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Tech: Mobile fone data n website pix

20 Oct 14 - 01:50 PM (#3670822)
Subject: Tech: Mobile fone data n website pix
From: wysiwyg

I don't seem to be getting straight answers from the nice folks who sell us our fone data and searching the web on this will take me into yet another overage charge.

Do text-only websites use less data to browse than, for example, picture-rich Facebook, and can I thus use my no-pictures setting to limit data use when reading FB text content?

~Susan


20 Oct 14 - 03:40 PM (#3670863)
Subject: RE: Tech: Mobile fone data n website pix
From: Stilly River Sage

Downloading images does use more data, so your theory should work, but if you're using the facebook app then I doubt it will let you control it with a no-pictures setting. You'll probably have to test it.

That said, during a month last summer when I was away from home and work (where everything works over WiFI) and I needed to access various web sites via my data plan, I never went over my 300mb per month that I get with my plan on AT&T. I was about 3/4 there at the end of that billing cycle.

SRS


20 Oct 14 - 04:21 PM (#3670873)
Subject: RE: Tech: Mobile fone data n website pix
From: GUEST,DaveRo

Five or more years ago, when roaming data cost 5UKP (8USD) per megabyte or a local SIM gave me an allowance of of 40MB per month I used to browse with images turned off. It was difficult then (every button icon is an image so you rely on them also having text alternatives) and I reckon it'd be almost impossible now.

And it's not only images that use up your allowance - it's all the other stuff that smartphones and tablets do without asking - checking for updates, syncing data, ...

Data is much cheaper now - at least in Europe - so I haven't tried supressing images for several years. But then I always use prepaid SIMs.


20 Oct 14 - 06:27 PM (#3670893)
Subject: RE: Tech: Mobile fone data n website pix
From: wysiwyg

Mudcat works pretty well without pix. Email too. FB as just text in new feed. I use the fone's browser, not a FB App. And I am turning off as many bkgrnd processes as I can find. Today was the day I learned I'm not only smarter than my fone, but the people who want to suck my money through it.

~S~


20 Oct 14 - 10:41 PM (#3670935)
Subject: RE: Tech: Mobile fone data n website pix
From: Stilly River Sage

The thing that will save you the most data drawdown is setting everything to run only when WiFi is available. My phone is set that way. Be careful using strange WiFi, though. It doesn't hurt to set up a VPN via phone, laptop, etc when you're travelling or in places you aren't familiar with.

SRS


21 Oct 14 - 05:49 PM (#3671109)
Subject: RE: Tech: Mobile fone data n website pix
From: wysiwyg

Yeh been doing that too.

Neighbor here has offered password to her wifi. I'm surrounded by signal so hopefully hers-- being closest to the puder room-- will be a good strong one.

Even Lowe's today was so weak I could hardly connect my Kindle-- took almost an hour of trying. Fone connection to it there also slow....

~S~


22 Oct 14 - 06:13 PM (#3671370)
Subject: RE: Tech: Mobile fone data n website pix
From: wysiwyg

I did indeed get access via neighbor's psssword but it's an awful slow connection tho I've moved the laptop to the best spot. Don't suppose I can do anything to boost it?


23 Oct 14 - 05:06 AM (#3671442)
Subject: RE: Tech: Mobile fone data n website pix
From: wysiwyg

.... like use fone as a hot spot in the house, placed where signal is strongest to pick that up, and then put my laptop where I prefer to use it?