https://serversforhackers.com/series
and follow the link to the second page of titles too.
7 Ways to Cut Your Smartphone Data Usage
By Mary Hunt
(Note from Dan: I have change what the original article said about wifi
assist to more accurate description of the feature under
number five.)
Unlimited data plans for smartphones are nearly a thing of the past. Even if
you’ve managed to hang on to your unlimited data
plan, it’s likely not truly unlimited. Your carrier probably throttles your
data speeds if you exceed a certain amount of downloaded
data in a given billing period.
Data usage per smartphone is growing like crazy which is prompting the
typical smartphone user to buy bigger data allowances as
they sign up for shared data plans and add other devices, especially
tablets. Ka-ching!
There are things that you, as a socially connected, tech-savvy person with a
smartphone and a limited data plan can do to stay
below your limited data plan
cap, Follow these tips to cut back on your data habit, track and monitor
your usage, and stretech your data plan—so you never
have to pay overage charges again.
1. CONNECT TO WI-FI. This might seem like a no-brainer, but all of us need
a good reminder from time to time: Being connected
to wi-fi (as opposed to using your service provider’s cellular network to
access the Internet) does not require and therefore eat up
your data plan. If the places you frequent most—home, work,
friends’ places, bus stops, train stations, cafes, coffee shops—have open
connections, use them.
2. MIND THE STREAMING. Streaming video is the worst culprit when it comes
to burning through your monthly data allotment. A
five-minute YouTube video sucks up 5-10 megabytes. A single 22-minute TV
episode on Netflix blows through at least 100-
megabytes. Movies, even more. Don’t do it. Wait to watch those cat videos
until you have a wi-fi connection.
3. MUSIC CHOICES. The music you listen to when you’re not on wi-fi can make
a huge difference in how much data you’re using.
If you’re listening to Pandora or Spotify while connected to your cellular
network, an hour of music will eat up 50-70 megabytes of
data. But you have a better option. Save music to your phone by downloading
albums so you can listen locally. You’ll enjoy better
quality without ripping through tons of data, saving services like Pandora
for when you’re on wi-fi.
4. BE SOCIAL BUT JUDICIOUSLY. If you’ve become a habitual social network
checker, stop and think: Am I on wi-fi or data plan? What seems like a
fairly lightweight activity like running through Facebook or
Twitter can actually consume 5 to 10 megabytes of data each time you
check—especially if you’re clicking on links and photos. Do
that a few times a day over a 3G or LTE data network, you could be wasting a
couple of gigs of data on this alone. Constant use of
multiple social networks or even high volume of emails.may slowly and
steadily put data
use at dangerous levels.
5. wifi assist:
With iOS 9, Apple introduced a new feature, Wi-Fi
Assist. It’s actually very cool. Some users believe this new feature can
increase cost for data because of extra use. However, Wi-
Fi assist helps when you are transitioning from your Wi-Fi to the network,
using both or alternating between them in the transition.
It
will not allow those apps you have determined should not use your 4G or LTE
network to do so. Thus,
the only effect of disabling Wi-Fi assist would be to require any apps
authorized to use the network to
first drop Wi-Fi, interrupting the connection. The easiest way to save
bandwidth is to disable apps such
as app store from using your Data network.
Good management of this feature will prevent any extra data cost. If you
wish to shut off wifi assist, follow these steps.
But if you are not convinced that wifi assist will not cost extra and you
wish to shut it off, here are the steps.
1. : Go to “Settings”
2. then click on “Cellular.”
3. Scroll all the way to the bottom—past all of your apps—and
you’ll find “Wi-Fi Assist.”
4. Turn it to the off position.
6. READ, SNAP AND SEND LATER. When you’re on your cellular data connection
and you come across a link that you don’t have
to read that second, bookmark it or favorite it for later and you’ll save a
few megabytes. Same goes for photos if at all possible.
Uploading photos and videos to social sites or even email in real time while
not connected to wi-fi, can use up tens of megabytes!
Stop it. Acquire this
new habit: Snap now, upload later.
7. MONITOR YOURSELF. Monthly data limits are every smartphone user’s enemy.
A small download at the wrong time may send
your bill skyrocketing. Your iPhone has built-in tools that allow you to
track your data usage, although free reports from
your carrier that give you a more accurate picture. To track on your iPhone
1. go to “Settings”
2. Go to “Cellular.”
3. Look for Cellular Data Usage. On your Android
smartphone go to “Settings” and tap “Data Usage.” To change the cycle date
to match the start date of your monthly plan, check
the “Set Mobile Data Limit” box (or “Limit Mobile Data” on some phones) if
you want your phone to block you from using any mobile
data after you exceed your limit
If you follow most of these tips, chances are good that you can cut your
monthly data use in half. For sure this will cripple the full
potential of your smartphone while not connected to a wi-fi network but
given the high cost of going over on data usage—and the
potential for rates to increase in the near future—that sounds like
a great idea to me.
A Dan Thompson contribution
Dealing With Car Computers
You may have heard people say
that “computers are all around us.” Hopefully you’re not
too paranoid about that, especially since it is true to a
certain extent. For example, you probably drove to work
today with the assistance of a little “computer” inside
your engine. Today’s Technology Tip is about the little
computer in your car that keeps it running. More
importantly it’s about how to handle those annoying
“Check Engine Soon” lights on your dash board.
Depending on the age, make and model of your vehicle
you probably have more than one computer in it
Controlling the engine is the ECU, which stands
for Engine Control Unit. This one is usually the most
expensive one to replace and it is designed to control
the engine so you can get optimum performance and
efficiency out of it. Generally speaking, the newer your
car the more complex the ECU is. Compared to your
desktop computer however it’s pretty primitive. For
example, your car’s ECU probably has less than 1 MB of
memory compared to the several Gigabytes most new
desktop computers come with. But that’s enough to run
your engine efficiently since the software is so much
simpler. For more information about your car’s
computer check out this
site:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-computer1.htm
For most of us, the most annoying thing your car’s
computer ever does is light up that “Check Engine
Soon” light on the dashboard. The ECU in your car
includes software called OBD which stands for On
Board Diagnostics. This software constantly monitors
your engine for trouble signs or inefficiencies. When
sensors detect problems the “Check Engine Light”
appears on your dashboard. Because engines that run
inefficiently pollute more, OBD software was mandated
on all cars built from 1987 on. Just for reference the
original OBD software was upgraded in 1996 and is now
calledOBD II. For more information about OBD software
check out this
link:
http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/may2004/mech.cfm
Now for the really important question, how do you get
the “Check Engine Light” off? The light might turn on
for any or a number of reasons. Even though the
technology is there for your new car to verbally tell you
what’s bothering it, you still probably have to take it to a
dealership or mechanic so they can plug it into a
special
OBD reader
and check what “
error code
” is
causing the light to come on. This “diagnostic test”
usually costs $50-$100 and is about as complicated a
task as making toast. But since you don’t have the
equipment at home, and your car won’t just tell you
what’s wrong with it, you’re stuck paying for the
diagnostic.
Well actually here’s another option. Many autoparts
stores have the OBD readers on site and they will do the
diagnostic test for you for free (
AutoZone
is one such
store for example). They can’t clear the code (get the
light to turn off) but they can tell you what the problem
is (in hopes you’ll buy a replacement part from them).
PRACTICE ACTIVITY: No activity, just drive safely and
efficiently home today with the assistance of your car
computer
TO KEEP ON LEARNING: Even though you might not
be interested in car computers right now you probably
will be if you have a problem with yours. When that day
comes you can find out more about car computers by
searching the internet for:
—author: 180 Tech Tips Tip 43]]>
