How To Keep Your Android Internal Storage Good And Spacious

30.11.11 The Reporter 0 Comments


Despite the fact that the market is now being populated with Superdroids with hard drive spaces catching up to the iPhone, most mid-range Droids still available on the market (but more often seen in users' hands) have very limited internal user-available storage. Most Android users have to contend with around 100 to 500 megabytes of memory for their apps and data. And even the App to SD function does not suffice, as some apps cannot be moved to the SD card, or retain part of their data on the phone memory. That is why Droid users have to be on the lookout for kludges to this handicap.

Here are our tips:
  • Find leaner, lighter versions of the app you need. No matter how much you like an app, bloated is bloated. You may have to contend with lower quality graphics, less functionality, and other shortcomings, but if space efficiency is your goal, you'd have to do what you have to do in order to achieve that.
  • As much as possible, download and run only apps that are only KB's in size. For good measure, don't go beyond 2MB. No, you don't need slick graphics. If the app gets the job done, it gets the job done.
  • Clear data and caches often. Little do you know that your Gmail, Android Market, Facebook or YouTube data has ballooned in size and is taking up much-needed space. Clear that cache and free up space. If you get annoyed with needing to sign back in ever so often, think of it this way: it's a wee bit of a sacrifice in order to maximize your phone's space.
  • Multi-task. If you can find substitutes of the app you need in another app, plus more functionality, choose the one with more features. For example, Android Assistant may be a bit bigger in filesize than the Advanced Task Manager (a 1.19MB difference), but it comes with a file manager, a bulk App to SD function, bulk uninstall, bulk install, some kick-butt system usage visuals, among other system admin functions. Is it worth the 1.19MB in filesize difference? You betcha. If all you need is the occasional app-kill functionality for when you've maxed out your phone's memory, then one app should serve the purpose. If you don't need the Android Assistant's awesome graphs, then keep the Advanced Task Manager instead.
  • Another example is using another app, say, a browser, instead of a native social networking app. Our editor tossed out BOTH her Facebook and Friendcaster apps, even Plurka, with a heavy heart, as her phone's memory was maxing out more often. Instead of separate apps to manage her social networks, she downloaded Dolphin Browser HD instead and configured the Speed Dial to have both Mobile and Desktop versions of her social networks, from Plurk to Twitter to Facebook and even Google +. Since Dolphin Browser HD can show websites in either mobile or desktop format, it serves the purpose of allowing her to occasionally check her social networks when she is AFK. Saves her the MB's in data, as well as keeps everything in one place.
  • Delete text messages often. Much as you want to keep all the mushy forwarded messages your friends and textpals sent you, let's face it, text messages take up space. If you really want to keep your messages, these two SMS Backup apps seem promising:

Saving your Droid's space is crucial not only in keeping your Droid ready to accept new data, but also to keep it running smoothly. We hope our tips have helped you achieve the task of streamlining your Droid's data usage.

***

Photo Credits: Droid Cell Phone

0 coment�rios:

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)