HoFo Blog

From The Web:

The best smartphone you can buy for under $500

Updating an Apple Watch Series 3 is a nightmare in 2021

Buying your first Android wearable? Here's what you need to know

Future Pixel phones may get unlimited Google Photos backups with new “Storage Saver” option

"We Are Devastated": Instacart Is Deactivating Workers and They Don't Know Why

From The Forums:

Spin the wheel

After recharging my Moto e6, battery usage has taken a dive

Perplexing voicemail messages

AT&T Prepaid making a change

Options for large prepaid balance?

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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:

Motorola Moto G100 smartphone review: Fast 5G mobile phone as PC replacement

Apple exec suggested cutting App Store commission to 20 percent as early as 2011

Australian retailer pulls AirTags off shelves due to potential hazard

Google ‘accidentally’ reveals Pixel Buds A-Series

PSA: Google Photos’ unlimited free storage offer expires this month

From The Forums:

VoNR and ViNR

T-Mobile 1st quarter results

Buying iPhone to use with RedPocket (VZ) sim card - can I buy Verizon or unlocked iPhone?

We are all Star Wars fans?

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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:

It’s once again time to update your iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch as soon as possible

Google's May Android security update for Pixels is ready to go

Samsung removes the Galaxy S8 from its security update schedule

New video reveals major features and design of Harmony OS

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 review

From The Forums:

Very quick review of Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A51

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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, April 26th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, April 27th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, April 28th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, April 29th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, April 30th, 2021

Remember that the Monday briefing includes forum posts from the prior 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:

Buy New IPhone SE vs Replace Battery Old IPhone SE?

Congrats to pauly02 for starting our seventy-fourth thread of the week! As a small token of our appreciation, please enjoy a month of Gold Membership on us!

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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:

Top 10 trending phones of week 17

Apple's app store goes on trial in threat to 'walled garden'

AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

Google Pixel 5a 5G is a real deal, here’s what you should know

35 of the best Android apps released in the last year

From The Forums:

Which of these 3 Tracfone Rewards Phones has the best call quality?

Google maps offline across several states

Can not send/receive pics by text

Will a Tracfone work on Verizon

Now, who has the best plan?

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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:

Dear wireless carriers: the 5G hype needs to stop

EU accuses Apple of App Store antitrust violations after Spotify complaint

Spotify’s paid podcast subscription service one-ups Apple’s offering

Here's every feature your phone will get with Android 12

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra review

From The Forums:

Transferring downloaded off-line maps to new phone ?

Pictures over MMS resized so small it's useless

Sim swapping question.

Activated with Transfer, Question re Device list Name

Ultra Mobile Experience

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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 is being sued over defective camera glass on the Galaxy S20 series

Australia's anti-competitive beef with Google expands to target the Play Store

Apple to Reportedly Face Antitrust Charges From the EU Later This Week

T-Mobile SyncUp Tracker uses LTE so you can find your stuff when it’s out of range (but it’ll cost you)

The new Amazon Fire HD 10 has a brighter screen, more RAM, and more configuration options

From The Forums:

Leaving Cricket

TraccFone rewards. GOOD, BAD, or UGLY??

Verizon is reportedly considering a sale of its media assets, including AOL and Yahoo

eSIM on Tracfone's iPhone SE 2

New iPhone, new or old (also iPhone) SIM

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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:

Fitbit’s Luxe is a fashion-focused fitness band that costs $149.95

Xiaomi has shipped over 1 million Mi Smart Band 6 units worldwide

Honor Band 6 review: a top budget fitness tracker

Montblanc's fitness-centric Wear OS smartwatch arrives in the US for $860

TicWatch 3 Pro just keeps getting better, still probably the only Wear OS watch to buy

From The Forums:

Minutes disappearing with the SIM not even in a phone???

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G on T-Mobile and HelloMobile

Dish wants California regulators to reopen T-Mobile inquiry

YES, drop paid data and backdate for free UNL promo! [Details inside...]

Wi-Fi Calling gets the ax on more than a dozen T-Mobile devices

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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 Galaxy M12, Samsung's newest entry-level smartphone, costs less than $200

Samsung's April update is rolling out to more US models — here's which phones have it so far

Nobody wants anything to do with Google's new tracking mechanism FLoC

iOS 14.5 is out now with new Face ID mask features and Apple’s App Tracking Transparency

Update Your iPhone So You Can Tell Apps to Stop Tracking You

From The Forums:

Ported out number - can't reactivate account

Verizon Stagnant is So. Orange County Cal

P+ Customer Service Almost OK

Any timelines on 5G Roaming in Canada?

$15 Connect- iMessage whitelisted

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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, April 19th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, April 20th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, April 21st, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, April 22nd, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, April 23rd, 2021

Remember that the Monday briefing includes forum posts from the prior 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:

What are the chances of getting a TF unlocked if it's on a bundle plan?

Congrats again to WheelieBoot for their second and our seventy-third thread of the week! As a small token of our appreciation, please enjoy another month of Gold Membership on us!

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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:

Top 10 trending phones of week 16

Motorola Moto G20 official with 90Hz display and 5,000mAh battery

Poco X3 Pro review: With great power comes...an affordable price tag

Google Fi is adding a less expensive unlimited plan

Not Just User Generated Content: Liberal Government Also Want the CRTC to Regulate Apps Under Bill C-10

From The Forums:

GV activation

Buy New IPhone SE vs Replace Battery Old IPhone SE?

Only 5g Sim Cards Available By Mail

Is VoLTE now required, and source for a flip phone.

Ebay Redpocket Verizon Plans

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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:

Here is the purple iPhone 12, which is purple

Apple and Spotify could spell the end of everything we love about podcasts

You Can’t Hide Whether You Are Online on WhatsApp—And That’s a Problem

Why the Liberals Have Become the Most Anti-Internet Government in Canadian History

From The Forums:

AT&T Reports First-Quarter Results

Verizon loses 178,000 subscribers. Thanks T-mobile

iPhone 12 & Wi-Fii Calling

Att IOS updated app

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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:

Redmi Note 10 review, one month later: Good luck finding better at this price

Moto has even more G series phones

Apple’s AirTags will work with Android... sort of

Apple Ramping Up M1 Production as New 12.9-inch iPad Pro Expected to Reach Five Million Shipments in 2021

The iPad Pro runs a Mac chip and has the same RAM as the iMac. So let it run macOS.

From The Forums:

Hotspots

Swap sims between phones.

All text messages disappeared

Unlimited plan

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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 introduces Purple color for the iPhone 12 and 12 mini

2021 iPad Pro Pricing from $999 in Canada, Maxes Out at $2,979

Are there Android tablets worth buying instead of an iPad?

Discord ends $10 billion plus sale talks with Microsoft

Rogers offers customers compensation after outage, credit to be applied to next bill

From The Forums:

Tracfone purchase. Is there a breakup fee?

Google Assistant, how to disable it?

Galaxy S10e not displaying wireless charging information on charging pad

How or where do I get this keypad?

Visible, Motorola G Stylus & call blocking.

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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 Store is down: new iPad Pro, iMac and more expected at ‘Spring Loaded’ event

Third-Party AirTags Accessories Continuing to Surface Ahead of Apple Event on April 20

Rogers says service has been restored for the ‘vast majority’ of customers

The real winners of Thursday's CRTC decision? Telecom companies, observers say

Google is dropping new Pixel wallpapers today, and they're weird

From The Forums:

Phone Shows 5G But Connected To LTE?

What Causes Slow Upload Speeds?

Combine on activation questions

activating $39.99 1-year card + merging with existing phone

TF Android widget says inactive

---------
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, April 12th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, April 13th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, April 14th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, April 15th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, April 16th, 2021

Remember that the Monday briefing includes forum posts from the prior 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:

Red pocket activation questions

Congrats to WheelieBoot for starting our seventy-second thread of the week! As a small token of our appreciation, please enjoy a month of Gold Membership on us!

---------
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 15

Report: Premium podcasts subscription service to be announced at the Apple event

This is what Samsung's next affordable tablet will look like

Facebook bullies third-party apps Swipe and Simple Social into oblivion

Siri’s ignominious honor: Most accurate Apple leaker

From The Forums:

What are the chances of getting a TF unlocked if it's on a bundle plan?

Tracfone phones with WiFi calling

Land Line replacement Service

Is saveontracfone.com a legit site?

Free Upgrades with conditions 4/18/2021

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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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Canada's largest mobile network has, for many, been down for most of the day. Now we finally know why. Here's Jorge Fernandes, Rogers CTO, to explain what happened:

When his post was published, Fernandes said it would take "several hours" to get the network back to full service. Hopefully by the time you read this all will be well.

Source: Rogers via iPhone in Canada

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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:

WhatsApp's new privacy policy is so bad it might be illegal

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Lite leaked ahead of April 28 launch (again)

The FCC has released a new speed test app for Android

CRTC MVNO Ruling Called ‘Toothless’, Only Regional Providers with Spectrum Get ‘Big 3’ Access

American Express cards are being removed from Google Pay and we don't know why

From The Forums:

New Moto G7 Power vs Moto G Power 2020

“It almost seems like AT&T is walking off the field.” -- T-Mobile likely to hold onto ‘fast 5G’ lead

Now that FreedomPop's free 200meg/month data plan is going away, what are you switching to?

Need suggestions on Tracfone Rewards phone with the best camera

Waiting for port PagePlus vs H20?

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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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