By officially unveiling iOS 11 this week, Apple is also introducing a new feature in its iOS mobile operating system that should help owners of iPhone devices free up storage in their smartphones. iOS 11 will do this by giving recommendations customized to that specific user’s unique requirements (more on this later).
It is safe to say that this new functionality will prove handy for iPhone owners, even more so for those who own devices that come with only 16 gigabytes of built in memory, like some iPhone 6 or iPhone 6s editions. Some are even arguing that for 32 gigabyte versions of iPhones, there is still a need to optimize storage, in order to fit files that include mobile games and apps, camera features such as Live Photos, and high definition video content (including 4K quality video).
We now live in a world wherein we tend to chronicle every experience we encounter, and for every mobile user, that often means having enough storage space for every selfie we take, every Boomerang we make, or every video we shoot, not to mention the required memory to make way for software updates, and newly downloaded mobile apps and games. While it is true that some third party tools help a lot (these apps often accomplish this by way of a photo compression approach), it is certainly delightful to hear that Apple is taking this issue seriously.
With regards to the recommendations offered by iOS 11, it is refreshing to know that they are from being the usual generic tips and tricks that users already know anyway. For instance, some users may get a suggestion to activate iCloud for their images and videos, which are starting to take up much storage space. For some, it could be simple reminder to clean out the Recently Deleted photo album. Most people often take conversations found in iMessage for granted, but convos started years ago can actually eat up significant storage space. The great thing about iOS 11 is that it allows users to set their devices to erase old iMessage conversations automatically.
And there is app clean up duty. Suffice it to say that most mobile users nowadays are a bit lazy when it comes to deleting unused apps. But iOS 11 can help in that department via an app “offload” feature. This can be found both in the iPhone Storage screen and in the iTunes & App Stores screen, inside Settings. When users toggle the switch on, they will be able to take out the apps they do not use, and still be able to save the data or any document. For those users who opt to just re-load the app from the App Store, the information will come back accordingly.
Storage space management has increasingly become more important the last few years, but most of today’s mobile users are not necessarily good at it yet. Sure, laziness is a common culprit, but sometimes it is just a case of not knowing the right information. People often get a new device without really knowing for sure if that device can keep up with their lifestyles (travel, hobbies) and interests (movies, music, games).
