PLEASE READ: Do NOT worry about Apps running in the Background

[andjarnic]

Android isn't "close" to linux, it IS linux.. that is the OS that runs on all android phones is a linux kernel, 2.6.x. Android is a platform that runs on top of the linux kernel and handles the task of starting up individual Dalvik JVMs for each app you run. Each and every app you see running in your task list is a separate JVM instance all to itself, so that if the app crashes the JVM, it ONLY brings down that one app. The phone still works, as do the other apps. Each time you install an app, it's installed as a separate user as well. So each app you run, runs as it's own separate user too, making it that much more secure from one app to the next.

[cereal killer]

This subject has been talked about a lot in here since the Droids release. I've talked to a developer who is very well versed in Linux/Android and he summarized the following as correct......

Android is different to most other phone operating systems. It's closer to Linux than any other type of operating system. Lots of services and applications constantly run in the background just like they do on Windows. However, and this is important, they do not have to use up a ton of resources. A service or app can be loaded, yet use almost no additional memory, and 0% CPU until it actually has to do something.

In general, killing off stuff is a waste of time. Android automatically asks apps to close that aren't needed when it needs more memory. Killing off some of the processes you are killing off also means it'll slow your phone down, as these processes only need to reload, and when you do need to use them it means the phone will be slower for the few seconds it takes to reload them.

Is there a reference so i could back up my statement to someone else, killing apps is a pain and you become obsess about it, but does wi-fi, gps, maps eat up the battery or doesn't matter if they run.

yes wi-fi, gps, maps, bluetooth will eat up battery

[noles200]

This subject has been talked about a lot in here since the Droids release. I've talked to a developer who is very well versed in Linux/Android and he summarized the following as correct......

Android is different to most other phone operating systems. It's closer to Linux than any other type of operating system. Lots of services and applications constantly run in the background just like they do on Windows. However, and this is important, they do not have to use up a ton of resources. A service or app can be loaded, yet use almost no additional memory, and 0% CPU until it actually has to do something.

In general, killing off stuff is a waste of time. Android automatically asks apps to close that aren't needed when it needs more memory. Killing off some of the processes you are killing off also means it'll slow your phone down, as these processes only need to reload, and when you do need to use them it means the phone will be slower for the few seconds it takes to reload them.

I read this in the crackberry forums from someone there too. I remember seeing you and the other poster talking about it. Glad you brought it over here droidforums.

[cLovis_ll]

thanks cereal, i was worried and i frequently use the task manager to kill all processes due to the fact that i am scared that my droid would run slow..

[Getaphixx]

Don't use app killer.. Hmmmmmm

1. Apps could possibly use battery life... (Why would I want to let that happen?)

2. Battery Life seems to be a big thing....

3. I don't use my phone for 45min.. And previously used App Killer to disable multiple items.. I come back.. I have things like Alarm Clock and others that have NO business being opened much less running... I kill them.. Jump from 65 to 104mb of memory..

4. Please tell me how killing UNEEDED items is a waste...lol

[Dream]

Android isn't "close" to linux, it IS linux.. that is the OS that runs on all android phones is a linux kernel, 2.6.x. Android is a platform that runs on top of the linux kernel and handles the task of starting up individual Dalvik JVMs for each app you run. Each and every app you see running in your task list is a separate JVM instance all to itself, so that if the app crashes the JVM, it ONLY brings down that one app. The phone still works, as do the other apps. Each time you install an app, it's installed as a separate user as well. So each app you run, runs as it's own separate user too, making it that much more secure from one app to the next.

That's interesting. What do you think about the apps running in the back round?

[ZeRo_C0oL]

Good info!

[trevorl]

To see what is using up your battery power on the Droid, go to Settings > About phone > Battery use. This will tell you exactly what has been using up your battery power.

If you are concerned about WiFi, GPS or other applications or services using up your battery power, you're probably better off using an app like Locale to automatically manage your settings based on time & location rather than constantly manually shutting down processes.

[mth04]

This subject has been talked about a lot in here since the Droids release. I've talked to a developer who is very well versed in Linux/Android and he summarized the following as correct......

Android is different to most other phone operating systems. It's closer to Linux than any other type of operating system. Lots of services and applications constantly run in the background just like they do on Windows. However, and this is important, they do not have to use up a ton of resources. A service or app can be loaded, yet use almost no additional memory, and 0% CPU until it actually has to do something.

In general, killing off stuff is a waste of time. Android automatically asks apps to close that aren't needed when it needs more memory. Killing off some of the processes you are killing off also means it'll slow your phone down, as these processes only need to reload, and when you do need to use them it means the phone will be slower for the few seconds it takes to reload them.

First Ceral let me say thanks for this thread. There's always so much srrounding memory and devices. I agree that this should be stickied.

[cgaliffi]

Thanks for the INFO!