[djdizzy]

Originally Posted by dieburnbot

I don't like this app at all. It seems like a resource hog. I installed the newest Categories (v2.20) and it comes packaged with Backgrounder and my mail and phone apps both got this weird annoying lag to them. I didn't even have anything set to run in the background. As soon as I uninstalled Categories and Backgrounder everything was back up to speed. I downloaded the older version of Categories (v2.18) that doesn't come packaged with Backgrounder and there was no slowdown.

Don't get me wrong I like the idea of the app it just causes too much lag on my phone for me to want to use it. It would probably be better if a toggle could be added to Boss Prefs or something so that you can turn it off if you aren't using it, kind of like how SSH has one.

I agree, my battery also seems to not last as long with this new version. Where can I download v2.18 of categories??

OK found all versions of categories here http://iphonebigboss.com/repo/repofiles/cydia/debs2.0/

but not sure how to install it....

[dieburnbot]

Originally Posted by djdizzy

I agree, my battery also seems to not last as long with this new version. Where can I download v2.18 of categories??

OK found all versions of categories here Index of /repo/repofiles/cydia/debs2.0

but not sure how to install it....

It's really easy to install. I am not sure if you are on windows or mac, but it should be similar.

First SSH the categories_2.18.deb to your phone in any directory, but I would put it in / just to make it easy.

In Windows you need to download PuTTY (PuTTY Download Page) in order to get command line SSH access to the phone. If you are on mac I think you have terminal built in so you don't need to do this step. I'm not familiar with mac so I can't really help if you are on mac.

Anyway, after you install PuTTY start it up and in the main page where it says Host Name or (IP address) type in your phone's IP address, same as when you use SSH. It'll bring up a prompt type in root and alpine for the login name and password (if you didn't change them). I think on mac you have to do command-space, Terminal, enter. Then type ssh root@'your phone's ip-address' and the rest of the directions should be the same.

Then it will bring you to a prompt.

type in cd /
and then type dir
make sure you see categories_2.18.deb in there, if you do that means you are in the correct directory.
now type dpkg -i categories_2.18.deb
and it'll install just like in Cydia

After it is done just close PuTTY and reboot your phone. You can SSH into your phone and delete the .deb file from / if you want. If you want to uninstall Categories in the future it'll be in Cydia's package manager. Cydia will keep telling you to update to Categories v2.20 just ignore it.

[metaclam]

Thanks dieburnbot for that useful explanation.

But how do you safely remove backgrounder, and downgrade categories from 2.2 without losing existing categories or bricking your phone or other such dire things? do you uninstall categories through cydia first (will that lose your categories?), or what?

note: if you try to remove background through cydia it will also remove categories.

[Nukie]

Point is now mute. A new update for Categories came out today. It no longer requires Backgrounder. Hooray! It's now an option to have Backgrounder installed.

[dieburnbot]

Originally Posted by Nukie

Point is now mute. A new update for Categories came out today. It no longer requires Backgrounder. Hooray! It's now an option to have Backgrounder installed.

thanks for the heads up!

[metaclam]

yes... I saw that, thanks. Unfortunately:

Yes, thank you very much for making backgrounder optional.

unfortunately, i have upgraded categories to 2.21, removed backgrounder, and restarted the phone, but a couple of the apps that worked before are now still crashing. i wonder if there can be any trace of the backgrounder system patch that remains, and what i might do to check this and hopefully fix it?

-- my comment post at sleepers.

maybe someone here has some ideas? thanks.

EDIT:

ok... i provisionally retract this. the problem apps included plank (apparently known memory issues) and Manual for USA. The latter was resolved just by bringing my total installed apps down a few hunderd meg. (killed a few huge ones i'd never use). I'm still not at all sure why the total app usage should impact memory, but there you have it. (however it's also very possible that closing all 5 safari windows i had open was a factor). In any case, just reporting now that removing backgrounder doesn't seem to leave any problems as I previously suspected.

Once again thanks big boss.

[Grumps]

Lovely app and besides for IM,browser, I used it while playing game so I dont have to go through the long loading to continue my games if someone interrupt with a call. Multi tasking at it's best.

[b3nny]

this program RAWKS!!! really it does. but here's a few thoughts:

A 'running programs' task manager app (or applet) would be really handy, obviously. In regards to that, heres a little bug: open an app (pandora in this case), and turn on backgrounding. you'll now be back at springboard. wait the 10 or so minutes for the app to crash its way to closed (lol). this is easy with something like pandora, because you will HEAR it crash and close when the music stops. then re-open the app and try to re-background it. now watch closely... "backgrounding now off" ??? what ??? but actually backgrounding is on again, and when you let go of home, pandora keeps playing. so. yeah. even if we don't get a task manager, we at least need the simple dialog that we DO have, to be aware of whats REALLY going on, so that it can let us know, hehe. and maybe the answer is a middle ground, where at least when we hold home and the dialog comes up it just tells us wether or not background is currently running in that app, and allows us to turn it on and off. at least then we could manage each app individually. sometimes i'm afraid i'll background something like beejive and then throw my phone in my pocket and let it eat up my battery by accident. i wish that i could at least go into beejive and SEE if its backgrounded, but to find out i have to unbackground or background and then if its unbackgrounded the app closes and then i have to log back in and RE-background it. lol. BUT ANYWAYS backgrounder IS awesome and many thanks to the Dev's, and i can't wait for updates!!

on the flipside though (lol), i really don't like watching my iphone do one of the exact things that i DESPISED about windoze mobile devices: apps in the background being "automatically" managed, which really means closing the ONE app you really need (and leaving junk open) RIGHT before you go back to it. it makes me puke a little inside my mouth. :P **shakes a fist at apple**

[saifeeab]

i dont know but for some reason backgrounder still doesnt show up on my cydia yet. it been how long since this app was released and still no show for me...i have tried everything i possibly cud but no success yet. it seems like that the bigboss repo on cydia for me doesnt update at all???

if anyone can pls help me on this i wud be really greatful. so far i have not been successful in solving this. tried reinstalling bigboss repo too but no luck....

[TheMichaelScott]

Backgrounder is great for Skype and Skype In calls. I bought "3g Unrestrictor" for 2.99 on Cydia and downloaded "Backgrounder" for free. I can always leave my "Skype" up and running, ready to receive calls from other Skype users or from any phone using Skype In (There is a cost to have a Skype In number). I added Skype to always be stay alive in the background and also added the badge to the icon so I could tell if it was backgrounded.

I also use this with Google Voice (GV Mobile), free as well, and I can choose easily where I want to receive my calls... on my iPhone through AT&T or on my iPhone through Skype over 3g ;-)

SlingPlayer is also great with Backgrounder. I can stay connected to my player while "stepping away" from it for a second to look something up on my phone.