Database Info

Best Android Task Manager - Open Processes

Hello All,
I wanted to see what everyone thinks is the best application manger for Android.
Also is anyone familiar with the Getjar free app store?
Thx All,
Force

What do people think of "Advance Task Killer"
It seems to me it shows all tasks, not jsut the open ones.
Regards,
Force

FYI,
Many people say talk killers are not necessary, as that is a windows phenomenon, Linux & android treating background processes differently.
Regards,
Force

I personally use Advanced Task Manager for $0.99. I have read the articles about how Android does not need task Managers because it is built in, but I know from personal experience that without it if there are running programs in the background my phone gets really sluggish especially when I get a phone call and it makes it difficult to answer etc. Take in account, this experience was mainly with the Hero (slower) but I use on my Evo now.

You know people will argue either way, because there is evidence to support both sides of the argument. so with that in mind- i honestly havent had the need for one with my evo, but it you truly are considering one- i actually have a pair to suggest.
one is OS Monitor- free on the market- great app for pinning down process that could be an issue- also supports dmsg repporting- and logcat is built in to- so if your testing something and it goes all wonky you can export the log to view on a pc and send it to the developer too.
the second is AMM- or Auto Memory Manager- free and donate versions on the market. There are pretty much a couple of sliders and you set it how you want android to handle the process. I have had great success with this app on my other device- normal free memory was around 30-35 and using this set aggressively i saw gains of 50mb at most times keeping my freememory to around 75-80mb range.
Hope this helps.

I take both sides. I have task manager installed, but use if ONLY when needed. Aka, I used it when I want to kill the browser after I'm done with it so next time I launch it I won't be seeing old pages.

I like EStrongs Task Manager.

http://www.appbrain.com/app/nextapp.systempanel.r1 is nice, it can kill processes, monitor system stats, uninstall apps and more. There is also a free version.

TREYisRAD said:
http://www.appbrain.com/app/nextapp.systempanel.r1 is nice, it can kill processes, monitor system stats, uninstall apps and more. There is also a free version.
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i installed that last night, cool app

why someone who know don't explaine exactly how android works and do we need killers and if yes which one is best...
Everyone of us using something but question is that which one is best for our needs.

quick system info pro (free)
I only use the manual task killer widget when memory gets down around 100. Spikes it right back to about 250.
Whats your guys' normal memory range? I see someone on here saying 50 was normal for them but that seems REALLY low to me.

frifox said:
I take both sides. I have task manager installed, but use if ONLY when needed. Aka, I used it when I want to kill the browser after I'm done with it so next time I launch it I won't be seeing old pages.
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Does the stock Sense browser not have an option to kill the windows by hitting menu? On CM, I do menu, windows, and X them out

Android App Discussion...by a noob?!

Hello folks
I have just entered the world of smartphones, and I must say, Android has blown me away. I have no doubt that it has the potential to crush Apple.
Seeing as how I am a noob, I would like this thread to be informational not only to me but all other noobs out there looking to maximize their experience with their Android.
I've had my X10 for a few weeks now and have compiled a list of comments and questions that I feel would be best posted on this forum.
Let's get at it:
1) Advanced Task Killer: yay or nay? I've read that no self-respecting Android user would go without this app, but I've also read that it may in fact hinder battery usage. Any thoughts?
2) Dolphin Browser: This browser is my default and it is totally awesome. Skyfire has the potential to be great once the video issues for the X10 are figured out, but for now Dolphin is the shiz. I haven't tried OperaMini5, so I would love for anyone who has tried it to comment on how it is compared to Dolphin.
3) Texting: I downloaded the HTC keyboard which was great, but then I discovered Swype and I don't think I'll ever go back. Get your hands on it!
4) Astro File Manager. 'Nuff said.
5) MixZing: This is a high quality music player, much better than urMusic which comes with the phone.
6) Home replacement: Alright I know there are other threads on this, but I wanted to be specific. I need a replacement that can cater to my battery life woes. I've narrowed it down to Zeam, Helix, ADW, and Home++. Apparently people have gotten ridiculous battery gains with Helix; I'm using it now and still only managing approx. 12 hours. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
7) JuiceDefender: Is this the real deal? Is anyone finding this app to help battery life?
8) Moxier: Is there a way to get rid of this pest? I'm quite sure I'll never use it and it seems to waste a lot of memory. Is StartupAuditor a good option for this issue? Are there any other battery-consuming apps/components that I should watch out for?
9) I wanted to give a link, but since I'm a new user I can direct you to a site called xperiax10.net where you can find info on a great divx player.
Well I think that's all I want to say for now
I would love input from anyone who would like to share.
Cheers

(1) Well I've read up on alot of opinions about task killers but everyone has mixed views. I use it cause when memory goes low for me it goes bit sluggish.. don't know whether its freeing up memory during that time or what not!!
(2) not used opera in ages but I think i'd still pick dolphin browser.. its cool.
(3) swype is just amazing.. makes texting soo much easier and fun! I remember how annoying it was texting before!
(4) astro does the job for me an all ;-)
(5) don't used mixzing but I'm sure I tried it some time ago.. for me meridian music player does the job for me.. specially like the music control widget and the fact that it doesn't drain much battery!
(6) I've tried helix a while back.. it was ok, not tried the others tho except for adw launcher. for me adw lookz slick, has alot of options to customize & is good on battery.. Worth a shot!!
(7) some people find this app really useful.. unfortunately for me it didn't work.. lol honestly widget never showed any improvements to my battery life and instead used to drain little more..
(8) Ive not really used startup auditor so can't say 100% but most of the useless stuff still hapen to load here and there.. but I'm sure someone out there can give ya a better answer!!
(9) I've got it and I must say really impressive.. Puts yxflash to shame! lol
Extras
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You can try Countouch Launcher.. widget that does different things based on how many times you tap it! Has 25 slots!!
1 tap - open dolphin browser
2 taps - call john doe
3 taps - text john doe
And so forth.. The paid version allows for 4 widgets with 25 slots each!!
Dropbox - sync files between your computer and mobile device.. Useful for me cause allows me to backup files online, share with others, and more!!
Music Junk for music fans out there! really good at finding songs!! Preview & download songs, also possible to retrieve lyrics an all..
Hope it helps!!!
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1) the only reason I use atk is to see what's running. Since I turned off autokill and stopped killing tasks manually my phone works better. Ie. Not as laggy, all apps work properly.
2) I use dolphin and the default browser the most. I keep opera and skyfire on hand if need be.
3) I wasnt feeling swype so I'm using better keyboard. I would say its a little bit better than the HTC one.
5) I use mediascape. It looks pretty and I find it meets my needs. Although a shake to skip to the next track option would be nice.
6) adw.launcher all the way. I charge my phone every evening and my usage varies a lot so I'm not sure how it is on battery life. Imo its more stable than a lot of the other home replacement apps and its very customizable.
7) haven't tried juicedefender for above mentioned reason.
8) afaik not until root is available. I found trial and error to be the best way to optimize your battery due to what kind of apps you use. For me, I only use GPS when needed and if I'm not going to use an app for a while I keep hitting back until it exits the program. That's it.
9) leave out everything before and including www. But make sure you're not posting links to warez.
Cheers

Note on ATK..
Just a heads up that on linux/Android, there should be no difference whether you have 5MB of RAM or having 250MB of RAM free. Think free RAM = wasted RAM.
The real pain is the CPU usage on background apps. Unfortunately, ATK doesn't show CPU usage (or at least it didn't for me).
On the other hand, Astro File manager has a tool built in which lists every app, service and process running. It also lists full details on resource usage for each item (CPU%, kB of RAM etc).
As for auto-kill, it has been warned that this could only screw up key services and apps from working. Additionally, it could potentially decrease battery performance as services and apps use processing power when they are killed and again when they start up again (over and over).
Personally, I noticed an increase in battery life after uninstalling ATK.
Cheers

1. Despite many say "Don't need it etc" i still use it. If memory goes below 30Mb the Phone becomes unresponsive and laggy. Besides i don't use autokill.
2. Not surfing much on the Phone so the Standard Browser does the Job for me.
3. HTC Keyboard for me , i just can't handly Swype and i find texting (sliding) very complicated with it. Not for me :-D
4. Astro all the way until Root.
5. Standard Music Player does the Job.
6. ADW Launcher works best for me.
7. Uninstalled because frankly it does nothing. Despite it says that it has saved double amount of Battery but i honestly can't see a difference.
8. Sadly no way to remove that crap until we have root :-(

From Apple to Android

And my question is, what are some nice tips and tricks for users who are coming to the good side. (From iPhone to Skyrocket) /rant I didn't plan on getting an android phone, but my iPhone shut down on me during use, took it back to apple, they said it was water damaged. (WHAT?! It obviously was not, but the water sensors apparently went off, and this is apples way of getting out of replacing a phone) This was the last straw for me, apple then said that i can upgrade to the new model for 150 dollars extra.. This isn't the first time apple screwed me over, i got a macbook for college that also randomly died out, i spent extra money on a warranty to cover breaks and malfunctions ect.. One day the macbook breaks, and i bring it to apple, guess what happens next... Well macbooks have water sensors too, so for this reason, IT VOIDS MY WARRANTY!! I'm sick of apple. I turned down the phone offer, went to AT&T and bought a skyrocket, i always loved to use android and i always wanted to know how it felt to have a different OS. I love it so far. So i was wondering, Are there any apps, for android, that you CANNOT live without? (first post, sorry if there are similar threads^^)

There are a few good ones. Welcome to XDA by the way!
I personally can't live without a root file explorer, a screenshot app (if your phone doesn't support in-bult screenshots), a custom Launcher and a backup application.
You'll need 'root' on your device to get the most out of these. Think of 'root' as an Administrator account on your phone. It allows you to read AND write changes to the system-protected areas of the phone. It has the potential to do a lot of damage in the wrong hands, but research is your friend. I am happy to walk you through or point you in the right direction on rooting your Skyrocket if you wish!
A Root File Explorer is exactly what it is. It's a file explorer for your device, that uses root to allow you to add/modify/delete system-protected files. I highly recommend Root Explorer from the Market. It's a paid app, but very much worth the small change. You will find it invaluable as you delve further into the world of Android.
A screenshot app allows you to take screenshots of whatever is on your device. It usually requires root also, unless it is supported on your device (Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy Note off the top of my head). Very handy for showing people errors/messages etc, plus sharing your homescreens in Off-Topic
A custom Launcher replaces whatever App Launcher comes installed on your phone. All Android manufacturers apply their own 'skin' or 'Launcher' over the top of vanilla Android (you will see this called 'AOSP' for Android Open Source Project) to make their devices 'easier to use' and 'more appealing'. The vast majority are pretty horrid, although they are slowly getting better. Some common Launchers:
HTC = Sense
Samsung = TouchWiz
Motorola = Blur
You can replace these in-built, often a bit sluggish, launchers with a custom one from the Android Market (your best friend on an Android Phone - it's the same as the App Store). I personally use LauncherPro on all my devices, although development for it is almost non-existent now it is still one of the slickest, most polished lauchers around. Custom launchers often let you do way more than 'stock' launchers like change icons, hide apps from the app drawer, add/subtract homescreens and add their own (quite polished) 'widgets' (small homescreen apps).
A backup application is necessary for creating backups before flashing new ROMs or other customisations. My one and only recommendation here is Titianium Backup, although there are plenty of others TiBu is quick, easy and powerful (it also uses root to allow you to uninstall or 'freeze' (stop) system applications from loading).
I am in no way affiliated with any of the above mentioned Apps, they are simply my personal recommendations on what I can't do without on an Android phone.
Feel free to hit me up with any questions you may have afterwards, and welcome to Android! Enjoy!

awesome! thanks!

For me its go launcher, tapatalk (for forum browsing), camera zoom fx (replacement camera app) and es file explorer (I use this to copy from pc to phone or dlna server and it also explores ftp etcetera).
Also gemini app manager for stopping apps autorunning and lbe privacy guard for stopping specific features of phone being used by apps though does eat a bit of battery.
Dave
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk

First of all, welcome to XDA and to Android.
Personally- I can't live without the usual Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr applications, I would recommend 3G Watchdog if you want to keep an eye on your internet usage.
I would highly recommend a screenshot application and an alternative launcher- You can use 'No Root Screenshot It' if you don't wish to root your device, this is really easy to set up and simple to use. I use a launcher named Go Launcher Ex- plenty of customization and features as alternative launchers support themes and renaming applications and changing their icons. If you don't like Go Launcher then check out Launcher Pro, ADW Launcher and Launcher 7 as they are also very nice.
I'd recommend Advanced Task Killer (helps preserve battery by closing down apps with one simple touch), AppSaver to back up and install apps easily from your SD Card, it also has an App2SD tab. Quickpic is a great alternative gallery app which loads a lot faster than the stock one.
Finally I'd recommend an app named Vlingo- if you're familiar with Siri from the iPhone 4S then it'll be right up your street. It's a voice-recognition application which does most things that Siri can. It's great fun and has a hand-free mode for when you're driving or what not.
Also, Android devices can be rooted and flashed. If you're not familiar with this then rooting is basically giving yourself full access to your device- including system files etc, it's essential if you want to get the most out of your device and most phones can be rooted very easily with a simple one-click method, after a device is rooted you can then install a custom recovery such as Clockwork which will allow you to install custom ROM's such as Cyanogenmod, Custom ROM's are very customizable and generally perform much better than a stock rom- I'd recommend rooting and flashing your device once you get used to it but please read up a lot about what you're doing and follow guides step by step, take it slow, being too eager can result in a bricked phone, who wants an expensive paper weight ey?
I hope this helped. Have a great day and again, welcome to Android!

Some of my personal must-haves that are possibly specific to android: k9-mail (free open-source email app, that has pinch-zoom! /gmail-rant), beyondpod (for podcasts. worth every penny), xda-dev app, google voice. If rooted: clockworkmod (for modding), Titanium Backup, tasker (again, worth it if you are into automating settings)

iam going to say firts get google music so you can store all your music on there server save a ton of room on your phone

EStrong's file explorer, Watchdog, Dolphine Browser, Dropbox, Google Docs, Moboplayer or maybe even Alarm Clock Xtreme, just to name a few hahaha!
and if you're planning to root your phone, you might consider Titanium Backup and ROM Manager

Greatest move you will make this year!!

You wont regret moving to android! So much better than iOS..

welcome
Welcome to the beautiful (free) world of android!
some apps id recommend are:
- setCPU - this will allow you to set custom clock speeds for your phone (overclock/underclock) this requires root!.
- Id also recommend Dolphin Browser, its just alot quicker than the stock browser, and is very intuitive with gestures etc.
- Jump Desktop! this app is for remote desktop on your android!
- Root Uninstaller - to get rid of those crappy stock system apps! (be careful not to uninstal the important stuff!)
and thats about it, besides maybe a cache cleaner as well, will help keep your sd card from filling up so quick

Apps Anybody?

What apps, root or non root, would you guys use?
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA

Button Savior > My phone has hard buttons
Proxy Droid > to set up proxy

Apps for what? Any apps? I'm a big fan of Read it later (even if they changed the name).

moutansos said:
What apps, root or non root, would you guys use?
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA
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So basically this post is due to you being too lazy to access your own needs ?!?!?!?
WTF is anyone else going to know about what apps you need ....... its kimnd of highly dependent on your needs and desires and no one one here has any clue about that.
Best NOT to just pile apps onto your phone because assholes on a forum said so (Unless you one of those types who has to try anything suggested by another person like its a pavlovian reaction) , much better to just add new apps as you feel you need them.
Aim being to support what you want and need to do rather than just installing tons of crap for no reason.

I prefer apps like Locale and Tasker as they help me put the Smart in Smartphone.

A collection of Free Apps
Here are some of my recommendations
QuickPic: For images, better than default Gallery. Plus options to hide folders.
MX Player: Video play is smooth and there are multiple apps based on your processor type
Winamp: Select audio by artist/genre etc.
Any.Do: Super cool UI. Does a great job in reminding you of things to do
Mobile Backup II: I flash my device a lot, this helps me keep track of my SMS & Call logs.
By far, GoLauncher is the best Launcher I have seen. If you install GoLauncher, also go for some of the GoWidgets such as GoSwitch & GoWeather.

I agree with QuickPic and GO Launcher, both very good apps. I want to use GoWeather but I've read that it isn't very accurate.

boid for twitter and gnotes

Temple run Is amazing
Sent from my Desire S using XDA

[Q] Looking for a screenshot of active apps screen

I would like to know how much free RAM there is when not rooted and without disabling Sony apps from a typical user.

here you go mate.
View attachment 3011405
At the time of screen shot, I've had Chrome, GMail, Settings, Manga Rock, and Messenger apps running.
hth

Nathan-NL said:
I would like to know how much free RAM there is when not rooted and without disabling Sony apps from a typical user.
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The longer I leave that screen up, the less RAM I have free! Currently at 590MB. I won't fiddle with disabling apps until I need to; want to get a sense for how stable it is normally first (very, so far).
I wouldn't get too carried away with this, though, unless you have (rather than feel you have) a problem. RAM's there to be used, and Android does a good job of freeing up stuff that's not being used when it needs it.

Thank you. The second amount of free RAM is what I expected.
I ask because I wonder if 2GB is enough or that 3GB has clear advantages.