Official Android Discussion Thread

[Mabster]

Re: Official Android Discussion Thread

The never ending debate of Task Killer or not.

They worked great back in Android's infancy because back then Android was not efficient at memory and process management. With recent builds this has been improved to the point of no longer needing an 3rd party task killer.

Android will kill tasks itself when it needs the memory or cpu cycles for something else. Cpu cycles is what drains the battery. The apps that are loaded into memory are asleep and not using cycles until called upon. Calling an already loaded app is more efficient (and faster) then loading an app and then running it.

Even while a phone is asleep and not being used at all a 3rd party task killer uses cpu cycles constantly since it is actively searching for apps to kill. Also, if not configured properly they kill apps that need to be active in memory in order to run basic phone operations. Android then has to load that app again, using more cpu cycles, then the task killer kills it again, using more cycles, android loads again.....forever.


There are still people that swear by the Task Killer though and I guess if it works for you then I guess keep using it.

[SoMiss2000]

Originally Posted by bigeastbumrush<br />
I been using the Advanced Task Killer app from the Android market and it works like a charm. A whole lot less battery drainage.<br />
<br />
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

<br />
<br />
Get rid of it! Those do more harm, than good. <br />
<br />
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk

That used to be the belief but now they're being put on the phones lol.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy SII

[Mabster]

Re: Official Android Discussion Thread

That used to be the belief but now they're being put on the phones lol.

Just because it's there doesn't mean it's needed. Look at all the other crap bloatware that comes shipped on phones.

A task manager is good for certain specific things, if you know what you're doing. A task killer is bad. Like I said though, it's a never ending debate. Use them if you want to.

[Millennium]

Re: Official Android Discussion Thread

Just because it's there doesn't mean it's needed. Look at all the other crap bloatware that comes shipped on phones.

A task manager is good for certain specific things, if you know what you're doing. A task killer is bad. Like I said though, it's a never ending debate. Use them if you want to.

The Galaxy Nexus has a button for easy Task Management, and you can always go into the App Management to kill anything else you need.

I'm on the "No Task Killer Needed" side of the fence.

Also - Verizon Wireless has the extended battery on sale on their website for 50% off ($25 instead of $50). When you go to purchase it, don't sign into your account, or it won't show the correct price when you check out.

[bigfnjoe96]

Re: Official Android Discussion Thread

If you want to manage/monitor apps pick-up Watchdog. Love Watchdog. Will never use a Task Manager again

[Stu]

Anyone getting the cardock with the galaxy nexus or know of a good universal dock? I tried a universal dock from best buy but it sucks big time. When the phone is locked in it hits either the power button or volume rocker.

[Millennium]

Anyone getting the cardock with the galaxy nexus or know of a good universal dock? I tried a universal dock from best buy but it sucks big time. When the phone is locked in it hits either the power button or volume rocker.

I'd wait. Apparently the Verizon one in most of the previews is NOT the one that is being sold right now. The current one is all plastic and has been getting some bad pub. No personal experience, though.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[Zer0xray]

Re: Official Android Discussion Thread

Anyone get a case for their galaxy nexus? mine is coming tomorrow from amazon and shopping for one now. i've liked the incipio ones for my blackberry so leaning towards that.

[cjonesfan921]

Re: Official Android Discussion Thread

Care to explain?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

It's just not needed. It does more harm than good. The Android OS itself does the job. I found this, very helpful.

Spoiler

Android is hard coded to automatically kill a task when more memory is needed.
Android is hard coded to automatically kill a task when it’s done doing what it needs to do.
Android is hard coded to automatically kill a task when you haven’t returned to it in a long time.
Most services (while possibly running in the background) use very little memory when not actively doing something.
A content provider is only doing something when there is a notification for it to give. Otherwise it uses very little memory.
Killing a process when it isn’t ready only causes it to have to reload itself and start from scratch when it’s needed again.
Because a task is likely running in the background for a reason, killing it will only cause it to re-spawn as soon as the activity that was using it looks for it again. And it will just have to start over again.
Killing certain processes can have undesirable side effects. Not receiving text messages, alarms not going off, and force closes just to name a few.
The only true way to prevent something from running at all on your phone would be to uninstall the .apk.
Most applications will exit themselves if you get out of it by hitting “back” until it closes rather than hitting the “home” button. But even with hitting home, Android will eventually kill it once it’s been in the background for a while.

If you want to manage/monitor apps pick-up Watchdog. Love Watchdog. Will never use a Task Manager again

Definitely! Watchdog is different in that it will let you know if an App is eating up at the CPU, which is what you DON'T want. In this case, it could be a poorly coded app, and just get rid of it.

The usage of RAM does not mean much, it is used differently on Android. I've read some places that it is better to be close to 'full' on memory usage. Plus, the OS will just kill an app if it needs memory to run another app.



My advice for battery, use one of the Power tool widgets. Biggest drains on battery, wi-fi, bluetooth, gps, and your screen. Adjust accordingly!

[ubernoob]

Anyone get a case for their galaxy nexus? mine is coming tomorrow from amazon and shopping for one now. i've liked the incipio ones for my blackberry so leaning towards that.

I haven't seen a case I've liked yet, but I got the phone on release day and was in the Verizon store then. Haven't looked since. I like the size of the phone without it.

I might play with fire and go case less with this phone.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[mgoblue]

Re: Official Android Discussion Thread

I'd wait. Apparently the Verizon one in most of the previews is NOT the one that is being sold right now. The current one is all plastic and has been getting some bad pub. No personal experience, though.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Yeah, 100% this. Doesn't use the 3 prong thing on the phone, so you have to plug it in every time. The other one I believe you'd plug stuff in the base. All the one they have now is just plastic, no benefits other than the mount itself.

[Stu]

Re: Official Android Discussion Thread

Anyone get a case for their galaxy nexus? mine is coming tomorrow from amazon and shopping for one now. i've liked the incipio ones for my blackberry so leaning towards that.

I don't have one yet and probably won't unless I can find one that doesn't add too much bulk. The phone is pretty big as it is.

[mgoblue]

Re: Official Android Discussion Thread

I don't have one yet and probably won't unless I can find one that doesn't add too much bulk. The phone is pretty big as it is.

Me either...I really like how the phone feels, so I'm just gonna go naked for a while.

All the cases I saw at Verizon looked bulky or kinda ugly...I may get ghost armor at some point, but then that blocks off the feel of the battery case, and I kinda like how that feels.

[Stu]

Re: Official Android Discussion Thread

Me either...I really like how the phone feels, so I'm just gonna go naked for a while.

All the cases I saw at Verizon looked bulky or kinda ugly...I may get ghost armor at some point, but then that blocks off the feel of the battery case, and I kinda like how that feels.

I tried the Incipio case at Verizon. it didn't add too much bulk but it blocks off the three prong connection for when/if the better car dock comes out. it was also a dust magnet when I put it in my pocket.

Still may get a screen protector at some point but I always hate the install process and how they collect dust around the edges.

[Kashanova]

Re: Official Android Discussion Thread

I'm envious of you VZW guys with the nexus, Hopefully Sprint gets it soon.