9 Tips and Tricks to reduce data usage on your iPhone

If you use quota based plan for your iPhone, You'll find that this tutorial really useful to save your quota. Here are 9 Tips to reduce data usage on your iPhone :

1. Disable automatic downloads using cellular data

In default, apple turn this on in your iPhone setting. This setting is good to keep your apps updated when there is new version available in the app store, but it also drained your data quota really fast. Alternatively, you can download updates when you are connected to wifi. In order to set this, follow these steps :

- Go to Settings ->  iTunes & App Stores.

- You'll find "Use Cellular Data" option. Turn this option off.



2. Disable iCloud cellular data usage

If you utilize iCloud to move and synchronize your data between your devices, you may drain your quota really fast and pay higher fees in the end. The other way to move your data is to use wifi to transfer your documents and other files. To change this setting, do the following steps :

- Go to Settings -> iCloud.

- Tap on iCloud drive

- Scroll to the bottom and find "Use Cellular Data" option and turn this off.



3. Disable Wi-fi Assist

This feature is really helpful when you in area with low wifi signal. But, sometimes, you may not realize that you already bunch of your data quota. To prevent this, you can disable it. Follow these steps : 

- Go to Settings -> Cellular.

- Scroll to the bottom and turn off "Wi-fi Assist" option.



4. Disable Background App Refresh

Your app can update when you are not using them and consume your data plan. You can disable this feature by following these steps : 

- Go to Settings -> General and find Background App Refresh.

- Disable it and all the app list will have it's toggle disappear.

 

5. Disable Data Hungry Apps

This tip is about how you carefully choose which app that allowed to consume your data plan. You can also monitor which apps that consume data more than others. Here is how to do it : 

- Go to Cellular in your Settings app (follow tip #3)
- Scroll down and choose which app allowed to use your cellular data.

6. Disable high-quality music streaming on cellular network

In the new iOS version, Apple provide an option to stream high quality music. Of course, high quality music will drain your quota faster than the regular one. You may want to turn this feature off when you use cellular data. 

- Open your Settings app
- Tap on Music.

- Turn off "High Quality on Cellular" option

7. Disable autoplay video in Facebook app when using cellular network 

Autoplay feature in social media app like facebook could drain your data quota really fast. You can disable it with the following steps :

- Run facebook app from your iPhone
- Tap on More tab in the bottom of the app
- Go to Settings option
- Choose Account Settings from the popup menu
- Tap Videos and Photos option
- Choose Autoplay option
- Choose On Wi-fi Connections Only or Never Autoplay


8. Disable autoplay video in Twitter app when using cellular network 

Same with facebook app, Twitter also has autoplay feature. Disable this feature to save more on your data plan.

- Run Twitter app from your iPhone
- Tap on Me tab in the bottom of the app
- Tap on the gear icon next to your profile pic
- Choose Settings when the popup appear
- Choose Video autoplay option
- Select Use Wi-fi only or Never play videos automatically option


9. Disable Cellular Data completely.

This is probably the last option that you gonna use. When your data plan is already at the limit, you can disable your cellular network completely. Here are the steps :

- Go to Settings -> Cellular

- Turn Cellular Data Off

What's new in iOS 9.3

Recently, Apple offer their developer to try the new update of iOS. The iOS 9.3 will brings more features to improve user experience for it's users. Here are several features that worth to try :

1. Night Shift feature

With this feature, your device will alter it's light when it's late at night. Apple believe that according to some studies, exposure to bright blue light in the night make people harder to fall asleep. Your device will know what time of the day and provide softer, warmer and comfortable for eyes. Night shift can be scheduled for certain time. You can configure this in Settings app.


2. Notes protection with Touch ID



We often use notes app in order to write and save information in fast and simple way. However, sometimes we don't want other people to easily open our notes. Notes app is not suitable to save sensitive information, but at least an extra layer of security added by apple. Most people not save sensitive information, but use notes to write personal matters that they don't want other people to read. Configure this in Settings -> Notes -> Password Protection.


3. Improved News App

Apple has minor tweak for it's interface and visual look. The improvement actually placed in their news engine to provide more news recommendation based on your interest. Other improvement that you may find in the app is you can watch article video directly from the news feed without clicking it.

4. More Quick Actions with 3D touch

In this release, Apple added new quick actions when you use 3d touch feature in their stock apps, such as appstore, weather, settings and health app.

5. Do more with Live Photos

You may often use this feature in your new iPhone 6s. With iOS 9.3, Apple has added new function to their photos app. You can duplicate and save live photos as new live photos or still image.

6. CarPlay

New feature has been added to integrate CarPlay and Apple Music which allows you to play recommended tracks and playlist based on your history.

7. Other Features

• Siri now has support for Finnish, Hebrew, and Malay.
• If you have iOS 9.3 and watchOS 2.2 your iPhone will be able to pair with more than one Apple Watch. Each Apple Watch and iPhone must have 2.2 and 9.3 respectively.
• App switcher has haptic feedback similar to Peek and Pop.
• While using Apple Pay, there’s now a small icon that will open the associated app linked to the card or pass.

How to show url address from a link in Safari

Safari in Mac

If you use safari, you may notice that safari didn't show url when you hover a link. There is a way to show it in safari. In order to do this, follow this step :

- Launch safari in your mac.
- Click View Menu.
- Click on Show Status Bar.
- Done.

Right now, every time you hover a link when you browse using safari, you can peek the url in the bottom of the safari window

Safari in iPhone

In your iPhone, you can also see a link without setting anything. Here is how you can preview a link before you go through the link:

- Launch safari from your iPhone and go to a webpage with a link.

- When you find a link, tap and hold for at least 2 seconds until an action menu show up

- In this action menu, you can preview the link before you decide to open it. 

How to play PC games on your iPhone using Moonlight

This is a trick that already on the web right now. Yes, you can play your PC games from your iPhone. In order to do that you need to have several things before you can play your PC games : 

1. Compatible PC controller for the games in your PC.

2. Moonlight App installed on your iphone.

3. High speed internet access.

4. Nvidia Graphics card in your PC.

You may ask, why need Nvidia graphics card for this to work ? It is because the Moonlight app use the Nvidia feature called GameStream to do it's job. As this article published, It still not work with radeon graphics card and may have supported in the future. If you already prepared, now it's time to make it work : 

- Turn your PC so it is discoverable by your iPhone

- Open Moonlight app on your iPhone

- You will find your PC listed, but still not paired. Choose your PC inside the app and pair it with 4 digit authentication.

- Next, all your PC games will be listed on your iPhone

- Choose a game and you ready to go !