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Help Stop Background Running Apps
- Thread starter Lana30
- Start date
Hi @Lana30 
This has been discussed quite a bit over the years. First you have to understand how Android manages memory and what is actually running (and why). I'm sorry that these threads are so long, but as i said, it's been discussed a LOT.
Take a read through
http://androidforums.com/threads/why-you-dont-need-a-task-killer.335110/
and
http://androidforums.com/threads/pu...k-killers-ram-optimizers-and-the-like.896663/
These threads cover quite a bit.
Now if there is specific activity you want to stop there are ways to do that, but let's make sure we are all on the same page first. Feel free to ask any questions if you can't quite grasp the content of the other threads.
This has been discussed quite a bit over the years. First you have to understand how Android manages memory and what is actually running (and why). I'm sorry that these threads are so long, but as i said, it's been discussed a LOT.
Take a read through
http://androidforums.com/threads/why-you-dont-need-a-task-killer.335110/
and
http://androidforums.com/threads/pu...k-killers-ram-optimizers-and-the-like.896663/
These threads cover quite a bit.
Now if there is specific activity you want to stop there are ways to do that, but let's make sure we are all on the same page first. Feel free to ask any questions if you can't quite grasp the content of the other threads.
Lana30
Android Enthusiast
Hi,Hi @Lana30
This has been discussed quite a bit over the years. First you have to understand how Android manages memory and what is actually running (and why). I'm sorry that these threads are so long, but as i said, it's been discussed a LOT.
Take a read through
http://androidforums.com/threads/why-you-dont-need-a-task-killer.335110/
and
http://androidforums.com/threads/pu...k-killers-ram-optimizers-and-the-like.896663/
These threads cover quite a bit.
Now if there is specific activity you want to stop there are ways to do that, but let's make sure we are all on the same page first. Feel free to ask any questions if you can't quite grasp the content of the other threads.
Thanks for the info. I read it and only ended up with a headache, ha ha. There were a lot of things I didn´t understand. I think that it is something that is not possible, that your phone will always be running something in the background. I know that if you want to stop a particular activity, you can but not everything and that the only apps that will work are the ones you are using at that time. That´s what I thought, but I wanted to hear something from someone who really knows what they are talking about. You were really helpful but can you explain it to me as if I were a 5th grader, thanks.
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It's pretty easy to understand if you don't need to know HOW it works. 
Most people who are familiar with Windows are also used to trying to keep memory free and nothing running. Android is based on Linux which approaches it differently. Here you have to think that unused memory is wasted memory, so Android tries to keep as much as it can in active memory. The idea is that when you're ready to check email or send a text or play a game, you don't want to wait for the program to be read into RAM. So, based on useage, Android learns what you use most often or most recently and tries to keep as much cached in memory as possible.
Now, just because an app is cached and shown in the list of running apps doesn't mean it's really running. A cached app usually just sits there consuming virtually no resources until it's called to run.
Usually this issue comes when somebody's phone (or tablet) is having performance issues and being familiar with MS products the assuption is that you have to do the same thing to boost performance. We approach this differently here, too.
Let us know what the problem might be or what you hope to accomplish and we'll be happy to offer some suggestions or solutions.
Most people who are familiar with Windows are also used to trying to keep memory free and nothing running. Android is based on Linux which approaches it differently. Here you have to think that unused memory is wasted memory, so Android tries to keep as much as it can in active memory. The idea is that when you're ready to check email or send a text or play a game, you don't want to wait for the program to be read into RAM. So, based on useage, Android learns what you use most often or most recently and tries to keep as much cached in memory as possible.
Now, just because an app is cached and shown in the list of running apps doesn't mean it's really running. A cached app usually just sits there consuming virtually no resources until it's called to run.
Usually this issue comes when somebody's phone (or tablet) is having performance issues and being familiar with MS products the assuption is that you have to do the same thing to boost performance. We approach this differently here, too.
Let us know what the problem might be or what you hope to accomplish and we'll be happy to offer some suggestions or solutions.
Our devices are not yet at the point where they're like a television set--you turn it on and a second or two later it's ready to display your program of choice. Our Android devices are really very small, scaled-down versions of your computer and they have lots of things that they have to do (unlike your TV) to be ready for you to ask it to do things (like make a phone call, play a YouTube video, Facebook, etc.). These things need to be running all the time.
The Android operating system already does a very good job of managing the apps, programs, processes and you really (really!) don't need to try to do that management for it--you'll actually end-up making things worse instead of better (the threads that Luna already linked to tell you why this is so).
The Android operating system already does a very good job of managing the apps, programs, processes and you really (really!) don't need to try to do that management for it--you'll actually end-up making things worse instead of better (the threads that Luna already linked to tell you why this is so).
LOL, yeah, and of course, we've also got Android TVs, too!
(okay, substitute "TV" in my post above for "toaster"
-- there's microprocessors in everything nowadays, eh? )
Crashdamage
Android Expert
Let me add my 2¢ but with slightly different reasoning than what has already been said...
ANY software that attempts manage processes by closing down apps is counterproductive to Android operation. Again - Don't use any task killers, RAM memory optimizer/boosters, battery savers/repairers, cache cleaners, etc. They are counterproductive, waste power, disrupt system processes and degrade performance.
Let me try to explain a little more why this is so.
Manually futzing around closing apps, killing apps, installing RAM boosters, etc is simply incorrect operation of Android. Among other problems these apps cause, it means you're not taking advantage of Android's optimization capabilities, resulting in less than optimal performance and reduced battery life. Android can learn from your usage habits and optimize itself to suit. It also learns when lag occurs or other system glitches and adjusts to cope with them better.
Android actually runs better and better as you use it. But it has to be allowed the chance to do so. If an app intervenes and kills processes, the learning/optimization process is broken. The intervening app essentially causes incorrect usage information to be sent to Android, ultimately degrading performance.
The developers of RAM managers, task killers and many, many other apps clearly show a fundamental lack of knowledge of, or disregard for, basic principles of Android operation. They write apps to sell, not to actually be helpful, realizing that from a sales perspective, what sounds good is usually more profitable than what works well.
ANY software that attempts manage processes by closing down apps is counterproductive to Android operation. Again - Don't use any task killers, RAM memory optimizer/boosters, battery savers/repairers, cache cleaners, etc. They are counterproductive, waste power, disrupt system processes and degrade performance.
Let me try to explain a little more why this is so.
Manually futzing around closing apps, killing apps, installing RAM boosters, etc is simply incorrect operation of Android. Among other problems these apps cause, it means you're not taking advantage of Android's optimization capabilities, resulting in less than optimal performance and reduced battery life. Android can learn from your usage habits and optimize itself to suit. It also learns when lag occurs or other system glitches and adjusts to cope with them better.
Android actually runs better and better as you use it. But it has to be allowed the chance to do so. If an app intervenes and kills processes, the learning/optimization process is broken. The intervening app essentially causes incorrect usage information to be sent to Android, ultimately degrading performance.
The developers of RAM managers, task killers and many, many other apps clearly show a fundamental lack of knowledge of, or disregard for, basic principles of Android operation. They write apps to sell, not to actually be helpful, realizing that from a sales perspective, what sounds good is usually more profitable than what works well.
Karen219
Member
I really like what you have to say. I'm wondering now if my iOcean has turned to toast because I started playing with those things thinking I could just uninstall them if I didn't like them. I THEN discovered that when uninstalling them, they really WEREN'T uninstalled at all.
Well, iOcean's out of business now and I'm seeking a new phone but got so USED to the unbelievable features on that product but it's not all that convenient to drive from Chicago to Hong Kong for assistance so I'm going to go more mainstream. At least my learning curve wasn't on a phone that cost a tremendous amount of money (which they ALL suddenly do since the convention).
I think I'll take your advice when I get my new phone (most likely a Samsung Galaxy S5 900F international as the 900A's that are sold in the U.S. are merely the shell of a Galaxy S5, I've learned).
So glad I found this forum!
Well, iOcean's out of business now and I'm seeking a new phone but got so USED to the unbelievable features on that product but it's not all that convenient to drive from Chicago to Hong Kong for assistance so I'm going to go more mainstream. At least my learning curve wasn't on a phone that cost a tremendous amount of money (which they ALL suddenly do since the convention).
I think I'll take your advice when I get my new phone (most likely a Samsung Galaxy S5 900F international as the 900A's that are sold in the U.S. are merely the shell of a Galaxy S5, I've learned).
So glad I found this forum!
Karen219
Member
I purchased smart TV's and found them to be the biggest waste of money I've ever made. I absolutely ABHOR them. Smart? Um... I don't think so. Neither was purchasing them.
Why not try the Honor 5X if you don't feel like spending a boatload of money. It's a pretty capable phone for $200.
You could check out what the testers have to say in this thread.
You could check out what the testers have to say in this thread.
Karen219
Member
Why not try the Honor 5X if you don't feel like spending a boatload of money. It's a pretty capable phone for $200.
You could check out what the testers have to say in this thread.
WOW! Actually THAT PHONE looks VERY appealing!
A couple of bugaboos though. According to http://www.willmyphonework.com the phone doesn't work on most carriers. Well... maybe they just don't know yet so can't post results accurately.
The ONLY other bugaboo I see is that it has that (what I personally consider lousy but so MANY phones have it) 2.0 USB charger.... they break SO EASILY. The 3.0 is far superior and best yet is the good old answering machine style charger that Nokia held on to for so long.
All the specs. are here: http://www.devicespecifications.com/en/model/df17379f
Since isn't yet available I'm suspicious that now the price will zoom up the second it is. I sat on my buns on another phone (different company trying to make a name for themselves... I've made one for them) until it was released. It was supposed to be $200.00. It's on Amazon for $569.00! They can now KEEP their phone! ALL of them! I won't even look at that particular company now.
Huawei, very few persons know, actually manufactures an ENORMOUS percent of the phones on the market today. They are not small potatos by any means PLUS they will honor their phones for TWO WHOLE YEARS and no one does that (that I know of, anyway).
I'm going to check futher into this phone before I order the one I was going to. I'm not one to like to UNBUILD a product when it arrives (as I always end up having to do with PC's, tablets, phones... you name it) due to all the bloatware. This one doesn't look like it has a lot of bloatware on it. It's not a Marshmallow but perhaps it's upgradeable.... I was actually just texting with the manufacturer when I spotted your post.
I'm going to check it out! :-D
Well, it surely won't work on Verizon or Sprint because it doesn't have CDMA radios, but AT&T, T-Mobile or any of the GSM resellers shouldn't be a problem. It could be that it's just too darn new to be on the WMPW list accurately.
I'm pretty sure that's going to be the price. They aren't going to be playing games like that ... at least they are idiots if they do.
There are some things that it won't do or features it won't have, but you will have to decide if it's worth it to save $150 -$300.
Check out this thread. What does this phone NOT do ...
$200 bucks is priced about right actually, the Honor 5X is 1399 CNY here in China. So there's a few hawkers and touts trying to sell it for stupidly expensive prices on Amazon and Ebay, that's not the first time that's happened with newly released phones. Also if it's third-party vendors online and it hasn't been released in the US yet, it could be Chinese versions. Anyone who pays $569 for this, or $2000 bucks for the next iPhone or whatever, is stupid!!
Karen219
Member
I will take a look at that thread.
Does anyone know what actual format is being run on that test phone? There are 5 different ones so obviously it's going to be an international phone.
If a decision is made to order one (and I REALLY find the material composition appealing, including the brand names of components that are INDICATED thus far) it should probably be done in advance to lock the price and do it directly through the manufacturer but it DOES look like they are releasing it on Amazon but I know it can be had directly as well. Well, I shouldn't be so bold as to say that... I should say IN THE PAST one could go direct and they even have their own financing (nice leverage there if issues arise).
Thanks... going to check out that thread. ;-)
FWIW any of the currently listed Honor 5X versions on WMPW are not really suitable for North America.
And it was same for AT&T as well, 2G only. So definitely be aware of buying one for an inflated price from Amazon or Ebay vendors, at the moment. Three different versions for China of course.
Karen219
Member
I looked at every single one and they are ALL 2G only, if they work at ALL. Something doesn't make sense there though. Who on Earth would buy that phone? A couple of companies will run the phone on 4G but they are few and far between and those same companies won't run 2G or 3G on it so something's not adding up here.FWIW any of the currently listed Honor 5X versions on WMPW are not really suitable for North America.
View attachment 99742
And it was same for AT&T as well, 2G only. So definitely be aware of buying one for an inflated price from Amazon or Ebay vendors, at the moment. Three different versions for China of course.
YEP... not enough info to preorder the phone unless mfg. is holding back info.
Karen219
Member
The company is DEFINITELY holding something back as according to http://www.devicespecifications.com which ALWAYS accurate, the phone's network ability is quite vast OR they've been given misinformation from some source and they don't dream up their information. I've never found it to be INaccurate except in the case of Samsung Galaxy S5's 40 someodd different models. That would be kinda' hard to keep up with.
These are the charts of the offerengs and it looks like it's a baby 8 so it SHOULD work.
http://www.devicespecifications.com/en/comparison/4f285e1a5
These are the charts of the offerengs and it looks like it's a baby 8 so it SHOULD work.
http://www.devicespecifications.com/en/comparison/4f285e1a5
The vendors they list for the Honor 5X are Chinese, like Alibaba, so if you're buying it from one of them, it's being shipped from Hong Kong most likely. And any problems that require warranty service it has to be shipped back to HK.
Huawei haven't released it yet for North America, nor Europe either AFAIK, although it's been around here in China for a while. Also many Chinese and Asian version phones, just don't have US cellular bands and modes. Sure we've had a few posts, things like "Help!!!! my new China Telecom branded Samsung only has 2G service with AT&T"
WMFW hasn't got information for the US versions yet. Don't even know its model numbers. It will probably sell a few, probably pre-paid carriers, but it's just yet another mid-range device in an already saturated market IMO, it certainly won't be a best seller though, like flagship Samsungs or iPhones. Although Honor are certainly doing a very high profile ad campaign, like sponsoring AF during CES, to promote brand awareness and their devices.
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androidmachine
Android Enthusiast
Very effective I might add. I know more about the Honor 5x than I know about the Nexus 5x or even the Samsungs. I'd be hard pressed to even name a mid-range Samsung at this point.
Karen219
Member
That actually has not been a problem at all for me with my offshore purchases. The one phone that I still have, the iOcean M6752 Rock (it really DOES ROCK! but iOcean folded and the vendor, GeekBuying, is IMPOSSIBLE to deal with!). But the phone has no issues at all other than the fact that it no longer works due to the battery issue, which can't be resolved as the BLP-60 doesn't charge properly and the new one, the BLP-63 just isn't available and even if it were the 2.0 USB port on the phone is a nightmare.
But as Chinese product operating as any phone should... no problems ever. Actually, one would be quite foolish to believe that but for BlackBerry (really bad word in my home) are manufactured but in Asia.
That's why I'm VERY surprised to see that the phone is 2G on almost every provider except a few where only 4G is offered and 4G isn't operable in all areas, nor is 2G. I suspect there's an error in the reporting of WillMyPhoneWork's website.
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androidmachine
Android Enthusiast
I don't have the link, but Phandroid had a "hands-on" article on the American version of the Honor 5x, and they certainly did not report that it was only 2g. Pretty sure that 2g is just for the Chinese version working on the American network.
Doesn't surprise me at all actually, especially given that two out of the five versions of the 5X listed on WMFW are for China Mobile. They'll be TD (TD-SCDMA, TD-LTE) versions, and these usually won't give 3G or 4G for any other carrier but China Mobile. And the other non-carrier versions listed are probably intended for Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, etc.
Honor are definitely doing a specific US (North American) version that will give 3G and 4G for GSM/WCDMA networks, like AT&T and T-Mobile. No one is going be selling a 2G only phone actually in the US. Verizon and Sprint, they'd have to do a CDMA/EVDO variant. Huawei are one of the world's largest manufacturers of phones, plus they make much of the cellular infrastructure as well.
I got a couple of Chinese version Oppo phones here, Find 7a and R7 Plus, and they're not even listed on WMFW, it only lists the international versions. There are specific US versions of those phones as well, for GSM/WCDMA networks 3G and 4G, not CDMA/EVDO like Verizon.
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