Posted on 09/29/2015 5:40:33 PM PDT by dayglored
On by default, feature automatically switches to cellular signal when Wi-Fi is weak
If you've upgraded to iOS 9, you should be aware that it comes with a new feature – enabled by default – that could make your next wireless bill a lot bigger.
Wi-Fi Assist automatically switches your phone from Wi-Fi to a cellular connection when the Wi-Fi signal is poor. That's helpful if you're in the middle of watching a video or some other task on the internet that you don't want interrupted by spotty Wi-Fi service.
"But this also means eating through your 500 MB data cap without knowing it," warns the IT department at McGill University in Montreal, which suggests that users may want to disable Wi-Fi Assist.
The new feature means you may be consuming data from your data plan at times when you think you're on Wi-Fi. If your data plan isn't unlimited, that may result in overage charges – in Canada, that's typically five cents per megabyte or $15 per 300 MB that you go over your data cap. (300 MB is what's required to stream a movie for 45 minutes, according to Bell's data calculator).
Chris Mills, a writer for the technology site Gizmodo, wrote that since he started testing the beta version of iOS 9, his data usage has increased by around a third.
"It's impossible to say if that extra usage is directly related to Wi-Fi Assist, but I have my suspicions," wrote Mills Tuesday.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
Granted it could be handy in situations where WiFi is intermittent -- and I live in a rural area. But I saw my cell data usage go up about 35-40%, enough that I triggered the warning on my monthly usage. Surprised the heck out of me.
So as of tonight I've turned the feature OFF. Figured it was useful to let my fellow FReepers know.
Hi Swordmaker, here’s one for your ping list.
Thank you. I was unaware of this but had heard some things that made me reluctant to upgrade the OS. Any other problems you are aware of?
I haven't had any other problems, though I'm still working through the (mostly minor) changes to the user interface.
As the Stupid grows, and companies are more and more focused on elevating depravity, I can see a time when software becomes literally unusable. OS and iOS are becoming more and more Windows and Android like = clunky junky.
I should mention that I’m at iOS 9.0.1 — the update that fixed a few minor bugs a couple days after the initial 9.0 release.
Go into Settings.
Choose Cellular.
Scroll way down to Wi-Fi Assist.
Switch the slider to the "off" position.
Why do they even have a feature like that. When I have bad wifi coverage, usually at work, it isn’t too hard to select the wifi off and make a conscious decision to use the mobile network.
The stupid switching between lower case and upper case was the first thing I had to stop.
My goodness.
Well, I have certainly had the unpleasant experience of having to use "unusable" software (Windows 8's Metro UI comes to mind).
I agree that having the WiFi Assist enabled by default was a stupid decision, in the balance.
But I'm not sure turning on the cell radio when the WiFi is weak qualifies as "elevating depravity".
Or did you mean something about the personnel as opposed to the products? ;-)
Thank you — I had meant to include those steps and forgot.
Exactly what I do, too. That's why I consider the "default ON" a bad decision.
Well I’ll say this about iOS 9. Since I upgraded, the AirPlay works much better with my Bose speakers. I used to always have the connection break and then I’d have to fuss with it to get it to work again. But no more with iOS 9.
Yeah, I disabled that, too. Decades of keyboards with uppercase letters have not given me a problem, and I don't like typing on a lowercase keyboard.
You can also just keep your cellular data switch turned off.
It restricts the phone from using any cell data.
LOL. I mean companies used to work really hard at making great products. Now they spend their time trying to force Sodomite marriage and open borders on us. They send lobbyist to DC so congress will wipe out their competition. It’s not going to end with a setting here and a setting there.
Thanks for the heads up. I’ll pass this along to the Iphone user in the household.
Yep, it's depressing. I'm 63 and have been an engineer and/or a system admin all my working life. I'm proud of the things I designed and delivered, and I'm proud of the things the companies I have worked for have accomplished.
But I've worked for small companies, or been a consultant.
The big outfits seem to have a social agenda, and a strange sort of globalist vision, that makes me sad, and mad.
Thank you. And my wife thanks you too (her phone plan only has 300 MB to use.)
Read about it the other day and turned my daughter’s and mine off.
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