New and finding my way around

[dsealer]

I posted this message on the new users forum and was directed here, so here I go.
Hi everyone, my name is Don. I've never really used this type of forum except to get answers to problems occasionally. I'd like to do more with this forum. So please bear with me as I learn.
I will start with a couple of questions and then someone can tell me where I should have posted it originally.
I have an Droid Eris (verizon) and I'm a bit upset with two things about it.
One, my apps start and run in the background all the time. I do have a program to kill them but it seems they start on their own.
Two, Maybe related to the first and possibly related to Verizon. My reception is poor at times. Others where I work are on other phones but can talk and receive anywhere in the building. I have to walk to a spot that allows reception.
Any suggestions on these two probelms.
Also, I was reading some of the posts here and see things about "root and froyo". Can you help me understand what they are, what they would do for me, and why I need them?
Thanks for now and I'll be hanging around all the time.
Thanks,
Don........

 

[huskerkate]

i didn't mention that cross-posting (making the same post in different threads/sections) is not allowed on the forum. however, since i was the one that directed you over here, i understand why you did. just fyi for the future... i'll go ahead and close your other thread, since you have now found your "home".

 

[portermac]

Hi, and welcome to the forum. I will start by saying that task killers are no good and are not needed. You will be doing yourself and your droid a favor by getting rid of the task killers. Second, you could try updating your prl for better reception. Just dial *22891 on your phone. hopefully that will help.

 

[Bob Dammit]

One, my apps start and run in the background all the time. I do have a program to kill them but it seems they start on their own.

Android "knows" what it needs running in the background, and adjusts these files on the fly, based on need. A task killer (believe it or not) will kill your battery faster, and lag your phone more than just letting it do its thing. As you are killing off processes trying to help your phone, your phone has to rebuild these systems in order to do what you are asking. There are literally hundreds of task killer threads on the board. Search them out, and read up. Heres a good one to start with:
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-applications/65483-task-killers-answer-google-developers.html

Two, Maybe related to the first and possibly related to Verizon. My reception is poor at times. Others where I work are on other phones but can talk and receive anywhere in the building. I have to walk to a spot that allows reception.

*228 option 2 will help you out. *22899 is the direct number to the PRL update.

Also, I was reading some of the posts here and see things about "root and froyo". Can you help me understand what they are, what they would do for me, and why I need them?

Root = unlocking your phone to its full potential. By gaining root, you are "allowed" access to your phones full potential. You will be able to do things that Verizon has disabled, most notably the ability to screen caps, and wifi tether. In order to use wifi tether, you need to flash a new kernel to your phone, which opens up the next two upsides to rooting your phone: Overclocking and custom ROM's. Overclocking is running your phones processor at a frequency higher than the phone runs on stock. Most Eris' are stable to around 745 Mhz, but, for example, the Droid is stable to 1.25 Ghz. Faster processor = snappier phone. Custom ROMs are modified operating systems you can run on your phone, and give it a "custom" feel.

Your phone is running Eclair, which is Android v2.1. FroYo is Android v2.2. The upside to FroYo is the ability to run adobe flash on your phone. The down side is the Eris was never designed to run FroYo and Most ROMs are still buggy. Most common bugs are Camera issues (force closes) and phone calls dropped. The choice is up to you, if you want to take the plunge and root OR run FroYo.
If you decide you want to do it, there are many people who will help you.

 

[dsealer]

Thanks for the info. I did get rid of my task killer the other day when it was first pointed out they are not so good.
Thanks also for the info on rooting and froyo. The whole idea scares me somewhat as usually when things can go wrong for me they usually do. Also, I'm not that adept with the phone and I'm not sure I'd use it to my advantage. Nor am I sure I'd understand what to do.
Two things about my phone that I'd like to see work better, at least at this point.
1. Better reception, at least where I work. I have people standing right next to me (AT&T) and talking all day long. I have to walk to a "sweet" spot in the building to be able to talk. I'd like to figure out how to make that better. I've upgraded my roaming feature twice in the last month or so by dialing the 228 number.
2. Battery life. I'd like to see the battery life last longer. Sometimes it gets very low at bad times. I keep a charger in my car and hook up to my pc at work to try and keep the battery charged.
Those are the two big things on my hit list. Maybe once I understand more about the phone I'll have other tasks to work on.
Once again thanks for your help and time,
Don..........

 

[HomidialSpoon]

If you are looking for better battery life, i would definitely root, when i was running KaosFroyo v38 updated with the CFS6 kernel, i was getting almost two full days out of one charge, i am running a different rom now, FroShedYo, another froyo (2.2) rom that also has the CFS6 kernel, and again i get almost 2 days out of a charge. Another nice thing about root, is that you can use an app called SetCPU, you can buy it from the market, but if you do not use youre phone alot throughout parts of the day, all you have to do is change the settings in SetCPU so that your CPU runs slower while youre not using it, it will increase your battery's life tremendously.

 

[gadgetrants]

Welcome Don!

Don't know if we've dealt with the "mysteriously starting" apps issue, but I want to make sure there isn't a misunderstanding. So you'll need to clarify: when you say "run in the background" I am guessing you check them in your task killer, or some sort of system manager app. Is that correct? Or do they start and actually appear onscreen (I guess not, because you said "background')?

Assuming you meant the former, then NO WORRIES! This is normal Android behavior (well, mostly normal). Android has a super policy for memory management, so any background app that runs on startup--but then isn't being used--will be swapped out of memory as you start and run other programs. It isn't like Windows, where you many need to manually free up memory. Android tends to keep RAM full and swap as needed. (There's a great thread that explains this in detail...I can look for it if you're curious.)

My wife has an Eris, and overall I'd say its battery life is about 60%-70% of what I get with the Droid. Part of the reason is that I've rooted and installed a custom kernel (just mumbo-jumbo) that let's me underclock, which basically means I can run the CPU at a SLLLLLOOOOWWWW speed and conserve battery power (and otherwise overclock when needed). If you use your phone off and on during the day, and find you need to charge it by early evening, I'd say that's normal for the Eris.

Regarding reception...probably no advice there. Maybe other owners can chime in?

-Matt

 

[Bob Dammit]

The whole idea scares me somewhat as usually when things can go wrong for me they usually do.

No worries about that, there is a "One Button Root" App in the market. As far as worrying about messing things up, I have 3 words for you. BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP! As long as you have a back up, you can "fix" almost everything you can mess up. Read up on the rooting info on this site, read it again, let it sink in for a few days, and read it again. You will pick up on common mistakes other people make (ie: not making a backup, missing a step, not reading and understanding what they were doing to their phone, etc). Dont be afraid to ask for help. If I cant help you, someone else will. Our Rescue Squad is the best around. No joke, I studied the Droid root guide for 10 days before I rooted my phone, and back when I did my first droid, it was rooted at the command prompt. You guys who have waited have it easy now.
Good luck, and dont be afraid to ask for help.

 

[dsealer]

From Bob Dammit,
What does it mean to have the "ability to screen caps"?
Lot's of questions I know and I apologize but then again I feel a need to ask.
Thanks,
Don.........

 

[Bob Dammit]

From Bob Dammit,
What does it mean to have the "ability to screen caps"?
Lot's of questions I know and I apologize but then again I feel a need to ask.
Thanks,
Don.........

A screen cap is a "picture" of your screen.

Like that^^^

Its useful for helping people out, or remembering how you had your homescreens set up, after you have to wipe your phone.

PS: Dont feel bad about asking questions, we've all been there before!