topic Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview in Get Support

IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

srlawren — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 17:56:31 GMT

Hi folks,

If this is repetitive information, please forgive me, as I don't recall seeing this posted before. I'm here to let you know (you may already!) that Public Mobile community member @IWIK has built a great data usage tracking application for Android, named "Data Witness". ~~You can find it in the Google Play store here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iwik.datawitness~~

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EDIT 2021-Sept-29: you no longer need to reach out to IWIK to get a free voucher. Instead, just install the "Data Witness PM" app, which is free for use on Public Mobile network:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iwik.datawitnesspm

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IMPORTANT NOTE: The app does cost a small amount on Google Play Store, but, thanks to @IWIK's generosity, he is giving it away FREE for Public Mobile users! To get it free, send @IWIK a private message, and [s]he will respond with a download code to get it for free.

What does it do?

Once installed and configured (more on that shortly), you can track your data usage against your plan alltoment, and it allows flexibility for PM's 10, 30, and 90 day plans and any data amount you choose. The easiest way to use it once all set up is to create a (or multiple) widget on one of your home screens, and it looks roughly like this:

You can see it here in the middle of my screen. You can customize this highly when you create the widget--custom colours, opacity of the background, etc. But in a nutshell it shows you the percentage of your plan's data allotment you've used so far this term, how many days are left in this term, and even gives you bar graphs so you can visualize this info. You can see in mine, my days are slightly ahead of my data usage, so I'm tracking well to not run out of data during this 90 day cycle.

If you don't want to set up a widget, you can also get this info by just going into Data Witness:

Installing and configuring

You can install it from the Play store link I used above. Launch the app and there you can set up a number of configuration items. Here's the main config menu:

From here, you'll want to pop into General settings and set up you plan details:

Log into your PM self-serve account and grab your current data usage amount and use that in the first setting shwon above. At your next renewal date, this will reset automatically to zero, as DW will be with you from the start of that cycle instead of part way through. Set your data limit based on what's in your plan (I'm on the 6GB/90 days plan), and your plan length and your last cycle start date. This is all you need to do to start benefitting from Data Witness right away!

There are a number of other settings you can tweak. I don't fully understand all of them, but this is how I currently have mine set up:

(I'm not sure of the ramifications of not having it check while the screen is off.)

Here you can tell it (using the sliders) when to let you know you're getting close to using up your data, and optionally have a persistent notification (you probably don't want that on, but it's a personal preference).

That's all there is to setting it up and basic usage. As I mentioned, there are a ton of options to personalize your widget(s). First of all there are two widget sizes to choose from:

And once you choose one and place it on a home screen, a ton of settings:

Enjoy!

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

IWIK — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 20:07:41 GMT

WOW Thanks, this is a great idea, hope it answers some questions.

I have been busy lately with other stuff, but rest assured I am working on an update that will add some more features I've been working on!

Thanks again @srlawren

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

Jeremy_M — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 20:45:18 GMT

This is great @srlawren! It's now featured 🙂

Cheers,

Jeremy

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

NDesai — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 22:09:19 GMT

Nice, i always wanted to track my usage for 90 days but android default tracking will only allow month to month.

Thanks @srlawren and good job @IWIK

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

IWIK — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 01:01:46 GMT

Remeber, anyone wants a copy just email or private message me.

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

homer — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 13:31:32 GMT

This can be helpful for a lot of users!

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

srlawren — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 18:25:51 GMT

I should mention: I don't know 100% if the app is 100% accurate. I haven't done any thorough testing, but in my infomal comparisson betwen what it shows that I've used in the app vs. what self-serve shows, it is always quite close. I would recommend you use the app/widget as a rough estimation of your used/remaining data, but do periodically check on self-serve as well. Use it as a convenience/augmentation of self-serve, but not a total replacement.

Hopefully that makes sense. It does SEEM to be pretty accurate, but self-serve is ultimately the "system of record" for your usage.

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

IWIK — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 19:49:35 GMT

^ absolutely.

Another important point, that I *may* be able to address later is it seems MMS (picture messaging) counts toward data in Data Witness. Of course this doesn't count in your actual bill so a lot of MMS can throw off the accuracy.

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

kutzki — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 19:29:14 GMT

Awwe.... thought it was free. Lol good job @IWIK! Cool looking app.

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

IWIK — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 19:34:12 GMT

@kutzki it is free for Public Mobile users, I can't seperate them in the Google Play store automatically, but just send me a private message and I'll give you a download code.

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

kutzki — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 19:36:02 GMT

@IWIK NO WAY! That's awesome. PM sent. 🙂

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

srlawren — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 19:59:09 GMT

@IWIK awesome! I didn't originally mention that, as I wasn't sure if the offer was open to any PM users. I have edited my original message above with a note to private message you. 🙂 Thanks again!

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

IWIK — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 22:29:36 GMT

Just a heads up, new version being rolled out now (2.4.0)

New - settings for add-on data (used after term data maxed out)

New - App exclusions - disregard data usage from certain apps. Designed to allow you to ignore your SMS/MMS app and increase accuracy. You may not want to use it with Hangouts as it may use actual data. Supports up to Android M (6.0) - not N (7.0) yet.

Please try it out and let me know how it's all working.

Here's a screenshot just of selecting apps to ignore, YAATA being my SMS/MMS app of choice.

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

srlawren — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 00:34:36 GMT

@IWIK awesome new features, that are sure to make a number of PM users very happy! Thanks for your continued efforts! 🙂

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

imm1304 — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 01:54:21 GMT

Thanks for this app @IWIK!

Very useful and relevant to us.

Appreciate your time and effort in making this app.

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

IWIK — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 13:49:58 GMT

Hey all, I'm doing a quick 'beta' test on a new version of the app (technically a whole new app) that is exactly the same just free to download and checks the sim to only work with phones that are on public mobile. I'd love for some of you guys, especially those with dual Sims to test it out.

https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.iwik.datawitnesspm

That's the link to join the open beta, it does require android 5.1 due to a technical reason of separating Telus Sims from Public Mobile Sims.

Going through forward I'd like for this to be the app most people use as it saves from manually generating and sending download codes. After I get a few testers in and all looks well it will be published just as any other app would.

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

srlawren — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 20:23:27 GMT

@IWIK just to clarify, when you said it required 5.1, I presume that means "and higher"? 6.0/6.0.1 are okay?

I do have dual SIM but I rarely use my second slot, it's got my Roam Mobility SIM sitting waiting for my occasional short trips to the USA, while I use my PM sim in SIM 1 99% of the time. I don't mind trying out the beta version though if you think it would be of any benefit to you. In fact I might (tentatively) be going to the USA on the last weekend in July. Not sure how quickly you need feedback on the multi-SIM aspects so that may or may not help. Let me know. Also about the OS version since I'm on 6.0.01.

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

srlawren — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 22:32:18 GMT

@IWIK, I went ahead and installed the PM beta anyway to try it out. I'm having an issue starting the monitor service. Every time I try, the app just immediately quite back to the home screen. I can't seem to get it running. Reboot did not resolve the issue.

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

IWIK — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 09:41:16 GMT

@srlawren

Yes I do mean 5.1 and higher (although 7 doesn't have app exclusion as of yet)

Hmmm, I'll have to look into all this, could be permission issues, I was having a few. Give me time, you can certainly use the regular one...

Re: IWIK's "Data Witness" for Android - Getting started and brief overview

srlawren — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 17:10:48 GMT

@IWIK was 100% correct, I was missing the required "Phone" permission. I presume IWIK will work on getting the app to prompt when it needs the permission instead of just closing, but in the meantime if you are having the same issue, go to settings (the gear icon in your notification tray), then Apps, then Data Witness PM, then Permissions, then slide the Phone permission to on instead of off, and you should be able to start the monitor.