Page 2 October 5, 2017
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of this promotion. Alexa, Echo, Echo Dot, Amazon Tap, and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Qualication: Advertised price requires credit qualification and eAutoPay. Upfront activation and/or receiver upgrade fees
may apply based on credit qualification. Offer ends 10/18/17. 2-Year Commitment: Early termination fee of $20/mo. remaining applies if you cancel early. Included in 2-year price guarantee at $49.99 advertised price: America's Top 120
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Starz and DISH Movie Pack unless you call to cancel. With PrimeTime Anytime record ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC plus two channels. With addition of Super Joey record two additional channels. Commercial skip feature is available at varying times, starting
the day after airing, for select primetime shows on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC recorded with PrimeTime Anytime. Recording hours vary; 2000 hours based on SD programming. Equipment comparison based on equipment available from major TV providers
as of 4/1/17. Watching live and recorded TV anywhere requires an Internet-connected, Sling-enabled DVR and compatible mobile device. Other: All packages, programming, features, and functionality and all prices and fees not included in price lock are
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Entertainment, LLC. With PrimeTime Anytime record ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC plus two channels. With addition of Super Joey record two additional channels. Commercial skip feature is available at varying times, starting the day after airing, for select
primetime shows on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC recorded with PrimeTime Anytime. Recording hours vary; 2000 hours based on SD programming. Equipment comparison based on equipment available from major TV providers as of 4/1/17. Watching live and
recorded TV anywhere requires an Internet-connected, Sling-enabled DVR and compatible mobile device. All offers require credit qualification, 2-Year commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay.
Smartphone Market
Responds to Senior Users
(BPT) - Smartphone technology may seem
complicated and flashy, but don’t believe
anyone who says it’s only for the young. In
fact, 73 percent of those 50 to 59 years old
now own a smartphone, according to a 2016
survey from AARP. Going one step further,
a recent study of smartphone user habits by
the Pew Research Center concludes that 92
percent of those aged 50 and above now use
text messaging, 80 percent use their phones
to access the internet and 87 percent use them
to send and receive email.
Still, a significant smartphone generation
gap exists within the baby boomer set. While
smartphone owners 50 to 59 regularly perform
common daily tasks and even occasionally
play a game on their smartphones, AARP’s
study noted adults 60 to 69 are far more likely
to rely on a laptop or desktop computer for
email or internet use, and tend to avoid apps
and games altogether.
It’s no great mystery why certain baby
boomers have been hesitant to fully embrace
smartphone technology. Traditionally, mobile
phones have simply not been designed with
seniors in mind. Rather, they are designed for
the larger share of the market represented by
younger users, who grew up playing high-tech
games, surfing the web and using touchscreens.
Software interfaces are often not particularly
senior friendly. Small content size and busy
screens can be difficult to read and comprehend.
The challenge of navigating multiple menu
levels is simply not intuitive for many older
users.
The small physical size of many devices,
and the even smaller size of things like
number keys and icons, present challenges
that can make smartphones frustrating for
seniors to use, and sometimes even seem a
little intimidating.
Fortunately, the wireless industry has
responded, and the gap is quickly being
filled. Savvy manufacturers and specialized
carriers have recognized the potential of the
senior market, resulting in more and better
choices than ever.
Samsung’s Android smartphones, for
instance, include a simplified version of its
operating software designed to make navigation
more convenient. Called “Easy Mode,” this
optional setting is found in nearly every
modern Samsung device.
Most Android and iPhone models also offer
options within the Settings menu that allow
users to adjust things like font size and screen
brightness to tailor the user experience to their
specific needs. With any Android smartphone,
users also have the option of downloading a
third-party launcher from the Google Play
Store, which provides big pictures and text
to simplify navigation.
There’s even a growing segment of the
carrier market focusing on seniors. Known
for its affordable rates and excellent customer
service, Consumer Cellular is a full-service,
no-contract carrier that offers a range of
specifically senior-friendly smartphones for
any skill level. Other carriers have gained
popularity among older users by offering
simplified smartphones with convenient
emergency calling features.
Beyond a slight learning curve, there’s no
longer any reason for seniors to feel left out,
or even limited, by smartphone technology.
By integrating new, senior-oriented designs
and features, today’s smartphone experience
can be as simple and user-friendly as they
need it to be.
The Pew study reveals just how integral
smartphones have become to the lives of
users over 50. Going beyond standard uses,
39 percent in this age bracket also use their
phones to access information about health
conditions; 34 percent use them to do online
banking. Fifty-five percent use smartphones
for social networking, and another 55 percent
use their phone’s features for entertainment.
There are truly almost no limits on what
can be done with a smartphone. No longer a
mere toy or gadget, it has evolved to become
an indispensable modern tool. The good news
for older users is that it is also now more
accessible than ever. •
Seniors
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Credit Union or Bank:
What’s Right for You?
(BPT) - The banking and credit union worlds
are as much the same as they are different.
Both are eager to earn your business and to
provide you with loans, mortgages, savings
and checking accounts. With that said, there
are some significant differences between the
two financial institutions.
The primary difference between a credit
union and a bank is that a credit union is a
not-for-profit cooperative, meaning it’s owned
by its members or customers. Profits made by
credit unions are returned back to members in
the form of reduced fees, higher savings rates
and lower loan rates. A bank, on the other
hand, is for-profit, owned by shareholders and
focused on its stock value.
Joining a credit union is fairly simple, and
membership is inexpensive - typically a one-time
fee of between $5 and $25. Depending on where
you live, many credit unions serve a geographic
area, such as a state or metropolitan area, and
are open to anyone who lives in that area.
There is no membership fee to “join” a bank.
All you need to provide is some money to open
a checking or savings account, a governmentissued
ID card, and some personal information
(address, Social Security number, etc.).
Credit unions, by and large, are able to provide
better rates to their members. Unlike a for-profit
bank, credit unions return their “profits” to
members in the form of lower rates on loans,
higher interest on deposits and more personalized
services. Other advantages of a credit union are
that they tend to have lower fees on checks,
withdrawals and electronic transactions, and
many offer checking accounts with no minimum
balance and without a monthly service charge.
Finally, because credit unions are smaller and
have a focus on member service, they may be
more flexible when it comes to working with
someone with financial challenges.
Banks, because of their size and scale, tend
to offer more financial products than credit
unions. For example, a credit union may have
two or three different types of checking and
savings accounts, whereas a bank may have
dozens to choose from.
Depending on where you live, you may have
numerous options for selecting a credit union.
Some credit unions may have only one location
and offer basic financial services like auto loans,
checking and savings accounts. Most offer
free, nationwide ATM access, and since many
credit unions belong to cooperatives, members
can access accounts across the country through
other credit union branches. Bellco, for example,
offers a full range of financial products and
services, including mortgages, auto loans and
checking accounts. Today, Bellco has more
than 300,000 members who benefit from the
advantages of a credit union, including lower
interest rates on loans, higher yields on savings
and access to thousands of ATMs nationwide.
Services: Compare the basic banking services
and access to specialized financial products,
including advanced online services and mobile
banking. Rates and incentives: Look at the current
rates, fees, and incentives - as well as overall
benefits to being a customer or a member of
the bank or credit union.
Finally, it’s important to note that both
banks and credit unions insure your money
up to $250,000 per person, across a group of
accounts (checking, savings, and CDs would
be considered one group). The Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures banks,
and credit unions are backed by the National
Credit Union Administration (NCUA). •
Finance