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Ask NerdGirl: Control My Data, No Updates for Hero, Google’s Back Door, and Tweet Tweet!

Posted Tuesday, July 6th, 2010 at 4:51 pm by n3rdg1rl 2 Comments

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I’m really glad to see that my rant about Verizon the other day really hit home with a lot of people.  I got several emails regarding issues people have had with their phones and carriers.  Hopefully, carriers will start realizing who pays THEIR bills.

Hi Nerdgirl,

I love your column and was wondering if you could help me with a problem I have.  I have a rather limited data quota (3G is expensive where I live).  Lately I’ve installed many data hungry applications (all related to the world cup btw).  I use them mostly on Wi-Fi, but when I use 3G, I’ve noticed a big growth in the data usage, even when I close all of them.  I would like to know which app is using the network when it is not suppose to. Sure, I can uninstall each of them and check, but I rather not.  Do you know an app that can help me determine which app/process is using my 3G connection (over the last hour/minutes etc)?

Thanks,

Tal

I don’t know of any applications that break down data usage by application, only by type of wireless.  This will at least give you an idea of what you’re using overall.  There are four that I found; [ dodol ] 3G Data Usage Beta!, Data Counter widget, Stats, and NetCounter.  They all provide pretty much the same information.  You just need to find an interface you like.

Do you know a way to make some of the apps use only Wi-Fi connection while allowing others to use both Wi-Fi and 3G?

As far as I know, there is no setting or app that makes it so certain apps use one data connection and others use something else.  It seems to be all or nothing.

Use can use an app like APNdroid. It allows you to turn off your data connection with one click so you won’t use your 3G if you don’t want to.  You can also use this in conjunction with  Locale using the App Detection Plug-In and the Shortcut Plug-In and that may solve your problem to a good degree.

Thank you, Nerdgirl. You are the best. Also, do you know when Froyo will be available for the Sprint Hero? Will you be putting Froyo on your Eris?

Neither the HTC Hero nor the HTC Droid Eris will be getting 2.2 (Froyo).  Their processors are just not powerful enough and would most likely cause more issues than fixes if you were to install it.  I won’t be putting 2.2 on my Eris for this reason.

We have spent far too many hours creating a constantly updated list of all types of Android devices, when they came out, what they’re running, what they will be running, and where certain devices are available.  Go check it out, and if we missed something, please let us know!

Dear N3rdg1rl,

I have heard that when Google pulls an app from the market, that app is automatically removed from the devices of everyone who has already installed it. Do you know whether this is true?

Thanks,

Phil

Sorta…Google pulling an app from the Market and pulling the app from our phones is a completely different kill switch.  Google can pull an app from the market at any time for any reason they feel is good enough.  This just means more people can’t download it.  Those that already have it can still keep it.

Right in the Terms of Service that everyone must agree to before using the Market is this statement:

“2.4 From time to time, Google may discover a Product on the Market that violates the Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement or other legal agreements, laws, regulations or policies. You agree that in such an instance Google retains the right to remotely remove those applications from your Device at its sole discretion and without notice to you.”

Thanks, Google!

Really like your column, and read most of it now, though I don’t own an Android phone yet.

My one question: what does the “Tweets” score mean? The number of people on Twitter who receive your email, or respond to it?

I know I’m missing something here…

Terry

The Tweet score is how many people have posted a link to my article on Twitter using that button.  That number doesn’t mean too much as a lot of people post it just making their own link.  It’s really there just to make it more convenient for people to post to Twitter.

Hope you convert soon!

~n3rdg1rl

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