Remove the "exit" button?

[Pyrizzle]

I like the idea of moving the Forum link out of the About/Help section and making it a button from the main screen instead.

Beastiary: Go for it!

[buddyCasino]

Funny, I always want exit buttons in my apps as too many of them keep running in the background after you go to your home screen via home button or clicking the back button. I haven't read the android guidelines, but if you want to support true multitasking, apps need to stay running when going to the home screen. Of course closing the app and loading the exact state on restart will serve the purpose in most cases.

Example: I am getting directions to go somewhere by subway. I need google maps in order to check out which station is the closest, then I need the train schedule app. I would love to switch between apps, but if I leave the train schedule app, I always need to redo the query for my train connection.

[fiernaq]

The problem with Android (and iOS) is that they don't include a built in way of closing applications. Sure, some developers include one (such as AT has) but the guidelines do not require or even recommend it. Ok, I get it; I understand that some people live their day on the computer without ever closing anything and as such have dozens of windows and applications open and running constantly. Those are also the same people that come to me as an IT guy and complain that their computers are running slowly. The only time I will ever leave more than one application running at a time is when I am actively using all applications that I have open. Example: voice chat prog such as vent or mumble while playing a game. Example: review site while looking at restaurants on a mapping app. However, as soon as I'm done using an application I want to close it completely. It's gotten to the point now (after much review of CPU and Battery usage which demonstrate how few apps actually completely close) that I have added a button to my homescreen that kills all running processes.

So yes, please fight the growing standard of not including a close/exit button. The disgusting habit of leaving applications open while not in use is being abused by people who really have no clue that they are the cause of the slowness their devices exhibit.

[Pyrizzle]

fiernaq: I use a task killer app on my phone. I do not like to leave apps running in the backround on my phone too.

Just an idea: What if we made it so if you push the back button from the main menu it will ask you if you would like to close it (i have a few games on my phone that do that) ?

[PghJuggalo]

fiernaq: I use a task killer app on my phone. I do not like to leave apps running in the backround on my phone too.

I'm fairly new to the Android platform, and one of the first programs I got was an app killer. It seems that most of the apps out there keep running in the background even though I want to exit them. I personally like the idea that I can hit a button and know that the app is closed out and not running in the background and eating up my battery.

PghJuggalo

[Necrite]

So instead of an exit button would you do the pop-up box "are you sure you want to exit?" or nothing at all?

That is exactly what Scrabble does.
I prefer the "exit" button.

I agree.

There's too many programs that terminate and stay resident. I don't rely on them closing themselves any more; I install EStrongs File Explorer and Task Manager, and use the TM's widget to force close everything before I pocket my phone.

And +1 for just leaving it as it is.