I am in the process of deciding to buy a Hero. I found in various other sites that Android apps cannot be installed in the SD card. Is it true. Is this a major inconvenience ? What are the implications ?
If you use the stock ROM, it does not install applications on the SD card. This means it uses the on-board memory for storage. Since this is shared with the operating system (Android), things start slowing down as the system tries to make enough space to run portions of apps in memory if you have downloaded and installed a lot of apps. However, custom ROMs such as MoDaCo's have been tweaked to allow you to store apps on the SD, saving your precious on-board memory for running apps.
you will have to install tons of apps, probably loads of which you will never even use, before you run into memory issues. There is plenty of memory onboard for the average joe to tinker and play with. You don't have to root and load a custom rom on these handsets to make them good, they are pretty slick straight out the box.
crash_194 said:
you will have to install tons of apps, probably loads of which you will never even use, before you run into memory issues. There is plenty of memory onboard for the average joe to tinker and play with. You don't have to root and load a custom rom on these handsets to make them good, they are pretty slick straight out the box.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed. After installing tons of apps, I realized that I had 40mb of free space on board yesterday and of course it is frustrating. However, I went through all the applications in "Manage Applications" screen and cleared all the cache they have been using. Now I have like double empty space ~80mb. And of course I still have tons of applications and games.
Agreed. Dont believe the statement 'Things start slowing down', he doesnt know what hes on about.
There are two sections of memory, one for storing apps + os and one for running apps. If you install 500 apps and almost fill the apps + os part the memory for running apps is unaffected.
I'm sure storing apps on the SD card is fine, but remember that this was originally done for the T-Mobile G1 which had little memory for apps, the hero has a lot more.
Related
Hi
Are there any pros/cons to installing programs on the SD versus the device memory (not including that the SD's capacity is greater).
Tried a search but could not find an answer.
Thanks
diamondp3700 said:
Hi
Are there any pros/cons to installing programs on the SD versus the device memory (not including that the SD's capacity is greater).
Tried a search but could not find an answer.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think of your phone as a pc with limited space to store apps/software/programs/games etc. Now imagine you have filled most of the space available. What would happen to your pc? It would slow down wouldn't it?
Same applies to your phone.
Fallen Spartan said:
Think of your phone as a pc with limited space to store apps/software/programs/games etc. Now imagine you have filled most of the space available. What would happen to your pc? It would slow down wouldn't it?
Same applies to your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
correct me if i'm wrong but i've always been under the impression that certain apps works better off system memory. obviously you dont want to install everything there - stuff like games i keep on sd but system apps I (personally) keep in system memory.
imy300 said:
correct me if i'm wrong but i've always been under the impression that certain apps works better off system memory. obviously you dont want to install everything there - stuff like games i keep on sd but system apps I (personally) keep in system memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your right, I had the same question myself but I noticed some apps would auto install to Device so obviously need to be there, I also follow FallenSpartens advice and try to limit what I put on device memory, I think its a personal choice thing, if you have the available memory use the device, as its faster access, however I dont use more than 50% of that memory.
There is an app called SD Tuneup that supposedly improves the SD data transfer up to 30% but I have had mixed reviews, but I installed to my device anyway lol......I install things like task bar apps to device etc all the rest on SD card, may as well mention too that I use Garmin XT this is a big GPS program which is mostly stored on the SD so there must not be a huge difference between the two.
Hope that helps
Here's a problem I don't understand:
How are most ppl able to install so many things on their HD2 and not use up memory space?
So my HD2 has a total of 193.43MB of Storage and 457.01MB of Program.
When I install games and programs and apps, I install them on the device. This takes up "Storage" memory.
I guess, what is the difference? And how can I choose between where (On device or micro) to install each type of game, apps, program?
1) What uses Program memory? What uses Storage memory?
2) If I install a game on the microSD, and do a flash to a new ROM, will I have to re-install the game on the microSD again?
You should keep a basic strategy:
Whatever prog belongs to the operating system (like HTCSense-hacks, GUIs etc.) or should work without storage card:
Install it to the main memory
Whatever prog is not operating system critical (games, browsers, navi-software, apps, photos, videos etc.):
Install it on the SD-Card (the setup in 99% allows You to choose between main memory and Storage Card). It will eat up little by little Your RAM (by adding values in the registry, icons regs in the startup-menu), but this might centuries ´till RAM is full.
Move Cashes to SD-card as described in
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=583638
and try to keep main data memory above 50 MB.
Maybe installing progs to the SD-Card might make progs a litlle bit slower (not much though) but this way You can install hundreds of apps on Your HD2 (and never forget: before installing a new prog make a full backup of the main memory e.g. with SPB-Backup and if the new prog crashes Your device restore. Also for this it is ALWAYS better to install a new app to SD-Card instead main mem).
lemonspeakers said:
Here's a problem I don't understand:
How are most ppl able to install so many things on their HD2 and not use up memory space?
So my HD2 has a total of 193.43MB of Storage and 457.01MB of Program.
When I install games and programs and apps, I install them on the device. This takes up "Storage" memory.
I guess, what is the difference? And how can I choose between where (On device or micro) to install each type of game, apps, program?
1) What uses Program memory? What uses Storage memory?
2) If I install a game on the microSD, and do a flash to a new ROM, will I have to re-install the game on the microSD again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Program memory is RAM that is used by the operating system when executing programs.
Storage memory is where apps are installed and are then available through your icon links.
Calls are made from ROM to storage and then executed in RAM.
There are a number of issues to bear in mind when deciding where to install apps.
Installing to mem card results in slower operation of the app.
Installing to mem card results in higher power usage and therefore drains the battery quicker.
Installing to mem card can result in operating system freezes and overall slowdowns.
Installing to mem card will establish app links with the operating system that won't necessarily be usable if you flash other OS ROMs. Fresh reinstallation of apps should always be done after a flash of any new ROM anyway to keep things clean and running smoothly and reduce operational glitches to a minimum.
Any backup and restore software should only be used when restoring to the same
ROM and never across a ROM change. Sync all items you can before and resync afterwards.
Only install to mem card those apps that force you to or when you have run out of main storage and similarly have no choice.
If you know you are going to install masses of apps from the outset then as had been mentioned install operating system critical apps to main mem and the rest as you can using mem card last.
This is all good practice and good housekeeping.
Great Post !
Great thread !!!
I always wonder if Storage and program memory can be modified.
It was a long long long time ago, it was possible with my palm pilot...
Is there an application for monitoring RAM usage ?
I have about 190 Mo of free Ram and 39 Mo of free program memory.
woaloo said:
Great thread !!!
I always wonder if Storage and program memory can be modified.
It was a long long long time ago, it was possible with my palm pilot...
Is there an application for monitoring RAM usage ?
I have about 190 Mo of free Ram and 39 Mo of free program memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no real reason to monitor any mem usage unless you operate in a memory hungry fashion. And that will only occur with the install of numerous apps. If you run out of storage mem then that's the time to do something about it and if that doesn't happen, then don't worry about it because your phone won't know the difference.
Out of box there is about 380mb, but there is bloat that can be removed once rooted. If everything non OS/ Google app related were removed (including Sony play software), how much could be added to the 380mb? There are a ton of great emulators already out. Those would cover for gaming and then the extra space could be for other user chosen apps.
All that would need to be retained are drivers for the hardware.
Although i think rooting is great for overclocking purposes, i don't see the need of it for emulation.
Everything up to the N64 works great on the Xperia Play. What advantages to emulation would rooting the phone provide?
Freeing up memory.
2 days after it got my Play I had all the apps installed that I had on my hero & a few Xplay enabled games.
I had 40mb internal storage left.
Safe to say I shat myself thinking that after another 4 or 5th game downloads i would have to start managing space by deleting things.
Then I used the SDK to setinstalllocation2 & moved mostly everything to SD, taking memory up to 130mb.
Rooting & doing away with some bloat (but nothing as hardcore as op suggested) has now taken me to 156mb internal, and 99% of what I install now goes to sd.
I now have plenty of internal space for widgetty apps etc, i doubt I'll ever have storage troubles (apart from when my 32gb sd just isn't big enough) and I now have brilliantly white underpants!
Got 183 MB free, could be more if I deleted the standard installed games but removed a lot of bloatware (also installed a lot off apps I want, they all take a bit off space).
what are the bloatwares that you remove and how can you remove them after rooting the phone?
in regards with game emulators, the phone slows down a bit on some psx games.
Hi everybody
I have been looking for an Android smartphone with a decent Camera (as I love taking pictures) and it seems I have found it in the Arc.
But one thing worries me, which is the 320 mb of internal memory which I have doubts of not being enough for my Arc to be Smart enough.
Can anybody help on this plz.
Thank you in advance
I have installed all the apps i need (abt 20 apps) and still have abt 200mb left. Also, I move games to SD card.
it's enough i have 150Mb free with all my apps. this was a little issue with Nexus. I even move some system apps to SD with titanium backup (you need root).
right now i have 58 apps installed (excl. system apps) and still have 147MB free. I have 9 games (not big games just casual) biggest games is taptap but after moving to sd save a lot.
If you able to fill up 320mb apps, your arc will be slowest phone in the world.
Given app2sd, most of new version apps support usage of 32gb SD card.
Sent from my X10i using Tapatalk
Thank you all
I am definitely going to have the Arc as soon as it is released here in the market (hopefully next week).
Thank you again
I have installed many apps (around 50 ~ 60) now still have 175MB.
Conditions: rooted the Arc, use Link2SD to move apps (cached, library, app) to your SD.
But you must get root to make 2nd ext2 partition and install Link2SD before can do this.
Can i move my apps on my sd card without rooting my phone?
Sent from my LT15i using XDA Premium App
Retrosid said:
Can i move my apps on my sd card without rooting my phone?
Sent from my LT15i using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
only some. There are a lot that still will not allow themselves to be moved to SD.
Rooting however can force them all over to SD with programs like Titanium backup which is mighty handy, particularly if you have a few gameloft games or big satnav apps
diggedy said:
only some. There are a lot that still will not allow themselves to be moved to SD.
Rooting however can force them all over to SD with programs like Titanium backup which is mighty handy, particularly if you have a few gameloft games or big satnav apps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mkay, though i dont want to root my phone yet.
SD card partitioning
Can anyone please advise on what is the right way to partition the SD card?
I've gotten a Sandisk Class4 16Gb; googled around and thought I should partition FAT32/ext3/Linux-swap. But after doing so, the phone cannot see the card anymore.
limhkc said:
Can anyone please advise on what is the right way to partition the SD card?
I've gotten a Sandisk Class4 16Gb; googled around and thought I should partition FAT32/ext3/Linux-swap. But after doing so, the phone cannot see the card anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Theres no need to partition it unless your using apps2sd (which I dont think you can do yet with the arc?)
diggedy said:
Theres no need to partition it unless your using apps2sd (which I dont think you can do yet with the arc?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've rooted (using Gingerbreak) and installed apps2sd / link2sd. Basically my issue is the pathetic RAM available causing Arc to lag from time-to-time.
I've removed Telco's useless software and I'm still struggling with <100Mb available RAM all the time.
limhkc said:
I've rooted (using Gingerbreak) and installed apps2sd / link2sd. Basically my issue is the pathetic RAM available causing Arc to lag from time-to-time.
I've removed Telco's useless software and I'm still struggling with <100Mb available RAM all the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean there's 100Mb wasted RAM sitting around doing nothing all the time? Oh no!
As for the partitioning, you have to do it in the right order or the phone wont find the card. First create an ext2 partition for apps, then format the remainder as FAT32. I dont recommend ext3 or ext4 for an SD card, theyre overkill for a simple single user system like a phone, and their fancy features will actually slow everything down on an SD card. You dont need a linux swap partition at all (IIRC this was only useful with early versions of some custom roms on other phones).
Note that i havent any experience with apps2sd on the arc, only on other phones, so everything i just said may be garbage w.r.t. the arc, but i think it probably applies whatever the phone.
Also note that using apps2sd wont help your ram 'issues' at all.
Moving apps to SD
You can move some apps to SD card in Settings > Applications > Manage Applications.
You can use apps like Apps2SD and ZDBox to automate much of the process.
If your device supports debugging in Settings > Applications > Development, enable debugging, install the Android SDK, go to the tools directory connect your device to the computer using USB, and execute this command:
Code:
adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2
This will allow you to move even more apps to SD, although there may be side-effects for some apps, like random crashes or failure to launch. If you see some app not working as anticipated, move it back to main memory.
To be honest i cant really see the need for the old style apps2sd these days, Androids built-in version seems to be sufficient to me.
While not all apps support it yet, the majority of the ones i've got installed seem to (particularly the larger ones, which is key), and the number is increasing all the time.
Maybe if you just *have* to install 200+ apps it will become a problem. I'm struggling to think of 200 useful apps though.
I have about 100+ apps. All the apps that CAN go on SD are on SD. I normally have about 70MB, but it fluctuates between 50~70
I've to install games and storybooks for my child, and these alone add up to about 50 apps. Some of them are not SD-friendly at all.
I certainly don't recall installing many apps, but Titanium Backup says I've some 306 elements.
Arc has only 335Mb available... why did SE take away the precious 177Mb away??
Like the title says, no one been able to make any progress on rooting this thing?
I haven't...
I don't care about being able to install custom ROMs, I just need Google Play to look at somewhere other than internal storage to update apps. I have a 128gb card and I can install whatever I want to it but I can't update apps because everything wants more storage space than is available in the amount left on the device after the base OS and apps are installed to just hold the temp files to update with. If I could alias that to the memory card this would be the perfect cheap tablet. As it stands now I can't even update the built-in apps.
Schnapple said:
I don't care about being able to install custom ROMs, I just need Google Play to look at somewhere other than internal storage to update apps. I have a 128gb card and I can install whatever I want to it but I can't update apps because everything wants more storage space than is available in the amount left on the device after the base OS and apps are installed to just hold the temp files to update with. If I could alias that to the memory card this would be the perfect cheap tablet. As it stands now I can't even update the built-in apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got the same problem. If only I could update and install apps. You know, like what a tablet is supposed to be for?
Are you using unified storage (formatted as internal) with your SD?
smileygon10 said:
I've got the same problem. If only I could update and install apps. You know, like what a tablet is supposed to be for?
Are you using unified storage (formatted as internal) with your SD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. And like a lot of things with Android I'm learning, nothing quite works like you think it would, especially if it means you'd have an easy time with something.
I guess on some level we can blame B&N for not putting more than 8GB in the thing. Heck, 10GB would fix the problems.
I keep returning here hoping for a miracle. I too have an SD configured for adoptable storage. But Google forces most of their own apps including non-essential crap onto internal. At this point I don't think even a base load device will function properly since updates to Google's own apps have bloated the onboard memory requirements.
Its a shame. I got these for my kids thinking they would be good low-risk devices that they could use to read, game, etc. I guess that's still partly true. The kids could use them as frisbees
I don't think Google forces their apps to be on internal. I've installed apps from the Play Store like Google Translate, and it allowed me to move to SD card. So I think it's B&N. They preinstall apps, and preinstalled apps can't be moved.
j3Eg said:
I keep returning here hoping for a miracle. I too have an SD configured for adoptable storage. But Google forces most of their own apps including non-essential crap onto internal. At this point I don't think even a base load device will function properly since updates to Google's own apps have bloated the onboard memory requirements.
Its a shame. I got these for my kids thinking they would be good low-risk devices that they could use to read, game, etc. I guess that's still partly true. The kids could use them as frisbees
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems that while you can move many of the apps, they move right back when updated (which happens frequently). So trying to keep enough free space on the built-in storage is a losing proposition.
mniehaus said:
It seems that while you can move many of the apps, they move right back when updated (which happens frequently). So trying to keep enough free space on the built-in storage is a losing proposition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. I don't even have enough space to update or install apps, even with a 32 GB SD card. Apparently the Play Store isn't smart enough to be able to download and install/update an app directly to the SD card. I've had to turn off Auto-Update Apps because it would push incessant notifications that I don't have enough space to update X app.
I also have a Nook 7 with 128GB SD card formatted for internal storage--and I can't update apps either. Storage says I have 3.14 to 3.21G (depending) out of 3.36G available storage. I'm new to this, but I'd thought formatting the SD card as internal storage would solve the problem, and it obviously hasn't for me or for several others in this thread.
Does anyone have any ideas? I don't want to root until July when the warranty runs out.
Schnapple said:
Yeah. And like a lot of things with Android I'm learning, nothing quite works like you think it would, especially if it means you'd have an easy time with something.
I guess on some level we can blame B&N for not putting more than 8GB in the thing. Heck, 10GB would fix the problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They do have a new version that has 32GB.