Smart 6 Ultra Has a Memory Leak

[MrVibrating]

Current version 5.0.2 VDF-995NB01-UK_MR01b (latest to date)

These older versions of Lollipop retain a memory handling bug that causes lowmemorykiller to over-aggressively kill and then restart background processes.

This causes significant battery drain, but worse, not all processes restart properly - a specific case in point being those streaming audio.

I bought this phone very specifically for listening to internet radio while at work, so this bug is rendering the device virtually unusable for its intended purpose - one which it should, by any reasonable expectation, excel at, given its hardware specs.

To replicate the bug, load any app capable of streaming internet audio, such as Firefox, Chrome, BSPlayerPro, VLC Player etc. etc.  Enter a media URL, such as LBC London:

http://media-ice.musicradio.com/LBCLondonMP3

Then switch the app to the background and leave some other app in focus in the foreground.

From a cold boot, the app process will be automatically killed in under 30 mins.  From thereon it will continue to be killed regularly throughout the day, requiring manual restarts (an exception is BSPlayerPro, which will automatically restart, but only when manually selected from the recent apps menu).

Apparently the bug HAS been addressed in Lollipop 5.1.1, and further details of the problem can be found here:

http://www.geeksnack.com/2015/01/17/moto-g-android-5-0-2-lollipop-still-memory-leak-bug/

..which links to an issue tracker here:

https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=98332&q=lollipop&colspec=ID%20Type%20Status%20Own...

I implore Vodafone to expedite the rollout of a bug patch, if not a full version update, to fix this problem!  I like the phone, and don't want to have to return it unecessarily, but an older cheaper device running KitKat wouldn't have caused me as much headache!  Combined with the Voice Search bug this phone has been a constant daily hassle since purchase!

I would have to advise anyone looking for a stable internet radio / streaming audio solution to give Lollipop 5.0.x devices a wide berth until they're brought up to date!

[Retired-Wayne]

@MrVibrating

I’m sorry to hear that you’re having problems with this.

Please see our firmware statement.

[marky1124]

This problem is driving me crazy with my Ultra 6. I'd be so much happier with KitKat rather than this terrible version of Lollipop.

[spikey_richie]

@Wayne - Useless reply is useless.

[Legfan2]

The problem with the firmware statement is that it doesn't actually say if there is going to be an update ! We understand that testing needs to be done and therefore exact dates can't be given but surely Vodafone could say yes or no as to whether a certain phone is going to be updated.