Apple sets new 150MB ceiling for over the air App Store downloads

Posted:
in General Discussion
To go along with Tuesday's big iOS 11 release, Apple announced a change in App Store policy that allows users to download apps up to 150 megabytes in size when connected to a cellular network, up from a previous cap of 100MB.




The new download ceiling was revealed in a post to Apple's official webpage.

"We've increased the cellular download limit from 100 MB to 150 MB, letting customers download more apps from the App Store over their cellular network," Apple said.

Prior to the change, users conducting over-the-air purchases or updates were limited to 100MB packages, meaning they would have to connect to a Wi-Fi network to download larger apps like word processors. For example, Apple's recently updated iWork suite contains three massive apps in the 432MB Pages, 404MB Numbers and 637MB Keynote.

With the new cap, Apple is likely preparing for an onslaught of new augmented reality apps enabled by ARKit in iOS 11. The AR titles, a number of which are already live on the App Store, overlay rich graphics on top of real-world objects. For now, ARKit apps work on flat surfaces like tables and floors, but future implementations are expected to support more complex terrain.

The change in App Store download requirements is transparent to the end user and will only be noticed when attempting to download a 150MB+ app over a cellular network. The App Store OTA limit was last raised in 2013.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 12
    dewmedewme Posts: 5,332member
    Yay!
  • Reply 2 of 12
    Would be better if they just told Facebook to pull their head in and build a better app.
    tallest skilwatto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 12
    dougddougd Posts: 292member
    They are still screwing those of us who don't have WIFI and have Unlimited LTE data.  Whats with the Nanny rules? Fuckers

    edited September 2017 seanismorrispotatoleeksoup
  • Reply 4 of 12
    mattinoz said:
    Would be better if they just told Facebook to pull their head in and build a better app.
    Or just not load FaceBook on your phone...
    macseekertallest skilpotatoleeksoupMplsPwatto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 12
    anomeanome Posts: 1,533member
    mattinoz said:
    Would be better if they just told Facebook to pull their head in and build a better app.

    From what I've heard about their development process, that's unlikely.

    Plus it's over 200MB anyway. And I don't think it will get much smaller in the near future.

    mattinozwatto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 12
    dougddougd Posts: 292member
    The solution for Facebook is to just “add to home screen”.  You don’t need the app
  • Reply 7 of 12
    This limit pisses me off more than anything else about iOS.

    Whever thought up, or voted to continue this crap (at Apple) should get kicked in the balls, every day, for the rest of his life.

    The one reason I consider Android devices is because of this BS.
  • Reply 8 of 12
    dewmedewme Posts: 5,332member
    All kidding aside, deciding whether to impose a limit on the size of app files that can be downloaded over a cellular connection should not be Apple's decision to make. If anyone should impose a limit it should be the cellular carriers - not Apple. Even then, if a user wants to blow through their data plan downloading huge apps from the App Store then let the user decide. In fact, if a user is using a wireless hotspot, bonded cellular connection, etc., that presents Wifi to the Apple device the limit does not apply. So what problem is Apple trying to solve with this limit?

    Apple is so wrong on this one. 
    edited September 2017 potatoleeksoup
  • Reply 9 of 12
    This is a really annoying limit. Who’s really having  some restricted data plan on devices like these - and if having, the user itself is most likely having better knowledge about it than Apple.

    Apple should make this a user configurable one (if even that makes any sense). 
  • Reply 10 of 12
    anomeanome Posts: 1,533member
    dewme said:
    All kidding aside, deciding whether to impose a limit on the size of app files that can be downloaded over a cellular connection should not be Apple's decision to make. If anyone should impose a limit it should be the cellular carriers - not Apple. Even then, if a user wants to blow through their data plan downloading huge apps from the App Store then let the user decide. In fact, if a user is using a wireless hotspot, bonded cellular connection, etc., that presents Wifi to the Apple device the limit does not apply. So what problem is Apple trying to solve with this limit?

    Apple is so wrong on this one. 
    The problem they're trying to solve is the one where someone blows through their data cap because they had background updates on, gets throttled, or possibly billed excess usage charges, and blames Apple for it.

    Another problem is the one where the telcos complain about iPhone users using up all their bandwidth on "Unlimited" data plans, and so they have to charge them extra, or try to renegotiate the deals to support the iPhone with Apple.

    Apple are protecting themselves from nuisance complaints and the attendant bad publicity, and their users from the telcos.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 11 of 12
    anome said:
    dewme said:
    All kidding aside, deciding whether to impose a limit on the size of app files that can be downloaded over a cellular connection should not be Apple's decision to make. If anyone should impose a limit it should be the cellular carriers - not Apple. Even then, if a user wants to blow through their data plan downloading huge apps from the App Store then let the user decide. In fact, if a user is using a wireless hotspot, bonded cellular connection, etc., that presents Wifi to the Apple device the limit does not apply. So what problem is Apple trying to solve with this limit?

    Apple is so wrong on this one. 
    The problem they're trying to solve is the one where someone blows through their data cap because they had background updates on, gets throttled, or possibly billed excess usage charges, and blames Apple for it.

    Another problem is the one where the telcos complain about iPhone users using up all their bandwidth on "Unlimited" data plans, and so they have to charge them extra, or try to renegotiate the deals to support the iPhone with Apple.

    Apple are protecting themselves from nuisance complaints and the attendant bad publicity, and their users from the telcos.
    Except Android devices don't have such limits.  All Apple needs to do is ask the question of download limits when setting up the devices, then prompt the user when downloads something large.  That way users can't bitch...

    Instead, Apple prevents not only apps from downloading but also critical iOS security updates.  There is no way anyone can argue that Apples policy isn't colossally stupid.

    PS.  No joking.  I'm seriously in favor of some balls kicking.
  • Reply 12 of 12
    seanismorris said:
    All Apple needs to do is ask the question of download limits when setting up the devices, then prompt the user when downloads something large.
    Even that’s probably not necessary, as carrier info gets top priority in the OS, like Apple’s own apps. The phone can figure out what plan and carrier it’s using on its own and make that determination automatically.
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