News & Blog - Page 2 of 16

May

12

2022

7 Helpful Tech Tricks That Can Make Everyday Life Easier and More Productive

Today’s technology can enhance users’ lives in a broad range of important ways, from keeping them entertained and educated to helping get their jobs done, assisting with daily chores and connecting with loved ones. And sometimes, simple tasks even easier. Those looking to ramp up the levels of ease and efficiency in their lives can consider these seven technology-related life hacks that are simple to implement, yet all-too-often unknown to everyday users: Save time on typing: For desk workers who spend substantial amounts of time typing or for those who might have suffered a hand injury that makes navigating a...

Apr

18

2022

FTC offers a range of services to assist customers with disabilities

With a coverage area of 3,000 square miles, FTC has been committed to providing cutting-edge communications technology to the residents of Clarendon, lower Florence, Lee, Sumter and Williamsburg counties since its founding more than 70 years ago. And the cooperative’s dedication to service extends to all area residents, no matter what type of special assistance they might need in accessing and using FTC’s offerings. In fact, at FTC, there is a strong belief among leadership and the workforce alike that providing communications services to area residents with special needs is one of the most important obligations the cooperative has to...

Apr

08

2022

4 Big Ways the Latest Smartphones Have Improved Over Their Predecessors

As anyone who recalls the bulky size and limited functionality of the first commercially available cellphones can attest, mobile phone technology has come a long way since its introduction in the 1980s. And today, the technological gains being made with smartphones seem to happen more rapidly than ever. Significant technological developments tend to happen so fast that even a device made just a year ago can seem miles behind the newest releases, especially in certain fast-evolving areas. Consider these four areas the latest smartphone releases have made especially substantial gains over their recent predecessors in the past couple of years:...

Mar

21

2022

FTC Selected for NTCA Smart Connected Community Program

FTC has been recognized for its efforts in broadband by one of the nation’s leading authorities on rural telecommunications. NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association, which represents nearly 850 independent, family-owned and community-based telecommunications companies across the United States, has named FTC a Smart Connected Community provider. To receive the designation, FTC was required to show that it offers 100 megabits per second broadband to at least 50% of its service area; that it has broadband subscription rates of at least 50% and is committed to program principles of collaboration and innovation. NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield commended FTC for the...

Mar

17

2022

7 great websites for selling no-longer-needed items

In the digital age, the days of consumers having to save up their unneeded household items for the next garage sale are long gone, along with the need to post signs around the neighborhood to hype up the event. Instead, today’s internet-savvy sellers can easily list their offerings online, either posting items one at a time or many at once to spur more sales. And when they do, they can reach a substantial audience of potential buyers with minimal effort, then sell their unwanted items to both declutter their storage spaces and collect some cash in the process. For sellers...

Mar

08

2022

Cruising-altitude capabilities: Things a smartphone can and cannot do when in Airplane Mode

Any American who has flown with a commercial airline during the past couple of decades is likely familiar with the requirement that smartphones be put in “Airplane Mode” during flight. The reason behind the rule is a regulation from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that requires the action to "protect against radio interference to cell phone networks on the ground." Put more simply, when a cellphone is used at a cruising altitude of roughly 6 to 8 miles above sea level, it can pick up service from multiple cell towers on the ground. This can potentially crowd cellular networks and...

Feb

15

2022

5 top new streaming options for movie and TV watching

The market for streaming television and movies has seen a lot of growth in recent years. This has given consumers a range of new choices for seeing their favorite programs and films via their in-home internet connection and smart TV (or any other connected viewing device in the home, for that matter). In addition, an increasing number of streaming services are producing their own original content, making their platforms the only place to see some of today’s most talked-about new shows and movies. And while most consumers are aware of the longtime market leaders in video streaming, including big names...

Feb

04

2022

LED, OLED, QLED, mini-LED — what’s the difference? A guide to the latest LED televisions

Television technology is constantly evolving and it has certainly come a long way since the early cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions that seemed to take up half the room and were limited to a maximum screen size of about 40 inches. Today’s flat-screen TVs, as opposed to the bulky old projection sets, are typically less than 4 inches thick, making them easy to mount on the wall to conserve space. And the largest screens can reach gargantuan sizes of nearly 300 inches. (One giant example, an especially large model from Samsung, is even called “The Wall” because … well, with...

Jan

19

2022

8 great ways to make your smartphone’s charge last longer

For the majority of modern consumers, the smartphone is a nearly constant companion. It is brought along on nearly every trip outside of the home, and it stays by owners’ sides (or in their hands, pockets or purses) during the bulk of the time they spend around the house or on the job. Further, by serving an array of purposes that used to be covered individually by separate tools, mobile phones also tend to get a lot of use throughout the day. From flashlight and timer to camera, notepad and even TV remote, in 21st century life, the smartphone fills...

Jan

12

2022

7 Signs That a User’s Facebook Account Has Been Hacked

Most Facebook users have seen the sketchy signs of an account hack before. The first indications might come when a friend’s account starts posting content that just seems off or that marks a clear break from his or her personality and usual posting habits. Another signal might come in the form of a friend request from someone who is already an established contact on Facebook. Or maybe a friend’s account sends out a personal message asking for monetary help or pitching the benefits of a seemingly random product or service. Whatever the telltale signs, spotting the hack of a friend’s...