new OS seems to arbitrarily close background apps

[magicsoft]

Has anyone else noticed that apps they leave running in the background don't always seem to stay open in iOS 5?

For instance, I have Words with Friends and I leave it open on a given game board. I go back to the home screen. I open the app and of course it goes right to the game board I had left it on -- most of the time.

But I've noticed that sometimes (usually after it's been in the background for a few hours at least), when I open the app, it goes through its entire startup sequence, as if it had NOT been running in the background (as if I had specifically forced it to close from the task manager).

I NEVER noticed this happen before iOS 5. Anyone else see this happening?

Andrew

 

[diamond.g]

Has anyone else noticed that apps they leave running in the background don't always seem to stay open in iOS 5?

For instance, I have Words with Friends and I leave it open on a given game board. I go back to the home screen. I open the app and of course it goes right to the game board I had left it on -- most of the time.

But I've noticed that sometimes (usually after it's been in the background for a few hours at least), when I open the app, it goes through its entire startup sequence, as if it had NOT been running in the background (as if I had specifically forced it to close from the task manager).

I NEVER noticed this happen before iOS 5. Anyone else see this happening?

Andrew

I am fairly certain it has always done that. If you look at your diagnostic logs you will see that when the device runs low on memory it closes applications that aren't currently being ran. I believe it tries to close the application that are consuming the most RAM, but am uncertain.

 

[r2shyyou]

Has anyone else noticed that apps they leave running in the background don't always seem to stay open in iOS 5?

For instance, I have Words with Friends and I leave it open on a given game board. I go back to the home screen. I open the app and of course it goes right to the game board I had left it on -- most of the time.

But I've noticed that sometimes (usually after it's been in the background for a few hours at least), when I open the app, it goes through its entire startup sequence, as if it had NOT been running in the background (as if I had specifically forced it to close from the task manager).

I NEVER noticed this happen before iOS 5. Anyone else see this happening?

Andrew

I've noticed this but I don't think it's arbitrary, per se. The below is from another thread:

There isn't an arbitary limit for now long Apps can stay suspended. Instead Apps will stay in memory until iOS needs the memory for something else. The 10 minute limit comes in with Task Completion, where an App can request extra time to complete a task like an upload or download.

 

[darbyclash34]

iOS has always done this, but it does feel like it's more aggressive in iOS 5. It actually is a good thing in my opinion, seems like it leads the device to feel faster most of the time.

 

[magicsoft]

wasn't aware of that

I wasn't aware that it would do that due to memory, although it certainly makes sense. However, it still seems odd to me because this never happened to me before iOS 5 and I don't believe I am running any additional apps lately.

But thanks for the replies and info.

A

 

[iWaldo]

I've noticed the same thing. Background apps seem to get quit more often.

My best guess is that iOS 5 or some task specific to it is using more memory than iOS 4 used to.

 

[Xenomorph]

iOS has always done this, but it does feel like it's more aggressive in iOS 5. It actually is a good thing in my opinion, seems like it leads the device to feel faster most of the time.

Good!

On 256 Meg devices you have to close things more often. Waiting for the OS to close apps results in extra long waits when you least expect them (like opening the Camera).

 

[Daveoc64]

Definitely check the log.

Safari is the main culprit on my iPhone 4 for causing a low memory situation.