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Verizon and the S4: Misleading the customer

rushmore

Extreme Android User
Nov 13, 2008
8,256
1,355
Kentucky
I am posting this here, since seems folks need to get the word out in "mass". A very uniform response now appears to be coming from Verizon about the S4 and the storage size:

"You can install or move apps to the SD card, so the storage on the phone (S4) is not a problem."

I get this same in general nutty line from different corporate stores staff, phone calls and chat messages. Not ONCE have I not got some version of that line.

Added:

Also, when you try to explain it is wrong and show why, they usually pushback like they are referring to a scripted message. Kind of creepy stuff. I am wondering if they are all simply taking the "sd card expands the device storage" too literally?
 
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This is probably a corporate line of bull because they may not get the 32gb. For example, in the US, the 64gb HTC one exclusive to AT&T.

A Verizon rep told me today that Samsung does not have enough supply of the 16gb, yet alone a 32gb model to ship them. I think this MIGHT be a case of no supply, or not enough to bother with. Case in point, VZW is waiting until late May to even ship the 16Gb version.

I expect significant customer pushback on this, but you never know. Some people do tend to be gullible :)
 
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I am a newbie and it is not clear why this isn't correct: "You can install or move apps to the SD card, so the storage on the phone (S4) is not a problem." Can you point me to the thread that explains this? I preordered the VZW S4 to replace my Thunderbolt which I believe has only 16gb internal. So I figured the VZW S4 and adding a 32gb SD card should work fine.
Thanks!
 
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You can move media, but not apps.

Even with OS versions which supported app2sd you couldn't just move them with a file manager (and you'd need to root to have access to the files in the first place). That would break the app for sure.

It really depends on your usage. For people with a lot of media but who don't use large apps it's probably fine. The 9GB or so is a lot more app/data space than I currently have. But for others it could quickly become limiting.
 
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I think we have had a shift in just this year due to the hardware and data infrastucture improvements driving bigger apps. The chipsets have great 3D function and are faster to afford bigger texture files and database-like function for games and social apps that also contain media. Both of these require a lot of data and not practical for cloud (social apps need local cache as part of the mix). Gameloft and EA are both pushing their games for the S4 and both companies average 1.5GB for new games.

For these reasons, I suggest more people this year are more sensitive to app storage and the 9gb in a device being pushed as "THE device" is problematic. Carriers will either be "forced" to offer the 32gb, or suffer the customer issues. I side on free market logic and we will see 32GB versions with all carriers- due to the small storage free on the 16GB.

The catch here is the 16GB is apparently the only version for initial channel launch from Samsung for the Qualcomm version. That theory will be tested this coming week- if folks on At&t start pulling an Eddie Murphy and bragging about their 32GB ice cream cones (jellybean flavor).....
 
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While I'm disappointed Verizon has failed to fully educate their support employees, I must say, the phone is always going to take precedence over apps for me. If I have to choose between getting a 16GB top of the line phone, or keeping my existing phone, so I can get the latest heavy apps... I will choose the phone every time. Of course I have a DNA, which is limited to 16GB and NO SD card for even media. So for me the 16GB S4 would be an improvement. :p
 
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Still trying to understand this storage thing before I cancel my S4 preorder. My Thunderbolt is on Android 4.0.4. In Settings, Storage, there is an option to "Move apps to SD card." Wouldn't this sort of setting free up the Internal Storage on the S4?

Thanks.

That's the thing, in Jelly Bean that option no longer exists. They took it out.
 
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Exactly why I stated phone manufacturers should make a 1TB Micro SD card for external storage for future Galaxy releases then customers wouldn't have external storage capacity concerns for media, apps or video. Downloading numerous apps will quickly use up the remaining 9GB of memory storage on S4. You only have a 64 GB memory storage capacity on G4 unless there's some work around to use a 128GB Micro SD card in the device.
 
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honestly...i think there will be very little push back on this and the large majority of customers would not be impacted by the 9gb worth of storage space that can be used for apps. people reading this thread should keep in mind the sd card expansion capability will let you move all your non-app stuff there (music, pics, videos, docs, pdf, and other media).

not to say verizon misleading the customer is much ado about nothing, but i can see why they're not making a big effort to 'get it right'. if we created a poll of how many users are taking up even more than 4gb of app data on their device i'd wager it would be very few compared to those taking up less than 4gb.

it's easy to check how much app space is currently being used. just go to settings > storage > and look at the apps line item to see how much storage is used by apps. most people will see in that area they have much more media storage being used and little app storage. this is why verizon and samsung are in no rush to release the 32gb. most storage space used isn't app related.

all that said, there is a case that should be made for verizon to be clear and accurate in their communication regarding os and device capability.
 
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Exactly why I stated phone manufacturers should make a 1TB Micro SD card

Google "128GB microSD card" and boggle at the (prospective, since they're not commercially available yet) price. Now multiply that by a factor of 8 (for the increase in capacity) and another factor of x (to allow for the fact that the technology isn't available yet to make the things) and you get an idea why 1TB microSD cards are a long way over the horizon. :)
 
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Google "128GB microSD card" and boggle at the (prospective, since they're not commercially available yet) price. Now multiply that by a factor of 8 (for the increase in capacity) and another factor of x (to allow for the fact that the technology isn't available yet to make the things) and you get an idea why 1TB microSD cards are a long way over the horizon. :)

I would think we need new technology before would could get a terabyte on a microSD.
 
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