TECHNOLOGY: No rhyme or reason for the vast speed differences

Friday, May 15, 2026

Yesterday I couldn’t connect to the hotspot on my iphone13pro to AT&T.  After wasting a good hour trying to get help from AT&T and all I could get was an AI chat bot that insisted on restarting and connecting according to some web page.  

Argh!  Like I hadn’t already done that.

So, I fell back to my Google Pixel9 on Google Fi and everything worked fine.

Argh! When I move to Flori-duh, I am going to change cell phone providers.  The lack of live support from AT&T has now failed me for the last of several times. Argh!

This morning, I tried and everything worked.  So clearly there was something wrong on AT&T’s end.

Argh!

I ran thru some combinations of connectivity.

12.6 5.72 ATT hotspot from iphone
324 30.5 iphone to tmobile5g
288 33.9 Mac book air  ROSE to tmobile5g
175 33.9 pixel9a to tmobile5g
332 16.9 pixel9a to google fi

This was disturbing! 

No rhyme or reason for the vast speed differences.

Argh!

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TECHNOLOGY: U.S. phone numbers are so often formatted in the outdated (123) 555-1234 format

Thursday, April 23, 2026

https://daringfireball.net/linked/2026/04/16/how-to-format-10-digit-phone-numbers

How to Format 10-Digit Phone Numbers
By John Gruber

*** begin quote ***

The Associated Press Stylebook, on Threads:

We updated our style for telephone numbers in 2024 to drop parentheses. We now recommend the form: 212-621-1500.

For international numbers use 011 (from the United States), the country code, the city code and the telephone number: 011-44-20-7535-1515.

Use hyphens, not periods. No parentheses. The form for toll-free numbers: 800-111-1000. If extension numbers are needed, use a comma to separate the main number from the extension: 212-621-1500, Ext. 2.

I have long been annoyed that U.S. phone numbers are so often formatted in the outdated (123) 555-1234 format. The use of parentheses for the area code dates back to the old days, when you only needed to dial the area code to call a number outside your own area code. (The same era whence comes the verb dial.) Until 10-digit dialing with mandatory area codes started to become standard in the late 1990s, you only needed to dial seven digits to call a local number.

*** end quote ***

Never realized that this was a problem.  But it is annoying when filling out forms, cut’n’pasting data, and interchanging fields.

I’d agree with the author mostly except of the extensions.  I’d prefer just the comma and number.  I remember using it on autodialers back in the old telephone modem days.

We need open standards that everyone uses!

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TECHNOLOGY: Roblox introduces age-appropriate access — we nuked it

Monday, April 20, 2026

https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/13/roblox-introduces-kids-and-select-accounts-for-age-appropriate-access-to-games-and-chat/

Roblox introduces ‘Kids’ and ‘Select’ accounts for age-appropriate access to games and chat
Aisha Malik
5:15 AM PDT · April 13, 2026

*** begin quote ***

The move comes as Roblox implemented mandatory age checks in January for all users who want to access chats. The same age-check technology will be used to assign users to these new accounts. As part of the changes, users who haven’t completed age checks will only be able to play a selection of games rated for younger audiences.

*** end quote ***

​We “solved” the ROBLOX problem by nuking it. Argh!

I think that we don’t have to wait for app developers to fix their app.  ROBLOX was a “near and present danger”. ROBLOX app developers were too slow to fix it.  So we did.  No need for Gooferment diktats!  Parents just need to take control.

Argh!

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TECHNOLOGY: What the Internet should be

Friday, April 17, 2026
FROM MY EMAIL

Interesting video about the original promise of the Internet “freedom” and what it’s become. Have to admire Mozilla for speaking out about what the Internet should be.

———- Forwarded message ———
From: Mozilla Foundation <hello@mobilization.mozillafoundation.org>
Date: Mon, Apr 13, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Subject: We have a simple request–can you open and click this email?

 

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TECHNOLOGY: Forcing people to pay again for what they originally had

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

https://cordcuttersnews.com/bad-news-for-babylon-5-fans/

Bad News For Babylon 5 Fans
By Luke Bouma on April 11, 2026

*** begin quote ***

Fans of the groundbreaking science fiction television series Babylon 5 received disappointing news recently as the show disappeared from major free streaming platforms in the United States. Amazon’s MGM, which holds distribution rights, has pulled the series from ad-supported services including The Roku Channel and Tubi. Viewers who once enjoyed legal access to all five seasons without a subscription or purchase now find themselves without that option. The move forces enthusiasts to either buy digital episodes, invest in physical media, or seek out paid subscription services where the show might be available.

*** and ***

The removal from free platforms highlights the challenges in preserving access to older catalog titles. While physical Blu-ray releases offer high-quality remastered versions for collectors, and digital purchase options exist on various storefronts, the lack of free availability may deter younger viewers or those on tight budgets. Industry observers note that such decisions often stem from efforts to maximize revenue through exclusive deals or bundled content libraries. Amazon’s MGM appears to be repositioning the property, possibly in preparation for new distribution strategies or integration with other services.

For dedicated fans, the situation underscores the importance of owning physical copies or supporting official releases.

*** end quote ***

I’ve often ranted about technology shifts that force people to pay again for what they originally had.  This is just another instance of that same gripe.

I used to have an extensive collection of self-help cassette tapes.  When the “Big Publishers” shifted to compact disks they expected me to re-buy all that content.  Not only couldn’t I afford it at the time but I refused to do it. Argh!

I wonder where in the Universe all that content is store for the eventual copyright expiration date?  

Or is it lost forever.

Argh!

Gooferment diktats like “copyright laws” really are misguided at best and the result of political “contributions” to politicians by Big Publishing!

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TECHNOLOGY: T-Mobile and ATT blamed when VZ goes down

Saturday, January 24, 2026

https://www.androidauthority.com/downdetector-carrier-reports-spike-3632489/?utm_source=newsletter

T-Mobile and AT&T also seeing an uptick in outage reports during today’s Verizon disruption
Not as many reports as Verizon, but still a bunch.
By https://www.androidauthority.com/author/taylorkerns/
18 hours ago 
<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2026-01-15>>

*** begin quote ***

  • Verizon is experiencing a significant service outage today.
  • Other services, including AT&T and T-Mobile, have seen smaller but still significant upticks in outage reports on Downdetector.
  • Verizon has said it’s working on a fix for its own service issues today.

*** end quote ***

​I have a second phone on Google Fi, which basically costs nothing if not used.

“3 is 2! 2 is 1! 1 is none! Look for redundant capability; not redundant gear!” — a disaster recovery adage

Just an FYI.

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TECHNOLOGY: Maybe a simple small phone is good for children and older adults?

Monday, January 19, 2026

https://www.androidauthority.com/mudita-kompakt-hands-on-ces-2026-3631800/?utm_source=newsletter

This tiny, e-ink Android phone is the minimalist gadget I’ve been waiting for
Say hello to the Mudita Kompakt.
By Joe Maring
<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2026-01-14>>

*** begin quote ***

One of the more interesting smartphone trends of the last year or two has been the rise of minimalist phones; phones that are designed to be less addictive than “regular” smartphones while still keeping you connected to phone calls, texts, etc.

I saw one such device at CES 2026 last week. It’s called the Mudita Kompakt, and compared to other minimalist phones on the market today, it’s the first one I’m actually tempted to buy.

As you’d expect from a phone of this caliber, the Mudita Kompakt is a pretty simple device. It has a 4.3-inch e-ink touchscreen display, a 3.5mm headphone jack, IP54 dust/water resistance, 32GB of storage (expandable up to 2TB), and a 3,300mAh battery rated to last up to six days.

*** end quote ***

​This might be a good phone for “children” who are old enough to handle it. Unlike the politicians and bureaucrats that run schools, I think that children NEED to be able to communicate with parents and visa versa. Teachers are not above suspicion and emergencies happen. Like when my child’s bus driver missed his drop off. And, there has been (at least one or two that I remember) school shootings that were first reported by a “child” with his phone.

Heck I might ever get one as my “next” phone! Might even be perfect for befuddled old people like me?

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SOFTWARE: PROTON PASS is “uncontactable”

Saturday, January 17, 2026

https://proton.me/support/troubleshooting?product=pass

PROTON, PROTON PASS

# – # – # – # – #

I’m using the PROTON suite.

I had a question about PROTON PASS.

I can’t see how to generate a random password.

And, I couldn’t find any way to leave a message, email, or comment. Argh!

The original question is just an :annoyance”,

Not being able to contact is a “big negative”.

Argh!

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TECHNOLOGY: Google Photos reminders users how deleting works across devices

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Google Photos reminders users how deleting works across devices

https://9to5google.com/2025/12/19/google-photos-delete-content-guide/

 

# – # – # – # – #

 

As always, backup backup and backup!

 

3 is 2!  2 is 1! 1 is none!   Look for redundant capability; not redundant gear!

 

I recommend that everyone use at least two different backup capabilities for the all important photos.

This was brought home hard when it looks like Google Photos “barfed” and took out BOTH the local device and the Google cloud backup copy.

 

Needless to say, that was traumatic.  Luckily a restart unbarfed Google Photos.  We immediately set up another backup capability on DROPBOX.

 

Suggest that (1) you should be backing up your phone’s pictures SOMEWHERE; (2) have a redundant capability for at least two independent backups; (3) consider using a cheap disk drive  —  usb or ssd  —  to create that complete off line archival backup.  

 

After the disaster, it’s no good to say shoulda, coulda, and woulda! 

 

FAIWWYPFI  (Free Advice Is Worth What You Pay For It! ?zero?) 

 

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TECHNOLOGY: AT&T Photo Storage app “discontinued” — Google Graveyard, the AT&T ashcan

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

*** begin quote ***

The AT&T Photo Storage app was discontinued on October 20, 2025. To ensure your treasured memories are safe, please make sure to retrieve your stored photos and videos before February 1, 2026.

*** end quote ***

the AT&T ashcan!

Of course, no reduction in price. Argh!

#AT&T_ashcan, #Google Graveyard

Technology’s version of shrinkflation!!!

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