HoFo Blog

From The Web:

Apple reveals a yellow iPhone 14 and 14 Plus

Google I/O 2023 will be on May 10th

Google Messages rolling out the new icons for read receipts

Pixel 7 and Pixel 6a listed for all-time low prices

First images of Xiaomi Mi Band 8 drop

From The Forums:

"Tracfone Mind Experiment" - can this be done?

Data only plans under $10?

Can the same phone get pending AAL points again if AAL is raised in the future? Care to test this?

Port out to G-Voice

Where are blocked numbers stored on an Android phone?

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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 its own high-end CPU cores again, wants to use them by 2027

Samsung: Reports of new internal CPU development team are not true

Data breach exposed millions of Verizon customers' account info

Freedom Mobile Debuts New 30GB, 40GB and 50GB Unlimited Data Plans

Apple’s iPhone SE 4 may use OLED screens from a Chinese supplier, not Samsung or LG

From The Forums:

AT&T sim

Correcting wrong Zip Code on Account Page Forces New Phone Number?

Question about Tracfone $200 year plan, unlimited text/Voice + 24G data, please ?

StraighTalk Home to TracFone Cell?

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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:

MWC 2023 wrap-up

Apple iPhone 14 Pro wins best smartphone in 2023 GLOMO awards

Rogers Launches Roam Like Home Promo Ahead of Spring Break

Legacy Sprint customers on T-Mobile are about to lose a major perk

Top 10 trending phones of week 9

From The Forums:

I need a new tracphone what should I get

Way more exciting than Tracfone's Rewards Program?

Switching phones on an active line - best practices

Old plan switch

Service enddate

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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, February 27th, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, February 28th, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday March 1st, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, March 3rd, 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 35 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

Verizon outage

Congrats to LittleBear916 for starting our one hundred and sixty-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:

Best of MWC 2023: Android Police’s awards for the big mobile show

MWC 2023 was a preview of what future phones could (and should) look like

Europe's plan to rein in Big Tech will require Apple to open up iMessage

It costs Google $123 to build a Pixel Watch, analysis shows

We need to talk about smartglasses

From The Forums:

Problems with Tracfone LG phones - who is at fault?

Problem with VZW and wondering if anyone else has this problem

Have you ever had a bad experience ordering a Tracfone from HSN or QVC?

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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:

CRTC announces new rules for telecom outage reports after Rogers massive service disruption

Rogers, Telus and Bell Debut $105/100GB Unlimited Canada-US Plans

Google Fi just removed US Cellular as its ‘official’ network

Android is adding support for eSIM transfer between devices

Move over, eSIM — Qualcomm’s adding iSIM to Snapdragon chips

From The Forums:

iPhone SE 1st gen. unlocking

Best unlimited talk and text 2023

Google Fi to drop US Cellular, still provide roaming.

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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 TikTok Block: Why Does the Canadian Government Seem to Embrace Weak Privacy Rules?

TikTok will limit teens to 60 minutes screen time a day (but you can turn the limit off)

This cursed YouTube video is crashing Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 phones

Angry Birds ‘Classic’ will be removed from Android because it doesn’t have enough microtransactions

Key wearable tech feature could pose health risk

From The Forums:

Verizon outage

Tracfone did not add data to my unlimited plan bucket

Old FreedomPop 3 month/1GB SIM

What phones work on Visible?

I just got a job with Tracfone Wireless through Marketsource

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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:

OnePlus’ new concept phone is its coolest yet

Tecno introduces color-changing Chameleon Coloring Technology at MWC

Everybody wants a Galaxy S23, as Samsung shares sales records across global markets

Samsung Galaxy A14 4G goes official with 50MP camera and 5,000 mAh battery

The iPhone SE 4 isn’t canceled, apparently

From The Forums:

Mobile X launched

Why sometimes I have to reboot phone to get data?

Verizon blocks a single website for me-texas.gov.

Service PLan Recommendations

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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:

MWC 2023: all the phones, gadgets, and announcements coming out of Barcelona

Get a close-up look at how Motorola's rollable phone works

Nokia changes its logo to mark the start of a new era

HMD launches the user-repairable Nokia G22 along with several other budget and mid-range phones

TCL NXTPAPER 11 is the first tablet with a NXTPAPER 2.0 display

From The Forums:

Red Pocket Stopped Working

Should Samsung Galaxy A11 WiFi calling work in the airplane mode?

No more page plus chat

Who has a Cheap phone to do porting

How do I create bookmarks in a PDF document on my iPad mini?

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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, February 20th, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, February 21st, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, February 23rd, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, February 24th, 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 52 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

Looking for dual sim phone with FM radio that will work on Tracfone

Congrats to haymeadowfield for starting our one hundred and sixty-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!

---------
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 announces satellite connectivity for its Exynos modems

MediaTek is also bringing satellite connectivity to Android phones

Samsung S23 and S23 Plus review: say ‘yes’ to the S

What is going on with Fitbit?

MWC 2023: Here's what to expect at this year’s Mobile World Congress

From The Forums:

Is balances/benefits transfers being banned?

Received the wrong phone - Will this be a problem

Scratch and win

What is this message regarding a new SIM and a $25 gift card I received on my T-Mo SafeLink line?

Trying to solve the "add airtime for a friend" mystery

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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 2023 takes the outer screen to a whole new level, leaked renders show

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 might make the cover screen much more useful

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 won't have an S Pen slot

Google’s Pixel Fold is heavier than Galaxy Fold 4, but has a larger battery

An exciting new lineup of smartphones is on the horizon… for Europe at least

From The Forums:

Weird texts from Tracfone

Madness -$63,000 iPhone

Combining service time, buckets

Unlocked phone with international day pass

No cell service when I turn on the phone

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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 S23 and S23 Plus Review: It's All About the Battery Life

Biden won’t stop a potential ban on importing Apple Watches

Fitbit adventures, challenges, and open groups are headed to Google’s graveyard

The great smartwatch slowdown: Why companies are playing the waiting game

Google Messages is finally just calling it ‘RCS’

From The Forums:

BYOP SIM + OnePlus Nord N200 5G = "Your device is not compatible", but it actually is. Help?

GUDP Line Cancel

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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 rolling out the first update for the Galaxy S23 series

Leak details how Google will drastically change Android in India

iPhone 15 design appears to be a truly beautiful evolution

Rogers, Shaw and Quebecor extend deadline for mergers to March 31

Here are Big Telecom’s Web of Brands in Canada, Explains TekSavvy

From The Forums:

Tracfone Account just says "Your phone is currently associated with another account"... "

TCL Flip2 T408DL as hotspot (Boost ATT!)

Phone wish list: Telephoto pics, CHEAP and now dual sim with one being eSim

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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 S23 Ultra review: Stellar battery life, disappointing camera

Bloatware pushes the Galaxy S23 Android OS to an incredible 60GB

Top 10 trending phones of week 5

Top 10 trending phones of week 6

Top 10 trending phones of week 7

From The Forums:

Is there a way to hard reset a phone that won't turn on? I want to do this before mailing it in?

Looking for dual sim phone with FM radio that will work on Tracfone

Online order fails (must call CS or try later) plus search f'n fails

T-Mobile Is Dropping Its AutoPay Credit Card Discount May 1

Least expensive backup internet?

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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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A quick fyi that there won't be any morning briefings or threads of the week for the next 15 days; yours truly and the missus will be taking in the wetter, slightly warmer weather on a winter tour of Vancouver Island.

The highlight of our trip was going to be storm-watching over the beaches of Tofino, but right now it looks like the Samsung Smart Tags in our luggage will be the star of the show — we just got word that our one-hour layover in Vancouver is now negative-five minutes thanks to a flight delay, and it will be most interesting to see if our bags make it with us all the way.

At any rate, I'll be back at it on the morning of Monday, February 20th. Happy Valentine's Day!

Photo credit: reddit

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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, January 30th, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, January 31st, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, February 1st, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, February 2nd, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, February 3rd, 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 46 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

iPhone XR has no signal

Congrats to cookieabc for starting our one hundred and sixtieth 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:

Here’s everything that’s actually changed on Samsung’s Galaxy S23 series

Samsung flagship phones can finally use eSIM on Google Fi

Five New iOS Features Coming to Your iPhone Later This Year

White House goes after app store ‘gatekeepers’ Apple and Google

Tim Hortons collected your data without consent, so you can now claim a free coffee and donut

From The Forums:

I just tried to do a MERGE / COMBINE and got this .... Ouch! Need help!

My current phone isn't charging. If I buy a new Tracfone am I able to transfer my service?

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G not compatible with Tracfone

Android 13 comes to the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G

Using a 2G phone

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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 S23 Unpacked event

Here is the Samsung Galaxy S23 series pricing breakdown

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S22: Is the upgrade worth it?

Samsung finally admits curved screens are bad, has flattened out Galaxy S23 Ultra by 30%

Where are the satellites, Samsung?

From The Forums:

Phone deactivated but has plenty of service time and plenty in buckets

Is My iphone Order Missing?

Moto G 5G 2022 on Verizon mvno

Using Rewards points for another line

New phone shipped in white box

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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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