Task Killer Question

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.1-update1; en-us; DROIDX Build/VZW) AppleWebKit/530.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/530.17 480X854 motorola DROIDX)

From what I have read, over time this will cause programs to not behave correctly and some have even said that it reduces battery life. Also, Android has a built-in task killer since it is built around Linux. Another thing I have read is some programs will continue to run or even restart even after you kill them. I had it installed on my X and removed it. I do not notice any performance issues after removing it. I hope this helps.

 

There are some like "Advanced Task Killer" that I used for the first month. I read that if you use it, then the OS doesn't really "learn" how you're using your phone and won't allocate correctly. My dh used ATK on his Eris until I rooted & custom ROMd him.

Now, the latest version of the ROM we're using includes an "auto killer". It isn't the same type of app that ATK and the like are, though I haven't researched what makes it different. I'm trusting the devs that say it is a help, rather than causing problems - the same devs who agreed that ATK apps are bad. Autokiller helps to maximize battery life (much better in the latest version of the ROM than previous versions that didn't include it)

I'm pretty sure there is a good post on it somewhere - I'll try to find it and let you know.

Search for this title "Task Killers! Must read for new Android Users" on the Android Forums - EVO

Essentially, if you're using poorly coded apps that don't close properly, you'll need to kill them. A task killer gives you the easy access to do it. You can also do it by going to settings, apps, manage apps.

 

That is a good simple explanation of why not to use a task killer.

From my understanding Auto Killer tells the built-in task killer how aggressive to be at killing apps. But most newer devices shouldn't need to install it as they have the memory and the processing power to handle the newer Android OS. But it is great and needed program for a older device like the myTouch running a custom 2.X rom.

Read this thread that SteveW posted about task killers -

http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/android-phones/78339-myth-android-devices-need-task-killers.html

 

Just one more, here is Google's response about the use of task killers.

Task Killers... The Answer from Google & Developers. - Droid Forum - Verizon Droid & the Motorola Droid Forum

My own opinion, I don't use one, anymore. When I first got my original droid I did. But after awhile I just let the phone itself manage the apps and memory. Using task killer I never noticed any better battery life, in fact when you think about it, it is just one more app running in the background, so it is using battery and memory. If I feel my phone is lagging for some reason I simply shut it down, and turn it back on. Only advantage I can see with any task manager is it can show which apps are poorly written by developers. That is if you are not using it, and it continues to stay in memory or using system resources, then it is the app not the device. Usually if I see an app behave like that, I get rid of the app.