How To

Guide to waiting in line on Black Friday

It's that time of year again...you know, where you get to stand in lines for the best deals on Black Friday. Instead of heading out the door 8 or more hours ahead of the sale unprepared, take a gander at this guide for tips to make the experience more pleasant.

Creating comfort

Bring your own bottle--of water. Good alternatives for cooler climates are hot coffee or even soup in a Thermos.Snick-snacks. Whether they're healthy or not is up to you.Extra jacket and/or blanket. Additional layers for cold weather or something children and adults can … Read more

How to get text message reminders for your favorite TV shows

Missing the newest episode of your favorite TV show is the worst.

Sure, the latest episode of "Top Chef" is bound to rerun, but by the time it airs, the entire Interwebs has already torn it apart, revealing who was eliminated, which dishes looked delicious, and how hot (or not) Padma looked that day. (Let's be honest: she's never the latter.)

There's really nothing like catching the latest episode the first time it airs, and tweeting (or Facebook-posting) immediately after in excitement with the rest of America.

But with so many TV shows to keep … Read more

How not to get ripped off buying an HDTV online

If you read my "Buying an HDTV: Online or in-store" article, you'd have found the clear(ish) winner was buying online. The selection and prices pretty much can't be beat.

But as I mentioned in that article, not all online stores are created equal. There are many important factors to look out for when buying online that go far beyond price.

Buyer beware, as they say, as you'll see.… Read more

How to stream online movies and music to your TV

Watching a Netflix or YouTube video on a computer screen can feel a little crowded, especially in a huddle of friends.

To fix that problem, many televisions are now adding these services to the TV interface, creating what are now considered "smart TVs." Services like Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, and YouTube are readily available on those TVs for streaming media to the big screen.

But if you don't own a streaming-ready TV, you have dozens of options to emulate the experience. Popular devices like Roku, Boxee, and the Apple TV have cropped up, each offering a different way … Read more

How to manage a large digital media collection

It happens to all digital-media hoarders: Eventually, your collection outgrows your software and management tools. If you're having a hard time tracking down files, or if your media player takes too long to load, you should consider changing your approach. Here are some tips and tools to make it easier to enjoy all that entertainment:

Tag files. This is essential for keeping track of any large collection. If you buy your tunes or videos from the iTunes store or most other large retail operations, your tags should be fine, but if you found them online or ripped them yourself, … Read more

How to turn your iPhone into a Roku remote

CNET Gotham is here and we've stocked the Openhouse Gallery in Nolita (in NYC) with your must-have gadgets, including ones that haven't even hit the shelves.

We've set up stations like the CNET living room (shown in the video), where items like a 60-inch Samsung TV, the Roku 2 XS, and a supercomfy couch come together to create the ultimate tech experience.

I got to play with the Roku 2 XS, which lets you wirelessly stream video and music content from the Internet to your TV, but soon learned that although the device is awesome, juggling yet … Read more

How to mirror iPhone 4S with AirPlay, Apple TV

During the iOS 5 beta period, we covered how to mirror an iPad 2 with a TV using AirPlay and an Apple TV. With the release of the iPhone 4S, Apple brings the mirroring feature to its newest handset. … Read more

How to amplify the dialogue from your HDTV (Morrison's Mailbag)

CNET reader John asks:

I am a senior. My hearing abilities are deteriorating and I expect there are a lot of others with the same problem. Background music in a lot of programming drowns out the voice. Higher frequency and soft voices are more difficult to understand.

I would like to know if there is any way to control the audio portion of a HD cable TV signal? Would a home theater sound system give you any control?

I know I may require hearing aids eventually but was wondering about an interim solution. If control is not an option, would headphones work?

Thanks for your help, John

I can't speak to the question of hearing aids, but as far as TV audio is concerned, it's not entirely your ears.

The problem is: all TV speakers are crap. Many people can't hear dialogue from their TV speakers. Fortunately, there are several solutions.… Read more

Device & Conquer: Tablets take TV further

Believe it or not, tablets are shaping up to be the future of home theater controls.

Brian Cooley walks you through what could become the ultimate couch potato setup.