Since you pay for the data you use on Project Fi, you want to take as many steps as possible to prevent unnecessary data usage when not on a WiFi network. Here are three steps you can take on your phone to help minimize the data hit while using cellular data.
Chrome Browser
Make sure you go into your settings on the mobile chrome app and turn data saver on. When this setting is turned on, Google's servers will work to reduce the amount of data that get's sent to your device, how much of a reduction will depend upon the type of content on the page (https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2392284?hl=en). Here are the steps to turn on Data Saver:
Touch the Chrome menu, then Settings.
Under "Advanced," touch Data Saver.
Slide the switch ON. You can switch this off at any time
You no doubt have a lot of apps on your device, and these apps regularly get updated by the developers (hopefully). But you definitely do not want to update these apps when you are not on a WiFi network or you will certainly take a huge hit on your data usage. Make sure you go into the Play Store app on your device and open up settings. Once in settings, under General>Auto update apps, make sure you set your device to Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi only. This will ensure no apps are updated when on cellular data only.
Many of you, like myself, enjoy listening to music with your device. There are a few ways to make sure you don't get hit with data usage while using Google Play music. First, the obvious choice, download the albums or radio stations that you listen to onto your device. I have discovered that you can download a bunch of radio stations from All Access and then shuffle them to play all of them mixed up with each other, thus preventing yourself from getting bored while listening to the same station. Radio stations will automatically download additional songs as you go through the play list. So what I have done to ensure I don't get hit with excessive data usages from music is turn on Download on Wi-Fi under the settings. I have also turned on Stream only on Wi-Fi to make sure I don't stream music when I unknowingly leave a WiFi network and return to cellular only data.
A final step I have is that I have enabled the Downloaded only option under the three bar menu. I only turn that off when I am on a known WiFi network in order to download new radio stations or new songs/albums to my device. This is another stop gap to make sure I don't accidentally use up my data due to music.
I am sure there are other tips to save on cellular data usage, but these are the big ones that I employ.
Google Maps provides an option to download certain areas of a map that are around a searched or saved location. Once you have that area downloaded, the directions will be using that map and will utilize very little data, if any. The data usage will most likely be for traffic updates.
Google Plus also offers an option in settings to conserve data usage. However turning this on may effect image quality, but to be honest I have not noticed anything negative with the image quality.
Chrome Browser
Make sure you go into your settings on the mobile chrome app and turn data saver on. When this setting is turned on, Google's servers will work to reduce the amount of data that get's sent to your device, how much of a reduction will depend upon the type of content on the page (https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2392284?hl=en). Here are the steps to turn on Data Saver:Google Play Store
You no doubt have a lot of apps on your device, and these apps regularly get updated by the developers (hopefully). But you definitely do not want to update these apps when you are not on a WiFi network or you will certainly take a huge hit on your data usage. Make sure you go into the Play Store app on your device and open up settings. Once in settings, under General>Auto update apps, make sure you set your device to Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi only. This will ensure no apps are updated when on cellular data only.Play Music Streaming
Many of you, like myself, enjoy listening to music with your device. There are a few ways to make sure you don't get hit with data usage while using Google Play music. First, the obvious choice, download the albums or radio stations that you listen to onto your device. I have discovered that you can download a bunch of radio stations from All Access and then shuffle them to play all of them mixed up with each other, thus preventing yourself from getting bored while listening to the same station. Radio stations will automatically download additional songs as you go through the play list. So what I have done to ensure I don't get hit with excessive data usages from music is turn on Download on Wi-Fi under the settings. I have also turned on Stream only on Wi-Fi to make sure I don't stream music when I unknowingly leave a WiFi network and return to cellular only data. 
A final step I have is that I have enabled the Downloaded only option under the three bar menu. I only turn that off when I am on a known WiFi network in order to download new radio stations or new songs/albums to my device. This is another stop gap to make sure I don't accidentally use up my data due to music.I am sure there are other tips to save on cellular data usage, but these are the big ones that I employ.
Google Maps
Google Maps provides an option to download certain areas of a map that are around a searched or saved location. Once you have that area downloaded, the directions will be using that map and will utilize very little data, if any. The data usage will most likely be for traffic updates. Google Plus
Google Plus also offers an option in settings to conserve data usage. However turning this on may effect image quality, but to be honest I have not noticed anything negative with the image quality.Android N Data Saver
Many people are using the Android N developer preview, myself included. Very excited to report that there is a Data Saver feature that will automatically restrict apps from using background data. You can set certain apps to have unrestricted access to background data, but this is definitely going to prove to be a nice feature for Project Fi users.
Well done! Deployed all ur suggestions. Thx! Works like a,dream!
ReplyDeleteWell done! Deployed all ur suggestions. Thx! Works like a,dream!
ReplyDeleteI don't seem to be able to get into the Chrome menu. All it gives me is help and feedback.
ReplyDeleteAre you clicking on the three dots on the top right?
DeleteBecause Google can't make up their minds on simple design issues you have to use the dots on the right about half the time and the pancakes on the left the other half.
DeleteMaybe this is why Eric Schmidt uses an iPhone.
http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/5/25/11766326/eric-schmidt-tells-room-full-of-iphone-users-so-much-for-the-android
If you want to keep music streaming, you can set the quality to the lowest setting. In Google Photos you can also set that to only backup your images and video when connected to WiFi. I have it set for only when in wifi and plugged in. That way it's not burning battery when I may need it.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to keep music streaming, you can set the quality to the lowest setting. In Google Photos you can also set that to only backup your images and video when connected to WiFi. I have it set for only when in wifi and plugged in. That way it's not burning battery when I may need it.
ReplyDeleteMy data usage went from about 4gbs to 1.5gbs by simply using Waze versus Google Maps for navigation.
ReplyDeleteUsing Google Maps' "Offline Areas" feature to pre-download your maps over wifi will likely save you even more cellular data usage than using Waze. They can be set to auto-update every 30 days, only over wifi. The size of maps you can download appears to be greatly improved over previous incarnations of this feature. The only real concern is storage space, but this appears to be better than it used to be before as well. All of San Diego is 396 MB.
DeleteAlso a data saver in Google+ settings
ReplyDeleteAlso a data saver in Google+ settings
ReplyDeleteAny information about restricting background data in individual app settings, do these data saving measures effect how the app performs???
ReplyDeleteHey Jay, I have no idea if there is any negative effect there. I actually have not gone to the individual app level myself yet.
DeleteJay, I recently did this for several apps including ones like Amazon Photos, Plex, and other similar apps. I was pretty frustrated because, even though I have those apps set to only upload over WiFi and not to update themselves on cellular, I noticed that Amazon Photos alone used over 135mb of cell data! Now, that's not the biggest problem in the world but it's $1.35 that I shouldn't have had to spend (and made the difference in my going over my data amount for the first time this month). After restricting the apps, I've not noticed any weirdness in how they act and my data usage is lower. I did get the warning from the Android system that they may act strange but I tried it anyway and have had zero trouble this far. Hope that helps!
Delete
ReplyDeleteHi,testing it....hoping to get to zero data used (monthly challenge). I/O has a whole new meaning,now I'm very excited(imagine)with what's coming. Best ;))
Did some research and found It won't synchronize with anything unless the app is open. Depending on the app, that may or may not mean a change in data usage.
ReplyDeleteLove it... may or may not work....
Did some research and found It won't synchronize with anything unless the app is open. Depending on the app, that may or may not mean a change in data usage.
ReplyDeleteLove it... may or may not work....
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ReplyDeleteIn Maps, it only offers me the choices of Home and Work to save for offline. How do I get other areas saved offline? Can't seem to create a New area on that dialog.
ReplyDeleteSearch for a location using the mobile map application, after it finds the location (has to be a specific location, not a general area) click on the name on the bottom of the screen and there will be an option to download that area
ReplyDeleteHi Scott,
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking of checking out Android N. I heard that it's extremely stable and in final beta stage.How do I download is it in the google store? Most importantly do you think I'm ready???
Jay, on my N6 I had no problems with Release 1,2 or 3. On My 6P release 1 and 2 I had lots of problems with, but release 3 has been excellent so far.
DeleteJust read this article very positive with crucial warning:
ReplyDeletehttp://m.androidcentral.com/should-you-try-android-n-beta-your-phone-and-tablet
Decisions decisions.....have a fun safe weekend and as always Thanks
This will open a new era of discussion on advancements. Infantigo
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteAs usual I'm a little late to the game but just downloaded area in Google maps😂
Hi
ReplyDeleteAs usual I'm a little late to the game but just downloaded area in Google maps😂