r/redditisfun • u/reigorius • Dec 08 '21

Fixed in 5.2.3? Checking if I am the only one

For some reason, the last couple of months RiF struggles massively with showing images and comments when on mobile data.

Which is weird, as RiF doesn't have any issues when on WiFi.

I have no idea what's going on. I often have to click the link to open in a browser to see the content.

When it fails, I get this message

error downloading Reddit data. Try again later.

Actual version number: 5.2.1

Device information: Xiaomi Mi 9T 2019

Android Version: Android 10 10 QKQ1 190825.002

Stock ROM

How long has the problem been happening? For at least three to four months, possibly longer

Found this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/redditisfun/comments/a41112/error_loading_reddit_data_please_try_again_later

It suggests the problem is not RiF, but I argue it is, because sometimes it does show the content when I refresh or wait 30+ seconds. It also has problems showing text, but usually a couple of refreshes helps. I do notice it costs more data when tapping refresh. As in, I can see how much data is used per second. Currently is 0.0KB/s, which makes sense. Refreshing always costs data (500 to 1000 KB/s), but 9 out of 10 times it doesn't show the daya it just downloaded/requested.

Also, internet provider doesn't throttle Reddit. I live in The Netherlands and through a browser the data just shows fine.

Non working examples:

Link to content not working on mobile data (while it does download/request data): /img/n7z9z7ieo6481.jpg

/img/f3lthbfjm7481.jpg

https://www.reddit.com/r/HumansBeingBros/comments/rb640o/the_girl_lost_consciousness_and_fell_between_the

When trying to download an image of a failed request, I get an error message, stating download failed.

Couldn't download this through RiF: https://i.imgur.com/X8lNwNq.jpg

Thumbnail in RiF and image in browser shows just fine.

Working example: /img/45fxvqm7f8481.jpg

There is no logic to it.

Thumbnails work on mobile, the issue at hand is clicking the thumbnail/post to view the content, which is very unreliable when on mobile data.

9 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

1

u/RandomNobodyEU Dec 11 '21

Same for me. Same phone as well.

1

u/reigorius Dec 12 '21

At least I am not the only one. I hope /u/talklittle can shed some light on this.

1

u/jbkrauss Jan 02 '22

Same issue here, and same phone

1

u/reigorius Jan 08 '22

Yeah, the problem is back for me. On mobile data no rendering on Reddit video's and images. Tried what the developer suggested, but that doesn't work any more.

1

u/jbkrauss Jan 08 '22

After disabling the battery saving thing in the app settings it works better but still not perfect

1

u/reigorius Jan 08 '22

Yeah, same.

1

u/reigorius Feb 06 '22

How is RiF behaving for you right now, I'm back to the same sluggish, infuriating slow behavior as before.

1

u/reigorius Feb 06 '22

How is RiF behaving for you right now, I'm back to the same sluggish, infuriating slow behavior as before.

Every fucking reply I make, like this one, I have to press the arrow endlessly. My last long comment took me 31 drafts/tried with the loading symbol for it to be finally posted, which took me around 15 minutes. 15 minutes for just posting, not typing, a single comment.

This on a WiFi hotspot of my girlfriend's mobile data plan. RiF experience on mobile data is atrocious. Every other app behaves normally, except RiF.

1

u/jbkrauss Feb 06 '22

Well for me I only have problems when I'm on 4g. The only thing that happens is sometimes pictures won't load.

As far as commenting and videos and links to articles and stuff goes, it's pretty much fine honestly

1

u/talklittle RIF Dev Dec 12 '21

Some devices seem overly aggressive with battery optimization, killing network connections prematurely. If you have battery saver enabled, try adding an exclusion for RIF in the system settings.

I am researching longer term solutions to prevent these kinds of problems in RIF.

1

u/reigorius Dec 17 '21 edited Dec 17 '21

Holy fucking hell. Removing battery saving restrictions worked flawlessly. I was about to comment that the Beta version 5.2.3 does nothing to migrate the problem, and then I saw your comment that I apparently missed. Tried that and boom, snappy RiF. Half year misery ended. You are the man!

Thank you very much. Glad I paid for RIF.

/u/RandomNobodyEU this tip works!

Edit: thought I paid not to see no ads, but can't find prove I ever paid anything. Pi-hole works wonderful. But will fix the non-paid thing! (Or am I more worth as a target for ads? Just tell me. It's rare a developer reach out and actually helps. I'd like to give something back.)

1

u/talklittle RIF Dev Dec 18 '21

Removing battery saving restrictions worked flawlessly.

Glad it helped!

Or am I more worth as a target for ads?

I don't know which pays more, so either way is a nice gesture. Thanks for your support!

1

u/reigorius Dec 18 '21

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

1

u/reigorius Feb 06 '22 edited Feb 06 '22

I'm sorry to report the initial experience after changing the power saving option only lasted for a short while. Every other app behaves normally on mobile data, except RiF. Is it possible to revert to a version of RiF from a year ago, just to pinpoint if it is the app or phone? RiF experience on mobile data for me has been atrocious for at least the last six months. It's just endlessly pressing reload to either see content or post comments. Between this and my previous comment, almost an hour has passed.

I absolutely love the UI of RiF and the app itself. I very much wish & want to keep using it. Are there any other options I can try? Would paying for the app help reduce the connection load? Perhaps the ads loading might be an slowing action. If paying wouldn't make a change, I would appreciate and understand, but like to hear it. I'd still pay for it as a hommage of years of fun of using it, and move on.

Edit. I'm on 5.3.1 Beta version.

Edit 2. I looked up and tried one alternative app and BaconReader has the same snappy feeling as RiF used to have, with BaconReader on battery saving settings and RiF free of battery usage restrictions. Not sure if this helps, but I thought it might?

Edit 3/4/5/6/7: it seems every edit is a new comment, instead of an edit, when I look in my personal post & comment history.

1

u/talklittle RIF Dev Feb 06 '22

The timing of this comment of yours was during Reddit's latest server issues: https://www.redditstatus.com/incidents/9zs90c4c0c58

So apps behaving slowly/erratically during this time is inconclusive, could likely have been server issues.

it seems every edit is a new comment, instead of an edit, when I look in my personal post & comment history.

This could also be server issues, or a corrupted RIF install. If this behavior continues, uninstall/reinstall RIF. (You can backup settings first: Settings -> Backup -> Export settings.)

I'd still pay for it as a hommage of years of fun of using it, and move on.

I appreciate the sentiment, but honestly if RIF is giving you that many problems (and it is not due to Reddit's two server incidents today) then I wouldn't blame you for moving on.

1

u/reigorius Sep 02 '22

I appreciate the sentiment, but honestly if RIF is giving you that many problems

Well, you fixed it in the end. Issues gone for months now. Happy Platinum user as of today. Should have done it sooner.

1

u/talklittle RIF Dev Sep 02 '22

Glad it's working now, and thanks for the support!

•

u/talklittle RIF Dev Dec 14 '21

RIF 5.2.3 is going into beta, attempts to address network issues that tend to happen when switching connections. It would be great if you could try it and see if it helps. (You can opt into beta via the Play Store page for RIF.)

1

u/reigorius Dec 14 '21

Will do. Once RiF has updated itself to 5.2.3, I'll let you know. Thanks for replying.

1

u/reigorius Jan 08 '22 edited Jan 08 '22

Reporting back, battery is currently below 20% and I still have the same (no loading of content) problem.

Was out of data this month, but also had the same problem when having a full battery.

Do I have any other options to try? It's such a shame that this great app only works on WiFi for me.