Help Stock ICS 4.0.4 and JB 4.1.1 laggy/slow

[maxidodies]

Hello,
I recently purchased a used nexus s 2 weeks ago. It was running Gingerbread 2.3.6 and the phone felt super responsive, when I touched an app or a a button there was hardly a delay at all, apps and pages loaded instantly. A week ago, I got a system update for 4.0.4 . It looked nicer and all, but my battery life turned to shit and everything was slower and there were lots of delays when swiping screens and such. Yesterday I got another system update for Jelly Bean 4.1.1, and after watching reviews on the web about it improving the lag in ICS, I noticed the complete opposite. Everything is even slower now. Battery life completely sucks now, I went from full charge to 50% with 6 hours of standby and 30mins of light usage.

Is anyone else experiencing the same issues, or have any advice? Should I just try a reset?
Thanks

 

[Bootsock]

Try a factory reset on it as it's had two major upgrades, although don't forget to back up anything you value keeping.

I'm finding JB to be very slick indeed on the Nexus S.

 

[maxidodies]

Try a factory reset on it as it's had two major upgrades, although don't forget to back up anything you value keeping.

I'm finding JB to be very slick indeed on the Nexus S.

I tried a factory reset, I see a bit of an improvement but not much. Not going to do a factory reset ever again, it re-enables data by default (I don't use data plans, too expensive in Canada), which I did know when the phone asked me to sync my accounts to get started and download a few things...

On another note, since Jelly Bean, my ram usage has been up the roof. I feel like these new android os updates aren't designed for these older phones.

 

[Bootsock]

What did you expect a factory reset would do? It didn't re-enable anything, it went back to the factory settings as the name implies i.e. with data enabled.

The Nexus S is still a perfectly capable device for running later versions of Android, although I'm sure someone will take a few hundred dollars off you to swap for a newer device if you want to update your hardware.

 

[Deleted User]

I tried a factory reset, I see a bit of an improvement but not much.

I noticed quite a difference in smoothness and fluidity when going from app to app, swiping from screen to screen, etc. It's not a dramatic difference, but it's definitely smoother.

Not going to do a factory reset ever again, it re-enables data by default

That's to be expected...it _IS_ a smartphone after all and uses data for many of its normal functions.

When you do a factory reset, skip the Google and any other account setup and it won't do any syncing. Also disable all of the location features during setup. Then go into the Network settings and disable mobile data. You can also delete the APN (data settings) for your carrier if you wish. Go back and setup WiFi and then add your Google account, enable location, etc.

On another note, since Jelly Bean, my ram usage has been up the roof. I feel like these new android os updates aren't designed for these older phones.

Don't worry about memory usage. Android is very good at managing memory on its own and doesn't need any help via app killers, or manually killing apps. Memory usage will always appear high as it uses free memory to cache often used apps and data. It clears out the unused apps and data as needed without affecting current apps. Let Android manage itself and it'll save you time and hassle, and improves battery life too since you're not messing with the memory.

If you're not using any app killers and you still have high battery drain, look to see what's eating the battery. It might be a rogue app eating battery when it's paused?

With ICS there was an issue using Exchange services. But I think that has been corrected with JB.

 

[maxidodies]

I noticed quite a difference in smoothness and fluidity when going from app to app, swiping from screen to screen, etc. It's not a dramatic difference, but it's definitely smoother.
That's to be expected...it _IS_ a smartphone after all and uses data for many of its normal functions.

When you do a factory reset, skip the Google and any other account setup and it won't do any syncing. Also disable all of the location features during setup. Then go into the Network settings and disable mobile data. You can also delete the APN (data settings) for your carrier if you wish. Go back and setup WiFi and then add your Google account, enable location, etc.
Don't worry about memory usage. Android is very good at managing memory on its own and doesn't need any help via app killers, or manually killing apps. Memory usage will always appear high as it uses free memory to cache often used apps and data. It clears out the unused apps and data as needed without affecting current apps. Let Android manage itself and it'll save you time and hassle, and improves battery life too since you're not messing with the memory.

If you're not using any app killers and you still have high battery drain, look to see what's eating the battery. It might be a rogue app eating battery when it's paused?

With ICS there was an issue using Exchange services. But I think that has been corrected with JB.

Ok, I have noticed that jelly bean is faster than ics, but it would be nice to have gingerbread back, it felt so much more responsive. The battery isn't that bad, but I have noticed a 20-30% increase in battery usage from GB to ICS/JB. Do you know of any way to downgrade to Gingerbread 2.3.6? thanks

 

[quantumrand]

Ok, I have noticed that jelly bean is faster than ics, but it would be nice to have gingerbread back, it felt so much more responsive. The battery isn't that bad, but I have noticed a 20-30% increase in battery usage from GB to ICS/JB. Do you know of any way to downgrade to Gingerbread 2.3.6? thanks

As long as you have the I9020T or I9023, you can follow this guide: http://androidforums.com/nexus-s/473189-how-unistall-ics-go-back-gingerbread.html

 

[Deleted User]

Ok, I have noticed that jelly bean is faster than ics, but it would be nice to have gingerbread back, it felt so much more responsive.

Isn't that an oxymoron?
How can it be "faster" but less "responsive"?

I find JB is much smoother and consistent compared to ICS or GB. There is virtually no lag and apps respond quickly - compared to an OS that is known to be smooth (iphone) it's about the same. I always felt GB/ICS to be a bit laggy. JB fixes these issues and has some better integration with more logical design.

They still haven't fixed the Messaging app's green icons in a "blue" graphics design though.

The battery isn't that bad, but I have noticed a 20-30% increase in battery usage from GB to ICS/JB. Do you know of any way to downgrade to Gingerbread 2.3.6? thanks

Using the same apps and usage, I find ICS and JB to be similar to GB. Perhaps a slight increase in battery, but not significant enough to mention. I never used Exchange email though, which was known to have a bug, so that can be a major factor.

Having said that, I've gone back to GB a couple of times because ICS lacked too much. JB has fixed a lot of the issues I had with ICS, so I'm now on JB and happy. If you want to downgrade, you need to unlock the bootloader with Fastboot, install ClockWorkMod recovery, copy the GB full ROM to the root directory, then run the GB ROM. After that you can lock the bootloader again if you wish and you're running GB again.

But I'll never go back now. JB is what I've been wanting in Android for a while and I'm pretty happy with it. There's a few tweaks still needed, but overall it's good.

 

[Bootsock]

I've noticed that 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean) is slightly worse for battery on the Nexus S compared to previous Android versions, although given that a new genuine battery is a bargain

 

[maxidodies]

Just a quick update, I've been on gingerbread for the past week or so and have realized that GB and JB both have the advantages. GingerBread is a bit faster, and battery life is much, much better. JellyBean has a great interface, the way you use it is great, and having 4 icons for apps at the bottom is extremely useful to me. I would say JellyBean is the better version, but crippled battery life is something to consider.

Quick question, if I want to receive ota updates, what do I do since the phone is rooted?

 

[Deleted User]

Just a quick update, I've been on gingerbread for the past week or so and have realized that GB and JB both have the advantages. GingerBread is a bit faster, and battery life is much, much better. JellyBean has a great interface, the way you use it is great, and having 4 icons for apps at the bottom is extremely useful to me. I would say JellyBean is the better version, but crippled battery life is something to consider.

As I and others have noted elsewhere, battery life isn't really much worse on Jelly Bean AFTER it settles down. Initially the Media service often uses a lot of battery for the first day or so, and then as all syncing is completed, it reduces consumption back to normal. Also, with a new OS users tend to 'play' with the device for a while getting used to the new features, settings, customizing, etc., sucking up more battery than normal.
You need to use JB for a week to see the difference once the appeal of the new OS wears off and Media service settles down.

Quick question, if I want to receive ota updates, what do I do since the phone is rooted?

If you simply rooted but use the stock ROM, you will continue to get OTA updates. Custom ROMs often block OTA updates so you don't loose the custom features, CWM, etc.

If you do get an OTA update, it will remove root as it flashes the new stock bootloader and recovery images.

 

[havkacik]

I had similar issues after update to Android JB 4.1.1.

SOLUTION:
1. Go to Settings / Application Manager / All /
2. Find process: Media Storage
3. Clear cache data of the process by pressing "Clear data" button


I found out that the phone was extremely slow / leggy due to Media Storage process running in the background and having extremely large database - about 2GB after firmware update. Firstly, I deleted some large videos from the phone which didn't help.

Once I cleared Media Storage cache data, the phone run smoothly. Once you restart your phone, the Media Storage process automatically re-scans all your media (pictures, music, videos, etc.) in the phone and rebuilds its media database so you can access your photos in the Gallery and listen to your music in Music Player.