Mobile Phones

[Tizer]

Ah, now I see; I'd thought that switching off data roaming would actually mean no data roaming, i.e. that it wouldn't roam for data on wi-fi or mobile. I'll have to get used to the different logic used by the smartphone world! In fact several things are taking a while to get used to. When we want to find out if something is switched on or off (e.g. data roaming) we touch it in the menu. Up comes a little window offering `On' or `Cancel'. To me, this is ambiguous - does Cancel mean cancel and exit the window or cancel the feature, i.e. switch it off? I suppose I have to assume if it was already on then it would say `Off' or `Cancel'. Otherwise there's nothing there showing whether it's already on or off. Oh well, I guess we'll learn by trial and error.

[PanBiker]

Data Roaming is only relevant to the mobile network. Cancel is just that, it cancels the current operation. If you look at the option itself it has a small slide switch for on/off. You can either toggle this between states by swiping or as you have found out by tapping on it, open a dialogue box which if you click OK will accept the condition shown or maintain the current selection if you cancel.

Data roaming is normally set to on but you don't really need it unless you don't have access to a WiFi source. Lots of places have hotspots or free WiFi. I find more and more are free and open so don't need any credentials to attach or in some premises the settings are shown on the wall. Our new grill place in Barlick is like that.

Turning off data roaming has no impact on most applications unless you want to access the internet in the wild so to speak. If you try to connect it will tell you if there is no WiFi availability. To use data roaming properly you really need a much bigger allowance than you get on a £1 deal. My main usage along with calls and texts (free on the package up to a point) is GPS based. I use maps if I want to use it in the car for directions in which case it has the functionality of a car GPS system. You can "ask Google" to take me to Birmingham or any other destination and it will plot a route and show you the way, complete with audio prompts if you want them. Endomondo tracker uses GPS as does the Geocaching app that I use. I actually have the location settings set to use the mobile network as well as the satellites as required to get an accurate fix. This setting is separate to the main data roaming settings. It defaults to the using the GPS and GLONASS network but if it loses an accurate fix it will then triangulate your position from the mobile network masts.

You can look up how much data is being used by each app in the settings. Even with using the network to supplement the location service I have never run out of data, this feature has a very small overhead as using two separate satellite networks gives such good coverage.

As a general rule if the phone refers to Network or Mobile Network you can take it to mean the masts, for everything outside of calls and texts it will try to use WiFi. Calls and texts of course are metered separately on your account allowances.

[Tizer]

My thanks to you and others for being patient with us smartphone newbies!

[Stanley]

Sounds like essential instructions for negotiating a minefield set up to maximise income!

[PanBiker]

That's about it Stanley, I can't imagine what some parents are paying for their kids indulgences. Fortunately it is easy to manage as long as you know how to reconfigure the defaults.

[Tizer]

Mrs Tiz has now got herself registered with EE and was able to check her usage. She'd got a fright when it did that update over the mobile signal but her account still shows £9, so we won't be on bread & milk this evening! Are the pre-installed apps free or do you get charged for using any of them?

[PanBiker]

Pre installed stuff is just like the basics you get with an OS. Ones that use data may have a small overhead but don't really cause a problem. Any specific ones you were thinking of Tiz?

Don't be afraid of loading apps if they take your fancy, you may need to try one or two variants of any particular one but they are easy to try and uninstall if they don't suit.

[Pluggy]

Don't be afraid of loading apps if they take your fancy, you may need to try one or two variants of any particular one but they are easy to try and uninstall if they don't suit.

Methinks Ian has a lot more faith in Googles Play Store than I have.....

I work on the principal if I can possibly live without software I don't install it at all.

[Tripps]

"Methinks Ian has a lot more faith in Googles Play Store than I have....."

In what way? I agree with Ian - a couple of clicks to get the App / program, and just one click and a drag, to remove it, if it doesn't suit. What's not to like? Or as usual, am I in 'ignorance is bliss' mode?

[PanBiker]

I only have stuff that I do want though, a rough list is this

Endomondo: Sports Tracker for any sports activity GPS Based, (feeds into)

My Fitness Pal: Calorie and fitness tracker.

Geocaching: Geocaching application (GPS based, maps geocache locations)

AuroraWatch: Aurora Alerts

Repeater Book: Every Amateur Radio Repeater (GPS driven so lists the relevant ones to where you are)

SOTA Finder: Amateur Radio Summits on the Air, lists all the hill and mountain summits and gives relative information.

AA Application: All AA related stuff handy when in the car.

NHS Blood: Blood Donor stuff

Ebay, Paypal, Facebook, National Lottery App

WiFi Analyser : WiFi Signal sniffer and info.

Barcode Scanner, Q Code Scanner: useful occasionally

These are the apps I have added. I frequently use the built in stuff such as:

Google Maps: for the GPS and direction capabilities

Streetview: Handy for finding your way around unfamiliar territory

Google Sky Map: Everything you can see in the night sky (GPS driven)

Phone, Messaging and Gmail.

I don't really consider myself a mobile geek, my kids complain that I never have it switched on. I only do when I am using one of the features or need to be in contact. I enjoy having the versatility though that smartphone gives, I would probably miss it having experienced what it can offer from your pocket, a bit like a multi tool or Swiss penknife.

[Pluggy]

Suspicious mind combined with the fact that Google aren't exactly squeaky clean with their monitoring of the apps on Play store.

And just why exactly does that flashlight app need to access the phones GPS ?

Twenty five years cleaning cr*p off windoze boxes does that to you......

[PanBiker]

I don't think the flashlight function of my Android phone does access the GPS or if it does I can't find where it says so. It's a base function of the Motorola device. Can't speak for the plethora of flashlight apps though for phones that don't have a built in function.

[Stanley]

I think if I had one I'd be in Pluggy's camp..... I don't trust the buggers!

[PanBiker]

Probably why you don't have one then Stanley, paranoia is a powerful thing.

Never mind, I like what benefits it gives me, it's quite empowering having more power than was used to take men to the moon or launch a space shuttle in your pocket. I thought it might be right up your street being a computing power junkie.

[Tripps]

I think that no matter how old you are - you should be looking forwards as much as you look backwards. I've been a bit disappointed by most of the gadgets I bought over the last - say 15years, but the Wileyfox is amazing. I still get a buzz from the thought that I have 2,400 books, and almost limitless maps, music, and information in my left hand trouser pocket. The fact that google know where I am doesn't threaten me at all, and seems a small price to pay for the benefits. Am I naive? Maybe. In fact the special offer of £30 off, which enticed me to buy it, may have been based on google tracking me.

[Stanley]

Nothing to do with paranoia Ian. My life is full enough as it is and any spare income goes into the shed or the bookshelves....

[PanBiker]

I understand that you have enough on your plate and your longer walk days are done so you possibly don't need the same stuff as I have. My comment was regarding "I don't trust the buggers".

[Tizer]

Perhaps Pluggy will be wanting one of these Ubuntu smartphones? Ubuntu phones

[Stanley]

Just heard an interesting comment on World Service during a discussion about the price war between Google and Apple in the mobile phone and apps market. One contributor said that once two giant companies like these engage in a race to the bottom on price the only effective way to preserve market share was innovation. He was saying that in the 20th century a company with a 'killer product' could expect the advantage to endure for up to 75 years, he reckons that now it is down to five years as the world moves faster. I think there is a lot in that argument so expect more 'new and exciting' capabilities!

[Tizer]

The BBC's Technology Correspondent, Mark Ward, allowed some computer security experts to `have a go' at his home network and they gave him a shock! LINK

This leads me to ask another question now that Mrs Tiz has a smartphone. When at home she connects to our wi-fi router for data. I've seen something called WPS mentioned in connection with security and the router has a button labelled with a 2-arrows symbol on its side, which I think denotes WPS. Should we be using this in some way now that the wi-fi is being used (our PCs are hard-wired to the router and don't have wi-fi enabled)?

Also, is it OK for her to leave the smartphone linked to our wi-fi all the time or is it better to disable it when not in use? We've never left computers on all the time.

[Big Kev]

I've seen something called WPS mentioned in connection with security and the router has a button labelled with a 2-arrows symbol on its side, which I think denotes WPS. Should we be using this in some way now that the wi-fi is being used (our PCs are hard-wired to the router and don't have wi-fi enabled)?

Also, is it OK for her to leave the smartphone linked to our wi-fi all the time or is it better to disable it when not in use? We've never left computers on all the time.

I wouldn't on both counts...
First count
Second count, it wouldn't take long to flatten the battery

[PanBiker]

I have mine on auto connect to the home WiFi using the highest security level on the router and a strong password. I have a number off apps that rely on a connection as they are database linked. It really depends on what you use the phone for. I am not unduly worried about power usage as the battery stats say that WiFi usage is running at 1%. I don't leave my phone switched on all the time when I'm in the house though. If the phone is off it's not using WiFi, I cant see the point of turning the actual service on and off.

[Pluggy]

The wps is just for setting up the connection to the device in the first place. I don't use it ordinarily because the router is buried under my desk behind a load of boxes and its easier to use the passkey than faff about digging out the router to press some dumb button......

If you've already set up the wifi connection using the passkey, you can completely ignore the button, I do.

I find the battery life isn't much affected by turning off Wifi on my phone, and since I have it auto connecting to several hotspots around the place and I don't like paying for mobile phone data. Three do this delightful system where you can use calls and texts through Wifi which is great when you live in a property with foot and a half thick stone walls and the phone signal is often lacking indoors. So I leave my wifi on all the time.

[PanBiker]

I also have data roaming turned off. 10mb per week is ample if you use the home WiFi instead.

[Tizer]

Thanks to all of you for those useful replies. Isn't OG wonderful!