Took my new iPad 3G around town this afternoon and used it to stream Mythbusters from Netflix at lunch. My current data usage is already over 160MB, more than 60% of the bandwidth cap imposed by the lesser plan. So yeah, you folks with the 250MB plan might want to find a hotspot to use the Netflix app. Don't know if similar usage exists with other video apps.
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Good thing I have the unlimited 3G plan
- Thread starter sakanagai
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duh... streaming video uses a LOT of bandwidth. If you're even considering streaming video you better be on Wifi, or have the unlimited 3G plan.... or be using something like the sprint overdrive on 4G unlimited....
video uses like 50x more bandwidth per second than audio only....
video uses like 50x more bandwidth per second than audio only....
that was a little harsh.
I appreciate him starting this thread. To give some examples of data usage and to see a typical data amount for something like a 30 minute tv show. Helps to put things into perspective. we may not all be as hip as you so him posting did help me.
you really didn't add to the conversation, just sputtered stuff we all kind a already know.
I average 500 MB a week on my iPhone web surfing.
How could anyone get by on 250 MB a month?
Did AT&T rig the game???
How could anyone get by on 250 MB a month?
Did AT&T rig the game???
I'd guess people have different usage patterns. The OP may help some people in deciding which data plan would suit them better.
Do not abuse this. AT&T does not consider unlimited as unlimited bandwidth 24x7. They have a cap somewhere where they'll start to warn you and can cut you off for "disrupting their services".
Majority of people don't use more than 200MB a month, those people are textually based surfers, not video streaming or viewing image heavy sites. A lot of people don't even go beyond email checking.
How is quality of video streaming via neflix? Does it frequently stop streaming for buffering?
I use my iphone quite regularly for web surfing and I haven't gone over 200 MB in the last 5 months.
Surprisingly good. Took a few moments to load, but there was no stoppage or stuttering once it got going whatsoever. Quality was much higher than I expected it to be. Very watchable, even on the large screen.
For the record, I knew that video would use quite a bit of bandwidth. I had gone into this experiment thinking that the app would reduce quality significantly to cut down on bandwidth use. I was wrong.
On the unlimited? Nothing. The capped plan will pop up warning messages when you get close to 250MB. Once you hit it, you'll get a message stating that there is insufficient cellular data when you do anything requiring data. WiFi still works though.
This is incorrect information.
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/att_confirms_unlimited_data_plan_ipad_3g_really_unlimited
Sorry, but I don't trust the fact that every single info on the planet is pointing to a single site who said some guy at AT&T said this. I rather AT&T confirm this on their site, until then, this information isn't confirmed.
Are we really going to say AT&T have no intentions of capping when they clearly have a network bandwidth issue and haven't been able to actually provide tethering for the actual iPhone for a year now? What's their reason? Not enough bandwidth, so they can provide an unlimited amount of data for iPads but not for iPhone?
I have known some people in my life who gotten the calls from AT&T despite the fact that they had unlimited data plans.
The keyword is, according to that single source, that the "unlimited is unlimited". Of course they are going to confirm that, but they did not say that there's no peak cap, or throttling.
Then don't believe it. But don't go around proclaiming that there is cap when you have absolutely no proof of that. Rather say that you can't believe there isn't a cap and you won't be swayed until you get more confirmation from AT&T.
Fine, I'll watch my wording next time, but the fact is that there is a limit (cap=limit). Here's my proof, this is the same exact language AT&T used to convey the warnings to my friends.
This is AT&T's PDF about iPad 3G,http://www.att.com/Common/about_us/files/pdf/emerging_devices/iPad_fact_sheet.pdf. The very bottom said that the terms and agreement is the same wireless terms and agreement from AT&T.
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/articles-resources/wireless-terms.jsp
Under the plan terms,
If it is truly unlimited, there would be no such thing as "excessive" usage. No ISP provides an unlimited data plan, because it would be too expensive and disruptive to everybody on the network.
johnmoorejohn said:
On the lower plan, it will warn you when your down to 20% left, 10% left and then when you're just about done with the 250mb... And you get the choice to upgrade.
I decided to start with the lower plan and see how it goes... However, OptOnline is currenty trying to blanket long island with wifi, so i can get a good signal in unexpected places (like at the beach the other day). YMMV
When I get my 3G iPad, I will get the 250mb plan. While wifi is very prevalent, there are some areas that I frequent that lack it. Also, I will not be streaming video.
Since you are notified when your limit is nearing, I don't see any problem with the lower end for most. And, the option to upgrade is always there.
Lastly, on my iphone, only once have I exceeded 250mb. Like I said, wifi is all around, but not everywhere.
Since you are notified when your limit is nearing, I don't see any problem with the lower end for most. And, the option to upgrade is always there.
Lastly, on my iphone, only once have I exceeded 250mb. Like I said, wifi is all around, but not everywhere.
That's not proof, nor is it a fact there is a limit. That language is put in there to protect against you running torrents or running your phone as web server. That would be excessive usage by using your device as something other than it was attended. That does not mean they will cap you of normal usage.
I wasn't trying to be harsh with my reply to the OP. I just find it amazing that people don't realize how big video is. When a DVD holds 9gb for a movie, and a blue Ray uses up to 50gb, anyone who thinks they are going to stream more than a couple YouTube clips on 250mb/month needs a math lesson. Frankly the 250/month plan is really only good for those "oh crap I need to look thing thing up on the web or send out this email and there is no wifi here", not for any sort of streaming anything or heavy browsing use.
In my case, while I got the 3G model, I'm probably also going to buy a sprint overdrive unit since we get very good 4g coverage here in Atlanta and AT&T's signal in my office is terrible. Plus I am already paying $40/month for an AT&T 3G USB dongle for my MacBook. The overdrive kills 2 birds with 1 stone. For what I'd pay for data on the USB dongle plus the iPad data plan I can get the overdrive and have faster connections and way better signal in my office (and no we dont have corporate wifi in the office, security issues.)
In my case, while I got the 3G model, I'm probably also going to buy a sprint overdrive unit since we get very good 4g coverage here in Atlanta and AT&T's signal in my office is terrible. Plus I am already paying $40/month for an AT&T 3G USB dongle for my MacBook. The overdrive kills 2 birds with 1 stone. For what I'd pay for data on the USB dongle plus the iPad data plan I can get the overdrive and have faster connections and way better signal in my office (and no we dont have corporate wifi in the office, security issues.)
Go to settings. General tab. 3G usage. It shows incoming and outgoing (I believe it is since last sync but I could be wrong on that.). Might also be something on the 3G network account section in settings, but since I haven't used the 3G yet I don't know.
Hope this helps!