iPhone 6

[HudsonHawk]

So a few weeks ago, Mrs. Hawk decided she wanted to upgrade from her iPhone 4 to the iPhone 6.  So we went down and got her the new one, which made her happy.  She's had the 2GB/month data plan for years now, and has never come close to using that much, in fact I don't think she's ever used 1GB in a month.  I have unlimited data, and even counting flipping around this joint and the hot porn sites featuring girls of mixed racial origin, I typically use around 3GB/month.  However, upon arriving home, just an hour after purchasing the new iPhone 6, I get a text that the Mrs. has used 75% of her data allowance.  Ok, no big deal, she'll be fine.  A few hours later, I get another that said she's now exceeded her allowance and ATT is graciously adding another GB for $10.  I thought "OK, perhaps she was close, she's been downloading her apps to her new phone, the newer version will certainly use more data, the month rolls over in a day or two...no big deal for a one time deal."  Two days later, I get another text that says she's now exceeded this months allowance.  So I started checking the phone and discovered that it absolutely blisters through data.  Even just sitting ther.  Some online checking revealed that this is a major problem, and suggested some things may be using data in the background and to turn them off.  So I did.  And I started doing a side by side comparison with my iPhone 5.  Even with everything turned off, the iPhone 6 was going through about 50MB of data per hour.  Just sitting there.  That means that any time it's off the wifi, it goes through 2GB of data in about 40 hours.  Needless to say, I can't afford data at that rate and took it back.  The guy at ATT, who was exceptionally rude, basically said "yeah well, pay up or shut up, that's what smart phones do."  So we swapped it back for her old iPhone 4 and back to using 10MB/day. 

So anyone else gone to the iPhone 6?  Have the same issue? 

[Limey]

That does not sound right, but AT&T should've had a better go at sorting it out for you.  It's not the phone that burns data, it's the apps.  Was your wife's old iPhone using iOS8, or the one that came with the phone?

Regardless, the data usage of apps on the new phone will probably be at "factory" defaults, so you have to go through and readjust them all.  The new OS has a feature that shows you, app by app, the data usage (go to Settings - Cellular and scroll down to see/reset the list of apps and their usage figures).  AT&T shouldv'e gone through this with you so that you can reign in / delete the offending app(s), but they're there to sell phones, not service them.

A trip to the Apple Store probably would've fixed this for you.

[HudsonHawk]

That does not sound right, but AT&T should've had a better go at sorting it out for you.  It's not the phone that burns data, it's the apps.  Was your wife's old iPhone using iOS8, or the one that came with the phone?

Regardless, the data usage of apps on the new phone will probably be at "factory" defaults, so you have to go through and readjust them all.  The new OS has a feature that shows you, app by app, the data usage.  AT&T shouldv'e gone through this with you so that you can reign in / delete the offending app(s), but they're there to sell phones, not service them.

Well, I did that.  And it cut the usage way down, but still way too much.  I've read where each subsequent iPhone generation doubles the data usage.  So going from the 4 to the 6 one should expect a huge increase.  And she was/is running the latest software on her old and new, as am I on my 5. 

A trip to the Apple Store probably would've fixed this for you.

I would have done this, but Mrs. Hawk is not patient.  Not even a little.  However, postings on the Apple discussion sites say that the Apple stores refuse to admit this phenomenon, even though it's all over the interwebs.  At any rate, she's back to her 4, which is probably just as well, as she was starting to complain about the size of the 6.  I already think the 5 is too big, so I don't know what I'm going to do when it's obsolete.  Go back to a flip phone, I guess. 

[Limey]

I would have done this, but Mrs. Hawk is not patient.  Not even a little.  However, postings on the Apple discussion sites say that the Apple stores refuse to admit this phenomenon, even though it's all over the interwebs.  At any rate, she's back to her 4, which is probably just as well, as she was starting to complain about the size of the 6.  I already think the 5 is too big, so I don't know what I'm going to do when it's obsolete.  Go back to a flip phone, I guess.  

I don't like the size of the new 6, and the 6 Plus is ridiculous.  Not sure what I'm going to do as I have upgraded my iPhone every other year and this is an upgrade year.  Hopefully they'll come out with a 6S "Classic", that'll be back to pocket-size.

The post-Jobs devolution of Apple into Microsoft continues unabated, it seems.  The higher data usage should not be happening and, presumably therefore, is a fault in the OS (which Apple seems reluctant to admit to).  AT&T don't care because they sell more data.

[HudsonHawk]

I don't like the size of the new 6, and the 6 Plus is ridiculous.  Not sure what I'm going to do as I have upgraded my iPhone every other year and this is an upgrade year.  Hopefully they'll come out with a 6S "Classic", that'll be back to pocket-size.

At the ATT store, I lamented to the salesman about how I find the larger phones to be impractical, and he says "you should really look at the Samsung Alpha then."  So I look at it and it's the still pretty much the same size as the iPhone 6, still much bigger than my 5.  The guy says, "yeah, but it's not nearly as big as the Galaxy."  Are you not listening dude? 

At any rate, I don't want to carry around a phone that requires two hands.  It's like it's gone back to the old giant bricks in a race to see who can produce the largest cell phone now.  My favorite iPhone generation was by far the 3.  It was most aesthetically pleasing as well as the best feel in the hand. 

[Limey]

At the ATT store, I lamented to the salesman about how I find the larger phones to be impractical, and he says "you should really look at the Samsung Alpha then."  So I look at it and it's the still pretty much the same size as the iPhone 6, still much bigger than my 5.  The guy says, "yeah, but it's not nearly as big as the Galaxy."  Are you not listening dude?  

At any rate, I don't want to carry around a phone that requires two hands.  It's like it's gone back to the old giant bricks in a race to see who can produce the largest cell phone now.  My favorite iPhone generation was by far the 3.  It was most aesthetically pleasing as well as the best feel in the hand.  

I like the size and aesthetics of my 5S.  I don't want a phone that's any bigger, so this could be the first upgrade year that comes and goes without an upgrade.  Unless there's something truly spectacular in the 6S - there isn't in the 6 - I'm not going to get one.

[Ty in Tampa]

I like the size and aesthetics of my 5S.  I don't want a phone that's any bigger, so this could be the first upgrade year that comes and goes without an upgrade.  Unless there's something truly spectacular in the 6S - there isn't in the 6 - I'm not going to get one.

I'm quite happy with my 5S. It's my favorite design of the line so far.

To threadjack a bit...my girlfriend and I are contemplating giving up our grandfathered unlimited data to get the ability to tether our other devices to our iPhones since we both work remotely quite a bit. Does anyone here regularly tether to their iPhone and with any success?

[HudsonHawk]

I'm quite happy with my 5S. It's my favorite design of the line so far.

To threadjack a bit...my girlfriend and I are contemplating giving up our grandfathered unlimited data to get the ability to tether our other devices to our iPhones since we both work remotely quite a bit. Does anyone here regularly tether to their iPhone and with any success?

I don't tether, but it'll be a cold day in hell before I give up my unlimited data. 

[Limey]

I don't tether, but it'll be a cold day in hell before I give up my unlimited data. 

Ditto.

Also, there may be some moolah coming courtesy of a lawsuit against AT&T for its throttling policy.

[Ty in Tampa]

I wasn't aware of the FTC complaint and was sure that throttling was here to stay. I think we'll just get a hotspot instead.

[HudsonHawk]

Ditto.

Also, there may be some moolah coming courtesy of a lawsuit against AT&T for its throttling policy.

They really gave me the full court press on signing up for one of those shared data plans, pointing out how I could save almost $6 over the next 6 years as long as I upgraded phones every year.  After explaining that I had no desire to upgrade my phone every few months, I then pointed out that one of the phones on my account was my mother's and she has an old flip phone and uses about 10 minutes of talk time a year and has never texted, and that switching would not only take away my unlimited data it would cost me like $300 extra.  He says "yeah, I understand, but my manager REALLY wants you to switch."  I bet he does. 

[Limey]

I wasn't aware of the FTC complaint and was sure that throttling was here to stay. I think we'll just get a hotspot instead.

I think throttling is likely to be here to stay.  The dispute seems to be about advice (misrepresentation), not the policy itself.  Going forward, AT&T can (or may have already) add a disclaimer to their barrage of small print and avoid this issue in the future.

[Limey]

They really gave me the full court press on signing up for one of those shared data plans, pointing out how I could save almost $6 over the next 6 years as long as I upgraded phones every year.  After explaining that I had no desire to upgrade my phone every few months, I then pointed out that one of the phones on my account was my mother's and she has an old flip phone and uses about 10 minutes of talk time a year and has never texted, and that switching would not only take away my unlimited data it would cost me like $300 extra.  He says "yeah, I understand, but my manager REALLY wants you to switch."  I bet he does. 

I have not had the time (or energy) to sit down and figure out whether I'm better off on a limited plan or an unlimited one.  But, stories like yours make me believe that my old unlimited plan is the way to go, otherwise they wouldn't be selling the other plans so hard.  Mrs Limey and I are grandfathered on a shared unlimited plan, and that's how it will stay, I think.

[Ty in Tampa]

I think throttling is likely to be here to stay.  The dispute seems to be about advice (misrepresentation), not the policy itself.  Going forward, AT&T can (or may have already) add a disclaimer to their barrage of small print and avoid this issue in the future.

So if I'm getting throttled at 5 GB (which I have once or twice) but I can get 10GB for the same price, what's the point of having "unlimited" data? Throttling makes the golden ticket not so golden.

[chuck]

They really gave me the full court press on signing up for one of those shared data plans, pointing out how I could save almost $6 over the next 6 years as long as I upgraded phones every year.  After explaining that I had no desire to upgrade my phone every few months, I then pointed out that one of the phones on my account was my mother's and she has an old flip phone and uses about 10 minutes of talk time a year and has never texted, and that switching would not only take away my unlimited data it would cost me like $300 extra.  He says "yeah, I understand, but my manager REALLY wants you to switch."  I bet he does.

AT&T, the greatest cell phone company in the history of the universe.

[Nate in IA]

I'm on an unlimited plan with my 5s but it's Tempo Wireless (using the Sprint towers).  I could add tethering if I wanted for another $20/month.

[BizidyDizidy]

I have an unlimited plan through T-Mobile, cheaper than my Verizon plan was. You can always tell who has never tried a larger size phone on any meaningful basis, because they are yhe ones talking about how much they like their comically small iPhones.

[BizidyDizidy]

Mobile hotspot is awesome btw, use it all the time.

[subnuclear]

What kind of phone do you have BD?

[BizidyDizidy]

I just upgraded to a Nexus 6 (iPhone 6+ size). I have reasonably large hands so I like the size (can easily use one handed). My wife has the same one (can use one handed for tooling around, but mostly two hands to type).

Previously I had a Galaxy S5 which I think is a manageable size for anyone (barring carney hands).

I know a lot of people who skeptically switched to larger phones (almost all my family on 6 pluses now) - not joking when I say any of them who picks up an old iPhone afterwards thinks it's ridiculous.

On a side note I think T-Mobile is awesome, but have heard there can be coverage issues depending on where you are (NYC is great).

[Limey]

So if I'm getting throttled at 5 GB (which I have once or twice) but I can get 10GB for the same price, what's the point of having "unlimited" data? Throttling makes the golden ticket not so golden.

Exactly; throttling is bullshit.  However, it's all about the price difference between unlimited and Xgb of data.  I thought unlimited was priced more like 3gb, not 10gb.  If it was 10gb, I think I'd be on that plan already.

[Limey]

I have an unlimited plan through T-Mobile, cheaper than my Verizon plan was. You can always tell who has never tried a larger size phone on any meaningful basis, because they are yhe ones talking about how much they like their comically small iPhones.

I love my iPad.  I just don't want to shove it into my pants.

[chuck]

I've been using a Nexus 5 for a year or so and going back to an iPhone 4 is absolutely painful. I do dislike the newest Android OS, though.

[BizidyDizidy]

I've liked Android 5 so far (but I am coming from Samsung's TouchWiz skin, so not entirely apples to apples).

[HudsonHawk]

Exactly; throttling is bullshit.  However, it's all about the price difference between unlimited and Xgb of data.  I thought unlimited was priced more like 3gb, not 10gb.  If it was 10gb, I think I'd be on that plan already.

At ATT, 10GB is about $100/month.  6 GB is about $70.  My unlimited is $30.  So the sales guy kept telling me that I could switch to a 6GB plan and be better off.  I said "how do you figure?"  He says "we throttle you at 5GB on the unlimited plan, and there's no throttling on the new plan."  "But that makes no sense...you're saying I never use more than 5 anyway, so I don't have to worry about getting throttled...I'd basically be paying $70/month for what I'm paying $30 now."  He continued..."but there's no throttling on the new plan...."  Apparently they've drilled into their sales folks to threaten people with throttling to get them to give up their current plan.

[HudsonHawk]

I love my iPad.  I just don't want to shove it into my pants.

Apparently BD has so much available space in is pants that he can stuff a laptop down there and not feel a thing. 

I tried a Galaxy S5 for a few weeks and it was cartoonishly too big. 

[BizidyDizidy]

This doesn't surprise me at all HH

[HudsonHawk]

This doesn't surprise me at all HH

That my junk takes up a lot of space in my pants?

[BizidyDizidy]

I guess it's true what they say - freakishly small baby hands that can't hold a medium sized phone, huge dick

[HudsonHawk]

I guess it's true what they say - freakishly small baby hands that can't hold a medium sized phone, huge dick

Better than the other way around.  Speaking of which, did you check into those pills yet?

[BizidyDizidy]

No need - just had boy #3, going into retirement

[HudsonHawk]

No need - just had boy #3, going into retirement

Probably a good thing. Your penis shrinks by half every 10 years.

Congratulations on Number Three son.

[BizidyDizidy]

Thanks HH

[drew corleone]

My fiancee and I opted for a shared family plan when both of us were due for new phones in December, and I thought we were getting a steal with a 15GB plan (she was using < 1GB/month while I teetered close to my throttling point every month on the unlimited plan). After reading HH's post I checked my phone and saw 55 GB of usage and had to compose myself for a moment trying to think of how to explain a pending $500 cell phone bill.

According to the website, however, we're at 4.8 GB through 10 days in our current billing period. It looks like I'm going to need to be more careful about what I do outside of wifi.

[chuck]

Once a month I go down to the chino and I tell them Una tarjeta de Ma'Movil de quince, por favor. Unlike the locals I do not address them as "chino." Sadly the chino I most like to patronize was the victim of an armed robbery a month back or so. They have a daughter who's nearly a year old. She has an enormous head but otherwise is much smaller than my five month old. She has him whipped in the cranial department, though, I'll give her that. Anyway, the maleantes put a gun to her (large) head when they didn't receive as much as they wanted. Not cool, I think most of you will agree. The whole ordeal reportedly lasted forty five minutes or so and it took the police, whose station is literally, I don't know, you could jog it in five minutes, it took them an hour and a half to show up.

Now, I can see the upside to a police force that is not totally militarized and absolutely itching to get into a gun battle with every suspected jaywalker. But surely we can find a compromise somewhere. The general attitude of the police around here seems to be if there's an armed robbery happening let's wait around until it's over because I sure as hell don't want to expose myself to any gunfire. Again, I can see the benefit to having a circumspect police force. But an hour and a half to drive two minutes to stop an armed robbery... Hell, maybe it was better this way and that little girl survived.

Anyway, I get my fifteen dollar card which gives me cuadruplica, four times the amount as a promotion. Most people buy cards of two or three dollars. I then buy a month's worth of data for $15. I don't know if it's limited in any way but I have never been cut off. With the remaining $45 I end up with more talk time than I generally can use, especially because most everyone around here uses WhatsApp which makes texting free.

So my monthly cell phone outlay for unlimited data and talk and text is quince balboas. Plus a dollar every year for WhatsApp, can't forget that.

[NeilT]

I had a 4s that finally quit synking my stuff, and had its cant fix it no more cracked face. I bought the 6+. Frankly, a phone can't be big enough. If my phone was in my iPad I'd be happy.

[Limey]

I had a 4s that finally quit synking my stuff, and had its cant fix it no more cracked face. I bought the 6+. Frankly, a phone can't be big enough. If my phone was in my iPad I'd be happy.

I think this is my issue (and HH's, which makes us right).  I'm totally ok with there being a slection of sizes from the big iPad right down to the new 6.  I just wish they'd also make a phone the size of the 5 too.  Apple just pulled a Henry Ford and told us that we can have any size of phone that we want, as long as it's big.

[Dark Star]

No need - just had boy #3, going into retirement

Congratulations!

[HudsonHawk]

I think this is my issue (and HH's, which makes us right).  I'm totally ok with there being a slection of sizes from the big iPad right down to the new 6.  I just wish they'd also make a phone the size of the 5 too.  Apple just pulled a Henry Ford and told us that we can have any size of phone that we want, as long as it's big.

It's our small hands and big dicks.  It's always been a curse. 

I just don't understand the appeal of an iPad sized phone.  Why not just carry around a laptop?

[BizidyDizidy]

Congratulations!

Thanks DS

[Bench]

No need - just had boy #3, going into retirement

I wouldn't recommend the same doctor Chuck used.

[chuck]

I wouldn't recommend the same doctor Chuck used.

Most of my futbol friends are what here are called yeye, well-off, light skinned people that sort of float around on a cloud of privilege. If you're a yeyesito you really have a pretty good deal. That's not to say that they're not smart and don't work hard, they just seem to have a nice safety net. Which maybe explains their unwillingness to do anything that goes against the grain in any way. They all belong to the same social club, eat at the same restaurants, mostly live in the same two or three neighborhoods, own beach places in the same two or three areas, etc. It's really no different from any moneyed social set anywhere I wouldn't think.

When I was asking the guys about which OB/GYN they used I quickly discovered that they'd all used the same one and that no one much liked him. I didn't bother to ask why everyone kept using this one guy if no one liked him.

When my foot was fucked up I got a reference for a doctor from a gringo friend of mine. He's none too bright and usually drunk. This explains his trying to hurdle his couch at about 2AM one morning, not quite clearing it, and shattering his elbow and snapping his humerus clean in two. So he knew an orthopedist. I met with this guy and although he couldn't tell me what was wrong with me he seemed like a good enough fellow. And when I needed to go looking for an OB/GYN I contacted the orthopedist who immediately replied with a single name.

The yeyes get their medical treatment at Hospital Punta Pacifica. It's nice, I've been there. I was completely satisfied. But they overcharge you for everything they can think of and in general I get the impression that they are far more concerned with making money than treating patients. The opposite is true with every other clinic or hospital I know of here. We went to see this guy, Dr Effio (who works out of Hospital San Fernando) and I liked him immediately. He was engaging, calm, very interested in explaining everything to everyone's satisfaction and obviously very capable.

There were no yeyes in the waiting room, ever. And I didn't really realize it at the time but quickly figured it out - by selecting a doctor who works out of a slightly less prestigious hospital I had lucked into a guy who was perfect. We got to know several other patients during the process and everyone agrees. We ended up doing a cesarian and, well, I don't know if there are obstetricians wandering around who are better than Effio but I can't imagine there are too many.

So if you're looking for a snip I can't help you. But if you're looking for an outSTANding obstetrician I can certainly point you towards one. I will warn you that if you don't have insurance for your regular appointments that include an hour of consultation and an ultrasound you're going to need to be prepared to shell out $45.

[BizidyDizidy]

Well, if the retirement doesn't work out and we find ourselves in Panama, I'm sold.

[Dark Star]

Well, if the retirement doesn't work out and we find ourselves in Panama, I'm sold.

Everyone is happy there.

[NeilT]

No need - just had boy #3, going into retirement

Congratulations!

[NeilT]

It's our small hands and big dicks.  It's always been a curse. 

I just don't understand the appeal of an iPad sized phone.  Why not just carry around a laptop?

Most of my phone use is reading and replying to emails, and reading attached documents. I don't need a laptop, but the bigger phone is useful, especially for documents.

[HudsonHawk]

Most of my phone use is reading and replying to emails, and reading attached documents. I don't need a laptop, but the bigger phone is useful, especially for documents.

In other words...you really need a laptop, not a phone.  I understand that.  That's why they make things like iPads.  But as Limey says, why not make a phone-sized phone for people who want their phone to be an actual phone?

[Limey]

Most of my phone use is reading and replying to emails, and reading attached documents. I don't need a laptop, but the bigger phone is useful, especially for documents.

Mrs Limey has an absolutely awesome Bluetooth keyboard for her iPad, that makes it a near-laptop in seconds, and increases the depth (when closed) by only 50%.  She types on it superhuman speeds.

[BizidyDizidy]

Congratulations!

Thanks Neil.

[NeilT]

Mrs Limey has an absolutely awesome Bluetooth keyboard for her iPad, that makes it a near-laptop in seconds, and increases the depth (when closed) by only 50%.  She types on it superhuman speeds.

There are supposed to be keyboards for the 6+, and I would love to be able to travel with nothing but a phone and a keyboard.

[Limey]

I have not had the time (or energy) to sit down and figure out whether I'm better off on a limited plan or an unlimited one.  But, stories like yours make me believe that my old unlimited plan is the way to go, otherwise they wouldn't be selling the other plans so hard.  Mrs Limey and I are grandfathered on a shared unlimited plan, and that's how it will stay, I think.

OK, so contrary to the unequivocal statements I made previously in this thread, I am going to upgrade to a 6S.  The battery on my 5S is fried in that it will charge and discharge randomly in a matter of minutes, so it has to go.  I visited an AT&T store, and they recommended that I convert to a limited data plan (with rollover) as it's cheaper/better for me.  So I took that under advisement, and did some research...

Unlimited Data Plan

Pros
- Unlimited Data

Cons
- Throttling
- Cannot be used as a hotspot
- Requires phone purchase
- More expensive

Limited Data Plan
Opposite of above

The deal recommended is 15GB of shared data, with each month's surplus rolling into next month (but not accumulating beyond that).  I checked our data usage as it's typically about 6GB a month combined, with the occasional spike over 10GB but never more than 12GB.  So, with the rollover, we'll be starting each month with at least 18GB and more than likely well in excess of 20GB.

The hotspot thing is important for Mrs Limey as she is a Realtor and often needs to use her laptop in places without wifi.  It's verboten on the unlimited data plan, but included for free in the 15GB plan.  It's also got unlimited calling and texting.

The deal is about $5/month cheaper, but this includes the "Next" phone subscription, so it also saves us the cost of two new phones ($300 each for the 64GB model - or $25/month over two years, which is quite a lot).  We also get to upgrade more often at our option.

I hate to say it, but I think AT&T has it right on this one.

[HudsonHawk]

OK, so contrary to the unequivocal statements I made previously in this thread, I am going to upgrade to a 6S.  The battery on my 5S is fried in that it will charge and discharge randomly in a matter of minutes, so it has to go.  I visited an AT&T store, and they recommended that I convert to a limited data plan (with rollover) as it's cheaper/better for me.  So I took that under advisement, and did some research...

Unlimited Data Plan

Pros
- Unlimited Data

Cons
- Throttling
- Cannot be used as a hotspot
- Requires phone purchase
- More expensive

Limited Data Plan
Opposite of above

The deal recommended is 15GB of shared data, with each month's surplus rolling into next month (but not accumulating beyond that).  I checked our data usage as it's typically about 6GB a month combined, with the occasional spike over 10GB but never more than 12GB.  So, with the rollover, we'll be starting each month with at least 18GB and more than likely well in excess of 20GB.

The hotspot thing is important for Mrs Limey as she is a Realtor and often needs to use her laptop in places without wifi.  It's verboten on the unlimited data plan, but included for free in the 15GB plan.  It's also got unlimited calling and texting.

The deal is about $5/month cheaper, but this includes the "Next" phone subscription, so it also saves us the cost of two new phones ($300 each for the 64GB model - or $25/month over two years, which is quite a lot).  We also get to upgrade more often at our option.

I hate to say it, but I think AT&T has it right on this one.

Just a warning, but the iPhone 6 eats data at a rate exponentially faster than the 5.  If you use 6 GB on the 5, expect to AT LEAST double that on the 6, way more if you plan to use it as a hotspot.  Mrs. Hawk went from using about 2.5 GB per month on her 4 to almost 1GB per DAY, using the 6 same way.  You have to cut off data usage for all sorts of things, and really monitor what's running and what's not, or you'll find yourself at that 15 GB within the first 15 days of your billing cycle. 

So yes, you get more data for less money.  BUT....you use WAY more data with the new phone.  Personally, they'll get my unlimited data plan when they pry it from my cold, dead hands. 

[MusicMan]

Just a warning, but the iPhone 6 eats data at a rate exponentially faster than the 5.  If you use 6 GB on the 5, expect to AT LEAST double that on the 6, way more if you plan to use it as a hotspot.  Mrs. Hawk went from using about 2.5 GB per month on her 4 to almost 1GB per DAY, using the 6 same way.  You have to cut off data usage for all sorts of things, and really monitor what's running and what's not, or you'll find yourself at that 15 GB within the first 15 days of your billing cycle. 

So yes, you get more data for less money.  BUT....you use WAY more data with the new phone.  Personally, they'll get my unlimited data plan when they pry it from my cold, dead hands. 

Is this due to the "WiFi assist" feature?

[chuck]

Is this due to the "WiFi assist" feature?

Not for me. I have it on and my incidental data usage is negligible.

[HudsonHawk]

Is this due to the "WiFi assist" feature?

I'm not sure.  The Apple guy said the biggest reason was just that the 6th generation uses more data to do the same thing than previous generations.  That it's just the way operating software works.  Battery life gets better, data usage gets worse.  That's the progression. 

[chuck]

I'm not sure.  The Apple guy said the biggest reason was just that the 6th generation uses more data to do the same thing than previous generations.  That it's just the way operating software works.  Battery life gets better, data usage gets worse.  That's the progression.

I went back and read through the thread and I am astonished at your wife's issue with gargantuan, phantom data usage. I've had a 6 for, I don't know, half a year or so and I do not have that problem at all. Not here, not in the US, not anywhere else I go, nowhere. I just looked at my data usage for the current period (whatever that is) and it's 2.6 gigs. Granted I'm usually in a place where I receive wifi but I use Waze pretty much all the time when I'm on the road and when I'm out of the house I use cellular data constantly.

So something was unusually fucked up with the problem you had.

The iPhone 6, by the way, is for me far and away the best phone I have ever used.

[HudsonHawk]

I went back and read through the thread and I am astonished at your wife's issue with gargantuan, phantom data usage. I've had a 6 for, I don't know, half a year or so and I do not have that problem at all. Not here, not in the US, not anywhere else I go, nowhere. I just looked at my data usage for the current period (whatever that is) and it's 2.6 gigs. Granted I'm usually in a place where I receive wifi but I use Waze pretty much all the time when I'm on the road and when I'm out of the house I use cellular data constantly.

So something was unusually fucked up with the problem you had.

The iPhone 6, by the way, is for me far and away the best phone I have ever used.

When I was researching the issue, many on the forums and internet were having the same problem.  I have a 6 for my work phone, but run a very minimal amount of stuff on it, and I don't see the bill.  My only gripe is the size.  It's just too big for a comfortable phone. 

[Limey]

When I was researching the issue, many on the forums and internet were having the same problem.  I have a 6 for my work phone, but run a very minimal amount of stuff on it, and I don't see the bill.  My only gripe is the size.  It's just too big for a comfortable phone.

I have read a lot of stories from both sides of the issue - which is usual for an iPhone.   I am going to assume (with no offense intended to your better half) that most of the issues are user-related, because they usually are.  Or, perhaps more accurately, it's usually uncorrected Apple-defaults, which are short-term issues while I'm looking at savings in the short and long term.

[HudsonHawk]

I have read a lot of stories from both sides of the issue - which is usual for an iPhone.   I am going to assume (with no offense intended to your better half) that most of the issues are user-related, because they usually are.  Or, perhaps more accurately, it's usually uncorrected Apple-defaults, which are short-term issues while I'm looking at savings in the short and long term.

Don't worry about offending my better half.  She can do calculus pretty much in her head, but she can't spell, and she's the least tech savvy person I know. 

[VirtualBob]

Don't worry about offending my better half.  She can do calculus pretty much in her head, but she can't spell, and she's the least tech savvy person I know.

My wife & I both had similar problems with our 5s models ... turned out to be settings for iCloud and mail synchronization between iPhone & MacBook.  Everytime you open mail in either system there is a huge data transfer associated with mailbox synchronization and the more mail you keep around, the more data gets sent back and forth.  I cannot figure out why it requires so much data given that old mail does not change, but that is what I have observed.  Some iCloud settings just make the situation worse, but again, it is difficult to figure out the data transfer implications of individual choices.

[drew corleone]

I gave up my Unlimited on the 5 to do a family plan with the wife on our 6's, but with a 15GB plan (I was using ~5GB on the 5, and she was using <1GB). Before I made a concentrated effort to use wifi whenever humanly possible - which I was not doing before - we use 12-15GB per month on our current phones.

[Limey]

I just pulled the trigger and dropped my unlimited plan.

The Next plan for phone "ownership" was a little different to what I thought, but it's still cheaper for me to do the whole makeover than buy two new phones (even with the contract discount) and keep unlimited data.  You have to pay the sales tax upfront on the whole $750 undiscounted sales price of the phone ($61) and, on the plan I took, upgrade is only allowed after 18 months.  This didn't bother me as I will wait for the 7S anyway and it's better than paying $325 for the new phone.

The elephant in the room is the data plan.  Will 15GB be enough?  I'll keep you posted...

[Phil_in_CS]

I don't tether, but it'll be a cold day in hell before I give up my unlimited data.

Our office plan is grandfathered into one of those. Truly unlimited too. As in I can set up a wifi hotspot so my daughter can watch youtube while we're driving w/ cellular data disabled on her phone for that.

We're getting iPhone 6's in December, not sure which flavor. I don't like the large format either, but since I'm not paying...

[Limey]

The elephant in the room is the data plan.  Will 15GB be enough?  I'll keep you posted...

In 5 days on my new iP6, I've used 500MB of cellular data.  Easy math tells me that's about 3GB/month, which is about what I was using before.

PS  I'm getting used to the slightly larger form of the 6, and I appreciate the ability to zoom the screen for my ageing eyes (it just gets rid of any borders to give you a slightly bigger look).  Also, 3D Touch is very slick and helpful.

[Limey]

In 5 days on my new iP6, I've used 500MB of cellular data.  Easy math tells me that's about 3GB/month, which is about what I was using before.

Well, in 10 days, I'd used a gig of cellular data.  Right on pace for 3 gig/month.  Then I went and stream the (Godawful) Palace vs. Sunderland game on my phone in the office and burned another 1.5GB!  Still plenty of space left for the month, but I'll have to be careful streaming games  in the same month. 

It's worth noting that the stream was far more stable than in the past, which may be due to a lack of throttling as the gigs added up.  It may also be that the 6S holds on better to the weak signal I get in the office.  I'll never know.

[HudsonHawk]

So...Mrs. Hawk's iPhone 4 finally gave up the ghost and I had to get here a new one.  So I go to the ATT store, and here's the new deal:

They are back to offering unlimited data, unlimited talk minutes and unlimited text, provided you have either DirecTV or Uverse.  It's $60/month for the unlimited service and $40/month for each device (could be phone or tablet).  They will still throttle, but the threshold is now 22 GB/month, rather than the previous 5 GB.  So for the Mrs. and me, that's $140/month for two phones, everything unlimited.  That's about what I was paying for a generic family talk plan with texting and my unlimited and her limited data plan.  So we're not really saving any money, just getting everything unlimited now.

But here's the rub...they no longer have contracts and contract discounts on phones.  You have to pay full retail for any device.  They have their "NEXT" program where you pay monthly, but it's for the full $700 or what have you for the iPhone.  When I complained that I'd rather have a 2-year contract and get a discounted phone, the lady said "well, you're the only person left in the world who wants that.  Pretty much no one wants to be locked into a contract these days and are willing to pay full price on the phone to avoid it."  Of course, you can upgrade whenever you want, and that's the real reason people don't want a contract.  Of course, you could *always* do that, pay full price for the phone and not have a contract, but no one seems to care. 

At any rate, had to get Mrs. Hawk a new iPhone 6S.  At least I won't have to worry about data usage now.  She can stream her ass off. 

[BizidyDizidy]

HH - under that system they were just including the cost of the phone in your monthly rate. It's the same thing as if you signed up for the NEXT program basically. You can figure what you think the actual increase in phone service was accordingly.

[HudsonHawk]

HH - under that system they were just including the cost of the phone in your monthly rate. It's the same thing as if you signed up for the NEXT program basically. You can figure what you think the actual increase in phone service was accordingly.

Well, that's what they were telling me.  I'm not sure I'm convinced of how much of a deal this is since they took the opportunity to*raise* rates on traditional plans along with taking away the discounted phone, but I know the providers certainly weren't losing money on the deals.

[Uncle Charlie]

FWIW, my rate actually went down when I made the switch...even with the monthly charge for the phone.