Community Wishlist Survey 2022/Mobile and apps/Load images in metered networks only on demand

Random proposal ►◄ Mobile and apps  The survey has concluded. Here are the results!

Load images in metered networks only on demand

• Problem: The Android app can be used from a metered connection or from free WiFi. Some users may have a small quota on their metered connection.
• Proposed solution: Allow load on demand of images (configurable) if on metered connection.
• Who would benefit: Users with small quotas of metered network.
• More comments:
• Phabricator tickets: phab:T236637
• Proposer: Error (talk) 18:32, 11 January 2022 (UTC)

Discussion

Is it really appropriate to use the Community Wishlist Survey to circumvent other people declining a task? This will likely just get archived or declined for the same reason the original task was. * Pppery * _{it has begun} 19:40, 11 January 2022 (UTC)

• How would the relevant software know that a metered connection is in use? · · · Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 08:51, 14 January 2022 (UTC)
  • @Pbsouthwood: I am not an Android developer, but there is an Android permission to know the type of connection the app is using. Probably it is already being requested

view network connections

Allows the app to view information about network connections such as which networks exist and are connected.

This is for Android. For the mobile web version, it is a matter for the mobile browser.

--Error (talk) 09:42, 14 January 2022 (UTC)

• • • Why does the app need the Full Network Access permission (ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE, ACCESS_WIFI_STATE)?

      This permission is used by the app to determine the state and quality of your network connection, and adjust certain aspects of its performance accordingly (e.g. loading lower-quality versions of images when on a limited connection).

    • --Error (talk) 11:51, 14 January 2022 (UTC)

      I agree as this is a better way of doing it, as some people has limit data plans. Thingofme (talk) 02:04, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

• Thank you for taking the time to make this feature request. I reopened the ticket on Phabricator and added it to the Android Backlog for future consideration. Unfortunately, I wasn't on the team when the task was closed, so I can't provide the reasoning for it, but I can tell you it is something we will consider when the team has a bit more capacity.JTanner (WMF) (talk) 18:43, 19 January 2022 (UTC)

  @JTanner (WMF): As years pass, the value of the feature diminishes since, presumably, people around the world get better and cheaper connections. Mine has got better, certainly. Error (talk) 11:21, 27 January 2022 (UTC)

• Why not adding as a preferences for mobile Wikipedia to load no pictures? Maybe as Image size zero. Goldzahn (talk) 14:12, 23 January 2022 (UTC)

  @Goldzahn: That could be another proposal. This is about the Android app. However, that would require the users to log in so that their preferences are read and applied. It would probably better implemented at the mobile browser, if it doesn't already have it.

  Also "image size zero" means to me that the image is loaded but not displayed, which does not achieve the intended bandwidth saving. Error (talk) 11:18, 27 January 2022 (UTC)

Voting

•  Support — Draceane ^talk_contrib. 21:50, 28 January 2022 (UTC)
•  Support Betseg (talk) 02:12, 29 January 2022 (UTC)
•  Support — SHEIKH (Talk) 14:12, 29 January 2022 (UTC)
•  Support Baah Thomas (talk) 13:05, 30 January 2022 (UTC)
•  Support Libcub (talk) 22:40, 30 January 2022 (UTC)
•  Support Thingofme (talk) 02:23, 1 February 2022 (UTC)
•  Support Flyplanevn27 (talk) 13:03, 1 February 2022 (UTC)
•  Support Hampcky (talk) 15:44, 2 February 2022 (UTC)
•  Support Aimwin66166 (talk) 06:12, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
•  Support Exilexi (talk) 18:04, 5 February 2022 (UTC)
•  Support Ayumu Ozaki (talk) 07:47, 6 February 2022 (UTC)
•  Support paul2520 (talk) 16:36, 7 February 2022 (UTC)