Android Running Apps I didn't launch

[timoyates]

The title says it all. I love my new Samsung Moment, but I am also a lover of battery life. As you might know, it's not so stellar on this model.

I've read that the best way to get lots of battery life out of an android phone is to constantly turn off apps you aren't using at the moment. I decided to get ATK, or Advanced Task Killer, to help me do so.

I'm running into a problem, though. Third party apps seem to be turning off easily and permanently until their next launch (by me) when I turn them off using the program. The stock Android apps though, take just a few minutes to show up in the "running" list again!

I'm not only talking about normal apps that might be crucial to the phone's operation - but also even apps like Sprint Navigation that I have NEVER even launched!

Does anyone know how to keep these apps from launching without my consent or need? That should free up loads of RAM, performance, and efficiency!

 

[nonie3234]

I agree. I have Advanced Task Manager, and I keep seeing Messages, Browser, Google Maps etc running. First of all, I NEVER use Messages. EVER. And - like you - I didn't launch any of those others.

 

[clozer]

I am hardly an expert on this so my apologies to start with. I have researched this quite a bit and the conclusion I came up with is ATK causes many problems and is not needed. I couldnt figure out why so many programs showed up that werent launched by me and would come back even after I killed them with ATK. The other problem I had with ATK is with my corporate email. I wasnt receiving them. After I uninstalled ATK they come in with no problems. I found this out on Motorola's website.
Bottom line is that the phone will take care of itself. The ATK app overides the phones ability to free up memory when needed. Many people much smarter than me have said this app causes more problems with the phone than it helps.
So I took their knowledge and got rid of the app and my phone and email has been working fine since.

 

[IzelTokatl]

I've had no issues with ATK, the only thing I really have had issues is LastFM turning on randomly. I believe messages and turns on because thats your txt messaging program checking for txts. the rest I have no clue. if you check the settings of each program that is launching you may find something in regards to updates, syncing or GPS use. If any of those types of settings are on, they will more than likely turn themselves on automatically.

 

[timoyates]

I went ahead and uninstalled ATK. I'll go ahead and post here if my battery gets any better!

 

[timoyates]

I can't tell if the battery is any better to be honest...

 

[MSK01]

I've been having this problem too with my Hero. I'm not sure it affects my battery life, but those random apps turning on does make my phone lag at times.

 

[Naivasna]

I have not figured out a way to remove factory installed apps that I'm not using, HOWEVER..

I do note that when you download an app, it will tell you what it accesses in order to run. The programs that it accesses are the programs that you will see up and running when you run that app. You can kill the same app over and over again in ATK, but if you're running the app that accesses it, it will simply relaunch the program you shut down with in a few moments.

Now, I've found that you can figure out which app runs what, by making note of what is on the screen of ATK, when you launch it, and then, shut down the apps you're running one at a time.. and you'll see which things disappear out of the list.

The Moment does NOT (to the best of my experience) shut down it's own apps, the majority of the time. I have not had a problem, at all, with ATK.

I also got an uninstaller, which I can't use to uninstall the factory apps. It drives me nuts.

However, while the phone will zap through battery, I find that I've never even broken the wall charger out of the box. I have plenty of opportunity between the car charger and the USB connector to charge the phone whenever necessary. I've only found myself without charge twice. Both times when i was in someone else's car.