Task killer apps. Yes or No?

john4315
Newbie

I recently purchased my first smartphone, a Droid Razr, and have a question about task killer apps.

Several people have told me that I should install a task killer app.  They have recommended "Advanced Task Killer".  They claim that a task killer app is necessary to conserve memory and extend battery life.  But I have also read that many people claim that with current Android software, like Ice Cream Sandwich, task killers are completely unnecessary.  They say that Android takes care of memory management, and that there is almost no gain in battery life.

I don't know who to believe!  As a smartphone "newbie" I would appreciate more opinions on this.

Thank you!

Labels (2)
0 Likes
Reply
5 Replies
Ann154
Community Leader
Community Leader

NO. NO. NO. A task killer app isn't needed. I have never used one with all my android devices which have ranged from android 1.5 (Cupcake) to 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean).

I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.

0 Likes
Reply
msturgis
Contributor - Level 2

You are not helping him by not giving him any particular reason for your recommendation against "task killer apps". He already has opinions favoring both sides. He wants to know the "WHY" behind your suggestion.

0 Likes
Reply
Ann154
Community Leader
Community Leader

msturgis wrote:

You are not helping him by not giving him any particular reason for your recommendation against "task killer apps". He already has opinions favoring both sides. He wants to know the "WHY" behind your suggestion.

I gave them my experience. I felt I never needed to" kill" an application even during the android versions where many people were using them.

To the OP, there are many, many discussions already existing in this community forum where more information is discussed and debated on the merits of "task killers". A search would have yielded some of those including ones where both myself and other users much more knowledgeable about android have given their opinions and links to tech blogs with additional information. I would suggest going through those discussions.

<< Post edited  to remove personal comments >>

Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator

I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.

budone
Legend

I say no to task killers. Task killers actually kill a battery quicker. The task killer will close an app, the app will reopen as that is how Android works, (Yet the app does not use resources) so you will have a vicious circle of the apps opening and closing and killing your battery.

Right now I have only two active apps, Facebook and System Panel Light. The latter I used to see what apps were active.

Others Are service only apps. they need to be open to work. Such as my messaging program, weather warning app and such.

Then there are cached inactive apps. They are open, but do not do anything.  My CPU Usage at present is only 8%

Android wants the apps open and will learn which ones you require to be open.

0 Likes
Reply
NuDroidUsrr
Specialist - Level 3

   For your original request of peoples "opinions", I have always used Advanced Task Killer, but I never leave it running all the time. I only use it when I know an app needs to be killed because it is doing something that is wrong, which is not very often. Leaving them running all the time will do exactly as budone mentioned, actually use up more resources that if you didn't have it running.

<< Personal comments removed >>

Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator

0 Likes
Reply