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Apps launched automatically

jmw3025

Newbie
Mar 30, 2010
26
1
I use Taskiller to "kill" or end active programs that I'm not using, so as to reduce battery drain. I notice with 2.1 that every time I power up, lots of apps are launched automatically. This wasn't the case with 1.9. Anybody know if there's a way to prevent this?
 
I use Taskiller to "kill" or end active programs that I'm not using, so as to reduce battery drain. I notice with 2.1 that every time I power up, lots of apps are launched automatically. This wasn't the case with 1.9. Anybody know if there's a way to prevent this?

1.9? It is just part of the operating system, without root access it cannot be prevented. You can use a task killer, although there's been much discussion about their overall usefullness. Linux based OS are known for being able to manage resources well enough alone.
 
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Thanks for your reply!
Wasn't the previous OS #1.9? HTC/Verizon just upgraded us to 2.1 (big improvement), except for this issue. I don't know for sure, but suppose it IS part of the OS. I do use a Taskiller, but it's a hassle now because EVERY time I turn on the phone, about a dozen apps are active & it's a drag to kill every one, except the few I'm using. Any ideas?
 
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The original OS on the Eris was 1.5, we know what you mean though. ;)

As far as apps starting at start-up, this is normal for the Eris and many other Android phones. You can use a task killer to kill them, but as you said, it is a hassle to try and stay on top of it. Plus many of those apps will restart again anyway. You could try the phone without the task killer and see how it goes. Your choice really.

My question for you is, why are you restarting the phone often enough for this to be an issue?
 
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Thanks for your reply!
Wasn't the previous OS #1.9? HTC/Verizon just upgraded us to 2.1 (big improvement), except for this issue. I don't know for sure, but suppose it IS part of the OS. I do use a Taskiller, but it's a hassle now because EVERY time I turn on the phone, about a dozen apps are active & it's a drag to kill every one, except the few I'm using. Any ideas?
I use an automatic task killer. It lets you pick which apps you want it to kill, and kills only those apps when you bring the phone up from sleep. You can find it in market.
 
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The original OS on the Eris was 1.5, we know what you mean though. ;)

As far as apps starting at start-up, this is normal for the Eris and many other Android phones. You can use a task killer to kill them, but as you said, it is a hassle to try and stay on top of it. Plus many of those apps will restart again anyway. You could try the phone without the task killer and see how it goes. Your choice really.

My question for you is, why are you restarting the phone often enough for this to be an issue?

Maybe "restarting' is the wrong term. I mean power off/power on. Do that to save juice.
 
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I don't see any "memory mgmt system" at work...only a dozen or so apps active that I didn't myself launch or need. What do you mean?

The management system is part of the OS, it shares virtual memory with applications as they need it. You don't actually see it, but it makes your memory go further. The apps that start up are just part of the operating system, and cannot be prevented without root access. There are many posts and opinions of running task managers in this forum. It is up to the user.
 
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So just for technical clarification, then - is it reasonable to think that the phone will be equally responsive with 10-15 apps running in the background and only leaving 20MB or so of RAM available vs. killing all but 3-4 essential apps and having 70-80MB RAM available?

I've always been curious about this myself. From a computer background, we are just used to open apps and low memory equaling sluggish performance (which this phone can definitely have). Assumed it would be the same logic for a smart phone running this OS.

I've ran Advanced Task Manager in the past, and my phone was always zippiest after killing unnecessary apps and freeing up a lot of resources. But it appears that after the 2.1 update, a lot more apps just keep relaunching, even if I don't do anything. So my memory is always low (around 20-30MB).

So is there a technical description of why the phone may run 'better' with allowing a lot of apps to run in the background? And if not, why does it seem so much harder to get apps to die and stay dead after 2.1?
 
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So just for technical clarification, then - is it reasonable to think that the phone will be equally responsive with 10-15 apps running in the background and only leaving 20MB or so of RAM available vs. killing all but 3-4 essential apps and having 70-80MB RAM available?

I've always been curious about this myself. From a computer background, we are just used to open apps and low memory equaling sluggish performance (which this phone can definitely have). Assumed it would be the same logic for a smart phone running this OS.

I've ran Advanced Task Manager in the past, and my phone was always zippiest after killing unnecessary apps and freeing up a lot of resources. But it appears that after the 2.1 update, a lot more apps just keep relaunching, even if I don't do anything. So my memory is always low (around 20-30MB).

So is there a technical description of why the phone may run 'better' with allowing a lot of apps to run in the background? And if not, why does it seem so much harder to get apps to die and stay dead after 2.1?

I'm going to answer your post in a rather rude fashion, I'm afraid. I'm going to give you homework. :p If you want to understand the whole yes/no task killer debate I would suggest some of the following reading.

Android Developers Blog: Multitasking the Android Way

http://androidforums.com/sprint-htc-hero/26997-task-managers-your-hero.html

http://androidforums.com/motorola-droid/18334-task-killer-apps-truth.html

http://androidforums.com/htc-incredible/71313-advanced-task-killer-yay-nay.html

Google and Cyanogen comments imply task killer/manager apps are pointless | Google Android Blog

http://androidforums.com/motorola-droid/61525-phone-seems-so-laggy.html

Some of those actually have links to other articles and threads in them. If you want to understand how memory works on Android it really is good reading material.

Disclaimer: I am not posting any of this to be pro or anti task killer. They are simply for the memory management aspect and how it works which quite often is discussed when talking about task killers.
 
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