16GB not enough for flagship phones

[mase123987]

Some people are complaining that the 16GB version of the Galaxy S4 doesn't have a lot of free space out of the box. Some were saying that it wouldn't be a huge issue if one of two things were true:

1. 32gb and 64gb options were more easily available
2. Apps could be installed on the sdcard like it could be in previous versions of Android.

Now I didn't realize that you can't install the apps on the sdcard (or at least not easily) on Android anymore.

It really makes me thankful the 920 came with 32gb as the only option. Today's phones really are needing this extra space. I have 10gb free right now. That seems like a lot but it wouldn't work on a 16gb phone!

It seems crazy for phone makers to have the flagship phones have any less than 32gb of space.

 

[broar94]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

Samsung have clarified that the microsd card is available but what they didn't say is you can't move the apps to SD card!! I do not think everyone knows about this. you can only store photo/media on sd card..

But, rooting should solve the problem right? Link2SD isnt compatible with Android 4.2.2? Someone please comment

 

[mase123987]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

Frankly I didn't do much research because I don't see owning a newer Android phone anytime soon, but I am guessing it is possible rooting. That said, if you do have to root to move/install apps to sdcard, it could be a big problem. A lot of games now-a-days have become quite big. Also, I see a lot of Samsung phones with people that won't be rooting their phone anytime soon just for the fact that they aren't that good technically.

I always thought of this as more of an iOS and WP issue. Maybe it is now Android also...

EDIT: Just read more...Moving apps to an sdcard isn't possible without rooting. It was removed from Android as an option.

 

[anon(5335877)]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

I read some of the comments on an article (I didn't read the thread on AC) and some people are claiming false advertising. They're saying that Samsung should advertise it as an 8GB device. I don't see how that's fair, unless you get every other device to advertise it's usable storage space. So the Nexus 4 8GB will become the Nexus 4 6GB, the HTC One 32GB should be the HTC One 25GB, and so on.

 

[anthonyng]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

Why are os's going this way. Installing onto SD was so common in the Symbian days. Why regress?

 

[mase123987]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

Why are os's going this way. Installing onto SD was so common in the Symbian days. Why regress?

I assume it is two fold:
1. Security. While I don't know specifics, I would it is more secure to keep everything on the phone itself.
2. Pirating. I'm guessing it is easier to pirate apps if you can install them on an SD card.

These are the only two reasons that make any sense to me..

 

[MDboyz]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

People should understand it's not advertised as 16gb available space; however, for high end phone I think it should be 32gb at least.

 

[anon(5335877)]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

I assume it is two fold:
1. Security. While I don't know specifics, I would it is more secure to keep everything on the phone itself.
2. Pirating. I'm guessing it is easier to pirate apps if you can install them on an SD card.

These are the only two reasons that make any sense to me..

Speed. If you use a slow SD card, the app will have poor performance, and people will think it's the fault of the phone or the operating system when it's actually your slow Class 2 SD card that's the bottleneck.

 

[mase123987]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

Speed. If you use a slow SD card, the app will have poor performance, and people will think it's the fault of the phone or the operating system when it's actually your slow Class 2 SD card that's the bottleneck.

That is true. Though you would think it could test the card and then allow the option if it meets a certain benchmark.

 

[Simon Tupper]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

I assume it is two fold:
1. Security. While I don't know specifics, I would it is more secure to keep everything on the phone itself.
2. Pirating. I'm guessing it is easier to pirate apps if you can install them on an SD card.

These are the only two reasons that make any sense to me..

i think you are right and with Google Glass-like products people will learn the true meaning of privacy and security. I read that some people succeeded to hack it already. But anything built on Android is less safe against malwares and other attacks anyway. I'm glad Samsung took care of this for their S4.

 

[mase123987]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

i think you are right and with Google Glass-like products people will learn the true meaning of privacy and security. I read that some people succeeded to hack it already. But anything built on Android is less safe against malwares and other attacks anyway. I'm glad Samsung took care of this for their S4.

It isn't a Samsung thing. No Android phones running the latest couple Android OS's can do it.

 

[Dazzi]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

Link

It is basically people complaining that the 16gb version doesn't have a lot of free space out of the box. Some were saying that it wouldn't be a huge issue if one of two things were true:

1. 32gb and 64gb options were more easily available
2. Apps could be installed on the sdcard like it could be in previous versions of Android.

Now I didn't realize that you can't install the apps on the sdcard (or at least not easily) on Android anymore.

The reason I put this on the 920 board is that it really makes me thankful the 920 came with 32gb as the only option. Today's phones really are needing this extra space. I have 10gb free right now. That seems like a lot but it wouldn't work on a 16gb phone!

It seems crazy for phone makers to have the flagship phones have any less than 32gb of space.

What makes me laugh is the GS4's system is over 6gb. Therefore, the user has less than 10gb for games and apps -- so glad I've got a L920 because I would of filled the GS4 already.

 

[broar94]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

^^ Well, there are more Samsung Features on it than l920 or any other smartphone!! That's the whole S4 attraction(you can notice in their ads as well) for Samsung

 

[Jaripi]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

They have only 9 gb, but that's space for apps, temps, maybe maps, caching and downloading updates too ... it does not take long that they have to remove apps or files to get their apps just updated ... how about OS OTA update ? (it is a big one) ... I think that they feel cheated soon ...

 

[mase123987]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

My original reason for posting this was not to bash the S4 but to show something Nokia did right with the 920 flagship and that WP isn't the only OS that doesn't take full advantage of expandable memory.

 

[Dazzi]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

^^ Well, there are more Samsung Features on it than l920 or any other smartphone!! That's the whole S4 attraction(you can notice in their ads as well) for Samsung

I don't care, I can live without those gimmicky features. The fact is there is only 9.15 storage available, and it would be no good for me -- everybody uses there phone differently.

 

[WavingReds]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

I always tell people when they buy phones

8GB is nothing
16GB is NEVER enough
32GB is the Right size
64GB feels amazing =)

I am also glad Nokia decided to give the 920 a 32GB storage, honestly I don't want to deal with an SD card at all.

 

[Rich White]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

Lossless Audio eats space! Can't replace an iPOD Classic or Hitachi Gigabeat or Zune 30 with small hard drives.

 

[MrDiamondJ]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

The 16GB on the S4 was a killer for me. After hearing that that 16GB was actually ~9GB usable, there was no way I was going to get that version of the phone. One of the main draws of Android is its tinkerability (I think I just made up that word), so wanting to have lots of space to download apps is a no-brainer. 16GB is nothing, really...you can fill that up with MP3s and apps in no time flat.

The S4's 16GB vs. the Lumia 920's 32GB was one of the reasons I very recently went with the 920. I'm not a frothing Android ****** nor an app addict, but I do need storage space for everything I download and carry around on my phone, regardless of cloud storage.

 

[theeboredone]

Re: Interesting Galaxy S4 thread on Android Central

I think the standard should slowly start to move towards 32GB as an entry level. It's no secret that how much they charge us (100 dollars more) compared to how much it costs in terms of production for a 32 GB is just a money grabbing scheme. If we're going to have 7-8 GB taken up by software and other features, it really doesn't leave much room. Especially if you don't have the option for an SD card or the fact apps can't be stored on an SD card.