Help Low memory issues

[ronjcar]

Having a lot of low memory issues lately. When I look on AppBrain it shows I have installed 159 MB of apps. A lot of these are installed on my SD card, so should not use any internal memory. I can't seem to get much more then 30-40 MB of available internal memory. Is there an easy way to view how much each file is taking up as far as memory goes?

Is there something I need to do maintenance wise to clean up my phones memory? I have seen a few things about clearing out the cache, but still not sure if that is what I need to do or not. Will clearing the cache wipe all my apps and data off? What is the best ways to clear all the different types of cache on my phone? Should I just do a hard reset?

Thanks
Ron

 

[watersrules]

are you rooted? if so use "cachemate for root users". I've also used "DiskUsage" to see what exactly is being a memory hog...

keep in mind, just because an app is installed on the SD card doesn't mean its only being used from the SD card... someone correct me if I'm wrong, but most times the cache memory is housed on internal storage... (i.e. Google Earth)

 

[Lock-N-Load]

settings > applications > manage applications will give you size details of each app

you can get cache cleaners in the market and clearing a cache - temp data - will not delete your apps or data or settings.

no way I would do a hard reset.

research clearing your dalvik cache, that can free up some space also.

 

[ronjcar]

No, I am not rooted. I will check out these apps.

Ron

 

[Lock-N-Load]

keep in mind, just because an app is installed on the SD card doesn't mean its only being used from the SD card... someone correct me if I'm wrong, but most times the cache memory is housed on internal storage... (i.e. Google Earth)

think of it like this.. you moved the app to the SD but the apps data and such is still on the phone. so it helps, but you did not move the entire app and data to the phone, just the app.

Now, if the app is not a data generating app, no big deal. For example, an app like TipIt does not store or create any real data so the data left on the phone when you move the app to the SD card is negligible (if anything). But, an app like MyTracks creates GPS tracks and those babies can add up and stay on the phone even if you move the app. My biggest memory hogs are MyTracks and my Calendar.

The Dialer app can get huge also as it hold things like MMS and SMS data

 

[ronjcar]

How can you tell the size up my tracks files?

Thanks

 

[Lock-N-Load]

settings > applications > manage applications (sort by size)

My MyTracks shows:

10mb total
.91 for the app
so data is 9.16mb

thus 9.16mb - HUGE - is on my phone and the app of .91 is on the SD card.. woopie

 

[stevenlong]

Also just a note that moving an application to SD does not move all of the application. It varies by a large margin depending on the application.
Some applications move almost completely to SD while some other can be lower than 50%.

 

[Lock-N-Load]

now thats news to me.

it makes sense that moving an app leaves the apps data behind. but it makes no sense that part of an app would get moved. so there is no protocol in place and your saying a dev could make an app where only 2,7,37,82% is moved??? hmm.. are your sure you did not read that and confuse that for what I said where a move moves the app but not the data and your referencing the same thing I am? Just seems odd moving an app to the SD card would not move the entire app? If not, what's the point of moving 30% of an app? I think it moves the whole app and leaves the data and that is what you might be referencing, no?

 

[stevenlong]

I thought as you did that when you "moved" you application to SD that all of the application was moved over.

But this is not the case. I first noticed this for the application "Documents To Go". When it sits on internal memory the application size shows as 9.72MB. After moving it to SD card the application size shows as 5.07MB.
And I have noticed this on several other applications, so this is not just limited to Doc to Go (Crusade Of Destiny is another biggie). The residual amount can be anything from just a few hundred K to multi meg.

 

[takeshi]

Having a lot of low memory issues lately. When I look on AppBrain it shows I have installed 159 MB of apps. A lot of these are installed on my SD card, so should not use any internal memory.

Not entirely true for reasons already explained above. Also, remember that cache and data for your apps is in internal storage.

I can't seem to get much more then 30-40 MB of available internal memory. Is there an easy way to view how much each file is taking up as far as memory goes?

There are apps to see what's using up internal storage but I don't recall names off the top of my head.

Will clearing the cache wipe all my apps and data off?

No, it just clears cache.

Should I just do a hard reset?

A wipe will probably clear it but it's not the best way to do so. Much like formatting and reloading your PC will fix many problems but it's not the best solution for all problems.

it makes sense that moving an app leaves the apps data behind.

Depends on the app.

If not, what's the point of moving 30% of an app?

30% > 0%

I think it moves the whole app and leaves the data and that is what you might be referencing, no?

You can take a look and see for yourself on your own device. On my device Angry Birds uses 1.92MB while the entire app is ~15MB. SVOX UK English Female voice takes 60KB while full size is ~16MB.