White paper | Xperia™ ZR
18
May 2013
This type of memory is used to store all application downloaded from the Google Play™ Store (and
other sources) as well as their settings and data (such as emails, messages and calendar events, for
example). All applications have an allocated area which no other applications can access and where
the application data can be stored.
Some game applications also store content such as game music and game level information outside
their own designated area. In most cases, an application can choose to save its data in a location of its
own choosing (outside the protected application settings area). Generally, such content is not deleted
when an application is uninstalled; it must be removed manually by connecting the device to a
computer with a USB cable, or by using a file manager application.
Internal Storage is also used for all user content added, for example, as a result of the user taking
photos with the camera, downloading media files, and performing file transfers. Typical user content
includes:
• photos
• movies
• music
• downloaded documents (as email attachments, for example)
Internal Storage will tend to fill up as a result of normal usage. Examples of such usage are the saving
of data by applications; the downloading and installation of new applications; the downloading of free
or paid content; and the shooting of pictures and movies. Therefore, the larger this memory is from the
start, the more applications you can download and use, and the more pictures and movies you can
shoot.
If the Internal Storage starts to get full, the device slows down, and in some cases it might no longer be
possible to install more apps. You should always ensure that you have at least 100 MB of free Internal
Storage. If not, you should consider removing some apps that you seldom use, or move content that
you do not frequently access to safe storage.
You can see approximately how much Internal Storage is free under Settings > Storage >Internal
Storage. You can also view more detail about how much memory is used by various applications under
Settings > Applications > Manage Applications. In the Xperia™ ZR, about 4.6 GB of Internal Storage is
available out of the box.
Please note that in Sony Mobile 2013 products, “Internal Storage” is now the combination of what was
previously known as “Device Memory” (for applications and their data – also previously known as “/
data”) and “Internal Storage” (for user’s content – also previously known as “/sdcard”). The reason for
this change is to make the use of available memory more flexible, and also to enable the optional
encryption of user’s content.
Memory card slot
In some products you may find both a large internal memory and a memory card reader slot. However, on
the current Android platform, the card reader slot does not work in the same manner in a device with a
large internal memory as it does in a device with ONLY a memory card slot.
Generally, since most applications expect only a single location for storage, such applications will not
generally allow you to SAVE anything to the memory card (i.e., they do not offer the option to choose a
storage location). However, some applications (for instance, the Sony Mobile “Camera” application) may
actually allow you to do so. Other applications, for example, backup applications such as the Sony Mobile
“Memory” application, will by definition be configured to copy content from the Internal Storage to the
external SD card.
