Android memory allocation

[gerasmus]

I own a (rooted) Viewpad 7 with Android 2.2, 512Mb Ram which was all the device had when I bought it. It's memory expansion slots only serves as data additional storage. I frequently run into memory errors or "not enough memory to update/install" apps. I am using apps2SD, cache flusher apps etc.

Questions:
1. Are the "out of memory" errors a common problem for devices with Android (2.2), 512Mb RAM, even if the device have a built-in 2,4,8Gb Ram like the Flytouch/Netsurfer (China models) ?
2. Does devices with Android 2.3 or higher handle memory better than v2.2 ?
3. Do the 512mb devices, such as Flytouch and the Netsurfer also suffer from the memory errors in the sense that one can only install a limited amount of apps (and all the fustrations I've mentioned earlier) ?

I've seen many a device advertised, like the Flytouch 3/4/5, or the 'Netsurfer' at PEP Stores for R2 000. The Netsurfer and Flytouch have android 2.2 with 512Mb Ram + 4Gb+ memory. I don't want to buy one of these devices only to be plagued by the exact same issues of my current Viewpad 7! I know one can get custom roms but I would like a device without the need to root it.

 

[froot]

There will be two problems that you could be referring to (I'm not sure which, so here goes):

1. You are running out of RAM when opening applications. There is no real fix for this.
2. You are running out of on-device memory (storage). Some applications can ONLY be installed on the on-device storage, even with apps2sd.

 

[gerasmus]

There will be two problems that you could be referring to (I'm not sure which, so here goes):

1. You are running out of RAM when opening applications.

Yes, I am running out of base RAM, not SD card memory. I use apps2sd and app cache cleaner to free up as much Ram possible. The standard apps that came with the device eats up almost 256mb immediately after booting!

Q: Is running out of 512Mb base Ram a Viewpad 7 (Android 2.2) specific problem ?
Q Is running out of base memory a general problem for any device with 512mb base memory and Android 2.2 ?
Q: Does later versions (of Android v2.3 onwards) treat base memory and expended (SD Card) memory as complete a unit ? In other words, as long as one has enough free memory can one install as many apps as you want ?
Q: Are memory errors the most common Android issue ?

I remember decades ago the old Commodore Amiga came with a 'base' memory known as Chip Ram. This limited the machine's graphical capabilities, games used (onboard) chip memory for gfx and expanded memory for everything else. Apps like word processors on old Amiga treated onboard & expanded memory as a unit. Way back before Windows 95 PC's had more or less the same problem with the 640k base memory.

 

[Elimentals]

Actually there is 3 Memory phases so to speak

OS/System RAM
(Where programs run and load to when open), most of the devices only have 512 on recently have some of the top end devices moved up to 1024 (You should not need to upgrade this as the OS kill/suspend aps like the launcher or such to allow the foreground application to run. (Reason new phone add more is to allow for faster swapping when applications close)

Storage RAM
(where the OS and other applications get stored/installed), This one, can only be solved by moving your aps and cache to the SD card. Seeing that you running 2.2 it could prove a problem and might need Aps2sd+ to sort out the problem. Upgrade to 2.3 will go a long way to help you here, also for the very adventurous reformatting system partitions and so on can help.

SD Card
Where you move apps to when installed or what aps2sd us when you added a ext4 partition.

Onto your problem, only reparition/moving applications to SDCard or Upgrade can help, I have a feeling your Aps2SD might not be working properly? Can you still work the tablet as normal when the card has been removed?

Edit: Also how big did you make the ext4 folder on the SD Card? and how full is it, ie how many aps have you got installed?

 

[CranialBlaze]

You need a quick lesson in linux and android, the out of memory error is not ram is storage. Linux does not run "out" of ram. Unlike windows, linux is designed to utilize most, even all available ram and actually memory manages quite well.

Every advanced android user, google themselves and any serious linux user will tell you that using apps to free up ram actually do far more harm than google. I personally used to do it when I first got my phone and after some research found out the info above. Less "free" RAM on linux is a good thing, where windows slows down with less free RAM, linux essentially speeds up, less free ram means more ready-to-go apps, which means faster response time when opening common used apps and overall noticeable performance boost. I have seen the most lag come out of my droid when I have 150mb free ram, 35mb free ram and its speeding off like a bullet.

You need to check your system partition which is the one that its complaining about when it errors, the system partition is the one where all your OS stuff goes too as well as apps by default, older phone had very small system partitions, my mothers phone has the same problem, have 8GB free on the memory card, but the system partition was so small that after OS it had about 130mb free and the next OS update shrunk that even further.
Whatsapp, Viber, quick pick, paper camera, USSD checker and notifier pro completely fills it up, there is not enough free to update any of the installed apps, if you root your device you may be able to play with the partitions, never tried otherwise with root level access you can remove manufacturer bloat ware and system apps you never use or simply move more apps over to the SD card.

Upgrading your OS will not help at all unless you first increase the partition size, if you can upgrade to 2.3 it will simply take more space away causing the problem to appear more regularly.

If you want the best performance out of your device stop using those crap app killers, all you are doing is slowing your phone down.

 

[gerasmus]

Actually there is 3 Memory phases so to speak

SD Card
Where you move apps to when installed or what aps2sd us when you added a ext4 partition.

Onto your problem, only reparition/moving applications to SDCard or Upgrade can help, I have a feeling your Aps2SD might not be working properly? Can you still work the tablet as normal when the card has been removed?

Edit: Also how big did you make the ext4 folder on the SD Card? and how full is it, ie how many aps have you got installed?

Thanks for your responses. I have the latest updates from apps2SD and all apps that can be installed on SD has done so. I can't exacly remember the file format of my SD card, I think it is still the standard FAT32 as I got it from the box. In the meantime I've found a web link on how to configure a custom rom The website is www.addictivetips.com (excellent website by the way). Have a look at the Addicitive tips 150 Best Windows and Android apps of 2011 (there's also a 2010 list).
When I sell my Viewpad 7 I will ensure that I buy a tablet with at least 1Gb ram and no less than Android 2.3

 

[gerasmus]

You need a quick lesson in linux and android, the out of memory error is not ram is storage. Linux does not run "out" of ram. Unlike windows, linux is designed to utilize most, even all available ram and actually memory manages quite well.

If you want the best performance out of your device stop using those crap app killers, all you are doing is slowing your phone down.

Thanks for your tip, I'm in the process of investigating how I can reformat the SD card into ext4 filesystem. I think the 8Gb SDcard is currently still using the standard file system as when I bought it.

I bought the Viewpad 7 tablet in den Haag, NL in Aug 2011. I thought it was a bargain. Before I bought it I had absolutely zero knowledge about Android versions, it was only 140 Eur (with 3G, GPS, etc). Google is my friend, I found a website that describes a method for one to modify the default rom/software. Now I know, buying the cheapest means buying double.

 

[TheBadMadMan]

If you want to literally SUPERCHARGE your phone (any Android device), use this memory tweaking & management script.

[Script][U9RC7]THE iPhone Killer -= V6 SuperCharger =- Lag & Redraw Fix! Last Longer! - XDA forums

I actually works, even on my super fast SGS2 it made it even more snappy.

What's it do?:

It makes your phone FAST... super snappy with better multitasking!
It rearranges and fixes the OOM Groupings and Priorites and lowmemorykiller values.

So basically, it's a COMPLETE MEMORY MANAGEMENT FIX!

It's the ONLY one of it's kind

NO LAUNCHER REDRAWS, faster than ever, multitasking is better... why?
Because it works with the lowmemorykiller and letting it work the way it's meant to work.

Also, because of the rearrangement, it works the same on all roms!
The problem with using minfree tweakers like AMM or AKMO is that it doesn't work the same on all roms.
Secondary apps may be in slot 3 on some roms but in slot 5 in others!
That's why you hear people comment "I tried AKMO but it didn't do anything..."
Most likely it didn't do anything because the apps weren't sitting where they were expected to be.

So fasten your seat belts and enjoy the ride!

Some user comments:

Memorable User Comments:

"Feels like I have a new phone!"
"V6 is one the best things to come to android."
"Supercharger rocks bro, I'm actually mad I waited so long to do it..."
"I wish I hadn't upgraded yet"
"Now I can wait to upgrade",
"I was about to throw this phone through the wall",
"I was about to return it but now I don't have to",
"This cured my phone of cancer!"
"Oh man... just applied the V6 Supercharger Script by ZeppelinRox on my Android.. I think it fixed everything..",
"I can't live without this!",
"My phone is better than new!",
"my phones has turned god mode on or somthing",
"I never notice this at all, until I flash a new rom and realize its not there anymore lol."

Important Note:

FREE RAM IS NOT WASTED! - Read Linux Memory Consumption
...................... That article TOTALLY confirms what I've been saying!

To Summarize: Article: "Performance degradation occurs when "Absolute Free Memory" (includes Cached RAM) decreases."
...................... Me: "Lag happens when free ram goes below the 'lag level'"

Same thing, different language.

 

[370z]

As above, you're confusing RAM with internal storage CranialBlaze was spot on there.

 

[CranialBlaze]

If you want to literally SUPERCHARGE your phone (any Android device), use this memory tweaking & management script.

[Script][U9RC7]THE iPhone Killer -= V6 SuperCharger =- Lag & Redraw Fix! Last Longer! - XDA forums

I actually works, even on my super fast SGS2 it made it even more snappy.

Trust me, try this, best advice I have every taken. My phone feels like it just got upgraded.

 

[mercurial]

I'm gonna disagree with CranialBlaze. I've experienced very slow performance when my phone had less RAM and performed a whole lot better when it had more RAM. I'm well aware of some articles stating the opposite but my experiences tells me that more RAM = faster performance. I use task killers all the time and I've never, ever had any issues.

 

[CranialBlaze]

I'm gonna disagree with CranialBlaze. I've experienced very slow performance when my phone had less RAM and performed a whole lot better when it had more RAM. I'm well aware of some articles stating the opposite but my experiences tells me that more RAM = faster performance. I use task killers all the time and I've never, ever had any issues.

Each to he's own, but the only time I ever have more than like 40/45mb free ram is the first 30 seconds after boot. I have not killed a task in over a year and never experience any lag even after running for daya on end.

My personal experience and the hundreds of articles and expert opinions and the fact that google specifically does not put in exit buttons in thier apps for that exact reasons.

There are 2 articlea referenced to it in the iphone killer thread link. Your phonea lagging cause you keep killing apps insteas of letting the memory manage learn your habbits. Your problems are of your own creation.

Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2 Beta-4

 

[mercurial]

Each to he's own, but the only time I ever have more than like 40/45mb free ram is the first 30 seconds after boot. I have not killed a task in over a year and never experience any lag even after running for daya on end.

My personal experience and the hundreds of articles and expert opinions and the fact that google specifically does not put in exit buttons in thier apps for that exact reasons.

There are 2 articlea referenced to it in the iphone killer thread link. Your phonea lagging cause you keep killing apps insteas of letting the memory manage learn your habbits. Your problems are of your own creation.

Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2 Beta-4

A bit of an exaggeration but let's agree to disagree.