Life with technology

Woman using her smart fridge

What is a smart fridge?

You’ve just pulled into the grocery store parking lot. You reach into your bag for the grocery list… and it’s not there. You forgot it at home, again. We’ve all been there, stuck trying to remember what we even needed from the store. Once again, smart technology is…

College students using smart gadgets

Best smart gadgets for college students

On average, college students spend around 15 hours a week in class, plus another 10 hours studying for those classes. Don’t forget sports, clubs, group projects, and talking to professors and mentors outside of class. In other words, college is a full-time job. It can…

First cell phone plans for college students

A guide to first phone plans for college students

So you’re off to college and on your own for the first time. You get to jump into the world of adulting—scheduling your own doctors’ appointments, learning the difference between detergent and fabric softener, and choosing your first phone plan. While this can be…

Best apps for college students

Best apps for college students

Between internships, labs, group projects, and late-night study sessions, finding spare time in your college schedule is rare. Being a new adult can be intimidating. Luckily, there are plenty of apps to help you maximize your time, budget, and study habits. Start the…

How to clean your TV screen

How to clean a TV screen

Tired of watching your favorite shows and movies through a haze of dust and smudged fingerprints? It might be time to do something about it. But there’s more to cleaning a TV screen than meets the eye. You don’t want to waste money on cleaning products that won’t work…

How to create digital balance

How to create digital life balance

No one can argue with the daily usefulness of screens and electronic gadgets. With each passing year, we have more of them and do more with them. But that means spending more hours with our hands and eyes glued to our devices. Research has shown too much screen time…

What can you schedule on a smart device?

5 things you can schedule on a smart device

We all know time is a precious commodity. According to survey data, 57% of smart home device users in the U.S. claim their devices save them time every day.  Just like setting up automated payments saves you the headache of remembering when your bills are due, so can…

Sustainable companies

3 companies doing sustainability right

In a world drastically impacted by the effects of climate change, sustainability has become an important part of daily life. In a survey conducted by McKinsey & Co., 72% of respondents reported buying more environmentally friendly fashion products than they did…

Organic vs. sponsored search results

Top 5 sustainable technology solutions

In the early 2000s, online carbon footprint calculators allowed you to enter details about your home and transportation, and voila! Your carbon footprint was revealed, with simple steps you could take to reduce it. We’ve come a long way with new sustainable…

Back to school with reliable internet

Head back to school in confidence with reliable fiber internet

We’ve all been there. The most important term paper of the year is due, but your internet chews up and spits out your dreams of earning that “A,” leaving you with nothing but a glitched-out load screen. Luckily, it’s not too late to head back to school with a fiber…

Person using self-service technology

Customer benefits of self-service technology

In 2011, Gartner estimated that by 2020, 85% of all customer interactions would be handled without a human agent. And for the most part, they were correct. Most customer service is now handled online. As a customer, you may be curious about how the shift to online…

Couple using smart technology on a summer road trip

Best smart devices for summer road trips

“Are we there yet?” This summer, the 208 million Americans taking a much-awaited summer road trip will hear that question around sixteen times… which is about sixteen times too many. Even so, a study conducted by OnePoll and Quaker State revealed that Americans choose…

Best internet discounts for seniors

Internet discounts for seniors

In a survey conducted by Pew Research in 2000, only 14% of people over the age of 65 reported using the internet. Today, that number has jumped to 67%. This significant increase in internet usage amongst seniors shouldn’t come as a surprise. Placing online grocery…

A young girl views a panda-cam on a laptop

Online activities to keep kids learning (and having fun) this summer

It may sound like an amusement park ride or a fun dance, but “the summer slide” is something a bit more serious. During summer break, many students unlearn a significant portion of what they learned during the previous school year. Studies estimate that anywhere from…

Learn how to prevent and avoid wrong number text scams.

How to avoid wrong number text scams

In an era where phones and computers run our lives, it’s all too easy to fall victim to a scam. Even the most technologically savvy people are fooled by ever-evolving scams. In fact, every year, one in ten adults in the US will fall victim to a scam or fraud. The…

Image of how fiber internet is installed

How is fiber internet installed

To escape the heat this summer, many of us will be spending the majority of our time indoors, streaming videos, online shopping, gaming, and browsing the internet. A fast and secure internet connection is a household necessity. Fiber internet is the fastest…

What is the future of remote work?

The future of remote work

Some business owners thought working from home was just a temporary inconvenience brought on by the pandemic, but they couldn’t have been more wrong. Remote work is here to stay, at least if employees have any say in the matter. And the results are in: 78% of all…

Man explores devices for his smart home office.

Top 5 devices for your smart home office

In the past few years, you may have transformed your guest room, living room, or bedroom into what was supposed to be a temporary home office. Since then, home offices have become an integral part of our day-to-day lives. According to Zippia, around 66% of US…

What impacts internet speed

What impacts internet speed

Chances are good you’ve spent at least a moment or two thinking about your internet speed — especially if you’ve experienced a slow or spotty connection. You may have run a speed test, or you may have no idea what your internet speed is. In this video, we’ll…

Little girl using computer with parental controls

Need parental controls? Here are 5 signs you do

Kids today are growing up in a high-tech environment that can expose them to a whole world of information and connections — for good and for bad. Even the savviest of parents can’t keep ahead of all the online trends and threats out there. But we all know the…

Young couple playing online games through fast CenturyLink internet connection

Top 5 video games for date night: play with the one you love

Date night doesn’t always have to mean a fancy meal out or going to the movies. There’s just as much fun to be had with a cozy night in, playing video games. Gaming can be a fun way to bond with your partner while challenging one another, as well as an intimate date…

A couple plays VR video games together.

Gaming 2022: gaming trends to watch this year

Video games have come a long way since the Magnavox Odyssey console was released in 1972. From different at-home consoles to various video games, gaming trends have given people more ways to play than ever before. Social media games and eSports were some of the…

Man using the Metaverse

The top technology trends to watch for in 2022

Among 2021’s top technology trends, we saw improvements with 5G and fiber optic internet networks. Businesses incorporated artificial intelligence in their work operations and customer experiences. Health and safety initiatives around the world used the Internet of…

A woman watches a show on her laptop on the couch as she drinks a warm cup of tea.

Cold weather tips: how to protect your laptop in cold weather

Cold weather can have adverse effects on the way your phone, tablet and laptop perform. The cold air can lead to condensation appearing on your laptop, which can cause water damage to the screen and internal parts. Cold temperatures reduce your laptop battery’s life,…

A guy chats on video chat with his partner on Valentine's Day.

Best Valentine’s Day tech gifts

Valentine’s Day is around the corner and finding the perfect gift for your loved one can be hard. You may be searching for the perfect gift that’s unique, but you’re not sure where to start. While traditional Valentine’s Day gifts usually include flowers, chocolates…

An elderly gentleman takes steps to protect himself online.

How to protect yourself from identity theft

Identity theft happens when someone steals and uses your personal information. It doesn’t always look the same and scammers can have various intentions for using your information. It may range from opening fraudulent bank accounts in your name. Or it could mean using…

A woman uses her internet browser at work.

Incognito mode: what it is and how to use it

You may have heard of incognito mode or private browsing but not understood what the option is or know how to use it. If you ever use public computers at a library or school to log into your private accounts or share a computer at home or work, you should consider…

Woman reviews her emails from her couch.

What to do if you have been scammed online

Scams can happen to anyone, and scammers use a variety of different mediums. Many scams happen online, through email, or through social media. Some come from a phone call or text message. Scammers will try anything to trick you into sending them money or personal…

Woman measuring her trackable new year's resolutions

5 trackable and achievable New Year’s resolutions

Ready to make 2022 your year? You’ve probably started thinking about setting some intentions and resolutions for the new year. But sticking to your resolutions can be tricky. Around 80% of resolution-makers abandon their goals by February. So, what can you do to…

A man uses multi-factor authentication as he logs on to his laptop in a coffee shop.

What is multi-factor authentication and what are the benefits?

When it comes to online security, there are a few best practices you should always follow. Use a strong password, keep your applications and anti-virus software updated, and turn on multi-factor authentication. Used in tandem with your password, multi-factor…