Help Phone Has Slowed Dramatically

[BLACKTOOTHGRIN]

In the past couple of days my phone has been acting up quite a bit.
It's lagging like crazy, swipe gestures are also very choppy.
Nothing has really changed. No new apps installed.
Any ideas?

The only thing I can think of is that I tried out ADW launcher
a few days back.
I didn't like it as much as Launcher pro, so I uninstalled it.
Maybe doing that caused something to act up,
but I can't see why it would
since it was uninstalled and I cleared the cache.
Or would it?

I'm probably going to uninstall and reinstall Launcher Pro
to see if that helps, but I'm curious to what all other people
think could cause this first.

 

[RAYJAY193B]

i get this once in a while also did you turn the phone off and let it restart ????

 

[cbreze]

I'm assuming you checked your available RAM? Any device will slow down when that drops to low. It's hard to say what would be "too Low". Mine runs around 202mb, but lately I've seen it around 195. Probably enough for my needs. I have a few launchers in my file and change em up once in awhile. I was running the "launcher 7" when I noticed my emails suddenly stopped being pushed thru, just piled up on my gmail site. It's still F'd up and I'm using launcher pro now. I'm beginning to think a hard reset is going to be in my future and I'm dreading it.

YIPPEE!! I figured it out! My sync box to google mail had become unchecked. One of those weird things that happens when changing launchers and similar. I'm happy, no hard reset.

 

[slimjimmy75]

I've noticed my phone acting up this past week. Mainly when I unlock and my home screen appears, it takes 10 seconds sometimes before it responds to anything. I downloaded launcher pro but uninstalled it. I have juice defender and was thinking that was my problem but I've had it for a long time with no pevious problems. My main issue is my clock ,, I use the same one that came on the phone. when I go to my home screen this week, the clock will be stuck at 3 or 4 hours ago and does'nt straighten itself out. The clock on my lock screen will be right but not on my home screen. The only way to fix it is to restart the phone or drag it into the trash and create a new widget of it. sux

 

[BLACKTOOTHGRIN]

i get this once in a while also did you turn the phone off and let it restart ????

Yep.
I shut mine down every night.

I'm assuming you checked your available RAM? Any device will slow down when that drops to low. It's hard to say what would be "too Low". Mine runs around 202mb, but lately I've seen it around 195. Probably enough for my needs. I have a few launchers in my file and change em up once in awhile. I was running the "launcher 7" when I noticed my emails suddenly stopped being pushed thru, just piled up on my gmail site. It's still F'd up and I'm using launcher pro now. I'm beginning to think a hard reset is going to be in my future and I'm dreading it.

YIPPEE!! I figured it out! My sync box to google mail had become unchecked. One of those weird things that happens when changing launchers and similar. I'm happy, no hard reset.

RAM?
Where are you finding that stat?
Or are you talking about on board storage space instead of RAM?
The Commando comes with 512MB of dedicated RAM if I'm not mistaken.
It comes with 400MB of on board storage, 70MB+ of which has already been used by that damn bloatware.
If that's what you meant, I have 272MB free. Plenty-o-space.
Well...now I do.

I just went back into my Apps2SD app and found that there was
3.5MB of cache STILL being used by apps.
I knew something was funny because I know that I had 272MB free before.
Once I cleared that one, it somehow cleaned up 10MB of space (not just the 3.5MB it said) and put me back to where I needed to be.
The phone seems to be back to normal now.
That said, I don't understand how even 10MB of cached space
could cause the phone to F'UP as much as it was.
I'm sure most people would say, who care's it's back to normal now,
but I'd like to know just so I can prevent that type of thing from happening again.
It was really pissing me off.

-haha, I've had that sync thing happen too.
it makes ya feel like an ass when you figure out how simple the fix was, huh?
still...it shouldn't happen.
these devices are suppose to be "smart", right?

I've noticed my phone acting up this past week. Mainly when I unlock and my home screen appears, it takes 10 seconds sometimes before it responds to anything. I downloaded launcher pro but uninstalled it. I have juice defender and was thinking that was my problem but I've had it for a long time with no pevious problems. My main issue is my clock ,, I use the same one that came on the phone. when I go to my home screen this week, the clock will be stuck at 3 or 4 hours ago and does'nt straighten itself out. The clock on my lock screen will be right but not on my home screen. The only way to fix it is to restart the phone or drag it into the trash and create a new widget of it. sux

Yeah...I've had that clock freeze up on mine a few times too.
I always had to dump it in the trash and start a new one as well.
Never found the problem either.
It could very well be a conflict with Launcher Pro
because it never did that while just running the stock launcher.
We'll probably never know.
But even if it is a conflict with Launcher Pro,
I can't bitch too much about it being that it's free, ya know?
It's still plenty annoying nonetheless.

 

[Sector7]

I had the same problem with lagging after unlock screen, noticed the clock had a delay in the secs changing, lagging home screen swipes...so I downloaded OS monitor from the market and noticed for some odd reason the Home app was taking up close to 90% of the CPU cycles. I can only assume it got corrupted somehow from testing out different apps and no other way of restoring it so I had to do hard reset to fix it. The phone works fine now but I am really hesistant in installing new untested stuff and screw up a smooth running OS.

 

[BLACKTOOTHGRIN]

Kinda what I was thinking.
Installing and uninstalling things can make stuff malfunction sometimes.
(going from computer experience i mean)
And since these apps that we download to try out aren't built
specifically for the Commando, it makes sense that things could
potentially get thrown out of wack.
I hope that's the case anyway.
I'd hate to think that we all bought a phone that's just slow and buggy
in comparison to the others out there.

 

[cbreze]

RAM?
Where are you finding that stat?
Or are you talking about on board storage space instead of RAM?
The Commando comes with 512MB of dedicated RAM if I'm not mistaken.
It comes with 400MB of on board storage, 70MB+ of which has already been used by that damn bloatware.

If you look at "running" apps it shows used and remaining listed as RAM.This is whats running using up the resources and if it gets to low it slows stuff down. We can't have to much going on at the same time then. I'm showing currently: 201 MB used and 129MB free, which equals 330MB total, so the rest must be tied up in android specific resources that aren't listed, but are needed to run the O.S. You can shut stuff down and watch it go up. It does fluctuate alot which is pretty normal . If your shutting down at night , when you restart, your restarting all that stuff back up, if you were to shut it off that is. Not sure how much a reboot actually would help RAM amounts since stuff restarts on reboot.
It's good to know what I'm running is normal for me so I have some sort of baseline to gauge my remaining RAM by.

 

[BLACKTOOTHGRIN]

Okay, now I see where you're getting those numbers from.
I didn't think that it worked like that.
I thought that 512MB of RAM had been set aside for the devise always.
Guess not.

By what you just said, you're numbers are adding up correctly because the bloatware uses up 70MB of the initial 400MB.
I'm still missing between 9-10MB somewhere.
No idea where it's hiding either.

What you said about start up makes sense.
I don't have alot running though.
I'm in the same ballpark as you are with that.

The phone started acting up again BTW.
I'm thinking a hard reset might be in my near future.

 

[Sector7]

If you decide to do a hard reset, I would advise writing down all your favorite apps that you have installed and/or backing up your apps to SD card. I haven't found anything good yet to backup the contacts list.

 

[cbreze]

Don't hard reset before going into your running apps and see where your RAM is being utilized. I see my "mobile shell" app takes up 59MB of my usable, available RAM. That's the most of anything I have onboard. Even so my phone is still quick. I usually use other launchers/ui's that take alot less. I turned off my oem browser and will see if it restarts on a reboot. I'm sure it will. FWIW I have a quick link to my running files and turn off stuff alot, also monitor what comes back on and what stays off. I find this helpful to understanding the processes. I do believe "mobile shell" is going to have some down time as 59MB is over the top for a frickin' fancy launcher. One more FWIW: I've been keeping everything on my SD card that will go there, that helps with storage space.
Has anyone ever seen any type of toggle for running apps or better yet an automatic shutdown setting? For us unrooted folks. We may have ICS update in a couple months or sooner. That could change things up, maybe take up more RAM.

 

[Sector7]

for people that aren't afraid...root for Commando with GB is out

Here

 

[BLACKTOOTHGRIN]

If you decide to do a hard reset, I would advise writing down all your favorite apps that you have installed and/or backing up your apps to SD card. I haven't found anything good yet to backup the contacts list.

Absolutely.

Don't hard reset before going into your running apps and see where your RAM is being utilized. I see my "mobile shell" app takes up 59MB of my usable, available RAM. That's the most of anything I have onboard. Even so my phone is still quick. I usually use other launchers/ui's that take alot less. I turned off my oem browser and will see if it restarts on a reboot. I'm sure it will. FWIW I have a quick link to my running files and turn off stuff alot, also monitor what comes back on and what stays off. I find this helpful to understanding the processes. I do believe "mobile shell" is going to have some down time as 59MB is over the top for a frickin' fancy launcher. One more FWIW: I've been keeping everything on my SD card that will go there, that helps with storage space.
Has anyone ever seen any type of toggle for running apps or better yet an automatic shutdown setting? For us unrooted folks. We may have ICS update in a couple months or sooner. That could change things up, maybe take up more RAM.

I'll take a look at that when it's done charging.
Can't wait for that new Mugen to get here.
I keep all I can on my SD as well.

An auto shut down setting would be nice for sure.

for people that aren't afraid...root for Commando with GB is out

Here

Yeah...I saw that one in another forum.
Not ready for that quite yet.....I'm sceeerd.
-in voiding the warranty that is-

 

[cbreze]

Blacktooth, I think you commented on the oem browser running in the background, doing what only knows. Also since the exit/close option was taken out with the GB upgrade the only option seems to be to go to running apps and close it that way. I don't even use the oem, preferring opera mini/mobile so FWIW, I've found that apparently once closed it is staying closed and off. Even after a couple reboots, still shut down. I am glad to see that and put it in a hidden file along with other junk so it's not even an issue. I'm finding other stuff is staying off, once shut down also.

 

[BLACKTOOTHGRIN]

Nope...I don't think I said that.
I don't use Bing, frigging hate it actually.
There was one time that I opened Bing on accident.
I got pretty ticked off at that because it activated the app,
but I don't remember saying anything about it running in the background.
But who knows, I have brain farts too. Haha.

Thanks for that info though.

 

[cbreze]

Nope...I don't think I said that.
I don't use Bing, frigging hate it actually.
There was one time that I opened Bing on accident.
I got pretty ticked off at that because it activated the app,
but I don't remember saying anything about it running in the background.
But who knows, I have brain farts too. Haha.

Thanks for that info though.

I just keep bing in the junk file along with other stuff I never use. As for the browser I was referring to, I'm just glad to see it stays off and doesn't consume resources since I never use it. I much prefer google(doesn't everyone?) over bing and just have that set as my default screen on all browsers.
FWIW: Since I've been paying more attention to what's running I've been able to trim down some and increase speeds. I'm looking forward to ICS as it should have tons of improvements. Maybe I'll even root after I get that on

 

[BLACKTOOTHGRIN]

I just keep bing in the junk file along with other stuff I never use. As for the browser I was referring to, I'm just glad to see it stays off and doesn't consume resources since I never use it. I much prefer google(doesn't everyone?) over bing and just have that set as my default screen on all browsers.
FWIW: Since I've been paying more attention to what's running I've been able to trim down some and increase speeds. I'm looking forward to ICS as it should have tons of improvements. Maybe I'll even root after I get that on

I just use the hide feature that Launcher Pro offers.
It keeps the app drawer clean of all that useless crap.

Which stock apps are you shutting down to get increased speed?

I saw a video on ICS. It looks like android is finally starting to get the hint and provide some features that other launchers offer.
Hopefully they will also come up with some good ideas of their own as well.
It looks like it may be a worthwhile update though.
More so than GB was in my opinion.

Have you heard if the Commando will actually be getting the ICS update for sure?

 

[cbreze]

I saw a video on ICS. It looks like android is finally starting to get the hint and provide some features that other launchers offer.
Hopefully they will also come up with some good ideas of their own as well.
It looks like it may be a worthwhile update though.
More so than GB was in my opinion.

Have you heard if the Commando will actually be getting the ICS update for sure?

+1 for launcher pro w/unlocker as it's a pretty cool app.
I agree the GB was a pretty minor upgrade and ICS will be loads better from what I've been reading. All android devices are supposed to get it. As for the timing of it, is anybody's guess.

 

[runsondiesel]

Been a few days since I lurked here. On Sunday my Commando started with the non-responsive home screen after I added a new GO keyboard theme. I uninstalled it and continued to have the problem.

I think it has to do with the home process/app. Ever since the GB update whenever I boot it up, if I try to unlock the home screen and swipe to another home screen it either reboots itself, or the home process crashes ("encountered a problem and has to close"). I have force closed the home process and when it comes back up it works fine. This is the same without the 3rd party keyboard.

If I boot up the phone and then let it sit for 5-10 mins without touching it, there is no problem. I put the GO keyboard back in with the default themes and have no problems.

Last night I shut it down and put it on the charger. It booted itself and gave me an error message that the home process had a problem and the choices were Force Close or Wait. I force closed it and today have good response.

I have used Factory Reset Mate to create a list of apps so that after a hard reset I have the list. Click it and the app goes to the market, downloads and installs. You can choose them from the list singularly or multiples.

Verizon's backup assistant will back up your contacts. What I haven't found is a way to backup my bookmarks in the Opera browser. If someone knows of something, please, speak up.

I'm interested in the extended battery as well. I typically am down to 60-70% by 11:00 (my day starts at 05:00), pop it on the cradle at my desk for an hour or so and it's good to go for the rest of the day. Recharge every night. My office location has sorry signal. On days I am at home where I have good signal, the battery doesn't run down nearly as quickly. My brother tells me his (ahem) iPhone burns through the battery pretty quickly in low signal areas too.

I have a second OEM battery to switch out if I'm not somewhere that I can charge (jury duty, camping, airplanes, etc.), but the second one doesn't seem to perform as well as the one that was shipped with the phone. Seems odd.

-David

 

[Sector7]

From my understand, Li-Ion chemistry are meant to be used and when you have a battery that is left in storage fully charged that helps degrade the battery and is suggested to store li-ion batteries at %40 charge level in a cool dry area.

More information here

 

[BLACKTOOTHGRIN]

I have used Factory Reset Mate to create a list of apps so that after a hard reset I have the list. Click it and the app goes to the market, downloads and installs. You can choose them from the list singularly or multiples.


I'm interested in the extended battery as well. I typically am down to 60-70% by 11:00 (my day starts at 05:00), pop it on the cradle at my desk for an hour or so and it's good to go for the rest of the day. Recharge every night. My office location has sorry signal. On days I am at home where I have good signal, the battery doesn't run down nearly as quickly. My brother tells me his (ahem) iPhone burns through the battery pretty quickly in low signal areas too.

I have a second OEM battery to switch out if I'm not somewhere that I can charge (jury duty, camping, airplanes, etc.), but the second one doesn't seem to perform as well as the one that was shipped with the phone. Seems odd.

-David

I'll have check out that Factory Reset Mate.
Where are you getting this btw?
I'm not seeing it in the market.
Is it safe?
Normally I just write everything down,
but that app sounds like it would make everything a hell of alot easier
when doing a reset.

I'm really starting to get aggravated by all of this,
mostly because I can't figure out what's causing it and I'm not able to prevent it.
I tried leaving my phone on all night instead of shutting it down.
Yeah...that helped, but when I checked it this morning my battery
was 15% lower than when I left it.
That's ridiculous!
Do task killers really work?
Either way, you shouldn't have to leave your phone on all the time
just to avoid problems.
And it should work correctly when it's powered on, not 10 min later.
I don't understand it, it never acted like this before.
I'm baffled.

From my understand, Li-Ion chemistry are meant to be used and when you have a battery that is left in storage fully charged that helps degrade the battery and is suggested to store li-ion batteries at %40 charge level in a cool dry area.

More information here

I've read that too.
A refrigerator was suggested as a good place to store them.
I don't have any first hand knowledge of this yet,
but I should receive the new Mugen battery this week and will
try out the refrigerator thing with my oem.

 

[BLACKTOOTHGRIN]

Another thing:
Last night I found the app for this forum and installed it.
When I was looking through my running apps,
it said it was taking up 30MB of RAM. WTF?
That is the most out of anything running.
Any ideas as to why?
That doesn't seem right to me unless there is something else in that app.
(spyware, malware, bla bla bla)
I've shut it down for the time being.

FYI:
I also have the Droid Forum app installed,
and a couple other forum apps as well.
No issue like that with those whatsoever.

 

[runsondiesel]

From my understand, Li-Ion chemistry are meant to be used and when you have a battery that is left in storage fully charged that helps degrade the battery and is suggested to store li-ion batteries at %40 charge level in a cool dry area.

More information here

Well I fit one criterion as I swap them out regularly. I charge up a battery to 100% and swap them out on the 15th and 30th of the month. Since the purpose is to have a 100% battery to swap to when the other is done, leaving it at 40% wouldn't suit the purpose. After two weeks, the unused one is typically charged at about 95% when I put it in. I also don't keep the stored one in a cool place since it spends the day in my (warm) pants pocket. :-0

Thanks for the info.

-David

 

[runsondiesel]

I'll have check out that Factory Reset Mate.
Where are you getting this btw?
I'm not seeing it in the market.
Is it safe?
Normally I just write everything down,
but that app sounds like it would make everything a hell of alot easier
when doing a reset.

BTG, I got it from the market in maybe July or August. It's Factory Reset Mate, and tonight when I read your post I find that it's no longer on the market. If someone could tell me how to post a copy out of my phone, I'd be glad to do it. (The phone isn't rooted.) When I got it I was running AVG and since have changed to Lookout and both scanned it and deemed it "safe".

I also run an app called Watchdog Lite that sounds an alert when an app is "misbehaving", defined as chewing up more than 50% processor. It trips when Lookout is doing its weekly scan. Interestingly, it has also tripped several times since Sunday when the home process was trying to melt the processor down.

As far as app killers, I've read differing opinions on whether they hurt or help. I have Android Assistant that I sometimes use to kill things when I'm in the humor to kill something. It does seem that if I kill something that is a system process, it just comes right back up, and that lends credence to the idea that app killers hurt battery life rather than help. I don't know. I do use the Quick Boost in Android Assistant just for the hell of it sometimes to clear some RAM.

I'd like to hear from someone who has rooted with the new package, since the GB update. I'm thinking it's time to ditch all this VZW crap I don't use.

-David

 

[runsondiesel]

Another thing:
Last night I found the app for this forum and installed it.
When I was looking through my running apps,
it said it was taking up 30MB of RAM. WTF?
That is the most out of anything running.
Any ideas as to why?
That doesn't seem right to me unless there is something else in that app.
(spyware, malware, bla bla bla)
I've shut it down for the time being.

FYI:
I also have the Droid Forum app installed,
and a couple other forum apps as well.
No issue like that with those whatsoever.

There are several apps I avoid. One is Facebook. Read the permissions and the damn thing scours your contacts list and records the phone numbers. No thanks. The ABC13 (TV) app here in Houston takes over the camera and can "see" anything the camera sees. I'm more apt to just save a bookmark in the Opera Mobile browser and do it that way. The other thing I find is that the fonts in many of these apps are not made for 53 year old eyes. In the browser I can zoom it for easier reading.

While on the subject of app size I find it really strange that the Opera Mobile browser is 2 mb when stored on the card and 20 mb when stored on the phone. Or maybe that's backwards. Anyhow, it shouldn't be 10 times the size just because of where it's stored, should it?

-David