Saving iPhones From The Garbage Heap: Storage Solutions
We have a solution for the one of the biggest complaints from iPhone users to save you from the continuously upgrading cycle.
There are generally two enduring complaints you’re likely to hear from any iPhone user. The first is “my battery life is too short”, and the second “my storage is constantly almost or completely full”. The latter complaint is especially vexing as we increasingly use our iPhones as a depository of our lives, therefore it is not surprising that storage space fills up so quickly. Notes, photos, music and podcasts can all take up space in varying amounts, and it can be hard to prioritize what we need to keep and what we can toss in the quest to make more space on our phones.
Slowly but surely, Apple seems to be catching on to this most common complaint of its customers. Rumors have recently surfaced that the next iPhone iteration, due out in September of this year, will have a minimum storage capacity of 32GB, up from 16GB.
Sir, Can I Please Have Some More?
As a post on the increased storage rumor on the InformationWeek said, “The jump from 16GB to 32GB is way, way past due. Modern smartphones often have high-megapixel cameras. They can capture HD images that need storage. Modern smartphone owners often have libraries of music and video content. The users often run apps or play games that take up hundreds of megabytes of space.” There are also rumors that iOS10 will finally allow users to delete apps they never use, such as the Stocks and Games app, which will be music to the ears of iPhone minimalists who can’t bear having apps taking up space that they don’t use.
Please?
While signs are promising, close Apple watchers know not to get too excited about any new feature until they are formally announced by the company themselves. In the meantime, people are still struggling to keep their phones stocked with everything they need and strategically cull the things they don’t. As we wait (impatiently) for the future of increased storage, here are some steps you can take to mitigate modern life with a jam-packed phone:
Favor Streaming Over Storing
Music is a must on any smartphone, but there’s really no longer a need to clog up your storage capacity by actually storing music in your library. Opt for a service like Spotify or Apple music and you’ll have a wealth of music options at your disposal—for a fraction of the storage space.
Delete Deleted Images
It may seem non-sensical to have to do this twice, but the iPhone stores your deleted photos for a grace period under “Recently Deleted”. If you’re sure you won’t need them again, mass deleting this folder is a good way to free up space. Another tactic that can help you clean out images you don’t need is the “Selfies/Screenshots/Bursts” folder, which iOS9 sorts automatically. If you don’t need multiples of the selfie you tried to take last week, clean up the ones you don’t.
Ditch Redundant Email Apps
Do you really need a Gmail, Outlook and Mac Mail account? Probably not. Choose the one that works best for your needs and ditch the rest. Equally, open your settings and, under “Storage”, view which apps are taking up the most space. Anything over 350MB that you don’t often use can probably get deleted without you noticing much. If you end up needing it again, your Apple ID will remember you’ve previously downloaded it, and you’ll be able to get it back quickly.
Turn Off Photostream
Photostream saves all the photos you’ve taken across your devices, which may be unnecessary if you’re trying to free up space. Simply go to your settings and under “Photos/Camera”, turn off the “My Photostream” option to save only the photos you take on your phone.