Mobile Internet - only on when needed option?

[StevenSeed]

Forget Wi-Fi exists for just a second, as all I'm wondering about here is Mobile Internet (i.e. the 3G/HSDPA)

I wondered if there was a way of configuring the phone (without downloading a separate app) so that it only went onto the mobile internet when it was needed (i.e. every hour or so when apps were due to sync, or when I opened the browser).

This must be possible because I have two access points stored on my phone (T-Mobile Internet and T-Mobile Picture Message). The latter will only jump onto the internet when I receive a picture message, and will switch off straight away afterwards (same when I send one). So surely there's a way of configuring mobile internet to do the same.

Any ideas? I would be grateful for any points.

 

[anoniemouse]

There is a widget already on the phone for turning mobile internet on & off but it is a manual on, i use it myself so i only use mobile internet when i want too.

 

[StevenSeed]

There is a widget already on the phone for turning mobile internet on & off but it is a manual on, i use it myself so i only use mobile internet when i want too.

Yeah I know about that one, but thanks though. What I was after was a setting that worked like the picture message setting, where it automatically logs onto the internet when it needs to (i.e. for syncing).

 

[anoniemouse]

Yeah I know about that one, but thanks though. What I was after was a setting that worked like the picture message setting, where it automatically logs onto the internet when it needs to (i.e. for syncing).

Perhaps there is an app on market place, most things are getting covered on there. If not i can't believe no one has come up with a solution yet.

 

[StevenSeed]

Perhaps there is an app on market place, most things are getting covered on there. If not i can't believe no one has come up with a solution yet.

Sorry to be awkward (and i do appreciate your suggestions) but I was hoping to get round this problem without downloading an app to do it. I'm trying to keep my apps downloaded to a minimum as most seem to effect the phone's performance.

 

[anoniemouse]

Sorry to be awkward (and i do appreciate your suggestions) but I was hoping to get round this problem without downloading an app to do it. I'm trying to keep my apps downloaded to a minimum as most seem to effect the phone's performance.

No problem m8, you don't get anywhere without asking questions.
As far as i know there is not an option on the phone at present, perhaps it may come about in a future update.

 

[StevenSeed]

No problem m8, you don't get anywhere without asking questions.
As far as i know there is not an option on the phone at present, perhaps it may come about in a future update.

Brillo. I'll keep an eye on the updates.

By the way, completely off topic but how do you get your photo to appear next to your posts? I've tried emailing admin but no one's answering.

 

[anoniemouse]

Brillo. I'll keep an eye on the updates.

By the way, completely off topic but how do you get your photo to appear next to your posts? I've tried emailing admin but no one's answering.

Go to user cp under settings & options select edit avatar you can either upload a small picture direct or link to an online hosting site like photobucket & have your pictures stored there

 

[Willie Heckerslyke]

Brillo. I'll keep an eye on the updates.

By the way, completely off topic but how do you get your photo to appear next to your posts? I've tried emailing admin but no one's answering.

Click on UserCP towards the top of the page then you can choose Edit Profile Picture.....

 

[lekky]

There isn't a way to do it, but I think juice defender app lets you set an interval to turn on mobile data for a small period of time to allow apps to update, etc.

Sounds like what you want.

 

[StevenSeed]

There isn't a way to do it, but I think juice defender app lets you set an interval to turn on mobile data for a small period of time to allow apps to update, etc.

Sounds like what you want.

Thanks for the comments people, it's really appreciated. Sadly, I don't want to download Juice Defender so I will live with the constance of internet conectivity for now.

And I have already uploaded my pic, but it is not displaying next to my posts!

 

[X-QlusioN]

Wifi, GPS, and mobile internet use hardly any battery when just switched on... I have them on all the time...

It only consumes a reasonable amount of battery when in use (sending/recieving data)

I've noticed maybe a few minutes of my battery length since switching them on permanently (although I don't autosync anything...)

 

[matttye]

The phone gives you two options, none of which do exactly what you want:

- Toggle internet on/off.
- Toggle auto sync on/off - if you turn auto sync off this allows you to keep your internet connection turned on, but it won't actually be used until you try to use the browser or some other app that uses data. Of course this means that nothing will automatically update and you'd have to do it all manually.

That's as close as you can get with the stock software I'm afraid.

Wifi, GPS, and mobile internet use hardly any battery when just switched on... I have them on all the time...

It only consumes a reasonable amount of battery when in use (sending/recieving data)

I've noticed maybe a few minutes of my battery length since switching them on permanently (although I don't autosync anything...)

You're right in saying that it uses hardly any battery to stay connected, but only if you're in a good coverage area. When your phone is constantly switching between GPRS/EDGE/3G it completely guzzles the battery.

 

[jred7469]

Have you turned off ' always on mobile internet' ? This will mean internet only comes on when you unlock the phone

 

[StevenSeed]

Have you turned off ' always on mobile internet' ? This will mean internet only comes on when you unlock the phone

Yeah I've already done this, but I didn't know it disconnected altogether when you locked the phone?! Nice bit of info, thanks.

The phone gives you two options, none of which do exactly what you want:

Wifi, GPS, and mobile internet use hardly any battery when just switched on... I have them on all the time...

It only consumes a reasonable amount of battery when in use (sending/recieving data)

I've noticed maybe a few minutes of my battery length since switching them on permanently (although I don't autosync anything...)

Thanks for the tips. I have the toggle, and sync on, but as a previous poster said it's good to know that (as long as your signal is good), the connection doesn't use much battery, only when it's downloading.

* * * *
Just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helps out on this forum - it's become one of the three tabs I always have open now on Firefox. I did join a forum for my old phone when I had it, and the general "atmosphere" was nowhere near as helpful and high-spirited as the atmos in here.

 

[lekky]

Have you turned off ' always on mobile internet' ? This will mean internet only comes on when you unlock the phone

Are you sure..?

 

[jred7469]

Are you sure..?

Well that's what I read somewhere, my phone works that way too when I press the power button you can see both data arrows are grey then start transmitting. Downloads have stopped when you lock the phone with this disabled

 

[stringent]

Just out of interest OP, why are you so adverse to downloading an application that will do what you want it to do? That is the whole purpose of the market place, people doing things the phone manufacturers or OS coders left out. No phone is ever going to be perfect. So if there is an app which makes your life easier, why not get it?

I find the Android control over Mobile Internet to be lacking in the areas you describe. Coming from a Symbian background when an Internet connection was initiated when *I* wanted it to (launching an Internet browser for example, or Ovi Store) and it confirming (could turn this off), it would turn off when that app or program had finished.

I personally leave mine on all the time. I just turn the sync off during night time then on again in the morning. I haven't tried it when the Internet is off, if I still get an MMS though.

 

[StevenSeed]

Just out of interest OP, why are you so adverse to downloading an application that will do what you want it to do?

I'm very careful when it comes to downloading applications. Many have a detrimental effect on the phone (albeit unintentionally). If I read one comment about an app causing problems on the phone (e.g. force close, crashing the phone, etc), then I won't touch it even if there are many other good reviews (the theory being that these good reviewers have simply not come across the problem yet - their good reviews doesn't mean the problem is not there). No doubt many will disagree with this view, but you can't deny the logic behind it.

The only time I will download an application is when the only bad reviews are opinion based (i.e. when someone simply 'doesn't like it'). For example, Handcent, or Astro File Manager.

Juice defender has been proven to use more battery life than it saves, hence why I won't touch it. In any case, it doesn't do exactly what I want, so there would be no point anyway.

That said, like yourself I am happy to have the mobile internet on all the time - I just wondered if there was a way of making it come on "on demand" (like a combi boiler running hot water, say).

 

[lekky]

If I read one comment about an app causing problems on the phone (e.g. force close, crashing the phone, etc), then I won't touch it even if there are many other good reviews (the theory being that these good reviewers have simply not come across the problem yet - their good reviews doesn't mean the problem is not there)

I think you have it totally wrong there tbh. Your theory is for sure. If all reviews are good but one review says they are getting an FC. It's more than likely to be a user fault, ie them using a task killer incorrectly.

I read a lot of comments on the market that are completely wrong, and I can only put it down to that particular user being, well I don't want to use the word idiot, but it annoys me when they come and complain about something they have done.

You are missing out on a lot of cool apps if you take your view..

 

[StevenSeed]

If all reviews are good but one review says they are getting an FC. It's more than likely to be a user fault, ie them using a task killer incorrectly.

Very frustrating then if that is the case - because of one person's lack of understanding, people lose faith in the app and don't download it. (My other theory I forgot to mention was that these must be intelligent people as they have Andriod phones rather than Apple iPhones! Little did I know...)

I should also make it clear - I wasn't complaining. I have a lot of respect for developers that take the time to make these apps, and in their own time too, often for little reward. Personally however, I just daren't risk it on my phone.