With Android 2.1 and up, you don't need a task killer, it does more harm than good. There are a number of links I can post (if you like) which can give evidence that task killers are not needed. More recent versions of Android are designed in such a way as to manage their own tasks/apps, without the need for 3rd Party interference. Just because you see an app held in RAM, doesn't mean it's using any battery. In most circumstances, only when an app starts using CPU does it eat away at the battery. Unless it's been badly written. Regarding the Orange apps you get on startup, Android will close them automatically if it doesn't need them so they're fine to leave as is.

Is there any app in particular causing you problems?

Whilst the Lithium Ion battery in the phone has no memory, it takes a while to settle, so if your phone is only a week or so old, don't worry about it, it will get better. It's not a brilliant battery by any stretch of the imagination, but with clever usage, it's easy to get at least 36 hours out of it. How frequently are your accounts set to sync? That can have an impact on battery performance.

Also, which version of Android are you running? 2.2 or 2.2.1.

Finally, yes to get rid of the Orange Apps, you'd need to root and as far as I'm aware, there is no way to get rid of these. You can try installing a stock HTC ROM on your handset, but that obviously voids any warranty.

 

Everything I've seen on the internet has been people saying EXACTLY the same thing, which is why I chose not to bother with a Task Killer app... I have got something similar though AutoKiller Memory Optimizer (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rs.autokiller&feature=search_result) - this works by setting minimum's for the Android OS... it's NOT a task killer - you need a rooted phone for this though.

I believe that, if you do root your phone, then you can get rid of Orange bloatware from your phone... it may be one of the options from Titanium Backup (or it might be on one of the other apps that I've seen/used recently - not sure at the moment and haven't got my phone to hand to check it.

Alternatively, as El Presidente said, if you install a custom ROM/stock HTC ROM on your phone, thenit will get rid of them, but it would void any warranty.

Hope that helps!

 

You should be covered under warranty via HTC, regardless of no bill from Orange, but if you brick you could always play dumb

I've never rooted, but if you're using Android 2.2.1, before doing so, you'd need to create what's called a Goldcard, and then install an unbranded Android 2.2 on your handset.

If you click here, that will show you how to downgrade, with an external link showing you how to create a goldcard.

I trust the guys over at XDA, but cannot confirm the validity of the external link so someone else who's used it might want to confirm the procedure is correct before you go ahead and do anything.

And yes, display will most likely always be the biggest battery hog so that's nothing to worry about.

 

That looks like the guide I followed to downgrade... the downgrading/rooting process was pretty straight forward... the part that caused me issues was creating a goldcard. If you need any info, just give me a shout!!

 

The majority of stuff, (contacts etc) are backed up to the google account you used to setup your handset. You can check this by accessing the contacts section of your gmail account via a PC, if the numbers there correspond to your phone book, you're sorted. Likewise, apps you have installed via the market should automatically come with you as the'yre tied to your google account. Again, you can check online here. All pics, vids etc. are on the SD Card and if you're gonna create a gold card, you'd need a new SD Card to do so anyway, so the one currently in your handset should be safe.

Once you've downgraded and rooted, you're free to install any ROM you wish. There are a list of some here, both branded and unbranded. If you're looking for unofficial ROMs, try out this link here. They contain additional tweak/apps that don't come as standard.

I've installed the official 2.3 and I've had a few minor issues with it, but nothing major that would stop me from telling people not to bother. Everyone else has a different opinion though.

 

No, sorry if my post was misleading, that was just a case of backing up your data. If you brick your handset, as far as I'm aware, the only option to get it sorted is to play dumb and send it back to HTC to see if they can/will repair. There may or may not be a charge involved for that. It all depends on whether or not they believe you too.

It is quite hard to brick HTC handsets apparently. However, I would do A LOT more reading on the matter rather than just going ahead and doing it.

 

So from what you've said there, for all intents and purposes, it's virtually impossible to brick the handset by downgrading, rooting and installing an alternative ROM? Sorry if that's an obvious question, but as I'm 75-25 against doing it to my phone, I've never really read up on it to any great depth. That makes installing a non stock ROM seem all the more attractive now....

None of the methods above require you to partition the SD Card?

 

Good to know

I've no intention to mess about with Radios etc and up until reading your post, I'd no intention of messing about with alternative ROMS either. I've mentioned before, I flashed JJ9 on to my GF's handset, but the procedure for that seems less complicated than the methods I've touched on for the DHD. Also, the DHD performs excellently out of the box, and an unmodded OSF is quite frankly rubbish so I've not seen the point. I suppose the main reason is also the DHD is a much more expensive brick.

It's certainly something I'm going to pay a bit more attention to now, SetCPU is an app that's interested me for a while.....

Ouch

And OP, apologies for slightly hijacking your thread.

 

king_dinki - I had the same problems when creating a goldcard.

It's worth noting that not all SD cards work as goldcards... I bought a 2gb SD card specially to make a goldcard, but it didn't work. I ended up using the 8gb one that came with the phone as a goldcard - I copied everything off the SD card in to a folder on my desktop, created and used the goldcard to do the downgrade and then, once complete, formatted the SD card again and copied everything back on to it, as if it had never been a goldcard!

I followed the steps on a couple of websites EXACTLY as they were written/in the videos, but it would not work... I then did the following:

Download "goldcardhelper" (https://market.android.com/details?...enther.android.goldcard&feature=search_result) from the market - this will give you the MMC2 number (already in reverse) so that you can put it in the website to get the goldcard image emailed to you.

Download "goldcard tool" ([PC Application] GoldCardTool - Android @ MoDaCo) for your PC - this will create a goldcard with an SD card, while it is in your phone. I think the tool is actually for the Desire, not the Desire HD... where it says to put the MMC1 number, ignore that and just put the MMC2 number... it worked fine for me!!

Once you have the goldcard sorted, the downgrade and then rooting, is pretty straight forward.

Let me know if this helps/solves your issues!


Edit - if you want to have a look at the issues I was having, see my thread about this issue (http://androidforums.com/desire-hd-...0-dhd-downgrading-before-rooting-problem.html)

 

As I said (the next part of that sentence), it does not matter... you simply put the MMC2 number in where it asks for MMC1! It worked fine for me and I have the DHD, not the Desire!

 

Not to worry... let me know how you get on!!

I had used HEX Edittor to make the goldcard, but it just didn't work - perhaps using the goldcard tool and the goldcard helper will sort your problem (did for me)!!



Edit - Just re-read what you have said... the goldcard helper gives you the reverse MMC2 number you need to then put in the goldcard tool for your PC... When I used the HEX method of creating the goldcard, it didn't work - when I put the number in to the goldcard tool, it did!