Apple's Live Photos Take Up About 2x Space of Normal Images

[Gav2k]

Guys, can someone (maybe a developer) please explain to me why -if really not- the iPhone 6 and 6+ should not support the creation / capture of 'live photos'?
The article specifically states that they basically already capture everything up until the shot is taken but dump everything prior to that. So what's the deal?
a) insufficient specs?
or
b) this restriction makes a good reason for 6/6+ owners to upgrade.
Anyone?

I would go with a

If you take a burst shot on the iPhone 6/6plus save all the photos and stitch them in iMovie it isn't as smooth as these live pictures so they must have turned it up a notch to get it smooth. That could be a simple case of the write speed in the iPhone 6/6plus is at its limits or the sensor can't output quick enough at that resolution. Until we get some real hardware tests we won't know.

 

[blackcrayon]

Apple just keeps milking their followers. 16GB entry storage and yet they've added Live Photos and 4k video recording? Sigh. At least I plan to go for the 128GB but I feel bad for those on a budget or who don't know what 16GB really means.

How is that "milking" the followers though? Wouldn't an "Apple" follower, someone familiar with Apple products, already be familiar with the benefits of having more storage vs. less? You're making it sound like if you buy the 16 GB model, extra money is required from the person without them realizing it. You're basically arguing that the iPhone should cost less, which would be nice but isn't gonna happen at its current sales rate.

If I had to guess, the phone is somewhat smart about it. The actual "video" part is stored as a lower resolution because of the fact that it won't ever be uploaded elsewhere and so it can stay to the resolution of the screen of the device its on. Then you can likely still have HDR and all that active o the still image. Just a hunch.

That's a good point, lower resolution. I'm also thinking that having 3 seconds of video around a still shot is not usually going to have a lot of changes in the video so the compression will be really efficient.

 

[cdm283813]

It really helps getting to know few things about the product you buy before splashing that kind of money so I personally don't feel bad. I will go for 64GB and should be enough for me. 16GB is very low storage for this kind of tech, I agree.

Some people just can't admit that Apple should not have released a 16GB phone period. I thought that this model would suit my wife but she always takes pictures. What a complete ripoff to force people to spend more money. Please don't mention cloud storage because I'm on a tiered data plan.

 

[acearchie]

That's a good point, lower resolution. I'm also thinking that having 3 seconds of video around a still shot is not usually going to have a lot of changes in the video so the compression will be really efficient.

It's not lower res. This has already been discussed.

This is the tech coming into play from their purchase of SnappyCam a while ago.

 

[cdm283813]

You can set up Dropbox/OneDrive to copy every photo you take to your Dropbox/OneDrive account so not really a big deal if you are low on storage space.

But most people I know have very low data plans in the neighborhood of 1GB a month. Not everyone has access to unlimited data on the go especially if you're on vacation somewhere.

 

[mr.johnnyboy]

16GB lol.

Apple please. There has to be at least one sane person who thought "we can't ship 16GB phones" inside those walls, right? RIGHT?

It's all about money making. They give you an entry model of 16gb for a lot less money but they force you into upgrading your iCloud storage to store your photos. They're not stupid. It's done on purpose.

 

[maflynn]

I can't say that I'm surprised that it takes 2x the space, when you consider what its doing and including sound. Probably not near the amount of storage required for RAW files yet on a phone it does mean space will be an issue.

 

[BvizioN]

Some people just can't admit that Apple should not have released a 16GB phone period. I thought that this model would suit my wife but she always takes pictures. What a complete ripoff to force people to spend more money. Please don't mention cloud storage because I'm on a tiered data plan.

I am one of these people. Many companies release all sorts of stuff that don't suit my needs but it doesn't mean they should't. They can release whatever the heck they want. It's up to the consumer to be smart and buy what suits their needs. You think 16gb is not good for you, then don't buy it ...period. If people don't buy it, Apple will move on and release higher entry level.

 

[John Mcgregor]

Some people just can't admit that Apple should not have released a 16GB phone period. I thought that this model would suit my wife but she always takes pictures. What a complete ripoff to force people to spend more money. Please don't mention cloud storage because I'm on a tiered data plan.

I saw someone say somewhere that its because of business (as in companies buying iPhones in bulk for employees), but if that was true Apple could just be producing them and not selling in retail where minimal storage would be 32 GB, but its not.

12mp picture will be around 5 MB and it will fill up very fast. Racing games are like 1 GB nowadays. Medical apps i use everyday are 4 GB total. No way i can use 16 GB iPhone for work.

 

[John Mcgregor]

I am one of these people. Many companies release all sorts of stuff that don't suit my needs but it doesn't mean they should't. They can release whatever the heck they want. It's up to the consumer to be smart and buy what suits their needs. You think 16gb is not good for you, then don't buy it ...period. If people don't buy it, Apple will move on and release higher entry level.

My mom knows about tech as much as a seagull about quantum physics. I bought her iPhone 5S as a present when it first came out. The phone and iCloud storage were full maybe 2 months after that.

My parents live far from the city and we have goats and bees and 5 dachshunds lots of land and a beautiful view anyway you look. Its a crime not to safe those moments for later generations.


So tell me exactly who the hell for is that 16 GB iPhone? Someone who has 5 contacts in the phone, doesn't take pictures or video and doesn't do basically **** with it?

 

[NachoGrande]

Great so they'll capture that 1.2 seconds of me yelling at the kids to smile :|

 

[the-msa]

TIL recording video and sound takes up more space than just a photo.

 

[johnmacward]

It really helps getting to know few things about the product you buy before splashing that kind of money so I personally don't feel bad. I will go for 64GB and should be enough for me. 16GB is very low storage for this kind of tech, I agree.

It's really easy to say that when your technically competent OR au fait with Apple products and know how quickly they'll take space, but if you're not, like a lot of Apple's customer base around mobile devices, it's frustrating to make this simple mistake. To put it simply the 16GB size should be utterly eliminated - there is simply no excuse for it anymore.

EDIT: I then see you said "16GB is very low storage for this kind of tech, I agree"... So good!

 

[sulpfiction]

Tim said that the "live" portion doesn't take up any more space then the still photo.

 

[quackers82]

I've got 5.5GB free on my 16GB iPhone 6. Thats with 66 Apps installed and 690 photos. I do have the 200GB iCloud sub, and i use Apple Music and iTunes Match.

Whilst 32GB would be nice as a starter, the 16GB when used in the cloud world is not even remotely as bad as some are making out.

The iPhone 5c with 8GB is the only one i feel Apple are being naughty with for the year(s) it was being sold.

 

[DynaFXD]

So tell me exactly who the hell for is that 16 GB iPhone? Someone who has 5 contacts in the phone, doesn't take pictures or video and doesn't do basically **** with it?

Like my dad. Plenty of contacts, A portable _phone_ with few Apps he uses frequently as well as weather checking, navigating, and music and podcasts. A very useful device at 16 GB. Why should he need to pay more for space he'll never really use? Hard as it is to believe, not all iPhone users are video and picture Vine/SnapChat/Twitter/FB addicts. Need more space for how YOU use your phone? Well what do you know, Apple actually makes models with more memory with you in mind.

 

[Rogifan]

Another reason why 16gb entry level is so damn painful

Yep, but Apple's not going to change it until most people are 64GB and my guess is most people aren't. I'm sure Schiller thinks once you're 64GB you won't go back down.

 

[Jsameds]

To explain the "is a video/isn't a video" thing.

The photo taken when taking a "live photo" is a phograph, not a compressed frame that you would get if you paused and screenshotted a video. It's a full resolution, 12MP still photograph.

Now - there are 1.5 seconds of video taken from either side of that photograph. Note - this is video.

So now you basically have a photo and a short video combined into a single file. That's what a "live photo" is.

 

[ron7624]

How many times, when taking a picture, do you get a strange face or reaction immediately after the photo is taken? It used to happen often with my daughter in her early teens. I guess live photo is going to capture that. Should be fun!

 

[John Mcgregor]

Like my dad. Plenty of contacts, A portable _phone_ with few Apps he uses frequently as well as weather checking, navigating, and music and podcasts. A very useful device at 16 GB. Why should he need to pay more for space he'll never really use? Hard as it is to believe, not all iPhone users are video and picture Vine/SnapChat/Twitter/FB addicts. Need more space for how YOU use your phone? Well what do you know, Apple actually makes models with more memory with you in mind.

Tell that to y mom who has no idea what a GB is and if she is not a target group i don't know who is. Maybe its really for business to load 5 apps and use a mail and calendar. Nothing more.

 

[maxsix]

In the world of Apple, gimmicks reign supreme ...

 

[technopimp]

16GB isn't enough, just buy one of our larger ones. Simple solution!

Just typical 'let-them-eat-cake' logic from Apple and Mr. Phil"I like to get a new iPhone every year" Schiller. If I made your money I'm sure I would too.

 

[RuffyYoshi]

So why is there a 16GB model again? Other than to milk us for the higher end models?

 

[pmas76]

It says it's on by default... so I assume we turn it off?

Most of the pictures I take are to enhance my memory (price tags... parking spaces... etc...)

I don't need to go all Harry Potter on those...

Time to lay off the weed...

 

[RuffyYoshi]

16GB isn't enough, just buy one of our larger ones. Simple solution!

Just typical 'let-them-eat-cake' logic from Apple and Mr. Phil"I like to get a new iPhone every year" Schiller. If I made your money I'm sure I would too.

I wonder if he actually PAYS for them or just gets them for free.