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Android Multitasking

Hey everyone, I'm posting this to gather information about Android Multitasking.
I have used android since i had my G1, I am now on a g2, otherwise known as the HTC HERO.
In my opinion android multitasks beautifully when we talk about speed! It doesn't however manage it's open applications well at all. I mean switching to a application which is open in the background is tough. Pressing and holding the home button gives you a menu to RECENTLY open applications which doesn't conform to what IS open at that very moment. And the task bar notifications dont really give you a full list of all applications open..only apps that support it.
With the iphone really gathering it's bearings, and beginning to multitask [kinda better multitasking management then android imo] Im beginning to waver in my support for android.
I can imagine if holding the home button brought up a card view like webOS, giving you a preview of all the open applications in the background. Or something similar. I mean if HTC sense has a pinch gesture to view home screen in a hard view environment, i don't see what's stopping android from having a more polished and robust multitasking experience.
What are your thoughts on this?

the iphone 4 implementation looks to be exactly what you are complaining about with android. it offers a list of recently used apps. with iphone none of the apps stay running, they have background services that an app can start but the app will close. Android is similar. the ui for an app isnt necessarily running. it will be killed by the os and started again when you ask to see it.
WebOS does actually show you exactly what is running. I havent used a webos device for an extended period of time, but it dies seem their card metaphor is the easiest to understand for users. if your phone is slow just look at the cards you have open and flick some out.
I agree with your point though, i find the android app switcher inadequate. Far too often the app i want to get back to is no longer in the list. i think the iphone will have the same issue unless their list can grow very long.
It'd solve a lot if the android switcher had a button to pull up the app drawer.
Sent from my Nexus One using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

hexix said:
the iphone 4 implementation looks to be exactly what you are complaining about with android. it offers a list of recently used apps. with iphone none of the apps stay running, they have background services that an app can start but the app will close. Android is similar. the ui for an app isnt necessarily running. it will be killed by the os and started again when you ask to see it.
WebOS does actually show you exactly what is running. I havent used a webos device for an extended period of time, but it dies seem their card metaphor is the easiest to understand for users. if your phone is slow just look at the cards you have open and flick some out.
I agree with your point though, i find the android app switcher inadequate. Far too often the app i want to get back to is no longer in the list. i think the iphone will have the same issue unless their list can grow very long.
It'd solve a lot if the android switcher had a button to pull up the app drawer.
Sent from my Nexus One using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I suppose you're right, but i cant help but think the iphone will just be better at it then android.
Other then that. Yes Android really needs to polish it's multi tasking system.
EDIT: Also, I have used WebOS and honestly it's a superior mobile platform to android [imo]. It's community however is not as enriched as the android one and there aren't as many apps available for the palm pre. Palm really screwed themselves over limiting it to one phone...it would have been a strategic move to stop manufacturing phones and start working on EXPENSIVE palm software like webOS

Or maybe you can try AppSwipe!

There's also a nice app (imo) from a user on here, he tried to mimic the webOS cards system, and is doing pretty well until now. No previews yet but its still a nice powerful task manager that views icon in a nice view and has launch on search / camera button press too!
It's called TaskOS!

I've tried both task os and app swipe and still...they are both very unpolished multitasking management systems =/
I hope eventually something will come along.

I came from the Palm Pre before I got my HTC Hero, and multitasking was wayyyy better than Android. In fact, if the Pre wasn't so slow, I would have kept it over the HTC Hero. It took me over a minute to open Google Maps... with nothing else running! (and the keyboard sucked)

hexix said:
It'd solve a lot if the android switcher had a button to pull up the app drawer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dxtop has a second App Drawer that does just that. It works great.

tdusen said:
Dxtop has a second App Drawer that does just that. It works great.
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Click to collapse
Eh, that shows background services like home and what not..
Personally I'd like to disable the drawer from showing apps on my ignore list

what would be nice is if you held home then cards poped up like in webos and showed your running apps with a preview pic of the app

blaboy51 said:
what would be nice is if you held home then cards poped up like in webos and showed your running apps with a preview pic of the app
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Click to collapse
YEah thats something to look forward too.

XxsydenxX said:
YEah thats something to look forward too.
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Click to collapse
but for that to happen google probley would have to add that in there rom in a update hopefuly it'll happen

nice idea. I wish i knew how to make it happen.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=668232

Wow i was just thinking the same thing today, (i used to own a pre) But check out TaskOS in the market guys!!! It's legit, almost exactly the same as cardview on webos except it just shows icons instead of real time view.

If you want a nice way to switch apps without the stupid home key crap just install advanced task killer and switch the default click option to switch too instead of select/unselect. Its one swipe down for the notifications, one click on atk, and one more click on the app you want. Its not as good as webOS but its the best method I can find for now. I also leave a shortcut to atk on my home screen.

there is also MultiTask Manager. Once again not as good as WebOS card view but its more like an Iphone multitask thing. I think I like TaskOS the best. Well I'm not allowed to post links because of new member thing so just look it up.

It wouldn't be hard if you can get live preview's of the application windows.
I've been searching google for "android sdk live preview" and the like for a while though and its not looking good

can the current state of multi-tasking allows, for example, one uses the phone with the speaker while trying to look up some info/or do something with another application(eg, look up notes that you have written down from an application)?
cheers

[Request] New Launcher

Hello,
I have a idea for a launcher but don't have the programing experience to make it. Unless a launcher is much easier to do then I think. I have done some light app dev in eclipse for android and would be willing to try it my self if someone can point me in the right direction.
I'll put the idea out there and anyone who wishes to use it I only ask to be credited with the original concept.
I call it "No Home"
The idea is that I am constantly hitting back or home to return to the home screen before I press the power button and put the phone to sleep. But the home screen provides nothing I really need, at least not necessarily. So Instead pressing home button will open a app drawer, I like the one Zeam uses since on return you are back where you left it. Also Some of the others allow changing of the number of Icons wide and tall are displayed, This would be a nice addition since I have a EVO and four by four has a lot of wasted space. Also it needs to be able to do folders. This allows for apps to be organized.
On boot you are opened to the App Drawer/screen. Then from there you just leave the phone at what ever app it is in when letting it sleep, if you need to open a new app either long press home for a recent app or press it to get to the app drawer/screen.
There would be no widgets unless they could go in the app screen, The notifications will have to do. I'm sure a always running notification that provides some kind of folder or something for widgets could be developed.
I know this would not be the launcher for everyone, maybe not even you. I also realize it sounds like this or that launcher or that I could achieve the same thing by not pressing the home button, but I think as a App it would be faster and lighter then any home screen launcher could be.

Nice!
joeavery2 said:
Hello,
I have a idea for a launcher but don't have the programing experience to make it. Unless a launcher is much easier to do then I think. I have done some light app dev in eclipse for android and would be willing to try it my self if someone can point me in the right direction.
I'll put the idea out there and anyone who wishes to use it I only ask to be credited with the original concept.
I call it "No Home"
The idea is that I am constantly hitting back or home to return to the home screen before I press the power button and put the phone to sleep. But the home screen provides nothing I really need, at least not necessarily. So Instead pressing home button will open a app drawer, I like the one Zeam uses since on return you are back where you left it. Also Some of the others allow changing of the number of Icons wide and tall are displayed, This would be a nice addition since I have a EVO and four by four has a lot of wasted space. Also it needs to be able to do folders. This allows for apps to be organized.
On boot you are opened to the App Drawer/screen. Then from there you just leave the phone at what ever app it is in when letting it sleep, if you need to open a new app either long press home for a recent app or press it to get to the app drawer/screen.
There would be no widgets unless they could go in the app screen, The notifications will have to do. I'm sure a always running notification that provides some kind of folder or something for widgets could be developed.
I know this would not be the launcher for everyone, maybe not even you. I also realize it sounds like this or that launcher or that I could achieve the same thing by not pressing the home button, but I think as a App it would be faster and lighter then any home screen launcher could be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice idea. But I don't have the programming skills either. Good luck with it and I hope that someone can make this soon!
Tbo-art

I think you´re idea sounds a lot like iOS
I personally don´t like it, but I´m sure some will!

have you tried vlauncher
search for it in the market

matt.tugwell said:
have you tried vlauncher
search for it in the market
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Click to collapse
Good call. It is not far off, and I'd consider it, but I'm not going for a iOS Home screen, I like the vertical drawer very much over horizontal and, I'm not sure if it is just my phone but I saw serious lag on vlauncher.
I guess What I'm looking for is really just a launcher missing the home screen. A striped down launcher. I need a app drawer that will allow me to get to my apps fast, and I have about 200 apps on my phone. Having to go home then press the app drawer button is two steps vs my proposed one. Also 16 apps vs 25 (for higher res screens like the EVO) makes a big difference.
I think I saw a how-to in a starting with android lesson that had a home screen lesson. Maybe I'll give that a shot... Have to find it again.
Still welcome any other suggestions or help, thanks for the ones so far.

joeavery2 said:
Good call. It is not far off, and I'd consider it, but I'm not going for a iOS Home screen, I like the vertical drawer very much over horizontal and, I'm not sure if it is just my phone but I saw serious lag on vlauncher.
I guess What I'm looking for is really just a launcher missing the home screen. A striped down launcher. I need a app drawer that will allow me to get to my apps fast, and I have about 200 apps on my phone. Having to go home then press the app drawer button is two steps vs my proposed one. Also 16 apps vs 25 (for higher res screens like the EVO) makes a big difference.
I think I saw a how-to in a starting with android lesson that had a home screen lesson. Maybe I'll give that a shot... Have to find it again.
Still welcome any other suggestions or help, thanks for the ones so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AWD Launcher (and I think other launchers as well) has an option to launch the drawer when pressing the home button.
(You can still go to the desktop by tapping a on-screen icon: convenient for incedental consult of some widgets)

appelflap said:
AWD Launcher (and I think other launchers as well) has an option to launch the drawer when pressing the home button.
(You can still go to the desktop by tapping a on-screen icon: convenient for incedental consult of some widgets)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, I found the home button binding setting in AWD Launcher, I forgot how configurable AWD was, and how much I liked it. This is close, When you press home it brings you to the home screen and a second tap brings up the app launcher, which you can set the number wide and tall the icons are.
This will work, between this and just leaving the phone at it's present state vs. pressing home before putting it to sleep, it basically solves my issue.
It would be a neat add on of AWD to Reverse the order of the home screen operation, maybe I'll suggest a option for that.
Thank you everyone for your suggestions.

Help finding a task switcher app

Hey,
I've been looking for ages for a task switching app and I was wondering if anyone had seen something good?
I've always thought that it would be really useful to have one that shows the list of apps in the notification bar and can select what apps are show.
Thanks for any help with this,
Drew

Have you tried holding down your home button?

Hey,
Yeah, tried that one, but its usually filled with settings and other things that I dont ever want to go to, so I only see like three or four apps I want to change to...It allso shows apps that are closed.
I'm being a bit fussy, the home button does do what I'm after most of the time, was just wondering if there was anything else.
Thanks,
Drew

drewhopcroft said:
Hey,
Yeah, tried that one, but its usually filled with settings and other things that I dont ever want to go to, so I only see like three or four apps I want to change to...It allso shows apps that are closed.
I'm being a bit fussy, the home button does do what I'm after most of the time, was just wondering if there was anything else.
Thanks,
Drew
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Advanced Task Killer is a free app that will switch between apps. It is essential on the androids. I keep it widget on my desktop. When launced, it will show all the programs currently running on your android. If you hold your finger on an app in ATK, a window will pop up and you can sellect switch too.

there are lots of them, check out multitasking pro, perfect task switcher, etc.
Just do a market search and you should find what you want.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

There are a couple of things I think you might like. Since you don't like having your list of apps cluttered with Settings and the like, you probably want something that you can tweak.
QuickDesk
For one, maybe try QuickDesk. It is basically a single homescreen you can access from any app by either double-tapping Home or holding Search. On top of having any widgets or shortcuts you want, there's also a sliding list of recent apps on the bottom.
SwipePad Beta
If you want something faster and simpler, try SwipePad. Basically, you can create a gesture that lets you access a screen full of shortcuts from anywhere. You choose a corner or side of the screen that you swipe away from to create an overlay that displays shortcuts to different applications.
Wave Launcher
Wave Launcher is similar to Swipepad, only it creates a smaller list of apps that follows your finger around once you do the gesture. I'd recommend following the link and watching the video since it does a better job explaining that I could do.

You should give PreHome a try. You can configure it to only display tasks that are running.

Thanks all,
I'm loving PreHome, for the whole 1 hour I've been using it for...
The double tap home function is better than my 'notification bar' idea...
The other apps look good as well but think I'll be sticking with PreHome.
Thanks again,
Drew

[Q] How does Multitasking work for the User?

Wait!! Don't get me wrong!! I don't want to know how android multitasking works that's been discussed pretty often here... i think i got this part.
The point is, i'm thinking about switching from iOS to Android...
And I'm concerned about how multitasking works on android.
Example:So on iOS I can play Angry Birds pause the game, double tap homebutton and switch to text app to text someone, double tap homebutton again switch back to Angry Birds unpause and continue playing..
1. On android: does long-pressing the homebutton to see "recent apps" work from EVERY app?
2. Can I just switch from any app to another using "recent apps" and the apps i get back to, continue to run where i left them (e.g. angry birds...) or do they restart? So if android decides, that it needs ram, it will close apps, i got that and thats okay..
3. TouchWiz 4.0 adds a taskmanager button to the "recent apps" screen. this will take you appmanagement, where you can exit apps. In the forums i read that manually exiting apps is bad for android performance and battery life.. true??
I tried to find the right section for posting this and thought this is the right place, sorry if im wrong!
Would be nice if someone would answer my questions.
Thanks!!

DeadKid_Relive said:
1. On android: does long-pressing the homebutton to see "recent apps" work from EVERY app?
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Click to collapse
Yes, it's a feature of Android OS itself and app can't block/disable it.
DeadKid_Relive said:
2. Can I just switch from any app to another using "recent apps" and the apps i get back to, continue to run where i left them (e.g. angry birds...) or do they restart? So if android decides, that it needs ram, it will close apps, i got that and thats okay..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, as long as there will be enough RAM, your app will be "frozen" and will wait for you in a state you have left it. But you don't have to use "recent apps" - you could e.g. click home button or open notification bar and tap something - app will be frozen. Same for returning to this app - in most cases this doesn't matter whether you will select it from "recent apps" or just tap it from a launcher.
Also some apps can resume their state even if they were killed for their RAM. But most of apps don't implement such feature.
DeadKid_Relive said:
3. TouchWiz 4.0 adds a taskmanager button to the "recent apps" screen. this will take you appmanagement, where you can exit apps. In the forums i read that manually exiting apps is bad for android performance and battery life.. true??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's bad if you kill apps like crazy - or if you use task manager which does the same. It's no problem when you kill one or two apps if you have reason to do so.

Ahh thanks =) Sounds pretty good. Well I got an iPhone 3G now and i cant use more than 2 apps "at once" because i got multitasking by editing some plists but not the official way, apple wanted
and i have to kill apps, for my phone to run smoothly..
i dont want to mess with android processes like keyboard or stuff, but maybe, after playing a game, when i know that i wont get back to it pretty soon, there shouldnt be a problem with exiting it.. well cool. this probably bought me cant wait for the galaxy s 2 to be available here =) first android phone for apple fanboy
but thanks for taking the time!

Multitasking

Is there a multitasking app or program i can use with the infuse,I dont like using taskmanager!

Are you just trying to switch between recently used apps? Hold down your home key and your last couple of apps opened will pop up.
You can also use Advanced Task Killer (but don't kill tasks, unless an app is misbehaving) -
Make sure you peruse the settings so that autokill is OFF and security is HIGH (to avoid showing system processes). Also, it'd really help to configure the tap action to "select/unselect" so that you don't accidentally kill anything.

I wanted something more like the iphone multiflow

ssfirme said:
I wanted something more like the iphone multiflow
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Click to collapse
I think Visual Task Switcher is as close as you'll get.
There's also QuickDesk, Tasking, and Swipepad.