There has always been a partition in the available memory, program and storage remain 39.59 storage and 47.19 program these numbers can not be changed, what can change is the amount of items that use the available storage memory. With less bulk in the OEM and OS there is a slight change in available storage, the programs being added to the device take up storage memory so the more programs added the less storage memory available after flashing. These changes amount to small amounts of memory added to available storage but the program memory remains unchanged.

Example: after flash

Kirvin_AKU_3.5_Sprint_NoJunk
Program: 31.62
Storage: 35.65

Big D5 Max Storage Memory AKU 3.5 Beta
Program: 31.62
Storage: 37.23

I chose the Kirvin AKU because of the similarities in nature my AKU is almost the same as Kirvin minus some basic items from what I can tell. The results more storage memory not much(1.58 mb) but more.

Big D5,

I think you correct that storage memory, not program memory is the critical item. I am using Kirwin's C&S for Sprint and have plenty of program memory (22.18M) left, but storage is only 6.84M.

So what I wrote above may be true, but it is not that important, especially if you have unlocked the Ext'd ROM as that gives more space for (just) programs, not storage, correct?.

Right, but taking that one step further, of that 37.23 storage, more of it is used up by installed apps because they are not in the ROM.

For example if I want my phone to have (made up sizes):
eWallet 2M
Live search 1M
Phone Alarm 1M
Skype 3M
SlingPlayer 2M

And I use your ROM, then of the 37.23 only 28.23 remains. While if I cook my own I would be closer to 36 left for other things.

Not a criticism, just an observation.

eWallet 2M
Live search 1M
Skype 3M
SlingPlayer 2M

Can all be added to the available extended rom storage greatly reducing there bulk, but if you are going to cook your own that is the way to go to get the best of both. I just like the ability to make changes and upgrade programs without a re-cook.

I hear ya. I have been on the AKU 2.2 for the longest time and off the forums, but with my replacement phone I have flashed a number of the new ROMs. Was about to cook my own, but I see there is a new kitchen to be out in the next couple days. I'm just trying to get up to speed with some of the knowledge you guys have.
My goal now is with the publishing of the new kitchen to put as much as I can on the ROM, like you said, things that don't update often. And then put the phonealarms, Spb pocket plus and similar on regular storage.
My hope is Helmi has gloomy weather like I do and is inside madly finishing that kitchen ;) .

I think the reason you managed to get an extra 1.58 mb from your ROM compared to Kirvin's has less to do with your removal of some items and more to do with Kirvin adding a few things to his ROM which took storage space (Sprint Customizations, MMS, Midlet Manager). These all included files that had to be installed outside of the Windows directory so even though they were in the ROM, when flashed they take up storage space. I doubt there would be much difference between a ROM created from the Unified Kitchen with no OEMs added and yours. In other words, leaving the games and calculator and other items in there wouldn't make much difference in final storage space. Helmi's original 3.3 had 38.51 free storage space after a flash and I think some of the first 3.5's that were being tested had about 40.

:lol: I hear ya, all you need to know is out there, the gooroos around here have done a great job of making it as ez as possible and when that new kitchen is out I will give it a go.

Agreed. I know a lot of people like the bare and clean ROMs, but in my opinion, what makes the ROM customization and kitchen so valuable is using it to put things in the ROM so you don't have to install them later and lose storage space. I've been able to basically only use about 5 megs for programs because I've been able to put the others that I use on the ROMs using the great OEMs that everyone has been putting up. With the official ROMs, by the time I installed all the programs I used regularly, I'd only have make 15 megs of storage left. Now I have 30 megs.

I do think the upgrade issue will be a hassle though. I'm guessing that I may be able to export the registries for the programs I'm using and then recook a ROM with the upgrade and import the registries back in. As long as the install directory doesn't change (which should be \Windows anyway), it might not be a problem. The main issue would be if the upgrade creates new registry entries that were around with the older version. But importing a registry back in wouldn't overwrite those entries -- it would only affect existing entries, so it might work.

Either way, a lot of the stuff I put on the ROM doesn't get upgraded that much anyway, so it's not that big of a deal. I'm packing the ROM full anyway, so I leave out the more frequently upgraded stuff like PhoneAlarm to be installed into Storage so they can be upgraded easily.

I agree and if you will read all of the post you quoted found HERE and this post HERE you will find that is exactly what I said. If you could kindly link me to the AKU's you tested that have 40 mb free I would appreciate it I would like to compare so I can make my update better.

When one looks at a directory of files using file explorer, how does one tell if the file is in program memory or storage memory?

Why does including a program in a ROM to be flashed use less storage memory than if it were later installed in device program memory?