OK i understand (roughly) how memory management works on a PC, and how apps are loaded into RAM etc, but my MDA Pro is confusing me!
It seems that by the end of the day, every program that i have been running (and closing after use) is STILL running in the background (when i look at the task manager). This is pretty annoying, because it normally means that if i try to take a photo, it tells me there isnt enough memory to perform the operation!
Is this just the normal way memory/app loading is handled on windows mobile, or am i doing something wrong?
Thanks!
Pooper: how have you been "closing after use" your programs?
V
vijay555 said:
Pooper: how have you been "closing after use" your programs?
V
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using the X (or 'ok') in the top right hand corner. (usually there aren't any other options).
Is that the normal way?
that is exactly how all windows mobile devices have worked since forever.
by tapping on the X in the top right, it just minimises the application.
I assume the idea behind this is that as these devices have slower processes than people are used to in their PC's, and they get used to programs opening quickly on their PC's, by keeping the programs in memory they can then open as soon as you tap the icon for them giving a 'quicker' and smoother operating experience.
To shut them down properly, Pick one or the following:
1: search google for the thousands of other times this question has been asked and answered on all the pocket pc/windows mobile forums around the world
2: RTFM
3: tap start>settings>system>memory>running programs. then tap stop all to actually shut them all down.
Alternatively, get yourself a third party app which will actually shut programs when you tap the X. For instance, I have that function as part of SPB pocket plus 3 which i have on my device.
btw. sorry if i am a bit cranky, I am at work and a little stressed. but please, always search before you post.
It's ok, i get pissed off at people not searching before they post either, but hey i've got an excuse, i was getting timeouts everytime i tried to search
Don't suppose you could suggest the simplest program that closes apps when you 'close' them? *hides*
InClose Mobile
Try InClose Mobile, it's one of the best task managers there is for wm5 (I have tried a lot of them). It closes the program when you press the X (exactly how it should been done in the first place) but you can also minimise the program by taping and holding the X. Very good!
You find it here: http://insoftwarehouse.com/downloads/inclose/xe.php?l=en
GSpocketmagic++
GSpocketmagic++
search this out on google it includes a cascading menu program
Re: InClose Mobile
Wegas said:
Try InClose Mobile, it's one of the best task managers there is for wm5 (I have tried a lot of them). It closes the program when you press the X (exactly how it should been done in the first place) but you can also minimise the program by taping and holding the X. Very good!
You find it here: http://insoftwarehouse.com/downloads/inclose/xe.php?l=en
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent, thanks
Related
Good Day to everyone, I want to know how to fully close a program without needing a soft reset.. because whenever I use the running program, Its really not showing all the program and therefore might not be closing all running programs.. I know there is a lot of programs running still because I had an h5550 before and I usually see a long list of running programs as compare to the xda II. Why is this so and how is the problem solved? thanks much
Use Magic Button.
http://www.freewareppc.com/utilities/magicbutton.shtml
well in settings under memory
under running programs i can close my programs if i want
though i cant say if they removed that feature in 2003
Hi ...
there is a difference between applications and processes. the first type you close and you can see on running programs. while the 2nd type is system processes ... windows control their start and end. closing any of them may cause a system crash.
What are processes? Is it essential that I close them? Will it make the xda slower if many processes are running? thanks and pardon me for my ignorance..
well in a multitasking envioment
a program is 1 process which can have many threads
imho then if i dont do a softreset my xda get slower and slower
as time goes by
a softreset solve this problem just like that
If you're not using a task manager of some sort (I use Resco), the easiest and way to close an app is to use the on-screen keyboard (if the app lets you open the keyboard that is :wink: .) Simply kit Ctrl+Q, just like the Windows shortcut!
Some other handy PPC shortcuts are;
Ctrl+C (copy), Ctrl+V (paste), Ctrl+X (Cut), Ctrl+A (Select all), Shift+tap (select multiple adjacent items), Ctrl+tap (select multiple items).
Hi.
Isn't this non-closing of programs a bit of a bug? I can see how PPC might want to leave commonly used apps in memory instead of actually quitting them (i.e. Contacts), but to be honest it doesn't exactly take that long to start them up from scratch.
I'm used to (from desktop win) pressing the X in the top-right corner and the program actually closing, or at least going to the tasktray (where you can see it to quit it).
I've only had my XDA-II for a week, and I'm scared that I've run up a massive bill already because of this prob, but will have to wait to find out -
Basically I used the Terminal Services Client to connect to my PC at home whilst at work. I only did this for about 30 seconds, after which I pressed the X at the top right corner. After about 4 hours or so I got home and looked at the screen an there was an error dialog coming from the supposedly closed Terminal Services Client! So the TSC might have been downloading thru GPRS for 4 hours!
I call that a bug. I reproduced it again at home. I have Rescoe task monitor and I can see TSC staying around after I've closed it. I'm now waiting to see what appears on my bill. Damned if I'm paying for it tho...
No doubt I'm the only person who has had this prob... :?
Not a bug, a feature
Partridge, it is not a bug, it's how Pocket PC's have been working at least for PPC 2002 and PPC 2003.
It is well known in the PPC community and there are a number of fixes.
I would strongly suggest that the first application you purchase are GPRS Monitor from SPB.
It gives you a small icon on the top line where you can see your GPRS traffic, an a Today plug-in that lists the amount of MB and the cost of the day's session. Using this, you will quickly notice if some application is using GPRS behind your back.
Regards
Michael
Not a bug, a feature
Partridge, it is not a bug, it's how Pocket PC's have been working at least for PPC 2002 and PPC 2003.
It is well known in the PPC community and there are a number of fixes.
I would strongly suggest that the first application you purchase are GPRS Monitor from SPB.
It gives you a small icon on the top line where you can see your GPRS traffic, an a Today plug-in that lists the amount of MB and the cost of the day's session. Using this, you will quickly notice if some application is using GPRS behind your back.
Regards
Michael
Thanks for the reply and advice.
Admittedly I'm brand new to this PPC game.
I still think its a bit naff that PPC's do this.
I expect a program thats expensive to run in terms of network bandwidth (and therefore money), to close when I press the X button. I guess thats just me...
Thanks anyway
Partridge.
If I go into the memory settings / running programs it usually shows a list of about 5 programs still in use - this is AFTER I have pressed the X button on the screen - -I presumed that was how you closed the progs down .
Any ideas ?
No, unfortunatly this just just how Windows Mobile was designed to work. However I'm sure you can get various 3rd party apps which change the function of the close button, I believe Spb Pocket Plus is one such program that has this feature although im sure there are others
I know, what gimp decided that the x should just minimise it :x
maybe when they started with the pocketpc series they felt the load time was too long if you closed a program and then shifted to another and went back to the first
there are programs such as pocket plus which let X be close insted of minimize
but many programs are not made to be closed in that way and it cause issues
like loosing of data one have not explicit saved
and pocket outlook goes bananas if you send an sms and close it before the msg sendt icon is displayed
Thanks.
is there a registry hack that will close a program instead of minimising it?
Here you go! http://www.trancreative.com/mb.aspx and the best part is that it's free!!!
There are many programs that will do this, some of them have many other functions that you will find useful.
My favourite program, WisBar Advance does this as part of a massive set of functions, and adds the ability to completely skin your device.
The trade is that it uses heaps of valuable RAM and isn't free.
ViJay555 has a piece of software that will also perform this function, VJOKButt.
This is something that many people ask about, we all find our own solution.
cheers guys i'll try them out. does anyone know why microsoft did this?
bobbyb said:
cheers guys i'll try them out. does anyone know why microsoft did this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So that applications will "seem" to start faster after the first initial load.
The way MS sees us using the device often has little to do with the reality of using a PDA.
The default tools loaded by WM5 or the carriers (the ExtROM contents) are what they assume we will use and they do try to provide the things that most people want. Word, Phone, Calendar etc will all run quite happily in the memory that we have been (grieviously under)allocated on the device. However, when you start putting lots of third party apps in there you find that 64MB isn't enough. Skinning, Today plugins, TomTom, alternative BT stacks and voice diallers, better PIMs and the like all take up more space than MS had planned and we have to close them to save space.
If you ran it the way it was intended then minimising without closing would be acceptable.
Reminds me of Monty Python:
You're all individuals!
I'm not ...
One day I'll find a way to upgrade this baby to 512MB of DDR and drop a 2GHz CPU in it ... Then I'll be a happy camper =)
One problem I ran into, well, really not a problem just didnt think. As mentioned there are several programs that work great and I run SPB Pocket plus and all was great until my Exec started running slower & slower and eventually crashed. What I realized was that I was closing programs with the "ok" button on the keypad. This will only minimize not close so my programs were still running and stacking up in memory. This is a big "DUH". As long as you use the "x" in the top coner then the programs mentioned can close your program (as designed) but if you use the keypad "ok" the programs will continue to run in the background. Just a heads up.
Unless you use PQz! This program has an option that lets the "ok" button on the keyboard actually close apps.
have I mentioned I'm a fan of PQz? ;-)
Thanks, I will check it out.
As a relative newbie I've searched but can't find an answer, so sorry if this is really obvious. When you close a program it stays running in the memory. How do you close it properly so it isnt in the background?
Thanks
Landy
Orange SPV M3100 (locked)
You need a 3rd party application. Magic Button, Small menu, AE Button Plus, SPB Pocket Plus, or something similar will enable you to actually close programs rather thsn minimizing them.
actually, you can hit CTRL-Q with the soft keyboard and it will close most programs. not as easy as some of the 3rd party applications, but works nonetheless.
I learn something everyday. Thanks
ive allways used battery pack ( pro ) with pdas, works well on my vario 1, hope to use it when i upgrade!
I'm a devout Switch user.
I use Magic Button 2 for closing apps, it is tiny and very well integrated with the taskbar.
Recently I read this article on the Windows Mobile Team Blog which has a very good explanation on why the “X” button doesn’t close apps, really worth reading
Thanks for the heads up pof! Interesting, but down to personal preferance based on type of useage. Try streaming radio through wi-fi whilst surfing the web and making notes in Word simultaneously! It'll work, but you will noice a slow down, that u really would rather not. Until they pack a much more powerful CPU into these devices that can truly handle multi-tasking (regardless of type of application), the user will always have need of the choice, hence the need for intuitive 3rd party apps. Personally, I use Wisbar Advance as it can easily be set up to reflect the 'minimise' and 'Exit' functions I have become accustomed to in the Windows PC O/S. I additionally use AE Button closer for guaranteed button control over closing apps and I find this combination absolutely essential. Something I believe Microsoft should have included into the WM platform by default.
Let's not forget how precious memory is to pda users who don't have the ability to upgrade memory like in our PCs, which removes the need to worry about memory management for most situtions except CPU intensive applications and the fact that these mobile devices still suffer from memory leakages.
Just my 2 cents worth.
P.S. With the above mentiones setup, I have no memory issues at all. I always have between 28 and 25 megs of available memory. Just right for running any application (CPU intensive or not) at any given time and enables muti-tasking comfortably providing they are not all CPU heavy apps!
i use and recommend SmartSKey. it's tiny, but powerful in terms of real closing apps
Do any of these apps make the "ok" key close apps insted of minmising?
LeoPheonix said:
Do any of these apps make the "ok" key close apps insted of minmising?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AE Button Plus does this. through key remapping. Others may as well.
Hi guys,
I know you already know this, but I'm just wondering how you have dealt with the problem.
When you click on a program 'x' it doesn't really close the program like on a PC, as the program is still active in the Task Manager, which wastes power.
Is there a program which fixes this so that the 'x' means close properly? Or do you have to go to the Task Manager every time and close it from there?
Thanks a lot,
Paul
Welcome to the world to WM where Micro$oft decided "close" was a four letter word. There are many, many "x" button/task bar/task managers etc. out there to solve just this problem. Search a little and you'll find them. I personally use pBar, and the Oxios apps.
benmyers2941 said:
Welcome to the world to WM where Micro$oft decided "close" was a four letter word. There are many, many "x" button/task bar/task managers etc. out there to solve just this problem. Search a little and you'll find them. I personally use pBar, and the Oxios apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I was successful when I searched 'closing programs'. Why didn't I think of that before?!
I'm trying to use 'smclose', which requires placement in the startup folder. I can access this on the Wizard, but I can't find it through the Explore in Activesync!
Got it in by copying the file into Startup in Wizard. Thanks!
search for HTC X button 1.5 . it is the most stable version.
it allows you to close and to quit programs by tap and hold. also, in the today screen you have the option to close programs that you dont want to run while keeping the programs you want to run stay in minimized windows.
That sounds like a better tool SVI, thanks!
Seconds on the HTC X Button. It just does what you want, without a bunch of extra bunk.