HoFo News

From The Web:

Motorola Emerges as US’ #3 Smartphone OEM in 2021 for First Time

Motorola Edge+ 2022 review: Proof that speed doesn't make a flagship

Here are some of the worst phones released in Canada over the past few years

China’s Huawei reports sales fall amid US sanctions but profits hit record

Xiaomi 12X review: Petite problematic powerhouse

From The Forums:

HP buys Poly

Weird Service Credited

How is Boost Mobile's AT&T 5G?

Poll: Who's your choice for Freedom?

---------
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 12

10 best upcoming phones of 2022: the handsets we're excited to see

Apple to Cut Production of iPhones and AirPods due to Waning Demand and Rising Inflation

Apple brings detailed city maps to Canada

Major climate science project wants to use your Android's GPS to improve weather forecasting

From The Forums:

TF ATT BYOP - Cant dial out to ANY number

Need suggestions.

Alcatel MyFlip 2. No Data

Samsung Galaxy a02s Redpocket/At&T post 3G sunset fiasco?

Unlocked Google Pixel 6 On AT&T Prepaid 8GB 12-Month Plan

---------
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 21st, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, March 24th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, March 25th, 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 36 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

help. iso very very basic plan

Congrats to bruin19** for starting our one hundred and nineteenth 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:

CRTC Approves Rogers-Shaw Merger, Decision Called ‘Disastrous’ by Consumer Group

Apple will reportedly sell the iPhone as a subscription service

Pixel 6a rumored to launch at Google I/O, Pixel 7 series and Pixel Watch coming in October

Not smart but clever? The return of 'dumbphones'

Nokia 3510 (2002)

From The Forums:

Can I use my unlocked AT&T Galaxy S10e with a ST Verizon SIM?

Bought refurb TF iPhone - can I just transfer sim from existing TF iphone

Need help choosing a new plan

Activating new phone on website safe to do?

How to upgrade new Safelink sim card?

---------
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:

Arizona is the first US state to allow driver’s license to be stored in the Apple wallet app

Apple iPad Air (2022) review: it’s the nice one

Nothing’s first smartphone is aimed at Apple, not OnePlus

Google News is now blocked in Russia over 'inauthentic' war coverage

Google’s Android Messages and Dialer Apps Got Caught Collecting User Data

From The Forums:

Transfer new Sim card to existing phone

Is TracFone still tripling basic airtime plans?

Online Refill

Problems with 7000 points for Add a Line, New vs Refurb?

Issues/Problems with the Add a Line Process

---------
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:

Foxconn’s Shenzhen factories resume operations after lockdown

Report: Samsung Galaxy A12 was the world’s most popular smartphone in 2021, foldables grew 300%

The 37 New Emoji iOS 15.4 Brings to Your iPhone

Apple iPhone SE (2022) gets 5.5/10 repairability score in teardown

Well, Apple’s having another outage

From The Forums:

help. iso very very basic plan

Battery swollen in Stylo 3

Can AT&T Roam on all of US Cellular?

SMS delayed by ~4 hours on RedPocket Tmobile

Callingmart again delaying delivery of my PIN

---------
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:

OnePlus leak suggests six new phones by September, including a OnePlus 10 Ultra

OnePlus Nord smarwatch also in the works

Google finally releases March update for Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

Google says Pixel 5a, 5, and 4a 5G are not getting C-band support in the US

WhatApp starts rolling out emoji reactions in Android beta

From The Forums:

AT&T 3G is still up and running in Eastern Massachusetts (as of 03/21/2022)

interesting call

New Connect Plans Starting 3/25

---------
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 11

Our favorite open source apps for Android

Living life with Samsung DeX exclusively, part 1: The journey begins

Pixel 6 sales carve out a sliver of the Android chipset market for Google Tensor in new report

Today I learned an iPhone trick to quickly select multiple items

From The Forums:

Red pocket has become intolerably bad (going out of business?) Looking for alternatives

Cannot get tracfone 2nd level tech support! Transfer automatically drops call!!

Question about reclaimed GV numbers

Red Pocket GSMA (ATT) in Alaska

I'm going to miss EvDo

---------
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 14th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, March 15th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, March 16th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, March 17th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, March 18th, 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 36 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

T-Mobile expects strong growth in rural areas

Congrats to mwdewey for starting our one hundred and eighteenth 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:

Global 5G Smartphone Sales Penetration Surpassed 4G for First Time in January 2022

How 5G speeds compare across the globe—and why they differ

T-Mobile's finally taking SIM-swap fraud seriously with new transfer PINs

Samsung’s really good midrange phone just got a bigger battery and a price cut

Russia’s Digital Iron Curtain Is Starting To Take Shape

From The Forums:

Does Verizon ever put up new towers in

One Plus 7T is on Nice List but now can’t make/receive calls

Question for iPhone users - please help!

Phone goes to voicemail

T-Mobile: Standalone 5G is helping us win enterprise share

---------
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:

Wind founder’s company Globalive offers to buy Freedom for $3.75 billion

Google I/O 2022 takes place May 11–12 as virtual event with live keynotes

Pixel Launcher search on Android 13 tests directly showing results from Google Photos

Action Launcher v49 improves Android's ugly home gesture animation

How to manage your iPhone lock screen

From The Forums:

Custom Text Messages by contact (within contacts app)

new twist, old scam. goodye data

---------
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 Tab S8+ review: An amazing screen attached to a decent tablet

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 tipped to take your temperature with built-in thermometer

Garmin Vivomove Sport review

Xiaomi Watch S1 and S1 Active, Buds 3T Pro make international debut

Apple Stores Can Now Update Firmware on Second-Generation AirPods

From The Forums:

I unlocked a Moto G power

Data only tablet plans

Combining Benefits/Merging 2 lines, Donor Line 'M/T/D' Plan / Recipient Line 'Unlimited Plan.'

Message on my wife's phone: "Not available"

If TracFone Customer Service is HERE

---------
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 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4 With Face ID Mask Unlock, New Emoji, Universal Control, and More

First 2022 iPhone SE Reviews and Unboxing Videos

I prefer the phone version: The underwhelming state of Google’s first-party tablet apps on Android

Google gives Samsung preferential treatment, here's why it should

Samsung hung fans out to dry to please Note lovers with Galaxy S22 Ultra

From The Forums:

Migrate old dumbphone to new (Nokia 225) & keep TMFL in ATT only area: Best way to go about it?

Phone Buying Advice (G Pure Or???)

AirVoice Settings- Can't Make Calls After Using AirVoice APN Settings

Combining 2 lines, and Unlimited plans

Add a new line or merge an existing line?

---------
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 10

Flashback: the iPhone 6 introduced a new design in 2014 that still lives

Apple's spring event had as many missed opportunities as compelling moments

Russia bans Instagram as promised, blocking access for 80 million users

Google forces YouTube Vanced to shut down ‘due to legal reasons’

From The Forums:

Moto one Ace 5G

Can I Move Tracfone SIM to Another Phone?

Activate New Phone then Transfer Back to Old Phone Process

T-Mobile expects strong growth in rural areas

Prepaid for emergency use

---------
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 7th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, March 8th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, March 9th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, March 10th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, March 11th, 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 34 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

Impossible Clluster*** for at&t flip phone on FreeUP

Congrats to mo832 for starting our one hundred and seventeenth 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:

Android’s iOS-friendly emoji reactions officially launch in major Google Messages update

Google directly integrating Air Raid Alerts into Android phones in Ukraine

iPhone SE 3 (2022) vs. Google Pixel 5a: Which should you buy?

Moto G Stylus (2022) review: A lateral move

This 2015 smartphone just got its fifth official Android version bump

From The Forums:

is anyone aware of an escalation path for Total Wireless Issues?

Millionaire?

611611 Down

H2O Wireless Outage

Reviews of the Sunbeam Wireless flip 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:

Third-Generation iPhone SE Features Increased 4GB of RAM

Google Play Store users in Russia won’t be able to buy apps, games in the coming days

Moto G22 is a budget phone with a 90 Hz display and 50MP camera

Nothing promises The Truth at March event — but we'd settle for a phone

Telecom company executives comment on Freedom Mobile’s potential sell-off

From The Forums:

Are the 55+ plans any good?

Voicemail notification trouble (unable to clear VM notification)

tracfone vs unlocked version

Problems with Tracfone ILD

Satellite phone for AK trip

---------
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 7 biggest announcements from Apple’s Peek Performance event

2022 iPhone SE 3 Canadian Pricing Now Cheaper Than Before

Apple had 7 of the 10 best selling phones in 2021

Dirty Pipe: What you need to know about the major exploit affecting Pixel 6 and Galaxy S22 devices

Insidious TeaBot banking trojan targets hundreds of financial apps

From The Forums:

Verizon Claims In Signage The Most Hotspot - Apparently Forgot T-Mobile Global Plus Exists

Which back up flip phone and talk & text plan?

How do I switch phones if Pageplus no longer offers chat support?

activate a Moto play on Tracfone att

---------
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:

Big Pixel update lets you type to talk during phone calls

Samsung confirms massive hack, but says user data is safe

The 5G iPhone SE will be for carriers, not customers

Fastest growing smartphone brand in Europe grows by a whopping 548%

HMD admits it's given up on Nokia flagships for now

From The Forums:

Verizon Tablet Plans

Redpocket 3G migration outage/impact ?

Is it dangerous to switch from a TF-Verizon phone to TF-Verizon BYOP sim?

Are there any Airvoice dealers or resellers on this forum?

Deleting Apps

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