HoFo Blog

From The Web:

Google Pixel 6 vs. Pixel 5: Should you upgrade?

AirPods 3 Review: Compared to AirPods 2 vs AirPods Pro

Big Three offer less for more with new $80/20GB base plans

It’s official: Vidéotron wants to expand into Western Canada

AT&T 5G Plus expansion plan highlights how much its mid-band coverage trails T-Mobile

From The Forums:

Tracfone AT&T APN

Weak 3g Signal After I Moved...

Year of calling, currently using pageplus

redeeming rewards: can I specify which number?

Uninterrupted service on a landline

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
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From The Web:

Google Pixel 6 review: A new leaf

Pixel 6 Pro Review: The flagship Google needs right now is the one buyers deserve

Pixel 6 doesn’t have mm-wave 5G unless you buy it from these carriers

Magisk adds Android 12 support, drops MagiskHide

Apple releases iOS 15.1 with SharePlay and more iPhone 13 Pro camera options

From The Forums:

TracFone/Verizon no wifi calling?

Net10 3G phone replacement options

Sprint CDMA network shutdown - will iPhones need a new SIM? Also, a rant.

US Mobile referral?

Red Pocket online payment verification woes

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
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It's time for a new thread of the week, our way of recognizing forum members for promoting valuable discussion here.

Every weekday yours truly posts a morning briefing, including the most popular forum threads—that is, the posts with the most replies—for the previous 24 hour period. For reference, here are the briefings for the past seven days:

Your Morning Briefing for Monday, October 18th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, October 19th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, October 20th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, October 21st, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, October 22nd, 2021

Remember that the Monday briefing includes forum posts from the prior Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so all weekend posts are similarly eligible.

In each briefing, forum posts are ranked by the number of replies (from highest to lowest). That's subject to change, of course, so I did a quick recount of replies for all forum posts in the briefings above. With 39 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

Help a senior citizen switch phones

Congrats to RobEll49 for starting our ninety-eighth thread of the week! As a small token of our appreciation, please enjoy a monthlong Premium Membership on us. Benefits include ad-free browsing, increased private message count, access to a subscriber-only forum, extra attachment space, a referral/affiliate signature link, the ability to post referrals, and a custom avatar and user title!

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
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From The Web:

Bose’s new SoundLink Flex speaker has a rugged design and ‘astonishing’ sound

‘Moto Watch 100’ is the next Motorola-branded wearable, Wear OS not confirmed

Xiaomi Pad 5 review: An iPad Air for the Android masses

Top 10 trending phones of week 42

'Whoa whoa': iPod's inventor looks back on Apple's 'really big risks'

From The Forums:

New TF plans on ebay for email delivery

Tracfone VA 1yr / 200 mins - still around?

PDF billing statements

Anyone here still using a flip phone/dumbphone? Did you enjoy them or not?

Rectangular plate on the back of the Pixel XL - what is it for?

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
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From The Web;

App Annie: Consumers in 5 countries spend more than 5 hours a day in apps

Spec showdown: Google’s new Pixel 6 vs. Samsung, Apple, and more

Real Tone on Pixel 6 tries to make smartphone photography finally not suck for people of color

Apple’s $25 Polishing Cloth Sold Out Beyond Christmas in Canada

Nokia 5510 (2001)

From The Forums:

Help! From TracFone LG306G to Journey? VoLTE

ATT Q3 2021 Results

$1,000 to switch to T-Mobile!!

Roaming in Greece

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
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From The Web:

The Pixel 6 Pro may be Google's first flagship it actually believes in

The best smartwatches to buy for the Pixel 6 since Google still hasn’t made its own

Samsung unveils Galaxy Z Flip3 and Watch4 series Bespoke Edition

Ookla Q3 report names Telus Canada’s fastest mobile operator

Man Throws Eggs Inside Telus Dealer Store Over 5G, Employees Left Scrambling

From The Forums:

HD, lte, volte

Like pulling teeth just to get 1,000 texts!

Moto E4 w/Tello SIM won't answer calls, works fine w/Tmobile SIM

Android Silencing/muting notifications when screen on

Multi Line One Device

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
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From The Web:

Google Tensor explained: Why the Pixel 6 has a custom chip, specs, and what it does

Here are all the US carrier promotions for the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro

Google’s Pixel Pro 6 is already sold out in Canada and people aren’t happy

Android 12 gets a surprise release today alongside the Pixel 6 debut

Pixel Pass bundles a Pixel 6, premium Google services, and insurance coverage at a discount

From The Forums:

Does anybody know when C Band is going to be deployed by Verizon Wireless?

S9+ (sm-G965) lost wifi calling freeup, cricket, after update

Just installed Android 12 on my BYOP Pixel 3a, now no data

Polycom Obi200 Sale

How load an app from Google Play Store

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
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Pixel 6
6.4 inch flat FHD+ OLED display @ 90 Hz max
Google Tensor processor
8 GB RAM / 128 or 256 GB storage
50 MP primary and 12 MP ultrawide rear cameras
8 MP selfie cam
4,614 mAh battery w/ 30 W wired charging and up to 21 W wireless charging
Kinda Coral, Sorta Seafoam and Stormy Black colourways
Starts at $600 USD / $799 CAD



Pixel 6 Pro
6.7 inch curved QHD+ OLED display @ 120 Hz max
Google Tensor processor
12 GB RAM / 128, 256 or 512 GB storage
50 MP primary, 12 MP ultrawide and 48 MP telephoto rear cameras
11.1 MP selfie cam
5,003 mAh battery w/ 30 W wired charging and up to 23 W wireless charging
Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny and Stormy Black colourways
Starts at $899 USD / $1,179 CAD

Both devices can be preordered today and officially go on sale October 28th.

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
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From The Web:

Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro launch commercials leak hours before unveiling

Samsung's new Unpacked teaser hints at colorful foldable news

PinePhone Pro is a faster Linux Smartphone for $399

Apple announces third-generation AirPods for $179

Apple Unleashes $25 Polishing Cloth for Cleaning Displays

From The Forums:

LG441 information

HD Voice to Verizon Subs??

AT&T Prepaid phone

AT&T data throttling unlimited basic vs elite question

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
---------

It's time for a new thread of the week, our way of recognizing forum members for promoting valuable discussion here.

Every weekday yours truly posts a morning briefing, including the most popular forum threads—that is, the posts with the most replies—for the previous 24 hour period. For reference, here are the briefings for the past seven days:

Your Morning Briefing for Monday, October 11th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, October 12th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, October 13th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, October 14th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, October 15th, 2021

Remember that the Monday briefing includes forum posts from the prior Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so all weekend posts are similarly eligible.

In each briefing, forum posts are ranked by the number of replies (from highest to lowest). That's subject to change, of course, so I did a quick recount of replies for all forum posts in the briefings above. With 35 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

Thread to talk about the new Tracfone website

Congrats to YaWho for starting our ninety-seventh thread of the week! As a small token of our appreciation, please enjoy a monthlong Premium Membership on us. Benefits include ad-free browsing, increased private message count, access to a subscriber-only forum, extra attachment space, a referral/affiliate signature link, the ability to post referrals, and a custom avatar and user title!

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
---------

From The Web:

Apple iPhone 13 mini review

A year later, Apple’s MagSafe continues to underwhelm

How to watch Apple’s October ‘Unleashed’ event

Top 10 trending phones of week

Apple iPod (2001)

From The Forums:

Help a senior citizen switch phones

Will T-Mobile Take ANY VOLTE Phone?

Is it possible to add a balance to my prepaid account?

Tracfone & Canada

Mobley SIM card in NetGear Nighthawk hotspot - weird behavior

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
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From The Web:

iOS 15.1 and iPadOS 15.1 tipped to launch on October 25

Apple iPhone 13 Pro review

Over The Last 14 Years, iPhone Prices Have Gone Up More Than 80%

Apple Captures 75% of Global Handset Market Operating Profit in Q2 2021

Apple iPhone 13 Pro vs Google Pixel 5: These cameras shouldn’t be so competitive

From The Forums:

Cricket Locked Phone 90 days with SIM A + 90 days SIM B Qualify for Unlock?

Samsung S7+ Tablet -- Carrier ?

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
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From The Web:

First Apple Watch Series 7 Reviews and Unboxing Videos

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS announced with updated secondary display and "Dual Processor System"

Amazfit GTR 3 Pro, GTR 3 and GTS 3 unveiled with improved displays, battery life and new features

Fitbit Luxe firmware update adds always-on display, SpO2

How different is Amazon’s Halo View from the Fitbit Charge 5?

From The Forums:

Distant IP Location...Bigger AT&T Issue?

55+ Email Offer is less than meets the eye

Mint Mobile

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
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From The Web:

Apple to slash iPhone 13 production on chip shortages

Surprise, surprise: Samsung announces a Galaxy Unpacked Part 2 event for October 20

Meet Nokia G300, the $199 5G phone for Tracfone and Straight Talk customers

Motorola Edge (2021) review: Frankly forgettable

With OxygenOS 12, OnePlus loses what little identity it had left

From The Forums:

Attention if you sell your extra phones on eBay

Will Simple Mobile iPhone XR now running on Tracfone AT&T SIM card continue to work on AT&T in 2022?

Phone promos

AT&T Whitelist comes to Tracfone

RedPocket prices have gone up!

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
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From The Web:

Apple releases iOS and iPadOS 15.0.2, with fixes for CarPlay, Photos, and more

Apple Agrees to Pay $95 Million to Settle Lawsuit Claiming Refurbished Devices Aren't 'Equivalent to New'

Europe can’t agree on how to regulate tech giants like Apple and Google

Fairphone 4 review: the price of sustainability

Pixel Pass is reportedly Google’s version of Apple’s One bundle

From The Forums:

Check your credit card statements and emails.

---------
Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
---------

It's time for a new thread of the week, our way of recognizing forum members for promoting valuable discussion here.

Every weekday yours truly posts a morning briefing, including the most popular forum threads—that is, the posts with the most replies—for the previous 24 hour period. For reference, here are the briefings for the past seven days:

Your Morning Briefing for Monday, October 4th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, October 5th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, October 6th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, October 7th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, October 8th, 2021

Remember that the Monday briefing includes forum posts from the prior Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so all weekend posts are similarly eligible.

In each briefing, forum posts are ranked by the number of replies (from highest to lowest). That's subject to change, of course, so I did a quick recount of replies for all forum posts in the briefings above. With 80 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

Will my phone stop working?

Congrats to Hyacinth for starting our ninety-sixth thread of the week! As a small token of our appreciation, please enjoy a monthlong Premium Membership on us. Benefits include ad-free browsing, increased private message count, access to a subscriber-only forum, extra attachment space, a referral/affiliate signature link, the ability to post referrals, and a custom avatar and user title!

---------
Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
---------

From The Web:

Flashback: a look back at the "pure Android" Google Play Edition phones and why they failed

Top 10 trending phones of week 40

Moto G Pure is a $160 phone available just about everywhere in the US

Fairphone 4 review: the price of sustainability

Telus reminds BB10 BlackBerry users that network connectivity ends Jan. 4, 2022

From The Forums:

Need a Tello/Tmobile alternative for Home Phone Base station device

Thread to talk about the new Tracfone website

Using eSim plan on a physical sim?

What's your Endless Data speed AFTER using your LTE Data?

samsung s9 ???

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
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From The Web:

iPhone 13 series now available in second wave of countries, Apple Watch Series 7 goes on pre-order

Dutch watchdog finds Apple app store payment rules anti-competitive

Apple and Google under antitrust scrutiny in Japan for mobile OS

Android 12 review: it’s mostly about the looks

There Is No Escape From America's Robocall Hell

From The Forums:

I have the very old gUDP, can I get an iPhone 13?

New mobile Business plans. Wish consumer had these

Advice on upgrading my device?

Rural New Mexico Coverage

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
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From The Web:

Samsung confirms the Exynos 2200 will bring ray tracing to phones next year

Did iOS 15 kill Google AMP?

Apple Watch Series 7 launches October 15th, preorders begin on Friday

Canada’s Wireless Prices Still Among Highest in the World in 2021, Says Rewheel

Bell to Lower Virgin Plus Data Pricing, But Overages Cost $137/1GB

From The Forums:

What does it mean to be preapproved by Verizon?

TF sim works with straighttalk?

using Tracfone AT&T SIM in Verizon Samsung Note 5 phone and it always go to 3G for voice....

Any reason to start 10-day roaming pass before I get to Europe?

my iPhone with Tracfone AT&T SIM just had a pop-up that said carrier setting update... is it legit?

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Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
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