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Google Launches App That Can Help You Track and Conserve Mobile Data (venturebeat.com)

Posted by msmash on from the carrot dept.

Google has taken another small step forward in its mission to connect the "next billion" users with a new app designed to optimize your mobile data usage. From a report: Datally for Android has been in testing for several months in the Philippines, and now it's ready for prime time globally. To activate Datally, you will have to give the app access to many facets of your device, including giving it the ability to "make and manage calls," "send and view SMS messages," and view the device's location. But then again, any app that wants to monitor background processes on your smartphone will need fairly comprehensive access to the device.

46 comments

  1. Background app? by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 3, Informative

    I'm not advocating a systemd scenario here, but shouldn't this kind of pretty basic thing be built-in the OS itself? It's just three big fucking counters... one for cellular, one for wi-fi and one for bluetooth.

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
    1. Re:Background app? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Most of it is, although maybe not as accessible.

    2. Re:Background app? by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 0

      Not accessible? It's a background app made by Google. It's their OS, they have access to everything.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    3. Re:Background app? by Tomahawk · · Score: 2

      Some of those counters are available (certainly Mobile Data used is available at the OS level, and you can set a warning level for it), but this app will allow you to view them better, and to control stuff. For example, if an app that you don't really use is using too much data, you can stop it using mobile data with this app.

      Google these days try to push out stuff in apps rather than in OS upgrades, as that way these can be used on devices where the manufacturers don't update the OS. Maybe system apps are now available to download from Google Play so they can be updated outside of the OS release.

    4. Re:Background app? by Orphis · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'm guessing that it's easier to update an "external" app than getting all the phone providers to update their OS in time when making changes.

      Pretty much why Chrome on Android is a separate app too.

    5. Re: Background app? by peragrin · · Score: 2

      It's the apps that are the issue. My girlfriend had an appp that used 2 gigabytes of mobile data in 4 days downloading "ads"

      When we realized what happened the app was uninstalled and we had to disable all mobile data for 3 weeks until the end of the billing month. Do you know what doesn't work withouht constant data stream.? Basically every app

      We were on a long car ride and she played solitary.

      What Google and Apple needs to do is to start banning any app that uses more than 100 megs of advertisements a month.

      The developers should no longer be able to publish apps.

      Currently we both have android data saver on to limit background data to maps, email and messaging.

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    6. Re:Background app? by swillden · · Score: 2

      Not accessible? It's a background app made by Google. It's their OS, they have access to everything.

      Not accessible to the user, meaning no nice UI to display and manage it all. Clearly the app can't add any fundamental OS capabilities; everything needed to track and control usage has to already be in the system.

      Oh, and obviously it's not just "three big fucking counters", since it gives you very fine-grained information about usage. And lets you control it.

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    7. Re:Background app? by WaffleMonster · · Score: 1

      I'm not advocating a systemd scenario here, but shouldn't this kind of pretty basic thing be built-in the OS itself? It's just three big fucking counters... one for cellular, one for wi-fi and one for bluetooth.

      Are you saying this feature does not already exist in Android? How is this app different from per-app I/O statistics already available in Android?

      Have always been able to see charting of WiFi and Cellular usage both globally and on a per-app basis over time. From limited screenshots and description looks as if this app is reporting substantially similar information to facilities having existed for years. What is the difference? Is there a more detailed explanation?

      It's not like anyone really needs a crummy Google app to collect data. You can use iptables to create an accounting rule to count AND block whatever slice of data you want by any user (app) you want without downloading Google spyware. Not exactly user friendly but this is Slashdot.

    8. Re:Background app? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm not advocating a systemd scenario here, but shouldn't this kind of pretty basic thing be built-in the OS itself? It's just three big fucking counters... one for cellular, one for wi-fi and one for bluetooth.

      There's probably resistance from the cell providers to this feature.

      My Verizon phones would spontaneously drop off my wifi, listing it as "Internet not available - will not reconnect", or something like that, with no warning. Then I'd get that familiar text message indicating I was using overage data. Nice feature.

    9. Re:Background app? by WaffleMonster · · Score: 1

      Not accessible to the user, meaning no nice UI to display and manage it all.

      There is... Settings / Wireless & Network / Data Usage

      Clearly the app can't add any fundamental OS capabilities; everything needed to track and control usage has to already be in the system.

      Depending on access rights granted an app could use pcap interface to implement it's own data collector.

    10. Re: Background app? by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      There should be a data limit PER AD too.

      And if everyone is forced to use plain static images then they'll stop trying to out-do their competitors with animated GIFs and javascript+canvas crap. That takes too much data and CPU, which drains the batteries.

      Force them all to use basic plain PNG. Most problems will be solved by this simple-to-enforce solution.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    11. Re:Background app? by WaffleMonster · · Score: 1

      Some of those counters are available (certainly Mobile Data used is available at the OS level, and you can set a warning level for it), but this app will allow you to view them better, and to control stuff. For example, if an app that you don't really use is using too much data, you can stop it using mobile data with this app.

      Even my ancient android device allows me to restrict mobile "background data" on a per-app basis. What's the difference? What specifically does this app provide that does not already exist?

    12. Re:Background app? by swillden · · Score: 2

      Not accessible to the user, meaning no nice UI to display and manage it all.

      There is... Settings / Wireless & Network / Data Usage

      Which obviously has a tiny subset of the UI functionality described in the article, and has the serious disadvantage that it can only be added or updated in a system update. The rationale for putting this in an app is very clear.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    13. Re:Background app? by cayenne8 · · Score: 1
      Isn't everyone pretty much on unlimited data these days....?

      If so, who cares how much your usage is....?

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    14. Re:Background app? by mspohr · · Score: 1

      This is merely an app which gives detailed access to the information already collected and which is currently available under settings.
      Interesting that when I was in the Philippines last year I bought a burner phone which had a similar app pre-installed. It was useful for monitoring my data access although it got to be a bit of a nag with too many alerts.

      --
      I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
    15. Re:Background app? by LVSlushdat · · Score: 1

      Just because *you* happen to be on "unlimited data" does NOT mean the rest of us are also.. Let me introduce you to Ting, my carrier, which is an MVNO running on both Sprint and Tmobile towers. With Ting I pay for ONLY what I use, so to keep my bill down I would LOVE an app like this.

      --
      THANK YOU, Edward Snowden!! Americans owe you a debt of gratitude (whether they know it or not..)
    16. Re: Background app? by LVSlushdat · · Score: 1

      My girlfriend had an app that used 2 gigabytes of mobile data in 4 days downloading "ads"

      This is the VERY reason I wil NOT have an Android phone that I cannot root. Said rooting allows me to install/use Adaway, the ONLY ad-blocker for Android (that I'm aware of) that completely blocks ALL ads, both in browser and internal ads in apps. Adaway requires root as it modifies the /etc/hosts file to actually BLOCK connections to ad servers. Since I do not have "unlimited data", but pay the data I use, I refuse to waste that data on mindless ads in both webpages and apps. I can VERY well believe the "2 Gb in 4 days" before root/adaway..

      --
      THANK YOU, Edward Snowden!! Americans owe you a debt of gratitude (whether they know it or not..)
    17. Re:Background app? by WaffleMonster · · Score: 1

      Which obviously has a tiny subset of the UI functionality described in the article

      Like what? Please be specific. I read TFA, read information for the app on the store and looked at the screenshots. What makes this a tiny subset? It looks to be substantially similar. There is something about partial blocking that sounds a lot like the restrict background on mobile button and something about annotating a chart with WiFi?

    18. Re:Background app? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Pretty much why Chrome on Android is a separate app too.

      Or maybe Chrome on Android is a separate app because ... you know ... it's a web browser which qualifies as being a separate app and doesn't have anything to do with the core OS. There's pretty much no reason to build a browser into your core OS unless you're Microsoft ala "trust us it's too complicated to remove and we didn't put it in for anti-competitive reasons" or Apple ala "fuck you all, all your browsers are nothing more than skins and must use our rendering engine".

    19. Re: Background app? by gnick · · Score: 1

      There should be a data limit PER AD too.

      Hallelujah. The biggest data consumer on my phone by far is 'Words With Friends'. Fucking Scrabble. Unless they're really inefficient about the way they store game boards, that's all ads. Hundreds of MB/month; a noticeable portion of my data allocation. I assume they're reloading the ads every time they're displayed because I don't see another explanation of why the same dozen ads could be so massive.

      --
      He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
    20. Re: Background app? by rodenti · · Score: 1

      How about adguard? (https://adguard.com/). It uses a VPN running on your phone to block ads on android (same as datally uses to save data, which probably makes them incompatible with each other) It isn't free but it works great to block ads and also can be used as a simple firewall to block individual apps from accessing WiFi or cellular data.

    21. Re:Background app? by piojo · · Score: 1

      Can you restrict foreground data? I can on my phone, but I'm not sure whether that's a core Android feature. Moreover, manufacturers may re-skin the OS to hide features like that. This tool may be a way to get around manufacturers that don't care about customer choices.

      Personally, I just avoid phones with defective UIs--Samsung, Huawei, I'm looking at you!

      --
      A cat can't teach a dog to bark.
  2. Why is this not a core OS feature? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

    It seems like this stuff ought to be built right into Android.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    1. Re:Why is this not a core OS feature? by swb · · Score: 1

      Data consumption management could be built into any smartphone at the OS and allow all manner of functionality, from data ceilings, rate-limiting and calendar based data quotas.

      Any time I see a thing that could be done and isn't done on smartphones, my first reaction is that it must run contrary to what the carriers want. If people could use tools to manage their data consumption easily, there would be no overage fees and fewer people would be moving to higher data tiers.

      Smartphone makers see the carriers as nearly co-equal with users as customers, perhaps more so because they have a gatekeeper ability to block these devices from their network.

      In both Google and Apple's cases, I'll bet they're also pandering a little to advertisers, too, who wouldn't want to see their data collection or advertising interrupted or crippled.

  3. Just don't use Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    There, problem solved. 100% data saved on android devices.

  4. Google Play Services is using your data by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    To stalk you.

  5. The more I learn about Android... by hyades1 · · Score: 1

    ...the less I like it.

    Fortunately, I have an ancient Android tablet quietly rotting in a drawer. Maybe it's time I recharged it and figured out how to put CyanogenMod's successor on it.

    The reason it's in a drawer is I absolutely hated the way every app available wanted every scintilla of data on the tablet, plus whatever else it could trick or steal out of any device that e-touched the tablet in any way at all.

    --
    I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
  6. Good old times by houghi · · Score: 1

    This reminds me of a program I used to follow up your online time over dialup.
    I was with a provider that asked extra money for business hours and a flat fee outside of it. This was on top of the minutes you needed to pay the telecom operator.

    Dialup, download Usenet, diconnect, read, answer, dialup, upload answers, disconnect.
    Wait an hour and repeat. And it was AWESOME.

    --
    Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    1. Re:Good old times by gitano_dbs · · Score: 1

      On dial-up times i used WWWOFFLE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... on debian. Was very convenient since had the ability to browse pages offline and when clicked any link not on the cache, saved for later retrieval.

      That and fetchmail + inn for retrieve mails and news, and also fidonet mailer, all on a crontab in the early mornings. In very few minutes connected a day had lots of content to use offline.

  7. Riiight, Google will "help" me manage my data... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No further comments.

  8. FTFY by rsilvergun · · Score: 2

    "Google launches App that can help them track mobile data usage".

    There, FTFY. Also, every phone I've ever had has one of these.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  9. Eat your own dogfood by chrylis · · Score: 4, Interesting

    In other news, Google Maps still pulls a megabyte of data when you open it to display a useless "what's nearby" panel that can't be disabled.

    Maybe start with cutting out data-hungry misfeatures in your own applications?

  10. Maybe disable pre-loading junk in maps n chrome? by Imazalil · · Score: 2

    Here's another idea for Google.

    Stop wasting data pre-loading junk in Chrome and Maps. If I want to find a breakfast place, transit or traffic directions, they are a click away. Same with Chrome's suggested stories or whatever they're called.

  11. How is this much different than Cellular tab on iP by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    I watched the video to see what Datally would do (btw, I think the name is really good).

    To me I didn't see anything other than the wiFi finder, that I can't do already from the Cellular section in iOS settings, it lets me see how much data each app has used, and lets me disable apps from using cellular data if I wish.

    I'm assuming Android has some similar data/control pane in system settings, does it not?

    It is a really good idea to let users control this as it's easy to forget how many people across the world are still on very tight cellular data plans.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  12. Redundant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Doesn't pretty much every smartphone have a settings menu option that shows you exactly how much data you've been using and how much each app is using? Hell, they usually even have granular settings to disable mobile data usage for certain apps. Not seeing why you'd need to download another app to track it.

  13. v5 & up? Thanx for nothing google. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Since those of us who are thrifty usually don't upgrade their phones unless unfixable, we generally use an older version. I'm on 4.04 on my LG Mach & 4.2.1 on my Photon Q. Checked and it requires v5.0 and up.

    Thanx again google. First you continue to allow phones to be abandoned(yes they are doing a little, but only for new phones), and now you don't even bother to make it useful for older devices.

    I'd update to Lineage, but my LG can't and I'm too lazy to do the Photon Q. Both are 4G LTE and have physical keyboards.

    I may upgrade to the Moto Z once the new slider keyboard mod is out for a while and the prices come down to make it affordable.

  14. Lots of misinformation on the comments by XSportSeeker · · Score: 2

    Erm... to all the people saying this should be built into the OS - it is.
    This app makes visualization easier I guess, but if you are on Android, you can go into Settings -> Data usage -> (hamburger menu) Data usage control.
    From there you can choose what apps can and cannot use mobile data. In fact, you have 4 options:
    Allow - Wi-fi + mobile
    Forbidden - none
    Wi-fi only
    Data only (mobile only)
    Unless this is something that's available only on Oxygen OS (which I don't think it is), there you go.

    1. Re:Lots of misinformation on the comments by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On pure Android it is buried in Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Data Usage and you can only control background data or "unrestricted data usage".

      You can turn on Data Saver in the same general area, but it also only limits background usage and asks applications to limit their data.

      It would be nice if it was granular like your firmware allows.

  15. I have a feeling.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have a feeling all this does is send your data back to the NSA in a nicely wrapped and neat package. Thoughts?

  16. Re:How is this much different than Cellular tab on by LVSlushdat · · Score: 1

    It is a really good idea to let users control this as it's easy to forget how many people across the world are still on very tight cellular data plans.

    Its not just the third-world, even right here in the good ole' USA, if you don't want to pay thru the nose for cellular, there are carriers (MVNOs) like Ting, where you pay for only what you used, at the end of the month. Their prices for minutes/texts are dirt-cheap, and data rates a bit higher. For example, 0-100Mb/mo = $3, 101-500Mb/mo=$10, 501-1024Mb/mo=$16, 1025-2047Mb=$20, and more=.10/Gb above that.. My bill averages around $30-$40 for my phone and the wife's phone, and I drive part-time for Uber, which puts me usually in the 501-1024Mb data range.. Not bad for not having a contract.

    --
    THANK YOU, Edward Snowden!! Americans owe you a debt of gratitude (whether they know it or not..)
  17. calling BS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why does an app that monitors usage need to write or control another app? It should only need READ access

  18. Been doing it for years for most any platform by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

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  19. Its also a VPN by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Looks like it uses a VPN connection and possibly moving all the data through Google's data center. Likely Google is preparing for the changes coming on net-neutrality.
    -Sushil

  20. WARNING: Battery Suck!!! by HannethCom · · Score: 1

    I decided to try this today.
    Very interesting some of the programs that are constantly trying to use your data.
    The only problem is this app uses a lot of power! Normally I would be at about 45% power, just after installing it, and some other programs that were using data when they shouldn't have, I was at 2%.
    Interesting program, but way to power hungry for my taste.

    --
    Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon what's the difference? All steal money from devs and control with walled gardens.
  21. Re:Maybe disable pre-loading junk in maps n chrome by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Saving data was never their goal. This app is clearly about killing competition.

    Do they list Google Play Services there? No? Well they can't because it's system. Just so happens that Google Play Services runs the AdMob/Google ad network.

    Every other ad network? They can be disabled because they are not system apps.

    Same thing for messaging apps, same thing for video apps. At some point, the only apps which have access to your data are Google's own apps, and one or two others (e.g. Facebook) who paid off the manufacturers to make themselves a system app which can guarantee themselves data access (Don't believe me? Search for "com.facebook.appmanager" -- this is a system app with same remote app install/uninstall privileges as Google Play Services)

    At the end of the day it will be down to Google, Facebook and the phone manufacturers, and all the other apps will be left to rot. Google created the app market because they had to in order to gain your trust and grow. Now they are trying to kill it.