Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by developer2 3193 days ago
Turning off Wifi is not something anyone - whether average or intermediate user - should be needing to do on a frequent basis. Airplane mode already takes care of the primary use case, namely disabling all radios. Someone intending to disable Wifi "temporarily" and then forgetting to re-enable it may wind up paying hundreds of dollars for cellular data. That goes against the "it just works" mentality, which is "Wifi automatically wherever possible. ALWAYS. Cellular as last resort only."

Privacy is less of a concern on iOS; the MAC address is rotated frequently specifically to prevent passive tracking. The battery savings are going to be minimal; with Apple's history with these kinds of optimizations, you'd probably save as much battery by reducing screen brightness by only 5%.

tldr; There's no real reason outside of developer testing to ever disable Wifi. Users who care should not mind the extra tap. And frankly, most who are obsessively toggling their Wifi are probably not receiving the benefits they believe.
5 comments
simplify 3193 days ago
MAC randomization seems to be broken security-wise on iOS: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/researchers-b...
link
dingaling 3193 days ago
> There's no real reason outside of developer testing to ever disable Wifi.

When I go for a ramble or cycle in the countryside there's no point having Wifi enabled for four or five hours with no APs within several kilometres, so I disable it.

Likewise I disable Bluetooth and GPS when not needed. Being a 'good RF citizen'.

link
dspillett 3192 days ago
> Being a 'good RF citizen'.

And saving battery power by not having extra radio equipment polling for connection apportunities. Win win.

link
WizzleKake 3193 days ago
No. Sometimes at work I don't want to use my employer's wifi. Sometimes I do.
link
MBCook 3193 days ago
But you don’t need to turn OFF WiFi for that, simply disconnecting (as the button does) will accomplish that too.
link
qqg3 3192 days ago
You realize lots of people these days have unlimited data and don't about overage charges because they don't get them.
link
yourewrongagain 3193 days ago
Registered for this. This is so wrong.

I have iPad and currently I use wifi _only_ to download iOS updates. All the other (voip, netflix and spotify for example) is done over LTE/3G. Why? Because I can.

I don't want to be scanned and located by APs or have unnecessary radars in my backpack.

tldr; ever heard of terms privacy and need to _not_ use specific networks? kthxbye.

link