Netflix's new feature lets you stream movies without it eating up your data plan

Watching TV shows on transit is a very common sight in Singapore. You can catch glimpses of the latest Korean dramas screening at a mobile phone beside you. Perhaps the reason why you don't see much American shows going around in the MRT is because many think that these shows will take up a lot more bandwidth, since they are available in resolutions higher than 720p.

I don't blame the majority - most of us aren't celebrities with lots of extra cash to burn on mobile data.

Then there's the fear of busting our data plan. That feeling of despair when our monthly phone bill reaches the upper echelons of values, second only to the time we incur roaming charges during holiday.

Netflix introduces new cellular data controls

To overcome the problem of movie streaming eating up all your data plan, last Thursday, Netflix began rolling out updates to its mobile streaming app. It now adds an option for users to select the stream quality when watching shows.

Here's how it works

Swipe left into the menu, and tap on App Settings. Find the Cellular Data Usage sub-menu.

Tap on the toggle beside "Set Automatically" to unlock multiple options for stream quality. Select desired data usage setting - Low, Medium, High, or Unlimited.

And there you have it. Now you can watch more, and worry less.

The long journey home after work won't be so dull now.

So how much can you watch now with these changes?

Netflix has posted up a guide explaining how each tier of the new setting will affect how much you can watch while on mobile data.

For your easy understanding, we'll be taking a Netflix favourite, Daredevil, to illustrate how many episodes you can watch at each setting level. Each episode typically lasts almost an hour, so it will be easier to gauge.

1. Off

- You will only be able to stream on the device while connected to Wi-Fi.

Self explanatory.

2. Auto

- Netflix will select a data usage setting that balances data usage with good video quality. Currently this will allow you to watch about 3 hours per GB of data.

3h/GB = 3 episodes of Daredevil.

3. Low

- Watch about 4 hours per GB of data.

4h/GB = 4 episodes of Daredevil

4. Medium

- Watch about 2 hours per GB of data.

2h/GB = 2 episodes of Daredevil

5. High

- Watch about 1 hour per GB of data.

1h/GB = 1 episode of Daredevil

Unlimited - Recommended only if you have an unlimited data plan. This setting will stream at the highest possible quality for your device and the content you are viewing. This may use 1 GB per 20 minutes or more depending on your device and network speeds.

Aka Not Recommended

Probably time for you take advantage of the telco price wars and double up your your data stat. 

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