How to Close Apps. Read here before posting!

notrock · #1 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 01:24 PM

In preparation for what I think is going to be the most common question from Window Mobile users coming over to Android.

This was the first thing I goggled

MercuryStar sums it up nicely at xda

'I'll attempt to sum it up once and for all, to try and set the record straight.

In Android's virtual machine, there is no functional differentiation between "closing" an app and "switching away from" an app. They are the same (the exception is things like music players which need to keep playing after you switch away from them, but even then only the 'service' part needs to keep running).

Whenever you switch away from an app, its current state is remembered so that even if it is effectively "killed" it can be returned to in just that state next time it's opened. Then Android either kills the process or it keeps it open, killing it when it needs the memory. You won't notice any difference between either scenario, except maybe that an app loads a little bit faster if it was kept in memory. At any rate, "closed" apps do not "run", and they do not take RAM or CPU cycles from other apps.

In terms of process/memory management, Android's VM has more in common with a web browser than a desktop OS - sure it can remember your state when you switch apps (like switching tabs, going back/forward/home in a browser) but whether behind the scenes it loads it all into and out of memory when you switch back and forth, or it all stays in memory is irrelevant to the user. Nobody worries that a long forum page on another tab or in their back button history is occupying 80 megs in the background or not, the browser takes care of loading/unloading it from RAM as needed, and that's just like how Android's VM works when switching between various pages of various apps.

Once you understand this you understand that all these 'task killer' apps are really unnecessary - all they'll do is make it slower to restart an app once closed. They don't reclaim RAM that was previously unavailable to other apps.

To cut a long story short, pressing "home" is a great way to close an app, whether you want to return to it later or not.'

developer.android.com Explains it in depth.

But as a former WM user I'm still picky about what's running in the background and because I occasionally catch sprint bloat running.

Here are some task managers
(Cyrket links, but they are all in the app store)
EStrongs Task Manager

Also Pressing and holding the HOME button is just a list of your last used apps, it isn't a task manager.

Hope this helps or saves from a 100 threads opening. Feel free to add.

At the end of the day we all WM users and that methodical need to check what is running is going to take some time to get over.

lawsofpower48 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 06:03 PM

good writeup..couldnt say it better myself

quiqnezz · #3 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 06:18 PM

Wow, loving this OS even more now. But I still would like a list of running apps that I can switch to more quickly instead of having to find that app's shortcut to re-open it. Trying out a few of the free taskmanagers and I think i've found what i'm looking for but it's still a slide and click to many.

princem131 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiqnezz

Wow, loving this OS even more now. But I still would like a list of running apps that I can switch to more quickly instead of having to find that app's shortcut to re-open it. Trying out a few of the free taskmanagers and I think i've found what i'm looking for but it's still a slide and click to many.

Long Press home key and recent apps pops up. Very easy to switch from app to app.

aggie6600 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 03:18 PM

Excellent write up.

I like that that a long press of the Home Key is like "ALT-TAB", didn't know that before.

I know some people have been complaining about lagging, but I have not noticed any significant lag. It is a hell of a lot better then my Vogue and I don't have to soft reset the phone twice a day.

notrock · #6 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aggie6600

Excellent write up.

I like that that a long press of the Home Key is like "ALT-TAB", didn't know that before.

I know some people have been complaining about lagging, but I have not noticed any significant lag. It is a hell of a lot better then my Vogue and I don't have to soft reset the phone twice a day.

Yeah I haven't noticed any lag. The keyboard app 'forced closed' on me a few times, but quickly restarted. I installed a whole bunch of apps without having to reboot. If didn't play with it all day Saturday until the battery ran out, I don't think I would have needed to reboot it at all.

nmd17 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 06:17 AM

hey where can i find the links to download the free task manager? thanks

siptang1227 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 01:49 AM

search for it in marketplace. You will see several of them listed there.

x51 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 03:35 PM

Well, you prevented ME from posting this exact question.
Thanks for this.