Samsung responds to Galaxy S4 storage woes

[Raptor007]

Not sure how many of us read other Android related sites, but I tend to read a lot of them and also lots of tech related sites. So today I was reading Android Authority and found this article
Samsung responds to Galaxy S4 storage woes, says current setup is good where "Samsung responds to Galaxy S4 storage woes, says current setup is for the greater good" and from my viewpoint, they are smoking crack.

Here is one snipit "According to Samsung, the ?system? part of the Galaxy S4′s internal memory takes up approximately 6.85GB of total space. That?s how users get left with less than 9GB for their own personal use. Is it wrong? Samsung says it isn?t, and in fact, it?s the reason why users are able to enjoy the phone?s ?high resolution display and more powerful features.?

And

Samsung also notes that users who really need more storage space than the Galaxy S4 readily offers can turn to external solutions, and it has made things somewhat easier for them by bundling a free microSD card with every unit ?for extension of memory.?

Take a read and share your thoughts on this.

 

[smooth4lyfe]

They say its only 1GB more than the S3, but if I recall, my S3 has 12GB free...not 9 or 10...thats some bull to me but whatever, I keep most of my stuff on the SD Card anyways

 

[Phil Nickinson]

What's there to respond to? It is the way it is. I don't like it either. But what did folks expect them to say?

 

[byeblackberry]

How about advertising it as a 6.85GB Samsung GS4 instead of a 16GB. It would be too hard to tell the truth though.

 

[scorpiodsu]

How about advertising it as a 6.85GB Samsung GS4 instead of a 16GB. It would be too hard to tell the truth though.

LOL. I am in agreement with everyone else and don't like it but the available storage is always lower than what the companies list. From computers, to SD cards, to smartphones. Just like my computer, advertised with a 500GB HDD actually had around 460 out of the box. I think the biggest issue is here is the amount of space that is actually taken up, not that they don't specifically list actual user amount especially when that could vary depending on the carrier. I feel you, but that's definitely not realistic. Maybe say 16GB (9-10GB available)?

 

[ericinaz]

It is no different than renting a storage unit that's 100 sqft then walking into it after signing a two year contract and finding 50 sqft are taken up by the electrical transformer and ac unit required to operate the unit. When you get burgers they always tell you on the ad and product package that the advertised size is precooked and you're not getting that. The cell industry should have to clearly tell the consumer what space they have for their use. If we're on this site then we know but the average person won't. If they use the size as a selling point then they should be upfront.

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[AndroidUK]

It's not really a major problem IF one could actually get hold of a 32Gb or 64Gb model. Here in Europe there is a deafening silence on the larger memory variants.

Many people will be getting this phone on contract and in the contract period will almost certainly end up running out of memory as they install large apps and hi-def games - things the power and screen resolution cry out for. I realise there would be a price penalty for 32Gb/64Gb versions but users should at least have the choice. I can't even find any SIM free versions of the larger memory variants available from independent dealers. Real shame for Samsung - I will probably end up with the HTC One or the forthcoming Nexus.

 

[Alex Garvin]

Yes you can. Under the storage tab in settings. All of my apps, music, and photos are on my sd card


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[rushmore]

Alex, are you messing around or have an older OS on your phone?

You can NOT move or install apps to the SD card with JellyBean or ICS after the second update of that OS.

sdcard0 is INTERNAL storage and NOT the sd card.

 

[Eric Kane]

Judging by the comments in this thread I'll more than likely get blasted for saying this, but are you really complaining about losing 2-3 GB? That will make or break the experience for you? I'd say for those that are unhappy about this, 16 GB with 12 GB free wouldn't have been enough either way. I guess the only thing I'd be concerned about is why they haven't released the higher capacity devices with 32 GB or 64 GB in the US yet (or period).

By the way, this is coming from someone who will never, ever get close to using even 5 GB for applications, let alone 9 GB.

 

[spyderrc10gt2]

Samsung also notes that users who really need more storage space than the Galaxy S4 readily offers can turn to external solutions, and it has made things somewhat easier for them by bundling a free microSD card with every unit ?for extension of memory.?

What size SD card does samsung bundle in? Pre-ordered mine through VZW and they never mentioned an sd coming with the phone.

 

[videian]

My ATT version came with no card, have a 32gb card on the way. Moving from iPhone to Android for the second time, the last version of Android I used you could move some apps to the extra sd card, is that no longer the case? Maybe I should wait for the 32gb version...

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[JHBThree]

Judging by the comments in this thread I'll more than likely get blasted for saying this, but are you really complaining about losing 2-3 GB? That will make or break the experience for you? I'd say for those that are unhappy about this, 16 GB with 12 GB free wouldn't have been enough either way. I guess the only thing I'd be concerned about is why they haven't released the higher capacity devices with 32 GB or 64 GB in the US yet (or period).

By the way, this is coming from someone who will never, ever get close to using even 5 GB for applications, let alone 9 GB.

I agree with you. My temp phone is a nexus 4 until I get my S4, and with 90 apps on it (along with a bunch of pictures) I still have only used 2 gigs. It shouldn't be an issue for anyone.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[JHBThree]

It is no different than renting a storage unit that's 100 sqft then walking into it after signing a two year contract and finding 50 sqft are taken up by the electrical transformer and ac unit required to operate the unit. When you get burgers they always tell you on the ad and product package that the advertised size is precooked and you're not getting that. The cell industry should have to clearly tell the consumer what space they have for their use. If we're on this site then we know but the average person won't. If they use the size as a selling point then they should be upfront.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Android Central Forums

They are up front. Hence the reason why the box clearly says that the space available to the user will be less.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[JHBThree]

How about advertising it as a 6.85GB Samsung GS4 instead of a 16GB. It would be too hard to tell the truth though.

They ARE telling the truth. The phone has 16gb of memory on board.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[videian]

They ARE telling the truth. The phone has 16gb of memory on board.

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Oh come on, when you advertise 16gb of space, 98% of the World expects to be somewhere close to that. We're not even remotely close.

You can talk semantics all you want, doesn't make it right.

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[byeblackberry]

They ARE telling the truth. The phone has 16gb of memory on board.

Thats not telling the truth to me. Thats not even half truth. 16gb but you can only use 6.85gb. If you could save apps on the SD card it wouldn't be a big deal.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[thehatguy]

I didn't get a free SD card.

WTF?

John

 

[Eric Kane]

Oh come on, when you advertise 16gb of space, 98% of the World expects to be somewhere close to that. We're not even remotely close.

You can talk semantics all you want, doesn't make it right.

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I can't remember an Android phone that offered 16 GB total and I had 16 GB free. It's always 11-12 GB for the most part. You know, because Android itself isn't devoid of using storage. Samsung has a lot of things packed into this phone, so it's 2-3 GB less. Not a big deal, but because Samsung is the new Apple, it'll be blown out of proportion.

 

[ericinaz]

They are up front. Hence the reason why the box clearly says that the space available to the user will be less.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

If you could access 80% or even 70% of the advertised memory that's one thing. But you end up with 44% less space than they lead you to believed you have. With the increase in size of OS images and preinstalled apps they need to stop making it sound as if you have 16 gigs of usable space is all I'm saying. I'm not talking about some random feature of the phone we're talking about how they sell the device to consumers.

How would you feel if their marketing said it has a 1.9 MHz quad core but you find you only have the ability to reach 56% of that rated speed. Would it be okay if the said in super fine print on the box "processor speed will be less"?



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