gifts

Top five networking and storage devices that spell L-U-V

We often don't appreciate love till love is lost or broken. The same goes for networking and storage devices.

Do you realize that you're able to read this post this right now because some router and storage device somewhere are both busy at work?

The good news is that every year we have a day to appreciate love. And you may also want to take this opportunity to appreciate the tech tool that's been so underappreciated. Luckily, I am here to help.

Here are the Top 5 networking and storage devices that are not just among the top of their respective categories--including mobile routers, home wireless routers, internal drives, network storage, and external storage devices--but are also collectively sexy, cute, lovely devices that would make a great gift for a special someone. … Read more

Create a geek's dream date

Forget the flowers this Valentine's Day. Go for a lightsaber-lit dinner, the open-source iNecklace, and the flirtatious Fingle app. Bridget Carey shows off tech to woo the nerd of your dreams.… Read more

Google: We'll pay you to track the Web sites you visit

Psst...Wanna earn 25 bucks? Here's an offer from the folks at Google.

The search giant is promising up to $25 in Amazon gift cards if you let it track the Web sites you visit and how you use them. Through a new project known as Screenwise, you install a browser extension that monitors every site you check out.

Google's stated goal is to find out how everyday people use the Internet in an attempt to help it improve its own products and services.

Those of you not shy about sharing your Web sites can score a $5 … Read more

How to turn a USB drive into an awesome last-minute gift

Back in the day, CDs burned with custom playlists were the ultimate last-minute gifts: thoughtful, unique, and took just enough effort to warrant a "Wow, I can't believe you made this for me!"

For the most part, those days are over, but if you have a USB drive laying around, you can give a gift that might be even better than a burned CD: a customized USB hard drive. Not only can you pack it with a variety of goodies (like hand-picked music and photos), the gift recipient will use the USB drive over and over again … Read more

Best Buy lines up smartphone deal for Super Bowl

Best Buy hopes the Super Bowl will bring super-sized crowds of smartphone buyers to its stores.

The retailer plans to run its second-ever Super Bowl spot, this year placing the spotlight solely on mobile and creating a short-term deal that will dole out $50 gift cards to customers who buy smartphones this year.

The push is part of Best Buy's increased focus on mobile, which remains one of the stronger revenue drivers for the retail chain. While the company is seeing slowing sales and price cuts in other areas, smartphones are lucrative.

Most consumers still tend to go to … Read more

How to sell your unwanted gift cards

Did you know you can sell or trade your unwanted gift cards? … Read more

Last-minute gift: A $50 iTunes gift card for $40

Well, folks, that wraps up another year for the Cheapskate. (Actually, I may have a deal or two for you next week, but mostly I'm planning some much-needed battery recharging.)

I want to wish everyone a safe and exciting holiday, and a happy and healthy new year. Wish I could join all of you for some latkes and eggnog!

What I can do is offer you one last pre-holiday deal--something that arrives almost instantly via e-mail. Wal-Mart is offering a $50 iTunes gift card for $40. No sales tax, and no shipping charge!

It's pretty rare to see deals on iTunes cards, let alone a 20 percent discount. If you're giving this as a gift, you get to look like a big shot while secretly remaining a cheapskate. Mwa ha ha.… Read more

Get free next-day shipping from the Apple store

Procrastinators of the world, rejoice! If you want to give someone the very best gift of all--an Apple product--it's not too late. Apple is offering free next-day shipping on select items.

Don't worry--"select" doesn't mean only lame stuff like cases and cables. You can nab free expedited shipping on iPhones, Apple TVs, non-engraved iPods and iPads, and non-customized Macs. Normally this runs at least $16--and sometimes a lot more. (Depends on the product, natch.)

To get the deal, make sure to choose "free Express Shipping" at checkout.

Lots of other stores offer … Read more

Shopping for a gamer? CNET's Holiday Help Desk has your back

Gamers are possibly the most fun people to shop for. They always want something, and if you guess right, you're a hero for the rest of the year.

There's just so much that brings them insane amounts of joy: a new controller (woot!), the latest game (Batman: Arkham City, anyone?), a geeky gaming headset (hey, it's important), and the mother load of all gamer gifts, a brand-new console.

If you're still unsure which of these pretty sweet options to get for the adorable gaming addict in your life, let CNET's Holiday Help Desk help. … Read more

Multi-deal Monday: Free video editor, cheap games, last-minute gifts, and more!

First things first: Don't forget to join me for the final CNET Holiday Help Desk of 2011, which airs live today at noon PT (or 3 p.m. for my fellow ET-ers).

Speaking of holiday help, if you need to edit some scandalous Christmas-party videos, you might want something a little more powerful than Windows Live Movie Maker. Get Wondershare's Vivideo Video Editor for free when you enter passcode too hard to say goodbye, click Get It Free, and supply your name and e-mail address. (Be sure to click Get Keycode after that.) The program is available for … Read more