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It simplifies managing storage for users. Per Matias Duarte, who I think was Director of Android User Experience at the time: [1] Everybody likes the idea of h

It simplifies managing storage for users. Per Matias Duarte, who I think was Director of Android User Experience at the time: [1] Everybody likes the idea of having an SD card, but in reality it's just confusing for users. If you’re saving photos, videos or music, where does it go? Is it on your phone? Or on your card? ... We take a different approach. Your Nexus has a fixed amount of space and your apps just seamlessly use it for you without you ever having to worry about files or volumes or any of that techy nonsense left over from the paleolithic era of computing. Remember the vast majority of users have vastly less technical understanding than HN readers. [1] http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/10/30/matias-duarte-answers-questions-about-jelly-bean-ui-and-the-lack-of-micro-sd-cards/ http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/10/30/matias-duarte-answer...

Brakenshire 11y ago
You could say the same thing about cloud storage, couldn't you? As with extra local storage, that has additional UI baggage, which comes along with extra utility for the user. To be able to bring with you all of your music or photos, without requiring a connection, is a massive benefit. That also doesn't explain sticking with the same storage options from two years ago, even though prices have plummeted in the meantime. It's clearly about what benefits Google.
- shostack 11y ago
  Yeah, for me it is hard to take this at face value when Google has a vested interest in cloud storage from the standpoint of data analysis, platform lock-in, and subscription revenue.
acjohnson55 11y ago
Since every Android phone I've ever had takes SD, the process of transferring all my data over is basically just pulling the card out of the old phone and putting it into the new phone. This unfortunately doesn't handle reinstallation of my apps and migration of data like texts and calls. Google's done all this work, and there still isn't a simple migration path. Give me a simple way to boot up the 6P and have all my data migrated over, and I'll kiss my SD card goodbye. In the meantime, the user experience is still broken.

Brakenshire 11y ago

You could say the same thing about cloud storage, couldn't you? As with extra local storage, that has additional UI baggage, which comes along with extra utility for the user. To be able to bring with you all of your music or photos, without requiring a connection, is a massive benefit. That also doesn't explain sticking with the same storage options from two years ago, even though prices have plummeted in the meantime. It's clearly about what benefits Google.

shostack 11y ago
Yeah, for me it is hard to take this at face value when Google has a vested interest in cloud storage from the standpoint of data analysis, platform lock-in, and subscription revenue.

acjohnson55 11y ago

Since every Android phone I've ever had takes SD, the process of transferring all my data over is basically just pulling the card out of the old phone and putting it into the new phone. This unfortunately doesn't handle reinstallation of my apps and migration of data like texts and calls. Google's done all this work, and there still isn't a simple migration path. Give me a simple way to boot up the 6P and have all my data migrated over, and I'll kiss my SD card goodbye. In the meantime, the user experience is still broken.