Data usage in iPad downloads

[TFTC]

When I want to download non supported files my iPad gives me the option to save to Dropbox instead which is fine. I want to find out if such 'download' consumes as much data as downloading to my PC harddrive for example since in the case of the iPad it isn't a download in the strict sense but a transfer from one server to another. Any insight on the subject will be appreciated.

 

[Fudzy]

If you upload a big file from your PC to Dropbox, then you want access to that file on your iPad, it will download that file. Same amount of bandwidth used if you were downloading it from a website IMO, maybe a bit more with overhead.

 

[Guantanamo]

Good question. I figure it either downloads it straight into dropbox (dropbox would be the file) and is then uploaded as a new item in your dropbox (so double data usage) or it does it the smart way and transfers it straight to dropbox servers and is then downloaded through dropbox. Probably the former.

 

[Fudzy]

It doesn't really matter, any data going from external addresses to your local ip constitutes bandwidth consumption. Whether or not Dropbox is intelligent enough to transfer local data where possible is another story. From a security point of view that would open quite a few loop holes