Storage Space Rage

[RTony]

I'm almost ****ing done with this phone.
Why am I only getting only just 12 pathetic gigabytes when this stupid iPhone is advertised as 16GB?? The OS takes up space? Too damn bad! That's Apple's problem to figure out, not mine! What am I paying for?

False advertising anyone? It's almost like RedBull ******** marketing story about giving you wings!

I'm about to throw this phone in the bin I'm so freaking mad!

 

[RTony]

Okay, at least iPhones get the most juice as compared to all the other phones on the market:

I also followed these steps and got rid of the stupid "Other" memory hog. Helpful.

 

[eyoungren]

Why do people buy 16GB iPhones?

Often the reason I hear is "that's all I need". I rarely, if ever, hear "that's all I can afford".

Then we get threads like this…

Let's say Apple was spot on and you got a full advertised 16GB. What's going to be the complaint when you fill that up all by yourself?

People around here think I'm an idiot because I always buy the maximum storage Apple offers (64GB iPhone 5) while they smugly pat themselves on the back for being fiscally responsible for buying only what they think they need.

Well, I don't suffer from this rage you are experiencing. I've got well over 25GB left on my 64GB iPhone.

Who's cursing what they bought now?

 

[FieldingMellish]

Well, that seems to be quite a cathartic response.

 

[Tyler23]

I'm almost ****ing done with this phone.
Why am I only getting only just 12 pathetic gigabytes when this stupid iPhone is advertised as 16GB?? The OS takes up space? Too damn bad! That's Apple's problem to figure out, not mine! What am I paying for?

False advertising anyone? It's almost like RedBull ******** marketing story about giving you wings!

I'm about to throw this phone in the bin I'm so freaking mad!

It's this way with every phone, tablet and computer. It's not just the iPhone. Consumer research is imporant before making a purchase.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Guess the op should be more concerned with he own ability to comprehend. He's got a 16gb phone simpels.

 

[Applejuiced]

I guess the op has never had a computer, laptop, usb drives or anything with flash storage to even comprehend the basics.
Go back to a regular flip phone, this is too complicated for you.

 

[jahall05]

Right off their website...

"1GB = 1 billion bytes; actual formatted capacity less" & on the box "actual formatted capacity less"

 

[technosix]

Why do people buy 16GB iPhones?

Because Apple is extremely clever at keeping both sales volume and profits high, while attracting customers that often through no fault of their own, don’t realize what they're getting into.

Nothing if not a highly effective marketing machine, it's wise to approach Apple very carefully.

 

[aicul]

I understand there is a class action on this - or something close to this.

But frankly, buying a device with 16Gb is unreal, just like the manufacturer that puts a 16Gb on the market.

If the iPhone was bought new, return if if possible and get a large one, if it was purchased second hand... well maybe one could have guessed ...

 

[Cmd-Z]

... while attracting customers that often through no fault of their own, don’t realize what they're getting into.

Nonsense. You make it seem as though Apple is the only provider of 16 GB devices, and that's done to "trick" people into having to upgrade later. Look at the graphic above and tell me why Apple should be singled out to "approach carefully".

ANY device marketed to hold 16 GB actually holds only about 14.9 GB due to base 10 vs. base 2 counting (and convenient marketing), and that has nothing to do with the OS. Even a 16 GB thumb drive holds only 14.9 GB. For a computing device, subtract from that number the OS and other misc items, and that is what leaves you with your available capacity.

 

[eyoungren]

Because Apple is extremely clever at keeping both sales volume and profits high, while attracting customers that often through no fault of their own, don’t realize what they're getting into.

Nothing if not a highly effective marketing machine, it's wise to approach Apple very carefully.

LOL, well it was more rhetorical.

I have found that those people I know with iPhones tend to want the iPhone because it is what everyone who is anyone is carrying. But the don't want to fork over the cash for higher capacity models.

Since it's impossible to tell what capacity you've bought (unless you examine Settings) and it's considered rude in society to interrogate others over it, these people are "hip" or "cool" and no one knows that they bought in at the low end.

I buy the max capacity model Apple releases. Unlike a lot of others here and the people I know, I'm stuck with my device for two or more years as that's our upgrade schedule. Others buy the smallest capacity they think they need and then play a ridiculous dance in trying to free up space or posting threads about how little space they have left. I am not going to screw myself by buying a lower capacity model or getting something I'm just "OK" with for two plus years. I will have capacity to spare.

That's just me though.

----------

Nonsense. You make it seem as though Apple is the only provider of 16 GB devices, and that's done to "trick" people into having to upgrade later. Look at the graphic above and tell me why Apple should be singled out to "approach carefully".

I think the difference here between Apple and "others" is that with the "others" you can change your capacity.

Do they sell 16GB devices. Sure. But most of those devices come with SD cards. My very first smartphone was an HTC Touch Pro. It came with a 1GB SD card. A trip to Fry's Electronics and my wife and I were soon using 8GB Touch Pros for the price of two 8GB SD cards.

Apple doesn't give you that option. You want more storage, you have to buy the next model up. So, sorry if you wanted 32GB, Apple doesn't do 32GB anymore.

That said, if you aren't smart enough to buy more than you need or at the very least figure out what your general usage is and buy the model that fits in to that, then Apple is not to blame.

 

[illusionx]

LOL, well it was more rhetorical.

I have found that those people I know with iPhones tend to want the iPhone because it is what everyone who is anyone is carrying. But the don't want to fork over the cash for higher capacity models.

Since it's impossible to tell what capacity you've bought (unless you examine Settings) and it's considered rude in society to interrogate others over it, these people are "hip" or "cool" and no one knows that they bought in at the low end.

I buy the max capacity model Apple releases. Unlike a lot of others here and the people I know, I'm stuck with my device for two or more years as that's our upgrade schedule. Others buy the smallest capacity they think they need and then play a ridiculous dance in trying to free up space or posting threads about how little space they have left. I am not going to screw myself by buying a lower capacity model or getting something I'm just "OK" with for two plus years. I will have capacity to spare.

That's just me though.

----------


I think the difference here between Apple and "others" is that with the "others" you can change your capacity.

Do they sell 16GB devices. Sure. But most of those devices come with SD cards. My very first smartphone was an HTC Touch Pro. It came with a 1GB SD card. A trip to Fry's Electronics and my wife and I were soon using 8GB Touch Pros for the price of two 8GB SD cards.

Apple doesn't give you that option. You want more storage, you have to buy the next model up. So, sorry if you wanted 32GB, Apple doesn't do 32GB anymore.

That said, if you aren't smart enough to buy more than you need or at the very least figure out what your general usage is and buy the model that fits in to that, then Apple is not to blame.

Many high end phones don't do SD cards anymore. Re flagship models such as nexus 5 and OnePlus One.

 

[rui no onna]

My only gripe about storage is OTA updates requiring 5+GB free space. That's practically all free space available on the iPhone 5c 8GB and half the available space on 16GB iPhones. When OTA updates require your iPhone or iPad to be practically empty, I think that's kinda going against Apple's "It just works" mantra.

Apple hasn't increased storage size on the lowest end iPhone and iPad models for over 6 and 4 years respectively. I think a storage increase on base models is long overdue.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

So don't do it ota and hook it up or stop being a cheap skate and get the 128gb model, problem solved :thumbs:

 

[aicul]

When OTA updates require your iPhone or iPad to be practically empty, I think that's kinda going against Apple's "It just works" mantra.

So don't do it ota and hook it up

In earlier versions of iOS large APPs would not download unless wifi or a cable was available. Something similar to this respects both comments above.

I do agree that today Apple has left out blatantly necessary features that sometime look as if they have employed Window developers.

And frankly the comments about people being "cheap" are undue. If Apple sells small memory iPhones and/or older iPhones can receive the latest iOS, then it would make sense that their limitations are fully taken into consideration.

 

[jahall05]

No need to call people cheap, however there are ways to manage memory better. Do you need the 5000 photos of your cat on your phone at all times? Do you utilize cloud storage...(Google Drive offers 15GB, OneDrive offers 7GB I believe...)

I opted for 32GB when I got my 5s even though I was managing fine with my 16GB 5 prior to that...Update by plugging the phone into iTunes.

 

[eyoungren]

No need to call people cheap, however there are ways to manage memory better. Do you need the 5000 photos of your cat on your phone at all times? Do you utilize cloud storage...(Google Drive offers 15GB, OneDrive offers 7GB I believe...)

I opted for 32GB when I got my 5s even though I was managing fine with my 16GB 5 prior to that...Update by plugging the phone into iTunes.

I'm not calling anyone cheap, but you point out exactly what I am talking about.

You are describing everything in terms of "NEED".

I don't NEED a 64GB iPhone. I WANTED a 64GB iPhone. I don't NEED to store over 18GB of Honeymooner videos on my iPhone. I WANT to store over 18GB.

WANT vs NEED. I don't NEED an iPhone at all. I WANTED an iPhone.

NEED does not apply here, at least in my case. I am not buying based on NEED. I don't CARE if I need it or not. I want what I want and I paid to get what I wanted.

That is the difference. It's not about being cheap (I didn't use the word cheap by the way). It's about putting NEED over WANT when getting what you WANT is entirely within your purview. People do that and then they regret their choice later on because all that happens is their need gets met and that's it.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Not it was me who used the word cheap. But please allow me to use it in the context of the response opposed to some witch hunt because someone used the C word.

What I meant was that there is complaint and moan about the 16GB model. Well it comes with limitations, one being the actual size of the available memory. And the other the highly likely factor that an over the air update doesn't work since it has to have enough space to download, unpack, install whilst leaving the old in place, and only then reboot and remove. It take space, and if you bought a model where you won't have that space left then it may provide you with that limitation. It was a choice when you bought it, just like it is a choice on how you update it. You don't have to update it, and if you want you can update it whilst connected to a computer.

It was a choice to go for the cheaper model, just like it was a choice not to go for a more expensive model with more memory.

No big deal, no drama, but come on let's take some personal responsibility about these things.

 

[aicul]

Agreed and I quote myself here:

"If Apple sells small memory iPhones and/or older iPhones can receive the latest iOS, then it would make sense that their limitations are fully taken into consideration."

The above remains valid, particularly with the expectations Apple promotes; it just works.

I think the rage is linked to failure to meet these expectations

 

[rui no onna]

What I meant was that there is complaint and moan about the 16GB model. Well it comes with limitations, one being the actual size of the available memory. And the other the highly likely factor that an over the air update doesn't work since it has to have enough space to download, unpack, install whilst leaving the old in place, and only then reboot and remove. It take space, and if you bought a model where you won't have that space left then it may provide you with that limitation. It was a choice when you bought it, just like it is a choice on how you update it. You don't have to update it, and if you want you can update it whilst connected to a computer.

Something I'd like to point out, until recently, OTA updates didn't require 5GB of free space. Iirc, they only needed 1-3GB or so. There are folks without computers and use their iPhones and iPads as their sole devices and just rely on the cloud for the bulk of their storage needs so updating via iTunes may not be an option.

Right now, 32GB of flash memory costs a lot less than 8GB flash back when the iPhone was initially released in 2007. Just around 4 years ago, Android phones were sporting a paltry 512MB of flash. Nowadays, even $100 Chinese knockoffs have at least 8-16GB.

You might call people buying 16GB iPhones cheap but then so is Apple for not increasing base memory storage for 4-6 years.

Personally, I've never bought the lowest storage capacity model iPhone. I got a 16GB 2G, 32GB 3GS to 5s and now 64GB 6/6+. My iPads (at least the ones I plan on keeping for a long time), I always max out storage even when the 128GB model cost over $1K after taxes. That said, I still think that after 4-6 years, increased storage in base models is long overdue.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Well they have a choice to buy the model up or deal with it at their current model. Calling it cheap, prudent, silly, whatever anyone like doesn't change anything to that fact. Moaning and raging over ones own decision won't help either.

 

[jahall05]

I'm not calling anyone cheap, but you point out exactly what I am talking about.

You are describing everything in terms of "NEED".

I don't NEED a 64GB iPhone. I WANTED a 64GB iPhone. I don't NEED to store over 18GB of Honeymooner videos on my iPhone. I WANT to store over 18GB.

WANT vs NEED. I don't NEED an iPhone at all. I WANTED an iPhone.

NEED does not apply here, at least in my case. I am not buying based on NEED. I don't CARE if I need it or not. I want what I want and I paid to get what I wanted.

That is the difference. It's not about being cheap (I didn't use the word cheap by the way). It's about putting NEED over WANT when getting what you WANT is entirely within your purview. People do that and then they regret their choice later on because all that happens is their need gets met and that's it.

I understand what you are saying. Some people NEED more space, while others simply WANT more space.

However, the people who chose to buy a 16GB iPhone bought it either because they didn't NEED to extra storage, didn't understand what they were buying (which means they bought it blindly without bothering to do any research, and I bet the salesperson told them you may want to go to the 64GB model...), or they didn't WANT to spend anymore than the base model price.

Either way, if they landed themselves in the "I need more space" circle then they should make sure they are utilizing their space efficiently and taking advantage of the plethora of online storage options available and efficiently storing what they need over what they want on their phone.