[Galaxy Note GT-N7000 Android Development] abufrejoval:
One of the big differences of Lollipop is that it attempts to take the concept of persistant applications a step further: At first it was just a re-position of the back button from the right (where your primary thumb is, unless you're a lefty) to the left (where I find it far less convenient) and then a redefinition of the 'menu' button into a 'recents' button.

Google really doesn't seem to want you to use anything but that newly re-purposed 'back' or 'recents' button, even on devices which like the Samsungs still have physical buttons, which I guess is supposed to mimik Apple only button (never used an i-thingy unless threatened with physical violence or disinheritance, so I'm not sure). You're no longer supposed to 'enter' and 'leave' applications by 'back'ing out of them. Instead you might be launching each just once and then just keep switching between them using 'recents'.

So it keeps all the applications you have used in the cache and ready for access via that 'recents' button not just until you restart the device (pre LP) but essentially 'forever', including its current state. It now survives even reboots and is meant to provide the illusion of applications which have permanent state. Of course the current high rate of updates largely invalidates that concept as cache gets cleared on updates so most applications you haven't used for a couple of days won't just continue from where you left them.

That behaviour is quite ok as long as there is only a few of these applications or your internal storage is super fast. If it is slow to begin with or in need of a TRIM, the re-loading of all that cached data especially after a re-boot or under low memory conditions can take quite a bit of time, most noticible after a re-installation and test of all your precious apps (you can see where this is going, right?)

Solution:

When you do wait for the recents applist and then stare at that list of a second or two, you'll notice a close marker appearing at the right hand top: Hitting that "x" will close the app and delete it from the cache until re-invoked which helps speeding things up already.

If you want a more thorough cleanup go to settings/storage and touch the cache area of your storage: You can see there, that the cache can accumulate quite a few dozens of megabytes if you've been busy and since these are complex structures traversing them can be slow, especially on slow or un-TRIMed storage.

If you touch the cache area you'll be prompted if you want to purge it. A yes will empty the recents list and indeed make it very fast.

But once you've only switched between the applications you actually use, you'll notice a significant gain of speed (well, that is unless you're just ZAPPING around).

P.S. I haven't really tested if applications with outstanding saves get reactivated on updates or cache clears to better support the notion of 'total persistance'.

---------- Post added at 04:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:22 AM ----------

Ok ok, took the hint and a) went back to the OP link b) replaced the "1" with a "2" in the Android Host search box and got the beta2 download link...

Just posting this here for the other slow guys ;)