HoFo Blog

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

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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 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!

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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 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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Breaking news from the CRTC:

Bell, Rogers, SaskTel and Telus have been asked to file proposed terms and conditions for access within 90 days. This is going to be interesting...

via Mobile Syrup

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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 ZTE Axon 30 Ultra 5G is coming to the US with a 144Hz display and a whole lot more

TCL's newest smartphones show a brand struggling to stand out

Amazon drops new Echo Buds in the U.S., Canadian release unlikely

Canada's telecom regulator to issue wireless industry ruling Thursday afternoon

Mark Zuckerberg is urged to scrap plans for an Instagram for children.

From The Forums:

Red pocket activation questions

Anyway to check IMEI to see if it will Activate on Tracfone?

Google Chat for consumers is up!

What older phones will still work?

Visible Referral Program Thread

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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:

Sony reveals Xperia 1 III and 5 III with the first-ever variable telephoto camera in a smartphone

Samsung schedules Galaxy Unpacked event for April 28

Apple officially announces Spring Loaded event for April 20th

US carriers have thankfully abandoned at least one bad plan for RCS

Amazfit T-Rex Pro review

From The Forums:

Unable to port Alaska landline phone number to Page Plus

Confused what I bought

Attention ST home phone user's

Device for 20GB - $300/year plan

Not receiving text messages sent when my phone is off

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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 Best Smartphone to buy in April 2021: Apple, Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and more!

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G review

Xiaomi Mi Band 6 review: still the budget king – for now

OnePlus Watch review: big, basic, and boring

Siri Reveals Apple Event Planned for Tuesday, April 20

From The Forums:

avoiding bloat and "Carrier Ware"

Customizing ringtone, text with additional recipients, DTMF tone

Google account and Gmail account in Gmail app on Android

GV send mms to email address

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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 5th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, April 6th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, April 7th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, April 8th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, April 9th, 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 25 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

Cannot Activate An A405DL on T Mobile

Congrats to Landngroove for starting our seventy-first 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.
---------

From The Web:

Top 10 trending phones of week 14

Flashback: LG's best phones before and after the switch to Android

Google has announced the Pixel 5a 5G, but most of the world won't get to buy it

Apple says iMessage on Android ‘will hurt us more than help us’

New ‘Heads Up’ feature nags distracted Android users to look up while walking

From The Forums:

Problems Texting Android from iPhone

Prpaid: Can't add number to MyVerizon/Swap Service

Verizon’s ‘fastest 5G’ claim stands up in NAD ruling

Visible - BYOP- Google Pixel 4a 5G wont let me add phone

Number Barn porting to Google Voice

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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:

7 smartphone trends that LG pioneered and others copied

Five notable times Google probably pissed you off

Verizon is recalling 2.5 million hotspots that could overheat and cause burn or fire damage

OnePlus 9 Pros are already overheating

I’ve been wearing the OnePlus Watch for 1 week and this is all I can tell you about it

From The Forums:

Cannot Activate An A405DL on T Mobile

what's supposed to happen when i move my SIM?

activating ebay sim with existing account

Can you activate a tracfone BYOB sim without service?

H20 account editing 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.
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From The Web:

Google I/O 2021 is happening, will be virtual with free attendance

T-Mobile is upgrading all monthly subscribers to unlimited plans for free

Lenovo announces Legion Phone Duel 2, and it's even crazier than we first thought

These are LG's never to be released flagship phones for 2021

LG KG800 Chocolate (2006)

From The Forums:

Refill Date?

Register your T-Mobile number here to get your $10 discount for YTTV and 3 months free YT Premium

"Inactive Device" appear on my tracfone account

Looking To Buy New Tracfone With Minutes

Could not get camera to connect to browser

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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:

Lenovo's new gaming phone has leaked and it looks weird as hell

OnePlus 9R vs OnePlus 8T: Is this even a choice?

This is the OnePlus Nord SE that never saw the light of day

Mass Production of A15 Chip for iPhone 13 Set to Begin Ahead of Schedule in Late May

In memoriam: LG's great smartphone inventions

From The Forums:

Moto G7 129.99 unlocked from Moto

Should I get a new phone before the transition to TMo?

Register your T-Mobile number here to get your $10 discount for YTTV and 3 months free YT Premium

HSN Bundle - Phone to one TF line and minutes/airtime to another?

Switching ftom TF to Net10

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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 US Supreme Court just handed Google a huge win in its massive Android lawsuit

Google Pixel 5 sees massive GPU performance gains with April 2021 update

Google silicon could turn the Pixel into the iPhone’s biggest competitor

Motorola Moto G100 review

LG had few smartphone hits, but it’ll still be missed

From The Forums:

LG To Close Mobile Phone Business

Smells like VZ

It's official: LG is exiting the smartphone business

Goodbye. Thanks For The Memories LG.

I have old Verizon iphone SE, Any way to put on PP $12 pay as you go 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.
---------

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, March 29th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, March 30th, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, March 31st, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, April 1st, 2021
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, April 2nd, 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 34 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

Which high data AT&T or Verizon Prepaid Pla?

Congrats to web1b for starting our seventieth 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:

It’s official: LG Electronics is exiting the smartphone business

The latest in the global semiconductor shortage

US Sanctions Are Squeezing Huawei, but for How Long?

Videotron is ‘Proof Positive’ Wireless Competition Works, Says Quebecor CEO to MPs

Top 10 trending phones of week 13

From The Forums:

LG Xpression Plus does not ring if screen is off

Textnow using the cell signal not working?

Issues transferring number to a new provder

AT&T Prepaid Taxes and Fees?

International Rates?

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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:

LG will reportedly announce closure of smartphone business on April 5

Verizon says it will shut down its 3G network — for real this time — on December 31st, 2022

Dish calls out T-Mobile for wanting to shut down Sprint’s 3G network too soon

Casio's new G-Shock watch is maybe the chonkiest WearOS device yet

This new app helps Pebble watches continue working with new Android phones

From The Forums:

TF Moto G Power Global or LTE/CDMA

Safelink airtime pin?

why is my Tracfone SIM(Verizon) suddenly getting speeds of more than 180mbps on 4G?

Deutsche Telekom eyes direct control over T-Mobile

Kyocera Jax phone signal gone

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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 game over for Arizona’s controversial App Store bill

Google ditches Mobile World Congress 2021, the world’s biggest phone show

Google Faces Class Action for Allegedly "Selling Users' Data"

Android sends 20x more data to Google than iOS sends to Apple, study says

Teksavvy, Quebecor caution MPs on consequences of proposed Rogers-Shaw deal

From The Forums:

Esim activation

No more SIM swapping between phones on PagePlus ...

Next Uncarrier Announcement: April 7th

Calyx

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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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