Tag Archive for Mobile

| August 31, 2023
Comments Off on 5 Ways to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill

5 Ways to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill

In today’s cell phone dependent world, staying connected is essential, but soaring data costs can quickly eat into your budget. However, there are several effective ways to reduce your reliance on the cellular network for data on your mobile phone. By implementing these strategies, you can optimize your data usage and save money while still enjoying the benefits of a connected lifestyle. In this blog post, we will explore the top five ways to prevent excessive cellular data usage on your mobile phone.

Did you know that streaming high quality audio uses over 100MB per hour while HD quality video can use anywhere between 1GB to 3GB per hour? If you have a metered data plan, you could easily hit your cap in no time!

Connect to Wi-Fi networks

One of the most effective methods to minimize your cell phone bill is by utilizing Wi-Fi networks whenever available. Whether you’re at home, work, or a public place, connecting to a trusted Wi-Fi network can provide fast and reliable internet access without utilizing your cellular data plan. Ensure that your device automatically connects to known Wi-Fi networks and disable any prompts to use cellular data when a Wi-Fi network is available.

How to connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi networks:

  1. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on “Wi-Fi” and ensure that the Wi-Fi toggle is switched on.
  3. Select a trusted Wi-Fi network from the available list and enter the password if required.
  4. To automatically connect to known Wi-Fi networks, enable the “Auto-Join” option.iPhone Wi-Fi

Not all Wi-Fi networks are built the same, so be careful of public Wi-Fi networks. Public networks at coffee shops, shopping areas, or airports, may put your personal information at risk. Many times these networks are not secure. Other users may be able to see your internet traffic, including your personal information, logins and passwords, so make sure not to access personal or financial information on public Wi-Fi. If you are going to use a public Wi-Fi network consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) app to encrypt your internet activity. Here are some more tips from the Federal Trade Commission on how to use public Wi-Fi networks safely.

Manage background data on your cell phone

Apps running in the background can be data hogs and drive up your cell phone bill. They consume a significant amount of data without your knowledge. To prevent this, review your app settings and restrict background data usage for applications that you don’t require to be constantly active. iOS devices offer options to limit background data for individual apps, allowing you to prioritize essential services while conserving your cellular data.

How to manage app background data on your iPhone:

  1. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on “Cellular”
  3. Scroll down to see which apps are using cellular data.
  4. You can see which apps are using the most data and consider limiting their use only to when you’re on a Wi-Fi network.
  5. Toggle off the switch for apps that you don’t want to use cellular data in the background.Background Data

Enable low data mode

Low Data Mode can significantly reduce your cell phone bill. This mode limits data usage by preventing background app refreshes, app updates, and automatic downloads. Enabling Low Data mode can help you avoid unnecessary data usage, especially when you’re on a limited data plan or experiencing slower network speeds.

How to set up Low Data mode on your iPhone:

    1. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
    2. Select “Cellular”
    3. Tap on “Cellular Data Options”
    4. Open “Data Mode”
    5. Check “Low Data Mode”Low Data mode

Don’t back up over cellular network

Apple’s cloud backup service iCloud is great for backing up your photos and other important data. However it can really jack up your cell phone bill if they are syncing over a cellular network. It’s a good idea to turn that setting off to conserve data.

How to stop backing up over cellular on your iPhone:

  1. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
  2. Select “Photos”
  3. Tap on “Cellular Data”iPhone Photos
  4. Toggle off Cellular DataPhoto cellular data

Optimize cell phone streaming settings

Streaming media, such as music and videos, can quickly deplete your cellular data allowance. To prevent excessive usage, adjust the streaming settings for popular apps like Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, and others. Opt for lower quality video resolutions, disable autoplay, and download content for offline viewing when connected to Wi-Fi. Additionally, streaming music and videos from dedicated apps that offer offline playback options, like Spotify or Netflix, can significantly reduce your reliance on cellular data.

How to optimize streaming settings:

  1. For streaming apps like Netflix or YouTube, open the respective app.
  2. Tap on your profile or account settings within the app.
  3. Look for options related to video quality or streaming settings and choose a lower resolution or quality option.
  4. Additionally, disable autoplay features to prevent videos from playing automatically.

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By implementing these top five strategies, you can effectively minimize your reliance on the cellular network for data on your mobile phone. Connect to Wi-Fi networks whenever possible, manage app background data, enable Data Saver mode, optimize streaming settings, and utilize offline features. With these proactive measures, you can take control of your data usage, avoid unexpected charges, and enjoy a connected lifestyle without breaking the bank. Remember, a little awareness and optimization can go a long way in preserving your cellular data and ensuring a seamless mobile experience.

 

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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| June 16, 2022
Comments Off on Tim Horton’s Caught Collecting Private Data

Tim Horton’s Caught Collecting Private Data

Tim Horton's Caught Collecting Private DataThe mobile app from coffee shop Tim Horton’s has been collecting vast amounts of users private data without consent. The Canadian federal privacy commission investigation began two years ago after the Financial Post reported on Tim’s contract with Radar Labs Inc. Radar Labs is a third-party U.S. firm that provided enhanced location tracking services for the app.

What Private Data Did Tim Horton’s Collect?

Tim Horton's app collected users' geolocation without their knowledge.Between May 2019 and August 2020 the Tim Horton’s app, which has four million users, collected users’ geolocation without their knowledge. The app collected personal data from users even when the apps was not being used. People who downloaded the Tim Horton’s app had their movements tracked and recorded every few minutes of every day, even when their app was not open.

Radar was able to use the information it collected in the app to identify personal location data. The app could identify a user’s home, place of work and when they visited a competitor of Tim Horton’s. Reports are the app noted when users entered a Starbucks, Second Cup, McDonald’s, Pizza Pizza, A&W, KFC or Subway. The Tim Horton’s app was even able to figure out if users had been traveling. The app generated an “event” every time users entered or left a Tim Horton’s competitor, a major sports venue, or their home or workplace. Canadian Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien said in a statement

Tim Horton’s clearly crossed the line by amassing a huge amount of highly sensitive information about its customers

What Happened to Tim’s?

delete the granular data it collected, and any further data derived from itAccording to the report, Tim Horton’s collected granular location data for the purpose of targeted advertising and product promotions. Even though Tim’s never used the information for those purposes. The investigation also found that there were inadequate contractual protections for users’ personal data. Commissioner Therrien commented,

The location tracking ecosystem, where details of our daily lives are treated as a commodity to be exploited to sell us products and services such as a cup of coffee, heightens the risk of mass surveillance

Based on its findings, the OPC ordered Tim Horton’s to delete the granular data it collected, and any further data derived from it and to order all third-party providers to do the same. Tim Horton’s has since complied. Additionally, the company agreed to create a privacy management program for the app and all future apps to prevent another privacy violation. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner noted, there “is a real risk that de-identified geolocation data could be re-identified.“

Tim Horton’s has more than 5,100 stores in 13 countries. Most are in Canada, but there are more than 600 in the US, mostly in New York, Michigan, and Ohio.

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Tim Horton’s was caught collecting illegitimate data via its app. It is a safe bet that many more apps are doing much the same with dubious consent. It is essential to always read through a user agreement before consenting. Both Apple and Android offer options on their phones to restrict how their apps track them. A step in the right direction.

How you can help Ukraine!

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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| January 28, 2022
Comments Off on 4 Things To Do On Data Privacy Day 2022

4 Things To Do On Data Privacy Day 2022

4 Things To Do On Data Privacy Day 2022Today is Data Privacy Day. Data Privacy Day commemorates the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection, signed on January 28, 1981. It is observed annually in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. In North America,  Data Privacy Day campaign is officially led by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA). 

Data Privacy Day Tips

The more information you share about yourself (as well as your friends and family), the greater the risk of exposure to online threats such as identity theft, cyber-stalking and cyber-bullying. Here are some simple tips on how to protect your online information, identity and privacy on Data Privacy Day 2022.

Secure access to your devices

Use strong passphrases, passcodes or touch ID features to lock your devices. These security measures can help protect your information if your devices are lost or stolen they can keep snoops out of your business. Strong passwords tips from Cnet.

Think before you share

Big tech loves your dataBig tech loves your data. This data privacy day, take  steps to protect Information about you, such as the games you like to play, your contacts list, where you shop and your location. It all has value to Facebook. Treat your info – just like money. Be thoughtful about who gets that information and how it’s collected through apps. Tips to protect yourself from Facebook.

Be smart about Wi-Fi

Public wireless networks and hotspots are not secure. Anyone can potentially see what you are doing on your mobile device while you are connected. Limit what you do on public Wi-Fi. Avoid logging in to critical accounts like email and banks on these networks. Consider using a virtual private network (VPN) to be more secure on the go. Safe VPN apps according to Tom’s hardware.

Keep your mobile phone up to date

Patching all your devices is the best defenseYour mobile devices need regular updates just like your PC or laptop. This data privacy day, install the most up-to-date security software, web browser, operating system and apps. This is the best way to protect you privacy. Patching all your devices is the best defense against viruses, malware and other online threats.

Stay safe out there!

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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| January 3, 2022
Comments Off on The End of the Original Smartphone

The End of the Original Smartphone

The End of the Original SmartphoneIt’s time to bid goodbye to that old BlackBerry smartphone sitting in your junk drawer. The original smartphone company, initially known as Research In Motion (RIM) announced that it is ending support for BlackBerry OS on January 4, 2022. The former Canadian tech powerhouse will be end support for BlackBerry 7.1 OS and earlier, BlackBerry 10 software, BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1. This means all non-Android based BlackBerry’s will useful. The last version of BlackBerry OS was launched in 2013.

BlackBerry logoBlackBerry (BB), was the most popular smartphone brand before the iPhone. It was an icon beloved by wall-street types as they clutched the smartphone with a keyboard and trackball. It was dubbed CrackBerry hinting at how dependent people were on them. POTUS Obama refused to give his up when he entered the White House in 2009. BlackBerry’s appealed to professionals who wanted the flexibility of work from anywhere before the pandemic.

The last BlackBerry original smartphone

BlackBerry stopped shipping phones and tablets with its own software years ago. The last device to run BlackBerry OS was the BlackBerry Leap, introduced in 2015. BB jumped on the Android bandwagon in 2015. The firm continued to license its brand to phone manufacturers. Licensees included TCL and OnwardMobility, an Austin, TX-based startup, for a 5G Blackberry device running on Android software. It has previously promised a 5G BlackBerry device in 2021, but it’s now since it’s 2022 – there are doubts it will ever be released.

Until now you could hack an older BlackBerry phone running BlackBerry OS to maintain limited capabilities. With some work BlackBerry Curveyou With some work you could:

  • Connect to the internet over Wi-Fi and mobile data;
  • Make phone calls, Including 9-1-1 emergency calls; and
  • Send SMS.

All that is over. BlackBerry says Wi-Fi and mobile data might become unreliable. The apps that really made the BlackBerry unique including BlackBerry Link, BlackBerry Desktop Manager, BlackBerry World, BlackBerry Protect, BlackBerry Messenger, and BlackBerry Blend “will also have limited functionality.”

Market Share of BlackBerrry Globally

https://www.toptal.com/

The company has rebranded itself as BlackBerry Limited to focus on providing security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world.

 

Stay safe out there!

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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| March 8, 2021
Comments Off on 8 Hacks to Reduce Your Cell Phone Bill

8 Hacks to Reduce Your Cell Phone Bill

8 Hacks to Reduce Your Cell Phone BillAre you spending too much on your cell phone bill? The average cell phone bill for a family of four on unlimited data can reach up to $2,670 a year. One of the reasons your cell phone bill is so high is the data plan. All those video chats, streaming services, and data-hungry apps mean you are using a lot of data on your cell phone. Statista says that the average smartphone user will use almost 9GB of data per month in 2021. All this cellular data usage comes with unexpected overages bills, too. No one likes sky-high cell phone bills. Here are some easy-to-follow tips to help you find ways to reduce your data use and reduce your cell phone bill.

the average smartphone userThe first step to reduce your cellphone bill is to know what you really need. Research says that 66% of Americans with unlimited cell phone plans consume less than 10 gigabytes of cell phone data monthly. These cell phone user could reduce their cell phone bill by an average of $268.44 a year without running out of cell phone data.

Wi-Fi helps you reduce your cell phone bill

Consistently connecting to Wi-Fi networks will reduce the amount of cellular data you use, and reduce your cell phone bill. This is important because watching a Netflix movie while using cellular data will eat up anywhere between 1GB to 3GB per hour. Wireless carriers divert cellular traffic to Wi-Fi to save money – so should you. Here are some tricks to reduce your cell phone bill.

Turn on Wi-Fi to reduce your cell phone bill1 – Turn on Wi-Fi – Make sure your Wi-Fi settings are turned on, and you are connected to an available Wi-Fi network.

2 – Turn off Wi-Fi Assist (iOS) and Smart Network Switch (some Android models). These built-in settings try to boost a spotty or slow Wi-Fi connection by using your cellular connection. These settings can use a lot of data.

  • Android devices, go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi. Tap the three dots, select Advanced, and tap the slider for “Switch to mobile data.”
  • Apple devices, go to Settings > Cellular or Settings > Mobile Data. Then scroll down and tap the slider for Wi-Fi Assist.

Limit your data usage

3 – Cap your monthly data usage – Android has a built-in feature that allows you to limit your cellular data to a set amount based on your billing cycle. Here’s how to set that up:

  • Go to Settings > Network & internet > Data usage > Data warning & limit (or Data limit & billing cycle) to set the maximum amount of data you want to use for the month.
  • Or, tap “App data usage cycle” to set the first day of your billing cycle.

Apple devices don’t include the same built-in feature to restrict your data usage. To keep an eye on your cellular data use on your Apple iOS device go to:

  • Settings > Cellular or Settings > Mobile Data. (On an iPad, it may be Settings > Cellular Data)
  • You can also reset your data usage for the “Current Period” here every month so you know how much you’re using each billing cycle.

4 – Update apps over Wi-Fi only – If your apps are set to update automatically, they may be draining your data over a cellular network.  You can set your device to update apps over Wi-Fi only to reduce your cellphone bill. Once you do that, the apps will only update and use data when you’re connected to Wi-Fi.

  • Android, go to the Play Store and tap Menu > Settings > Auto-update apps, then select “Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi only.
  • iOS, go to Settings > App Store > scroll to “Cellular Data” and toggle “Automatic Downloads” to the off position.

Disable background app data

5 – Disable app data in the background – Some apps will continue to gather data in the background while you’re not using your phone. This may be a good feature for a news app, but not every app needs this feature. To turn this feature off for your apps

  • Android, go to Settings > Data Usage to see which apps are using the most data. Tap on the app you’d like to restrict and disable background data.
  • iOS, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Here, you can choose whether you want this feature on or off completely, or just WiFi only. You can also toggle this on and off for individual apps.

6 – Disable display ads for your browser. Display ads auto-play videos that stream to your phone, so if you have a browser that helps you disable these ads, you save plenty of data and reduce your cell phone bill.

Turn off your phone

7 – Turn off your phone while asleep. It is likely that throughout the night, data will be used on the phone, especially if applications are running. You could save a lot of data and money over time by trying out this hack.

8 – Compress your updates. There are applications that can make your data usage around 5 times more efficient by compressing it. Take a look at the apps.

The downside, however, is that the company will be aware of the data you’re accessing. It all depends on if that is a price you’re willing to pay.

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If these hacks fail to reduce your cell phone bill, you have the option to change to a plan with a data limit in order to reduce your cell phone bill.

Stay safe out there!

Related article

 

Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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