All iPads iPad Air - how severe is the RAM problem?

[Night Spring]

Any comments?

Two tab reload example

If you find this acceptable, then there isn't much more to say in our conversations. But I'll gladly tell others that I find this not acceptable. Since this is a "How severe is the RAM problem?" thread, I don't see how I could say otherwise.

That is exactly what happens on my iPad Air, too. I don't know if I'd call it "acceptable," but I've learned to live with it.

I mean, to me, it's not such a big issue. It's not ideal, but I'm still happy with my Air. I could dig out my iPad 3 on iOS 6, and it wouldn't do that -- at least, it would take many more open tabs before that happened. But I'd rather use the lighter Air with Safari reloading than use the iPad 3.

 

[temna]

But that can't possibly be. Apple is the best thing since the invention of the wheel, and they are infallible. If you question that, you must produce your own tablet in order to be taken seriously.

In reality, apple caters to the vast majority and now produces products that it knows are underspec'd, so people will encouraged to upgrade due to the advances in the next version of iOS. How anyone can argue differently is beyond me, but they try.

Interesting, but I think the facts point more to Apple designs both the hardware and the software to work together. Pull out an old 386 computer and run Windows 3.1 on it. It will run fine because the software was designed for the hardware. ipads and iphones are not underspec'd. They have exactly the specs they need to run the software that Apple gave us. The only reason that Android phones need as much "spec" as they do is because of bloated software skins and crap software added over Android. I very much dislike Android, but going from Samsung's KitKat to Cyanogenmod's CM11 on my Note 3 was like night and day. Knocking Apple because Safari has issues with a couple websites is just plain wrong. Maybe the issue is the website. No matter how you look at it, the hardware will ramp up as the OS needs it to, because Apple controls the whole process from beginning to end, unlike almost all Android devices.

 

[sracer]

Interesting, but I think the facts point more to Apple designs both the hardware and the software to work together. Pull out an old 386 computer and run Windows 3.1 on it. It will run fine because the software was designed for the hardware. ipads and iphones are not underspec'd. They have exactly the specs they need to run the software that Apple gave us.

I would love for that be true. It would be great if every iOS device had the option to revert back to the version of iOS it shipped with... acknowledging that some software would no longer work (or that an older version of an app would be required)

 

[bandofbrothers]

That is exactly what happens on my iPad Air, too. I don't know if I'd call it "acceptable," but I've learned to live with it.

I mean, to me, it's not such a big issue. It's not ideal, but I'm still happy with my Air. I could dig out my iPad 3 on iOS 6, and it wouldn't do that -- at least, it would take many more open tabs before that happened. But I'd rather use the lighter Air with Safari reloading than use the iPad 3.

As I've said in other threads ~ Atomic Browser seems to have cured that on my iPad Air.

 

[Newtons Apple]

The RAM isue is not a deal breaker for me. I do hope that they increase the RAM in the future for those who do consider it to be a deal breaker.

 

[LaunchpadBS]

There's an issue with the RAM????

 

[temna]

I would love for that be true. It would be great if every iOS device had the option to revert back to the version of iOS it shipped with... acknowledging that some software would no longer work (or that an older version of an app would be required)

Where did anything I say mention downgrading the OS. Plus, it's a PITA to do on a PC or Mac without loosing everything..

 

[sracer]

Where did anything I say mention downgrading the OS. Plus, it's a PITA to do on a PC or Mac without loosing everything..

You didn't. You said, "but I think the facts point more to Apple designs both the hardware and the software to work together"

I believe that statement to be true for the version of iOS that ships with the device.

With each update of iOS that is permitted to be installed on the device, generally performance decreases. I have found that the best synergy between hardware and software is "as shipped".

My subsequent comment regarding downgrading the OS was in that context... it would be helpful to provide a way (certainly this would not be something commonly done) for a customer to say, "completely wipe my device and set it back to factory fresh from the day I bought it".

I apologize for the obtuseness of my comments.

 

[Night Spring]

My subsequent comment regarding downgrading the OS was in that context... it would be helpful to provide a way (certainly this would not be something commonly done) for a customer to say, "completely wipe my device and set it back to factory fresh from the day I bought it".

It's not always desirable to literally take the device back to the version it shipped from the factory with. There could be subsequent bug fixes and security patches that should be loaded. For instance, the only reason to go back to iOS 7.0 rather than 7.1 is if you want to jailbreak your device. And jailbreaking, from Apple's viewpoint, is a security hole that needs to be patched. Now, I do think that devices that shipped, for instance, with 5.0, should be able to downgrade to the last version of 5.x. But allowing users to do that will mean the security hole that allows the jailbreak of iOS 5 is left open. Which I believe is the main reason Apple doesn't allow downgrading. I think the fact that not allowing downgrading artificially drives up adoption numbers of the latest OS (people unhappy with the upgraded version are stuck there even if they would prefer to downgrade) is a side effect.

 

[s2mikey]

As I've said in other threads ~ Atomic Browser seems to have cured that on my iPad Air.

I don't have any issues even with safari but the Atomic browser is pretty nice.

You do realize that saying the different browser cured your Airs reloading issues is going to get the "not enough RAM" posse on your tail?

 

[jrswizzle]

As I tested this on my 5S to counter an argument in a different thread, I started to wonder if there's something in the iPad version of Safari that's causing the issue.

I've experienced the tab reload on my Air with no other apps running, but not on my 5S. This leads me to believe it isn't a RAM issue, rather a software issue.

Not sure how to test this other than to pull up the same websites on each and try to mirror my actions.

 

[mangomind]

I have found that the best synergy between hardware and software is "as shipped".

Many times this is not true. The iPhone 3G runs better on iOS 3 than iOS 1 or 2. A 2012 Macbook and a 2010 iMac run OS X 10.9 better than 10.8 and 10.7. And I have a feeling the iPad Air will run better on iOS 8 than on iOS 7.

On an iPad 2, I've noticed that Safari memory performance on iOS 7 is mostly the same as on iOS 6. But a few websites reload constantly, and I think this is because a few poorly coded websites create a memory leak in the Webkit engine introduced with iOS 7.

And I've noticed inconsistent issues with apps stored in memory in iOS 7. Sometimes, app switching and holding apps in memory is as reliable as iOS 6, and, for example, the OS can keep Safari and 4 other apps in memory. Other times, the OS cannot hold two apps in memory when I switch between them. In iOS 6, I could switch between any two apps without any reloads.

I've experienced the tab reload on my Air with no other apps running, but not on my 5S. This leads me to believe it isn't a RAM issue, rather a software issue.

I don't think this is a software issue because the iPhone and iPad OSs are virtually identical. The only difference I can think of is that webpages on retina iPads need to download, decompress, and hold in memory images with 4x as many pixels.

 

[sracer]

Many times this is not true. The iPhone 3G runs better on iOS 3 than iOS 1 or 2. A 2012 Macbook and a 2010 iMac run OS X 10.9 better than 10.8 and 10.7. And I have a feeling the iPad Air will run better on iOS 8 than on iOS 7.

On an iPad 2, I've noticed that Safari memory performance on iOS 7 is mostly the same as on iOS 6. But a few websites reload constantly, and I think this is because a few poorly coded websites create a memory leak in the Webkit engine introduced with iOS 7.

And I've noticed inconsistent issues with apps stored in memory in iOS 7. Sometimes, app switching and holding apps in memory is as reliable as iOS 6, and, for example, the OS can keep Safari and 4 other apps in memory. Other times, the OS cannot hold two apps in memory when I switch between them. In iOS 6, I could switch between any two apps without any reloads.

I'll leave it as, "your experience differs from mine". Whether it is my iPad1, iPad2, iPad4, 2010 MacbookPro, or 2011 MacbookPro. They've always operated best with the OS they shipped with.

 

[Count Blah]

I don't have any issues even with safari but the Atomic browser is pretty nice.

You do realize that saying the different browser cured your Airs reloading issues is going to get the "not enough RAM" posse on your tail?

That's ok. Plenty of folks claiming to have no issues with tab reloading on safari. So I don't take one report as gospel.

----------

As I tested this on my 5S to counter an argument in a different thread, I started to wonder if there's something in the iPad version of Safari that's causing the issue.

I've experienced the tab reload on my Air with no other apps running, but not on my 5S. This leads me to believe it isn't a RAM issue, rather a software issue.

Not sure how to test this other than to pull up the same websites on each and try to mirror my actions.

More pixels on the air.

 

[Zorlac]

Clearly you are a genius and apple are idiots. When can we buy your tablet?

FYI my brand new Samsung Galaxy tab with 2gb ram does the same thing, probably more than the ipad, and it's far slower to reload the tabs.

I'm right and your wrong, simple as that. I paid $500 not counting tax for this thing and I have EVERY right to complain about basic failures like not being able to have 2 goddamn tabs open simultaneously in safari without reloading. Don't like my criticism? Too bad.

It's so pathetic and sad that the apple fanbois can't take criticism. Everything apple does is sooooooo perfect that if something goes wrong it must be the users fault. I have a Mac mini, a MacBook Air and the iPad Air. I've earned the right to critique Apple and I damn won't let the likes of you tell me different. My old nexus 7 NEVER had a problem with multiple tabs open in the atrocity that is Chrome. I really like Safari as a mobile browser, but the FACT is the Air cannot handle multiple tabs reliably. Simple as that and don't even bother arguing otherwise.

 

[Night Spring]

I'm right and your wrong, simple as that. I paid $500 not counting tax for this thing and I have EVERY right to complain about basic failures like not being able to have 2 goddamn tabs open simultaneously in safari without reloading. Don't like my criticism? Too bad.

It's so pathetic and sad that the apple fanbois can't take criticism. Everything apple does is sooooooo perfect that if something goes wrong it must be the users fault. Piss off. I have a Mac mini, a MacBook Air and the iPad Air. I've earned the right to critique Apple and I damn won't let the likes of you tell me different. My old nexus 7 NEVER had a problem with multiple tabs open in the atrocity that is Chrome. I really like Safari as a mobile browser, but the FACT is the Air cannot handle multiple tabs reliably. Simple as that and don't even bother arguing otherwise.

I think you are barking up the wrong tree. Complain to Apple, not to other posters on this forum. What does it matter what people here think? If everyone here agreed that yes, Safari does reload a lot, and it's totally unacceptable, that's not going to stop Safari from reloading, is it?

 

[temna]

More pixels on the air.

But the air has the same pixels as the mini retina. And a faster processor than the iphone 5s. So I think I'm going to go with a software problem more than a RAM issue.

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I'm right and your wrong, simple as that. I paid $500 not counting tax for this thing and I have EVERY right to complain about basic failures like not being able to have 2 goddamn tabs open simultaneously in safari without reloading. Don't like my criticism? Too bad.

It's so pathetic and sad that the apple fanbois can't take criticism. Everything apple does is sooooooo perfect that if something goes wrong it must be the users fault. I have a Mac mini, a MacBook Air and the iPad Air. I've earned the right to critique Apple and I damn won't let the likes of you tell me different. My old nexus 7 NEVER had a problem with multiple tabs open in the atrocity that is Chrome. I really like Safari as a mobile browser, but the FACT is the Air cannot handle multiple tabs reliably. Simple as that and don't even bother arguing otherwise.

Honestly, what I think is pathetic and sad is that you think your issue means Apple did something systematically wrong with the iPad. That it's the iPad's fault. That it couldn't be an issue with the coding of the sites. A minor glitch in the iOS revision. A caching issue. Or any number of other things. I has nothing to do with being a fanboi or whatever, it has to do with seeing enough issues out there in the real world with devices never to blame a whole company or line of devices just because you are personally having an issue with a device.

And to say you're right and everyone else is wrong? What are you 12?

 

[Ries]

I think you are barking up the wrong tree. Complain to Apple, not to other posters on this forum. What does it matter what people here think? If everyone here agreed that yes, Safari does reload a lot, and it's totally unacceptable, that's not going to stop Safari from reloading, is it?

Actually it would. If you would have widespread complaints that the iPad sucks because it sometimes even can't hold 2 tabs at a time, apple would do what ever is in their power to rectify it or try to spin it to holding it wrong.

 

[Night Spring]

Actually it would. If you would have widespread complaints that the iPad sucks because it sometimes even can't hold 2 tabs at a time, apple would do what ever is in their power to rectify it or try to spin it to holding it wrong.

True enough. But there is no widespread complaint, either because people aren't experiencing this problem, or like me, they experience it but don't consider it a serious issue. Yelling at them isn't going to elicit widespread complaint.

 

[Count Blah]

True enough. But there is no widespread complaint, either because people aren't experiencing this problem, or like me, they experience it but don't consider it a serious issue. Yelling at them isn't going to elicit widespread complaint.

Yelling often occurs when people are told that they are lying, or that what they find annoying is of little to no importance.

 

[Dmunjal]

There are a lot of people complaining that are Apple fans too. They just want Apple to provide a better product so the same thing that happened to Apple in the 90s doesn't happen again.

Apple had a huge lead with the Mac but let Microsoft win the war by missing out on some major features that Windows got first. Like multitasking, built-in TCP/IP networking, high resolution screens, CD-ROMs, etc.

 

[bandofbrothers]

I don't have any issues even with safari but the Atomic browser is pretty nice.

You do realize that saying the different browser cured your Airs reloading issues is going to get the "not enough RAM" posse on your tail?

Lol.

My one and only concern is to use my iPad Air without tabs re loading.

I'll use whatever tools / browsers that will attain that goal.

The discussion about RAM is interesting to follow.

 

[zhenya]

No it doesn't. Android doesn't utilize RAM the same way iOS for web browsing. You can have 30 tabs open on an Android device an as long as you don't put the app in the background they will not refresh.

Here is a video response I made for another member. This is a Motorola Xoom (Androids first tablet) which has 1gb RAM. Pandora playing in the background (excuse the music like I said it was a video response showing how its not refreshing tabs).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utBPbRVpRD8

Which is of absolutely zero consequence because I switch apps all the time. At which point Android takes far longer to reload than the iPad - so as irritating as it may be, I'll say again, it's still far better than the alternatives.

 

[AaronM5670]

There's an issue with the RAM????

Yup, multitasked apps are shut off quickly which can cause data loss and Safari tabs have to be reloaded after switching between even just one app, something that doesn't happen with say a modern iMac or any comparable PC with a normal amount of RAM.

 

[wolfboy]

Any comments?

Two tab reload example

If you find this acceptable, then there isn't much more to say in our conversations. But I'll gladly tell others that I find this not acceptable. Since this is a "How severe is the RAM problem?" thread, I don't see how I could say otherwise.

I do think apple needs to up it to 2gb in the next one, but don't think the issue is that severe currently. I recreated your scenario n that video and more. My tabs didn't refresh. Maybe because my 3rd gen ipad disables the Gaussian blur effect?

Safari does refresh every now and then when using it normally, but in that walmart scenario, it didn't.