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iPad So does the 2GB of RAM fix Safari refresh?
- Thread starter nikhsub1
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Tbh, I was unsure myself what was causing it, whether software or hardware. Glad it was solved with more ram.
I would be interested if people with an iPhone 6 or 6+ have tab reloading issues. If they don't have issues with 1GB on their iPhone, I'm more inclined to think it's an A7 vs A8 issue along with the extra RAM on the Air2.
Because then it would be somewhat of an admission that the other devices are bottlenecked by the existing 1 GB models.
And Apple doesn't want to get techy with their stats and get caught up in those comparisons with products like the Surface and other various tablets (which on paper make the iPad look bad).
Apple doesn't really tout spec details so much. Never have and I agree, it would be sort of an admission that 1GB is inefficient.
The 6+ is definitely showing its lack of extra RAM. Just read around and you'll see complains. The 6 seems to be holding up but its screen isn't nearly as high a resolution which seems to be causing iOS overall to need more memory to function. The 6+ has ~2x the number of pixels for its screen.
Still - even the 6+ screen is only 2/3 the number of pixels of the Air's retina displays.
Each version of iOS also gets bigger as it has to support more background functions - the NFC, Handoff, Continuity, etc is all adding to the iOS 8 memory footprint. Where 1GB was good enough for previous retina iPads, by the time we got to iOS7/Air 1, the hardware/memory was definitely showing signs of being overtaxed.
Its not a pure hardware or software only issue - they're both tied together. Safari may have more aggressive memory management, but given more room/RAM to work with, it doesn't have to be as aggressive in purging tabs from memory.
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Winner winner, chicken dinner!
I tried 10 tabs this morning in Barnes & Noble, their wifi sucks. No problem with reloading tabs. I'm disappointed because I am stressed out now with what to do with the extra time I have now since I do not have to wait or do something again.
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I think his point is (and I've noticed this too) is that the refresh in Safari is not a RAM issue perse, yes more RAM helps but that is not the solution. It's like giving someone more morphine for a gunshot wound, yes the pain will stop but it doesn't fix the problem. It seems the coding in Safari is more responsible for the refreshes as other browsers don't exhibit the same behavior. This may be by design by the developers as well for some reason.
Having been affected by this issue for a while now I can confirm that the increased specs, most notably 2GB DRAM, in the iPad Air 2 fixes the Safari reloading issue when viewing more heavy sites. Kudos to those who raised awareness and pushed for Apple to correct this deficiency.
Method for testing Safari reload:
1. Double-tap home button to bring up app switcher menu and close everything.
2. Launch Safari.
3. Open tab to http://www.theverge.com/, allow it to finish when the gear is no longer spinning and scroll to the end since this makes it easier to notice when it reloads.
4. Open tab to http://live.theverge.com/apple-iphone-iwatch-live-blog/, allow it to finish and scroll to end.
5. Switch between the tabs and if it doesn't reload open another tab to http://live.theverge.com/google-io-2014-keynote-liveblog/, allow it to finish and scroll to end.
6. Keep repeating steps 3 through 5 until Safari reloads.
Number of tabs to cause reload:
iPad 2/iPad Mini (512MB DRAM): 1 (doesn't reload but rather causes laggy scrolling, looping "a problem occurred with this webpage so it was reloaded" error message then finally "a problem repeatedly occurred" with iOS 8.1)
Video showing lag/freezing with one complex tab on iOS 7.1.2 but is now worse with iOS 8.1 since it's almost doing this with just The Verge main page:
http://youtu.be/rGTQAYHfc8U
iPhone 6+ (1GB DRAM but probably has more memory resident services running than iPad Air/Mini 2/Mini 3): 2
iPad Air/Mini 2/Mini 3 (1GB DRAM): 3
iPad Air 2 (2GB DRAM): stopped testing after 5 opened tabs because I had to be somewhere and that's sufficient
Next step is to demand for Apple to increase the DRAM for iPhone 6S+ and 6S. Because of the increased 2GB DRAM on iPad Air 2 it's the only device out that's ready for multi-window multitasking which will probably make an appearance in iOS 6.3 or so.
Method for testing Safari reload:
1. Double-tap home button to bring up app switcher menu and close everything.
2. Launch Safari.
3. Open tab to http://www.theverge.com/, allow it to finish when the gear is no longer spinning and scroll to the end since this makes it easier to notice when it reloads.
4. Open tab to http://live.theverge.com/apple-iphone-iwatch-live-blog/, allow it to finish and scroll to end.
5. Switch between the tabs and if it doesn't reload open another tab to http://live.theverge.com/google-io-2014-keynote-liveblog/, allow it to finish and scroll to end.
6. Keep repeating steps 3 through 5 until Safari reloads.
Number of tabs to cause reload:
iPad 2/iPad Mini (512MB DRAM): 1 (doesn't reload but rather causes laggy scrolling, looping "a problem occurred with this webpage so it was reloaded" error message then finally "a problem repeatedly occurred" with iOS 8.1)
Video showing lag/freezing with one complex tab on iOS 7.1.2 but is now worse with iOS 8.1 since it's almost doing this with just The Verge main page:
http://youtu.be/rGTQAYHfc8U
iPhone 6+ (1GB DRAM but probably has more memory resident services running than iPad Air/Mini 2/Mini 3): 2
iPad Air/Mini 2/Mini 3 (1GB DRAM): 3
iPad Air 2 (2GB DRAM): stopped testing after 5 opened tabs because I had to be somewhere and that's sufficient
Next step is to demand for Apple to increase the DRAM for iPhone 6S+ and 6S. Because of the increased 2GB DRAM on iPad Air 2 it's the only device out that's ready for multi-window multitasking which will probably make an appearance in iOS 6.3 or so.
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I do agree that software might be part of the problem but sometime 100% optimization should not be the goal as it would be to costly. Here is an analogy, lets say a engineering firm has designed a bridge that that uses the least amount of material possible for a bridge. After a few years there seems to be cracks and in each redesign the problems do no get fixed. At a certain point over engineered a product might be the best option. Spend 30% more for an over engineered product that with need less maintenance and have a longer service life.
If and when Apple does address the software SaFari issue more RAM will be required anyways, so having 2GB of RAM would increase user experience right now. IF it is truly a software issue then Apple will not have to go beyond 2GB anytime soon.
Its 3 for the iPhone 6.
2GB of RAM would be better going forward for all iDevices except maybe the iWatch.
If they promoted it then it is basically an admission of guilt and that would piss off customers, especially people who bought the iPad Air or even the iPhone 6 Plus.
The 6 Plus is fine. You look around you will see complaints. However people also believe the phone will bend if you look at it wrong.
My 6plus has no lag/stutter issues.
Thanks for the input. I'm thinking iPhone 6's lower resolution uses less of the shared 1GB DRAM between graphics, iOS and apps so Safari will have a little more to work with.
Considering the cost of going from 1GB to 2GB DRAM is a few bucks at most it actually saves Apple money in development time and QA testing when all devices for a certain year, for example 2014, standardize on 2GB, 3 or 4GB for 2015 devices, etc. and a plus for consumers since it means future proofing for iOS 9/10...
I've got the 6 Plus, Wife has the Air (Original) and I just recently sold my Retina Mini (2). They all suffer from constant reloading issue with Safari. I love the 6 Plus, but it reloads faster than Clint Eastwood in an old spaghetti western!
It could save Apple money but it will reduce the number of new sales. If the iPad Air had 2 GB of RAM, i do not think as many people would upgrade.
I've got to say - it really does make a fantastic improvement to the whole experience finally being able to browse with 4 or more tabs open and not suffer the constant refreshes. For me this alone makes the upgrade worth it.
Great stuff!
Great stuff!
Ummm, ok. Mine does too. After like 10 tabs or a couple of apps.
It's SUPPOSED to reload. The complaint is about how often and doing what.
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Fine. Suffer through reloads and don't complain about it being a lack of RAM issue. Blame it on Safari.
Guys there is no problem, no one should use more than one tab or more than one app at a time. If you need more power buy a 12 core macpro
Even if their is an improvement it does not mean the software is not an issue. if they fix the web kit you would be able to have 31 tabs open instead of 30!
Look how the ram effected battery life, reviews say it does not last as long as the air. An Apple rep told me that if the iPhone 6 has 2Gb of ram the battery would only last 30 minutes.
The increase in ram has only mad a mess!!!
Edit: Sarcasm
You forgot that extra RAM will only make the developers lazy.
This, it was a pathetic experience on the iPad air, couldn't even open more then one tab
Does the iPhone 6/6+ has these issues? If so I'm holding off until the 6's are releases. This issue drove me crazy on my rMini and I had an open ticket with Apple for 10 months.