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Part of it is that Apple doesn't make it easy to set a data cap on your device, or warn as you approach it. Another part is that this feature was bungled: the f

Part of it is that Apple doesn't make it easy to set a data cap on your device, or warn as you approach it. Another part is that this feature was bungled: the first time it takes effect, it should track when more than 10-20 MB are downloaded and then pop up a warning. Alternatively, the wifi symbol could perhaps become dashed to reflect that there are temporary connectivity issues. Even if all it did was flicker between wifi and cellular as data was used, it would encourage users to investigate during the occurrence-- at minimum a note in Settings, under Wi-Fi, could alert the user a day later to the bandwidth use. This was just poorly thought out, and will need to be improved in future incremental releases. I think the article further indicates how Apple opposes Google-esque thinking around networking and Internet services, but it's something they need to fix before they put a 4G chip in a MacBook. And while the UI I have confidence on, I'm less certain of the infrastructure. On a perfectly fine network connection, Apple Trailers is the one app that doesn't stream well for me--I figure no one at Apple knows this since they outsourced delivery to Akamai, or whoever.

KingMachiavelli 11y ago
Apparently the wifi icon is greyed out when it switches to cellular data according to Gizmodo. I don't have an iOS device ATM so I can't confirm.
ghaff 11y ago
I agree with your points. I understand the thinking behind the feature and I also understand Apple wanting to keep it simple but it really does seem as if it simply never occurred to anyone at Apple that data caps and overage charges were a thing. And it's also true that there's this largely artificial distinction between "computer networking" and "telco networking" today where everything changes when you transition from WiFi to cellular. That distinction isn't of Apple's doing but it's something that they, among others, are going to need to deal with at some point.
Animats 11y ago
Users with spending limits are not Apple's target demographic. If you have to ask how much data costs, you can't afford an Apple product.
- gh02t 11y ago
  I don't think so. I don't have an iPhone (at least, not in a long time), but my grandma does. And my neighbor, the driver of the taxi I was in yesterday, the mailman... I might buy that argument for their laptops and desktops, but not the iPhone. Part of their appeal is making a phone that make the average person feel like a high-roller, but those people are just as much part of the target market as the wealthy and fashionable. Since the iPod, Apple has been pretty savvy about leveraging the appeal of their actual high-end products to increase the appeal of their more affordable offerings. At least, that's the only way I can explain the ridiculous gold Apple Watch.

KingMachiavelli 11y ago

Apparently the wifi icon is greyed out when it switches to cellular data according to Gizmodo. I don't have an iOS device ATM so I can't confirm.

ghaff 11y ago

I agree with your points. I understand the thinking behind the feature and I also understand Apple wanting to keep it simple but it really does seem as if it simply never occurred to anyone at Apple that data caps and overage charges were a thing. And it's also true that there's this largely artificial distinction between "computer networking" and "telco networking" today where everything changes when you transition from WiFi to cellular. That distinction isn't of Apple's doing but it's something that they, among others, are going to need to deal with at some point.

Animats 11y ago

Users with spending limits are not Apple's target demographic. If you have to ask how much data costs, you can't afford an Apple product.

gh02t 11y ago
I don't think so. I don't have an iPhone (at least, not in a long time), but my grandma does. And my neighbor, the driver of the taxi I was in yesterday, the mailman... I might buy that argument for their laptops and desktops, but not the iPhone. Part of their appeal is making a phone that make the average person feel like a high-roller, but those people are just as much part of the target market as the wealthy and fashionable. Since the iPod, Apple has been pretty savvy about leveraging the appeal of their actual high-end products to increase the appeal of their more affordable offerings. At least, that's the only way I can explain the ridiculous gold Apple Watch.