Brian & Anand Hate SD Card's in Phones

[WelshBloke]

Children: It's okay. Everything will be okay. You will be able to carry all of your torrented music and movies on an mSD card. Don't let my personal preference stop you.

You call others children but respond like that.

I can taste the irony.

 

[Brian Stirling]

Even with a perfect connection and unlimited data local storage is going to trump streaming.

Get two phones, stream a 1080p video file on one and play the same file from local storage on the other.

See which one dies first.

Yeah, I've occasionally had data rates over 40Mbps but more typically it's 10ish and, sadly, not infrequently less than that. When I had unlimited with Sprint there network was almost always crappy so it was seldom worth it, particularly since there coverage sucks.

The SDXC spec with UHS-II permits speeds over 300MBps and the more common UHS-I seems to be more typically 50MBps-80MBps -- much faster than streaming.


Brian

 

[openwheel]

You call others children but respond like that.

I can taste the irony.

So sorry, I meant to single you out and call you a "dumbass" instead. LOL

 

[WelshBloke]

So sorry, I meant to single you out and call you a "dumbass" instead. LOL

You could do that if you wanted, but given your posts compared to mine in this thread I don't think it would help the irony levels.

 

[Nec_V20]

I looked at the title of the thread and my very first thought was, "Why the eff should I care what Anand and Brian Klug think about SD slots?".

Personally, for me it is a deal-breaker when looking for a tablet to buy and it doesn't have an SD slot. That's my personal preference. I couldn't give a toss whether anyone else agrees with me with regard to this or not.

I would have to ask the question, would you decide NOT to buy the Google Nexus 7 (2013) if it DID have an SD slot?

 

[Oyeve]

I would have to ask the question, would you decide NOT to buy the Google Nexus 7 (2013) if it DID have an SD slot?

Nope. the fact that it DIDNT have an SD slot is exactly why i didnt buy it.

 

[DrPizza]

I think I warned the main characters in the little flame war that's starting to escalate - knock it off now, please. -Admin DrPizza

 

[DrPizza]

I looked at the title of the thread and my very first thought was, "Why the eff should I care what Anand and Brian Klug think about SD slots?".

Personally, for me it is a deal-breaker when looking for a tablet to buy and it doesn't have an SD slot. That's my personal preference. I couldn't give a toss whether anyone else agrees with me with regard to this or not.

I would have to ask the question, would you decide NOT to buy the Google Nexus 7 (2013) if it DID have an SD slot?

I thought the thread was about phones, rather than tablets, though that line is getting blurred. Nonetheless, if a tablet has a USB port rather than an SD slot, why not simply use an external SD reader? Personally, I find a USB port to be far more versatile than an SD slot on a tablet.

For smartphones, while a limited number of users might have a genuine need for an uSD slot, I doubt that the majority of users genuinely have a need for one. Skimming through this thead really quickly, I see those with a need mentioning a 50GB music collection, and a 1600 movie collection. Assuming that those two collections are legitimate and not pirated, I would estimate those two people make up less than 1% of smartphone users with non-pirated music collections that come near the 16GB. To support that assertion, this year, iTunes just announced it reached a record 25 billion songs that have been downloaded. But, in the middle of the year, I'm looking at a statistic that there were 575 million itunes accounts. A little division shows that the average iTunes user has downloaded 43 songs. That is, the average number of songs downloaded per user on iTunes is insignificant compared to the memory of most smartphones. Not that there aren't other legitimate venues for downloading songs, but at a glance, this indicates that users with multiple thousands of legitimately purchased songs in digital format are several standard deviations from the average and represent an insignificant percentage of smartphone users. I feel it's fair to exclude them from consideration in determining if uSD slot should continue to be supported on a smartphone.

The other legitimate reason - people shooting tons and tons of pictures on their smartphones - thousands of images that they'll never look at again; a vacation captured solely on a smartphone. I suppose that may be a legitimate need, if they want to save every image. But, it's not a huge stretch to realize that most of those thousands of images can be deleted, and the minority of good images can be uploaded to cloud storage (not that I'm a fan of cloud storage) to free up more room for more images.

 

[TerryMathews]

I thought the thread was about phones, rather than tablets, though that line is getting blurred. Nonetheless, if a tablet has a USB port rather than an SD slot, why not simply use an external SD reader? Personally, I find a USB port to be far more versatile than an SD slot on a tablet.

For smartphones, while a limited number of users might have a genuine need for an uSD slot, I doubt that the majority of users genuinely have a need for one. Skimming through this thead really quickly, I see those with a need mentioning a 50GB music collection, and a 1600 movie collection. Assuming that those two collections are legitimate and not pirated, I would estimate those two people make up less than 1% of smartphone users with non-pirated music collections that come near the 16GB. To support that assertion, this year, iTunes just announced it reached a record 25 billion songs that have been downloaded. But, in the middle of the year, I'm looking at a statistic that there were 575 million itunes accounts. A little division shows that the average iTunes user has downloaded 43 songs. That is, the average number of songs downloaded per user on iTunes is insignificant compared to the memory of most smartphones. Not that there aren't other legitimate venues for downloading songs, but at a glance, this indicates that users with multiple thousands of legitimately purchased songs in digital format are several standard deviations from the average and represent an insignificant percentage of smartphone users. I feel it's fair to exclude them from consideration in determining if uSD slot should continue to be supported on a smartphone.

The other legitimate reason - people shooting tons and tons of pictures on their smartphones - thousands of images that they'll never look at again; a vacation captured solely on a smartphone. I suppose that may be a legitimate need, if they want to save every image. But, it's not a huge stretch to realize that most of those thousands of images can be deleted, and the minority of good images can be uploaded to cloud storage (not that I'm a fan of cloud storage) to free up more room for more images.

And what of my example, that you can swap content easily using uSD? I do that all the time. Ive got a a couple 16gb cards with cartoons my son likes to watch on it.

Swapping the contents of EMMC at home might be easy, but on the road halfway to Florida?

To me, to say we should do away with an expansion slot is to embrace Steve Jobs concept of the computer: a sealed, disposable appliance.

That might be the mainstream view, but this is a tech forum. Of course we have a different view, we know the value of expansion.

I can't remember ever seeing someone complain that they have too many PCIe slots...

 

[BoberFett]

The other legitimate reason - people shooting tons and tons of pictures on their smartphones - thousands of images that they'll never look at again; a vacation captured solely on a smartphone. I suppose that may be a legitimate need, if they want to save every image. But, it's not a huge stretch to realize that most of those thousands of images can be deleted, and the minority of good images can be uploaded to cloud storage (not that I'm a fan of cloud storage) to free up more room for more images.

I think you overestimate the desire of people to clean up their phones. I helped a friend go to Best Buy this year and upgrade her aging iPhone 3 to an iPhone 5. When looking at the options, we checked her used space on her current phone to see what would work. This is a very typical user, mind you, not a techie. She had hundreds upon hundreds of pictures of family and friends, songs downloaded from iTunes here and there. Her 16 GB phone was almost full. I told her if she got the 16 GB iPhone 5, she'd probably be out of space before she was ready to buy a new phone, so she went with the 32 GB.

Do you really expect that these kinds of people will suddenly decide to clean up their phones between now and the next gen? What's the timeline for phones moving to 64 GB or 128 GB as a minimum? Seems to be moving glacially slow to me. Camera resolution only continues to climb. And the quality of the camera will negate most people's need to carry dedicated still or video cameras. How many home movies are people going to want to carry on their phones?

People are not new to removable storage. From the 5.25" floppy, to the to the DVD, people know how to use removable storage. Other than the blatant profit grab of inflated memory costs and planned obsolescence (along with the mountain of hazardous waste it generates) requiring a new phone every year or two, I can see no logical reason to move away from removable storage.

 

[Brian Stirling]

I thought the thread was about phones, rather than tablets, though that line is getting blurred. Nonetheless, if a tablet has a USB port rather than an SD slot, why not simply use an external SD reader? Personally, I find a USB port to be far more versatile than an SD slot on a tablet.

For smartphones, while a limited number of users might have a genuine need for an uSD slot, I doubt that the majority of users genuinely have a need for one. Skimming through this thead really quickly, I see those with a need mentioning a 50GB music collection, and a 1600 movie collection. Assuming that those two collections are legitimate and not pirated, I would estimate those two people make up less than 1% of smartphone users with non-pirated music collections that come near the 16GB. To support that assertion, this year, iTunes just announced it reached a record 25 billion songs that have been downloaded. But, in the middle of the year, I'm looking at a statistic that there were 575 million itunes accounts. A little division shows that the average iTunes user has downloaded 43 songs. That is, the average number of songs downloaded per user on iTunes is insignificant compared to the memory of most smartphones. Not that there aren't other legitimate venues for downloading songs, but at a glance, this indicates that users with multiple thousands of legitimately purchased songs in digital format are several standard deviations from the average and represent an insignificant percentage of smartphone users. I feel it's fair to exclude them from consideration in determining if uSD slot should continue to be supported on a smartphone.

The other legitimate reason - people shooting tons and tons of pictures on their smartphones - thousands of images that they'll never look at again; a vacation captured solely on a smartphone. I suppose that may be a legitimate need, if they want to save every image. But, it's not a huge stretch to realize that most of those thousands of images can be deleted, and the minority of good images can be uploaded to cloud storage (not that I'm a fan of cloud storage) to free up more room for more images.

I have at present about 17GB of music and all of it, 100%, was bought, mostly as CD's. In fact, I had about 300 CD's at one time but somehow about 50 seem to have come up missing...

As I mentioned in prior posts I have hundreds, not thousands, of DVD's and BR's, and, once again, 100% paid for.

I do find claims of 50GB+ of music to be somewhat suspect as the cost to purchase legally would be over $10K easily, but there are rich folk out there so you can't know for sure.

Now I don't know that I'd want to have all my movies on my phone, though, if it were possible I don't know why I should be denied doing so. Assuming I chose to maintain the same quality level inherent with the DVD's and BR's I have I'd need something like 3TB-4TB just for movies -- we won't be seeing that much phone sized flash storage for a long while. But, if we were to plot the trend out 10 years then by then it's possible.

Back in the days of floppies people would have laughed at the idea that anyone could possibly want 10MB of storage -- times change...


Brian

 

[sweenish]

Too many pro-SD arguments are of the "faster horse" variety.

I realize we're not there yet in regards to ditching the SD card (I have posted what my requirements would be to go local some dozen pages ago), but this type of argument doesn't really help your side out. While the transition happens, the SD card is still an option. But these types of arguments just make you sound like not wanting to give up what you've gotten accustomed to. Such that even when the landscape changes enough to the point that SD cards truly are no longer needed, you'll still be clinging to them.

Just my perception.

 

[Nec_V20]

I thought the thread was about phones, rather than tablets, though that line is getting blurred. Nonetheless, if a tablet has a USB port rather than an SD slot, why not simply use an external SD reader? Personally, I find a USB port to be far more versatile than an SD slot on a tablet.

For smartphones, while a limited number of users might have a genuine need for an uSD slot, I doubt that the majority of users genuinely have a need for one. Skimming through this thead really quickly, I see those with a need mentioning a 50GB music collection, and a 1600 movie collection. Assuming that those two collections are legitimate and not pirated, I would estimate those two people make up less than 1% of smartphone users with non-pirated music collections that come near the 16GB. To support that assertion, this year, iTunes just announced it reached a record 25 billion songs that have been downloaded. But, in the middle of the year, I'm looking at a statistic that there were 575 million itunes accounts. A little division shows that the average iTunes user has downloaded 43 songs. That is, the average number of songs downloaded per user on iTunes is insignificant compared to the memory of most smartphones. Not that there aren't other legitimate venues for downloading songs, but at a glance, this indicates that users with multiple thousands of legitimately purchased songs in digital format are several standard deviations from the average and represent an insignificant percentage of smartphone users. I feel it's fair to exclude them from consideration in determining if uSD slot should continue to be supported on a smartphone.

The other legitimate reason - people shooting tons and tons of pictures on their smartphones - thousands of images that they'll never look at again; a vacation captured solely on a smartphone. I suppose that may be a legitimate need, if they want to save every image. But, it's not a huge stretch to realize that most of those thousands of images can be deleted, and the minority of good images can be uploaded to cloud storage (not that I'm a fan of cloud storage) to free up more room for more images.

The plain and simple answer to that is, that I forget to take the damn USB flash drives with me. I have quite a few of them and it has happened that I took the wrong one with me.

So having the SD card in the tablet (or in a phone or in my case because I use it for both, my phoblet) is a pretty important thing for me.

So in my case it would be because I am too much of naff-wit to remember stuff - or I remember everything except the thing I should remember (like going into town to get bog paper and coming back with everything EXCEPT bog paper). There is nothing like travelling to London or somewhere and finding out that I have forgotten the software tools I need to sort out the computer problem(s).

Or another scenario is that I go somewhere and I have a bootable Windows USB flash drive but it is the wrong Windows version. So I delete the one that is on the USB and copy the correct one from the various versions I have stored on the SD card - saves me making a different bootable USB drive for every contingency.

This allows me to boot up Windows in repair mode and if push comes to shove reinstall the person's computer, because you can guarantee that they have either misplaced their version of Windows, or the DVD is scratched and unreadable, or of course some friend has deleted the repair partition.

Let's face it the line between phone and tablet has become blurred to the point of being unrecognisable.

 

[blairharrington]

I would estimate those two people make up less than 1% of smartphone users with non-pirated music collections that come near the 16GB.

The other legitimate reason - people shooting tons and tons of pictures on their smartphones - thousands of images that they'll never look at again; a vacation captured solely on a smartphone. I suppose that may be a legitimate need, if they want to save every image. But, it's not a huge stretch to realize that most of those thousands of images can be deleted, and the minority of good images can be uploaded to cloud storage (not that I'm a fan of cloud storage) to free up more room for more images.

I think your assumption here is wildly off the mark. 16 GB is not a lot of music IMO for most consumers. Anybody who ripped their CD's and added to their collection with digital purchases (most consumers over the age of 25) has a lot more music in their collection than you are imagining. My older sister, who had a lot less CD's than me when it came time for her to rip, and who has purchased digital music exclusively since probably 2005, has something like 25 GB in her iTunes library.

Keep in mind how many iPhone's Apple sells in the 32 and 64 variant. The 16 GB models are probably the quickest to sell out of the gate but I'm sure the lower price factors in there too. Let's also highlight the fact that Apple released a 128 GB iPad this year. Clearly there is a market for 128 GB tablets and smartphones.

With respect to images, uploading to the cloud isn't always an option, especially if you are on vacation. I specifically remember a vacation to Italy some years back where I had no wi-fi access for weeks. I also didn't want to disrupt my precious vacation hours to find free wi-fi to go through my photos and decide what to upload to the cloud. Furthermore the time to upload would have been at the end of the vacation not during and I wasn't going to have space on my phone to wait that long. That's just one scenario.

 

[blairharrington]

I do find claims of 50GB+ of music to be somewhat suspect as the cost to purchase legally would be over $10K easily, but there are rich folk out there so you can't know for sure.

Now I don't know that I'd want to have all my movies on my phone, though, if it were possible I don't know why I should be denied doing so. Assuming I chose to maintain the same quality level inherent with the DVD's and BR's I have I'd need something like 3TB-4TB just for movies -- we won't be seeing that much phone sized flash storage for a long while. But, if we were to plot the trend out 10 years then by then it's possible.


Brian

I can only speak for myself and I realize not everybody follows this road with their music collection.

I started buying CD's in 1992 or 1993 when I was 12 or 13. Between the ages of 12/13 -18 all my CD's were purchased either with money earned through jobs or given to me by my parents. It's impossible to nail down the exact number now but by the time I was 18 I had a very healthy CD collection. That collection grew in college. At that point I got very into burning my friends CD's. When mp3's got popular I would lift music from my friends collections via a transfer from PC to external back to my PC. These days I either purchase music digitally or ask a friend if they have such and such album and if the answer is yes they email me a link to their files via Dropbox.

I think movies are less of an issue with consumers with respect to phone consumption. I'm not saying they don't do this, but I think more consumers choose to watch movies on their tablets rather than their phones. Yes, I realize phablet owners blur that line.

My movie collection is 2 TB. I worked in a video store part-time after college and ripped a ton of movies. I've never felt the desire to watch a movie on my phone but that's just me. I use my iPad Mini for on-the-road movies and even then I'm never finding that a dozen movies stored on my iPad aren't sufficient for my travel needs. Again, that's just me.

As I continue to follow this thread I just think it's clear that most consumers will desire the freedom to expand their storage (until OEM's start upping the amount of internal storage to 64 - 128 GB across the board, if that day ever comes).

 

[CZroe]

I didn't start buying CDs until 1999/2000 and I only averaged about two or so a year until late 2011 when I started buying tons of stuff I liked for $1 or less an album by scouring Goodwill and 1centCDs on eBay. Mostly spurred on by iTunes Match, I got at least 150 albums in the last two years alone.

I legally own hundreds of GBs with very little effort and expense so all you who think 50GB collections must be illegally obtained are ignoring reality. First, albums have a lot more than the few tracks you would have purchased alone (and likely spent more on, mind you). I like discovering something unexpected on an album, so I rip the full album. Second, you expect higher quality for music you ripped yourself. I rip lossless and iTunes match lets me specify the quality I want for redownloading.

Heck, I don't just want the Chemical Brothers' "Further" audio album on my phone, I also want the rip of the Deluxe Edition's DVD (how it was meant to be experienced). I don't just want Daft Punk's "Discovery" album on my phone, I also want their "Interstella 5555: 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem" BD rip to go with it (yes: it's the same album). I don't just want the "Little Shop of Horrors" soundtrack on my phone, I made a rip of the Director's Cut BD I want to go with it (it is a musical). I legally own all of these things and, despite the technical illegality of making my DVD and BD rips, I'd prefer to have the storage available to do what I want. It's not like there's a technical limitation with microSD being so cheap, small, and available. Hell, a Galaxy Note 3 is big enough that it should have two microSD slots IMO.

Next, my phone can record 4K videos. I'd like to actually be able to do so without instantly filling up all of my available storage. I'd also like to do it without deleting apps or making sacrifices while I'm away from a PC and incapable of side-loading. I don't care that most phones can't record 4K, I should be able to use the feature without concern when the tech exists and there is no real barrier to using it.

The argument that it confuses users is stupid. Most any market with such variety has pro and consumer-grade offerings. Any consumer confused by it simply wouldn't use it. All the large flagships don't deserve that status without microSD and removable batteries.

 

[DrPizza]

I didn't start buying CDs until 1999/2000 and I only averaged about two or so a year until late 2011 when I started buying tons of stuff I liked for $1 or less an album by scouring Goodwill and 1centCDs on eBay. Mostly spurred on by iTunes Match, I got at least 150 albums in the last two years alone.

I legally own hundreds of GBs with very little effort and expense so all you who think 50GB collections must be illegally obtained are ignoring reality. First, albums have a lot more than the few tracks you would have purchased alone (and likely spent more on, mind you). I like discovering something unexpected on an album, so I rip the full album. Second, you expect higher quality for music you ripped yourself. I rip lossless and iTunes match lets me specify the quality I want for redownloading.

Heck, I don't just want the Chemical Brothers' "Further" audio album on my phone, I also want the rip of the Deluxe Edition's DVD (how it was meant to be experienced). I don't just want Daft Punk's "Discovery" album on my phone, I also want their "Interstella 5555: 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem" BD rip to go with it (yes: it's the same album). I don't just want the "Little Shop of Horrors" soundtrack on my phone, I made a rip of the Director's Cut BD I want to go with it (it is a musical). I legally own all of these things and, despite the technical illegality of making my DVD and BD rips, I'd prefer to have the storage available to do what I want. It's not like there's a technical limitation with microSD being so cheap, small, and available. Hell, a Galaxy Note 3 is big enough that it should have two microSD slots IMO.

Next, my phone can record 4K videos. I'd like to actually be able to do so without instantly filling up all of my available storage. I'd also like to do it without deleting apps or making sacrifices while I'm away from a PC and incapable of side-loading. I don't care that most phones can't record 4K, I should be able to use the feature without concern when the tech exists and there is no real barrier to using it.

The argument that it confuses users is stupid. Most any market with such variety has pro and consumer-grade offerings. Any consumer confused by it simply wouldn't use it. All the large flagships don't deserve that status without microSD and removable batteries.

I agree with what you and others are saying - I have hundreds of music CDs myself. But, I think many are forgetting that this being a tech forum, we're the kind of people who would, *can*, rip CD's and transfer them to a uSD card to stick in a phone. But, we represent a tiny slice of the smartphone market. I didn't say I don't like having a uSD card on my phone - I just can't see the market for it being large enough to continue to support it.

 

[WelshBloke]

I agree with what you and others are saying - I have hundreds of music CDs myself. But, I think many are forgetting that this being a tech forum, we're the kind of people who would, *can*, rip CD's and transfer them to a uSD card to stick in a phone. But, we represent a tiny slice of the smartphone market. I didn't say I don't like having a uSD card on my phone - I just can't see the market for it being large enough to continue to support it.

The segment of users that can tell (or care) that a screen is 1080p or 720p is tiny as well. Also the segment that knows what SOC is in a phone, or the segment that cares about what the phone is made from (apparently if you look at sales figures). What about the segment that actually uses Bluetooth? Or wifi file transfers?

Pretty much anything that isn't communicating or playing the latest game is a small segment of the market.
We have all those things because they are useful to a small group and don't have much of a downside.

 

[blairharrington]

I agree with what you and others are saying - I have hundreds of music CDs myself. But, I think many are forgetting that this being a tech forum, we're the kind of people who would, *can*, rip CD's and transfer them to a uSD card to stick in a phone. But, we represent a tiny slice of the smartphone market. I didn't say I don't like having a uSD card on my phone - I just can't see the market for it being large enough to continue to support it.

What? Unless all options fail, there is no reason to transfer files from your computer onto an SD card and then insert said card into your phone. You can either attempt the wired route (iSyncr, DoubleTwist) or wireless route (AirDroid, AirSync) or the newest option released this week which is to pin music directly from your Google Music app onto the SD card. Getting music onto an SD card is dead simple.

 

[Brian Stirling]

Too many pro-SD arguments are of the "faster horse" variety.

I realize we're not there yet in regards to ditching the SD card (I have posted what my requirements would be to go local some dozen pages ago), but this type of argument doesn't really help your side out. While the transition happens, the SD card is still an option. But these types of arguments just make you sound like not wanting to give up what you've gotten accustomed to. Such that even when the landscape changes enough to the point that SD cards truly are no longer needed, you'll still be clinging to them.

Just my perception.

The cell phone makers, some of them anyway, have no problem providing the flexibility and option of a uSD slot, but the carriers would prefer the cell phone makers NOT provide them as they make more when you eat more data than your allotment and they can charge more for phones with more built in storage.

I mentioned the HTC J Butterfly that was released in Japan WITH a uSD slot but when the equivalent model was brought to the USA the uSD was gone. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that HTC removed at at the request/demand of the carriers.

I'm not hung up on uSD itself and in fact would like to see another card that's slightly larger so that it can have more storage -- I don't see this happening.

So, that leaves those of us that want more storage in a bind, or options are: limit yourself to the highest internal storage model they offer paying an extortionate premium for the measly amount of extra storage, go with the few phones that have uSD slots so we can add storage more cheaply, or get bent over the table by the carriers for data.

Once again, the model the carriers are working with is based on charging you for data and they want you to buy the plan with the most data AND charge you $10/GB when you go over -- obscene if you ask me, but for some reason there's a few here, including Brian and Anand, that thinks that's just wonderful. Whose interests are they serving?


Brian

 

[Brian Stirling]

I can only speak for myself and I realize not everybody follows this road with their music collection.

I started buying CD's in 1992 or 1993 when I was 12 or 13. Between the ages of 12/13 -18 all my CD's were purchased either with money earned through jobs or given to me by my parents. It's impossible to nail down the exact number now but by the time I was 18 I had a very healthy CD collection. That collection grew in college. At that point I got very into burning my friends CD's. When mp3's got popular I would lift music from my friends collections via a transfer from PC to external back to my PC. These days I either purchase music digitally or ask a friend if they have such and such album and if the answer is yes they email me a link to their files via Dropbox.

I think movies are less of an issue with consumers with respect to phone consumption. I'm not saying they don't do this, but I think more consumers choose to watch movies on their tablets rather than their phones. Yes, I realize phablet owners blur that line.

My movie collection is 2 TB. I worked in a video store part-time after college and ripped a ton of movies. I've never felt the desire to watch a movie on my phone but that's just me. I use my iPad Mini for on-the-road movies and even then I'm never finding that a dozen movies stored on my iPad aren't sufficient for my travel needs. Again, that's just me.

As I continue to follow this thread I just think it's clear that most consumers will desire the freedom to expand their storage (until OEM's start upping the amount of internal storage to 64 - 128 GB across the board, if that day ever comes).

There are two cases where having movies on the phone is desirable for me: watching on the phone while on a plane (100 flights/year), and connected to an HDTV. Many hotels now have HDTV's, admittedly, few of them are all that great but still.

So, because I'm on the road so much having a couple movies isn't really enough but with internal storage topping off at 64GB that doesn't leave a lot of room for HD movies, particularly with 17GB eaten by music and 10GB-20GB eaten by photos, captured video, apps and other data.

The idea of streaming upwards of hundreds of GB's per month at $10/GB over my 5GB plan is unthinkable, but, once again, I have no desire to enrich the carriers at my expense.


Brian

 

[blairharrington]

s

There are two cases where having movies on the phone is desirable for me: watching on the phone while on a plane (100 flights/year), and connected to an HDTV. Many hotels now have HDTV's, admittedly, few of them are all that great but still.

So, because I'm on the road so much having a couple movies isn't really enough but with internal storage topping off at 64GB that doesn't leave a lot of room for HD movies, particularly with 17GB eaten by music and 10GB-20GB eaten by photos, captured video, apps and other data.

The idea of streaming upwards of hundreds of GB's per month at $10/GB over my 5GB plan is unthinkable, but, once again, I have no desire to enrich the carriers at my expense.


Brian

If that works for you, great. Like I said before I was only speaking for myself and my needs. You obviously are a heavy traveller.

I'm curious though, do you connect your phone to the hotel TV via a wire? Or is this done wirelessly? I could never go 90 - 120 mins without access to my phone. Too many emails and texts to respond to in that given time.

I'm also curious why you don't opt for a tablet? You seem a perfect candidate for a 128 GB iPad. Unless you want or need a ton of movies at your fingertips there appears to be better solutions for you.

 

[Tom]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom
I don't care what you do. I didn't say I did.

I say it's more than enough because it isn't necessarry to have everything in your pocket.

Why?

Practically speaking because a phone only needs the stuff you use in a few days and what is being carried can be changed pretty simply.

Philosophically becasue cell phones disconnect people from the surrounding world and the desire to have EVERYTHING on a phone is probably a symptom of a mild psychological disorder that shouldn't be encouraged or enabled.

Also, from the practical again..as noted above by someone, a lot of storage means a lot of valuable personal photos and videos, which sounds good, but leads to heartbreak when the phone is lost, stolen, or breaks. And too much storage lessens the immediate need to backup these things.

 

[TerryMathews]

Practically speaking because a phone only needs the stuff you use in a few days and what is being carried can be changed pretty simply.

Philosophically becasue cell phones disconnect people from the surrounding world and the desire to have EVERYTHING on a phone is probably a symptom of a mild psychological disorder that shouldn't be encouraged or enabled.

Also, from the practical again..as noted above by someone, a lot of storage means a lot of valuable personal photos and videos, which sounds good, but leads to heartbreak when the phone is lost, stolen, or breaks. And too much storage lessens the immediate need to backup these things.

It's good we have you here to tell us how we should be using our computers...

 

[nOOky]

A common theme I'm seeing here is that traveling or vacationing requires everything be on the phone. I for one can't imagine not having at least a laptop and a good camera with me when I travel, it's not that hard to carry. Much nicer to watch a movie on a laptop and download the day's pictures onto that than a phone.