Android: Releasing resources in onDestroy(); method

Question

I understand that the system may kill the activity without calling onDestroy(). Say I have a MediaPlayer that runs even when it's not visible, I would be releasing the player in onDestroy() method.

Now, if the system decides to kill the activity after calling onPause() and never called onDestroy(), what does it mean for my MediaPlayer? Is it ever released? This is bigger problem for Camera since I think it requires to be released for other activities to use it.

Answer 1

It is very very rare that you should keep media playing from an activity after onPause(). You most certainly should release it as it will create leaks. Instead your media should be playing in a Service that doesn't have the onPause() issues (a service is either running or not) and then your activity interfaces with the service.