How do I manage running applications?

[jyinger]

I shudder when I look at all of the applications that are running. How do I eliminate all but the most vital? How do I know which ones are truly vital to the phone's operation?

 

[Aquila]

As far as process management goes, Android will automatically close unused apps when it needs to in order to optimize RAM usage. Manually stopping apps is much harder on the system than letting it handle itself.

As far as applications that are completely unused, you can disable apps by either uninstalling them, or if that is not an option, there is almost always a "disable" button.

 

[GSDer]

jyinger,
I used SystemPanel: http://market.android.com/details?id=nextapp.systempanel.r1 to look at all the apps and services that are running and then went in and disabled everything that looked nonessential. I ended up with about 20 apps that could not be uninstalled that could be disabled. There were a few that I couldn't disable without rooting - oh well.

Sent from my rooted, debloated, deodexed Sinclair ZX-80 running CM 10.2 using Tapatalk 4

 

[gozirra]

You can just hold down the home button to see whats running, then slide it to the side to kill it. I don't know how that is "much harder", NothingIsTrue. On that same screen is the Task Manager, which also lets you kill:

• Active Applications
• Uninstall Downloaded Applications
• Manage RAM (clear memory)
• System Storage (show space available internally and on SD)

 

[Aquila]

You can just hold down the home button to see whats running, then slide it to the side to kill it. I don't know how that is "much harder", NothingIsTrue. On that same screen is the Task Manager, which also lets you kill:

• Active Applications
• Uninstall Downloaded Applications
• Manage RAM (clear memory)
• System Storage (show space available internally and on SD)

Right, the managing RAM part is what I'm referring to when saying it's best to leave that alone unless you are troubleshooting something very specific. I'm not saying it's more difficult to do (for the user), I'm saying it's taxing on the system, at least more so than letting it be handled naturally.

 

[gozirra]

Ah ok, misunderstood then.