Develop Bugs

Heres the age old question of using task killers on Evo

Has anyone seen any benefits in using task killers or managers on the Evo? Has it helped or made battery life worse ? Do we even need them with the Evo ?

in my experience the phone runs smoother if you keep running tasks to a minimum. i have an app called ES Task Manager and it comes with a widget that has one touch kill all. i hit that and turn off the screen when i'm not going to be messing with the phone for awhile.

I used to use Advanced Task Killer (ATK) and loved it until one day my phone would not work whatsoever. It kept force closing HTC Sense and I had to do a hard reset last week. It was very upsetting and the sprint technician said the task killer was to blame.

I agree. I switched from Advanced Task Killer to ES and it's great. Really helps out battery and smoothness. I can get about 12-16 hours per charge when doing that with normal use.

What's ES?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

I use Damage Control 3.2.2.1 with its built in killer set at 150 MB with Advanced Settings Part 2 Laptop_OOM activated and JIT. Banned everything except Facebook.
Then I use autostarts to stop programs from starting up at boot, speeding up boot time and using less power.
Credits go to TheBiles.
I can usually get about a day and a half of regular use before I reach 10%.

Best tip? Don't use any task killers..
At most use autostarts and thats it.

b1indsided said:
What's ES?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have become an believer in task killers - I use ES ( search market for: estrongs )
Increased battery life and smoothness, just make sure to not have it kill the HTC processes and you'll be good

b1indsided said:
What's ES?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Estrongs task manager

Task killers are a bad idea on Android. It's best to just let the OS do its own memory management. The only reason to use a task killer is as a last resort for a rogue app or something like that.
There's a thread about this around here with a detailed explanation as to why this is true and how memory management works in Android. I can't copy and paste because I'm sending this from my phone. And I'm lazy.
Autokiller and autostarts are probably the only two apps that make sense to use and this is to enhance management, not override the built in management like task killers do.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

Ugh this is why I hate the debate.
Some people say use it... some people say Android's memory management is fine.
My ATK usage is simple. I close programs that I do not use and won't start any FC's.
So basically after I'm done playing a game, I use ATK to close out of it.
I leave most things open unless it's like Sprint Zone or something.

I decided to be less lazy for once.
http://geekfor.me/faq/you-shouldnt-be-using-a-task-killer-with-android/
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

simply put, if you have any linux experience you'll realize why task killers aren't neccessary like in a windows mobile platform device.

I use ATK. As far as battery life, I haven't seen an increase or decrease, but the phone runs smoother and sometimes an app gets stuck, so I kill that sob off.

Use Autostarts only. It is a permission manager--not a task-killer.
-------------
Sent from my HTC EVO 4G using Tapatalk Pro.

mgraham361 said:
I decided to be less lazy for once.
http://geekfor.me/faq/you-shouldnt-be-using-a-task-killer-with-android/
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That article is bogus. If you analyze the evidence and the conclusion presented there, it's a non sequitur.

Your mom is a non-sequitur.
That article is a total sequitur xD
You need to be more explicit.
Sent from my Evo 4G

I tried ATK since the BB Mobile guys were pushing hard for you to install it before you even left the store with the phone. I gave ATK an honest try, and experimented with most of the settings. At the end of the test, I found that ATK didn't really help me. That being said, my battery life is much better now since I moved for the rooted stock image to Fresh 0.3.

myersn024 said:
I tried ATK since the BB Mobile guys were pushing hard for you to install it before you even left the store with the phone. I gave ATK an honest try, and experimented with most of the settings. At the end of the test, I found that ATK didn't really help me. That being said, my battery life is much better now since I moved for the rooted stock image to Fresh 0.3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Heh, BB Mobile reps always act like they're experts. These guys know less than the average XDA forum reader. They'll have you think otherwise though!

As much as I disliked the idea of not managing my own processes, be it by manually killing them or with some automatic thresholds, after some reading, I decided to let Android handle things as it was designed to do.
To satisfy my itch for being "in control", I downloaded (from the market, for free) an app called MinFreeManager, which allows for you to tweak the parameters for Android's memory management. I also read a suggestion from Flipz to use AutoStarts to better control what apps are starting, and when. AutoStarts basically lists events within Android and allows you to toggle if an app should run or not.
That said, I've noticed my Evo has been very smooth and responsive. I periodically open TaskKiller to see how much available memory there is and to be nosy. The truth is that apps do clean up and are disposed of properly by Android. Give it a shot for a few days. What's the harm?

Task Killer Apps, good or not???

I am a noob when it comes to android phones so anything will help! I have been told and pretty sure I read something about task killers being bad for your android phone??? Is this true? I currently use Advanced Task Manager free. Is this a good task manager? If not does anyone know of one thats better. I tried to search the forumn but was unable to find anything on this subject...I'm probably just searching wrong. Any knowledge will help!

Try searching the Q&A forum
Don't use task killers is the bottom line.
Use Google search to find out about google and task killers.

avoid them like the plague

Not. It's stepping on Androids toes. If you really need a kill an app (froze or its just using a lot of battery), you can do it in Android itself in Applications.

i noticed i acctually get more battery life with out a task killer, android will close out programs as it needs the memory any way so have had better performance with out it. the Sprint rep actually installed mine on my phone when i bought it so was suprised to learn all this at first but has long sense proven true

Been using Advanced Task Manager since I had my G1 and have not noticed any negative effects. The browser alone takes up a considerable amount of interal memory and does not close on exit. Task managers are good as long as you know how to use them and exclude system applications or user apps that you want to stay running like widgets and such. They may not improve battery life that much, but they help free up internal memory. However, if you're running a Froyo rom, they're pretty much useless until the app devs update the way they work. Froyo doesnt allow them to kill the app, just background data.

Here's some pretty clear literature on why you absolutely do not need them.

While I agree that a task killer is not needed it is not bad. I mean using one wont cause damage to your phone or anything. Some people get better battery with one and some get better battery without. I just avoid task killers because I had a bad experience. I use my phone as an alarm and one day it did not go off because I had killed the clock app. Ofcourse you can use a task killer and not have this problem by setting apps to ignore but after several weeks of not using it I noticed my battery is not better or worse so to each his own.
BTW I also used advanced task manager and thats a perfectly good task manager if you do decide to keep using it.

Best thing you can do is install and use it for a couple days to see if you like it. I have used one since my Droid and would not consider uninstalling. I notice an immediate improvement in the smoothness of my phone while using, and a noticeable choppiness when not using. Your mileage may vary, but I would give it a shot for yourself vs. just listening to others opinions.

87Octane said:
While I agree that a task killer is not needed it is not bad. I mean using one wont cause damage to your phone or anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
If you kill a task and free up memory, Android just fills up that memory again with a program of its own choosing. If it needs the memory, it intelligently pulls programs out of memory on its own.

[Q] Task killer or Manager?

I am running Cm7 and my wife is running konis elite III (Sense) and just wondering what task killer or manger is the best for those 2 roms. I'm currently using "super Manager" to clean up RAM and a cache cleaner on my cm7. If anyone knows of a good task killer for cm7 and sense that would be awesome! Thanks in advance!

I have had no real trouble with memory management with either of those roms. This has been a topic of debate for a while, to task kill or not to task kill, I personally have found that Android runs better with out a task killer. Since Android 2 came out it has built in memory management which works pretty well I might say. "Personal Opinion" A lot of people think that Android runs like a desktop computer/laptop. In that you open an app and unless you close it it stays in ram/memory never letting the space go unless the app is closed. Android on the other hand does this a little different. When an app is opened it is in the foreground and has priority over other apps. Other apps are run in the background. Now if an app is opened that needs memory that is being used by a background process then the background app is closed, saving the state if handled correctly, giving the newly open app the space it requires. There are a lot of details on how this works and what I said is a cut down version of it.

Basically, using a task killer goes against how Android handles background tasks.

Task killer no good

I'd advise against them. Personally never had to run them. if you still want one, you can look into tasker, juice defender; some that others use.

Task killers/managers died in android 2.1, its now known that they cause issues with the way android handles memory/processes. Your phone is smart enough to close or keep something running on its own.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App

teh roxxorz said:
I'd advise against them. Personally never had to run them. if you still want one, you can look into tasker, juice defender; some that others use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dirkyd3rk said:
Task killers/managers died in android 2.1, its now known that they cause issues with the way android handles memory/processes. Your phone is smart enough to close or keep something running on its own.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. Besides that, CM7 is a Gingerbread (2.3) based ROM. IIRC, 2.3 has slightly better/enhanced memory management over 2.2 as well - the garbage collector. 2.2 and 2.3 handle their memory management very well from what I see and read.
Concurrent garbage collector — The Dalivik VM introduces a new, concurrent garbage collector that minimizes application pauses, helping to ensure smoother animation and increased responsiveness in games and similar applications.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-2.3-highlights.html#UserFeatures
More often than not, over-aggressive task killing running in the background can actually cause system instability and force closes if you run a lot of processes.

To add to what's already been said, a task killer is not only possibly harmful, it's a waste of time & counterproductive as well.
Most of the stuff that's running in memory is just sitting there, waiting to be reopened again. It isn't using any power or wasting battery, nor is it slowing your phone down. It's staying there so that when you do open it again, it opens more quickly instead of having to reload entirely.
Android will close those apps if/when it needs the memory. There's no need to have a separate app to do it less-efficiently.

Cool! Thanks Guys! Thats what I pretty much figured 2.2 and beyond but just wanted to double check.

[Q] task killer....yea, or nah???

I had it on my first epic and liked it but some say to stay away from it, if i dont use it is there a better safer app or not to use 1 at all and manually stop programs. i c there is a paid and free 1. i guess the free 1 has adds but i didnt on mine??

Nabisco_12 said:
I had it on my first epic and liked it but some say to stay away from it, if i dont use it is there a better safer app or not to use 1 at all and manually stop programs. i c there is a paid and free 1. i guess the free 1 has adds but i didnt on mine??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Leave it alone. Android 2.2 + manages tasks for you. Task killers cause instability. Just use the built in task killer on our phones.. (hold the home button and press task manager)

Yeah really shouldn't have to be killing things that often and if you do ever need to that's why there's a built in task manager.
qbking77 said:
Leave it alone. Android 2.2 + manages tasks for you. Task killers cause instability. Just use the built in task killer on our phones.. (hold the home button and press task manager)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

No matter what people say, there are programs that are not handled properly by Froyo's built in memory handler. If you use a task killer to kill autoreloading tasks (like MAPS for google navigation) then you are causing battery drain by you killing them and then them reloading. If you know what tasks are reloaders, then you can select them to be ignored by the task killer. Some programs hog phone RAM and do not release it like the stock internet browser. Knowing this, I use the Advanced Task Killer for Froyo to kill the browser and make more RAM available for other things.
So yes, use it BUT with proper knowledge of when and how.

Watchdog FTMFW (look it up on the market). Had their widget on my homescreen pretty much from the day I started using Android. Old-style task killers are BS.

If you use the back key or pre-designed exit key, you will close apps properly and they will only rarely reappear. It's part of the Andriod design.

kennyglass123 said:
So yes, use it BUT with proper knowledge of when and how.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this is important. In general, don't use them, but some people don't code their apps right.
Typed by a man standing on a toilet, eating a bacon sammich.

Nay, but as stated some apps just suck, I always take the time to test the app...
Sent from my MyFrankenstein EC05OCE using XDAPA...

I will throw my 2 cents in here for good measure. As far as I can tell, my setup appears to get me generally better battery life than the rest of users, so I believe that qualifies me to comment .
I have used and tested Task Killers since I got my Epic, my first android phone, this passed November. Yes, I still use one. It's called Advanced Task Killer. It's free, and it's simple. As mentioned in a previous post, and by myself many times before, certain tasks will reload with impunity no matter what you do. Aside from freezing these services, which may result in instability in certain instances, you can't stop this. And continually causing them to restart will drain more battery rather than saving any. Which brings me to my main point:
NEVER USE AUTO-KILL! Simply use a task killer widget to "clean up" before you lock your phone, nothing more. If you use it in this way, like me, you'll see battery improvement. Just also ensure to set certain system services to the ignore list to avoid issues.

Cool thanks guys ur input helps alot!

If anything, best bet is a memory tweaker. like "autokiller memory optimizer." I'm sure thats what your looking for =) it's not a task killer.

i used a task manager/killer back in the G1 1.5 days but nowadays android does a much better job of managing memory so a task killer is really not needed anymore in my opinion.

I've used for months without any problems.. I don't kill the essential processes.. just the apps.

Web browsing is MUCH faster if I kill apps before going to the web. It gives more free RAM to cache pages.

Has anyone had any luck with Startup Auditor since Froyo? It doesn't seem to actually do anything when comparing the disabled programs in its list with what is "running" according to the phone Manage Apps setting.

rando991 said:
Has anyone had any luck with Startup Auditor since Froyo? It doesn't seem to actually do anything when comparing the disabled programs in its list with what is "running" according to the phone Manage Apps setting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll almost guarantee you that they are just restarting. Thats why taskkillers dont work in 2.2.x, because it just "restarts" them.
[sig]Typed by restless thumbs, that are too tired to help hold my bacon sammiches[sig]

Thanks, that's what I thought.

rando991 said:
Thanks, that's what I thought.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, google removed the code for taskkillers in froyo.

[Q] task killers?

Hey, I noticed that in the screenshots section that everyone has a task killer, aren't they bad for android? I've read that they were needed for android 2.1 and down, not after Froyo.
So, do I need one? Why? Why not?
Thanks guys.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I927 using XDA

ajt1995 said:
Hey, I noticed that in the screenshots section that everyone has a task killer, aren't they bad for android? I've read that they were needed for android 2.1 and down, not after Froyo.
So, do I need one? Why? Why not?
Thanks guys.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I927 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
samsung roms (even stock) have default task killer called "Task Manager", for active apps and if you go to Settings > Applications > Running Services, you can kill apps running in the background or cached processes. The difference is, the default tasker does not have a "Kill All" feature.
Task killer is, well not recommended, because Android has "Low memory Killer" feature, which, from the word itself, Android will kill apps as memory is needed.
It's still up to you if you want the default tasker, or a 3rd party one.

I hate that Samsung put that there. I've always been told that you let android do its job, unless there is a runaway process.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I927 using XDA

If you ask me a task killer gets you more battery life and helps reduce data usage by killing apps that you are not acctually using.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I927 using XDA

yes but even if you kill some apps they reopen on their own. I am referring to the stock Rogers rom and that dam AP program.

the reason task killers are considered bad is becausw most people blindly kill everything. your phone has a lot of tasks it will automatically relaunch, thus wasting more processor time in the end. if you pay attention to which processes these are and exclude them from your kill list, you can safely use a task killer.
i also suggest apps like autostarts, lots of stuff like to start that dont need to.
im newly registered but not new here! just picked up a glide yesterday and put cwm/osi on already. a keyboard is a must for me and this was the nicest phone i found with one. my d1 was overdue for retirement. i use sipgate/google voice for free calling, texts and vms (wifi) so thankfully carrier didnt matter. very happy with this thing so far. cant wait to see some ics roms?

Advanced task killer shows you which apps automatically restart and lets you disable them from being killed
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I927 using XDA

Automated task killers generally are bad voodoo because they interfere with Android's own memory management system. Android micromanages memory like you wouldn't believe, and task killers will only slow things down by interfering with it. In particular, you'll lose significant performance and battery life as the phone works harder to reopen apps that could have just been sitting around in otherwise unused memory as intended by the OS. (And of course, the auto-re-open thing mentioned above.) I used to keep a task killer on my OG to troubleshoot misbehaving apps (sometimes killing the process and forcing it to restart would right some issues), but now that Android has the running services dialog, there really is no need for task killers at all.
bobbinthreadbare said:
my d1 was overdue for retirement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I'm not the only one upgrading from an OG!

roothorick said:
So I'm not the only one upgrading from an OG!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was an excellent phone. Mine finally locked up the other night while I was out and totally died. Doesn't even get the M Moto symbol when you start it up. It had been dropped countless times, entirely submerged in a puddle, whiskey spilled on it. But it soldiered on until the other night. I was even running a very broken ICS ROM (dead project now) on it and it was just as fast CM7. I ran it constantly at 1GHz which impressive for a phone that was stock 550Mhz. Most phones, even the Glide, you can't overclock by more than double like the D1. The fastest kernel I ever had on it, I had edited a version of ChevyNo1's 1.2Ghz kernel to allow 1.3Ghz. I ran it like that for a few days and it was stable.
Great phone. It truly deserves a burial at sea with a 21 gun salute.