Turning off apps and saving data usage

[mikejmaz]

Hello.

I just switched to the Android OS from Windows Phone and so far I am loving it. Even with googling most of my questions I have still run into some problems and figured this would be a good place to come to for help.

The Inspire seems to have no easy way of shutting down the applications. Anything I start appears to be left running when I exit out of it and this seems a bit off. I am eating through my data usage pretty quick just by things updating all the time. Is there any way to remove some of the automatic apps that come with the phone? I picked up an app called Task Manager and there are some that just keep starting themselves over and over.

Facebook, Friend Stream, Google Search, HTC Hub, HTC Likes, Mail, Maps, Peep, News, Search Anywhere, Stocks, Youtube.

How do I stop them from coming up? Even the synch settings does not give it to me as an option.

 

[AirCatHeavy]

Hello.

I just switched to the Android OS from Windows Phone and so far I am loving it. Even with googling most of my questions I have still run into some problems and figured this would be a good place to come to for help.

The Inspire seems to have no easy way of shutting down the applications. Anything I start appears to be left running when I exit out of it and this seems a bit off. I am eating through my data usage pretty quick just by things updating all the time. Is there any way to remove some of the automatic apps that come with the phone? I picked up an app called Task Manager and there are some that just keep starting themselves over and over.

Facebook, Friend Stream, Google Search, HTC Hub, HTC Likes, Mail, Maps, Peep, News, Search Anywhere, Stocks, Youtube.

How do I stop them from coming up? Even the synch settings does not give it to me as an option.

I think Android has started the slow backslide into the arena that we all came to Android to escape from. No personal choice. Because we're too stupid to know better, Android is moving toward the "We know what''s best for you" approach.

What I mean can be illustrated by an example.

Before Froyo, you could use Task Killers that would automatically close apps. Now, there are a TON of misguided folks who will happily get all perky and profess how they are unnecessary, but they are just unaware of all circumstances.

For example, I have a Remote Surveillance Camera viewing application that allows me to view live streaming surveillance video from my home, on my phone. The problem comes in circumstances where I forget to shut it off, believe I DID shut it off, but didn't, or for any reason the application is left running in the background. In Froyo, there is no way to have the an APP KILLER turn off the application automatically after "X" minutes.
And unfortunately, the developer didn't include a time out function.

If the application is not closed, it uses 128kbps continuously and it can continue to do this for hours on end, even overnight if accidentally left on.

Since I upgraded to 2.2, this app has accidentally been left running several times already. It just happens. You think you shut it down only to find out later it's s till running. Last night it accidentally ran overnight. Fortunately I got up at 4:00am and noticed the phone was hot and shut it off.

So, to answer your question, you have a perfectly legitimate concern and I am in a similar situation.

Unfortunately, Android developers have taken the "They're too stupid to protect themselves so let's do it for them" approach and I guess eventually Android will be about like MS Windows or big government.

I believe it's an over-reaction that may put a temporary band-aid on a perceived problem, but in the long run will cost far more in terms of OS loyalty.

But hey, some people like to have all their choices either limited or made FOR them. I'm just not one of that herd.

 

[takeshi]

The "app killers are not needed" statement always comes with "if you do need one then you have a problem app". In those cases, killing an app may become necessary but even then an app killer isn't necessary as apps can be force stopped via App Management. You just can't autokill apps with an app killer.

The way Android works isn't a matter of "we know better than you" but a matter of Android being a mobile OS and not a desktop OS. The people that tend to feel that they need app killers are typically from devices where OCD levels of management were necessary where they are not with Android.

OP should read the task killer threads and threads on how Android multitasks. This isn't unique to any one single model. It's how Android works. This is a very old and very beaten dead horse with nothing left to beat on.

I believe it's an over-reaction that may put a temporary band-aid on a perceived problem, but in the long run will cost far more in terms of OS loyalty.

Doubtful. You're making the typical forum user mistake of assuming that the enthusiasts make up a significant percent of the overall user base. They only make up a tiny percent of a fraction. The majority of users are clueless consumers who don't care or know about app killers.