Ask NerdGirl: The Task Killer Debate, You Too Can Make An App, Make My Phone Do Everything!
by n3rdg1rl
May 13, 2010 7:35 AM –
I want to start out by saying THANK YOU! I am shocked at the response to my little column! I’m so glad I’m helping people and I’m so honored that you are all taking the time to read this! I’m so happy about all this it’s not even funny! So let’s get started!
You said: “To speed the phone up, of course use an app like Advanced Task Killer. This will stop all those annoying background apps from running.”
But I heard that not only is an App Killer not needed, it could actually be counter-productive:
http://geekfor.me/faq/you-shouldnt-be-using-a-task-killer-with-android/
I’m confused! Is there an App Killer/Not App Killer controversy?
Here is another log for the fire:
http://androinica.com/2010/05/07/google-and-cyanogen-comments-imply-task-killermanager-apps-are-pointless/
I have heard this in several places and I’ve been part of this discussion on many boards myself. Yes, it’s true that Android manages its memory well and knows what apps should be running and which shouldn’t IN MOST CASES.
Developers make these apps. Developers are human and come with varying levels of knowledge. While most applications are coded well enough, there are ones that really, REALLY aren’t. They will just sit there thinking that they constantly need to have your GPS finding where you are. A good example of this is the older version of Waze. It wouldn’t actually close when I told it to and the only way to get it to stop locating me was to kill the process manually. They have since fixed the issue.
I am still an advocate of app killers as long as you know what you’re killing. You can absolutely kill processes that are necessary for your phone to complete all the functions you want it to which is why I normally pick and choose what to kill.
As with everything, as long as you use your head, app killers can work for you and not against you.
[I’m] asking about creating apps, or making, or programming apps. I’m sure it’s not an easy task, but I’m so interested in creating them. I was also curious that if that were not immediately possible, is there a place to go where ideas are given for apps? I’m quite the brainstorming fool, and I have a few genius ideas to share. I’m not in it for the money, and I’m sure there are plenty of people who are, but I have some really useful app ideas that if I could not create on my own, that I would like to get on the market somehow. Should I make friends with computer programmers instead?
First, I have to say I hold developers and all software engineers in the highest regard. When I went through college, I dreaded every single programming class I had to take. I just don’t have the patience. I was good at what I had to do, but I couldn’t imagine doing it day in and day out for the next 50 years. I love my hardware too much.
That being said, Android programs are written in Java. If you know Java, jump right in and download the SDK containing all the tools and APIs you need to get started. Otherwise, you have two options.
Option 1: Learn Java. If you have a working knowledge of C and / or C++ you’re on your way. They have a similar syntax as Java. For example, the traditional “Hello, world!” program in Java looks something like this:
// Outputs "Hello, world!" and then exits
public class HelloWorld {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello, world!");
}
}
Yes, there is some spacing errors in there, but WordPress won’t let me put the spaces in before “public static void” and “System.out”. And before anyone asks, I had to look that up. I don’t remember a drop of code from my Java class! Sorry Prof. J!
Option 2: If you have ideas you can throw them out there. There are plenty of forums for you to post on that are dedicated to just listing new ideas for apps. One of them is http://androidcommunity.com/forums/f44/. But if you do a Google search for “Android app ideas” you’ll find a ton more!
If your heart is set on designing them yourself, ask for help! Reach for the stars! You’re a stronger person than I! There are plenty of resources and tons of people who are more than willing to help you along!
I can’t wait to one day be reviewing one of your apps!
Is there an app or widget by chance that allows me to pull list in from sidebar on Samsung Moment? Thank u. Kris m
Well Kris, I’m not sure what you mean by the sidebar…or list…but what I’m assuming you are asking about is how to make the Menu on the bottom come in from the side. Now we’re back to one the most popular Android topics of all time, ROOTING!
I, myself, have not rooted my phone. I’m thinking about doing it now that I’m writing this column so I can better help people with their rooting questions. I asked my rooting buddies because I wanted to make sure of the answer. By the looks of things there is no ROM made at the moment that moves the Menu to the side. I could have missed something though and I’ll keep you posted if I find one.
For those new to rooting, a ROM is the core of your Android operating system. It is what allows (and denies) you to do pretty much everything that you do with your phone. All versions of Android have a ROM, whether they are rooted or not. 1.5 (also known as Cupcake) is a ROM. 2.1 (also known as Éclair) is a ROM. So is CyanogenMod, one of the more common ROMs for rooting.
~n3rdg1rl