The Trump phone was never a serious phone. Not when it was announced last June, in dodgy renders and with an incoherent spec sheet. Nor when Trump Mobile admitted — just two weeks later — that it wouldn’t be made in the US. Not even when the company revealed the final phone, first to me over a video call in February and then to the world in April through a short commercial with the slick sheen of AI.
Technology
5 best home inventory apps to protect your property in case of emergency
The recent disasters sweeping the nation, from the torrential floods in North Carolina to the fires still raging in Southern California, showed how vital it is to have an evacuation plan because you might only have mere seconds to determine which items to take with you as you evacuate.
While caring for your loved ones during this extremely stressful time should be a top priority, it is unavoidable that you must rebuild your home and life, which can mean having to provide detailed accounts of what you lost to your insurance provider.
Trying to figure out what to take when you are given seconds or minutes to evacuate or having to file detailed insurance claims afterward can be a painful and confusing process.
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Firefighters at a house fire (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Why keeping track of your home inventory matters
Home inventory and restoration apps can provide you with a tool to itemize and track every item in your home. Not only can these apps help you stay organized and fiscally responsible for everyday home projects, but they can also help you easily determine what you need to grab and where it would be when you have limited time to grab items to take with you when you evacuate. It is important to determine where and what to prioritize, especially if your home is at risk.
These apps can centralize all your home information so that you can stay within budget for home projects and maintenance work, and they can help you should you ever have to submit a claim after any disaster. It can also help you keep your home safer with routine maintenance. Additionally, creating a home inventory can help you determine if you have the appropriate amount of insurance coverage. Some apps allow you to upload important documentation for your home in general or specific items. This means if you ever deal with the worst-case scenario and cannot grab all the important home documents, your apps will have them stored for you and accessible by phone or computer.
Here are the top picks for apps that are best at keeping track of your home before or after a disaster.
A family watching their home go up in flames (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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Top 5 apps for home inventory & management
1. HomeZada
A comprehensive home management platform, HomeZada, helps homeowners manage all aspects of their home, including but not limited to: maintenance, finances, inventory and improvement projects. Because it acts as a central hub to organize and track important home-related information, it will help you track, locate, rescue important items and make filing insurance claims easier.
Key features of HomeZada
- Home maintenance tracking: Create and schedule maintenance tasks such as HVAC servicing or gutter cleaning; get reminders for routine upkeep so it is one less thing for you to have to remember and prevent early replacement costs, as well as keep your home running more safely and smoothly
- Home inventory management: Ability to categorize inventory for all your indoor and outdoor spaces in a streamlined fashion with its established template so you do not have to start from scratch; assign photos, videos, receipts and warranty information for inventory items by room; critical for insurance purposes and disaster recovery
- Home improvement projects: Helps you create a budget, organize and track the progress of projects of all sizes around your home; store ideas, costs and documentation in one place to assist with tax and resale purposes
- Finance and property insights: Track home equity and overall property value by monitoring mortgage payments, utility bills and other home-related expenses
- Document storage: Employs key security features in storing important documents like purchase agreements, blueprints and appliance manuals
- Mobile access: Access available via web and mobile app makes it easy to manage your home wherever you are and however you want
Pricing
HomeZada offers both free and premium plans. Premium plans features include providing additional tools for inventory management, financial tracking and project planning.
Website
For more information or to sign up, click here.
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2. Centriq
While not as comprehensive as Homezada, Centriq has a strong focus on home management, which centralizes everything you need to organize, troubleshoot, operate and maintain your home.
Key features of Centriq
- Manage paperwork: Scan barcodes of appliances and purchases in the home, which allows you access to manuals and warranty information; photograph product receipts along with photos and video
- Maintenance tracking: Add tasks with a reminder along with any item in the app
- Mobile access: Access available via web and mobile app makes it easy to manage your home
- Troubleshoot with ease: Input product name or barcode with Centriq and get relevant troubleshooting videos to help you solve your problem
- Replacement and repair ease: Centriq will lead you to the correct replacement parts and accessories by simply inputting your model number
Pricing
Centriq offers both free and premium plans. Some of the extra features of the Premium plan include interactions between multiple properties and shared access for multi-users.
Website
For more information or to sign up, click here.
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3. NAIC Home Inventory
NAIC Home Inventory app (NAIC)
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners created the NAIC Home Inventory app to help you if you need to file a claim, as well as provide expert tips. The app showcases a simple, clean design of the inventory section with built-in room suggestions. Though a bit more generic than some of its competitors, this app helps you create an itemized list of your home should you need to file an insurance claim in the future.
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Key features of NAIC home inventory app
- Pro-tip access: Access informative guides from experts regarding insurance claims and disaster mitigation
- Home inventory management: Add or delete rooms suggested under the inventory section; use the barcode scan feature to easily pull up an item’s serial number; add photos and video with items
- Mobile access: Access available via web and mobile app makes it easy to manage your home
- Information access: Allows you to export inventory as a .CSV file without photos or as a PDF with photos
Pricing
NAIC Home Inventory app is free.
Website
For more information or to sign up, click here.
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4. Itemtopia
Itemtopia app (Itemtopia)
Unlike its namesake, Itemtopia actually goes beyond itemizing your belongings. Available in over 170 countries worldwide, the app allows you to manage services, warranties as well as medical records. A rich and interactive app helps you start with ease by incorporating AI intelligence.
Key features of Itemtopia
- Home inventory management: Add or delete items under “Locations” or “Item Collections”; add photos and video with items along with warranties and receipts
- Life management tools: Add medical records by individual, receipts by service and even manage pet’s vet appointments through the app
- Mobile access: Access available via web and mobile app makes it easy to manage your home
- Information access: Allows you to share export inventory as a .CSV file without photos or as a PDF with photos via email, text and other channels
Pricing
Itemtopia offers both free and premium plans. Some of the extra features of the Premium plan include larger storage (up to 2 GB or approximately 3,000 items), the option to add more users and the ability to showcase items for sale with a shareable link.
Website
For more information or to sign up, click here.
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5. Encircle
Created originally for home restorers and insurance adjusters, Encircle is a professionally geared app that can help homeowners stay disaster-ready. This app helps you record items around your home quickly. Because of its focus on industry professionals, some of the features and terminology might be confusing or unnecessary for an average homeowner.
Key features for Encircle
- Home damage assessment: Document damage and progress of restoration jobs easily, collaborate with contractors and report a complete picture of a property loss
- Inventory management: Take photos, video and notes and organize by room; generate reports to instantaneously detail the story of loss; ensure the highest level of accuracy with time/date, user and GPS metadata info
- Mobile access: Access available via web and mobile app makes it easy to manage your home
- Information access: Share a link to your Encircle inventory through text or email; access spreadsheet view by logging into the web version of Encircle; create a PDF version of your inventory with photos by using the app’s “generate report” feature
Pricing
Encircle offers both free and paid plans. Users can use the home inventory app for free for up to two houses. Encircle’s restoration software has a free 14-day trial but is otherwise a monthly or annual paid membership.
Website
For more information or to sign up, click here.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
It’s easy to feel chaotic and overwhelmed when disaster strikes or when friends or family members are grappling with huge losses in home and security. There are, however, home apps that can help you create a plan before and after disaster strikes so you can have one less problem to manage while grieving your losses. While the hope is that disasters will not happen to you, these apps I mentioned will help you know, organize and restore your home should disaster strike. With some of the easiest and best ways to create a home inventory, it will give you peace of mind and a proactive way to respond during an emergency.
Are you prepared for possible evacuation in an emergency? Have you survived a disaster? What did you learn, and what would you do differently? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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A flyer offering “free athletic shoes from VA” may look official at first glance. It uses VA-style branding, talks about health and wellness and even lists the MyVA phone number. That is what makes it so dangerous.
VA says the message falsely claims Veterans can receive free athletic shoes from VA. The agency says the promotion did not come from VA and has no connection to any official VA program.
The scam appears to be spreading through a flyer and online posts. It tells Veterans they may be eligible for free athletic shoes “at no cost to you.” It also shows popular shoe brands, steps to “redeem” shoes and a process that appears to involve a VA provider.
That may be enough to get someone to click, call, share or forward before they stop to think.
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Veterans are being warned not to click links, scan QR codes or share personal information tied to a fake VA shoe offer. (Kira Hofmann/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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Fake VA shoe offer: what VA says
VA says the free athletic shoe promotion is fake. It did not come from an official VA program, including VPRs, Central Office or Whole Health.
That is important because the flyer borrows the look and feel of a trusted government agency. It also uses health language to make the offer sound like a wellness benefit.
But let’s be real here. A free pair of shoes can sound harmless until the next step asks for your personal details.
Why the fake VA shoe flyer looks so believable
This scam works because it mixes familiar names with an official-looking design. The flyer uses VA branding, a health-focused message and well-known athletic shoe brands.
It also presents the offer as a benefit. That can make people feel like they may miss out if they do not act.
Scammers know that veterans and families often deal with a lot of paperwork, benefit updates and health care messages. A fake flyer can slide into that confusion and feel more believable than it should.
How scammers use real VA details to build trust
One sneaky detail stands out. The flyer lists the MyVA number, but that alone does not make the flyer real.
Scammers often mix real information with fake offers. A real phone number, real logo or familiar agency name can make people lower their guard.
That is why you should verify the offer through VA.gov, your official VA account or your local VA facility before responding.
What the fake VA shoe offer could steal
The flyer may look like it is only about shoes. The bigger risk comes next.
A fake offer like this could lead to a phishing page, a bogus form, a QR code trap or someone asking for sensitive details. That could include your Social Security number, VA login information, health information, address, bank details or credit card number.
Scammers may also use the information to target you again. Once they know you responded to a fake VA offer, they may try a follow-up call, text or email.
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A fake flyer claiming Veterans can get free athletic shoes from VA is spreading online, but the agency says it is not tied to any official program. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
What to do if you see the fake VA shoe offer
Do not share it. Do not forward it. Do not fill out a form. Do not scan any code connected to it.
Also, do not provide personal, financial or health information because of this flyer.
Instead, warn veterans, family members and colleagues without spreading the image. A quick heads-up can help someone avoid a costly mistake.
Ways to stay safe from VA scams
A few smart habits can help you spot fake VA messages before they turn into a bigger problem.
1) Verify the offer through VA.gov
Go directly to VA.gov or use your official VA account. Do not rely on a flyer, social media post, text message or forwarded image.
2) Do not scan QR codes or click links
A scam flyer may send you to a fake website that looks official. Type the web address yourself or search for the VA page directly.
3) Never share VA login details
Do not give anyone your VA.gov username, password or sign-in code. VA says it will not ask you to share login credentials in an email.
4) Protect personal and health information
Treat your Social Security number, address, date of birth, medical information and benefits details as sensitive. A free offer should never require that kind of information from a random form.
QR CODE EMAIL SCAM TARGETS EMPLOYEE REVIEWS
VA says veterans should verify suspicious benefit offers through VA.gov, an official VA account or a local VA facility. (Antonio Diaz / Getty Images)
5) Call VA using a trusted number
If you have questions, contact VA through an official phone number, the VA website or your local VA facility. Do not trust contact details from a suspicious flyer alone.
6) Report the fake VA shoe offer
Veterans who suspect fraud can report it through VSAFE.gov or call 1-833-38V-SAFE. Reports help VA and other agencies track scams that target veterans.
7) Use strong antivirus protection
Strong antivirus software can help protect you if you click a bad link, scan a risky QR code or land on a fake website tied to a scam. Good protection can block malicious pages, warn you about suspicious downloads and help stop malware before it does damage. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
8) Consider a data removal service
Scammers often use personal details found online to make fake offers feel more believable. A data removal service can help reduce how much of your information is sitting on people-search sites, including your address, phone number and other details that can be used to target you. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com.
9) Take action fast if you responded
If you already clicked, scanned, called or shared information, change your VA.gov password right away. Use a trusted password manager to create and store a strong, unique password you do not use anywhere else. Turn on multifactor authentication if you have not already done that. Then watch your accounts for suspicious activity.
10) Warn others without forwarding the flyer
Tell family members, friends and veteran groups that the offer is fake, but do not send the flyer along with your warning. Even if your goal is to help, someone else may miss your warning, save the image or share it again. Instead, send a short message that says the free VA shoe offer is a scam and tell them to verify any VA benefit through VA.gov or their local VA facility.
Kurt’s key takeaways
A free pair of shoes can make you drop your guard, especially when the flyer uses VA branding and familiar shoe names. That is the whole trick. Scammers are using trust to push veterans and families toward a bad link, a fake form or a request for personal info. Slow down and verify it through VA.gov or your local VA facility. And if you want to warn someone, send them a message saying the offer is fake instead of forwarding the flyer itself. That keeps the scam from spreading.
Would this fake VA shoe offer have made you pause, or would the official-looking design have fooled you? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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It’s now on sale for $499, past the days of its tenuous, ever-shifting release dates. A few buyers even have the phone, The Verge among them, though more still seem not to.
It’s clear now that the T1 is a real phone, but that doesn’t mean it’s a serious one. Still, for the next thousand words or so, I will try to take it seriously.
$499
The Good
- It actually exists
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- MicroSD card slot
- It basically runs stock Android
A serious phone wouldn’t look like this
The T1 Phone is a curved slab of cheap gold plastic, the smartphone equivalent of a pair of knockoff wraparound Oakleys. The gold finish — more yellow in certain light, though it certainly does shine and shimmer — is tacky in every sense, with a sticky friction that makes it feel distinctly unpleasant to the touch. My phone arrived with a tiny scratch in the top-right corner.
The phone is fairly thin, and light, but its excessively curved waterfall display feels immediately dated. It also loses one of the chief advantages of that design — better in-hand feel — thanks to the oddly angular frame, which juts into my palm as I hold it.
Almost every detail speaks to bad design. There’s the American flag logo, missing a stripe. The fact that “Trump Mobile” appears on the back twice, in two different orientations and two different fonts. Or the camera module, where the three lenses are spaced at irregular intervals.
There are things to like. The 3.5mm headphone jack will have its fans, as will the microSD card slot inside the phone, or the fact that the phone ships with a case, charger, and braided USB cable. These are things that a certain type of Android fan has lamented the absence of for years.
I, for one, am more excited to be reviewing a phone with a notification light again, a true treat that I thought we’d lost forever. It’s a glimpse of a better world, one I didn’t expect from Trump Mobile of all companies. But like the curved screen, even these welcome touches betray that this is a dated, old-fashioned phone, one based on an old HTC design that already felt like a throwback two years ago.
A serious phone would work outside the US
I live in the UK, meaning I may well have the only Trump phone outside of North America. It cannot maintain any signal stronger than 2G, meaning I can use it for texts and calls but not for data. As best as I can tell from digging through the T1’s FCC certification documents, the phone simply doesn’t support the network bands commonly used in Europe.
The T1 Phone isn’t sold in Europe, and that misshapen flag makes its target market clear. But even Americans get to go on vacation every once in a while. From my experience, it seems unlikely that the T1 would work anywhere in Europe and perhaps not anywhere in the world outside North America.
A serious phone would use more than the minimum hardware
At first glance, the T1’s spec sheet might seem impressive enough: a 120Hz OLED screen, a 5,000mAh battery, a triple rear camera with 50-megapixel sensors.
But the truth is you could find similar specs on almost any $200 Android phone and superior ones on phones sold at this price. Hardware like this is cheap and commodified, something that’s only beginning to change thanks to the ongoing memory crisis. Here, amusingly, the T1 is generously specced: 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM come as standard. Those, along with the inclusion of wireless charging, are the only things that really stand out on this spec sheet.
Despite all that RAM, and Qualcomm’s modestly capable Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, the T1 is often sluggish. It sometimes stutters when switching apps or triggering animations, making even basic apps like Duolingo frustrating to use. This hardware isn’t flagship, but it should certainly be more capable than this. I can only assume Trump Mobile didn’t develop the sort of software and firmware performance optimizations that other manufacturers do, handicapping the phone from the start.
1/16
I suspect the camera’s limitations are for similar reasons. The three rear lenses and single selfie camera take basic, functional photos, at least in good light — with the exception of the 8-megapixel ultrawide, which is uniformly poor.
Other phone manufacturers spend millions optimizing their image pipelines, and none of that work is evident here. Daylight photos are vivid and oversaturated, nighttime shots are noisy, and the telephoto shows no signs of electronic stabilization at all, making it feel shaky and unstable. Incredibly, by default every shot is overlaid with a strangely small T1 watermark — as if anyone should want to take credit for these photos.
1/12
A serious phone would have made more effort in its software
As the Trump phone lurched haltingly toward its launch, the going assumption from many was that it would be a bloated mess, loaded with spyware, crypto apps, and MAGA-themed experiences, putting the president’s leering face front and center.
The truth is rather more mundane. It runs Android — the nearly two-year-old Android 15, to be precise — with almost no modifications at all. This is, in fact, about as close to what the nerds call “stock” Android as you’re ever likely to get these days.
The only preinstalled apps that are out of the ordinary are Truth Social, Trump’s own social media network, and Doctegrity, a telehealth platform that’s included with Trump Mobile’s $47.45 cell service. Beyond that you get a single Trump Mobile wallpaper and those photo watermarks, and that really is that.
In a sense, that’s a good thing — I’m hardly lamenting the lack of bloatware. But there’s also no sign that Trump Mobile has the ability or the intent to optimize its phone’s software or deliver any features beyond the minimum.
More worryingly, Trump Mobile hasn’t announced how long it will support the phone with software updates. When I spoke to executives from the company in February, they seemed confused by my question about how many Android version updates the phone would receive, though they did insist that customers won’t “be locked into what’s there today.” For now, that means a 2024 version of Android with a February 2026 security patch; I wouldn’t hold my breath for either to be updated any time soon.
A serious company would put more effort in
In a strange way, the T1 Phone isn’t all that terrible, but only because it proves how hard it actually is to make a truly terrible phone these days. It’s easy enough to throw together the baseline hardware, stick Android on top, and call it a day. For better or worse, that’s more or less exactly what Trump Mobile has done. Between the simple software and the dated hardware features, the T1 is an oddly compelling phone for some old-school Android fans, but Trump Mobile got there entirely by mistake.
This isn’t a serious phone. It’s a marketing stunt that got out of hand, a way to grab attention and juice the subscriber count for an overpriced cell service with the president’s name on it.
Trump Mobile doesn’t care about this phone. And after the year of reporting on it that’s led to this review, I’m thrilled to finally say: Neither should you.
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