Category: Tech

Name That Device

Google sent a message with a security warning about a new login from an unknown device. Was it me? I didn’t know, because the device was identified as “AFTMM.” What the ding-dong heck is an AFTMM?

For a moment I wondered if, perhaps, there had been a security breach — until seeing that AFTMM is the build code of a 1st generation Amazon Fire TV 4K Stick from 2018. I have one of those plugged into an HDMI port on my Onkyo home theater receiver.

https://developer.amazon.com/docs/device-specs/identify-fire-tv-devices.html#identify-amazon-devices-by-feature-and-model

I had logged into YouTube on the Fire TV stick, but a full day before the warning was sent. This is the first time I’ve seen a “login from new device” warning delayed for so long.

This picture I used recently shows the setup I’m working on right now.

That’s my new Samsung Galaxy A9+ tablet. Best Buy had a too-good-to-resist Black Friday price for the model with 8 GB memory and 256 GB storage.

It was either that or a Lenovo Idea Tab Plus with 8/128. But, as you may recall, I have vowed to never again buy a Lenovo product. That is, unless and until the trackpad failure on my 2-year-old laptop PC is resolved.

A big surprise with the new tablet is the way it works with the 1byone Bluetooth keyboard. I bought it for $25 back in 2018, for the Lenovo tablet that’s in this other recent photo.

With both the Lenovo tablet and the Amazon HD10 tablet from 2022 (that’s now in my bedroom), I had to type slowly to prevent characters from being dropped. I thought it might be a problem with the keyboard. Now I see the tablets were simply too slow to keep up. With the A9+ I can type without worrying about lost characters.

I have a new appreciation for the humble 1byone. It’s a perfect little gadget, with an excellent trackpad that works the way the Lenovo laptop’s should be working. If you leave the keyboard idle it turns itself off, and the battery charge lasts almost forever. I checked Amazon, and it’s no longer available, at least not under that brand name.

Abnoraml Inlettigence

YIKES! This is one of the least disturbing generative AI videos created by someone, or multiple someones, real or not, named Dietmar Höpfl.

After it runs, click on whatever link takes you to YouTube, then “@shockfactor_ai” to see more. IF YOU DARE!

Or, if you prefer, there’s the horror of Instagram.

Not So Fast, Netflix!

Along with a gazillion other people, I recently received this message from Netflix.

Hi Douglas,

We recently announced that Netflix will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO. This unites our leading entertainment service with Warner Bros.’ iconic stories, bringing some of the world’s most beloved franchises like Harry Potter, Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Casablanca, Game of Thrones and the DC Universe together with Stranger Things, Wednesday, Squid Game, Bridgerton and KPop Demon Hunters.

What’s changing?

Nothing is changing today. Both streaming services will continue to operate separately. We have more steps to complete before the deal is closed, including regulatory and shareholder approvals. You’ll hear from us when we have more to share. In the meantime, we hope you’ll continue to enjoy watching as much as you want, whenever you want – all on your current membership plan.
We know you might have questions. Check out our Help Center for more information or contact us at any time.

Thank you for choosing Netflix. We’re committed to bringing you more great TV shows, movies, games and live programming.

The Netflix team

Netflix didn’t pay Pope Trump the indulgence money he requires, so of course he is favoring a hostile bid for Warner. Once already this year, CBS/Paramount paid a cash tribute to the King to get his approval for a merger. To ensure he gets his cut from them again, his son-in-law is backing Paramount.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/08/trump-netflix-wbd-paramount.html

There are good reasons why Netflix shouldn’t acquire Warner. Failure to participate in a thoroughly corrupt president’s shakedown isn’t one of them.

Update on Updates

Dear PC Owner:

Support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, and as we have been warning you for the past several years, this system doesn’t meet the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11. So, no more security updates for you, unless you pay for extended support!

We are serious about this!

Okay, we let you have those, but that was absolutely the last time!

Or not.

Sincerely,

Your friends at Microsoft

P.S. Without support, you are accepting the risks associated with using this PC. Which you are doing anyway, even with support.

Going Mobile

Donald’s never-ending product announcements. At best they fail. It’s just as likely they never appear, as I suspect will happen with the Trump Phone.

The Trump Mobile phone is nowhere to be found

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/the-trump-mobile-phone-is-nowhere-to-be-found-after-months-of-delay/ar-AA1R2fpx

A small-time family business like Trump’s, lacking any sort of technical proficiency, has zero ability to develop and deploy smartphones and mobile services. So, this is just another exercise in branding, with Trump’s name slapped on somebody else’s product. But Who?

Speaking of technology… I disabled WiFi on my phone, placing it on the LTE/5G network. When I opened the Verizon Home app, I shouldn’t have been able to log onto my router and see the devices on my home network. Except I can.

WAN Remote Administration is always enabled, at least when using Verizon Home. While I’m in the process of dealing with Verizon about this serious security vulnerability, I’m looking into options from replacing the router to installing a filtering bridge.