How to effectively use a task killer with Froyo

[darlev]

I'm one who has listened to both sides of the debate for a while. What I learned with 2.1 is that when the system was strained (lots memory hogs used recently) the performance did suffer, especially if you were then using another memory hog like a good graphics game. I found the best thing to do was use a task killer for only apps I installed (except music apps) and then google maps and internet and some bloatware like city id, all others I put on ignore. This worked flawlessly on 2.1 to keep my system snappy and maximize battery. With 2.2 I've only found one task killer that is allowing me to do the exact same thing it is "Advanced Task Killer Froyo" by ReChild, this is a beta version and it is meant just for Froyo. What I noticed is that the HTC/google bloatware will keep re-starting (so I just added them to ignore) but the verizon added bloatware will not re-start!.

Settings:
I have all the pre-loaded apps on the system which I use except internet, google maps, VZ navigator and My verizon set to ignore. Also set any music apps like Pandora to ignore.

auto start: on

show notification: off (noticed froyo doesn't like external software notifications in the notice bar

auto kill level: aggresive (if it's not set to aggressive it wont auto kill when screen off)

auto kill frequency: when screen off

security level: high

I personally have noticed that maps is battery hog even after you're not using it if it's not killed by a task killer. For this reason and other market apps that either aren't developed well and kill performance/battery I think a task killer is a necessity and that the built in function of Froyo just doesn't cut it, it's fine if you don't add any second party apps to your phone, but that's not how most people use their phone.

I noticed that my games were playing crappy or FC initially with Froyo until I did this, now some of them are actually performing better, check out "speed X 3D" and "Cubes beta" if you get a chance.

Hope this helps some, even if you're anti Task killer give it a try, you can always uninstall it!

 

[lcsglvr]

Seems like good setup. I'm trying it out. Personally, I see shorter battery life without a task killer. Who knows. One thing: seems like you should keep internet on ignore list,especially if you use it a lot. It seems that it would take up more resources and hence more battery if it is starting up from scratch all the time.

 

[darlev]

Yeah your probably right about the internet, but I don't like it starting up where I left off

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[Muddyml]

I used advanced task killer religiously in 2.1. When I upgraded to Froyo I noticed that it just would kill some apps, specifically oi safe. I questioned that so I emailed both Rechild and the developer of oi safe. I was somewhat shocked about both their responses.

Here is their response:



From oi safe:

Peli (OpenIntents)
<peli0101@googlemail.com>
To:*xxxxxx@gmail.com
Cc:*support@openintents.org
Date:*September 4, 2010 11:15:34 AM UTC-4
Here is an explanation why you don't need to kill the tasks - why it

is actually better to keep them open. FAQ: Why You Shouldn’t Be Using a Task Killer with Android



Peli

- Hide quoted text -



On Wed, Sep 1, 2010 at 1:03 AM, *****@gmail.com> wrote:

> So I updated my HTC incredible form 2.1 to Froyo 2.2.* Now when I open oi

> safe I can't close it. I'm using advanced task killer to attempt this. It's

> always open and shows the key icon at the top of my screen. It does lock,

> but I want to be able to end the task again.

>

> Appreciative any feedback regarding this.

>

> Matt

And the response from Advanced task tiller's Rechild:

rechild support
<rechild.support@gmail.com>
To:*Matt <@gmail.com>
Date:*September 1, 2010 7:31:08 AM UTC-4
Sorry for the trouble caused. Google doesn't allow killing services directly in Froyo, you have to 'Force Stop' them manually. You can Long Press on it and choose 'Force Stop' from the pop-up menu. Or you can tap 'Menu' key of ATK and choose 'Service' to stop them one by one. Actually we suggest you ignore or uncheck those apps if they don't sonsume resources a lot.

BTW, you can exit apps with 'back' key instead of 'Home' key, then the apps would be killed.

On Wed, Sep 1, 2010 at 7:35 AM, Matt <@gmail.com> wrote:

These messages were sent while you were offline.

7:35 AM*Matt: Upgraded my incredible to the ota 2.2. But now I can't end oi safe task, its always on. Don't know is that's something with their program or what.

I've heard that task killers do more harm than good. I used a task killer because I didn't see a point in having something open that I didn't use or want open. But when the maker of the task killer app basically said its better to leave them open I didn't see a point in using a task killer. I figured this guy knew more than I did. I uninstalled and haven't noticed a decrease in battery life or performance.

(sorry if anything is this isn't spelled or formatted correctly. Wrote it all on my dinc.)

The biggest battery saver I've found is to leave WiFi on all the time. Avoid 3g if at all possible.

 

[Principal Skinner]

How to successfully use a task killer with FROYO ?

Delete it

 

[darlev]

I've seen all the info stating that task killers are bad/not needed. For me it's just been about trial and error and seeing what works best. But I question why ReChild would say that and then at the same time be working on a beta version of ATK specifically for Froyo?

 

[Muddyml]

I question the same thing. The only thing I can think of is if enough people think they need it, he'll continue to receive a paycheck. Devs get paid by the adds they sell in the free version or by their pro version when people buy them. Either way, its cash in his pocket.

 

[logan78511]

It seems like it makes things worse with 2.2. Most things that you manually shut down start back anyway and that takes more battery life.

With 2.1 most people said it was useless but I still used it because it would keep a lot of the apps gone. If they would figure out a way in 2.2 to kill apps and someone put a list of ones you wanted to block from coming back on there it would be awesome!

 

[Muddyml]

Just another reason to Root.

 

[davidnc]

Yeah I agree if dev. think people will buy those apps they will make those task killling apps.

I never used a task killer in 2.1 and havent seen the really big need to in 2.2. I got a stock battery. I can manage though normal(14-16 hrs) day, light to moderate usage ,, but on heavy usage days it is cutting it close so i usually bump it when I can just to play it safe.

I am not really anti task killer just not pro task killer either , lol

 

[doc 7]

Yeah I agree if dev. think people will buy those apps they will make those task killling apps.

I never used a task killer in 2.1 and havent seen the really big need to in 2.2. I got a stock battery. I can manage though normal(14-16 hrs) day, light to moderate usage ,, but on heavy usage days it is cutting it close so i usually bump it when I can just to play it safe.

I am not really anti task killer just not pro task killer either , lol

I would agree with your usage I'm at about the same with no task killers I do however stop the bloatware now if I could just delete them

 

[anon(39328)]

I've always been extremely skeptical of task killers. I still am, to be honest. But... my battery life has been sucking pretty bad since 2.2, and none of the usual things suggested by all of the resident experts seem to be helping. I figured 'what the hell... I'll try these suggestions and if it screws anything up, i'll just uninstall it'. Well... so far, I'm pleasantly surprised. Nothing fishy has happened today with the phone (I started the 'experiment' this morning), and my battery life has been much better. One thing I notice compared to usual is that the battery life does not drop when idle. Usually, it steadily degrades even when I'm not using it.

I'll keep an eye on things for the next few days and see if it's going to work out for me, but so far it looks good. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[coco savage]

thats sorta crazy an app developer would say dont use their app?!

 

[darlev]

I've always been extremely skeptical of task killers. I still am, to be honest. But... my battery life has been sucking pretty bad since 2.2, and none of the usual things suggested by all of the resident experts seem to be helping. I figured 'what the hell... I'll try these suggestions and if it screws anything up, i'll just uninstall it'. Well... so far, I'm pleasantly surprised. Nothing fishy has happened today with the phone (I started the 'experiment' this morning), and my battery life has been much better. One thing I notice compared to usual is that the battery life does not drop when idle. Usually, it steadily degrades even when I'm not using it.

I'll keep an eye on things for the next few days and see if it's going to work out for me, but so far it looks good. Thanks for the suggestion.

Glad to here its working out, that's what I see as well, my phone will stay at 100% battery for about four hours after a full charge if the phone isn't being used. If you're using the phone then the task killer isn't going to change things much because the drain is coming from what you are actively using.
Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[kevinb120]

I find that the task killers now show a ton of apps that aren't even really running in 2.2

 

[jasonvancouver]

I've seen all the info stating that task killers are bad/not needed. For me it's just been about trial and error and seeing what works best. But I question why ReChild would say that and then at the same time be working on a beta version of ATK specifically for Froyo?

I am using ATK and haven't had any problems.

If people say ATK is bad for the phone... what are they referring to ?... I assume that ATK cannot do actual damage to the phone, except to the phone's performance and if that is the case, it can always be uninstalled.

 

[jasonvancouver]

One this I do miss about my blackberry is the ability to actually close out an application when done with it.

 

[Qazme]

Best way to use a task killer on Android?

Menu --> Settings --> applications --> find it --> uninstall it.

If you have apps you 'have to kill' because it's killing your battery etc, wouldn't it behoove you to take the malfunctioning app off your phone and find a better alternative? Task killers at best are a bandaid solution to a stab wound.

One this I do miss about my blackberry is the ability to actually close out an application when done with it.

I suggest you go read the differences of how Android versus iPhone or Blackberry works. Android is a vastly different system than Blackberry where you HAVE to shut down services instantly to keep the phone stable. That's like comparing C# with HTML5, nothing similar.

 

[jasonvancouver]

Best way to use a task killer on Android?

Menu --> Settings --> applications --> find it --> uninstall it.

If you have apps you 'have to kill' because it's killing your battery etc, wouldn't it behoove you to take the malfunctioning app off your phone and find a better alternative? Task killers at best are a bandaid solution to a stab wound.



I suggest you go read the differences of how Android versus iPhone or Blackberry works. Android is a vastly different system than Blackberry where you HAVE to shut down services instantly to keep the phone stable. That's like comparing C# with HTML5, nothing similar.

Ok, so you are saying Task Killers really are not needed on the Droid Inc, based on the technology of the device itself ? And.... perhaps if they were needed, HTC would have given us an option to close an application manually ?
Basically, the Incredible should be able to handle apps. on its own ?

Just trying to sort out the pro/cons and wanted to make sure I understood your point.

thanks for the input !

 

[jbh00jh]

Google has said task killers are a waste of time on 2.2 . They work ok on 2.1 but everything you close on 2.2 opens right back up. And they drain your batt.