"SD Cards are useless with cloud storage" NO THEY ARE NOT

[The Hustleman]

So many people keep telling me that SD cards are replaced with cloud storage, but the truth is it just ISN'T a viable option.

Here's why

1. You must have unlimited data to truly take advantage of it. The good carriers (wrongfully so) no longer offer it. Cloud storage can and will run up data, especially when streaming your video and mp3s. A problem solved by a microSD card with your media and such stored on it.

2. When not in a data area (a tunnel for example) the storage is GONE. You only have what's available on the phone itself. This isn't good for people who like to use their phones to watch videos or listen to music. A problem EASILY solved by inclusion of a microSD card.

3. When watching a video you can't just simply FF to a scene you want without waiting for the "buffering" to finish. on a microSD card y ou CAN. Just scroll straight to the scene and watch as intended.

4. It's much easier to put a whole music collection on a 64GB microSD card than the cloud, then you're using your data every time you stream it or download it.

5. Capacity advantages. With an SD card, you have more raw storage capacity. If you have a 16GB phone, you only have 16 GB of storage, less than that after formatting and software being installed. With a 16 GB phone with a 64GB microSD card, you're looking at 80 GB of storage. Have a 64GB ONE? Imagine with an SD card slot - you're looking at 128GB of storage, more than anyone will ever need on a phone. Carry your ENTIRE library on your phone. Carry a few blu-ray rips. More space than needed is always better than not enough space available.

6. Pricing. Internal storage is more reliable true, but it's also more expensive compared to a microSD card.

[edited to add #7]
7. In the unlikely event your phone is destroyed (for example it falls a long way and his the ground falling to pieces or if someone takes your phone and slams it into a wall) you can merely pull out the sd card and pop it into the new phone. Internal storage only, you just lost all that data.

It's really sad that Samsung is the only android manufacturer that still includes them. I can settle for 32GB of internal storage, but expandable storage is always a better option than not having it

 

[MERCDROID]

So many people keep telling me that SD cards are replaced with cloud storage, but the truth is it just ISN'T a viable option.

Here's why

1. You must have unlimited data to truly take advantage of it. The good carriers (wrongfully so) no longer offer it. Cloud storage can and will run up data, especially when streaming your video and mp3s. A problem solved by a microSD card with your media and such stored on it.

2. When not in a data area (a tunnel for example) the storage is GONE. You only have what's available on the phone itself. This isn't good for people who like to use their phones to watch videos or listen to music. A problem EASILY solved by inclusion of a microSD card.

3. When watching a video you can't just simply FF to a scene you want without waiting for the "buffering" to finish. on a microSD card y ou CAN. Just scroll straight to the scene and watch as intended.

4. It's much easier to put a whole music collection on a 64GB microSD card than the cloud, then you're using your data every time you stream it or download it.

5. Capacity advantages. With an SD card, you have more raw storage capacity. If you have a 16GB phone, you only have 16 GB of storage, less than that after formatting and software being installed. With a 16 GB phone with a 64GB microSD card, you're looking at 80 GB of storage. Have a 64GB ONE? Imagine with an SD card slot - you're looking at 128GB of storage, more than anyone will ever need on a phone. Carry your ENTIRE library on your phone. Carry a few blu-ray rips. More space than needed is always better than not enough space available.

6. Pricing. Internal storage is more reliable true, but it's also more expensive compared to a microSD card.


It's really sad that Samsung is the only android manufacturer that still includes them. I can settle for 32GB of internal storage, but expandable storage is always a better option than not having it

T-Mobile offers unlimited data; T-Mobile is a good carrier Sorry, I couldn't resist.

On a serious note, I feel your pain. Personally, I don't have a beef with SD cards; however, I do much prefer more internal storage. It's a little frustrating that phones are still being released (Samsung, I'm looking at you) with 16GB as the base model.

I listen to a lot of music. I have several thousand songs on my phone, and I use Google Play Music All Access. Recently, I ran out of space on my GSM Galaxy Nexus. I never thought that would happen. I used to be content with 16GB of space. Now, I want more. Sure, I can get away with 16GB; but, it would be very refreshing to see EVERY SINGLE OEM offer 32GB as the base model for their flagship.

 

[The Hustleman]

T-Mobile offers unlimited data; T-Mobile is a good carrier Sorry, I couldn't resist.

On a serious note, I feel your pain. Personally, I don't have a beef with SD cards; however, I do much prefer more internal storage. It's a little frustrating that phones are still being released (Samsung, I'm looking at you) with 16GB as the base model.

I listen to a lot of music. I have several thousand songs on my phone, and I use Google Play Music All Access. Recently, I ran out of space on my GSM Galaxy Nexus. I never thought that would happen. I used to be content with 16GB of space. Now, I want more. Sure, I can get away with 16GB; but, it would be very refreshing to see EVERY SINGLE OEM offer 32GB as the base model for their flagship.

I agree with you - except the T-Mobile being a good carrier part lol. I like their prices by their service and coverage area leaves a lot to be desired for be.

32gb should be the minimum.

I think internal storage is superior no doubt, but external is the next best thing

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[Ry]

32gb should be the minimum.

In six months, people will say 64GB should be the minimum.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Android Central Forums

 

[The Hustleman]

In six months, people will say 64GB should be the minimum.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Android Central Forums

With pictures and video sizes and more downloading available I can see it going that way

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[gabbott]

Even with sd card support on the s4, there are certain shooting modes like burst that will use internal storage regardless of setting to use sd and using those modes I've witnessed storage use ranking up fast. Cloud music caching such as Google all access only uses internal storage, same with YouTube prefetch.

For a lot of things sd card use seems only good for manual tasks.

While I see some benefit, the best idea is get as much internal storage you can.

That all said, I have a 16GB S4 and can get by.

 

[Ry]

Even with sd card support on the s4, there are certain shooting modes like burst that will use internal storage regardless of setting to use sd and using those modes I've witnessed storage use ranking up fast. Cloud music caching such as Google all access only uses internal storage, same with YouTube prefetch.

For a lot of things sd card use seems only good for manual tasks.

While I see some benefit, the best idea is get as much internal storage you can.

That all said, I have a 16GB S4 and can get by.

I get by on my 8GB Bionic. I'm pretty sure I'm not even using 1GB on the 16GB memory card installed on it.

And I have 24GB of 27GB available on my 32GB Nexus 7.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[The Hustleman]

I get by on my 8GB Bionic. I'm pretty sure I'm not even using 1GB on the 16GB memory card installed on it.

And I have 24GB of 27GB available on my 32GB Nexus 7.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

You sir are the minority lol

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[xxLiquidX]

I think that is actually a majority. I don't think the average person has gigs of music and/or video. For legality reasonings, a music album would be between $5 and $15, that's a lot if money before you get to gigs worth.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Ry]

You sir are the minority lol

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Highly doubt it.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Android Central Forums

 

[Golfdriver97]

So many people keep telling me that SD cards are replaced with cloud storage, but the truth is it just ISN'T a viable option.

Here's why

1. You must have unlimited data to truly take advantage of it. The good carriers (wrongfully so) no longer offer it. Cloud storage can and will run up data, especially when streaming your video and mp3s. A problem solved by a microSD card with your media and such stored on it.

2. When not in a data area (a tunnel for example) the storage is GONE. You only have what's available on the phone itself. This isn't good for people who like to use their phones to watch videos or listen to music. A problem EASILY solved by inclusion of a microSD card.

3. When watching a video you can't just simply FF to a scene you want without waiting for the "buffering" to finish. on a microSD card y ou CAN. Just scroll straight to the scene and watch as intended.

4. It's much easier to put a whole music collection on a 64GB microSD card than the cloud, then you're using your data every time you stream it or download it.

5. Capacity advantages. With an SD card, you have more raw storage capacity. If you have a 16GB phone, you only have 16 GB of storage, less than that after formatting and software being installed. With a 16 GB phone with a 64GB microSD card, you're looking at 80 GB of storage. Have a 64GB ONE? Imagine with an SD card slot - you're looking at 128GB of storage, more than anyone will ever need on a phone. Carry your ENTIRE library on your phone. Carry a few blu-ray rips. More space than needed is always better than not enough space available.

6. Pricing. Internal storage is more reliable true, but it's also more expensive compared to a microSD card.


It's really sad that Samsung is the only android manufacturer that still includes them. I can settle for 32GB of internal storage, but expandable storage is always a better option than not having it

You make some excellent points. I like having an expandable SD card slot. My question is: Why can't there be both? I use my Internal Storage for Apps and related files, my SD card for Roms and backups, along with media files like wallpapers, music, etc, and I use Dropbox for large PDF files that I don't use often.
I have a 16 GB Galaxy S3, and a 16 GB SD card. Altogether, that setup cost me $120. As of this typing, I have 5.82 GB free Internally, and 7.56 GB free Externally. When I found all of my CDs about a month ago, I thought I was going to have to buy bigger SD card.
As far as pricing goes right now, I could not afford anything larger than a 32 GB Internal. Yes, I know as technology advances, prices come down, but I know for me, it won't be enough.

 

[The Hustleman]

Highly doubt it.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Android Central Forums

You really think someone with less than a gig of storage space used is the majority?

I'm looking at phones DAILY and I've never seen less than 8gb of storage used on one

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[The Hustleman]

You make some excellent points. I like having an expandable SD card slot. My question is: Why can't there be both? I use my Internal Storage for Apps and related files, my SD card for Roms and backups, along with media files like wallpapers, music, etc, and I use Dropbox for large PDF files that I don't use often.
I have a 16 GB Galaxy S3, and a 16 GB SD card. Altogether, that setup cost me $120. As of this typing, I have 5.82 GB free Internally, and 7.56 GB free Externally. When I found all of my CDs about a month ago, I thought I was going to have to buy bigger SD card.
As far as pricing goes right now, I could not afford anything larger than a 32 GB Internal. Yes, I know as technology advances, prices come down, but I know for me, it won't be enough.

I agree, both should be present.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[Ry]

You really think someone with less than a gig of storage space used is the majority?

I'm looking at phones DAILY and I've never seen less than 8gb of storage used on one

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Just based on my immediate family and friends with Android phones-

Photos is what takes up the most space. No one is trying to put their entire music and movie libraries on their phones. 1GB of photos is already a lot.

Point being - I don't know anyone running their Android phones even remotely close to full.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[bp3dots]

So many people keep telling me that SD cards are replaced with cloud storage, but the truth is it just ISN'T a viable option.

Here's why

1. You must have unlimited data to truly take advantage of it. The good carriers (wrongfully so) no longer offer it. Cloud storage can and will run up data, especially when streaming your video and mp3s. A problem solved by a microSD card with your media and such stored on it.

2. When not in a data area (a tunnel for example) the storage is GONE. You only have what's available on the phone itself. This isn't good for people who like to use their phones to watch videos or listen to music. A problem EASILY solved by inclusion of a microSD card.

3. When watching a video you can't just simply FF to a scene you want without waiting for the "buffering" to finish. on a microSD card y ou CAN. Just scroll straight to the scene and watch as intended.

4. It's much easier to put a whole music collection on a 64GB microSD card than the cloud, then you're using your data every time you stream it or download it.

5. Capacity advantages. With an SD card, you have more raw storage capacity. If you have a 16GB phone, you only have 16 GB of storage, less than that after formatting and software being installed. With a 16 GB phone with a 64GB microSD card, you're looking at 80 GB of storage. Have a 64GB ONE? Imagine with an SD card slot - you're looking at 128GB of storage, more than anyone will ever need on a phone. Carry your ENTIRE library on your phone. Carry a few blu-ray rips. More space than needed is always better than not enough space available.

6. Pricing. Internal storage is more reliable true, but it's also more expensive compared to a microSD card.

1. False, you only need to have a data plan that exeeds what you stream. In my case, 10GB is plenty, and even with heavy music streaming, I've never hit it. For most users, that number is much smaller.

2. No phone only has cloud storage though, there is always internal as well. While it'd be great to have huge internal (a much more elegant solution) the 16 GB many phones are coming with is more than enough to cover most users for those time's when they don't have coverage. If someone is often out of signal, they aren't a typical case, and in all fairness, manufacturers don't build for rarities.

3. Fair enough, but how many people do this regularly enough that it's a big problem to wait a few seconds to buffer?

4. Rarely is anyone putting all their music on a mobile device, and even more so that they buy a 64GB card on top of their device.

5. You illustrate 128GB as more than anyone will ever need, but really 32 is more than regualr people need by a longshot.

6. IIRC, It's still cheaper to put 64 in the hardware than to buy a 64GB card. (Not that that has trickled down to the comsumer yet, it's still profit for the manufacturer at this point.) Storage also rapidly decreases in price, so this issue will continue to shrink.

You sir are the minority lol

Not at all. Most users I've seen are nowhere near filling up their phones/tablets.

 

[The Hustleman]

1. False, you only need to have a data plan that exeeds what you stream. In my case, 10GB is plenty, and even with heavy music streaming, I've never hit it. For most users, that number is much smaller.

2. No phone only has cloud storage though, there is always internal as well. While it'd be great to have huge internal (a much more elegant solution) the 16 GB many phones are coming with is more than enough to cover most users for those time's when they don't have coverage. If someone is often out of signal, they aren't a typical case, and in all fairness, manufacturers don't build for rarities.

3. Fair enough, but how many people do this regularly enough that it's a big problem to wait a few seconds to buffer?

4. Rarely is anyone putting all their music on a mobile device, and even more so that they buy a 64GB card on top of their device.

5. You illustrate 128GB as more than anyone will ever need, but really 32 is more than regualr people need by a longshot.

6. IIRC, It's still cheaper to put 64 in the hardware than to buy a 64GB card. (Not that that has trickled down to the comsumer yet, it's still profit for the manufacturer at this point.) Storage also rapidly decreases in price, so this issue will continue to shrink.



Not at all. Most users I've seen are nowhere near filling up their phones/tablets.

I see your points but as I said, having the option is always better than not having it.

And most people use 8-12 gigs from experience

Personally I use way more...

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[The Hustleman]

Edited to add number 7

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[JHBThree]

You really think someone with less than a gig of storage space used is the majority?

I'm looking at phones DAILY and I've never seen less than 8gb of storage used on one

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

He's right. Most people don't use their phones for their music. (The exception being iPhones, thanks to iTunes) The majority of people use their sd cards for one thing: photos.

 

[Hamp]

So many people keep telling me that SD cards are replaced with cloud storage, but the truth is it just ISN'T a viable option.

Here's why

1. You must have unlimited data to truly take advantage of it. The good carriers (wrongfully so) no longer offer it. Cloud storage can and will run up data, especially when streaming your video and mp3s. A problem solved by a microSD card with your media and such stored on it.

2. When not in a data area (a tunnel for example) the storage is GONE. You only have what's available on the phone itself. This isn't good for people who like to use their phones to watch videos or listen to music. A problem EASILY solved by inclusion of a microSD card.

3. When watching a video you can't just simply FF to a scene you want without waiting for the "buffering" to finish. on a microSD card y ou CAN. Just scroll straight to the scene and watch as intended.

4. It's much easier to put a whole music collection on a 64GB microSD card than the cloud, then you're using your data every time you stream it or download it.

5. Capacity advantages. With an SD card, you have more raw storage capacity. If you have a 16GB phone, you only have 16 GB of storage, less than that after formatting and software being installed. With a 16 GB phone with a 64GB microSD card, you're looking at 80 GB of storage. Have a 64GB ONE? Imagine with an SD card slot - you're looking at 128GB of storage, more than anyone will ever need on a phone. Carry your ENTIRE library on your phone. Carry a few blu-ray rips. More space than needed is always better than not enough space available.

6. Pricing. Internal storage is more reliable true, but it's also more expensive compared to a microSD card.

[edited to add #7]
7. In the unlikely event your phone is destroyed (for example it falls a long way and his the ground falling to pieces or if someone takes your phone and slams it into a wall) you can merely pull out the sd card and pop it into the new phone. Internal storage only, you just lost all that data.

It's really sad that Samsung is the only android manufacturer that still includes them. I can settle for 32GB of internal storage, but expandable storage is always a better option than not having it

Thanks Hustleman. Every one of your points are mine exactly and several of the reasons why I selected the GS3 (also REMOVABLE BATTERY). Glad I'm not the only one that feels this way!

 

[Jerry Hildenbrand]

There's no way to ever get the data for real numbers on this, but I'm willing to bet that "most" Android phones have less than 2GB free internal storage and are using the cheap 1GB microSD card that came with the phone.

Remember, even though there are 100 Million high-end Android phones out there, there are 800 Million low-end ones, too.