Apple’s new math

Last week, I made the move from a Lumia 950XL to an iPhone XR (absolutely miss the camera button.)

Today, I received an email from Apple stating that I have used over 50% of my iCloud storage. I was bewildered, since I do not use iCloud for anything other than backups, and when I checked in settings, I was using 142.9 MB of 5 GB, or 2.8%. Maybe this is how they increase service revenue.

Conversation 8 comments

  • skborders

    20 February, 2019 - 3:49 pm

    <p>It doesn't take long to use up the Icloud settings with backups though. I used to back up photos to one drive but it is a pain because you have open OneDrive last to let it back up the photos. I finally gave in a pay the .99 a month for extra storage.</p>

    • AnOldAmigaUser

      Premium Member
      20 February, 2019 - 6:31 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#406182">In reply to skborders:</a></em></blockquote><p>The point is, that I am not close to having used 50% of my iCloud, but they are sending emails stating that I am, and suggesting I back up photos to iCloud. It is beyond borderline deceptive.</p>

  • lvthunder

    Premium Member
    20 February, 2019 - 4:29 pm

    <p>I'm guessing what your phone told you was not accurate. I'd be surprised if a backup of a new phone would only be 142MB. I would go to icloud.com and check what it says.</p>

    • AnOldAmigaUser

      Premium Member
      21 February, 2019 - 2:11 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#406194">In reply to lvthunder:</a></em></blockquote><p>No. Settings in iCloud show 4.86 GB free.</p><p>It is more likely that Apple have discovered that sending the email has a reasonable rate of return, whether it is accurate or not.</p>

  • jwpear

    Premium Member
    20 February, 2019 - 5:27 pm

    <p>I turn off most of the iCloud stuff immediately after each new iDevice setup and ignore it. The ability to transfer apps and settings just by having the old and new phone near one another is pretty sweet. That's about the only reason I used iCloud in the past.</p><p><br></p><p>Feel ya on the button. That camera button was genius. Chaps my ass every time I go to use the camera on my iPhone. So cumbersome. And I've been on the iPhone for roughly two years now. I've gotten used to flicking up on my iPhone 8, but its not efficient at all. Thankfully, my kids are older now so I'm not scrambling to quickly capture a cute picture of them like I did when they were little.</p>

    • AnOldAmigaUser

      Premium Member
      21 February, 2019 - 2:16 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#406213">In reply to jwpear:</a></em></blockquote><p>The button made one-handed operation simple. Maybe it is just me, but I very often find that because of what I am doing (holding something) or where I am (perhaps a ladder), I need that ability.</p><p>Trying to get a photo of a book page when I had no flat surface other than my lap, was nearly impossible with the iPhone because I had to use one hand to hold the page open enough.</p>

  • locust infested orchard inc

    21 February, 2019 - 1:43 am

    <p>You are correct in your assumption about Apple's new found laws of arithmetic. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Applying Apple's mathematical laws, you have used over 50% of your iCloud storage.</span> It works like this:</p><p><br></p><p>Total space = 5 GB = 5120 MB</p><p>Used space = 142.9 MB</p><p><br></p><p>Non-Apple (standard) percentage of space used = 142.9 ÷ 5120 × 100 = 2.79% (2dp)</p><p><br></p><p>Apple percentage of space used = 2.79% ÷ 5GB × 100 = 55.82% (2dp)</p><p><br></p><p>So there it is in black 'n' white; you have indeed used over 50% of your iCloud allotted data space, with 55.82% used.</p><p><br></p><p>It would appear you shall require constant reminders to ensure you are constantly aware that by using Apple products, one plays by Apple's rules – even elementary laws of physics and maths are altered to suit the Cupertino Orchard, as highlighted in the calculation above.</p><p><br></p><p>You as former Microsoft mobile product guy have to quickly adapt to the laws that Cupertino dictate. Should you resist and fail to conform to being an iSheep, Apple can make your life real hell by increasing the gravitational field strength just for you from the nominal ~9.8 N/kg.</p><p><br></p>

  • adam.mt

    21 February, 2019 - 12:54 pm

    <p>It may have changed, but probably not, but I find it a cheek that your phone backup to iCloud includes all the space that the apps take, not just their data. This means it's easy to quickly fill your allocation if you have lots of apps or games. Android only includes the user data since the apps all get repopulated from the store NOT your personal storage.</p>

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