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Apple Boosts Over-the-Air App Store Download Limits to 50 MB

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With the launch of the 3rd Generation iPad, Apple has increased the over-the-air download limit for the App Store to 50MB, up from 20MB.

As noted by AppAdvice, the change is presumably to accommodate larger app sizes due to the new iPad's Retina display and faster cellular data available with 4G LTE. The download limit is now 50MB across all devices, as shown in the above screenshot. This limit affects the maximum size of an App that can be downloaded over 3G or 4G networks.

Developers frequently work hard to keep their apps under the over-the-air download limit, as they believe going over that limit reduces the likelihood of spontaneous purchases.

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Top Rated Comments

eric/ Avatar
185 months ago
Should have never been a limit in the first place.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WillEH Avatar
185 months ago
With my jailbreak, it's unlimited. :rolleyes:
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
plumosa Avatar
185 months ago
No they are correct. You ever been away from home and thought about buying an app you saw on some site, etc, only to try to buy it and you get the dreaded "must be on wi-fi BS"? I can't tell you how many times I have said, oh well, I'll get it when I get home, only to forget and never buy the app.

It's a good thing for all.

Sure, but the way its written, it means that they work hard to keep it under the over the air limit because if they don't it will reduce the spontaneous purchases. Which is the exact opposite of the reality because it will increase the likelihood.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wordoflife Avatar
185 months ago
So now you can blow through your capped data limits even faster!

You need to be responsible for your usage too.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cambookpro Avatar
185 months ago
Great for us who are on unlimited data plans!!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
185 months ago
It was long overdue to boost the download limit but only pushing it to 50 Mb is ridiculous and extremely disappointing. Why sell a device with LTE support if one can't use it as one wants?
On top of that way more apps will pass that limit easily now soon when featuring higher Res art. Come on Apple, the new iPad looks great, why limit its use with such nonsense?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)