Quota: Monitor your usage
Most people have heard of Consume by now, in fact we did a review of it when it first came out. It has become the industry standard usage app for the iOS. However Bjango has not updated it for sometime and is not natively iPad compatible, which is leading to a clunky and rather utilitarian UI.
However, there is now a new kid on the block. Quota (by SouthFreo) may be new, but it is sleek, sexy and worth a look.
Consume’s major benefit is that it uses “recipes” to provide service provider information. These can be updated by Bjango to account for new providers and also changes to providers systems. Unfortunately it also means that little ol’ New Zealand can take sometime to get updated, Snap Internet made a system change that stuffed Consume back in May and it’s still not been updated.
Consume for iPad - vertical and un-zoomed
Consume for iPad - horizontal and zoomed
Quota on the other hand, operates from a self invented system called QuotaXML which allows users and providers to update things themselves. While this means updates can be quickly pushed out, it also relies on the provider (like 2degrees, Snap etc) to do it.
As with Consume, Quota is available on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad (Universal and iPad only). However, unlike Consume, Quota is also available for Android and Mac OS X.
Quota on Mac OS X
Whilst Quota is a paid app, there is a free “lite” version available that only allows one account to be added.
So what can it do?
Well, it can act as an RSS feed, Google Reader and link into Twitter, stocks and various weather providers if you want it too. It can also provide information on services like Dropbox (how much capacity do you have left) and some Airports. Probably its most important aspect is ISP and phone provider information. When plugged in to, say, Vodafone it can display minutes, data, SMS, MMS remaining etc. It can also show you detailed maps of your usage.
Adding NZ mobile providers
Consume can do this already I hear you say? Well yes, it’s true Consume does this, and currently has more provider options. However (aside from the fact that it looks old) Consume cannot monitor local usage. Quota can be told how much data you have for Wi-Fi and/or 3G caps each month and then plot your usage against the user defined reset date (unfortunately 3G and Wi-Fi share this date and cannot currently be separated).
Local Data Usage display
It can even display where you used them, if I want to see where I’m swapping from Wi-Fi to 3G and using lots of expensive data, I can use the inbuilt Google Map feature to check it out. It’s very accurate from my experience, recording the location of Wi-Fi gateways and 3G towers I connect to. Scarily it was very accurate as to where I lived, so I moved the map view slightly to hide the dense pocket of “pins” within 50m of my house!
Local Data Usage Google Map display
Some “NZ Traffic Cams” are 3G/Wi-Fi linked so we can look at them and see how much traffic there is. The idea being to avoid log jammed routes and Quota can access and display these photos. Currently there seem to be 17 traffic cameras in and around Auckland.
NZ Traffic Cams view (tap to enlarge)
What NZ specific services are available right now?
ISP’s
- InSPireNet
- Telstra Clear
Mobile Providers
- Vodafone Account
- Vodafone Prepay
- Vodafone Broadband
- Telecom
Miscellaneous
- NZ Traffic Cams
- Flybuys
My provider/service isn’t on that list! What can I do?!
Follow this link and download the development kit, if you can do it yourself great! If not forward the link on to your provider and kindly ask them to develop it. I can tell you that 2degrees is currently working on it because I asked them nicely. Remember, be polite and give good reasons why they should! (“your competitors support it” usually works but it’s not a decisive reason!)
Why should I use it?
Well this is largely a subjective point, especially when Consume is out there for free (at least for iOS) and there are specialized apps that do some of the same tasks (like the Vodafone Account app and every RSS app and their dog).
The main bonus for using this app is that you can make it your “one stop shop” for all the important information. Why bother logging into your ISP website to see if you can afford to download that game patch when you can find it out instantly from your device? This is one of those apps where you get returns on your (time) investment, the more you use it, the more you will get out of it.
Currently its choices of “NZ Service Providers” is rather on the slim side, but it’s important to remember that this was once true for Consume as well. So for now, Consume is still slightly better with regards to provider data. However, one email from me was all that was needed to get 2degrees to forward the development kit to their legion of tech monkeys. If we all get the providers we desire on board then this app could become a must-have.
Notes:
- You can “Wipe All Data” with a toggle inside the native Settings menu of the iOS
- Both Consume & Quota are iOS 4 and iOS 5 compatible
- Consume works on all iDevices (iOS 4+)
- iPhone Quota works on all iDevices (iOS 4+)
- iPad Quota native app available (iOS 4+)
– Quota (Universal) – $4.19
– Quota for iPad – $2.59
- Quota for Mac OSX – $4.19
– Consume – Free
Telecom post paid works! Sweet.
(AndrewNZ has made 52 comments)
AndrewNZ wrote:
Thanks for confirming that. That’s music to my ears. Going to get the app later today.
Nice post Chris. Looks like a good app. I have lost count of how many times I have tried to get consume to work, this is despite the fact they clearly state it works with telecom. Really poor support from them too.
Looks like quota could be a go. Will be checking it out for sure.
(Paul has made 337 comments)
Doesn’t seem to work with multiple numbers on 1 account. I have 2 iPhones and 2 iPads on my account and it only pulls the info in for the same 1 number even though I have set up separately and specified 4 different numbers.
Have emailed the developers.
(Paul has made 337 comments)
@ Paul:
I guess if someone gets super keen, they could create their own xml to grab the info properly.
If someone does, could you could flick it my way too… I’d like to be able to grab my home broadband usage as well.
(AndrewNZ has made 52 comments)
@ AndrewNZ:
From what I could see on a support thread yesterday they have had the multiple number issue before. They have put fixes in place for some carriers to allow you to add multiple numbers.
Telecom looks like a recent edition to services supported so hopefully they will add a multiple number option and also add TNZ home broadband.
Really great app, nice UI etc. just needs a bit of Telecom love
(Paul has made 337 comments)
What has this app got to do with traffic cams, seems rather random doesn’t it? A free feature is a free feature but I worry that cramming other things in there means they may not be implemented as well as they would in a dedicated app.
And I know its a nit-pick but Ill say it anyway, “Some NZ Traffic Cams are 3G linked”. Are you sure? What if they are wifi, or hardwired in to the ‘net? You could just as easily say they are linked to a 56k dial-up too. Any why are the words capitalized? As well as new writers may I suggest a new proof-reader?
(Craig has made 57 comments)
does it work with Telecom Prepay?
(schrodles has made 4 comments)
schrodles wrote:
Give the free version a try to find out. Certainly looks as though it will but that’s what the lite version is for. Try before you buy.
(Paul has made 337 comments)
I’ve been trying to use QuotaLite with my Telecom prepaid number, though no luck so far.
It keeps asking for a username, though I understood Telecom prepaid customers don’t have usernames?
(GrantNZ has made 3 comments)
You have to register your prepay account on “Your Telecom”
Chris wrote:
Looks like I can’t register my ipad.
(Shadowfoot has made 4 comments)
@ Chris:
Thanks Chris, though unfortunately prepaid accounts can’t be registered for “Your Telecom” through the Telecom website. I’ve already tried this and get an error saying my number can’t be located. I’ve also spoken to customer support who confirmed it’s only for registering postpaid accounts.
Looks like I won’t be able to use Quota then, due to the username requirement. Will have to hope Consume eventually gets fixed or just use http://m.telecom.co.nz/yourtelecom.
(GrantNZ has made 3 comments)
I can’t believe how awful the customer support for Consume is … have sent them numerous emails about Telecom broadband not working, and have never had a reply. I’ll give this a go, although it’s a shame Telecom don’t just have their own app.
(suburban_ennui has made 76 comments)
Oh, right. No 2degrees, no Telecom home broadband.
App deleted. Back to Consume not working for me then …
(suburban_ennui has made 76 comments)
2degrees have said they are looking into Quota, so here’s hoping!
Just been reading the Bjango twitter feed, and they are currently working on Consume 2. Users from other countries are also having issues, which apparently will be fixed with the new version. The new version will also have iPad support.
(GrantNZ has made 3 comments)
Interesting, but i still would prefer Quota to take off. We (New Zealand) understand painfully how a stagnant market can be harmful to development