HoFo Blog

From The Web:

Camera hardware still matters when it comes to capturing the best smartphone photos

Samsung accidentally confirms Galaxy S23 series launch date

Motorola Moto G72 review

Apple Maps now offers parking information in Canada

Apple has reportedly canceled the next iPhone SE

From The Forums:

Red Pocket, Verizon, Iphone 12, 5G NOT Working

$100 Android phone with camera almost as good as a Samsung S22?

5G Moto Mod

Activating new SE 3rd Gen with physical SIM, TracFone says IMEI1 is the eSIM and won't activate??

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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 1

New wireless standard Qi2 announced with magnetic chargers in mind

Android one-ups Apple’s satellite SOS with general-purpose satellite SMS

Google takes its RCS fight to CES 2023

More than 200 million Twitter users’ email addresses leaked by hackers

From The Forums:

Red Pocket wont work.

Cox Mobile sparks national launch, confirms Verizon as MVNO partner

lWhere Do You Purchase DATA ?

Unable to make calls - Network changeover?

Transfer Movies / Cartoons from PC to iPhone XR by Sim card ?

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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, January 2nd, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, January 4th, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, January 5th, 2023
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, January 6th, 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 43 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

Goodbye Tracfone

Congrats to cv91913 for starting our one hundred and fifty-sixth 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:

iPhone 15 price cut considered by Apple, for both base and Plus models

11.1-inch and 13-inch OLED iPad Pros are coming in 2024

Next-Generation Qi2 Wireless Charging Standard Embraces Apple's MagSafe for Universal Compatibility

AirTags catch United Airlines in lie about missing luggage

Death of the narrator? Apple unveils suite of AI-voiced audiobooks

From The Forums:

VZW/PPC network changeover revealing flaws in approach

Do you think AT&T will ever change the 128 Kbps speed cap/limit once you go over your high speed hs

Gig usage

Galaxy s8 No longer compatible with Tracfone- Verizon??

Motorola launches the ThinkPhone...

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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:

Rogers and Shaw will face the Federal Court of Appeal on January 24

Best Buy (Canada) rolls out $8/month Google Pixel 6 Pro deal

Here are the Latest Cellphone Deals: Rogers, Telus, Bell and More from Jan. 4

This fully cuffless blood pressure monitor connects to your Android phone

Surgeons Sorry for Texting Patients They Had 'Aggressive' Cancer Instead of 'Happy New Year'

From The Forums:

Factory Reset of S7 Sold by Tracfone

randomly losing cell service

What version of Google Play system update is everybody seeing on their Pixel?

RedPocket: Voice calls not working properly

Problems sending MMS using Samsung phones on TF/Verizon 1/4/23

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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 11 officially launches in China w/ 100W charging, 50MP triple camera, more

2022 Winners and losers: OnePlus

Google Pixel 7a hands-on shows off the display upgrade you've been asking for

The Moto Watch 100 is now available in the US, and it's under $100

Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Edition launches with fitness features

From The Forums:

Google Voice help/advice!

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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 best tech products, devices, and gadgets of 2022

Oppo Find N2 review

WhatsApp to stop working on these Samsung phones starting next week

WhatsApp will stop working on iPhone 5 and 5c soon

LineageOS 20 based upon Android 13 officially launches w/ new camera app, more

From The Forums:

Anyone have a Tracfone referral code I can use?

Trading in a device with a unpaid balance

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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:

Rogers' $20B Shaw deal wins Canada court approval

Competition Bureau Appealing Rogers-Shaw Merger Decision; Telcos ‘Deeply Disappointed’

Apple Shuts Down Popular Weather App 'Dark Sky'

Apple Releases Limited-Edition AirPods Pro in Celebration of Chinese New Year

The Sony WH-1000XM5 are Android Police's 2022 headphones of the year

From The Forums:

Goodbye Tracfone

5G phones and 4G phones?

How is it cellular data when traveling in a car as a passenger and using a phone ?

Can anyone explain what this is and are you getting them too?

Add Unliimited Talk/Text (UTT) Card to Traditional TracFone 3-Bucket Plan

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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, December 26th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, December 27th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, December 28th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, December 29th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, December 30th, 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 33 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

Decent Android phone

Congrats to yelloguy for starting our one hundred and fifty-fifth 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!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy new year; see you in 2023

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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:

Here’s what 9to5Google readers chose as their ‘Phone of the Year’ for 2022

Latest Samsung Galaxy S23 leaks show off official-looking promo images, more new details

Apple Reportedly 'Seriously' Concerned About iPhone 14 Plus Sales, Looking to Reevaluate iPhone 15 Lineup

Winners and Losers: Motorola

Ubuntu Touch 20.04 release candidate is now available for select smartphones and tablets

From The Forums:

Bizarre issue with Motorola G pure 2021. Only problem making call out to ONE number!

Does any company still sell prepaid international physical SIM cards?

3 lines if you don't need tons of data?

LOL, typical Tracfone promo announcement!

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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:

2022 Winners and losers: Samsung

Samsung to showcase 12 startups at CES

What company makes the best version of Android 13?

Here’s what’s next in the Rogers and Shaw saga

CANADALAND #725 The Rogers Family Compact

From The Forums:

Need To Transfer TF Number and Large Balance to New Phone - Safest/Smartest Way?

Decent Android phone

Confessions of tired chat agent

Will I lose my balance?

Enable wifi calling on BYOP ATT line

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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 year in wearables 2022: We look back at the key moments

CES 2023 preview: All the wearable tech announcements and trends we're expecting

Sony LinkBuds S review

Apple Watch sensor has racial bias, claims new lawsuit

The Vergecast Bluetooth Holiday Spec-tacular

From The Forums:

Can a smartphone still be activated with a $20 90-day Basic card?

Can't create account

Can't Make Voice Phone Call with Tracfone

Interesting chat with TF --> Force me to Verizon.

iphone 14 pro transfer any luck?

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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:

Massive collection of holiday Android app deals now live!

20 of the best Android games released in 2022 for your new phone, tablet, or Chromebook

Outages and acquisitions: the most important telecom stories of 2022

Canadian watchdog yet to decide on Roger-Shaw merger, to give notice ahead of decision

2022 Winners and losers: Apple

From The Forums:

iOS 16.2 WIFI bug in Tracfone iPhone XR

Galaxy S21 Plus Notification and System Sounds Not Working

Is there a way to just DL Android apps from Play Store?

Wrong number showing up on caller ID when daughter calls

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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 20 phones of the year 2022

Amazon Boxing Day Deals for 2022 in Canada Now Live, Includes Apple Products

Best Buy Canada Boxing Day Deals 2022: Here are the Top Savings

Boxing Week Cellphone Deals: Rogers, Telus, Bell and More

Ryan Reynolds retweets ‘holiday wishlist’ asking for Mint Mobile in Canada

From The Forums:

New Android 11 phone, "Limited connection" WIFI

Is Q/VC and H/SN leaving the Tracfone selling business?

Redpocket alternative for Verizon with high data

Poor service last few weeks

Youtube tv, sharing anyoe?

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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, December 19th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Tuesday, December 20th, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Wednesday, December 21st, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Thursday, December 22nd, 2022
Your Morning Briefing for Friday, December 23rd, 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 47 replies as of this posting the most popular thread started last week is:

Tracfone Moto G pure battery life

Congrats to vljenewein for starting our one hundred and fifty-fourth 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!

And finally, Merry Christmas to my fellow HoFoers!

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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:

Pixel Watch 2: Six ways Google needs to improve its smartwatch

Mobvoi wants you to pay for enhanced sleep tracking on your TicWatch

Fitbit Luxe review: Tiny screen, terrific fitness stats

How Google Maps on Fitbit Sense 2 & Versa 4 will work: Set-up, features, Android first, iPhone later

Here’s Google’s entire 2023-2025 roadmap for Pixel phones

From The Forums:

Tmobile MVNO hello Mobile/ Maxwest phone

Interesting Page Plus marketing

PSA - Visible records your SIM swaps

Question on changing plans

3-way SIM swap - PPC, TF, and free FP

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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:

These are the best last-minute gifts for Android users

The Samsung Galaxy S23's launch date has just leaked

Google Pixel 8 leak shows it may get a new primary camera

New EU battery regulations spell big trouble for manufacturers and tech giants

Monopoly #7 – Canada’s Competition Cop

From The Forums:

Activation popups persist on unbranded S22+ after activating AT&T Prepaid

Basic plans

Samsung Galaxy A13 5G work with Verizon?

Totally off-topic but it's something new and you guys know everything

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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:

Sick iPhone workers expected to keep working, refrain from COVID-19 testing, claims report

Kuo: Apple to postpone iPhone SE 4 until 2024

Google Play has come up with a new way for your kids to beg you for IAPs they don't need

Tbaytel Launching 5G Services in Thunder Bay in 2023

Asus VivoWatch 5 Aero arrives with curious heart rate sensor built into the face

From The Forums:

Redpocket + oneplus 5T need to reboot daily to get LTE?

How to tell if TF has unlocked a phone?

Question about Chat

Problems switching to new Tracfone - Can't prove identity

Recommendations needed: phone, great camera, $50-150

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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:

The Google Pixel 7 Pro is our 2022 Readers' Choice Phone of the Year

Wareable Tech Awards 2022: All the winners revealed

Feds Announce New Head of CRTC, Replacing Ian Scott

Google Pixel Tablet and speaker dock prototypes leak on Facebook Marketplace

The inevitable Moto ThinkPhone leaks with all the fake carbon fiber you'd expect

From The Forums:

Chat transcripts to email, "sworn statement"

Cox joins Comcast and Charter in attacking T-Mobile's FWA

Dual SIM GSM activation December 2022

Cheapest SIM card for US user

FreedomPop at Walmart – all T-Mobile?

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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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