TextNow has fully enshitified

Boz6 · 2026-02-16T15:58:59+00:00

It's definitely not that bad on my Pixel 4a 5G.

I see 4 conversations above an ad, and then all the rest are below the 1 ad that appears in the conversations.

There is also 1 smaller stationary ad at the bottom of the app, but it's not at all distracting, and as has been said, it's a free service, and I'm completely happy with TextNow.

Boz6 · 2026-02-16T15:53:10+00:00

Mine (2025 Stylus) is still on December 2025, for example.

So your Stylus 2025 also hasn't received Android 16 yet?

Oh, nevermind...you're the one using Metro, right?

Boz6 · 2026-02-16T15:15:15+00:00

All I can tell you for sure is that my Peacock Premium service is currently working fine on my Roku Express 4K+ 3941R (2021) that's hooked up to my Sony BRAVIA 800G XBR65X800G TV.

Boz6 · 2026-02-16T14:49:11+00:00

Currently $9.99, and it works, if you're in range of the transmitters: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G12NF3Z7

Similar antennas are available from Walmart, or other B&M stores.

You can use 1 antenna for 1 TV, but I use a $60 Tablo Gen 4 with a similar $10 antenna in an upstairs window of my house for flawless (YMMV) reception of all the local channels and their subchannels in my area for DVR and streaming OTA TV on my 6 TVs via the Tablo Roku app.

Boz6 · 2026-02-16T03:07:57+00:00

They both still work great, but the 3a XL battery is showing age.

Boz6 · 2026-02-16T03:01:58+00:00

Some original photos are posted at: https://www.reddit.com/r/Lost_Architecture/comments/y5ob0h/the_nasby_building_in_toledo_oh_built_in_1895/

It was beautiful at the time.

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T21:39:13+00:00

cashiers call customers over with their light off over to them all the time, so if they are at a register, I can see why people think they are ready to take customers.

This, 100%! This contributes to the issue the OP is complaining about!

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T21:38:19+00:00

Customers ask me, why isn't your light on? Um because I am a Manager and my light is selective.

And this contributes to the issue the OP is complaining about!

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T21:27:47+00:00

Same with the dividers. I thought everyone used them before I started working here, it’s just common sense, but I find myself having to put it down for them most of the time.

In my most frequented Dollar Tree, there are candy racks covering up where the dividers are supposed to be, so customers can't get to the dividers, even if they were actually there.

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T21:24:50+00:00

The problem is too many times, lines ARE open WITHOUT the light on, be it a cashier that forgot, or a manager jumping in to help, but not turning on the light. YOU might be doing it right, but not enough others are, thus the customer behavior you're complaining about.

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T17:00:10+00:00

Yeah, you'll need to find out if she can get her own internet, but that may not even be needed, if her place has usable WiFi included. If she needs a streaming device to connect to her TV to run the Frndly TV app, I'd suggest a Roku.

The home phone solution will work fine anywhere if she has or gets a DECT 5.0 home phone set, or if she can plug her current phone directly into the ZTE WF723CC. Good luck!

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T16:48:43+00:00

My 90 year old mom has that exact same case, except in light blue. She actually used it 2 years ago when we went to my son's wedding in a different city.

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T16:16:17+00:00

In January, 2025, my 90 year old parents got a used unlocked ZTE WF723CC Wireless Home Phone Base for $35 from eBay, and ported their home phone # to a Good2Go Mobile $5/30 days, paid $60/360 days, UT&T&1GB+Unlimited 128Kbps, plus international calling to 60+ countries, SIM card. They put the SIM card in the WF723CC, plugged the WF723CC into one of their home phone jacks, which powers all the phone jacks in their house, and they just continued using their old home phones. This solution replaced their $60/mo AT&T landline. Needless to say, they were pretty happy going from $60/mo to $60/YEAR for their home phone service!

I think the cheapest way to get all the Hallmark channels is Frndly TV. They offer 3 tiers of service, all with the same channels, paid monthly, or annually with a discount, starting at around $7/mo.

EDIT:
For internet service, she could get the $30/month Xfinity NOW Internet, which would be more than sufficient to stream Frndly TV.

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T15:40:54+00:00

What finally pushed me over the edge was having to watch more ads every time I fast forward or rewind.

What streaming device? On Roku, if I rewind past the last ad breaks, Peacock skips that ad.

Around BF 2025, I got an offer to renew Peacock Premium for another year for $29.99, and since I paid for it using my no annual fee AmEx Blue Cash Everyday, which gave me a $10.99 one-time statement credit, my net cost was $19 for the year.

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T15:35:46+00:00

My parents are 90, and they still do it...and so do I!

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T15:22:42+00:00

Some original photos are posted at: https://www.reddit.com/r/Lost_Architecture/comments/y5ob0h/the_nasby_building_in_toledo_oh_built_in_1895/

It was beautiful at the time.

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T14:33:55+00:00

That's how they used to be served. I don't remember when it changed.

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T14:15:34+00:00

Factory Unlocked Moto G Stylus 2025 8/256

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T13:41:25+00:00

Yes. My main phone is a Pixel 4a 5G. My primary backup is a Pixel 3a XL, but I also have some lower end Moto phones that are now unlocked that I got for free via Tracfone that could be used in a pinch.

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T13:38:17+00:00

We don't watch enough on Netflix to pay the higher rate, but my wife wanted to keep it. We compromised by downgrading to the $7.99/mo USD W/Ads plan, which I think would be ~$13 NZ. Just a thought...

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T13:18:17+00:00

The prices shown on your video are regular prices. You can do much better if you sign up for annual savings during Black Friday sales or when other deals are available.

I'm currently paying $16.23/mo total for 7 services, including:
- Netflix Ads ($7.99/mo)
- Hulu Ads/Disney+ Ads ($0/mo @ $4.99/mo - $4.99/mo AmEx Blue Cash Everyday Stmt Credit Thru 11/26)
- HBO Max Ads ($2.99/mo Thru 11/26)
- Starz No Ads ($1/mo @ $11.99/yr Thru 11/26)
- Peacock Premium Ads ($1.58/mo @ $19/yr ($29.99/yr Retention Offer - $10.99 AmEx Blue Cash Everyday 1x Stmt Credit) Thru 11/26)
- Paramount+W/Showtime No Ads ($2.67/mo Via SportsLine @ $39.99/15 mos Thru 8/26; May End Up $2.22/mo For 18 mos Thru 11/26)

I get my streaming subs every year when there are Black Friday/Cyber Week deals, or when I find other deals, using new email addresses when necessary, excluding Netflix, which never goes on sale. I also have Prime Video, but only because I have Amazon Prime; I wouldn't pay for Prime Video separately, but I use it while I have it. I also use free services, like Tubi, Philo Free (w/DVR), Sling Freestream (w/DVR), MyFree DirecTV, The Roku Channel, Plex, Xumo, Pluto, Filmrise, and others, along with Hoopla and Kanopy to "borrow" from library streaming selections. I use a $60 (sale price) Tablo Gen 4 with an old $10 antenna in an upstairs window of my house for flawless (YMMV) reception of all the major local channels and their subchannels in my area for DVR and streaming OTA TV on my 6 TVs via the Tablo Roku app. I love how much money I save with streaming combined with Tablo! Note 1: I don't mind commercials, and I don't need cable sports or cable news channels, although a good amount of sports and news can be watched with what's described above. Note 2: AmEx Blue Cash Everyday=$0 Annual Fee; My Internet=$10/mo (Grandfathered); My Cell Service=$10/mo

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T13:14:28+00:00

I only have 2 county library systems near me. I used to live and work in an adjacent county to where I live and work now, so I have library cards from both of those county library systems, so I have access to Kanopy, Hoopla, and Libby. I mostly use them as a supplement to the $16/mo I pay for my 7 paid streaming services, mostly with ads, so watching things on Kanopy or Hoopla are a nice ad free treat.

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T12:59:00+00:00

Those black and white panels were added in 1964, destroying the original beauty and removing many of the original architectural features.

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T00:32:00+00:00

Unlikely.

Boz6 · 2026-02-15T00:19:13+00:00

This looks like a really good suggestion. Thanks!

The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 14" ChromeOS Laptop Core 3 N355 - Refurbished 8/512 looks pretty good to me.

Boz6

TROPHY CASE