Database Users

kill tasks n battery saving

hi all,
i m new user for Nexus one, i wonder what is the best task apps to auto kill when the phone in sleep mode in order to save battery. My phone havent ROOT yet, shall i do it? After i have update the Android 2.1 i found it very good compare with iphone.
thank you very much

Killing tasks won't help to save battery... don't buy the hype. Android will manage your apps for you.

No killing tasks can help your battery. There are many apps on the market that are poorly written and drain battery.

McFroger3 said:
No killing tasks can help your battery. There are many apps on the market that are poorly written and drain battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that makes sense... but I don't run any poorly written apps. And neither should you.
If you absolutely have to have a task killer, just download Astro File Manager. You'll need a file manager on this phone anyway, and Astro has a built in configurable task killer and can also back up apps to SD.

uansari1 said:
Well that makes sense... but I don't run any poorly written apps. And neither should you.
If you absolutely have to have a task killer, just download Astro File Manager. You'll need a file manager on this phone anyway, and Astro has a built in configurable task killer and can also back up apps to SD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I try not to. But sometimes I get curious and download some random apps haha.
I use Advance Task Manager since I bought it when I had a Cliq.
It works good when I need to kill something to restart it or if I need to do a batch uninstall.
Astro is amazing and no one should have an android phone without it.

Thks all,
If so, i shall just leave as it is and not install any of those task killer or auto task etc......
But anyway to min the battery drain since there are so much apps running on RAM when the phone is in sleep mode. My battery can only last for 8 hrs from 9am till 5pm (i am so distracted, i do turn on my BT and talk on phone for at least 100mins-150mins a day.)
Thank you

chocodip said:
Thks all,
If so, i shall just leave as it is and not install any of those task killer or auto task etc......
But anyway to min the battery drain since there are so much apps running on RAM when the phone is in sleep mode. My battery can only last for 8 hrs from 9am till 5pm (i am so distracted, i do turn on my BT and talk on phone for at least 100mins-150mins a day.)
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keep the screen brightness as low as you can. Also having a lot of widgets can contribute to battery drain.

uansari1 said:
Killing tasks won't help to save battery... don't buy the hype. Android will manage your apps for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
while this is true, I notice that android's threshold for closing programs is lower than I prefer. It seems to start closing programs at around 25 mb free (on stock kernel and rom) as reported by ES strong's task manager. At this level there is a noticeable amount of sluggishness on my N1. Of course this only lasts for perhaps 10 seconds or so as I am switching apps or whatever until android closes the processes to free up some ram.
I've read comments like yours many times, and I go back to not using one for a while thinking I must just be paranoid. Each time I return to the task manager because I get ticked about sluggishness.
If you manage your ignore list carefully to avoid closing stuff you actually want running in the background you lose nothing. The phone is fast enough that it loads apps quickly even if they're not sitting in the ram, so I prefer to hit the autokill widget once in a while or after using something like the youtube app or other resource hogging apps that I don't use on a regular basis.
I haven't noticed a difference in battery life, but the task manager improves my experience with the phone. It seems that as long as the free memory stays around 40+ I don't see the sluggishness.

Which task killer you use?
rossiscatch said:
while this is true, I notice that android's threshold for closing programs is lower than I prefer. It seems to start closing programs at around 25 mb free (on stock kernel and rom) as reported by ES strong's task manager. At this level there is a noticeable amount of sluggishness on my N1. Of course this only lasts for perhaps 10 seconds or so as I am switching apps or whatever until android closes the processes to free up some ram.
I've read comments like yours many times, and I go back to not using one for a while thinking I must just be paranoid. Each time I return to the task manager because I get ticked about sluggishness.
If you manage your ignore list carefully to avoid closing stuff you actually want running in the background you lose nothing. The phone is fast enough that it loads apps quickly even if they're not sitting in the ram, so I prefer to hit the autokill widget once in a while or after using something like the youtube app or other resource hogging apps that I don't use on a regular basis.
I haven't noticed a difference in battery life, but the task manager improves my experience with the phone. It seems that as long as the free memory stays around 40+ I don't see the sluggishness.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

My screen always in lowest light mode......i will try to install the advance task....hope it deos help abit.
McFroger3 said:
Keep the screen brightness as low as you can. Also having a lot of widgets can contribute to battery drain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

chocodip said:
My screen always in lowest light mode......i will try to install the advance task....hope it deos help abit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Advance task manager also lets you set a timer for auto closing all open apps except for the ones you have on your exception list.

chocodip said:
hi all,
i m new user for Nexus one, i wonder what is the best task apps to auto kill when the phone in sleep mode in order to save battery. My phone havent ROOT yet, shall i do it? After i have update the Android 2.1 i found it very good compare with iphone.
thank you very much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try Juice Defender,is free on the market and everytime you turn the screen to sleep it kills the background data to save battery and @ wake-up its normal again.Read the reviews.

rossiscatch said:
while this is true, I notice that android's threshold for closing programs is lower than I prefer. It seems to start closing programs at around 25 mb free (on stock kernel and rom) as reported by ES strong's task manager. At this level there is a noticeable amount of sluggishness on my N1. Of course this only lasts for perhaps 10 seconds or so as I am switching apps or whatever until android closes the processes to free up some ram.
I've read comments like yours many times, and I go back to not using one for a while thinking I must just be paranoid. Each time I return to the task manager because I get ticked about sluggishness.
If you manage your ignore list carefully to avoid closing stuff you actually want running in the background you lose nothing. The phone is fast enough that it loads apps quickly even if they're not sitting in the ram, so I prefer to hit the autokill widget once in a while or after using something like the youtube app or other resource hogging apps that I don't use on a regular basis.
I haven't noticed a difference in battery life, but the task manager improves my experience with the phone. It seems that as long as the free memory stays around 40+ I don't see the sluggishness.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got over 400 hours of uptime without closing ANY apps with a task killer, and haven't had ANY sluggishness. So if you're really noticing your phone slowing down (and be honest), then I'd exchange it. Frankly, I think a lot of people just "think" their phone is slowing down...

Cyanogen says don't use a Task killer!

Paul22000 said:
Cyanogen says don't use a Task killer!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if cyanogen says jump of a bridge you would? lol
Just messing with you.

I ve installed the Juicedefender and advance task manger......hope meanwhile there will be sthg better. Battery usage is killing me....

uansari1 said:
I've got over 400 hours of uptime without closing ANY apps with a task killer, and haven't had ANY sluggishness. So if you're really noticing your phone slowing down (and be honest), then I'd exchange it. Frankly, I think a lot of people just "think" their phone is slowing down...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I'm sure you're right.. it's all in my head.

Couple of things OP:
1. Bluetooth is a battery hog!
2. How frequent do you have email update, weather update, et al set to?
3. Did you properly calibrate your battery meter when you got your N1? (Two ways to do it, 1) follow the in box guide and charge the phone before using or 2) run down the battery until the phone shuts itself off, pull battery out, put it back in. Now, without turning it back on, put it on the charger and leave it on for a couple hours past the green light coming on, take off charge, finally turn back on)
4. Do you have WiFi running? GPS? Streaming anything?
Have you downloaded any apps from the market just on a quim? There are some pretty bad apps that will never close until you uninstall and do a soft reset, and sometimes uninstall again.
Killing apps is actually going to hurt your battery. It takes more juice to power up the CPU to open an app then it does to hold it in the RAM, unless it is a crap written app that keeps running, and running, and running... but you shouldn't be using those apps anyways.

rossiscatch said:
Yeah, I'm sure you're right.. it's all in my head.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It most likely is... even when apps sit idle in RAM, the CPU usage for them is 0% in almost every case. Like I said... I don't have those issues at all, so it's either in your head or you have a dud.

uansari1 said:
It most likely is... even when apps sit idle in RAM, the CPU usage for them is 0% in almost every case. Like I said... I don't have those issues at all, so it's either in your head or you have a dud.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it's a problem with my phone. If you don't notice then good for you. I notice it and it bothers me. Your finger pointing is neither helpful or needed.

Advanced Task Killer Questions please

Hi
Ive just got this app (really to save myself some battery time)
On launching for the first time it presents me with a whole bunch of stuff including my clocks
Now i'm sure this maybe a pretty dumb question but if i kill the htc clock App will that stop the time and weather updating correctly? (i have my weather set to update hourly) and also if i kill any app like K-9 or Peep (that i have an update schedule set for) will it stop that schedule till i manually launch the app again or will it auto launch when it reaches the sheduled update time?
Sorry for the (potentially) stupid questions
Cheers

The only thing you're going to achieve with using a task killer, is lowering performance and causing even worse battery drain. If that's what you want to do, fine, but otherwise, I wouldn't bother if I were you.
Here's why:
Android's memory management is nothing like Windows Mobile. Applications you've finished with are MEANT to stay in memory until they really are completely finished with, and just because YOU aren't using them, doesn't mean the phone has. If they've been inactive long enough, or some other program needs the RAM, Android will tidily close them down.
If you close them prematurely, then Android will have to load them back up again, so that whatever was using said program's services, can continue to function. This noticeably affects phone performance, and puts an extra load on your battery. Do you REALLY want to do that?
I'm not using any task killers, and my phone runs great, and battery is up to 2.5 days.

Hmm interesting, i might try that, im killing all instantly and repeately, thanks for the tip

FloatingFatMan said:
The only thing you're going to achieve with using a task killer, is lowering performance and causing even worse battery drain. If that's what you want to do, fine, but otherwise, I wouldn't bother if I were you.
Here's why:
Android's memory management is nothing like Windows Mobile. Applications you've finished with are MEANT to stay in memory until they really are completely finished with, and just because YOU aren't using them, doesn't mean the phone has. If they've been inactive long enough, or some other program needs the RAM, Android will tidily close them down.
If you close them prematurely, then Android will have to load them back up again, so that whatever was using said program's services, can continue to function. This noticeably affects phone performance, and puts an extra load on your battery. Do you REALLY want to do that?
I'm not using any task killers, and my phone runs great, and battery is up to 2.5 days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats correct.
I installed it on the phone, and the battery was empty the same night
Uninstalled it, and all works fine now.
Greetz.

would an app like task panel work?
you can add apps that are system apps etc to the ignore list and have apps such as games on the force to kill list or is it just best not to have any task killer apps installed at all?
its strange that there are so many task killer apps and its bad to run on your device. There must be some reason as to why there is an app for this purpose?

ragmanchu said:
would an app like task panel work?
you can add apps that are system apps etc to the ignore list and have apps such as games on the force to kill list or is it just best not to have any task killer apps installed at all?
its strange that there are so many task killer apps and its bad to run on your device. There must be some reason as to why there is an app for this purpose?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They exist, because people think memory management on Android works like it does on Windows Mobile. It doesn't, and never has. Think if it like the so called "memory manager" tools you can get for XP that claim to be able to free all your RAM and speed up your system... Every single one of them is nothing but a placebo designed to part you from your cash, and often end up CAUSING problems, just like task killers on Android do.
Avoid them.

FloatingFatMan said:
They exist, because people think memory management on Android works like it does on Windows Mobile. It doesn't, and never has. Think if it like the so called "memory manager" tools you can get for XP that claim to be able to free all your RAM and speed up your system... Every single one of them is nothing but a placebo designed to part you from your cash, and often end up CAUSING problems, just like task killers on Android do.
Avoid them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guess thats a good enough reply lol

task killers can work fine, but you need to know what is running and what is using it.
for example, if you have the music widget on the homescreens, then the music player process will be opne in the background.
likewise friendstream will keep people, facebook and twitter open in the background.
if you kill those processes, they will just get opened again.
As long as you are careful, using task managers will not decrease battery life, you just need to know how to use them properly. randomly killing everything in the background is NOT the way to do it.
and you should never close clock if you want your alarm clock to actually go off!!

Might be worth making a list of what apps should be ignored and what apps can be forced killed?
When i had an app killer installed, i used to only force kill games and sat nav apps, the rest i asked it to ignore but after reading this thread, i decided to delete the app killer app =)

Ive put a bunch of stuff like clock, weather, Peep and facebook etc on the ignore list and have used the task killer to only kill off frivolous apps like Spark (for xbox friends) streamfurious, photos etc...Nothing Major!
I unhooked my phone from the power at 7:30 am on the 13th April, its now 16:36 on the 14th april and it still has 30% of the juice left, and i always have wifi and mobile data connection on too...phone is always left on with facebook connecting ever 4 hrs and peep once a day and mail set for every 2 hrs (besides which i do check and update them manually a couple of times a day)
I'll try all this without task killer installed and test how long the phone can run before charging
As you say, it could well be a combination of the battery coming up to speed and a placebo effect.
However, surely it cant do more harm than good to kill an app like Spark !
However, im no Phone Genius so im sure someone will soon tell me that im completely wrong
But so far so good....like i said, ill test things without task killer installed

I've stopped using the task killer now and my battery life has improved very noticably.

oursoul said:
I've stopped using the task killer now and my battery life has improved very noticably.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im not so sure about this.
im using a task killer when i want to close the browser or something using internet, as we all know internet drains a lot of battery and even if the browser or market is in the background it still probably has some active connections = draining battery

cez10 said:
im using a task killer when i want to close the browser or something using internet, as we all know internet drains a lot of battery and even if the browser or market is in the background it still probably has some active connections = draining battery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to close fast the browser or any app, you should have a try at taskOS and launch it with the search key whenever you want...

Binned this app in favour of Juice defender, my new battery saving app of choice, seems to be working as it should too...nice

profete162 said:
If you want to close fast the browser or any app, you should have a try at taskOS and launch it with the search key whenever you want...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but then that works pretty much like a task killer
can anyone correct me about the apps i.e. browser using internet while not active(in background) is this true or not? of course having the sync/updates turned off

Task killers can be handy for those times when apps seem to have crashed but aren't forcing close. for example, i've had times where ebuddy just doesn't want to even try to sign in. Task kill it. Try again. all is well. And last my internet browser wouldn't let me click any buttons. Again, killed it - restarted - all is ok.

I've had to use such an app countless of times due to unwanted/unneeded apps running, hanging FCs and black screens, checking/closing net related or sensor using apps, and numerous times when 300KB apps wouldn't install citing 'low memory' when I have more than 70MB free, but it was the RAM being near full causing FCs in apps like Market, and halting the installs. I only use Androids built-in TaskPanel widget for this though. Everything routine is set over to the ignore list so that I don't accidently hit and close that (single hit closes the app). Additionally I use this app to check and to switch to an opened application that is running (when it's not in the recent list).
Sent from my HTC Desire using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

profete162 said:
If you want to close fast the browser or any app, you should have a try at taskOS and launch it with the search key whenever you want...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the route I've taken naturally. I'm using jkAppSwitch on my longpress search key, mainly used for switching but can be used to kill problem apps.
Full task killers are being proven to be useless on the Desire.

I would recommend using an app that monitors the cpu usage(watchdog etc.). This way your can see which apps put a drain on your phone.

Thank you for the information. But I do notice a considerable improvement in battery power with Advanced Task Killer.
I hope someone can provide me an answer.

Which apps I can kill?

I'm newbe to android. I have problem my x10a ruuning out of juice in 12 hours. I'm using Advance Task Killer to kill the apps when screen is off but not sure which I need to put in Ignore List and which one I can kill safely. Here list of apps currently running and Ignore list
Currently Running Apps
com.Sonyericcson.larningclient
com.qualcomm.wiper
com.sonyericsson.android.contentmanager.service.facerecognition
com.sonyericsson.android.timeescape.pluginmanager.framework.application
com.sonyericsson.android.accountprovider
com.google.android.partnersetup
com.sonyericsson.android.contentmanager.service.timescape
com.sonyericsson.android.fota
com.sonyericsson.android.bootinfo
com.google.android.googleapps
com.sonyericsson.android.mediascape.pluginmanager.framework.application
DocumentToGoFullVersionKey
Maps
Pure Calender widget
com.sonyericsson.android.timescape.pluginmanager.framework.application
com.android.providers.calendar
com.sony.uwlop.launcher
eBay
com.google.android.apps.uploader
com.android.providers.downloads
com.billyfrancisco.photogallerywidget
voice dialer
com.sonyericsson.android.pccompanioninstaller
com.sonyericsson.android.digitalclock
3G Watchdog
Superuser Permissions
Barnacle wifi Tether
com.levelup.beautifulwidgets
settings
Ignore List
setting profiles
Advance task Killer
Timescape
Battery Status Ultimate
Gmail
Smart Keyboard Pro
Moxier Mail
Email
MyBackup Pro
Thanks is advance

I've had started a collection over here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=707878

Have you tried not running Advanced Task Killer??? I'm running on f/w R2BA020 with no task killer and no startup auditor etc... and after a day of average use I down to about 40% after c.15 hours... I tried ATK and various others and in the end ditched them cos they were making the battery slightly worse, and making the phone slower cos it had to keep restarting app/ background processes that it uses..
Your power consumption will very much depend on what your running etc.. do you have any widgets that are updating regularly, or possibly faulty and preventing your phone from sleeping.. try using juice plotter for a while to see what your discharge profile looks like - you should see it going almost flat when you have a period of non use..
PS.. I've had bluetooth on (but not connected), wifi on, and 3G/ GPRS on all day today and after 11 hours I'm now on 52%.. have used the phone a reasonable amount.. maybe 20 texts, email syncing hourly, contacts and calendar on auto sync with google... no widgets on my home screen which sync, and no use of timescape.. used mediascape for about 30 mins, internet for about 20 mins, XDA app for about an hour.. played games for about 30 mins too..

I'm using Task Manager.
It pushed me up to 46hrs Standby, coming from 20hrs, when the battery is fully charged.

Thanks Guys
@McKebapp - It is good thread but need add info like one of the guys sugesting, which are ok to kill and Do NOT Kill
@ im_iceman - The problem is if you don't have ATK or other Task Manager, most application keep running once you clicked on them. I was looking Battery Use, this tell me its and Display and Standby but detail which program was using during standby

Hi - Yes some apps will sit in the background, but they should be sleeping and not actually doing anything, unless they've been badly written.. Android, based on Linux, manages the memory so that it's running on almost full most of the time and therefore is quicker to resume something which you were previously running, or is stored in memory awaiting use.. killing these things will mean that the processor has to work harder reloading them into memory all the time..
@Mckebapp - That may well be because it's killing a dodgy app that you've got running which isn't/ wasn't sleeping properly.. trouble is it may well be killing other stuff you need too..
Each to their own though..

GPdhillon said:
Thanks Guys
@McKebapp - It is good thread but need add info like one of the guys sugesting, which are ok to kill and Do NOT Kill
@ im_iceman - The problem is if you don't have ATK or other Task Manager, most application keep running once you clicked on them. I was looking Battery Use, this tell me its and Display and Standby but detail which program was using during standby
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The absolute "NOT TO KILL" ones are written.
All other ones depend on the individual usage.
To me: I kill each one, that is killable
What about continuing my collection and making it more precise?

McKebapp said:
The absolute "NOT TO KILL" ones are written.
All other ones depend on the individual usage.
To me: I kill each one, that is killable
What about continuing my collection and making it more precise?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, I'm glad to help but I'm newbe just tell me what to do

couple broblems with MT4G

First issue. I've installed Advanced task killer cause I was getting bad battery performance. and sure enough every app i had was running in the background. I'm cool with the Genius button running. but the phone seems to autostart media room, maps, my account, video chat and wi-fi callling (which I dont use). Is this something I could stop?
second problem is just something I've noticed. sometimes when I try to download apps they pause and wont resume until I turn off the internet (in setting) and turn it back on. anyone else having this problem? I do live in a 4g area. was wondering if its a problem with switching from 4g to 3g or something. I really have no idea. any thoughts?
thanks guys

What other apps have you installed? There could be a poorly written app or apps causing the drain.
Try resetting your device to how it was when you first received it and see if after that day you get better battery performance. Slowly add back your apps, one or two a day, and compare to narrow down which app may be contributing to the drain - perhaps the app has addt'l settings you can adjust to prevent it from running in the background until needed...
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

First of all you don't need advanced task killer. The apps show they are running but actually are not in your background. The task killer is actually fighting with the operating system to close apps that don't need closing and thus probably giving you worse battery life then.
As far as the market goes. I download everything through wifi so I won't know for sure but it could be a signal issue.

Jeffmeister said:
First of all you don't need advanced task killer. The apps show they are running but actually are not in your background. The task killer is actually fighting with the operating system to close apps that don't need closing and thus probably giving you worse battery life then.
As far as the market goes. I download everything through wifi so I won't know for sure but it could be a signal issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed 100%. Task killers are more of a battery drain than anything. IMHO I would uninstall the task killer.
Android OS is designed to provide process management. You can close or stop any app you want from within the OS.

[Q] Could ATK harm an Android device? (GS II in this case)

Well I had to create this thread. I am using ATk for last three days and it is doing a great purpose to save juice of my battery. But I saw these articles and now I am scared that if I should use ATK or not? There is no performance decrease I've noticed so far after using ATK. So what should I do, uninstall ATK as it could harm my device or keep using it as practical view is greater than technical one.
Please read these, and comment back on the same. I'll eagerly wait for you guys to response.
1- FAQ: Why You Shouldn’t Be Using a Task Killer with Android
2- AndroidSPIN Why you don’t need a task killer app with Android.
3- Android Task Killers Explained: What They Do and Why You Shouldn't Use Them
Regards.

Sure, it might be unnecessary if all things were running normally, but like in my original thread stated, it is the only way to ensure rogue cached processes are completely closed out... unless you like doing it manually everytime.
No, it won't harm it though... if you are asking if it will melt your SGSII over time. Silly question to be honest.

Thanks for your response mate. Well it's very easy to use a Task Killer app like ATK rather than manually killing cached processes. I am sure that a software will definitely not melt my GS II but could there be any problem with memory management? What could be the problem actually?

It won't harm your phone but it might become a little less responsive, because program need to be loaded again and the battery might drain a little quicker using ATK especially when you use autokill because some programs autostart and they keep on restarting and being killed...

It depends on which task killer you use how much battery (if any noticeable difference) it will drain.
Auto kill features should be turned off.

Well I use Auto Kill feature in ATK. In fact after using it there is at least no more non-synchronization of Awake and Screen On bar and that helps a lot to save battery. Frankly I don't see any other option but to not use it. Built in Task manager is not capable of doing a good job, so ATK is the option or the only option left! So I wonder why shall not use it!