4 ms·

I want to see the problem solved, but this feels like the wrong solution. Reminds me of the time where I couldn't trust what the UI says about the audio of my

by hdra 9y ago

I want to see the problem solved, but this feels like the wrong solution. Reminds me of the time where I couldn't trust what the UI says about the audio of my desktop computer running Linux circa 2005

williamscales 9y ago
Many apps will prompt before doing a large download over data. Spotify has separate settings for mobile data and Wi-Fi streaming quality. One could imagine a video app would prompt before streaming on mobile data. I'm pretty sure this is the solution—perhaps the Android or iPhone media framework itself could implement something that would warn people if app developers are often forgetting to add this feature?
- js2 9y ago
  You can disallow cellular data on a per-app basis on iOS, so you could for example disable it for just Netflix.
- KozmoNau7 9y ago
  Android even goes too far here. "Download waiting for wifi", for a 20MB download. I use more data than that simply by opening certain apps!
Steko 9y ago
The correct solution is "always turn on wi-fi when I get home". The phone knows when this happens, you can set reminders around it.
- planb 9y ago
  No, it does not if the Wifi Chipset is disabled, because it uses wifi for location services (GPS would use way too much battery). That's exactly the problem: The wifi chipset is used for much more than just connecting to the internet.
  - mschuster91 9y ago
    You can also use the GSM Cell ID for this purpose. Once the user marks his/her home, grab the IDs of the surrounding cell towers and use these as trigger.
  - pgeorgi 9y ago
    It's exactly what my phone does (Nexus 5X with Android 8), likely by listening to wifi passively ("which SSIDs are around?")
    - Sephiroth87 9y ago
      That doesn't sound like a disabled chipset...
mikeash 9y ago
I think they're close to a good solution but not quite there. A tri-state button, where it's on/on-but-disconnected/off might have done it, or at least some indicator that "off" doesn't mean off.

by hdra 9y ago

williamscales 9y ago

Many apps will prompt before doing a large download over data. Spotify has separate settings for mobile data and Wi-Fi streaming quality. One could imagine a video app would prompt before streaming on mobile data. I'm pretty sure this is the solution—perhaps the Android or iPhone media framework itself could implement something that would warn people if app developers are often forgetting to add this feature?

js2 9y ago
You can disallow cellular data on a per-app basis on iOS, so you could for example disable it for just Netflix.
KozmoNau7 9y ago
Android even goes too far here. "Download waiting for wifi", for a 20MB download. I use more data than that simply by opening certain apps!

Steko 9y ago

The correct solution is "always turn on wi-fi when I get home". The phone knows when this happens, you can set reminders around it.

planb 9y ago
No, it does not if the Wifi Chipset is disabled, because it uses wifi for location services (GPS would use way too much battery). That's exactly the problem: The wifi chipset is used for much more than just connecting to the internet.
- mschuster91 9y ago
  You can also use the GSM Cell ID for this purpose. Once the user marks his/her home, grab the IDs of the surrounding cell towers and use these as trigger.
- pgeorgi 9y ago
  It's exactly what my phone does (Nexus 5X with Android 8), likely by listening to wifi passively ("which SSIDs are around?")
  - Sephiroth87 9y ago
    That doesn't sound like a disabled chipset...

mikeash 9y ago

I think they're close to a good solution but not quite there. A tri-state button, where it's on/on-but-disconnected/off might have done it, or at least some indicator that "off" doesn't mean off.