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The Crimson Mess of Data. Limited but Necessary.
How do we use data, and where to put it? Today is a mess in the direction of data. Internet connections are needed to access it, and storage devices are needed to keep it. Traffic signals turn to red and green because those avenues both have a capacity. Filling up an external storage device is the same as waiting for an internet connection to come back online.
Using your iPhone more and more? You’re not alone. Data usage on all smartphones is soaring, according to new research by Nielsen.
In a monthly analysis of cell phone bills for more than 65,000 lines, smartphone users, especially iPhone and Android users, are using more data than ever. Nielsen notes that 37% of all US mobile users have smartphones.
Comparing data from a year ago, smartphone data consumption is up 89%, averaging a monthly 435 MB. Nielsen also notes that users are paying about the same for data as they were a year ago, so when factoring in the increased usage, the cost per unit has dropped about 50%.
These numbers have huge implications for carriers who are surely going to want to increase prices to make up for the explosion of data consumption. Most carriers, including AT&T, have dropped unlimited data plans, and it’s likely that when new models of phones come out, AT&T and the others will force those who are grandfathered with unlimited plans to give them up.
From: Tuaw
Restrictions? There’s already too many.
Being limited with cell phone data is restricting our own capacity to learn. The mobile lifestyle that many currently live, or will live in the future, is in serious jeopardy due to the agonizing decline of unlimited usage. With mobile applications, people will have to download them next month. Hey it’s a cool app, but you’ll have to wait to get it!
It also shakes developers of any software due to the fact of having to scale down their applications to fit within these boundaries set by internet providers. Recently, Netflix was one of those companies. Implementing a low quality setting for those who are concerned about data usage. Noting AT&T U-verse and DSL in particular.
Netflix is now letting U.S. users dial down the quality of streaming videos to avoid hitting bandwidth caps.
Users can choose from three quality settings by visiting the “Your Account” page on Netflix’s website and looking for the “Manage Video Quality” link. “Good quality” consumes up to 0.3 GB per hour, “Better quality” burns up to 0.7 GB per hour, and “Best quality” consumes up to 1 GB per hour for standard definition or 2.3 GB per hour for HD. The settings apparently apply to computers and televisions.
Netflix isn’t hiding its reason for offering the quality options: “We know that some of you have Internet data caps and we want to make it easier for you to manage how much data you use,” the quality management web page says. Most recently, AT&T instituted a 150 GB cap for DSL subscribers and a 250 GB cap for U-Verse subscribers.
From: Technologizer
Drop the storage. Your clutter is your own space.
This may not be a huge concern, but for those who have sold their entire DVD/Blu-Ray collection (like me), it will eat up those gigabytes quicker than one may expect. Streaming services are on the radar for high data usage. Convenience is coming to a high stress level for those supplying the data speeds large enough to process one’s leisure or business.
The Mac App Store is another target for high data usage. Applications are becoming bigger, such as Final Cut Pro X being down-loadable instead of being installed from a physical DVD. The Macbook Air is my only computer and thus not having a CD drive of any kind, I may run into a few walls here and there.
Cloud Storage is also be reliable on data usage. Sending files up to the cloud can eat up your ISP’s limit. Especially, if it’s way of transporting the same file(s) all the time.
And the more those companies discuss ‘cloud’ this and ‘cloud’ that, the more the ISP’s just druel with the thought that nice paycheck for overages of bandwidth usage.
If ISP’s had to provide unlimited bandwidth to customers; none of this would even be an issue. It should be a standard in Internet service; unlimited Internet service. Personally, I see no issues with tiering the SPEED of the Internet service, but tiering the bandwidth caps— man, when the ISP’s thought of that one; that— that’s was just pure, full out, unadulterated and prime greed.
Without Internet service, there’s not Internet. without Internet service, there’s no Netflix, Skype,Microsoft, the cloud or colaboration services; and the ISP’s saw this and now they’re just getting ready to enjoy their dinner— like the guttons they’re. I would think there’s more honor among thieves or pirates, than between the ISP’s and their customers.
Comcast and AT&T are the worst by far. Both of these carriers are strangling their customers with Internet service that’s YEARS behind what any IT Administrator/Consultant thinks they should be. In lieu of putting money from the customers, money they make in to their network, to get it upgraded; they’re pocketing it.
From: Lehsys
Mobile is the way to go. One map might be too much.
Mobile applications suffer not only with architecture. If multiple applications function the same way, it’s costing people their data. Such as trying out different GPS applications. Regardless if each coming with a cost, the size is usually a gig or more.It’s fun to try out applications, watch out for the black hole. Trying too many applications eats up data!
Mobile app developers could face a challenge if the trend continues, something I noted back in October, when I asked programmers in a GigaOM Pro report (subscription required) if their apps were ready for metered data and other limited bandwidth plans:
As apps continue to gain popularity, developers will need to be more mindful of how much data their apps consume, and I wonder what impact the HTML5 web standard will have on data consumption in the long-term. More importantly, as apps eat up more data due to additional functionality, how will developers contend with the inevitable tiered mobile broadband pricing?
Optimization of mobile data in apps isn’t a new problem, but I expect that it will face greater scrutiny from app developers and consumers as we move towards tiered pricing models for data, and, as my colleague Stacey Higginbotham discussed earlier this year, the finite amount of wireless spectrum is gobbled up by data-hungry apps.
I’m betting most consumers aren’t aware of how much data their apps are using; after all, the figure will vary based on the type of app, how often the software is used, if it runs in the background and pulls data, and even which platform it runs on. But maybe there’s an opportunity for improved consumer awareness.
Any time you install a mobile application now, you know in advance exactly how big the software is because the amount of the app download is provided. Perhaps it’s time to consider extending that practice to the data requirement for the app. Maybe a ranged estimate of how much broadband a program will use should be included in the application’s description, much like the estimated fuel consumption for an automobile?
From GigaOM
Roller Coasters are fun, but they only last a few minutes.
I feel like I’m trying to preach that we have to look over our shoulders all the time. In the data-sphere, limitations are creeping up by the minute. Life isn’t meant to be that way.
In some populated urban areas, broadband providers are limited. My apartment in particular is pretty much limited to Verizon FIOS service. While that sounds awesome, my job is just 3 miles down the road. When all you want is a 6mpbs service to tide over a residence, it’s not available.
All of these things are hindering what we like to call freedom. Unlimited is no longer unlimited, and limited isn’t available when you want it. Where’s the balance?
Wireless dilemma. There is no spoon.
In my last post, I mentioned a large amount of applications that manage time and productivity. Netflix was one of them, but things change fast. My account is now on hold.
CLEAR 4G Internet is also very congested in my area. It was the first thing I looked forward to after moving to Dallas. Using both a Clear Spot and a Home modem, I was unable to get much more than 1mbps download speed.
Previously, I used a Virgin Moble Mifi device, which did reasonable. Again, it was shot down pretty hard after testing it out here.
Verizon Mifi was next on the list. Same problem. Barely over 1mbps download speed.
The pattern of limitations with one person, is good example of what many are probably experiencing as well. Regardless of where you fall, it’s something to keep in mind as devices and storage methods continue to add what looks and feels like convenience.
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