Stock "Task Manager" App

[kmf]

Task Manager (Stock App) Samsung Galaxy S Mesmerize (USCC) What is the point of this app and should I be using it? I've been reading that Task Managers/Task Killers are bad for the general operation of the phone.

 

[ClubSteeler]

I disagree. They may not help much, but they are not "bad". I use them to kill apps that may use GPS or other battery intensive apps. Also, some news apps send notifications every time there is a new article. I read them the kill the app if I don't want to notifications.

Some apps just want to me memory resident at all times. No reason? Kill it.

 

[sonofaresiii]

They actually are bad, there's like a bajillion threads on it, read them and form your own opinion.

At any rate, no I don't think you should be using ANY task killer, but if you're GOING to use one, I'd suggest Advanced Task Killer free in the market.

The better option would be to root your phone and use autokiller. It has a task killer built in if you REALLY need it, but it'll take care of most of your app-killing problems on its own.

 

[rbasusparky]

I believe this is the same Stock Task Manager that my phone got when it was updated to 2.2 Froyo. I don't believe in using Task Killers (like ATK) but what I use the stock task manager for is to keep an eye out on my RAM and summary of internal storage and SD card as well any apps that are running that should not be. Ever since 2.2 Froyo, the need for Task Killers has been eliminated by the improved memory management implementation in the 2.2 (and later) versions of the Android OS. I usually let the OS handle the memory management but you may want to stop an app that appears on active applications column for more than an hour or so that you are fairly certain should not be running. I also look at Menu->Settings->Applications->Running Services to look at apps that are running (especially at boot or startup) that are designed to start at boot but you are really not running that may need to be stopped (press on the running service to stop it) as it will activate later on when you actually use the app.

The task manager and running services are what I normally look at use to observe the RAM and runnning applications but I normally don't manually interfere with the OS. Also, note that the preferred method of exiting apps is to use the <back> key and exit/shutdown the app properly. Exiting the app with the <home> key is done to place the app in a minimal state in the background to take advantage of android multitasking capabilities because you intend to return to that app shortly and want to return where you left off. At some point, you will want to exit the apps properly with the <back> key instead of leaving so many apps running in the background which is not advisable for phones with limited RAM (e.g. 256 MB).

 

[kmf]

I usually use the <back> key to close apps, and I do hit the <home> key if I will go back to the open app shortly. When I go to check <running services> it is amazing how many apps are running in the background...Google maps...for instance. And when you stop it, it will start right back up. Other apps do as well, like google navigation, your navigator deluxe. Without rooting there does not seem to be much control over some of this. Just the way it is I guess.

 

[sitlet]

it is amazing how many apps are running in the background.

Those apps arent technically "running", even though they are listed under running apps. The only time an app will continue running in the background, is if it it listed in the notification bar. Otherwise, those apps you see are just cached, not running.

 

[RyanB]

Double post

 

[RyanB]

Those apps arent technically "running", even though they are listed under running apps. The only time an app will continue running in the background, is if it it listed in the notification bar. Otherwise, those apps you see are just cached, not running.

I was under the impression that wasn't the necessarily the case. Task killers typically show everything that's open, whether or not it's running. The running services screen, on the other hand, I thought actually showed what was running; for example I use Auto Wifi Enabler to toggle my wifi for me based on location. That's always on and running, regardless of the fact that it doesn't show up in the notification bar while doing its job. If I stop the service, no more toggle. Am I mistaken?