One of the key features of Android is multi-tasking. ICS has improved that by placing a dedicated multi-tasking button and improving on the multi-tasking interface.
Unfortunately, HTC seems to have broken Android multi-tasking with the One X. HTC has implemented very aggressive memory management that once you switch to a different application, the previous application you are using is deleted from memory. The only apps that remain active in the background are HTC built in apps.
This is similar to the approach Apple's iOS and Windows Phone 7 takes with multi-taking. Only a few apps are allowed to multi-task in the background.
Android normally manages multi-tasking by allowing apps stay in memory. Apps idling in the background stored in the memory does not consume battery life. When there is too much running in the background, it flushest out the oldest apps from the memory leaving the more recent apps running. This allows the user to switch between previous launched applications without reloading them every time.
With the HTC One X is kills most apps when a new one is launched. This means when you go back to an old app, it has to launch it again. This process of killing apps and having to launch them from scratch consumes more battery life.
wrsdunkie posted two videos on YouTube which shows that HTC One X multi-tasking is pretty much non-existent.
As you can see in the video, previously loaded apps have to reload their data when the user goes back to them. I am a bit surprised this was not caught by the reviews.
HTC has responded that this is the way that multi-tasking is supposed to work on the HTC One X. So basically, it is not broken, it is a feature. I am wondering whether this is a HTC One X issue or a Sense issue, and if full Android multi-tasking is implemented on the HTC One S and the One V.
As a counterpoint, this may not be a bad thing. Once I left the Sentinel III game running in the background on my Android phone and only realized it when I was surprised to see the battery life meter on my phone drop drastically.
What it your take on this issue. Is limited multi-taking better than full multi-tasking?
As a counterpoint, this may not be a bad thing. Once I left the Sentinel III game running in the background on my Android phone and only realized it when I was surprised to see the battery life meter on my phone drop drastically.
What it your take on this issue. Is limited multi-taking better than full multi-tasking?
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