[Q] Does background apps use Data? - Captivate Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello All,
I got my captivate recently and love it so far. I have read several articles on whether the background apps/tasks consume battery or not. I guess the Android community is split between whether background tasks should be killed or left alone for the OS to handle.
But, I have noticed that my data usage has gone up since I got the captivate (I had HTC Tilt 2 before). My question is does background apps consume data? I am not talking about the email sync and other necessary apps that are running in the background but specifically asking about apps that we have installed from market that are supported by Ads. Do they consume data in the background? Should I kill them? Can anyone recommend a good task killer? Is there a security risk if these background apps keeping sending back and forth data?
Any insights in much appreciated.

Any help please?

venkss said:
Any help please?
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Click to collapse
Apps that are not running should not use data; but there are other things that do.
Widgets use data - do you have a weather widget? News, social networks, contacts or calendar?
Gmail, Exchange, AT&T - all have address book and calendar sync that is going on and constantly checking for changes. 3rd party apps with ads should not be a concern - they should not be using data when not running.
As for security risk - it depends as i don't know what apps you have installed. When you install an app it indicates what it has access too. If a checkers app has access to contacts, phone, and gps then i would be concerned.

Using the free version of Juice Defender I was able to configure which apps could use data when in background and which ones would only be able to use data if they were in the foreground.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Related

Nexus One uses too much data

Sorry if this has already been asked, I already searched in Google and in the Forums.
In Portugal we don't have unlimited data plans, actually they are really limited (mine allows only 150MB). Today I've used only the data connection for less then 2h and it used 4MB of data (430KB received and 3.5MB transmitted) and all this time the phone never left my pocket. With the G1 on a average day it used only 2MB.
Does anyone have a similar problem?
How can I track which app is using all this data?
I'm using CyanogenMod, but I have the same problem with the default firmware.
yes i have noticed this too. but here in USA we have unlimited data. the only suggestion i say is to turn of the data connection completely. that's the only solution that i know. it seems like android 2.1 OS is constantly sending data packets, even if you dont have any apps doing anything in the background.
Sorry to hear about the small data plan options, that just stinks
That sucks! Android without data connection looses the whole point, I'll check if there's any other bigger data plan that I can afford...
Still, if anyone knows a solution, please tell me.
Look through all the default programs to check for any syncing options.
News and weather defaults to pull stories every 12 hours I believe. If you don' use that, turn it all off(especially the news).
Check your E-mail frequencies as well if you added any pop/imap addresses. The defaults are 15 minute intervals.
Those are the two major things that pull data off throug default settings.
I already tried to disable "Background data" on preferences and it didn't solve the problem, so it's not gmail, calendar or any other gapp. I'll try to disable the weather (though, since most of the data was transmitted, not received, that shouldn't be the problem)
Haven't enable Latituded in Maps have you? That sends out a **** load.
I have latitude enabled, but I has it enabled in G1 too. I'll try to disable it anyway.
Most googles apps are push so they won't have large usage. When I said email I meant the email application.
No, I didn't use the email app, I've put my POP accounts on Gmail
After killing (almost) all apps using Astro it stopped using the data connection madly. Next I'll reboot and kill the apps one by one until it stops again, if I find anything useful I'll post it here.
System panel will tell you what you network usage is as well.
As far as I know...Maps and rest of Gapps are the cause for this "problem".
I´m not worried about using too much data, as my plan runs unlimited...but about my privacy!
Google is a MONSTER we are feeding each second...the most androiders...the most bigger the "Bicho" will be
Anyway, I just turn sync and any form of geolocation OFF and things get measured...
Netdroid from the market willl help you control your data connection.
I noticed that the "battery use" thing displays the data used by each app, but it only displays the most battery consuming apps. Would this be a way to go?
It's probably an app running wild, but it can be a bit hard to find out which. I installed the chess.com app once and without _ever_ starting it I found out it had used 40MB up/down in a rather small timeframe. Immediate uninstall for programs that waste my bandwith (have a 1GB plan, so not that big of a deal, but still).
That's what I thing, but how do I find out which app it is?
Need someone to confirm this but…
If you do the *#*#4636#*#* “trick” (type this into the phone pad). Then go to Battery History, then change the top drop down box to Network Usage, this appears to list all the apps using the network and how much they are doing so. If you click on an app it shows you how much data it has sent and received.
Is this useful for the OPs question? I’m suspicious because it is under “Battery History”, but it does appear to show which applications are using the most data…?
Yes, that's exactly the point of the Service Menu (it's no trick).
On Cyanogen the option is showing in Spare Parts.
I think your **** is porn-addict and browse youporn since we have flash on your phone when it's in your pocket

Apps seem to open themselve sin the background when they have no services or function

As topic.
5.0.6 via kang
Just did a full restart so I can get the full picture, this is what is open, sorted into categories of stuff which does have services (which im happy with), those with services (which i think ive dissabled and shouldnt be there), those with no services which shouldnt be there:
services and happy:
HTC IME mod
live wallpapers
email
calendar
auto memory manager
news and weather
google mail
music
setcpu
3g watchdog
juice defender + plotter
beautiful widgets
engaget
helixlauncher
taskiller [what im looking at it with]
services and not happy:
clock
bluetooth share
cm updater (ive turned it to manual only)
bluetooth file transfer
finance (ive told it NOT to update, i dont use it really)
camera (does it need to sit open in the background?)
notes
klaxon
cachemate
appbrain market sync
mp3 store
weatherbug elite
no service and dont want:
shopsavy
police stream
Does anyone know of any program i can use to directly stop these unwanted apps to stop running every time, or any individual information on the programs?
cheers
Why do you not want them preloaded?
The main reason im being such a memory whore is because my launcher lags like crazy under 70-80mb. I have 250ish apps, and see many people with a similar setup demonstrating on youtube, and theirs is instantly responsive, as is mine >120mb free. If I leave all these apps etc free, i end up on ~40mb which makes my old nokia 6300 looks like flash gordon compared to my launcher :/
Re: Apps seem to open themselve sin the background when they
Android preloads apps into its memory for fast load times.
Just because an app is loaded does not mean it is using any resources. They're usually just sitting there idle. Android also frees up memory as needed.
That said, I've seen apps that can control what apps you never want preloaded. Search around on the market.
Looks like the slowdowns from a lack of ram still exist. I hope froyo will help with this. This problem makes the lower end android phones run slow.
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[Q] How to determine which app is draining battery

I have been looking at a few apps in the market and I'm seeing more and more suggestions that the apps are a battery drain. How are these users so sure that one particular app is killing the battery? I can't find any way to see that, only the usage setting that shows display, phone idle, wifi and stuff like that.
Are live wallpapers really a battery hog when the device is not in use (display off and no other apps running)?
I'm using Tasker and have several (ok...17) tasker widgets that manage many settings and apps. I also have a few dozen profiles that manipulate tasks that are associated with those widgets. Any consensus that Tasker is a culprit? I do use it for alot of stuff.
Rooted Aria running FR006 (Liberated with Froyo).
duckredbeard said:
I have been looking at a few apps in the market and I'm seeing more and more suggestions that the apps are a battery drain. How are these users so sure that one particular app is killing the battery? I can't find any way to see that, only the usage setting that shows display, phone idle, wifi and stuff like that.
Are live wallpapers really a battery hog when the device is not in use (display off and no other apps running)?
I'm using Tasker and have several (ok...17) tasker widgets that manage many settings and apps. I also have a few dozen profiles that manipulate tasks that are associated with those widgets. Any consensus that Tasker is a culprit? I do use it for alot of stuff.
Rooted Aria running FR006 (Liberated with Froyo).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm assuming that by 'usage settings' you mean -> settings, about phone, battery usage
If so, that should give you more of a breakdown than just what you had listed there...
Sent From My HTC Aria Using XDA App
I think you can use task manager to see what's running. It's a lot of experimentation . I'm testing itnow and it seems ok . I did a clean install of the sense Rom..( I prefer this UI) I installed no utilities no task killer no Setcpu nothing. I did not install Google voice disabled Google talk. Left background data but unchecked autosync. I put the HTC sync widget on desktop so I can hit it ever so often when I got the itch. Keeping gps WiFi bt off till needed will report back
Searched the market and found 191 task managers. Which dev are you referring to?
Sent from my Liberated Intruder using XDA app.

Preventing autolaunching of apps?

Hi, people...
I am running a rooted stock GB ROM with abyss kernel and would like to know how to prevent certain apps suddenly starting to run in the background. I have Android assistant installed and it is great for killing multiple apps and other stuff. But some apps like Latitude, Gmail, Samsung account, Yahoo finance seem to sneak from behind and when I check AA I see them running so I have to mark them and kill them. How can I completely keep them, or any other non-system app out of operation, unless I start them?
Many thanks....
Killing apps is NOT preventing apps from autorunning.
Task killers are bad because some apps will just rerun itself, wasting battery life.
I personally use Autostarts, it can prevent apps from running when starting up, or when triggered by an event like for example: Wifi connected, data connected, etc...
Be careful with it if you are trying to disable system apps as some things can break your phone.
Markuzy, thanks for the reply...
I know that killing apps isn't doing the job, but at the moment that is what I do when I check my phone and see the pest running around. I have Android assistant there I have been offered to stop stuff like Accuweather, Skype, Youtube and similar stuff from running at startup, but I will try Autostarts to see if that does better job and offer better and more comprehensive list of what can be NOT ALLOWED TO LIVE, as opposed to killing..
Don't worry, I'm not touching any of the system bits, just regular apps...
Use Titanium Backup(Donate version) and then freeze the offending apps.
You can always defrost them later

About data connectivity.

So I started using some apps like foursquare/instagram and I wanted to know If even i close them they keep using internet on the background. Since I close them (with data connectivity off) and when i enable data connectivity(long press on power button) it shows immediately some notifications of foursquare.
The main point of this question is that i want to keep data connectivity always on, cause it seems turning on and off wastes some battery, but i don't want apps leaching internet on the background.
Thanks!
Sent from my SGA using Tapatalk 2
Someone please answer me on this problem, its a bit urgent really apreciate the time and patient!
Sent from my SGA using Tapatalk 2
Someone please
NunoPitbull said:
So I started using some apps like foursquare/instagram and I wanted to know If even i close them they keep using internet on the background. Since I close them (with data connectivity off) and when i enable data connectivity(long press on power button) it shows immediately some notifications of foursquare.
The main point of this question is that i want to keep data connectivity always on, cause it seems turning on and off wastes some battery, but i don't want apps leaching internet on the background.
Thanks!
Sent from my SGA using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) data use - you could try a data manager app like https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobidia.android.mdm which will show you how much data they are using. You might find these apps are using not much of your allowance anyway.
2) task manager (e.g. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estrongs.android.taskmanager ) can stop apps running in background but most people in the know seem to advise against using things like this.
3) you could try freezing the apps with something like titanium backup and unfreeze them when you want to use them.
4) apps like foursquare or instagram don't really fall into the urgent category. Uninstall them if you don't like what they do. Everything will be fine as you will manage without them
Sent from my GT-S5830 using unleaded
121C4 said:
1) data use - you could try a data manager app like https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobidia.android.mdm which will show you how much data they are using. You might find these apps are using not much of your allowance anyway.
2) task manager (e.g. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estrongs.android.taskmanager ) can stop apps running in background but most people in the know seem to advise against using things like this.
3) you could try freezing the apps with something like titanium backup and unfreeze them when you want to use them.
4) apps like foursquare or instagram don't really fall into the urgent category. Uninstall them if you don't like what they do. Everything will be fine as you will manage without them
Sent from my GT-S5830 using unleaded
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Click to collapse
I have Wifi on and saying Messages app is using data. Wth? but oh well, untill now seems no major internet waste..
NunoPitbull said:
I have Wifi on and saying Messages app is using data. Wth? but oh well, untill now seems no major internet waste..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is OS Services?
Alternatives on rooted phones are firewalls which edit ip tables, such as droidwall.
Even if each app uses a marginal amount of data, when you have lots of apps it can become a huge expense. Most play store apps request internet access, even games and multimedia apps that don't really need it (it can add up to 5-10 mb a day just by having them installed).
dxppxd said:
Alternatives on rooted phones are firewalls which edit ip tables, such as droidwall.
Even if each app uses a marginal amount of data, when you have lots of apps it can become a huge expense. Most play store apps request internet access, even games and multimedia apps that don't really need it (it can add up to 5-10 mb a day just by having them installed).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Won't a firewall(like droidwall as u said) drain battery since it has to continusly keep running?
Cause my goal here is to try to fight the battery usage of turning data connectivy on/off ;P
NunoPitbull said:
Won't a firewall(like droidwall as u said) drain battery since it has to continusly keep running?
Cause my goal here is to try to fight the battery usage of turning data connectivy on/off ;P
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. It edits a file, ip tables, which is the native linux firewall, included in the ace.
It edits it when you enable, disable or change the firewall settings, like creating a text file, and runs on boot. The phone checks this file whenever an app asks for internet, and grants/denies the permission accordingly. Even if you don't have droidwall, the phone checks ip tables rules, droidwall is just a user friendly way to edit and control it.
dxppxd said:
No. It edits a file, ip tables, which is the native linux firewall, included in the ace.
It edits it when you enable, disable or change the firewall settings, like creating a text file, and runs on boot. The phone checks this file whenever an app asks for internet, and grants/denies the permission accordingly. Even if you don't have droidwall, the phone checks ip tables rules, droidwall is just a user friendly way to edit and control it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really thanks for this awsome program suggestion ;D I'm using as we speak, sadly I didn't found the "OS Services" taht is described on My Data Manager, and sadly they didn't replied with a email yet saying that is that...

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