HoFo Blog

From The Web:

Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar hybrid is Swatch's long-awaited smartwatch

Timex's New GPS Smartwatch Ain't Cute, But It's Cheap

Montblanc Scales New Luxury Smartwatch Heights with Summit 2+

Hamilton is bringing back the original digital wristwatch with an OLED twist

Rumor: Apple developing Touch ID fingerprint biometrics for Apple Watch, Series 2 will not support watchOS 7

From The Forums:

Changing carriers with Tracfone

Can't use google voice for voicemail with Tello

T-Mobile & OnePlus testing 5G on Bands 2+66 for the 7T Pro McLaren

AT&T’s 39GHz spectrum win sets stage for national 3Gbps 5G service

Taxes on "free" features? "No-cost Feature Information" on my bill

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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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Not flexing or anything here, just providing a data point with my own usage for my last billing period with Telus.

The good news? It would seem that 20GB of monthly mobile data is indeed enough for my needs. This includes all app updates, uploads to Google Photos, about a gigabyte of podcast downloads and, my guilty pleasure—and also far and away my biggest consumption of data—a nightly before-bed update of the latest GIFs and memes from Imgur.

The bad news? I rarely if ever consume video on my phone; for that I have an Android TV box hooked up to my home Internet. So if I had to rely on my mobile carrier for everything, 20 gigs per month likely wouldn't cut it.

How about you? Is your monthly data allotment enough to get by on? And if you blow past it are your throttled data speeds sufficient?

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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 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro to launch globally on April 14th

Latest OnePlus 8 leaks reveal “Interstellar Glow” and other colors

OnePlus X may make a return in 2020

Xiaomi gets half its revenues from outside of China, reaches $10 billion in the Q1-Q3 period

iPhone 9 case inventory arriving at Best Buy, other retailers with April 5 merchandising date

From The Forums:

My LG Fiesta 2 bid farewell

Banks told to have $23B ready on April 1st for T-Mobile & Sprint Merger

"Free setup" Google Voice / Hangouts Question Received Via PM

Places to refill

Unreliable ring

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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, March 23rd
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, March 24th
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, March 25th
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, March 26th
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, March 27th

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

Trying to buy a phone for Elderly Brother don't want plan to auto renew

Congrats to NoTechie for starting our seventeenth thread of the week! As a small token of our appreciation, please enjoy a month of Gold Membership on us.

We're hoping that this little enticement will further encourage the sharing of news, tips and other useful information on these forums.

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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 13

Huawei Mobile Services reach 400M active users, 1.3M developers

Xiaomi Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro launched globally with the Snapdragon 865, 108MP camera, and 90Hz display

Samsung, not Apple, is leading the next exciting phone industry change: Foldables

Google cancels its infamous April Fools’ jokes this year

From The Forums:

LTE Data Suddenly Stopped Working

Lycamobile customer service is unreachable (COVID-19)

PSA: Xfinity Mobile now min $12 monthly charge even if -0- data used

Customer Support during Lockdown

What determines the pace that Android phones send DTMF?

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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:

Huawei P40 Pro vs. Galaxy S20 Ultra vs. P30 Pro vs. iPhone 11 Pro Max shootout

The Huawei Watch GT2e is official with sporty new look – and not much else

This wearable vibrates every time you touch your face

Here are all the countries that are tracking citizens' phones because of the coronavirus

Snowden warns: The surveillance states we’re creating now will outlast the coronavirus

From The Forums:

Can you activate a Tracfone with only the PIN purchased at Walmart?

Nokia 4X capacity increase for Sprint/T-Mobile B41 with Massive MINO

T-Mobile $15 connect plan

New 2GB Plan, More Data and/or Hotspot Temporarily Included with Some Plans

No mobile data (Moto g7)

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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:

Alleged OnePlus 8 Pro specifications leak reveal 120Hz display, 30W wireless charging, and IP68 rating

OnePlus launches OnePlus Pay on the OnePlus 7T series in China, may launch in India later this year

Last minute Huawei P40 Pro leak reveals launch promo, sales start day

Living a Google-free life with a Huawei phone

Reports: Google, LG, don’t want Qualcomm’s super-expensive Snapdragon 865

From The Forums:

Safelink Wireless...yay or nay?

1,200,000 less cell phone users

How to transfer service from a dead phone

After the merger T-Mobile has more Low & Mid band that AT&T & VZ combined

Visible - bizarre failure on one phone only - Moto E6

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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:

FCC opens up more spectrum to keep mobile phones working during coronavirus pandemic

Telecoms are sneaking ‘stay home’ messages onto customers’ smartphones

How location data could play a role in managing the coronavirus crisis

How Canada Should Ensure Cellphone Tracking to Counter the Spread of Coronavirus Does Not Become the New Normal

You Shouldn’t Have to Give Google Your Data to Access a COVID-19 Test

From The Forums:

9.0 Pie OS, Q: like or not like it...?

Wrong camping band?

Want to buy a Mobley plan and device

HSN Bundle

T-Mobile and YouTube Team Up to Give Un-carrier Customers Free YouTube Premium

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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:

First 2020 iPad Pro order arrives ahead of schedule, offering early look at benchmark results

Apple's A14 Chip Rumored to Become First Arm-Based Mobile Processor to Exceed 3GHz

Exynos chipsets now third in terms of market share, overtake Apple

Users are petitioning Samsung to stop using Exynos processors in its phones

Verizon Gives Customers Extra 15GB of Data to Use Amid Coronavirus Crisis

From The Forums:

Trying to buy a phone for Elderly Brother don't want plan to auto renew

How important is Band 48 (CBRS) support?

Cricket iPhone 7 Current Version: GSM Only?

T-Mobile Connect Launches Early to Help the Most Vulnerable in America...

Verizon Gives Customers Extra 15GB of Data to Use Amid Coronavirus Crisis

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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 16th
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, March 17th
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, March 18th
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, March 19th
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, March 20th

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

Transfer/Combine Questions

Congrats to WheelieBoot for starting our sixteenth thread of the week! As a small token of our appreciation, please enjoy a month of Gold Membership on us.

We're hoping that this little enticement will further encourage the sharing of news, tips and other useful information on these forums.

---------
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

Xiaomi passes Huawei to become third biggest smartphone maker in February

Coronavirus puts global smartphone shipments in biggest decline ever

Google’s coronavirus website finally launches alongside enhanced search results

Siri now gives coronavirus advice

From The Forums:

Two phone hotspot?

Unlimited tethering for 3 months

Tracfone COVID-19 (Coronavirus) e-mail

Dropped my cheap Huawei Chinese army phone in a puddle

What do you use for texting on Verizon and do you have access on pc?

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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:

HMD unveils Nokia 8.3 5G with Snapdragon 765G, ZEISS quad camera

Here’s everything new in Android 11 Developer Preview 2

Apple finally admits Microsoft was right about tablets

Israel Is Now Tracking Coronavirus Patients Using Their Smartphones

The U.S. wants smartphone location data to fight coronavirus. Privacy advocates are worried.

From The Forums:

Temporary Additional Spectrum

Which would be a better device for t-mobile network

AT&T getting access to Dish Network’s AWS-4 and 700E spectrum for COVID-19

Why would a phone be compatible with Tracfone but not PagePlus?

Wi-Fi calling with US Cellular

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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 S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra with Exynos SoC now getting update that improves autofocus

Samsung’s One UI 2.5 update will enable Google’s gesture navigation in third-party launchers

Rogers notifies customers their personal information may have been compromised

Lime is yanking its electric scooters from California and Washington due to coronavirus

TikTok Told Moderators: Suppress Posts by the “Ugly” and Poor

From The Forums:

T-Mobile has a plan to temporarily hike the speed of its 4G LTE and 5G networks

Dual Sim Question

Tmobile Wins 38% of 47ghz Spectrum, Dish Wins 61% of 47ghz

Talk

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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:

Getting Smarter: TAG Heuer Launches the Next Generation of its Connected Luxury Smartwatch

Huami shipped 42.3 million wearables in 2019, records impressive 72.4% YoY growth

Skagen Falster 3 review: The best Wear OS smartwatch we've tested

Apple Watch Series 6 to gain native sleep tracking, blood oxygen sensor

Watchy is a $55 smartwatch with an E Ink display (you can also build your own)

From The Forums:

Rebel 3 nastyware

Chat down?

COVID-19 Forces a New Look for a Long Deal

COVID-19 Response for Boost Mobile Customers

Straight Talk TCL LX and Moto e6

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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 8 video shows Samsung Galaxy S20 rival from every angle

Leaked official images shows entire Huawei P40 lineup, colors and all

Motorola Edge+ leaked images give us our best look at the upcoming flagship yet

Apple’s Chinese Website Leaks Four New iPad Pro Models

Apple to close US retail stores and all others outside China until March 27th

From The Forums:

Mobile Data Leakage with IOS 13

each monthly period is only 30 days

Google Phone Number... the Perfect Call

MVNOs that have extra security to prevent sim hacks

Best prepaid data plan for home network failover issues?

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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 9th
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, March 10th
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, March 11
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, March 12th
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, March 13th

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

TF AT&T Wi-Fi calling enabled

Congrats to sevillelady for starting our fifteenth thread of the week! As a small token of our appreciation, please enjoy a month of Gold Membership on us.

We're hoping that this little enticement will further encourage the sharing of news, tips and other useful information on these forums.

---------
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

Galaxy S20 Snapdragon 865 vs. Exynos 990 comparison: Performance, battery life, and more

Coronavirus tracking app locks up Android phones for ransom

Popular iPhone and iPad Apps Reportedly 'Snooping' on Pasteboard Data

One man lost his life savings in a SIM hack. Here's how you can try to protect yourself

From The Forums:

Desperately Need New Verizon MVNO

Dish Lends 600 Spectrum to T-Mobile for 60 Days

Can I get a 2nd GV number?

Taxes and fees amounts

Transfer/Combine Questions

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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:

The EU is set to introduce “right to repair” laws that could also force OEMs to let you update your smartphone

US delays full Huawei ban yet again until May 15th

All 42 Apple Stores in China have reopened

Samsung’s free Galaxy Sanitizing Service will clean your phone with UV light

Malicious COVID-19 tracker apps are stealing people’s data

From The Forums:

Auction 103 results are in

Google Voice website slow?

Rootmetrics Test report on 5G as a ‘ Mixed Bag’

TF iPhone Unlock - No Codes Needed, No Email Sent (?)

Venn Mobile $8/mo Discount for 6 months so $22/mo UTTw/50gb hotspot

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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:

Inside source: Apple has delayed the iPhone 9 indefinitely

Apple tells retail employees not to offer AirPods or Apple Watch try-ons as coronavirus precaution

Verizon launches Yahoo Mobile phone service

OnePlus 7 Pro quietly returns to T-Mobile’s online store

California ends opposition to T-Mobile and Sprint merger

From The Forums:

Major Break: California AG/CPUC Settles/Approves T-Mobile+Sprint Merger

Is T-Mobile planning to expand rural coverage after merger?

Verizon Yahoo Mobile (Rebranded Visible?) $40/mo UTT

$20 month Verizon data plan for hotspots and modems.

can i use a 10 dollar prepaid card for a month of service

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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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