HoFo News

From The Web:

iPhone 15 series' USB-C connectors leak

Get ready for a repositioned end call button in iOS 17

Verizon will soon raise prices on certain unlimited plans — yes, again

CBC, media groups ask Competition Bureau to investigate Meta's move to block news in Canada

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 review

From The Forums:

Boost Add On Data: any way to check usage

Boost: Email to SMS Gateway is Offline since middle of July 2023

AT&T Pre-Paid Data Cut Off

What does it mean to unlock my Google Voice number?

Awful 5G performance

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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 Razr 40 review

Moto G Stylus (2023) review: A lot of phone for only $200

Mini-review: Using the Pixel Fold as Google’s smallest phone

Google Messages now encrypts RCS conversations by default

Banks fined $549 million for hiding messages in iMessage and Signal

From The Forums:

Are there any $20 flip phone deals with enough time to unlock & AT&T whitelisted currently?

Once More Unto the Breach

T-Mobile 5G Ultra Capacity (UC) Network Access Prepaid/MVNO options

MIFI Questions

Net10 Prepaid Ebay

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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 Flip 5 review: the flip phone we’ve been waiting for

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE price leak suggests they won't be much cheaper than non-FE tablets

Android 13 August security patch rolling out: What’s fixed for Pixel

Download Google's 25th birthday wallpaper for your Pixel

Google Maps is an eyesore. 5 examples of how the app has lost its way

From The Forums:

Verizon 5 g phone terrible data went back to 4lte

ATT imei checker question

Can iPhone 15 be used on MVNO?

not see the two accounts separately in GMail app

Walmart Family Mobile SE 3 for $150

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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:

Sources: Apple prepping for iPhone 15 Pro event potentially scheduled for September 13

iPhone 15 Pro Models to Come With 2TB Storage Option, Claims Rumor

Inside Apple's India dream

Apple AirTag 2 likely to enter mass production in Q4 2024

Top 10 trending phones of week 31

From The Forums:

Is there anyway to chat with Tracfone's chat help with a regular browser on a computer

Questions about selling phones from TF

How to turn off Mobile foreground data ?

Porting question

Pair New 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, July 31st, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, August 1st, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, August 3rd, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, August 4th, 2023

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

pay as you go plans

Congrats to MRothaus for starting our one hundred and eighty-second 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!

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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 Watch 6 vs Galaxy Watch 5: The key differences

The Fitbit app is getting a streamlined new look this fall

Google Pixel Watch 2 watch faces leak online

US Spies Are Lobbying Congress to Save a Phone Surveillance ‘Loophole’

Is Canada entering the era of affordable 5G?

From The Forums:

Who Is Their Partner in Mexico?

T-Mobile replacing Tidal free perk with Pandora Premium

Telus & Bell 5G+ speeds vs. Rogers

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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 Tab S9+ vs. iPad Air: Looking beyond the huge price difference

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ takes another step towards launch

Xiaomi Pad 6 review

Juno Tab 2 Linux tablet packs a bigger screen, more storage (and the same Jasper Lake processor)

Ubuntu Touch 20.04 OTA-2 brings support for more smartphones

From The Forums:

how know if NEED to make app password for email mobile app?

Unable to get Esim Profile on iOS 17 iPhone 14 pro max

TCL Flip from Boost UNLOCKED but still asking for cck but only on some sims

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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:

Facebook and Instagram start blocking news in Canada

You can run any app on the Galaxy Z Flip5's cover screen, sort of

Motorola Razr 40 review

Mark Zuckerberg: Threads users down by more than a half

Elon Musk wants a second chance to fail at X

From The Forums:

Scratcher is back

August Prices/Promos

J.D. Power ranks AT&T number one in customer satisfaction

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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 unveils Moto G14 with FHD+ display, 5,000mAh battery

Samsung's next-gen smart tracker shows off its all-new design

Google will ‘supercharge’ Assistant with AI that’s more like ChatGPT and Bard

Fido, Koodo and Virgin Plus Bring Back Popular 20GB Plan

VSCO has been my favourite mobile app for over ten years

From The Forums:

wifi calling enabled can prevent phone to receive any calls

Lexvor??? $15/mo & $30/mo

Prepaid - do you always leave Data on

T Mobile prepaid only get voicemail alert if Data/WiFi is On

Phone spam blocker that hangs up non contacts?

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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:

US Smartphone Shipments Fall 24% YoY in Q2 2023 on Lower Upgrade Rates

While Android as a whole continues to shrink in the US, Google Pixel keeps growing

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 4: Does a new hinge warrant an upgrade?

iPhone 15 Pro might get a titanium frame, thinner bezels, and a price hike

Top 10 trending phones of week 30

From The Forums:

pay as you go plans

Contacting AT&T about poor cellular coverage in my area...

new or different android smartphone - the same google account? at same time?

Trying to switch to a tablet on a legacy UDP

Note 10+ won't save contact-specific notification sounds

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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, July 24th, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, July 25th, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, July 26th, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, July 27th, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, July 28th, 2023

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

New Phone New BYOP SIM card Tracfone still can't seem to transfer my service

Congrats to mrbreezeet1 for starting our one hundred and eighty-first 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!

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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:

Arrival of eSIM is altering how consumers interact with operators

Verizon and AT&T are charging a new fee to customers on older unlimited plans

Google delays its upgraded, more expansive Find My Device network

10 years ago, Google launched the 2nd-gen Nexus 7, and no tablet has captured its magic since

‘Put learners first’: Unesco calls for global ban on smartphones in schools

From The Forums:

No voicemail notifications on Samsung S10e

Setup question QVC phone

Problem Combining Balance

Hello 9m looking for a list or map of specifically mmWave sites

Deleting phone number

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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 Flip 5 vs. Moto RAZR+: Did Samsung do enough?

Here’s how the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 compares to the Google Pixel Fold

T-Mobile says its ultrafast 5G capable of up to 3.3Gbps is rolling out now

Virgin Plus Launches 5G Unlimited Plans

Huawei’s James Bond-like Watch Buds are now available in Canada

From The Forums:

Pinzoo TracFone refill

T-Mobile buying dish

Verizon To Offer NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube/YouTube Tv 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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Galaxy Z Flip5

6.7 inch 120 Hz 2640 x 1080 OLED inner display
3.4 inch 60 Hz 720 x 748 OLED outer display
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor
8 GB RAM / 256 or 512 GB storage
12 MP wide & ultrawide rear cameras
10 MP selfie cam
3,700 mAh battery with wireless charging
Colours: Cream, Graphite, Lavender, Mint
Samsung.com exlusive colours: Blue, Green, Grey, Yellow
Price: $1,000 USD / $1,300 CAD
Preorders available now; available in stores August 11th



Galaxy Z Fold5

7.6 inch 120 Hz 2176 x 1812 OLED inner display
6.2 inch 120 Hz 2316 x 904 OLED outer display
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor
12 GB RAM / 256, 512 GB or 1 TB storage
50 MP wide, 12 MP ultrawide & 10 MP telephoto rear cameras
10 MP + 4 MP selfie cams
4,400 mAh battery with wireless charging
Colours: Cream, Ice Blue, Phantom Black
Samsung.com exlusive colours: Blue, Grey
Price: $1,800 USD / $2,400 CAD
Preorders available now; available in stores August 11th

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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:

Everything announced at Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Fold 5 event

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is last year’s phone with a new hinge

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 hands-on: A larger external display holds promise

Hands-on: Galaxy Tab S9 makes the best Android tablet better, and with the accessories to match

The Galaxy Watch 6 series marks a return to form for Samsung

From The Forums:

The gift that keeps on giving! More Price Hikes Coming For Legacy Plans!!!

VERIZON told me my data doesn't work very good because I'm on grandfathered plan...is this possible.

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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's best ever noise cancelling earbuds are here: meet the WF-1000XM5

Sony WF-1000XM5 noise-canceling earbuds review: better in every way — for now

Spotify is raising its Premium subscription prices around the world

T-Mobile’s charging an extra $5 plus tax for paying your phone bill in-store

CRTC Paves Way for Quebecor to Expand Cellphone Services Nationwide

From The Forums:

6300 4G SMS, Prompt to insert SIM card (Ultra Mob SIM1 inserted) APN?

Headline: Verizon Is Once Again Implementing A Price Increase For Grandfathered Plans

Surplus phones?

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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:

Elon Musk says Twitter to change logo, adieu to 'all the birds'

U.S. Readies Counterstrike vs Canada’s Digital Tax on Tech Giants

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2023: all the latest news and rumors

Meta, Google, and OpenAI promise the White House they’ll develop AI responsibly

Freedom Mobile Expands into Quebec, Debuts Seamless Roaming

From The Forums:

New Phone New BYOP SIM card Tracfone still can't seem to transfer my service

I was promised 5G internet switching to Tracfone's new Verizon card

Had to Get Rid of T-Mobile Home Internet

Page Plus Replacement Plan

Straight Talk rebranding chat

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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, July 17th, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, July 18th, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, July 19th, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, July 20th, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, July 21st, 2023

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

Considering Visible

Congrats once again to jtbky for starting our one hundred and eightieth 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.
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From The Web:

TSMC delays U.S. chip plant start to 2025 due to labor shortages

Apple says it would remove iMessage and FaceTime in the UK rather than break end-to-end encryption

‘No way out’: how video games use tricks from gambling to attract big spenders

Finland introduces the world’s first phone-free tourist island

IMAX Still Runs on PalmPilot Operating System

From The Forums:

Tracfone Deactivated

Visible vs Verizon compatibility checker.

Problems with Ting?

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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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