How to be more data usage consciouss

Page 3 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2012
8,173
524
126
I can understand the OP's issue. I only get 2GB per month of data, and our IT department at work (I would call them what I really think of them but ...) has decided to no longer allow us to connect to WiFi with our phones. Even when not doing data heavy things like streaming, going over the data cap becomes a concern at that point.

Although your data concerns are the same, it doesn't sound like quite the same situation (correct me if I'm wrong). In your situation you simply want to use either wifi or cell, depending on where you are, not differentiate which applications will use one or the other. It's still not clear to me why there's a need to do that.
 

ControlD

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2005
5,440
44
91
Although your data concerns are the same, it doesn't sound like quite the same situation (correct me if I'm wrong). In your situation you simply want to use either wifi or cell, depending on where you are, not differentiate which applications will use one or the other. It's still not clear to me why there's a need to do that.

I don't think anyone here wants to differentiate what applications are using WiFi or cell. I think the OP's concern is limiting data usage while surfing forums. I believe both of us are limited to cell only for a large part of our usage.
 

Naer

Diamond Member
Nov 28, 2013
3,428
181
106
Although your data concerns are the same, it doesn't sound like quite the same situation (correct me if I'm wrong). In your situation you simply want to use either wifi or cell, depending on where you are, not differentiate which applications will use one or the other. It's still not clear to me why there's a need to do that.

Would like to use internet radio with wifi while accessing a site with a clean IP, what's unclear about this?
 

Naer

Diamond Member
Nov 28, 2013
3,428
181
106
Anyway I have the opportunity to exchange a moto x 2014 with a lg g3. Should I do it? Resolution on the g3 seems to be better and I know how to root it. Has a SD card slot and the battery might last longer and its removable so I can have two batteries. Seems like a no brainer but if someone wants to talk me out of it, be my guess
 

Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2012
8,173
524
126
Would like to use internet radio with wifi while accessing a site with a clean IP, what's unclear about this?

What's a "clean IP"?

(Someone else chime in here. Other than wanting to reduce data usage, which makes perfect sense, does any of the rest of this make sense to anyone?)
 
Last edited:

ControlD

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2005
5,440
44
91
What's a "clean IP"?

(Someone else chime in here... Does any of this make sense to anyone?)

I feel like I've missed something here too lol.

Sounds like he is asking for exactly what you said earlier, stream audio over WiFi while accessing the internet with 3G/4G. I'm not sure that's even possible.

** Edit **

Totally missed this post somehow:

Is there a way to make it so specific apps use WiFi and other apps use cell data? I would like my browsers to use data and would like the Pandora app to use WiFi. Anyway to do this? Thanks
 
Last edited:

Naer

Diamond Member
Nov 28, 2013
3,428
181
106
I feel like I've missed something here too lol.

Sounds like he is asking for exactly what you said earlier, stream audio over WiFi while accessing the internet with 3G/4G. I'm not sure that's even possible.

** Edit **

Totally missed this post somehow:

Does afwall+ not do this?
 

ControlD

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2005
5,440
44
91
Does afwall+ not do this?

If it does I was never aware of such functionality. I thought AFWall was just an advanced firewall program. This is officially out of my league. Perhaps there are others here with the expertise to help.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,643
10,159
126
Does afwall+ not do this?

Yes

Regarding the "should I trade" question... I wouldn't consider a phone I couldn't get root on. When I was picking, that was the first, and primary criteria. Everything else is just details after that. Not having root access on *your own* device is offensive, and bad policy. You're just renting at that point, and the real owner can do what they want with the device you're renting.

I find it highly irritating that it takes an "exploit" to get the control you should have from the start, but there aren't many phones give you control out of the box. An exploit is better than nothing.
 

lopri

Elite Member
Jul 27, 2002
13,310
687
126
I do not believe AFWall can be used for that purpose. AFAIK phones do not maintain two data connections except for voice/sms/mms. AFWall cannot "activate" a hardware modem that is dormant.
 

lopri

Elite Member
Jul 27, 2002
13,310
687
126
I mean, even on a PC I do not know if you can have different IP addresses per different applications. I am thinking that will require some form of virtualization (virtual network or virtual machine) but I could be wrong because I haven't been up to date on virtualization.
 

Naer

Diamond Member
Nov 28, 2013
3,428
181
106
I do not believe AFWall can be used for that purpose. AFAIK phones do not maintain two data connections except for voice/sms/mms. AFWall cannot "activate" a hardware modem that is dormant.

just did it with an app called mobiwol. srs
 

Naer

Diamond Member
Nov 28, 2013
3,428
181
106
I mean, even on a PC I do not know if you can have different IP addresses per different applications. I am thinking that will require some form of virtualization (virtual network or virtual machine) but I could be wrong because I haven't been up to date on virtualization.

with the app I can turn on and off which apps use wifi and which apps use data
 

lopri

Elite Member
Jul 27, 2002
13,310
687
126
Be careful with those no-root firewalls. Often times their method of firewalling is re-routing traffic to their servers in order to trick the apps you want to block. Data usage can double.
 

Naer

Diamond Member
Nov 28, 2013
3,428
181
106
Be careful with those no-root firewalls. Often times their method of firewalling is re-routing traffic to their servers in order to trick the apps you want to block. Data usage can double.

so far so good. gonna get a lg g3 tomorrow so i can root. talk me out of it
 

Naer

Diamond Member
Nov 28, 2013
3,428
181
106
The only reason i want to root is to prolong my battery, use adaway, and do some cell data tethering