HoFo Blog

From The Web:

Netflix confirms it killed AirPlay support, won’t let you beam shows to Apple TVs anymore

Ironically, Too Many Video Streaming Choices May Drive Users Back To Piracy

Doctor battles Bell's Virgin Mobile for six months over $2,400 bill she never racked up

The best apps to block robocalls on cellphones

5G is still just hype for AT&T and Verizon

From The Forums:

Hangouts: How to block ALL calls from foreign countries?

LG Rebel 4 vs Motorola Moto e5 ?

Accessories for Motorola MicroTAC Select 6000e

Refurbished iPhone 6 $75 or iPhone 6s $100 at Total Wireless

Can anyone explain me being on band 26

---------

Hot on the heels of last Friday's earnings report (direct link to PDF right here) BlackBerry stock shot up a whopping 47% on the Toronto Stock Exchange early this week. Granted, its stock price on both the TSX and NYSE is still nowhere near that of Apple or Google but, as Yahoo! Finance reports, they've managed what seems to be a very successful pivot into software and services:

Now I myself don't own shares in the company, and I wouldn't ordinarily post about stock market blips here. But in this case I do think it's good news for fans of physical keyboards and security-hardened Android devices; if BlackBerry manages to stay in the black then there can only be more BlackBerries on the horizon for its loyal customers.

Source: Yahoo! Finance

---------

From The Web:

Apple reportedly to launch 3 OLED-based iPhones in 2020

Amazon's AirPods Rival Is Reportedly Planning to Outshine Apple

Google wins Patent for Watch Band Mechanisms for a Possible Pixel Watch that could compete with Apple Watch

Oppo takes the cake for the most bizarre smartphone design yet

Snap has a new plan for taking over teens’ lives

From The Forums:

New 500 voice minutes add-on for $10 on Tracfone.com

Buying a TF Phone that comes with 1 year of service. Can I Transfer the service?

Verizon Hotspot plan

Will WiFi Calling & Texting Work Abroad?

Ultramobile $19 plan vs Lycamobile $19 plan

---------

It looks like South Korea is the first country to see a wide release of 5G. According to Reuters, the services went live at 23:00 local time yesterday:

So how fast is it? Someone on reddit reports that in the city of Busan you can get 5G broadband Internet with speeds of up to 10 Gbps for the equivalent of $88 USD per month.

As for security concerns, only one South Korean carrier, LG's Uplus, uses Huawei equipment; the country's largest, SK Telecom, claims to have additional measures in place that keeps its network from being hacked.

I might have to schedule a trip over there soon—for research only, of course.

Source: Reuters via reddit

---------

From The Web:

The iPhone’s camera used to be a selling point

Unknown Motorola phone with four cameras leaks

Apple won't have a 5G iPhone anytime soon, UBS says

Swatch wins legal battle with Apple over 'Tick Different' slogan

Wear OS is in a Sad State

From The Forums:

Cheapest Sprint prepaid currently?

AT&T has the 'fastest wireless network' in the US

Can you just swap SIM for new BYOP on TracFone, VZW network?

$15 Gift Card to Activate

Really confused about VOLTE and WiFi calling

---------

This is likely going to read very much like a sponsored post; you'll just have to trust me when I tell you that it's not. Ever since my first smartwatch—or, more accurately, my first smartwatch with standard lugs—I have tried a lot of replacement straps. After literally years of trial and error I can confidently recommend one company above all others; that company is Barton Watch Bands. The three big reasons why are:

1. They sell on Amazon for easy delivery and returns;
2. They carry the most popular sizes and materials, and
3. They've consistently shipped me high-quality products.

Keep in mind that I'm coming at this from the affordable end of the smartwatch market; with such a device, like the Amazfit Bips pictured above (and yes, I have all four of them) you might find the included silicone strap a bit lacking—after a week or two of wearing it you might find it getting somewhat slimy and uncomfortable to wear. It could be that I'm uniquely sensitive to silicone, and I definitely seem to have sweaty wrists. Either way, this has been my experience with cheap OEM smartwatch bands.

I myself am a fan of NATO-style ballistic nylon straps (Barton, by the way, also sells those), but they're not a good fit for the watches I own. My solution? Barton's quick-release canvas straps, also pictured above. They've got that NATO strap look and, even better, the canvas is able to absorb a bit of sweat and still be comfortable on your wrist.

If you're a fan of leather bands, Barton's got you covered. They even sell premium two-toned silicone straps for when your original band breaks or gets too clammy. Their sizes and quick release pins are compatible with a wide variety of Wear OS watches (at least the ones from Fossil Group) plus Samsung's Galaxy Gear and Active, the aforementioned Amazfit Bip along with all second and third-generation Pebbles.

Links: Barton, Barton on Amazon Canada / Amazon USA

---------

From The Web:

Spark for Android is here to fill the Google Inbox-shaped hole in your heart

Google’s constant product shutdowns are damaging its brand

Customer Complaints About Telecoms Are Up 44% In Canada

The FTC Makes It Clear It Can’t, Won’t Protect Net Neutrality

Right to Repair Is Now a National Issue

From The Forums:

Stir/Shaken requires VoLTE to validate robocalls?

activating AT&T phone

Xfinity Mobile Personnal Hotspot tethering speeds question

Will installing a SIM do any good on a 3G phone?

12-Month 1GB FreedomPop SIMs on Clearance for $14.98 at some Target Stores (YMMV)

---------

As of today, Google's "experiment" in re-imagining email is officially over, with Inbox joining a growing list of the company's abandoned apps and services.

I can still remember the exact moment that I decided to try it out, while listening to The Verge crew sing its praises on their weekly podcast. Like Gmail you had to get an invite at launch; unlike Gmail it was only a few weeks before I got mine. And almost immediately thereafter I began using Inbox full-time.

Less than four years later Google abruptly announced that Inbox would be shutting down. They promised at the time that its best features would be added to Gmail proper but, as 9to5Google reports, that promise has yet to be fulfilled. I'm still missing the very handy travel bundle, where I could see plane tickets and hotel reservations organized by date on a single screen. On Android I can use Google Trips, but for some reason that app no longer has a desktop counterpart.



What I'll miss most about Inbox, though, was its elegant interface, which encouraged me to act on messages quickly and then file them away—when I did I'd get this nice little graphic as a reward. Gmail has it now too, but Inbox did it first.

So rest in peace Inbox, and say hi to Google Reader for me.

Sources: 9to5Google, The Verge (1) (2)

---------

From The Web:

Samsung Galaxy S10 will get monthly updates while the Galaxy S7 now gets quarterly updates

Apple slashes iPhone prices in China

Nokia X71 with 48-megapixel camera and hole-punch display launched by HMD

A Cell Phone Carrier Breaks With Big Telecom, Announces Support for Right to Repair Legislation

Watch 25 years of phone empires rise and fall in 15 seconds

From The Forums:

Buying a new phone keeping sim card

Port number from AT&T to TF question

anyone? with Select Choice 2 lines for 50, add a line for 5 got Unlimited data upgrade

Can Moto X 1st gen (XT1053)still be activated on T-Mobile?

Hangouts Dialer - no contacts

---------

Once upon a time, smart people like Steve Wozniak used the nascent power of technology for practical jokes and pranks. Over the years the association between tech and mischief has endured, but that mischief has become oddly gentrified into the absurd annual exercise otherwise known as the modern-day April Fool's tech prank.

I've had a couple of this year's attempts come my way, and I've seen the meta-lists compiled by Android Police and The Verge. I'd love to share the best ones with you but honestly, this year I don't think there are any. I can't put my finger on exactly when it happened, but this year in particular I find it shockingly apparent that the pranks have been subverted by marketing departments at big companies. Thus, you have Google Assistant now able to talk to your plants and an electric car from OnePlus that charges as fast as their phones do. Both of these "jokes" are very much on brand, but not particularly funny or even clever. Ditto for the branded headset at the top of this post, the sole purpose of which can only be to remind you that Cup Noodles exist.

That fake announcement about height verification coming to Tinder wasn't entirely terrible; it shows, at least, that the company is paying attention to shared screen grabs from the app on social media. If you found yourself impressed or caught off-guard by an April Fool's Day prank this year feel free to share it below. For myself 2019 has been a bit of a dud.

Links: Android Police, The Verge

---------

From The Web:

Apple cancels AirPower wireless charger

Huawei Shrugs Off U.S. Clampdown With a $100 Billion Year

Pixel 3 vs P30 Pro - Setting the night shooting standards

With the Moto G7, Lenovo finally killed the G-series magic

Machines Shouldn’t Have to Spy On Us to Learn

From The Forums:

Android Auto with LG L15G Sunrise possible ?

Current phone information on TF website

Local Walmart had Straight Talk iPhone 6s for $97. Can it work with Tracfone/VZW SIM?

FYI - Online Activation of the $45 Unlimited Deal Ends Today

Tom's Guide Best Networks for 2019

---------

Has anyone else noticed that the Internet is looking more and more like cable TV?

Here's what I'm talking about: Rogers, my local cable provider, sells a standard package offering 100+ channels for $54.99 CAD per month—which of course I would never pay for; I cut the cord more than a decade ago with zero regrets since. However, the streaming services that I currently subscribe to:

YouTube Premium - $17.99 CAD per month
Netflix Premium - $16.99
Spotify Premium - $14.99 (family plan)

... together add up to $49.97 CAD, perilously close to the ongoing cost of that olde tyme Rogers cable TV package. In other words, that guy from Apple is flat-out lying to us; to legally get all the content we want (and not have the experience ruined by ads) it's going to cost considerably more than just $9.99 a month.

This is what is now being called subscription fatigue, a term coined by Deloitte in their new survey of Digital Media Trends. Taken at face value it's not necessarily a big deal; I don't think anyone would argue that on-demand movies, music and shows together make for an objectively better experience than old-school cable TV. But when I think about the copyright legislation that passed in the EU this week and its potential harm to user-generated content, plus Apple's abrupt transformation into a media company, I can't help but wonder if the very Internet itself is changing, and for the worse.

There are actually several precedents for freewheeling technologies being locked down by big money. Tim Wu's The Master Switch details how the telephone, radio and even cable television were originally disruptive but eventually consolidated. He warns that the Internet will inevitably suffer the same fate, and the events of this week seem to prove him right.

Sources: Deloitte via Variety, Wikipedia

---------

From The Web:

Apple's services business is booming and may be worth more than its iPhones

Goldman Sachs hints that Apple's new credit card will be rolled out internationally

Google Pixel 3a leak suggests phone could come in new 'iris' purple color

Notch vs. Hole Punch vs. Slider – What’s the Future for Android?

Leaked Oppo Reno pictures show off the weirdest notch-killing slider yet

From The Forums:

What MVNO allow for wifi/data voice calls?

Moto Z2 Force unlocked should work with TF Tmo SIM?

Conditional Call Forwarding issues when phone is unreachable or if I don't pick up

Pop-Ups !!!!!!!!!! on Google Pixel 2XL

How Do I Enter The Unlock Code On The Netgear Aircard 797S AT&T Unite Express 2?

---------

As an amateur travel hacker and points hoarder I can definitely say that Apple's forthcoming credit card is not for me. Never mind that (1) I live in Canada and (2) my phone runs Android, even if I were a candidate for an Apple Card I can get a lot more value from the cards that I currently use.

Here's what the Apple Card offers in terms of rewards:



Even the most ardent Apple fan is going to have limited purchases from Apple, so that 3% is, at best, an occasional perk. 2% is fairly standard for a no-fee cashback card, and not unlike the Tangerine MasterCard here in Canada or the Citi Double Cash Rewards Card in the United States. Pinky swear, no affiliate links here—feel free to click away if you're interested in either of these cards. As for Apple's 1%, well... it's better than nothing, but not really competitive with other credit cards on the market.

So who, then, might the Apple Card be suited for?

One type of user would be the person who doesn't want their card purchases to be tracked. The price I pay for an up to 6% return on my monthly spend is, in addition to a large annual fee, the high probability that my purchase history is being collected and shared with third parties. For me, it's an acceptable deal (I'm an Android user, remember); for others, it may not be. Apple promises that it doesn’t know what you bought, or where, or how much you paid. The same goes for Goldman Sachs and MasterCard, hopefully...

I'm of the opinion that the card is even better suited for the user who carries a monthly balance. Credit card debt is the worst kind of debt, and to combat it Apple gives you this clever visual aid to help you deal with ongoing interest charges:



If you can get your credit card debt under control you'll be on your way to a higher credit score, and a better crack at higher-tier cards with better rewards plus additional perks. Apple definitely deserves kudos for that!

Images courtesy of The Points Guy

---------

From The Web:

Your AirPods Will Die Soon

First Apple AirPods 2 Pre-Orders in Canada Have Shipped

Here are all the Canadian publications coming to Apple News+

YouTube creators are still trying to fight back against European copyright vote

Xiaomi’s insane 100W charger can fill up a 4,000mAh battery in 17 minutes

From The Forums:

Is it my phone or the network...???

Need Help Connecting Two Smartphones, 1 Master + 1 Slave, over Bluetooth or WiFi

The end of cellnuvo?

Does VZW prepaid block 712-432 (Iowa) phone numbers?

How is the WiFi Calling for you?

---------

Article 13, the so-called anti-meme law, was approved in European Parliament this week. As with the GDPR, this new legislation will similarly affect Internet users far beyond the confines of the EU. Here's a quick bullet list of its more contentious points, via DW.com:

Does this mean, then, that the copy/paste above—and, for that matter, the image above that—would require licenses from the respective rights-holders, even with attribution? This is the general worry among bloggers and other creators, and one that seems curiously at odds with the very mandate of Article 13.

As WIRED UK reports, this legislation is meant to reign in the power of big American tech companies:

There is some irony here in that Google, in particular, may end up profiting from Article 13. Its parent company Alphabet has invested over $100 million USD building an automated copyright detection system for YouTube; now that the law has passed it suddenly finds itself in the enviable position of being able to license this technology to other Internet platforms.

Sources: DW, WIRED UK

---------

From The Web:

Huawei unveils P30 Pro with quad cameras, 10x lossless zoom, and rapid charging, plus cheaper P30

Huawei P30 and P30 Pro Canadian pricing and availability

Huawei Tells Canadian Media it Should Be Trusted, Compares Situation to Boeing

Apple wants to be the only tech company you trust

Bill That Would Restore Net Neutrality Moves Forward Despite Telecom’s Best Efforts to Kill it

From The Forums:

Where is MLB TV?

Discounts & Porting from Cricket

Surprised iPhone 8 is 5gE capable

Problems porting into Verizon Prepaid from Page Plus iiphone SE

Tracfone sim in Walmart Family phone?

---------

Apple's Spring 2019 Event went down yesterday at the Steve Jobs Theater in California, promoted everywhere with the tag line: "it's show time". Indeed, as the many embedded YouTube videos in this post would suggest, Cupertino is leaning hard into traditional media. And also credit cards...?

I'm already getting ahead of myself here; let's break it down:



Apple Arcade

This one is the lightest on details, a subscription service for games promised sometime this year. It seems to me that its announcement was primarily an attempt to steal some thunder from Google Stadia, with the main differentiator being that Apple Arcade titles can be played offline.

Apple did say that it will launch, in both Canada and the United States, with more than 100 new and exclusive titles.



Apple Card

... Or, more accurately, an Apple-branded virtual MasterCard from Goldman Sachs. Available this summer (USA-only), it will offer deep integration with Apple Pay, no extra fees and daily cashback rewards of up to 3% on purchases.

One caveat that I spotted right away was that the cashback goes on a separate digital card within Apple Pay, and cannot be used to pay down your balance. On the plus side, you also get a nifty physical card made of titanium for anywhere Apple Pay isn't accepted.



Apple News+

Here's Apple's revamped subscription-based service for magazines and newspapers. It's available right now in the U.S. (for $9.99/month) and Canada ($12.99/month) via iOS 12.2 and the existing news app. You can also try before you subscribe with the first 30 days free.

About 300 titles are currently available, some featuring animated "live covers".



Apple TV+

In addition to new premium TV channels that users can subscribe to à la carte, Apple is also launching a separate Plus package with original programming. Content partners who have already signed on include J.J. Abrams, Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Steven Spielberg.

The service is set for a wide launch this fall in 100 markets, including Canada. Pricing is TBA.

Additional Sources: MacRumors (1) (2) (3), The Verge (1) (2)

---------

From The Web:

Apple Releases iOS 12.2 With Apple News+ Service, New Animoji, HomeKit and AirPlay 2 Support for TVs, Safari Changes and More

YouTube Bows Out of Hollywood Arms Race With Netflix and Amazon

BBC blocks its content from Google Podcasts

Almost half of young people suffering from ‘technoference’ as mobile phones affect sleep and productivity

Samsung Offers ‘Tonight’ Audience Different View of Jimmy Fallon

From The Forums:

Is Red Pocket's 3GB Ebay Verizon plan gone?

Streaming video quality improved?

Apple eSIM

New LG G6 model to AT&T!

Which carriers allow a SAFE-LINK port in.....???

---------