Subliminal Data Consumption Problems

[Mo0s]

I'm an Android noob using an S2 and I want to find out how I can gain maximum control over my data bundle consumption. Seems as things like live updates consume data without me having much control over it... What do I need to turn off? And is there an app that handle that kind of task for me?

 

[DJ...]

Subliminal data consumption? I highly doubt your phone is self aware...

 

[CranialBlaze]

By default the play store only checks for updates over wifi, but you can check this in play store settings.

If you have ICS installed I would suggest Onavo extend, save up to 80% on your data usage with a compression VPN. Works on GSM Data only and excludes streaming like youtube and shoutcast.

You can use onavo monitor to see whats using data and it also has a very bad wifi restriction function, as its not root it cannot technically restrict the app so what it does is simply kills the task as soon as it tries to access network data, this has the advantage of saving money at the expense of battery especially with persistent apps. It can result is substantial loss of battery life if the app keeps relaunching and needs to be killed.

Best bet if your extremely worried and need absolute control would be rooting and installing droidwall, but to be honest that's only needed if you have an extremely tight budget and are too stupid to setup your apps correctly. With proper in-app and background data config your phone will use almost nothing. I have 102 apps installed, many of which support background functioning but I only use 30-40k in the 30 minutes it takes to get to work. I do not bother with firewall, onavo extend is the only "saving" app I use.

 

[oronte]

If you're on ICS you can use the Data Usage option in settings to control each's app's ability to download data (it's quite an extensive interface). If not you can check 'download only on wifi' in play store settings.

 

[Maverick Jester]

Best bet if your extremely worried and need absolute control would be rooting and installing droidwall, but to be honest that's only needed if you have an extremely tight budget and are too stupid to setup your apps correctly.

Not necessarily. DroidWall means that you don't have to setup each individual app, just one

 

[CranialBlaze]

Not necessarily. DroidWall means that you don't have to setup each individual app, just one

So u install it and forget it, u need to setup the app anyway. Problem with DW is last I checked it blocked data on the specified data transfer method, essentially you only want to stop unwanted background data. That was what most annoyed me about it.

Take the official fb app, its settings are retarded by default, 30 min background updates. Nice for DW to block its 3G access, not so when I actually want to use it. A correct setup means its usable when I want it and does nothing when its idle.

 

[Maverick Jester]

So u install it and forget it, u need to setup the app anyway. Problem with DW is last I checked it blocked data on the specified data transfer method, essentially you only want to stop unwanted background data. That was what most annoyed me about it.

Take the official fb app, its settings are retarded by default, 30 min background updates. Nice for DW to block its 3G access, not so when I actually want to use it. A correct setup means its usable when I want it and does nothing when its idle.

I see. You are right then, DW won't block background data on its own. But if I remember correctly, Onavo does?

 

[CranialBlaze]

I see. You are right then, DW won't block background data on its own. But if I remember correctly, Onavo does?

It does but poorly owing to lack of root. it does not block network access per say all it does is kill the app, most apps will just relaunch in a few seconds so depending on the apps you could greatly decrease battery life as your phone will have trouble getting to idle or deep idle, let alone stay in it.