HoFo Blog

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, August 29th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, August 30th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, August 31st, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, September 1st, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, September 2nd, 2022

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:

Ebay, HSN and QVC bundles don't get TracFone Rewards

Congrats once again to medontknow for starting our one hundred and thirty-ninth 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:

Google shifts production of Pixels to Vietnam, production of 2023 foldable may stay in China

Samsung Galaxy A23 5G debuts in the US

Samsung starts dunking on the iPhone 14 a week early

The T-Mobile / Sprint merger hasn’t created jobs — it’s cut thousands

IFA 2022: all the news from Berlin’s big tech show

From The Forums:

Spin the Wheel is back

why does it take days to add purchased minutes

can I use a simple mobile cell phone on straight talk (verizon)

The results are in: T-Mobile dominates FCC's 2.5GHz auction

T-Mobile giving away 3 months of unlimited data in iPhone 14 switcher campaign

---------
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:

The iPhone turns 15: a visual history of every model to date

iOS 12.5.6 Download Released for Older iPhones and iPads

Samsung Display to provide over 80% of all screens for iPhone 14 series

Meet my Android screen of shame, where the ugly app icons live

T-Mobile will let you try its network free for three months

From The Forums:

Finally, a U.S. carrier – T-Mobile – touts the power of eSIM

New Phone

Moto G7 power, family link, and forgotten passcode

---------
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:

Pixel 7 series and Pixel 7a may bring ‘higher quality’ Bluetooth LE Audio support

Some Pixel 6 users are reporting increased idle battery drain on Android 13

Bigme inkNote Color review (10.3 inch Android tablet with E Ink color display and pen support)

Montblanc Summit 3 review: a watch for nobody

Cox is getting into the mobile industry — again

From The Forums:

Ebay, HSN and QVC bundles don't get TracFone Rewards

Warning About New Verizon Sim Transfer

Moto G Stylus 2021 vs Moto E 2020 battery life

reset passcode, old LG 306G 3G phone

For $40, Get an Unlocked Moto, Two Unlocked Flip Phones, & Phone Service for a Year

---------
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:

Google Pixel 6a drops to $369.99, knocking $79 off its retail price

Here’s how Google plans to price the Pixel Watch and launch with Pixel 7

The best prepaid phone plans that will save you hundreds each year

T-Mobile Magenta Max subscribers will now get free Apple TV Plus

WhatsApp’s super app ambitions are starting to come true in India

From The Forums:

Wifi Calling not working on Verizon network, SE2 global version

Tracfone and BBB

Tracfone / Ebay invalid refill link

Can you use just any unlocked phone with Tracfone? And how does the transfer process work?

---------
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:

Top 10 trending phones of week 34

Motorola Edge 30 Neo color options leak

iPhone 14 Pro Purple and Blue Colors Appear on Dummy Models

Samsung is already testing the third-generation Tensor chip, set to debut on the Pixel 8

Google opens the door for Android apps that work across all kinds of devices

From The Forums:

looking for a lousy (cheap) bridge/harvest phone

Widespread service outages?

Walmart Free Freedompop Taxes per State

Verizon Glitch or G power or Coyote glitch

Need inexpensive ATT 4G compatible phone

---------
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, August 22nd, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, August 23rd, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, August 24th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, August 25th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, August 26th, 2022

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 156 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

TracFone TCL Flip 2 w/ 1year $19.99 on eBay

Congrats to cellular-dude for starting our one hundred and thirty-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!

---------
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:

T-Mobile and SpaceX Starlink say your 5G phone will connect to satellites next year

Samsung’s sending out updates to 500 million+ old phones

A decade later, Samsung deserves to be the "face of Android"

Data privacy bill would give you more control over info collected about you

How India runs on WhatsApp

From The Forums:

My Pixel 3 is being replaced (return 1st then receive later). How to proceed with Verizon BYOP SIM?

Phone unlocked?

Tracfone transition to Verizon SIM's

nokia still makes phones?

---------
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:

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Review: The Best Android Watch, For Now

​Fitbit launches Versa 4, Sense 2 and Inspire 3 wearables

New Fitbit device hits FCC with NFC payments, possibly Charge 6

Starlink and 5G joining forces? SpaceX and T-Mobile holding Starbase event Thursday

What to expect from Apple’s iPhone 14 event

From The Forums:

1 year time-only 365 day/$50 add on still available?

Moto G Power 2022 TF. My take

SpaceX & T-Mobile plan to announce plans to increase connectivity

Referral rewards: if you suddenly stop getting points, is there hope of getting them again?

What Cell Phone companies can I port into GV from?

---------
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:

Pixel continues North American growth in Q2, Galaxy S22 Ultra was most popular Android phone

The Pixel Watch has only one job: don’t suck

Fitbit’s smartwatch event tomorrow will bring back buttons

A BlackBerry movie is happening, charting the rise and fall of the phone manufacturer

Ubuntu Touch now available for the Fairphone 4

From The Forums:

Moto G Pure unexplained shutdown

Anyone get their Pixel 4 to work with Mint? And if not, is a new sim likely to help?

Throttle speed after?

---------
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:

Mobile Photography Week 2022: Android Police's celebration of smartphone cameras

Google's newly released Pixel Buds Pro are already on sale for $175

Here’s every app that supports Material You’s themed icons on Android 13

This site exposes the creepy things in-app browsers from TikTok and Instagram might track

TikTok Says, No, It Isn't Stealing Your Passwords

From The Forums:

After Truphone dumped ATT any other ATT glovebox options?

---------
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:

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review: almost there

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review: to the loyal go the spoils

Google Wallet coming to Fitbit, likely for Versa 4 and Sense 2

Apple October Event: New iPad Pro, iPad 10, M2 Macs, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura

Top 10 trending phones of week 33

From The Forums:

TracFone TCL Flip 2 w/ 1year $19.99 on eBay

Looking for good 64GB phone for Tracfone

New Phone activation screens

US Mobile Warp Plan - Anyone seeing Verizon UWB?

Freedompop Free Plan. How to port in?

---------
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, August 15th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, August 16th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, August 17th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, August 18th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, August 19th, 2022

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 23 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

Visible Plans Changing; No Party Pay On New Plans

Congrats to Boz1 for starting our one hundred and thirty-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!

---------
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:

Motorola’s latest Edge phone aims to be a $499 5G disruptor

T-Mobile offering Motorola Edge (2022) for free with new line

How a Third-Party SMS Service Was Used to Take Over Signal Accounts

Rogers reveals July 8 outage impacted over 13 million wireline, wireless customers

CRTC to issue Telus credit card fee decision in 45 business days

From The Forums:

Tracfone & Visible E-Sim

$25 plus $5 plan

Galaxy 3 Smartwatch and Tracfone Service for Galaxy S20 Cell Phone

Visible + PayPal = $5/mo Savings

tracfone eSIM

---------
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 Releases iOS 15.6.1 Download for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

Apple Targets Sept. 7 for iPhone 14 Launch in Flurry of Devices

Moto X30 Pro debuts as the world’s first smartphone with a 200MP camera

Android could go 64-bit only in 2023, starting with the Pixel tablet

Fitbit Charge 5 owners struggled to sync devices during widespread outage

From The Forums:

Visible Plans Changing; No Party Pay On New Plans

Did TracFone sell me a refurb when I paid for new?

How do i force google voice to call even if bad connection?

Google Fi compatibility with Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro dual-sim unlocked?

---------
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:

Here’s When Your Samsung Galaxy Will Get Android 13 (One UI 5)

Apple Plans More Ads to Maps, Books, Podcasts, and Even Apple TV+: Report

Florida airline worker arrested after AirTag reveals he stole thousands of dollars worth of luggage

How to Comment to the CRTC on Telus Charging a 1.5% Credit Card Fee

Credit card processing fees are coming for more than just your phone bill

From The Forums:

Please help with Port-in to Tracfone

Looking for advice on buying new phone

Verizon says it will have the best 5G network by EOY 2024

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet - first impressions

---------
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:

Android 13 arrives for Pixel phones starting today

Here’s the Android 13 Pixel update changelog with 150 fixes

Google's Pixel 6 Pro Gets Huge Discount Before Pixel 7 Launch

Snapchat’s paid subscription is already a hit

Messaging app Signal says a third-party data breach resulted in 1,900 user numbers being exposed

From The Forums:

Question about the mechanics of Porting a number

Ultramobile Site Issues?

Thinking about purchasing S20 Ultra 5G

---------
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:

Montblanc Summit 3, the second Wear OS 3 watch, doesn’t have Google Assistant

Fitbit app readies Pixel Watch support, seemingly confirms battery life

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro first look: Samsung goes outdoors before Apple

Rogers, Shaw finalize deal to sell Freedom Mobile in hopes of securing merger

Top 10 trending phones of week 32

From The Forums:

need t-mobile SIM for ALCATEL ONE TOUCH Pixi Charm A450TL

Is Iphone 12 a decent phon?

(Rant) I Guess T-Mobile Doesn't Want New Customers

Screen Protectors Still Needed?

Android update

---------
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, August 8th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, August 9th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, August 10th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, August 11th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, August 12th, 2022

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 78 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

So It's True That The Cell Phone Industry Sucks After All

Congrats once again to Clueless Guy for starting our one hundred and thirty-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.
---------