooting and flashing steps
  • must be easy for everyone
• people wanting more or better or best are free to flash one of the integrated roms of their preference (taking what the rom dev gives them)

Getting multitasking to work is a matter of adjusting a combination of -

• Android memory limits that shuffle out or kills apps based on memory numbers (out of memory limits)
• virtual memory management limits
• adjusting cpu performance to respect the limits change (kernel cpu parameter adjustments)

The One X devs seem to have used two approaches - selecting from settings used by a Swiss Army Knife called the V6 Supercharger - or by adjusting various parameters on their own, the latter being what the present LTEvo devs are beginning to focus on.


The V6 Supercharger showed a lot of promise and I probably already have a settings combo sufficient for most people, but I was unsatisfied with what my combo (of everything) in particular did to battery life, so I'm trying some of the tricks under investigation by LTEvo dev -viperboy-. (just started that today, nothing to report yet)


IOWA is looking at doing the same thing by rolling his own set of multitasking tweaks (rather than my choose from the menu approach), and he's told me that he ought to be able to script them/bat file them so that they're accessible to anyone as well. Neither is asking for the other's numbers, I think we both want to wait until the end to compare notes - a parallax view on the problem, if you will.


TL/DR -


I'm going for an easy to flash, easy to install, easy to use, combo of things available from the dev community to solve the problem.


My criteria are - at least 12 web pages at once (16 preferred), with the ability to switch back and forth with a video stream and a game (both in progress) without either bailing out on the user (me) and without the launcher losing its mind - all without lag, all with acceptable losses in battery life (because something has to give somewhere).


I think if I can hit that reliably, then most folks can be happy.


FWIW - I could crash Sense 3 and about anything else on my 3vo if you just ask me to, all it takes is loading a lot stuff (20 web pages per session is very common for me).


Sorry for the long reply, hope this clarifies and is what folks might be interested in.

 

[kbp08tls]

@EarlyMon:
This is exactly what I would love to see on this phone! I've been laying low with flashing ROMs and mods right now until things settle in a little bit, plus I just haven't had the time to tinker.
Is it your intent to find what works best to fit your criteria, then put together "cookbook" for the rest of us to follow to achieve the same results?
Also, any particular reason you recommend Droid27's clock/weather widgets over others, such as Beautiful Widgets? The only drawback I see with BW is that there is no animated "flip" on the flip-clock when the time changes. Small detail, but I'm a sucker for things like that.

 

[IOWA]

Maybe somewhere in between is a better answer.

The dev community for the One X and the LTEvo are both working at improving performance, but that's subjective. Many seem to trying to improve multitasking, other seem to be going for speed and smoothness, others are going for combinations, some are going for Sense implementations, others are providing hybrid Sense/Senseless - on some roms, everything works, on others everything works with caveats, and on others there are clear call-outs to work in progress.

So, rather than my usual tricks of doing whatever I needed under the hood for me (and often forgetting where my notes were months later), I decided on a different approach.

I had the following criteria -

• all functions had to work, as good as stock
• Sense 4 customizations that I hated (3 dot bar, buttons etc) easily fixed, along with missing features
  • this I got with the Charmeleon rom
  • no special skills required or flash this, superwipe that, stand on your head on Tuesday combo of tweak flashes that we usually face
  • it adds a set of customizations with a combo of either on/off buttons or menu selections that you use like a normal human while your phone is running, and the interface is clear and straightforward, very friendly
• Sense launcher and Sense widgets intact
  • At present, I'm in retreat on that, I'm using the Nova launcher
  • Biggest challenge was the Sense clock and after searching like crazy, I'm likely to recommend anything by Droid27 in the Store
  • My present homescreen is here
• and finally, full and comprehensive multitasking
• that anyone can get to with a series of 1,2,3,4 rooting and flashing steps
  • must be easy for everyone
• people wanting more or better or best are free to flash one of the integrated roms of their preference (taking what the rom dev gives them)

Getting multitasking to work is a matter of adjusting a combination of -

• Android memory limits that shuffle out or kills apps based on memory numbers (out of memory limits)
• virtual memory management limits
• adjusting cpu performance to respect the limits change (kernel cpu parameter adjustments)

The One X devs seem to have used two approaches - selecting from settings used by a Swiss Army Knife called the V6 Supercharger - or by adjusting various parameters on their own, the latter being what the present LTEvo devs are beginning to focus on.


The V6 Supercharger showed a lot of promise and I probably already have a settings combo sufficient for most people, but I was unsatisfied with what my combo (of everything) in particular did to battery life, so I'm trying some of the tricks under investigation by LTEvo dev -viperboy-. (just started that today, nothing to report yet)


IOWA is looking at doing the same thing by rolling his own set of multitasking tweaks (rather than my choose from the menu approach), and he's told me that he ought to be able to script them/bat file them so that they're accessible to anyone as well. Neither is asking for the other's numbers, I think we both want to wait until the end to compare notes - a parallax view on the problem, if you will.


TL/DR -


I'm going for an easy to flash, easy to install, easy to use, combo of things available from the dev community to solve the problem.


My criteria are - at least 12 web pages at once (16 preferred), with the ability to switch back and forth with a video stream and a game (both in progress) without either bailing out on the user (me) and without the launcher losing its mind - all without lag, all with acceptable losses in battery life (because something has to give somewhere).


I think if I can hit that reliably, then most folks can be happy.


FWIW - I could crash Sense 3 and about anything else on my 3vo if you just ask me to, all it takes is loading a lot stuff (20 web pages per session is very common for me).


Sorry for the long reply, hope this clarifies and is what folks might be interested in.

Just wanted to add that the results I'm getting are better, but by no means comprehensive or near solved. I think this is going to take a multi-pronged approach that is above my 'paygrade', unless I dive into kernel development. There's a first for everything though.

 

[dan330]

keep up the good fight guys

 

[EarlyMon]

@EarlyMon:
This is exactly what I would love to see on this phone! I've been laying low with flashing ROMs and mods right now until things settle in a little bit, plus I just haven't had the time to tinker.
Is it your intent to find what works best to fit your criteria, then put together "cookbook" for the rest of us to follow to achieve the same results?
Also, any particular reason you recommend Droid27's clock/weather widgets over others, such as Beautiful Widgets? The only drawback I see with BW is that there is no animated "flip" on the flip-clock when the time changes. Small detail, but I'm a sucker for things like that.

Welcome to the forums!

The target is a cookbook, yes.

Droid27's are free, and I want to offer a free solution. The other free alternatives were visually or functionally deficient,and many of the paid ones were no better. BW is great, go with that if it suits you. Droid27's lacks the variety of widgets but has a lot appearance choices and works exceptionally well.

 

[kbp08tls]

Welcome to the forums!

The target is a cookbook, yes.

Thanks! I'm fairly active over on AndroidCentral (same username), but have been lurking over here a bit too. Your dev section seems to be a bit more active here than what's currently over there so I decided I'd jump in.

Droid27's are free, and I want to offer a free solution. The other free alternatives were visually or functionally deficient,and many of the paid ones were no better. BW is great, go with that if it suits you. Droid27's lacks the variety of widgets but has a lot appearance choices and works exceptionally well.

Got it on the free solution. I bought BW a long time ago on my first android (Optimus S), so it's available and I'm very familiar with it.

I really hope you guys achieve what you're setting out to do. I was running a tweaked/patched/cobbled-together alpha port of CM9 on my Optimus, and as much as I liked it, the constant flakiness was starting to test my patience a bit. So I'm enjoying having something that is 100% functional right now (multitasking notwithstanding). I enjoy tinkering with things, but I'm going to sit back a little bit and wait for the real experts to come out with something fully baked before I start getting flash-happy again.

Thanks for your efforts on this!

 

[P_Dub]

This is the one thing I can't stand about the evo... Literally every time I go to one of my recent apps.. It reloads the Page.. Super annoying... This definetly can't be what they intended

Has this issue been brought to HTC's attention? Maybe they can work on an ota update with multitasking fixes.

 

[dan330]

Has this issue been brought to HTC's attention? Maybe they can work on an ota update with multitasking fixes.

i remember reading an article last week or so..

htc said that sense was working as it was designed to.
so they dont feel it is a big issue.. at this point in time.

 

[EarlyMon]

Yep - HTC Addresses Multitasking Concerns For One X and S – Calls It “Sense” Optimized

HTC is aware of some questions in the enthusiast community about how the HTC One X handles multitasking and memory management for background apps. We value the community’s input and are always looking for ways to enhance customers’ experience with our devices. That said, right now multitasking is operating normally according to our custom memory management specifications which balance core ICS features with a consistent HTC Sense experience.

(ps, for those who didn't like the neon theme on that Droid27 I used, I've updated my screen shot to show something a little more conventional, but still not straight Sense clock widget (trust me, it has one))

 

[3vodroid]

Has this issue been brought to HTC's attention? Maybe they can work on an ota update with multitasking fixes.

i remember reading an article last week or so..

htc said that sense was working as it was designed to.
so they dont feel it is a big issue.. at this point in time.

Yep - HTC Addresses Multitasking Concerns For One X and S

 

[Rose4uKy]

Towards the end my sense reloaded all the time on my EVO 3D I hated now. Today it did it twice on the LTE and has done it a couple other times. What makes this happen. Someone told me on my 3D any apps that I moved to SD card that had an X on them move them back to phone and then I was told if you have alot of widgets. I used to have some memory booster app to free up ram is that good to have. And when I am done with an app is it best to always hit the back button all the way out instead of going to the home screen? Thanks!

I've had Sense reload once so far, but I am not web browsing much, that tended to trigger it on my 3vo.

 

[EarlyMon]

Towards the end my sense reloaded all the time on my EVO 3D I hated now. Today it did it twice on the LTE and has done it a couple other times. What makes this happen. Someone told me on my 3D any apps that I moved to SD card that had an X on them move them back to phone and then I was told if you have alot of widgets. I used to have some memory booster app to free up ram is that good to have. And when I am done with an app is it best to always hit the back button all the way out instead of going to the home screen? Thanks!

It's reloading because there's not room for the apps you're using and Sense - so it reloads Sense when needed.

Don't use memory boosters or task killers, that will make the problem worse overall.

 

[Rose4uKy]

So an app like this I shouldn't get Android Assistant(18 features) | AppBrain Android Market

I have a habit of hitting my home button alot and not backing out of apps but I should back out right? I love this phone and it just reloaded again when I unlocked the phone just now. I'll deal with it I'm still glad I got this phone it's great. I know to not use task killers but why does out phone come with task like our 3D did? I never have downloaded one but I have used a memory booster to help the memory but then I deleted it also on my 3D after all my reloading problems.

It's reloading because there's not room for the apps you're using and Sense - so it reloads Sense when needed.

Don't use memory boosters or task killers, that will make the problem worse overall.

 

[EarlyMon]

So an app like this I shouldn't get Android Assistant(18 features) | AppBrain Android Market

I have a habit of hitting my home button alot and not backing out of apps but I should back out right? I love this phone and it just reloaded again when I unlocked the phone just now. I'll deal with it I'm still glad I got this phone it's great. I know to not use task killers but why does out phone come with task like our 3D did? I never have downloaded one but I have used a memory booster to help the memory but then I deleted it also on my 3D after all my reloading problems.

That looks like a handy monitor and some things, like a cache cleaner or browser history cleaner, are perfectly ok. Just not memory managers or add-on task killers.

Apps use memory in the Linux services - if you go to settings, apps, find your app and Force close it, all memory for the app will be cleared properly - most all add-ons are hacks and don't do it right.

Monitor and task management tools vary wildly in their ability to tell the truth. Some will report actual ram memory used, others are actually reporting cached memory (as when an app is parked and not in ram) - killing or playing with apps that are parked in cache do nothing to help actual used ram at that instant - it just confuses the operating system.

If you don't see a problem hitting home instead of the back key, then don't sweat it. When you hit home, you're leaving many apps running - for some apps, there is no difference between home and the back key. If you home out of an app where it does matter, and you don't go back to it for a while, Android will sense that it's been idle and simply shuffle it out of ram to cache and leave a little ... let's call it an "address card" (very few bytes in memory) that tells the operating system where to go into cache to restore your app to the state it was once in. If it sits unused for too long, even that gets all cleared out.

The point is - Android tries to run as many things at once as it sensibly can. Because it knows it's not running on a PC with big memory and a hard disk, it will move things in and out of ram so that whatever you're running now will run efficiently (unlike Windows, where if you start running enough stuff, everything can slow down a lot) - but it gets that efficiency by putting apps to sleep, caching them and then even auto-killing them.

Android multitasking, as I've just described it above, is controlled by a set of complicated numbers that basically say what to do when and by how much. Those numbers are things that IOWA, myself, others and the dev community are tinkering with. The numbers are like a Rubic's cube - we want to solve as many sides of the puzzle as possible, not just one.

Ok, I hope this is all accessible and makes a lick of sense. If not, it's my obtuse writing style, not you, feedback what's unclear and I and/or others will hope to clarify.

PS - cache is a hidden part of the phone's 16 GB of storage, it's not ram.