The next version of Android, Google’s mobile operating system, is already a reality. Android 14 is already upon us and we can install it, at least the first developer preview. Google continues to work for improve your own system Along with additions like app cloning, it will also prevent us from installing insecure and outdated apps.
A few months ago we posted our wishes for Android 14, but what we didn’t consider was something that urgently needs an overhaul: Closing apps is very confusing.
The History of Closing Apps on Android
Until Android 12, we had two methods to close apps. Either we would drag the app from the recent apps view or we would force close it. As we know, it is not always good to force close an app suddenly. Besides the effect is different
By swiping an application we tell the system that we are not interested, the force close immediately stops the task and all background processes so that some functions are lostespecially in applications such as music or others that send notifications.
With Android 13, another way to close applications has been added to the two existing up to that moment. Now, in the quick settings and notifications curtain, we see an active app notice. This list only shows apps that are running a process in the foreground, however, if we press Stop we will stop the application activity. It has a similar effect to force close, but not as aggressive: the application will be able to restart faster.
Android needs only one method to close apps
As we have been able to verify, these methods only create confusion while the reality for the user is that don’t end up understanding how the system behaves
Android 14 will not bring major changes, the system has reached a high degree of maturity, and only refine and tweak the aspects
The quickest way and the one that most users use is to go through the recent apps view to swipe up the task in question. Without a doubt, it’s the most intuitivealthough now that we know how it works it is not the best option if we want to stop it.
Wouldn’t it be easier for them to be completely shut down by this action? Yes, we would all understand this better and wouldn’t need to technically understand how the operating system handles this. It would even be compatible to leave the “Active applications” notification to check which ones are running. When we hit “Stop”, it would take us to the multitasking view, and from there we would use the only method offered
Also unified management of how the system manages RAM
With the large fleet of manufacturers, many layers of customization change the RAM management policy in Android. MIUI, for example, does a very aggressive job even if the battery likes it. Prior to the arrival of Android 13, there were indications of a new memory management model that would would eventually land on Android 14.
The system must adopt this practice, which has proven its effectiveness in unifying memory management among manufacturers. All measures taken are beneficial for the end userwho neither understands nor should need to understand these technical aspects.
Soon we will have new news about it when Android 14 starts arriving in a beta state, in more advanced times. For now, Google still does not offer a solution, but it will only be a matter of time before they step up to clear up this whole thing. After all, we don’t need huge amounts of RAM but better management.