Does anyone else agree that when your device is running low on storage (ie: 0-1.5GB which isn't even that low!) it deals with it badly. For example, if I were to have just over 1GB left on my iPad and a real racing update came through, it wouldn't let me download that update even if I were to have more than the amount of required space left, on TOP of the amount of space the app is taking up on my device. It also pops up no message or alert when one is trying to download any app which they do not have enough space for, rather just remaining idle when the download button is pressed, leaving the user guessing what the problem could be. All these little issues account for a poor experience when dealing with low amounts of storage space on iOS.
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iOS manages lack of storage horrendously
- Thread starter chizzer2003
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iOS handles it very well. What doesn't handle it well are unenlightened users. When downloading an app update, iOS saves the app's data in a folder called Safe Harbor. It then deletes the app and starts downloading the update. The update is a zip file that is the size listed in the App Store. iOS then unzips the update. The update itself is not the size listed in the App Store. Notice the App Store says "Download size". With the zip compression, the app is a much smaller in its download format then it is when fully unzipped. Once the unzipping is complete, the update zip is deleted and the app's data that was stored in the Safe Harbor folder is restored to the app's directory.
That doesn't sound like it handles very well at all. I share the OP's frustration - you shouldn't have to delete music & videos to install an update, and then put the music & videos back on once the update is installed. That's just not user friendly, which is what Apple is supposed to be all about.
They could delete the old App, preserving the "Documents" folder and then install the new App.
That should be quite easy to do without resulting in a loss of data.
Might cause some problems if the download/installation is interrupted.
A work around would be to download the big updates on iTunes and syncing with a Mac/PC?
Agree that it defeats the idea of 'PC-free' but it's better than nothing.
You should pose the problem at Apple's website in the feed-back pages.
Agree that it defeats the idea of 'PC-free' but it's better than nothing.
You should pose the problem at Apple's website in the feed-back pages.
But there still needs to be enough room to have the zip file and the full uncompressed app on the device at the same time....they could allow you download uncompressed, I suppose...but then it may be ver th 3G limit of 20MB. Also, does the iPhone use swap files, or when you are out of memory that's it?
Afaik, it tells the oldest open tasks to shut up and commit their state to memory, then kills the task. If task doesn't support multitasking API... then it will completely die.
That's a really clumsy way when the likes of, say, Infinity Blade require you to keep 2GB of your device free to install.
Phazer
Your talking about something different. We're talking about updating apps, not just using them.
OP, your subject for this thread is exactly how I phrased my bug report to Apple last week.
I've experienced the same issues you have had with downloading. But to make matters worse, thinks get wonky when you're low on space (not so low that iOS tells you) and you're using the "Open in" feature with a large file.
I've experienced the same issues you have had with downloading. But to make matters worse, thinks get wonky when you're low on space (not so low that iOS tells you) and you're using the "Open in" feature with a large file.