Freezes in Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD
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A few people have reported freezes with the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD. This thread is to find out as much as possible about the problem.
What people experience is that the phone goes unresponsive and they end up having to pull the battery or use a fancy key code combination.
Usually the person is doing something fairly innocuous with the app, such as scrolling the map.
The Razr Max is one of the most common phones used with BackCountry Navigator. I don't know how many have the the Razr Max HD yet. There are probably many people who have the device and have not seen this problem.
Nonetheless, this is hard for us to diagnose, because a device log after a reboot is unlikely to contain helpful information. In addition, as of 4.1, Android does not allow us to access the system log, which might be extremely helpful.
Officially, an app should *never* be able to hard lock a phone; you should get a Force Close or Stop Responding message. That is what I hear from experts in the field. However, in practice, there are often underlying issues with the OS, hardware or firmware that just might be triggered when you are using a particular app.
https://www.google.com/search?q=razr+max+hd+freezes
At this point, I do not know what BackCountry Navigator does, if anything, that the device does not like or triggers a problem. I have made wild guesses and tried to make changes based on those guesses in the latest build.
The device freezes up commonly enough that Motorola has posted some info:
https://motorola-global-en-usa.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/77306
One person was experiencing the problem, scrolling Accuterra maps, and saw the problem go away after they reselected the same map from "More Map Sources". I have no idea why this helped yet.
Other things to try:
- You can uninstall and reinstall the app from Google Play. You won't lose maps, but you will need to setup settings again.
- I have heard you can send a bug report to me by pushing <power>+<volume down> + <volume up>. After 30 seconds, you will then have the option to send a bug report by email.
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My Maxx HD can be rebooted by holding the power and volume down keys simultaneously for 8 seconds. I've been pretty discouraged by the screen locking up with this app. That is until the recent update. I've had no problems since then either in airplane mode with downloads or in preview with data connection. Before it didn't matter -always locked up in short order. So, thanks Nathan for the update! Once again, I'm excited about this app's potential. I'll likely add the accuterra option as well as GMU's in time.
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I've used Razr Maxx HD for several weeks with no discernible problems. Critter soft remains the pick of the litter.
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To update the topic, I spent time with a Razr HD downtown last month, with no real luck on reproducing the problem.
There are only small differences between the the Razr HD and the Razr Maxx HD. I will try again when the local test lab has the Maxx in.
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Using version 4.8.6, I'm still having complete phone lockup issues, although not as frequently as previously. It seems to only happening when scrolling the map screen.
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I have no idea if version 4.8.7 will help you, even though I did several things to reduce the memory footprint.
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Just tried version 4.8.7 and within 5 minutes I locked my phone up solid. Just some scrolling around on maps I have stored locally. I do like the small compass at the bottom of the screen. I'll play with it some more tomorrow on a Jeep ride we have planned. I'll keep you advised.
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Ran the app on a 60 mile back country ride today and it worked fine. GPS on and centered using maps stored on the local SD card. The only crashes I've experienced came from me scrolling the maps on the display.
HTH
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Scrolling the map is something I actually recommend for most customers and most devices.
Let me know when you are traveling through Camas, WA.
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Just got a Droid Razr Maxx HD. Loaded the Backcoutry app and started using it. When I loaded the new forest service maps and began to scroll around the phone froze. Had to do a hard reboot. Any new ideas?
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No new ideas.
I don't know if I can find the problem without a device that is experiencing the problem right in front of me. So I renew my pitch. Anyone passing through Camas, WA with a Droid Razr Maxx HD?
I cannot find anywhere that will rent me that phone.
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I still have lock up problems too but more infrequent than before. Always seems to be when scrolling. I don't recall the phone locking up during any other function. One other thing that does occur is that its common that when touching the icons across the top of the screen for the drop down lists, the list flashes then disappears. I've found if I wait a few seconds (maybe 10 seconds? but I've not timed it) the drop down menu finally pops up and is available. I used BCN in Texas this past weekend. After an initial lock up when scrolling and the inevitable hard reboot of the phone, I was able to download the area I was in and had no further issues.
On a seperate issue (maybe theres a thread on this?) When I download an area, is there a way to rename that file from within the app? Do I need to download it to a specific folder on SD card, exit BCN, then rename it?
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You need to choose names for downloads before, not after. Do not try to move or resort anything after the fact.
http://support.crittermap.com/entries/22268768-Using-Map-Packages
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First, I want to say, though I'm having the same problem, it WILL NOT change the fact that this app is awesome and I use it all of the time. Thank you BC Nav! So, I have the exact same problems as listed above. The only time I've locked is when viewing aerials and scolling at zoom level 16, the most zoomed I download. I have had the crash when on airplane mode 4 times and while on 4G or WiFi once. hopefully that's helpful. If not, like I say, I'll keep using it, and happily at that, regardless!
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Which map source are you viewing aerials for?
And is it only happening with that map source?
Does the location matter?
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Can anyone who is having these problems tell me if you are using the *external* SD card with the Droid Razr Maxx HD?
By default ( i think) the system, would assign you the internal storage. You would have to go to the settings and select a new path in order for this to be the case.
I would also like to know how many of you are using Map Packages.
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I am using an external SD card for map storage, but not ussing "Map Packages"
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I am using an SD card for storage as well, but no map packages.
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The trend is matching what people are saying here. Yes - external card and No - map packages.
I've gotten a log that doesn't tell me the root cause, but it does suggest that the device does some special handling of the file system, possibly routing it through the MediaProvider.
I'd hate to make using Map Packages mandatory, but they have been provided for, among other reasons, preventing problems on devices that don't like complex directory structures or a bunch of little files.
There is a possibility that once we have found a root cause, making map packages mandatory might be the solution. Either limiting downloads to the "Main Tile Cache" or making "Main Tile Cache" work like a map package itself.
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Of those who have experienced the problem, how many have the Droid Razr HD (not MAXX)?
Based on recent emails, I think that the 4.1.2 update to the Razr HD has caused this problem to be more prevalent.
The last time I tried to reproduce the problem with RAZR HD, it was on 4.0.4 and I was not successful.
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I have an HD
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I have a Motorola Droid RAZR M, and have experienced s few complete lock-ups, requiring a [power] + [vol down] reset to free the phone. Like others, I'm usually just scrolling around on the map. However, I have a hunch that my lock-up is related to Advanced Task Killer, which I have set up to auto kill every hour. It seems like the last couple of lock-ups were congruent with an auto kill process. I have since added BCN to the "ignore" list and I haven't had any more lock-ups. 0 -
I would be very surprised if a task killer with an auto-kill every hour did *not* cause problems in some way.
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One person said that going to app settings and pushing "Clear Cache" for the app made a difference. At the moment, I don't know why that would help.
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I have Droid Razzr HD and am getting the freeze screen also and can only get out by doing the power and volume down buttons. Currently not using a SD card and it freezes when I am zoomed into Accuterra maps and panning around. Had the Droid Razzr Maxx with the SD card and had no problems at all. I will get a SD card and see if that helps. Keep up the great work guys! Love your app., your excellent customer service and continuous updates.
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I expect an SD Card will make it worse or not change it at all.
I expect using "Map Packages", which means you give each of your downloads a name, will make it better, but that is not proven.
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I hate to disagree with you since I know nothing about this stuff, but after installing a SD card and messing with the app for a few hours now I do not seem to have the problem anymore. I have not downloaded any maps on this phone yet and for the most part have been using wifi connection to view the maps. Have zoomed in / out and panned around quickly / slowly in Hybrid: UStopo Imagery with Accuterra, Hybrid: USTopo with Accuterra, Accuterra Single layer and a few others.
If it happens again I will attempt to let you know as much as possible the settings, map used, etc.
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Since I do not know what causes the problem, I can't argue with anybody yet. Hope it continues to work.
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I spent some time this weekend trying to get the maps to freeze up and failed. Thanks.
trm
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I'll have some time with a Razr HD (4.1.12) tommorrow afternoon, I believe.
Any hints on making sure it will fail right away? I will have limited time with it.
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No Sd card and zoomed into accuterra about level 14 or closer while panning slowly. Maybe try letting the phone hybernate while at this level, then turn the phone back on to continue panning. These things froze mine instantly without the SD card. I have not pulled the SD card to see if I can re-create the problem. Thanks Nathan.
Check that - just froze mine with the SD card. I was zooming out to a 14, then tried to push the layers button to change maps and I froze. I believe it is the accuterra hybrid (satelite image overlay) with the boundary (property lines) overlay on. Anything else I can provide?
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