@Super_Hubby_Sir: No. The app runs fine with the screen off, it runs as a service on the device and works perfectly while on battery. The problem is that this update was a regression (i.e. downgrade, in the sense that what previously worked in version 1 no longer does).
Right now my phone is locked, not plugged in and perfectly working on v1. I can log in flawlessly, send messages flawlessly and it's been running for over an hour like this.
In v2, it doesn't matter if it's plugged in, on the app screen or anything the service stops. (That's right, the service, not the app, the part of the app that runs in the background while you're in other apps STOPS and your browser loses connection to it).
What's more is that this problem was around since the get-go (of v2). There have been hundreds of threads and many many more people complaining that the app is no longer usable for them and the AirDroid developers seem to have a different agenda in mind.
I was already on pause when this new version of the app totally removed the OPTION to have a keycode login, you now MUST have physical access to the device to log in, which in a sense is GOOD, but since there's no option, i can't leave my phone charging in my home network at one location and access it from my desk at another location, rendering it LESS USEFUL.
Then comes the agenda of pushing their online service. I don't know about you, but I'd rather not send all my text messages / personal information through a 3rd party's servers if at all possible. Yet this update seems to be pushing exclusive features to entice people to move their use of the application through the web portal. What is AirDroid doing with your information?
There has been NO official response or RECOGNITION that this is a problem, none what-so-ever from them. They don't even give a flying f***, they had the best app on the market and they crippled it to push their agenda without considering or caring about their customer base.
I think I am done waiting for this company to fix their s***, nothing to see here, move along.