4 Ways to Prevent Mobile Device Memory Shortage

If you’re a heavy tech user, then eventually, your photos, apps, and videos will take up all the space on your mobile device’s hard drive, making it impossible to add anything new. Plus, Murphy’s Law states that this will happen at the worst possible time, like while you’re recording your kid’s recital. Follow these four tips and don’t get stuck with a lack of space.

Pick Out a Device That Fits Your Data Needs
Before purchasing a new device, the first thing you need to do is understand your data needs. For example, let’s say that you’re eyeing the iPhone 6 and you’re considering different models. You can get the 16GB model for $199, the 64GB model for $299, and for an additional $100 you can get the 128GB model (all prices require a service contract). Now, when you’re in shopping mode, the price is right for the 16GB model, but in the world of digital memory, 16GB might not cut it for a heavy tech user.

Isn’t it odd that all the advancements in digital memory hasn’t translated to dramatically increased memory for mobile devices like the iPhone? Come on Apple, how hard would it be to give us an iPhone with a 1TB storage capacity? In fact, some new flash drives can hold a 1TB of storage. Given the size of memory chips these days, we think that 1TB is entirely in the realm of possibilities. Therefore, why are mobile device manufacturers like Apple holding back on us?

Consider Ways to Get Additional Storage
Essentially, by selling a 16GB smartphone for cheap, Apple is trying to upsell you on their cloud service. Thanks to cloud computing, you can potentially have terabytes upon terabytes of memory at your fingertips. Although, it will cost you a pretty penny, and a recurring penny at that in the form of a regular charge which will eventually cancel out the savings you experienced by going with the 16GB model instead of the 64GB model.

We think this is why Apple doesn’t include a micro SD card port on their iPhone to add additional storage. They would much rather you pay for their cloud services--sneaky, sneaky. Devices that come equipped with a micro SD port give you an option to supplement your device’s hard disk with additional space on a removable card. In addition to your hard disk’s and micro SD’s storage, you can utilize the cloud storage apps on your smartphone for increased capacity.

Consider Your Lifestyle
Your data-consuming habits and your geography should factor into your mobile device decision. For example, if you live in a rural area with spotty Internet coverage, or you’re a nature enthusiast that loves tromping through the woods and taking pictures of flowers and videos of rabbits, then you don’t want to rely too heavily on the cloud to store your data because it will require an Internet connection. This is also something to consider for music. Having a spotty Internet connection will make it difficult to stream music from your phone, and even then, constantly streaming music could run up your bill in terms of data consumption. Therefore, it’s a good idea for music lovers with an unreliable Internet connection to purchase a smartphone with the extra memory capacity to store MP3 files internally.

Cloud computing apps work best if you spend most of your time in a place with reliable Internet service. If you’re a lover of taking footage of remote areas, then you will want a mobile device that supports micro SD card storage. In fact, if you’re using your smartphone to video your precious memories, then know that video files can quickly eat up memory. Therefore, it’s a good idea to keep an extra micro SD card handy so you don’t wind up running out of space at a key moment, like capturing footage of a UFO or Bigfoot.

Backing Up Your Data is a Must
If you store all of your digital memories only on your phone, and the phone becomes lost or stolen, you will lose everything. This is the advantage of syncing your phone’s data to the cloud; it backs up your files. Chris Poelker from ComputerWorld mentions the need to both backup your mobile data and use an appropriate digital storage format that fits your needs: “In the digital age, we need to be cognizant that as your storage media ages, you will need to continually transfer all your images and videos to new media, and also keep a backup copy in case of media failure.”

Having your business equipped with mobile technology that suits your needs is the best way to not lose productivity due to surprise issues like memory shortage. To be sure that you’re using the right technology for the job, and to take advantage of a secure backup solution for both your mobile device and your company’s network, give Computerware a call at (703) 821-8200.