[paulheu]

Information on this is so easy to find if you look in the right place..

The two are abviously quite different as Boing can get batteries from another supplier. This is something at the core of the OS and so is the responsibility and under control of Microsoft.

This might be a good place to start;

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/winphone/forum/wp8-wpapps/clear-other-memory-in-phone-storage/4cb...

Also the Answer from ToddAllcock here:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/winphone/forum/wp8-wpstart/what-is-other-under-storage/979d2948-2...

[QUOTE]

I believe the app size is the size of the download, not the size of the app. Most apps are compressed to save data (like a .zip file) usage when downloading, so your 9MB app is really a 35MB app when installed.  The "other" storage is a collection of pretty much everything the sync software itself doesn't know or care about- app data, email, contacts, calendar, browser and map caches (resetting the maps app always recovers a lot of space on my phone, but I use Maps quite a bit.)  Apps can carve out a slice of storage to store their own data- the amount will vary by app. GPS or media apps will use up a lot more storage than, say, a text-based feed reader.

In a quest for ease of use, MS didn't make it easy to manually manage the storage space on a Windows Phone. The opacity of the file system, while making it harder for people to mess things up, also makes it harder for "power users" to take control.  WP, much like iOS, is essentially an "ignore what's behind the curtain" type of OS.

[/QUOTE]

[kellettcorp]

No, they are not different at all. The only difference is that it is more difficult for Nokia to change the component; which would seem to make it even more important that they take the bull by the horns. Moreover, it is the same component that existed when it built the phones; when it tested (I hope) the phones; and when it sold (and continues to sell) the phones. It is therefore incumbent upon Nokia to approach its supplier and get them to correct an obvious fault.

Or are you suggesting Nokia should just continue (along with other manufacturers, I must add) to sell defective phones, and hope Microsoft gets enough letters from Nokia's dissatisfied customers to make it do something about this issue? If that's Nokia's usual approach, it is no wonder it managed to bring itself to the brink of extinction, from a seemingly unassailable position, just a few years ago.

[paulheu]

I would suggest you inform yourself before making unfounded or incorrect claims.

From all sources I have found it would seem that 'Other' in Zune is just a collection of items not relevant to Zune. It would also seem the space these 'Other' components occupy is dynamically managed by the OS so if a lot of space is available then 'Other' would be large and by adding your own (media) files it will shrink as less space becomes available to it.

From most all posts here I can recall people have not even bothered to do 5 minutes of investigating but blindly assume that since 'Other ' shows up as taking 3GB on their storage they do not have access to any of this space and can't put their data on their phone. It would seem to me from the information I gather in about those 5 minutes that they are wrong in their assumption.

I would then suggest that those who are asking should spend a few minutes to see what happens if they start writing data to their device.. I am not going to do that for them even though I did manage to find the information they seem to not be able to for them to try this and not just blindly cry wolf..

Obviously this could not be the case at all. I personally do not have this issue and therefor have no need or desire to investigate this any further. In any case, this is an issue for Microsoft and not Nokia and especially not Nokia Support Discussions as on this user to user support platform you won't find any oficial answers or anyone able to provide a ready to go answer here.

I have in a few minutes found and linked to a number of sources where more information may be available or at least it would appear people with knowledge or experience in this are can be found. I'd suggest you use them..

[kellettcorp]

It is clear you have not read my "letter"; or are simply ignoring it.

Your "solutions" include lines such as this: "As you add more to your device it will release some of the reserved space back to the phone."

Go on then, as I suggested in that letter; you try it.  Upload a fe gig to your SkyDrive and fill the 'Other' folder, and then see if you can get it released.  I am genuinely interested to know; because, as I have already written, mine does not "release" squat.

Perhaps it is just my phone (and a few others) that is defective.  I will leave you to your perfect manifestation of the Lumia, professor

[paulheu]

Read it just fine, still saying you're barking up the wrong tree especially since you were provided with sources who might be able to actually help you on this.

It would appear though you're not really all that interested in that.. But never mind.. I could not care less at this point..

[jekiboi20]

Hi Guys,

Just a gentle reminder, we are using a peer-to-peer discussion forum and we have to maintain a friendly atmosphere. Please ensure polite and respectful correspondence with each other to avoid causing arguments or offending other users.

Thanks,

[kellettcorp]

Since you keep referring me to others, rather than by describing your own experiences with the equipment, I wonder how conversant you are with it; or why you seem to refuse to recreate the problem.  Do you think I am lying?  How does your solution page help this guy, for example:

"I have also posted this on the Windows community forum of the same topic but it is really annoying me now so I'm hoping cross posting where ever possible on this tpic will eventually get some answers.

'I'd had my 8x for about a week when I noticed my 'other' file was 6.92GB. I've only got 2GB of apps and under 1GB of music and videos. Everything else apart from the standard OS size in negligible. I've got 4 text messages and 7 e-mails on there and I've cleared all map data.

I now only have 2.22GB free. This is totally unacceptable, 20 mins or so of 1080p filming will swallow that (as tested). I know filming 20 mins of 1080p is very rare, and I don't really need more than a 16GB phone, but I don't want to have to sync and delete this often, it's quite contrary to the whole ethos of 'mobile', and I would quite like to use the 16GB I paid for.

I swear by Windows (sometimes to my detriment), had a HD7 a week after it came out, which incidentally did not suffer from this issue with almost identical info/contacts/apps on it, and even upgraded my desktop to Win8 as I wanted enhanced compatability. Has anyone actually managed to get a clear answer from Microsoft about this yet? Do we know what the file is or how to delete any of it? I'm starting to regret not getting a nexus . . . . . '

Please also note when testing the storage with the 1080p filming, it did state it was full. So much for the dynamic cache theory . . . . ."

So, he has 2.22GB free, predominantly because of his 'other' being 6.92GB, and when he takes that 2.2GB up with video, his phone tells him it is full.  Now, you may be perfectly correct; you may have a full understanding of how this system is supposed to work, and many Google searches that back you up.  However, the reality is that here is a guy with 3GB of Apps, Music and Video; 4 text messages; 7 emails; no map data; and I cannot imagine he has managed to collect much of a web cache in one week, since he got it; and his 16GB phone has bearly enough room for 20 mins of video, before it gets full; and reports itself as full.  I call that defective; you call it what you want.

[paulheu]

Just out of curiosity, I just checked my Lumia 800.

Of the 16GB About 4.5 is reserved/other with a bit over 9GB free.

I can reduce the reserved space which is not at 5% to get a bit more available, but the bulk is apps and app related data. Zune has this to say on 'Other'

Other content refers to;

• Games and game info
• Apps and app info
• Email and calendar info
• Office Mobile docs
• Pictures and videos taken since you last synced with your phone's primary computer
• Content from computers other then you phone's primary computer

So if you take photos or videos they will be in 'Other' until synced to your primary computer. To make more space available that means you need to do that. Also If you use another computer then the primary one whatever you sync to the phone is in 'Other'

So when shooting a video the 'Other' section will in fact get bigger as you shoot, then once synced to your primary computer it will relase 'Other' and be in the video count. If you understang the principle of sandboxing and how Windows Phone OS works that makes perfect sense.

[kellettcorp]

I understand sandboxing; I understand, exactly, everything you write here, regarding Zune and the 'other' folder.

However, what you seem to have failed to understand is that all those reporting this problem, both here with the opening post, and all those reporting it elsewhere (and also in the solutions and explanations you kindly posted to me), are using WP8; not WP7.

This is a WP8 problem, not a WP7 problem; and therein probably lies the explanation as to why you have not encountered the issue. WP8 does not work with Zune; Zune and its synchronising methodology is therefore not relevent. I agree, it worked logically; and well, it seems (in this respect, at least). Unfortunately, Zune is retired, and now we are stuck with WP8; seeking answers.

[paulheu]

Fair enough, I would assume though this may work in a similar fashion for WP8 although there may be less logic to it.

What might explain this is that under WP8 there is no direct sync relation to a 'primary'computer and so if this has been an oversight on Microsoft's part it may inadvertendly cause this effect.

That said, I do believe this is a case to be taken to Microsoft first and if you wish to take it to Nokia this is not the platform to do it. Nokia Care would be. It would probably take some pressure to get this escalated there but that would be the only channel outside maybe the developer website suitable to address this. I highly doubt you'll find any answers here as Nokia Support Discussions is a user to user platform. I'll be going to WP 8 soon myself so I'll have something to tinker with then I assume..

[kellettcorp]

I genuinely and sincerely hope you don't have this to deal with, by the time you switch.  I hope it is sorted before then.

WP8 is a great OS; and has even greater potential.  For the most part, I enjoy it thoroughly; and will do more so, when we get 'Play to'.  However, with companies planning to release WP8 phones with only 4GB of memory, I suspect they will be all but useless, with WP8 operating as it does, currently; and the complaints will escalate quickly.  Let's face it, most people will know nothing of this issue until the phone reports "No Memory", which may take a few months.

Here is the reaction of one Lumia 820 owner, to a proposed 4GB phone:

"4GB is Waaaaaaayyyyy to small, i have a Lumia 820 with internal 8GB and a 32GB memory card - all photo's and vids go to memory card and the 8GB got filled up with all I can guess is "cache" with no-way of emptying it. I had to restore my phone to gain back the 4.8GB in the "OTHER" folder on my device - once restored all the software I had before was automatically downloaded and installed (great feature) + all my texts etc BUT ALL my game data was lost, meaning I have to start all my games again (VERY, VERY frustrating). Great phone, brilliant OS but some major flaws still - 4GB is way way too small for a Windows OS with this strange behaviour."

This issue needs resolving very soon.

I have done all I can, presently, to alert the neccesary people to this; but I think these discussions are useful for other Nokia users (and potential ones), too.  Writing as one myself, I can say that if I came across this exchange, I would at least establish that there is an issue, for some people.  Without its existence, they might, like me, have spent 10 days exploring and wondering.

[KennyKB]

This mysterious, ever growing 'Other' folder which cannot be deleted need to be solved quickly or it will hit Nokia in the face. Many 820 users are already bumping their heads against the 8GB internal memory limit. Whatever files you upload to SkyDrive takes up an equivalent space in the 'Other' which stays even if you delete them from SkyDrive. Any files transferred via bluetooth goes there. Photos and music stored on the SD card also incur a penalty in 'Other'.

Sometimes the 'Other' folder does shrink on its own but users have run out of space to install anything so it is not true that the 'Other' folder release space as required. Those who buy a 820 thinking they will have tons of space with a micro-SD card must feel royally screwed.

It is a Microsoft problem but for Nokia to ignore this is like saying the floor cracking up in your rented house is the landlord's problem. I think HTC has stopped selling the HTC 8S as 4GB internal memory is just not practical for WP8 at the moment.

[paulheu]

Well, I got my lumia 620 so I had the chance to play a bit with this. It must be noted that the 620 comes with Portico installed so it may not apply to WP8 before that.

After I installed my apps (total of 1.6 GB, about 65 apps total) and not doing anything else there was an 'other' section of 4.4GB on the phone with obviously little left, something like 1.5 GB or so..

I copied about 6 videos which were 350MB each to the phone internal storage and for the 1.4GB required it took about 800MB from the 'other' space and the rest from the remaining available space. When I removed the videos again it released all space to available.

I reset the phone and it kept the 'other'space at the amount it was after I removed the videos.

I'll do some more testing but this would indicate that, at least for the portico update, the 'other' section is indeed a dynamically allocated space which can be released if mor espace is needed for storage.

[Hunaid]

You don't have access to that area on your device.

So "other" is basically a storage of data from a variety of sources (photos, music and video as well as reserved space for applications).  Each application that writes (and stores data) has their own specific area to use so WP allocates space according to needs of the device.

Windows Phone allocate storage dynamically, so if the phone is relatively empty, it will reserve a lot of space  (as an example, IE and Maps would take space.)

As you add more to your device it will release some of the reserved space back to the phone.

Pretty much if space is not being used, it will automatically take space and reserve it for use for what is there.  If a new app is installed and it needs more space, the phone will allocate the space needed.

Now, it's fair to say that Microsoft has engineered Windows Phone 8 to use those other empty storage space to speed up operations by caching stuff. After all what is the point of ignoring a perfectly good empty storage? It's a valid point.

[paulheu]

The latest Nokia Firmware update which includes the storgage check app fixed the issue quite nicely..

[mpwuk]

I have a Lumia 920 which now has 6.31GB in the 'other' folder.

I would like to know from Nokia when this latest firmware release will be available in the UK for unbranded 920s running SIM-free on o2.  It's not much to ask if indeed there is a new release (as publicised but mysteriously not appearing on my phone as yet).

I would also like Microsoft to communicate with its users and let them know what the issue is, how they are going to resolve it (short and long term) and when that fix or os update will be published.

What I don't want is to wait two, three or more months to get an update while I fritter away time trying to rescue space  on a phone that has a fixed storage (oh for SD cards!).  That would seriously compromise the innovation and promise of WP8 for me as well as concern me over the viability of the WP os going forward.

Nokia and Microsoft: Let your customers have the information now, please!!  

[93tid]

Instead of simply copy/pasting your post from the other thread you unnecessarily started, the idea was to read through this existing one. For example, you could have learned that the OS update you are asking about is produced and distributed by Microsoft, hence you are asking in the wrong place about it's availability. You could have also found out that you don't actually need to fritter away time trying to rescue space on the phone, since it is dynamically re-allocated according to usage and needs - admittedly not in the best way, hence the announced update, however still far from requiring unneeded worry over the issue. In short, if you had read the thread you could have spared yourself the time of creating an account and posting.

[paulheu]

This might give you an idea of (at least) a temporary solution until the firmware update is available fo you. Worked for me, but since I have updated my 620 there's no need anymore. The Storage check option works perfectly fine.

.

[grschinon]

Which firmware version gives this level of detail?

Running 1232.5951.1249.1018 here. No updates available for now.

[paulheu]

Something like this;