Year: 2018

For cooks and bakers nationwide, the fast-approaching holidays can bring an often-overwhelming list of kitchen-related to-do items, including grocery shopping, prep work, baking, cooking and cleaning, just to name a few. And, of course, with so many culinary responsibilities on tap over such a short span of time — even without factoring in all the gift shopping, preparing for holiday guests, etc. that also accompany the season — this can all be a recipe for havoc in the holiday home. But have no fear. For today’s kitchen heroes, technology can help save the day or, at the very least, minimize some...

Read More 5 Apps That Can Ease Efforts in the Kitchen this Holiday Season

As the holiday shopping season hits full swing and that gift-buying checklist remains largely undented while the big day draws nearer, online shopping can be a huge time-saver. The convenience of online shopping, though, does come with some inherent risks. To avoid the security pitfalls that can accompany the sharing of personal and financial information over the internet, online shoppers should consider these tactics for increasing their e-shopping security: Use reputable retailers: Consumers’ safest bet is to stick with stores they already know and trust. That said, sometimes the best deal might be on an offer from an unfamiliar up-and-comer....

Read More Avoid Becoming a Victim When Shopping Online

He’s jolly, he’s bearded, and he’s coming back! Santa is suiting up to pay a special visit to the FTC stores for FTC Santa Photo Days Nov. 19 – Nov. 30! Each day he will visit a different FTC location from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. and you and your family can have your photo taken with the jolly old fella for FREE! We will be printing photos on site and you will receive a free 4x6 photo immediately after you tell Santa what you want for Christmas. As always, we’ll be collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys For Tots at...

Read More Here Comes Santa!

Sooner or later, that new smartphone becomes an old smartphone and needs to be replaced. Individuals who decide to sell their old phones need to be sure they remove all of their personal information securely before letting a new owner take over the device — and there’s more to it than simply deleting data. Phone owners should consider taking all of these steps before selling (or donating) a smartphone: Back Up Some data might already be backed up and some apps may back up automatically, but it’s a good idea to do a manual backup to be sure. iPhone: iPhone...

Read More Safety and Smarts Are Key When Selling a Smartphone

It’s a common problem of the digital age: You’ve got an account or app for nearly everything under the sun, and with each different one, you’re advised to create a unique password. This sounds like a great plan, of course, until you need to log into one of the aforementioned accounts or apps, whether it be your Instagram account, your mobile banking app, the app you use to schedule your haircuts (or even your pets’ haircuts), or any one of the hundred-ish other accounts you’ve got registered in your name. Of course, when you’re ready to log into any of...

Read More 5 Terrible Password Ideas

Calling all hunters! Are you looking for that extra edge this season? One highly effective way to up your scouting game is to enlist the help of 21st century technology. And with FTC’s Game Cam Scout Service working in combination with a GSM game camera, you can have eyes on your favorite stand 24/7. With built-in motion sensors and night-vision capabilities, modern GSM game cameras that can send real-time images and video over a cellular network enable hunters to employ a range of scouting-related tasks at any hour and from nearly any location with the help of their smartphone, tablet or...

Read More Take Your Hunt High-Tech With FTC’s Game Cam Scout Service

As summer winds to a close and the school year kicks off, you are probably making your way down a list of tasks to complete before the first bell rings. While you’re in prep mode, consider these tips to get your home and connectivity in tip-top shape: 1) Don’t let internet lag drag you down. As your home gets connected to more devices, your internet speed will need to be able to keep up. So whether someone in your family received a new tablet for school or the kids are simply streaming music as they get ready for the day,...

Read More Brace yourselves (and your home) for back-to-school season!

Whether you are just starting to explore Amazon’s Echo and Alexa or you already have an Echo in every room of your house, you’ll want to know how to use Alexa to her full potential. Echo is the “smart speaker” hardware and Alexa is the “virtual assistant” that responds to your voice commands. Those generic terms don’t begin to cover what Echo and Alexa can do, however — from playing music to controlling smart home appliances. Using Alexa can be as simple as asking a question, but it never hurts to know a few insider tips, right? Consider these 8...

Read More 8 Ways to Use Alexa to Her Full Potential in Your Home (Plus a Few Privacy Tips)

10 Songs for Your Summer Playlist Wherever you play music — in the car, at the beach, around the house — these 10 numbers will get your motor running, your toes tapping and your lips moving. Warm up those pipes because you’re probably going to want to do a little singing along. “Meant to Be” — Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line Whether you’re kicking back at home or on the road to vacation land, this one’s got a hook that won’t let you go. So just go with it: “If it’s meant to be, it’ll be, it’ll be, baby, just let...

Read More 10 Songs for Your Summer Playlist

Your tickets are purchased, your bags are packed, and you’re ready to set out and explore the world. International travel is always exciting, but there are quite a few differences from day-to-day life at home you’ll need to grow accustomed to — potentially including a foreign language, an unfamiliar currency, different rules of the road and more. One thing you might not have anticipated being different from the usual routine back home is that you’ll see some differences with your Wireless service once you’re outside the United States. Before you go, here are a few tips regarding your mobile phone...

Read More Tips for Using Your FTC Wireless Service While Traveling Abroad