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Right, but I don't understand why you ask: "is control over your own data dead?" in relation to the 16 GB iPhone. Because even 128 GB is not enough for most ph

Right, but I don't understand why you ask: "is control over your own data dead?" in relation to the 16 GB iPhone. Because even 128 GB is not enough for most photo libraries. The amount of control over our own data seems the same as we had before — basically dependent on how much work we want to put in managing it vs. trusting and paying for cloud storage providers.

pdeuchler 11y ago
I don't understand your argument. 128GB is more than enough for my photo library (and most people I know), but not more than enough for photos, video, music, and apps. This will increasingly become the case as Apple/others continues to improve the quality and size of media you store on your phone. But again, I realize what the current paradigm is. However I have no options for iPhone backup/cold storage besides iCloud or physical hardware backups. I'm very unlikely to be using my phone within the vicinity of a physical hardware backup, and iCloud means I lose control. Thus, I either have to choose between a neutered user experience or loss of control. tl;dr: Apple is actively and knowingly encouraging the use of more data while refusing to upgrade internal storage space and instead pushing iCloud storage. This leads to misaligned incentives.
- rsynnott 11y ago
  I wonder how much higher they can offer with current technology. If you peek inside one of those 2.5" SSD boxes, it's not full to the brim but it's not empty either. I would actually expect them to go to 256GB in the next year or so, because that has been the general pattern (as far as I remember, the first iPhone maxed out at 16GB)
- interpol_p 11y ago
  But they aren't refusing to upgrade internal storage. 128 GB is an option now, and I'm sure it will grow with time. And you can also use iCloud alternatives (we use Flickr and Dropbox on iOS for photos and movies, as iCloud is too pricey and inflexible). Your argument was relating to the 16 GB option of the phone, but asked the question "is control over our own data dead?" in connection with that 16 GB version. I was unsure why you asked that because of two things: 16 GB is an option, not the only size available; and one still has ultimate control over their own data, be it on the cloud or local.

pdeuchler 11y ago

I don't understand your argument. 128GB is more than enough for my photo library (and most people I know), but not more than enough for photos, video, music, and apps. This will increasingly become the case as Apple/others continues to improve the quality and size of media you store on your phone. But again, I realize what the current paradigm is. However I have no options for iPhone backup/cold storage besides iCloud or physical hardware backups. I'm very unlikely to be using my phone within the vicinity of a physical hardware backup, and iCloud means I lose control. Thus, I either have to choose between a neutered user experience or loss of control. tl;dr: Apple is actively and knowingly encouraging the use of more data while refusing to upgrade internal storage space and instead pushing iCloud storage. This leads to misaligned incentives.

rsynnott 11y ago
I wonder how much higher they can offer with current technology. If you peek inside one of those 2.5" SSD boxes, it's not full to the brim but it's not empty either. I would actually expect them to go to 256GB in the next year or so, because that has been the general pattern (as far as I remember, the first iPhone maxed out at 16GB)
interpol_p 11y ago
But they aren't refusing to upgrade internal storage. 128 GB is an option now, and I'm sure it will grow with time. And you can also use iCloud alternatives (we use Flickr and Dropbox on iOS for photos and movies, as iCloud is too pricey and inflexible). Your argument was relating to the 16 GB option of the phone, but asked the question "is control over our own data dead?" in connection with that 16 GB version. I was unsure why you asked that because of two things: 16 GB is an option, not the only size available; and one still has ultimate control over their own data, be it on the cloud or local.