Photo Stream & Camera Roll using double memory?

Question

Photo Stream & Camera Roll using double memory?

I have a 16gb new iPad. I've noticed that since taking some home movies using the video camera (total of about 25 minutes) my available internal storage has dropped quite a bit along with my availble iCloud storage. I also noticed that all photos and videos are duplicated between the Photo Steam and Camera Roll. I'm not sure I've really figured out the difference between these two and whether I need them both. If I understand correctly, Photo Stream is there to work with iCloud to backup and also push stuff to other devices (but that feature has a 30day/1,000 photo limit)? On the other hand, the Camera Roll is permanent (although it also backs up to iCloud, depending on your settings)? I also understand that Photo Stream data doesn't eat into the free 5gb on iCloud, but Camera Roll does.

So, my questions are:

1. With respect to the internal storage on the iPad itself, am I losing twice as much memory for each photo/video that is in my Cameral Roll and also on the Photo Stream?

2. It doesn't seem to make sense that I have iCloud backing up my Camera Roll (which eats iCloud storage) if the same stuff is backed up on Photo Stream (without using iCloud storage) - I assume the only reason to continue allowing it to back up the Camera Roll is that the Photo Stream backup has limits? In other words, if I don't backup the Camera Roll and my iPad craps out on me, then my iCloud restore won't inlcude any photos or videos taken more than 30 days ago?

iPad (3rd generation) Wi-Fi

Posted on Apr 13, 2012 12:13 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 13, 2012 12:58 PM in response to jmtnewtoapple

Photos are included with the Photo Stream, not videos.

Photo Stream is temporary so if you have an iPhone and iPad, photos captured on one device will be available on the other device automatically and vice-versa. Your Photo Stream can also be accessed on your computer so you can add photos to the stream on your computer making the newly added photos available on each device without having to sync, and for saving photos in the Photo Stream locally on your computer's hard drive without needing to import the photos from the Camera Roll with your computer.

Photos in the Photo Stream as well as in the Camera Roll are taking up double the storage space.

Photo Stream is not a backup.

Photos/videos in the Camera Roll should be imported by your computer as with any other digital camera.

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Answer 2

Cbarn

Level 1

0 points

May 16, 2012 5:49 PM in response to Allan Sampson

Im also having storage issues but with my iphone Not to sound like a complete moron, but what is the best way to get my photos and videos from my iphone and ipad imported to my computer? I do not have a Mac computer. I hooked up my iPhone and was able to find photos and copy them to a folder but I'm not sure if videos were also transferred and I wasn't sure if they were coming from my camera roll or phot stream. Does it really make sense to utilize the photo stream? One thing that I have done and highly recommend is downloaded the Shutterfly app, it is so easy to upload your iPhone and iPad pictures to your online site. Thanks for any help and recommendations anyone has for me!

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