Mobile Network Accelerator

[BFBrazier]

I just downloaded a free trial version of mobile network accelerator that is suppose to speed up blackberries and was wondering if anyone had any info on this app before I spend any $ on it.

[Reed McLay]

There is growing evidence that this software is not capable of matching it claims.

Originally Posted by depietro

Hi guys,

There's been a lot of controversy about this app so it's time something was said, especially since it seems to violate a number of ethical standards, and by all accounts is probably criminal. Without going into detail, I'll just say I've been developing on the BlackBerry platform since the BlackBerry was in its infancy.

I ran the app through a debugger watching its every step. There's a couple of key points. Firstly, as already mentioned, this is a MIDP app and doesn't utilize any of the RIM CLDC apis. That in itself is already enough to guarantee that what they claim is impossible. The second point, which is probably the most important to understand, it that 3rd party applications have absolutely no control over how the device actually connects to the network besides being able to specify the network route and security settings at a very high level. Even then, you can only affect your OWN application in this manner.

The app does absolutely NOTHING related to network operations. If you see any network gains after running this app, I promise you, those are perceived, not real.

I'm only going to say this once for Daniel and for everyone else that is working with him. What you are doing is criminal, and you need to stop. You are taking advantage of technical ignorance and making a profit off an application that does nothing.

I would hope that organizations like mobihand and crackberry would remove this application from their storefronts immediately.

I also had a look at MemoryUp. All that application does is call System.gc() periodically. Again, there are a couple reasons why this is useless. Firstly, if the system is running low on resources, it will perform a full GC anyways. Second, calling System.gc() does not guarantee anything. The VM will determine when to do the garbage collection. And last but not least, the VM has a much better idea of what is going on with memory than any 3rd party app ever could, and the VM will employ some smart heuristics to do garbage collections at the appropriate times.

I'm actually shocked that MemoryUp made it onto app world given the talk Mike Kirkup (Technical lead of the BlackBerry Alliance program at Research In Motion) gave at the developer conference last Autumn about how 3rd party apps can't really affect memory at all.

Maybe they should be notified of the mistake...

Use your trail period to check it out with a stopwatch, before you spend the money. No refunds.

[BFBrazier]

Thanx! You just saved me $!

[corydunbar]

i have been using the trial version of this app and i have seen a substantial increase in internet speed on my storm. also i ran the speed test app and my download speed jumped from 800 kbit/s to 1500 kbit/s. also when in combination with the tetherberry app i noticed an increase in my phones use as a modem. i don't know how this app works, but i'm not complaining. i am only using the unregistered demo.

[bluzthyname]

it seems that some BB owners have really benefited from this app..

[BLACKBERRYGEEKER]

Its working well for me.. Very well. I went from loading a specific web from 15 to 17 secs to about 7 secs.. I visit it daily and its blazzing fast now

[ProjectManager1]

Man

I bought the memup+netacc bundle from mobihand last month(I don't download alotta apps,only performance enhancers and management type apps), and now I don't know whether to wonder if its working or send a virtual middle finger to these developers?!?!?!

I can't believe I'm in a conflict of emotions over a 3rd party bb app!!

I REALLY need a hobby.

PM1

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[branta]

I would never buy either of these products, simply because of the problems the developers have caused for the moderators by abusing the forums here. They are well known for creating false user accounts to post "user testimonials" - and getting banned for it. spammers

There are also some pretty strong allegations from technically skilled users that these apps are not what they claim, and don't/can't really work. You will have to search and make your own judgement on that point.

[backagain4]

I used it and I can attest that it does what it says and works.

[branta]

Hello Blackberrygeeker, CPUGeek...

Goodbye Ban Evader

[Username5300]

Originally Posted by backagain4

I used it and I can attest that it does what it says and works.

Sounds suspicious to me, after you have been doggin the mods all morning!

[rts3k]

Originally Posted by Branta

Hello Blackberrygeeker, CPUGeek...

Goodbye Ban Evader

Best post I've seen all week. Thanks for staying on top of these people

[Pete6]

Having spent a large part of my professional life in the telcoms sector and holding a BSc in Data Communications, I am highly sceptical of the claims made by all network accelerators. Here's why.

If you look at the network as a cloud and the part of it connecting to you as a pipe, it becomes quite clear that you can only ever have control over your end of the pipe. This means that if the far end stops sending (the worst case) then no matter what you do, you cannot receive.

Moving up the scale a little to the point where the far end is sending you stuff (data, emails, files, mp3s) you can only wait until the far end decided that it it's ready to send the next packet of data. Once it reaches you, then your phone can quickly file it and be ready for the next packet. That's as fast as you can make the link.

What about compression? Compression requires that the data is compressed at the transmitting end and decompressed at the receiver (your phone). Single end compression is not possible and unless you can get inside your carriers computers to install a compression program (how likely is that?) then compression down your link is not going to happen.

OK so what's the deal with buffering? Buffering works fine when you are dealing with sending the same data over and over again. A lot of PC programs tried this trick and failed when the data (as it ususally did) changed content rapidly.

This is why I do not think that these programs work and I would never pay out any of my money to buy one.

[branta]

Pete,

There's another constraint for the so called memory enhancers. A correctly designed and implemented OS should restrict the ability of a user-level application to step over the boundaries between applications, and manipulate memory allocated to a different app. Even the fully privileged OS has dificulty doing this consistently.

There are two implications if a user-app can access memory allocated to a second task.
(a) Long term Windows users will be familar with the system crashes and blue screens generated when this kind of access violation occurs.
(b) If an app can access non-allocated memory it is a huge security loophole, and a privileged task can be subverted to perform operations never intended by the developer. That's the kind of problem that allows malware and causes Microsoft to generate security patches on a regular schedule.

[Pete6]

Originally Posted by Branta

Pete,

There's another constraint for the so called memory enhancers. A correctly designed and implemented OS should restrict the ability of a user-level application to step over the boundaries between applications, and manipulate memory allocated to a different app. Even the fully privileged OS has dificulty doing this consistently.

There are two implications if a user-app can access memory allocated to a second task.
(a) Long term Windows users will be familar with the system crashes and blue screens generated when this kind of access violation occurs.
(b) If an app can access non-allocated memory it is a huge security loophole, and a privileged task can be subverted to perform operations never intended by the developer. That's the kind of problem that allows malware and causes Microsoft to generate security patches on a regular schedule.

I was looking at this purely from a datacommunications point of view. I did not wish to expand my coments to the OS but, you are quite correct. OS parameters can specifically affect datacomm speeds.

I also refrained from talking about packet window sizes which is about the only way that I konw of to to fractionally increase data thru'put.

I tried to keep my explanation simple and to make a clear case for this type of software not being worth the money.