Video captured from one device is transmitted to the other device through the Internet. Video chat services such as Skype, FaceTime, and others let users see each other when communicating. For example, when you watching cartoon or view content on smaller screens, choose SD playback instead of HD. To manage data usage, gear the quality setting of the playback to match the content.
Your console may also support streaming video services allowing you to watch TV shows, movies, and videos. If yours does, be sure to close the browser and end any active sessions when you aren’t using it. If you have a game console, be sure to review each game’s controls and use them as needed to control data use. Other games involve elaborate video or audio, or both, from the Internet, and these consume larger amounts of data. Some games operate mainly on the computer with little Internet use except downloading updates. Games on personal computers have various impacts on data usage. Graphics affect data usage much more than text. Emails with large attachments such as photos or videos will have a much greater impact. HD might look great on your 65” LED HDTV, but if you are watching on a smaller monitor, it won’t make as much of a difference.Įmail contributes to overall data usage, but basic messages will have minimal impact. You can lessen the data used when streaming and downloading videos by selecting standard definition (SD) versus high definition (HD) play back. Streaming, downloading, and watching videos (YouTube, NetFlix, etc.) and downloading or streaming music (Pandora, iTunes, Spotify, etc.) dramatically increases data usage. Even downloading documents and files consumes data. Some websites automatically play audio or video clips when you visit. Ads on some sites include audio and video that increase data consumption. Sometimes, it happens and you don’t even know it. Any activity on a personal computer using a web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, etc.) contributes to your Internet data usage.