[Q] freezing apps and privacy - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777

This is my first post. I have been contemplating freezing some apps through titanium backup. Ive notice that apps like pulse news and bloomberg run in the background when i never opened them in the first place. I would think that that's unnecessary strain on my battery and I want to freeze them. But if i freeze an app does that mean that I will need to unfreeze it in order to ever use it? If so how can i prevent an app from running in the background without completely disabling its use? My second question pertains to app permissions. A lot of the apps I download have permissions that seem a little too intrusive on my privacy. Is there a way I can store files so that no application has access to it? Again this is my first post. I did some research to see if these questions had been answered and I didnt see much. So thank you and pardon my ignorance.

The only way to effectively stop an app from running is to freeze it. And a frozen app cannot be run.
And yes the app constantly running does affect the battery. That's the main frustration with bloat. It'd be one thing if they just sat there, but they regularly run on their own. Most alternatives on the market to them don't run by themselves nearly as much.
By far the majority of permissions are not as bad as they sound. Contact the developer to see why the permissions are required. The reasons may surprise you.
What apps are you concerned about?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App

Related

[Q] News app misbehaves... can it be disabled?

I installed Watchdog Lite on my Tbolt and it constantly tells me that the News app is overstepping its bounds CPU-wise. I tell the monitor to kill the app but it starts back up again of its own accord.
Is there any way to disable this app without rooting my phone? Or even WITH rooting my phone? I'm not even using it anymore.
major_works said:
I installed Watchdog Lite on my Tbolt and it constantly tells me that the News app is overstepping its bounds CPU-wise. I tell the monitor to kill the app but it starts back up again of its own accord.
Is there any way to disable this app without rooting my phone? Or even WITH rooting my phone? I'm not even using it anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you are rooted, titanium backup and 'freeze' the app or delete it completely.
but i would also check to make sure under sync settings it isnt set to sync.
You can try startup auditor and disable the app... if its a system app, I wouldnt touch it.
Thanks to you both for the suggestions. I've made sure it isn't syncing, and I installed the free version of Startup Auditor and sicced it on the app. We'll see what happens...
either uninstall it, or root and use titanium back up to freeze it.
Just to follow up, the News app hasn't been an issue since I took those measures earlier today. Thanks to all!
just wondering, what kind of readings were you getting from the app?
magneticzero said:
just wondering, what kind of readings were you getting from the app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was basically telling me that the app was exceeding CPU-usage limits. I don't recall noting quantitative information. Didn't really care, I just didn't want it sucking up battery for no reason.
what is the news app called in /system/app/ i cannot find it.
Dunno... I can't find it either.
Htc changed it now... Try htcgreader.apk **backup incase you come across a problem** i remember on my incredible there might be some sense stuff that relies on that apk....just saying..
yeah, like the weather.apk is required to view specific dates in the calander
Hi all...TBolt newbie here. I think the "news" app is bloatware as it was already installed with many other apps on my Verizon TBolt. Like an idiot, I subscribed to several news sources and now cannot remove them and the app continues to ask at numerous random times for more sources. I've tried killing the task with ES Task Manager, but it keeps re-initializing itself. Hopefully there's some way of getting rid of this intrusive piece of crapware, short of rooting or custom ROM, which I have no idea how to do!

Preventing apps from auto starting

hi all, im an owner of a sam.charge. I use the app called "System" and it lists about a dozen apps that are stored in my cache or that are using memory when I have not innitiaited the service or app...
I'm most familiar with computers so I'll relate it to that; is there some type of command line that I can use to stop some of these apps from auto start and being stored. For instance on windows you can 'msconfig' what programs are allowed to start on boot up.
Here is a list of apps that I want to stop: AccuWeather.com, Android Booster, Google Voice, HeyTell, Amazon's Appstore, Market, Music, etc.
Most are cached/ inactive but none the less in my task manager when freeing up memory when I notice things to be lagging I'd imagine these to be guilty. Android Booster always lists these as killed apps as well when optimizing...
Im familiar somewhat with how android works being that it often fills a large portion of your memory with what it wants to and frees space as it is needed but these apps for me are rarely used...
Im big on battery life being Im in and out of Sales accounts and rely on my phone heavily so I dont want these things running in the background sucking up resources. Not to mention I like a snappy phone...
If anyone could educate me on this topic Id really appreciate it... I may be mistaken on a few things so call me out on it, since im sure I am... Also, I know their are app freezers and applications you can program to kill apps at a set interval but again I would like the least amount of garbage running as I can
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk
Some of the basic services are must to be initiated/running all the time such as launcher, keyboard, google voice, market, etc.. so as to run your phone smoothly . This is the default setting of android os. And anyway why do you want to close/stop the services case restarting services uses more battery than kepping them running on the memory ....
mlm2588 said:
hi all, im an owner of a sam.charge. I use the app called "System" and it lists about a dozen apps that are stored in my cache or that are using memory when I have not innitiaited the service or app...
I'm most familiar with computers so I'll relate it to that; is there some type of command line that I can use to stop some of these apps from auto start and being stored. For instance on windows you can 'msconfig' what programs are allowed to start on boot up.
Here is a list of apps that I want to stop: AccuWeather.com, Android Booster, Google Voice, HeyTell, Amazon's Appstore, Market, Music, etc.
Most are cached/ inactive but none the less in my task manager when freeing up memory when I notice things to be lagging I'd imagine these to be guilty. Android Booster always lists these as killed apps as well when optimizing...
Im familiar somewhat with how android works being that it often fills a large portion of your memory with what it wants to and frees space as it is needed but these apps for me are rarely used...
Im big on battery life being Im in and out of Sales accounts and rely on my phone heavily so I dont want these things running in the background sucking up resources. Not to mention I like a snappy phone...
If anyone could educate me on this topic Id really appreciate it... I may be mistaken on a few things so call me out on it, since im sure I am... Also, I know their are app freezers and applications you can program to kill apps at a set interval but again I would like the least amount of garbage running as I can
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you find apps that you don't use, you can use a program to freeze them. Just search for freeze in the market. I personally use a free app called System Tuner. Freezing prevent them from starting up and therefore you cannot use them, but later on you can un-freeze them if you need to.
Optimize toolbox
I use this one, had a bunch of other features.https://market.android.com/details?id=cn.opda.a.phonoalbumshoushou&feature=search_result
Thanks all for the feedback...
To reply to the first response; I have read that about battery life. That, the more you kill apps and reopen them that it takes longer for the app to start up and thus sucking up battery life... I probably should not have mentioned battery life in my post being that I have a car charger and that it contradicts what im trying to accomplish (going over my post, it was stupid of me given what you just mentioned). Also, I'm not so much concerned with market apps or google voice as I am about the apps I installed myself. Those ones are the ones that bother me.
To the other posts thanks for the recommendations I will like into those options. I'm just trying to prevent extra apps from running in the background so freezing them is a last resort.
I'm looking for something that I can type in terminal possibly on program into the OS or app itself to keep it from auto starting... possibly a command line?!
Any developers input? Can this even be done. I'm still very much a beginner but its not beyond my comprehension to do something like this... I know its different but I play around with linux, web design, c++ stuff so if you post directions I can follow smoothly our atleast figure it out if you point me in the right direction
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk
It's not exactly what your asking for but have you tried Gemini App Manager:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.seasmind.android.gmappmgr
You can use it to disable/re-enable an app's autorun settings. When you first open it it will list all user apps currently in memory. Clicking menu then expert mode will give you a list of all apps. Long press an app then click configure autorun.
Just be careful with changing the autorun settings of system apps like market.
"preventing apps from autostarting"
I like this topic a lot!
I think the question(s) and "assumptions" the OP holds are all valid. So I'd really like to hear the answer to the actual question, not a spew of why the question isn't valid.
How do you stop apps from starting up on their own? (like microsofts msconfig)
Pretty simple question and I cannot find the answer! I've been in software for many year and I'm rather stunned by the responses people are giving - which basically say "who cares, android O/S handles it for you".
Well, lets face it:
*If* the user didn't call for the app, and had no desire to use it, then the "system" loading it even ONCE, is one too many.
*If* the app is a DESIRED app, (OR device required), *BUT* uses data - then if the user didn't want to use it; "yet" - then thats DATA & BATTERY life --> **WASTED**
If the user suspects the APP is misbehaving; one sure fire way would be to SEE it running, when they didn't ask it to!
If you are pure paranoid, or simply want extreme app control....
The kinds of answers people are giving is truly along the the lines of "we dont know, but you're silly for caring"
SOYLENT GREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:cyclops:
jr67 said:
It's not exactly what your asking for but have you tried Gemini App Manager:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.seasmind.android.gmappmgr
You can use it to disable/re-enable an app's autorun settings. When you first open it it will list all user apps currently in memory. Clicking menu then expert mode will give you a list of all apps. Long press an app then click configure autorun.
Just be careful with changing the autorun settings of system apps like market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm going to test this out too! And I'll post success if it does well!!!

App to Blacklist Processes?

After searching for weeks, the only 'blacklisting apps' I can find are designed to blacklist certain numbers.
Is there currently an app where you can search your currently running processes, and add a selected process to a list that will not automatically start running unless manually overridden?
There are WAY too many apps that I rarely use but want to keep, or cannot remove, that keep popping up and slowing down my performance, and i want a way to manually clean up, and keep things tidy.
Thanks in advance for any input!
Anybody? I find it hard to believe that there is no way to do this with all of the experienced people on this platform... Im aware that you can FREEZE procceses and apps with Titanium Backup, but I'd rather not pay for that if i dont have to...
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rs.autorun&hl=en
I've never used it, but I think that's what you want.
I use Bloat Freezer Free and find it excellent.
Should be easy enough to find on android market.
Autostarts
Accidentally sent from my Google Nexus S using XDA Premium

[HELP] Trying to find a solution to apps running in background. Any way to stop them?

First of all, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BILLIONS OF TIMES, SO BEFORE YOU REPLY WITH "Search the forums" READ THIS.
I have been looking for WEEKS trying to find an answer to this,and no answer given on any forums are what I am looking for.
I have an android phone (sidekick 4g) and there are apps that run in the background when not necessary. Now I know some stuff need to be aways running for the phone to function. But I also know that apps like Facebook, Market, Gmail, T-mobile's Media Store, MyYearBook, Maps, Aptoide, etc don't. When I force close them, they just start up a few seconds later. I've tried task killers and got the same result. I've read the "Why you shouldn't use a task killer" articles but everyone keeps saying different things about it so I'm confused.
Like many others, I want my battery to last at least half way through the day. The above mentioned apps (and some others) DRAIN THE BATTERY WHEN RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND WHEN I DON'T WANT THEM TO.
Please does anyone know of a way to fix this?
My phone is rooted, if that matters.
Also, "freezing" the apps don't help cause then I can't use them when I actually want to.
Thank you very much in advance anyone who can help me out!
magnoidgoat said:
First of all, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BILLIONS OF TIMES, SO BEFORE YOU REPLY WITH "Search the forums" READ THIS.
I have been looking for WEEKS trying to find an answer to this,and no answer given on any forums are what I am looking for.
I have an android phone (sidekick 4g) and there are apps that run in the background when not necessary. Now I know some stuff need to be aways running for the phone to function. But I also know that apps like Facebook, Market, Gmail, T-mobile's Media Store, MyYearBook, Maps, Aptoide, etc don't. When I force close them, they just start up a few seconds later. I've tried task killers and got the same result. I've read the "Why you shouldn't use a task killer" articles but everyone keeps saying different things about it so I'm confused.
Like many others, I want my battery to last at least half way through the day. The above mentioned apps (and some others) DRAIN THE BATTERY WHEN RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND WHEN I DON'T WANT THEM TO.
Please does anyone know of a way to fix this?
My phone is rooted, if that matters.
Also, "freezing" the apps don't help cause then I can't use them when I actually want to.
Thank you very much in advance anyone who can help me out!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Applications running, doesn't mean cpu cycles are being used. Sitting in memory is no different then a song sitting on your sdcard. Your issue with the battery has to do with processes using cpu cycles. If you have applications that update, force updates manually.
Just having apps in memory isn't your issue.
Use the features built into the os, find out what apps are causing the problem. Look at the settings. If you have looked at your settings, then you have one of three choices. Open bugreports with the application developers, don't install the apps causing problems, or upgrade your phone.
lithid-cm said:
Applications running, doesn't mean cpu cycles are being used. Sitting in memory is no different then a song sitting on your sdcard. Your issue with the battery has to do with processes using cpu cycles. If you have applications that update, force updates manually.
Just having apps in memory isn't your issue.
Use the features built into the os, find out what apps are causing the problem. Look at the settings. If you have looked at your settings, then you have one of three choices. Open bugreports with the application developers, don't install the apps causing problems, or upgrade your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you that makes sense.
I would think those apps would use battery because it pushes notifications for the app (like new messages and stuff). Does that not use battery?
magnoidgoat said:
Thank you that makes sense.
I would think those apps would use battery because it pushes notifications for the app (like new messages and stuff). Does that not use battery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does use battery because to process the notification it needs to use the cpu. If you force applications to update manually. Your batter would be better. Check into battery saving tuts. All that information has already been discussed plenty. Won't change in this scenario either.
The more apps you have updating information the more data and notifications are being processed.
lithid-cm said:
It does use battery because to process the notification it needs to use the cpu. If you force applications to update manually. Your batter would be better. Check into battery saving tuts. All that information has already been discussed plenty. Won't change in this scenario either.
The more apps you have updating information the more data and notifications are being processed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you!
Also, I have another problem, if you know anything about this kinda stuff. The Facebook app icon just (like 10 minutes ago) disappeared from my home screen, and it's not in the app drawer either. I uninstalled and reinstalled and still having the problem. I can only open it by manually searching "facebook" in the google search widget and that's when it gives me the option to open the app. It's really bizzare and I have no idea what's going on.
Sent from my SGH-T839 using xda premium
magnoidgoat said:
Thank you!
Also, I have another problem, if you know anything about this kinda stuff. The Facebook app icon just (like 10 minutes ago) disappeared from my home screen, and it's not in the app drawer either. I uninstalled and reinstalled and still having the problem. I can only open it by manually searching "facebook" in the google search widget and that's when it gives me the option to open the app. It's really bizzare and I have no idea what's going on.
Sent from my SGH-T839 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like a issue with the rom or launcher. Try installing another launcher from the market and see if the application is installed. If its there with another launcher then its your stock launcher, if its not then its the rom.
lithid-cm said:
Sounds like a issue with the rom or launcher. Try installing another launcher from the market and see if the application is installed. If its there with another launcher then its your stock launcher, if its not then its the rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Worked thank you!

Prevent app from running in background?

Been trying to figure this out for a while now. I have been able to fix this with a number of apps, but there are some apps that are just frustrating to deal with.
I'm wondering what exactly can keep an app running in the background, regardless of what efforts your take to disable it?
If I don't use an app much and don't want it running, I normally freeze the app. If it is an app I tend to use a bit more frequently, I take other measures such as an app manager that allows me to be extremely precise as to how and when it should run such as on startup, battery level, configuration change, application change, etc. This is a pain in the A** though and I really don't have the time to do this for every application.
With that said, I'm wondering what other methods, other than freezing and the other mentioned above, I can take to prevent an app from running in the background?
I will give you a perfect example...
There are some third-party apps I have downloaded that I know I will use occasionally. One example is CamScanner. For the life of me, I can't get this app to stop running in the background without extensive efforts mentioned above. No matter what I do, it just pops up again in running applications.
How can I ensure the app will not run in background while not resorting to freezing the app, which will prevent me from quickly accessing it when needed?
Some clarification on this would be greatly appreciated...
Thank you,
--mike
pookieguy said:
Been trying to figure this out for a while now. I have been able to fix this with a number of apps, but there are some apps that are just frustrating to deal with.
I'm wondering what exactly can keep an app running in the background, regardless of what efforts your take to disable it?
If I don't use an app much and don't want it running, I normally freeze the app. If it is an app I tend to use a bit more frequently, I take other measures such as an app manager that allows me to be extremely precise as to how and when it should run such as on startup, battery level, configuration change, application change, etc. This is a pain in the A** though and I really don't have the time to do this for every application.
With that said, I'm wondering what other methods, other than freezing and the other mentioned above, I can take to prevent an app from running in the background?
I will give you a perfect example...
There are some third-party apps I have downloaded that I know I will use occasionally. One example is CamScanner. For the life of me, I can't get this app to stop running in the background without extensive efforts mentioned above. No matter what I do, it just pops up again in running applications.
How can I ensure the app will not run in background while not resorting to freezing the app, which will prevent me from quickly accessing it when needed?
Some clarification on this would be greatly appreciated...
Thank you,
--mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
freezing is your only bet. definitely a pain but the built in tasking doesn't apply to all apps,especially facebook. can try alternative apps but if none exist then you still need to freeze. I unfreeze a certain batch of apps when I wake up and freeze them before bed. during the day i go along with what i'm running. i'm tryin to link special batches to say toggles or tasking with tasker to make mornings and bed work faster
sent from tapatalk on my htc rezound
Use something like Gemini App Manager. Those programs likely use triggers to auto-run. Gemini shows you the triggers applications use so you can stop them if you don't want them running whenever they want.
I use AppQuarantine for those issues. you can put widgets on the desk that let you unfreeze and start apps with one click.
sent from the desert with xda app
Thanks guys,
I will try some of these options out.
Was really trying to do this without freezing apps though. I can do it through ROM Toolbox but it is quite tedious, as this awesome app has so many options on how to handle the application. Trying to find shortcuts...
Thanks,
pookieguy said:
Thanks guys,
I will try some of these options out.
Was really trying to do this without freezing apps though. I can do it through ROM Toolbox but it is quite tedious, as this awesome app has so many options on how to handle the application. Trying to find shortcuts...
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried Autostarts? There's many scenarios an app takes into account before it'll run. You can disable the app from running in each category so the only time its running is when you open it. Unless of course you don't kill it when you leave the app. Its hard to explain but when you look at the app you'll know what I mean
Sent from my SGH-I997 using Tapatalk
.
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