When you are using the new version of the game are you starting a new game or "Start from V0.8?" People have reported problems with old save states so it's just better to do one of the two options mentioned in the first question.
Also, how much free space do you have in your internal storage?
Are you using JoiPlay or anything like that? What model phone and Android version are you using?
Other players have mentioned what you were getting at that using an older/newer Android have helped get past the issues, not sure what the problem there is.