WolfmanRobby
Android Enthusiast
That depends on the app. For the most part, apps that end completely have an "EXIT" or "CLOSE" when you press the menu key.
It also depends on if the developer of the app decides if it needs to perform background functions.
Some of them kill off and use a tie in to the "Alarm" function (not to be confused with the Alarm clock), that causes it to wake up at a certain time.
I'll go back to the CacheSense app I'm beta testing. I've had a few "Creative" conversations with the developer. He wanted the app to keep a service running in the background, 24/7, looking for updated "Pocket Queries" or new caches posted near you on the GeoCaching website. I argued that it was a waste of resources. He finally gave in and switched to having it use the alarm function and wake up the app every few hours and poll for the "PQ's" - and ONLY if you enable it to keep them syncing. Bruce really is a nice guy.
I think what got him to change that was that I told him developers need to look at users phones as our homes, and their apps as guests in our homes. He doesn't want his app to be the house guest that drinks all the beer and leaves wet towels on the floor.
Unfortunately, just like in the PC world, too many app developers take the attitude that it would be harmless for their app to "Terminate and Stay Resident" in memory.
Some people argue with me that "Task Killers" are not needed on FroYo and higher because the OS is supposed to manage the resources better. But, the problem is that too many developers get lazy and say "Let the OS manage it."
That's why I still feel the need to use a task manager. The one included with the phone only works when in StandBy.
I run this: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rechild.advancedtaskkiller
You have to add apps to it's EXCEPTION list. And, you can set a widget on the home screen. This widget will kill any tasks and apps not on the exception list when you tap it.
Thanks for the good news.