That's kind of a messed up argument. Whether the OP can afforded data plan or not is irrelevant. That's not the point. The point is if the OP turns off cellular data for certain services, those said services shouldn't be using up cellular data. If they do then the system is broken and needs to be fixed. Having said that, I don't know what really happens on OP's phone so I tend to believe him/her with the provided data until proven otherwise.
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Cellular Data Burn - 1GB per hour - another "bug"?
- Thread starter CrashX
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I had an issue a few weeks ago where my phone suddenly went through 250MB of 4G data and prompted a warning that I was reaching my roaming package limit. I managed to work out what the issue was, and as far as I'm concerned it's a bug (and I reported it via the feedback app as I was on some 9.3 beta at the time).
My phone had many apps needing to be updated and they all started to update in parallel (I was on wifi at the time). It was crazy slow wifi so hardly anything downloaded. I have "wifi assist" turned off, but I believe that's only used in limited cases anyway and updating apps isn't one of them.
About half an hour later I went out. I checked just before leaving and all my app updates had not really download anything. It seems that, despite me having the app store disabled from using cellular data, as the downloads had all started they merrily continued to download, at lovely 4G speeds, as soon as I stepped out. Within a few minutes I got my provider-sent SMS telling me my roaming package was almost used and when I checked my updates they had all fully updated.
My phone had many apps needing to be updated and they all started to update in parallel (I was on wifi at the time). It was crazy slow wifi so hardly anything downloaded. I have "wifi assist" turned off, but I believe that's only used in limited cases anyway and updating apps isn't one of them.
About half an hour later I went out. I checked just before leaving and all my app updates had not really download anything. It seems that, despite me having the app store disabled from using cellular data, as the downloads had all started they merrily continued to download, at lovely 4G speeds, as soon as I stepped out. Within a few minutes I got my provider-sent SMS telling me my roaming package was almost used and when I checked my updates they had all fully updated.
The guy is calling Apple a scam for a feature that's turned on for all of us. I don't care what he can or can't afford. I'm merely pointing out that 300MB data plan is not enough for the iPhone to be used normally. He would have to turn off almost every cellular data toggle just to not hit his data cap effectively turning his iPhone into an iPod touch. How is this Apple's fault? He's got a bad attitude about the whole thing.
You seem to passionately defend apple which makes it appears a bit personal. Mixing personal feelings into any discussion will turn it confrontational and will certainly not bring about any resolution. I've lurked this forum for a very long time and i've seen evidence of ppl getting by with minimal amount of data if manage properly. Mind you, I'm a borderline data hog so I can't ever claim that I can live with 300MB but I would imagine that having the phone on WiFi the majority of the time should allow us to stay within that limit. Now, if I were to take all the steps to turn off cellular data usage while I'm on WiFi and then found out that the phone used 3 times more than my max data allowance in just one hour, I would have been as mad as OP and would have thrown it out the window (probably not, I'm too cheap!
). Your other assumption is that OP essentially turns his/her phone into an ipod touch (with voice calls). However, if OP is always in areas with WiFi signal then cellular data is not really needed that much. Why pay for something that is not fully utilized. Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Is it a bug? Is it a missed setting? Or is it a stuck value? Who knows. It would have been nice to have some kind of diagnostic data that shows why cellular data is used even though all the settings are off. Perhaps a call to apple support or a trip to apple store is in order as they should really know what their phones are doing (hopefully).
It's not uncalled for at all. Did you know that Apple has to get cell carriers to approve iOS updates before they release them? Apple and the carriers have huge business deals that most of us couldn't ever conceive. It has always been up to Apple to convince the carriers to sell iPhones, and it could easily be possible that iOS has poor control and notification of data usage to make the carriers willing to keep selling them. That is what Apple gains: sales from carriers.
My favorite example is that in iOS, even if you go to Cellular settings and totally disable data for an app, that app can still eat up cellular for Background App Refresh. The cellular settings menu has zero mention of that. You have to find the separate Background App Refresh settings.
That genius design caught me using 1 GB over my monthly allowance because Google Hangouts and Drive, which had cellular totally disabled, had eaten up that much data from Background App Refresh, AKA me never using the apps and not knowing that they're using data.
Apple may want to make it better and easier, but the carriers may object to it because they control sales and have a say in the updates.
That's a far fetched theory to be honest with you. T-mobile and Sprint carry the iPhone and neither of them charge data overages.
You seem to passionately defend apple which makes it appears a bit personal. Mixing personal feelings into any discussion will turn it confrontational and will certainly not bring about any resolution. I've lurked this forum for a very long time and i've seen evidence of ppl getting by with minimal amount of data if manage properly. Mind you, I'm a borderline data hog so I can't ever claim that I can live with 300MB but I would imagine that having the phone on WiFi the majority of the time should allow us to stay within that limit. Now, if I were to take all the steps to turn off cellular data usage while I'm on WiFi and then found out that the phone used 3 times more than my max data allowance in just one hour, I would have been as mad as OP and would have thrown it out the window (probably not, I'm too cheap!
I work for a software company and view things from a product stand point. How do you suppose Apple resolve this issue?
- Disable all cellular data toggles by default? (this isn't a practical solution because the majority of users aren't in OP's situation)
- Build a setup wizard which asks you how much of a data plan you have to automatically disable some cellular data toggles? This could easily backfire if the user doesn't know and chooses the wrong option.
- limit some iOS functionality to Wifi only? This personally pisses me off because I have a 11GB data plan and can't download any apps over 100MB on Cellular.
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How about a system-wide setting to toggle cellular data on/off and then each individual app or service can request access to cellular data which gives the user an option to accept or reject it (and is remembered for subsequent boots). Of course, a 400-some billion dollar company with countless brilliant minds can come up with a more elegant solution than that. I'm just saying that a viable solution is possible; just need to open up the one's vision a bit to see it.
Sounds like a great way to implement it. Only problem is there isn't enough noise from consumers around this. In fact I've been on the forums for a few years now and have only come across 2 threads of this manner. There was also a class action lawsuit against Apple for WiFiAssist and that hasn't had an outcome yet (that I'm aware of).
So much irrelevant discussion it seems.
WiFi Assist was turned off right away by th OP, so it would have nothing to do with any of the issues since it wasn't and couldn't in use at all. Basically any discussion of it is moot at best.
The whole "iCloud backup over cellular" seems to be a confusion point and was more of a misunderstating of the cellular option related to iCloud Drive, which isn't related to iCloud backup. So, again, another moot piece of it all.
Seems like the thread was about an issue that needlessly was posted as some sort of a political opinion piece rather than focusing on the issue--so instead of focusing on actually figuring out the problem it just baited essentially irrelevant arguments. Certainly not really a useful way to look for a solution to an issue...unless perhaps that really wasn't the main point of it all.
WiFi Assist was turned off right away by th OP, so it would have nothing to do with any of the issues since it wasn't and couldn't in use at all. Basically any discussion of it is moot at best.
The whole "iCloud backup over cellular" seems to be a confusion point and was more of a misunderstating of the cellular option related to iCloud Drive, which isn't related to iCloud backup. So, again, another moot piece of it all.
Seems like the thread was about an issue that needlessly was posted as some sort of a political opinion piece rather than focusing on the issue--so instead of focusing on actually figuring out the problem it just baited essentially irrelevant arguments. Certainly not really a useful way to look for a solution to an issue...unless perhaps that really wasn't the main point of it all.
Which will then end up in class action lawsuits being filed because people will enbale this and forget or not realize it and then complain that their data no longer works at some point and Apple is crippling their devices on purpose because of some conspiracy.One simple check box.
Adrian, I believe you helped spot the bug that may still exist in 9.3.1. My phone (or iPod, as Armen would suggest) was sitting beside my bed, updating apps. I'd clicked the "Update All" about 5 minutes before. WiFi Assist had been turned off and I suppose I was far enough away from the modem. Anyway, that's when AT&T started hitting me with automated text messages about my data plan being eaten up.
Anyway, since that disaster - and another one later that night, that mysteriously ate through another 500MBs sitting in the same place - my iPhone has since only chewed threw another 3MBs total.
This wasn't intended to be political - it did start out as a rant because I was literally shocked to have my phone chewing through data for some mysterious reason.
As to whether 300MB is a sufficient data plan, I'll know more in a month. I'm using the phone as I always do, and the rep at AT&T was kind enough to bump me to the 2GB plan for free due to the odd spike in usage. I doubt she's a software engineer, but some screen she had in front of her confirmed that my phone had eaten through a massive amount of data in a very short period of time.
But I think 300MB should be fine - as when I'm out, I don't spend my time with my phone stuck in my face. I rarely even touch my phone at home now, because all of my texts and phone calls are routed through my computer. And I can tell Siri to set alarms and do pretty much everything else I need the phone to do.
And today I'll put her through her most difficult test - as I'm attending a local festival. I've been to it numerous times, but my friends haven't, so the intent is to photograph and video a good deal of it to share. If anything out of the ordinary happens, which I'm sure it will, I'll put my phone down and enjoy the actual LIFE that is unfolding, rather than having a phone blocking my view.
I greatly dislike Facebook, I don't use Twitter, I don't need to stream music as I have 18GB on my phone, and I've had more than my fill of YouTube cat videos. I grew up without streaming tech and I can easily live without it, and I'm genuinely annoyed seeing people outside with their faces buried in their phones. It all seems very very sad.
So I'll report back as to how my iPod SE fares at the festival today. Normally my primary concern would be about the battery, but I suppose I'll be checking cellular burn intermittently.
As for people jumping to the defense of Apple or mocking people who don't use their iPhone to the extent they do - Apple does make mistakes. And I'd simply suggest spending less time on your phone and more time enjoying life. Though you might rack up tons of "likes" on Facebook over some silly photo, those are only from people who wish you to like their silly photos BACK, quid pro quo Hannibal Lecter style. Everyone else probably wishes you'd keep your tech photo album to yourself.
Now to go turn 4K video back to 1080p and make certain the option to share my photos to "the cloud" is most definitely turned off. I don't use the cloud properly either, as Apple wishes to charge me to share things with them I don't wish to share. And even in the event of a fire - I think the last thing I'd care about is my silly phone and photos no one else cares about - but nonetheless, I have a little firebox safe where I keep my TimeMachine backup. For whatever reason, I only had to pay once for both the safe and the drive. It's a very strange, sad iPod world I live in.
Thanks to most everyone for their help and advice.
And Adrian, if you happen to be able to replicate that bug, let me know. I hope Apple finds it and fixes it, despite those with limited cellular data being in the minority according to one person here who religiously monitors all such things here on the MacRumors forums, therefore leaving Apple with no reason to fix the bug It most definitely bit me, so it exists - as perfect as Apple otherwise might be.
UPDATE: Adrian (or anyone else) - if you report bugs, it may be that once an update is initiated, cellular may be enabled to complete it if WiFi grows too weak or is lost? My best guesstimation. But the larger "bug" is not having ALL cellular burn "features" gathered together where you'd expect to find them, under "Cellular", and that - when turned off - they remain turned off. Hope everyone has a wonderful day!
Anyway, since that disaster - and another one later that night, that mysteriously ate through another 500MBs sitting in the same place - my iPhone has since only chewed threw another 3MBs total.
This wasn't intended to be political - it did start out as a rant because I was literally shocked to have my phone chewing through data for some mysterious reason.
As to whether 300MB is a sufficient data plan, I'll know more in a month. I'm using the phone as I always do, and the rep at AT&T was kind enough to bump me to the 2GB plan for free due to the odd spike in usage. I doubt she's a software engineer, but some screen she had in front of her confirmed that my phone had eaten through a massive amount of data in a very short period of time.
But I think 300MB should be fine - as when I'm out, I don't spend my time with my phone stuck in my face. I rarely even touch my phone at home now, because all of my texts and phone calls are routed through my computer. And I can tell Siri to set alarms and do pretty much everything else I need the phone to do.
And today I'll put her through her most difficult test - as I'm attending a local festival. I've been to it numerous times, but my friends haven't, so the intent is to photograph and video a good deal of it to share. If anything out of the ordinary happens, which I'm sure it will, I'll put my phone down and enjoy the actual LIFE that is unfolding, rather than having a phone blocking my view.
I greatly dislike Facebook, I don't use Twitter, I don't need to stream music as I have 18GB on my phone, and I've had more than my fill of YouTube cat videos. I grew up without streaming tech and I can easily live without it, and I'm genuinely annoyed seeing people outside with their faces buried in their phones. It all seems very very sad.
So I'll report back as to how my iPod SE fares at the festival today. Normally my primary concern would be about the battery, but I suppose I'll be checking cellular burn intermittently.
As for people jumping to the defense of Apple or mocking people who don't use their iPhone to the extent they do - Apple does make mistakes. And I'd simply suggest spending less time on your phone and more time enjoying life. Though you might rack up tons of "likes" on Facebook over some silly photo, those are only from people who wish you to like their silly photos BACK, quid pro quo Hannibal Lecter style. Everyone else probably wishes you'd keep your tech photo album to yourself.
Now to go turn 4K video back to 1080p and make certain the option to share my photos to "the cloud" is most definitely turned off. I don't use the cloud properly either, as Apple wishes to charge me to share things with them I don't wish to share. And even in the event of a fire - I think the last thing I'd care about is my silly phone and photos no one else cares about - but nonetheless, I have a little firebox safe where I keep my TimeMachine backup. For whatever reason, I only had to pay once for both the safe and the drive. It's a very strange, sad iPod world I live in.
Thanks to most everyone for their help and advice.
And Adrian, if you happen to be able to replicate that bug, let me know. I hope Apple finds it and fixes it, despite those with limited cellular data being in the minority according to one person here who religiously monitors all such things here on the MacRumors forums, therefore leaving Apple with no reason to fix the bug
It most definitely bit me, so it exists - as perfect as Apple otherwise might be.UPDATE: Adrian (or anyone else) - if you report bugs, it may be that once an update is initiated, cellular may be enabled to complete it if WiFi grows too weak or is lost? My best guesstimation. But the larger "bug" is not having ALL cellular burn "features" gathered together where you'd expect to find them, under "Cellular", and that - when turned off - they remain turned off. Hope everyone has a wonderful day!
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One simple check box.
That's a brilliant way to implement. Wonder how long before Apple "borrows" that feature from Android.
Not only can you play around with cell usage settings on Android and set warning caps, you can also install firewalls that keep any app you want from using data while not on Wi-Fi ... and you don't need to be rooted to do this. I wish Apple would install a default firewall like they have in OS X, but with more customization for non-Wi-Fi use. You would think with how much they tout security that they'd have a built in firewall by now.
It hasn't worked reliably for me in the past, but maybe that's changed. On Android, the firewalls are a lot more refined ... you can stop mobile data for every process on the phone. You can set up a lot of customized blocks as well.
But based on this thread, it doesn't seem to be doing its job very well. Or maybe the OP just isn't aware of these features. I've personally never had mysterious data eating up my phone like the OP is experiencing as I always disable all unwanted cell data settings.
Works well!
iOS is UNIX based and this feature is done simply by blacklisting the app executable in the iOS firewall scheme. I haven't read all the discussion but this feature in iOS has no problem
iOS is UNIX based and this feature is done simply by blacklisting the app executable in the iOS firewall scheme. I haven't read all the discussion but this feature in iOS has no problem
Well that's comforting. I'll just keep using this feature like normal then when I get my new phone.Works well!
iOS is UNIX based and this feature is done simply by blacklisting the app executable in the iOS firewall scheme. I haven't read all the discussion but this feature in iOS has no problem
I played around with wifi assist.
In the link you quoted it seems to imply, it's not used in mail accounts or background tasks, just in foreground.
I verified the way it works by turning off my router whilst wifi assists was on and then off. I used safari to browse, in the middle of loading a web page I turned the router off.
With wifi assist on, the page loads normally, with wifi assist off an error message is displayed. After the error message is displayed pressing refresh in safari loads the page. It doesn't seem that at any level, this would really ratchet up the data usage, but rather make it more convenient in poor signal areas.
I haven't had a repeat of the issue - no cellular bleed - since the first day I turned on my phone.
If any of you gurus can figure out what caused the bleed and can report it to Apple, that would be cool.
I had two separate 500MB bleeds that cost me a gig on that first day, upgrading from my 4 to a 5SE, initiating iCloud backups for the first time. As I've related earlier, all cellular functions were turned off - and I actually had to turn cellular off completely to stop the bleed. Or at least that's what stopped the bleed.
In normal use (for me), I've since used only 100MB. And that's including texting live photos and even using maps for driving.
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