HoFo News

From The Web:

Motorola’s second-gen foldable Razr adds 5G, better cameras, and a chance at redemption

Here are all the hidden changes in Android 11 we learned from source code

Google’s Pixel 4a is now available for purchase in Canada

Google's Pixel plans get even more confusing as images of Pixel 5s surface

Carriers Preparing for Launch of iPhone 12 Models With 5G Support

From The Forums:

Mint Mobile adds unlimited

Need some handholding with this forced voLTE thing

RedPocket - can't receive or send MMS

just notice 5G in my area..

FreeMii - $170 one time "membership" and free forever. Is it scam?

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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:

Android 11 now available for Pixel phones

The Google Pixel 4a gets its first custom ROM and kernel

Apple announces September 15 event as Apple Watch Series 6 and new iPad Air launch proves a no-show; iPhone 12 series due in October

Apple doubles down in fight with Fortnite creator Epic Games, seeks damages for breach of contract

5G really sucks right now

From The Forums:

The 5G lie: The network of the future is still slow

ATT 5G service

Launch Device Pulse - Tracfone

Red pocket Verizon vs red pocket ATT

TextNow LTE down?

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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 Developing A Transparent Smartphone

Report: Apple to begin iPhone 12 mass production soon, AirTags production already started

Apple to Launch Apple Watch and iPad Air on Tuesday Still, Claims Leaker

Google is giving out special Pixel 4a unboxing experiences to people in the UK

Xiaomi unveils the POCO X3 NFC with a 120Hz display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G, and 64MP quad camera

From The Forums:

New T-Mobile Sound

Sprint Service Om TM Account

Las Cruces NM gets 5G but a big city like Albuquerque doesn't?

Adding FreedomPop 12 month plan to existing account

Activating a BYOP TMO 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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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 31st, 2020
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, September 1st, 2020
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, September 3rd, 2020
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, September 4th, 2020

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

Verizon CBRS auction failure

Congrats to Jack Hagar for starting our fortieth 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:

The new devices of the week

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra review

Apple likely to announce iPhone 12 event date this week

Pixel 5 launch date and pricing revealed in new leak, Pixel 4a 5G will launch on the same day

Camera shootout: Galaxy Note20 Ultra vs. Pixel 4a

From The Forums:

Anyone know where any AT&T 5G+ (mmw) is in Baltimore?

How much is the teacher discount?

Combine/Merge

Verizon really screwed me. Any way around this?

Red Pocket eBay help

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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's Galaxy S10 & Note 10 phones start receiving the One UI 2.5 update

Apple delays predicted iOS 14 data transparency 'adpocalypse' until 2021

OnePlus 8T leaked specs reveal 120Hz OLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus

Google Pixel 5 could cost a lot less than the Pixel 4

Huami Amazfit Neo smartwatch with always-on display, heart-rate monitor, and chunky retro design now available from US$39.99

From The Forums:

T-Mobile Settlement to provide broadband access to Colorado K-12 students

Unreal Mobile has infested my phone

Will iPhone-12 include CDMA?

What's the best way to upgrade from 3G to 4G?

US Mobile reviews?

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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:

Missed Galaxy Z Fold 2 launch event? This infographic covers its basic features

Qualcomm is bringing 5G to budget smartphones with new Snapdragon 4-series chips

T-Mobile adds faster midband 5G coverage to more than 80 new cities and towns

Rogers expands 5G service to 50 more towns and cities

PUBG Mobile and 117 more Chinese apps banned by Indian Government

From The Forums:

Verizon CBRS auction failure

2.5GHz 5G (n41) expands to 81 new cities

Post merger service going downhill

Watch out T-Mobile, Verizon wins big at FCC mid band auction

Minor emergency. Cricket phone broke. No dealers in area. Will Att gophone take sim and work?

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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:

Asus Zenfone 7, 7 Pro get camera improvements with new update

Apple website 'event' to take place on September 8

It sure looks like the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G just passed through the FCC

COVID Alert App Hits 2.2 Million Downloads in 30 Days, Reports 90 Infections

Slowest 5G speeds found in US and UK

From The Forums:

Does VZW Have Native None LTE 4G?

Preordering the Fold 2?

T-Mobile requested FCC approval to conduct extensive tests of 5G transmissions in C-band spectrum

On the topic of trade in for free note 20

Cdma-less

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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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And the award for worst device name of the year goes to...

The good news is that this second iteration of the Galaxy Fold has a bigger screen on its front "cover" and also a rejiggered hinge mechanism, along with the requisite support for 5G networks.

Specs are as follows:

7.6 inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED primary display @ 120 Hz
6.2 inch HD+ Super AMOLED cover display @ 60 Hz
Snapdragon 865+ processor
12 MP ultra wide / wide (with OIS) / 2x telephoto rear cameras
10 MP cover / front selfie cams
12 GB RAM / 256 GB storage
4,500 mAh battery
Mystic black, mystic bronze colourways
Custom hinge colours exclusive to Samsung.com/ca
Availability (US): pre-order September 2nd
Availability (CA): on sale September 18th
Price (USD): $2,000
Price (CAD): $2,779

Source: Samsung Canada via Liliputing, 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:

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 and S20 FE benchmarked with Snapdragon 865

Asus Zenfone 7 and Zenfone 7 Pro launch globally

ASUS ZenFone 7 Pro Review – A Flipping Fantastic Flagship Smartphone

OnePlus “Clover” with HD+ display, Snapdragon 460 SoC rumored to launch globally

New leak suggests OnePlus 8T is around the corner

From The Forums:

Verizon files FCC petition against T- mobile

Non-VoLTE Devices on T-Mobile after 01/01/2021 (still OK, but only for 2G/3G)

Freedom Mobile 20-25 gb plans?

Band preference

Change Phone Number Notification?

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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, August 24th, 2020
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, August 25th, 2020
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, August 26th, 2020
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, August 27th, 2020
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, August 28th, 2020

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

Well, it's "that time" again... thinking new phone....

Congrats to 03bluecoupe for starting our thirty-ninth 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:

WeChat users group sues Trump administration over ban it says is unconstitutional

Apple has now terminated Epic's App Store account following legal dispute between the two companies

Top 10 trending phones of week 35

Google Pixel 4a review—The simple, basic, reasonable Google phone

Spread Your Wings (& Your Wallet) For LG's Upcoming Wing Phone

From The Forums:

Upgrade to Android 10 on Moto G7 Optimo Maxx Tracfone?

Tracfone eBay bundles

Red Pocket - why can't they active my device on Verizon?

i CAN'T BELIEVE THIS !

SUQ about the backgrounds on lock and home screens

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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's Pixel 5 may be boring, and that's not a bad thing

How to unlock the bootloader and root the Google Pixel 4a

Xiaomi’s under-display camera tech will ship in smartphones next year

Proof That OnePlus Watch Is Coming Just Surfaced

If you thought Alexa was creepy, try the new Amazon Halo wearable

From The Forums:

Ting Canceled My Plan

Any cheap data plans with hotspot?

T-Mobile to buy Shentel wireless assets

Unlocking straight talk phone

truly unlimited data plan 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:

Surface Duo Unboxing – Hands-on with Microsoft’s Dual Screen Android Device

Fairphone 3+ comes with improved cameras and NFC, same ethical commitment

Canada has effectively moved to block China's Huawei from 5G, but can't say so

Apple releases iOS 13.7 beta with support for COVID-19 Exposure Notifications without downloading an app

Polaroid's new mobile printer turns your iPhone photos into stickers

From The Forums:

Well, it's "that time" again... thinking new phone....

New Phone

Coverage from Cellmapper.net Question

T-Mobile’s 5G Reliability Claims Anger Verizon. Verizon asks NAD to step in.

Moto G7 Power FINALLY Received Android 10

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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:

Galaxy Note 20 series uses different cooling methods seemingly at random

Supposed 'iPhone 12 Pro Max' screenshots show Camera & LiDAR settings, hint at 120Hz display

Asus Zenfone 7 Pro hands-on review

Chinese-Made Smartphones Are Secretly Stealing Money From People Around The World

Kindle Collects a Surprisingly Large Amount of Data

From The Forums:

CBRS auction over

Band 5 LTE recently expanded to 10 Mhz DL citywide

Cannot login to PPC

I see Raleigh/Wake County needs more NR71 and N41 Love.

Straight Talk are -- unsurprisingly -- full of crap 😠

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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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Even with the growing popularity of the aspirational Apple Watch it is the humble Fitbit that remains the most common wearable I see on the wrists of passers-by. The very brand itself has managed, like Kleenex, to become a proprietary eponym. So let's have a look at Fitbit's Fall portfolio, officially launched this morning:

Fitbit Sense



Price: $429.95 CAD / $329 USD
Release: Can pre-order now; ships by September 25th.

Fitbit Versa 3



Price: $299.95 CAD / $229 USD
Release: Can pre-order now; ships by September 25th.

Fitbit Inspire 2



Price: $129.95 CAD / $99.95 USD
Release: Can pre-order now; ships by September 25th.

If anyone reading this ends up taking the plunge, kindly let the rest of us know if notification support has gotten any better.

Source: Fitbit via DC Rainmaker, 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:

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G review

Infamous green tint screen returns with Galaxy Tab S7, Note 20 Ultra

Google's new Pixel Buds are plagued by quality control issues that need to be addressed

Rumor: Pixel 5 is slower than the Pixel 4, has same camera as the Pixel 2

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 review: a truly great smartwatch

From The Forums:

Best way to test Visible before porting number?

OnStar bands

Raleigh NC Market seems promising!!

Potential black Friday deals coming?

Can someone help me a unlock a walmart/tracfone straight talk iphone 11 Pro?

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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, August 17th, 2020
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, August 18th, 2020
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, August 19th, 2020
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, August 20th, 2020
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, August 21st, 2020

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

iphone 11 on tracfone verizon stopped working

Congrats once again to jmart27 for starting our thirty-eighth 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:

TikTok confirms it will sue the Trump administration

Apple apologizes to WordPress, won’t force the free app to add purchases after all

Top 10 trending phones of week 34

Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 w/ 4,000 mAh battery leak in live image with alleged specs

iPhone 12 Pro to miss on 120Hz screen due to supply issues

From The Forums:

FCC Wants Carriers to Prove Their Coverage Claims, T-Mobile and AT&T Say It’s Too Much

NEW Tracfone Rewards Program

Question for iPhone Users

Visual Voicemail and Wi-Fi Calling

T-Mobile prepaid account number for port out

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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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