Apple Attempts to Ease Concerns Over Wi-Fi Assist Data Usage

[samcraig]

The release notes are supplied with the update

I still think it's funny that you think the average person reads those. Or would understand it without an explanation of what it does. Or where to find the settings.

Oh - and if you're buying the latest phone that the OS is already on - how do you see those release notes?

 

[DynaFXD]

I don't understand what's the big deal with this. If you don't want to use your phone data, then disable it all together, but of course if your mobile data is better than wi-fi, you should use it to improve your experience. In fact, before this feature existed I just disabled Wi-fi all together (I still do) when I went to the city because trying to login to those 'free' hotspots from cafes is a nightmare, never mind the speed they offer.

You don't need to disable wifi for that. There are algorithms that the phone actually uses that involve wifi access points to help speed location services. Which is a real issue where your view of GPS/GLOSNASS satellites can be severely curtailed, such as in a city or building. Just turn off Ask to Join Networks to avoid the million-and-one network found pop ups that can show up in a city. You can still manually select a network if you want to. If security is your driving concern, then make sure you disable blue tooth too.

 

[AtheistP3ace]

Man I really have seen mine and wife's data go up since 6s buuuut in honesty so many factors in my personal life I can see attributing to this. She turned assist off. I didn't. Guess I'll check next months usage and see if it changed with those other personal factors still in play.

 

[Gav2k]

I still think it's funny that you think the average person reads those. Or would understand it without an explanation of what it does. Or where to find the settings.

Oh - and if you're buying the latest phone that the OS is already on - how do you see those release notes?

Apples got you covered, it's documented in the iPhone's manual.

See your post highlights the issue. Simply the average consumer clicks first moans then reads later.

 

[samcraig]

Apples got you covered, it's documented in the iPhone's manual.

See your post highlights the issue. Simply the average consumer clicks first moans then reads later.

I disagree. Does the iPhone manual come with the phone. Or do you have to go looking for it?

Again - I'm all for the feature. I just think it should be turned OFF by default and/or during set up actively ask you if you want to turn it on.

Further - it needs to be relocated. Finding where it is isn't exactly intuitive.

 

[Wahlstrm]

People still use wi-fi and care about data-plans in 2015?

 

[Gav2k]

I disagree. Does the iPhone manual come with the phone. Or do you have to go looking for it?

Again - I'm all for the feature. I just think it should be turned OFF by default and/or during set up actively ask you if you want to turn it on.

Further - it needs to be relocated. Finding where it is isn't exactly intuitive.

It's in iBooks and that's documented in the quick guide that's supplied inside the box!

 

[26139]

I don't understand what's the big deal with this. If you don't want to use your phone data, then disable it all together, but of course if your mobile data is better than wi-fi, you should use it to improve your experience. In fact, before this feature existed I just disabled Wi-fi all together (I still do) when I went to the city because trying to login to those 'free' hotspots from cafes is a nightmare, never mind the speed they offer.

Exact same thing I do.

 

[samcraig]

It's in iBooks and that's documented in the quick guide that's supplied inside the box!

You're still really missing the point. People don't know what they don't know. Are you suggesting that new owners should read their phone manual from beginning to end? And that they should know which features may or may not cost them money.

You're asking a lot. I don't disagree that people should be aware and know how to use their phones. But the reality is - many buy their phone and leave almost all of the settings "as is."

If you don't KNOW to look for this setting and what it means, then you're just blindly reading the manual from cover to cover with the chance you might notice it and know to do something about it.

 

[ricktat]

If I am in the corner of my office building I usually have to turn WiFi off to have a faster download. But for normal days my WiFi is much better than my cell service.

So unless I was streaming on Safari in the corner of my building, I don't know how this could be an issue.

I like the feature and am glad I will no longer have to toggle WiFi. Now if I see a problem with my data usage, I would change my opinion. But for now, people have outrage for something they can't even confirm will be a problem.

 

[YouCanCallMeBigDaddy]

The release notes are supplied with the update

So you think that everyone with an iPhone reads the release notes? Seriously?

 

[YouCanCallMeBigDaddy]

It could easily be a pop up during setting up the phone asking if you want to turn it on with an explanation of what it is.

Agreed. Just like overtime you update, it does the whole "welcome to iPhone" jazz. It asked about iCloud.

 

[YouCanCallMeBigDaddy]

Im sure apple will gladly pay for the data overages for folks that may have a super small plan and wind up going over. Of course they'll get an alert from their carrier saying that they are about to go over but I can imagine the frustration. "OMFG I'm on F****** WiFi!!!! How am I using up my data?????"

 

[Xenomorph]

I've kept it on the entire time. All of us have - there are 9 people on my Family Plan with an iPhone. I haven't noticed data usage go up at all.

 

[unplugme71]

Minimal usage my %%%!!! I went from averaging 18GB per month to over 22GB per month! Explain that Apple.

 

[unplugme71]

It was in the release notes. If people can't read that's there issue

Do you think people read release notes? Most of them don't even know what the features mean let alone how to use all the functionality.

Apple is better off disabling cost-added features by default and after the update, go through a setup screen process like when you first buy an iphone, but instead of setup, go over the new features, what it does, etc to enable/disable.

You have to realize that 85-90% of the world is not tech savvy (This forum makes it seem like most people are) and out of that 90% there are 90-95% that do not read what they are buying into. They prefer to claim ignorance instead of being smart.

By tech savvy I mean understand the iPhone settings menu. Just being able to make a call on an iPhone or play Angry birds is not tech savvy.

 

[jdillings]

They need to have it off by default

 

[KazuSnow]

A logical approach, since the iPhone already tracks mobile data usage, would be to allow users to enter in data limit and bill start date information, the the iPhone can track when data is being used too much and will go over the defined monthly limit...

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I really wish the iPhone knew the terms of your data plan and would assist you in working within your limits.

IE, if you have a 6 GB plan and it sees you use 1 GB in an hour, it could pop up an alert with an option to tune your cellular settings or change your plan - not unlike when you're down to 20% battery and it offers to tune your battery settings to maximize your battery life.

 

[radio893fm]

It's in iBooks and that's documented in the quick guide that's supplied inside the box!

I can't figure out if you are being serious or you are just joking. If you are being serious, you have to slow down on the kool aid.

 

[alfm]

I changed from 02 to EE a week after getting my 6s. I used to use in the high tens/low hundreds of MB per month on O2, in 9 days I've used 400 MB on EE with wifi assist on. I have switched it off to see if it makes a difference.

It could just be 'new phone-itis' or 'wow look at the 4G, I can visit loads more websites on the journey home'.

With EE I have a 4G connection at home which is faster than my broadband. As it is not fully explained how the phone decides if cellular is better than wifi, I'm wondering if at home I'm eating up my cellular data allowance.

 

[oneMadRssn]

A logical approach, since the iPhone already tracks mobile data usage, would be to allow users to enter in data limit and bill start date information, the the iPhone can track when data is being used too much and will go over the defined monthly limit...

Yes! Or even better, this information is easily obtained from the carrier during the sim-activation process. iPads even sort of have this feature already, where you can check how many MBs you have left in your monthly allotment from the settings.

 

[npmacuser5]

If you don't like it, just turn it off. People will whine about anything these days.

The problem is on by default. Learning about it can be costly. Apple needs to set new features to off. Let the users find what they need and add them. Especially features that may add costs to the users. Just as easy to turn on as off, per your example.

 

[Gasu E.]

You're still really missing the point. People don't know what they don't know. Are you suggesting that new owners should read their phone manual from beginning to end? And that they should know which features may or may not cost them money.

You're asking a lot. I don't disagree that people should be aware and know how to use their phones. But the reality is - many buy their phone and leave almost all of the settings "as is."

If you don't KNOW to look for this setting and what it means, then you're just blindly reading the manual from cover to cover with the chance you might notice it and know to do something about it.

No. New users should worry about the experience first, not whether they are paying an extra $20/month for convenience. Later, they can spend the time figuring out how to shave a few $/month off their bills. If they care.

 

[samcraig]

No. New users should worry about the experience first, not whether they are paying an extra $20/month for convenience. Later, they can spend the time figuring out how to shave a few $/month off their bills. If they care.

I don't think they have to choose what to worry about first. They can learn how to use the phone AND use it optimally at the same time. Again - it should be more easily located, off by default or be part of the set up process.

It's not intuitive currently.