Does Google improving SD Card Support Reflect Poorly on the Galaxy S6?

[jcp007]

No. They were able to make a better designed phone with 1) higher capacity models available and 2) significantly faster storage than their own and competing OEMs' flagships

I agree. Only time will tell if sd cards continue to appear on flagship smartphones. Personally, I see them as an endangered species. In markets like the US, there would seem to be less of a demand for mid- and low-end devices where sd cards would be more of a necessity. Plus, my 64GB card in my GS4 went extinct. This doesn't reflect badly on Samsung. It is ironic that we are still questioning the merits of excluding the card slot even in light of recent developments as a result of the Google I/O. If you think the company made a mistake, vote with your wallet.

 

[Gator352]

The security and stability issues that are systemically common to 100% of SD cards, in addition to those introduced by knock off cards.

I never had security or stability problems, so to say 100% is a misnomer. Maybe in knockoffs I can see where the problem lies but if using genuine top of the line cards from a reputable dealer, not eBay, wouldn't be a problem for most.

So to say Google removed the feature to add security and stability, then to reinstate it is crazy at best. They could have just implemented them in software updates.

Google doesn't like like SD cards. They've said it before. They want you to use cloud storage, especially G+, but it has been a failure. That and the backlash had pushed Google to do what they are doing now.... Reinstating it.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Aquila]

I never had security or stability problems, so to say 100% is a misnomer. Maybe in knockoffs I can see where the problem lies but if using genuine top of the line cards from a reputable dealer, not eBay, wouldn't be a problem for most.

So to say Google removed the feature to add security and stability, then to reinstate it is crazy at best. They could have just implemented them in software updates.

Google doesn't like like SD cards. They've said it before. They want you to use cloud storage, especially G+, but it has been a failure. That and the backlash had pushed Google to do what they are doing now.... Reinstating it.

Posted via the Android Central App

I think you'll find that SD cards continue to die in most of the US market and become better supported in emerging markets. That seems to be the driver here, reaching the next 5 billion consumers who don't have access to better alternatives. Google reintroduced SD card support in KitKat. Now they're expanding the functionality and security. There isn't any backlash on any widespread level, and I don't see this as backpeddling. This seems to be the next logical step in the SD card support improvements that they've been rolling out over the last two to three years.

 

[Gator352]

I agree. Only time will tell if sd cards continue to appear on flagship smartphones. Personally, I see them as an endangered species. In markets like the US, there would seem to be less of a demand for mid- and low-end devices where sd cards would be more of a necessity. Plus, my 64GB card in my GS4 went extinct. This doesn't reflect badly on Samsung. It is ironic that we are still questioning the merits of excluding the card slot even in light of recent developments as a result of the Google I/O. If you think the company made a mistake, vote with your wallet.

Why? With 64 gigs, on a high end flagship, for apps and such and 64 gigs for photos, videos, and documents, how can that not be a necessity for some?

I get what your saying though. I'm afraid it's a dying breed as well. But I honestly think it's a way for them to tier the phones in different sizes, lock then down, and charge you a premium... Especially when SD cards are much cheaper.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Gator352]

I think you'll find that SD cards continue to die in most of the US market and become better supported in emerging markets. That seems to be the driver here, reaching the next 5 billion consumers who don't have access to better alternatives. Google reintroduced SD card support in KitKat. Now they're expanding the functionality and security. There isn't any backlash on any widespread level, and I don't see this as backpeddling. This seems to be the next logical step in the SD card support improvements that they've been rolling out over the last two to three years.

I agree with what you said there.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[jdmorin]

A lot of people are obviously for the SD card...

I don't think I read a comment about cloud storage.

SD cards are easily replaceable by apps like OneDrive and Google Photos. And this is coming from a 64gb S6 owner who had an S3 and an S5.

Its all about managing the cloud. But maybe I'm just crazy

 

[berdinkerdickle]

Cloud uses data. Data cost money for many, and the 'many' continues to grow as unlimited data plans go away.

 

[Erm10]

Ummm hello....How did the title of my thread get changed?

 

[berdinkerdickle]

With the new thread title, my post would now be: No, Google improving SD Card Support doesn't Reflect Poorly on the Galaxy S6.
But I do think it's kind of funny that they had a tv commercial making fun of wall huggers, to within days announcing the S6 which is now a wall hugging device.
Additionally, after they dump the SD card, Google improves SD Card Support.
Just funny timing is all. Nothing more.

 

[Beyond Fire]

As long as I have at least 64gb of on board storage on my phone I'm a happy camper. However I'm really hoping SD card support does not go away from tablets as for me thats where they are most useful for storing media.

 

[Aquila]

Ummm hello....How did the title of my thread get changed?

Thread titles are regularly updated to improve the clarity of search results in order to help users more quickly access the content they're looking for. Good thread titles generally should be full sentences, describe the device they're referencing and convey enough information to inform the user of the gist of the topic being discussed. If you have any questions or concerns regarding thread titles, please feel free to PM any member of the moderator team.

 

[jcp007]

Why? With 64 gigs, on a high end flagship, for apps and such and 64 gigs for photos, videos, and documents, how can that not be a necessity for some?

I get what your saying though. I'm afraid it's a dying breed as well. But I honestly think it's a way for them to tier the phones in different sizes, lock then down, and charge you a premium... Especially when SD cards are much cheaper.

Posted via the Android Central App

If you need more than 128GB, then it might be time to offload files to cloud or external storage. I understand that some have needs like this. They may want to consider a device other than the GS6. It's not for everyone. It's a sad day, IMO, when our whole lives are on a "phone". How did we get to that point?

Posted via My Samsung Galaxy S6 Handheld Device

 

[Almeuit]

If you need more than 128GB, then it might be time to offload files to cloud or external storage. I understand that some have needs like this. They may want to consider a device other than the GS6. It's not for everyone. It's a sad day, IMO, when our whole lives are on a "phone". How did we get to that point?

Posted via My Samsung Galaxy S6 Handheld Device

I agree those that need storage should maybe look at another device (like an SD card) but just because one wants space doesn't mean their lives revolve around a phone. They could simply want the space to have movies so that time they want to watch something without using data .. it is there .. Versus having to plan ahead for every situation when they can't always plan for it.

Example would be me taking my car in the other .. what should have been 20 minutes turned into almost 2 hours due to some other issues. Thankfully I have unlimited so I can stream but I would have loved to have some videos on my phone if I didn't have unlimited so I wasn't sitting in the waiting room staring at the wall.. or worse .. public cable tv lol .

 

[S6edge46220]

Cloud uses data. Data cost money for many, and the 'many' continues to grow as unlimited data plans go away.

That's why you set it up to transfer to cloud on WiFi only.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[berdinkerdickle]

That's why you set it up to transfer to cloud on WiFi only.

Posted via the Android Central App

I try to do that, but I don't have access to free WiFi at either work or at home.

 

[S6edge46220]

I try to do that, but I don't have access to free WiFi at either work or at home.

Are you still living in the 90s? No offense, but its 2015. How many people that buy flagship phones don't have regular WiFi access? This is one reason they did away with it I think.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[warpdrive]

I try to do that, but I don't have access to free WiFi at either work or at home.

McDonald's has free WiFi. There had to be a micky D's by you? Maybe?

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[jcp007]

I agree those that need storage should maybe look at another device (like an SD card) but just because one wants space doesn't mean their lives revolve around a phone. They could simply want the space to have movies so that time they want to watch something without using data .. it is there .. Versus having to plan ahead for every situation when they can't always plan for it.

Example would be me taking my car in the other .. what should have been 20 minutes turned into almost 2 hours due to some other issues. Thankfully I have unlimited so I can stream but I would have loved to have some videos on my phone if I didn't have unlimited so I wasn't sitting in the waiting room staring at the wall.. or worse .. public cable tv lol .

They can also rotate movies. 128GB is what 25-28 movies? You might need that many if you going camping in some remote location with no internet or cell service or a foreign country whose language you don't speak the language.

 

[berdinkerdickle]

Are you still living in the 90s? No offense, but its 2015. How many people that buy flagship phones don't have regular WiFi access? This is one reason they did away with it I think.

Posted via the Android Central App

I live out in the country.
And at work they aren't broadcasting wifi.

 

[warpdrive]

How would it have been a poor implementation? Wasn't poor before. I think it was either because they couldn't make it work with a metal/glass chassis or because it would have increased the cost. If HTC could implement it in the m8 and m9, then Samsung could have done it. They chose to be like Mike.... Er.... Apple.

Posted via the Android Central App

How about the m7. lots of backlash at first but nobody freaked out once they tried it. And it won phone of the year.

The only difference is that with the m7 you couldn't get a 64gb model other than from the manufacturer. With the S6 you can get much more from retailers right from the start. While I could be wrong, I firmly believe that it's the beginning of a trend for flagships. I'm not even convinced that the Note line will keep the SD card slot because it's just not needed. A little cord and you can connect to a flash drive to store movies and photos if you just want to remove stuff from one phone to the other without a computer.
I'm telling you, I screamed every day how I was upset that I couldn't have an SD card slot on the m7... It was the second reason I didn't buy the phone and I'm a huge HTC fan. But today with the S6 having up to 128gb of storage, why is it needed again?

This break through with Google is just for the low end phones that truly need it, IMHO.

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