I’m always astounded by the number of people who go to the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. This year, over 130,000 attendees and 4,000 exhibitors are descending upon the city. CES used to be the least profitable week in Vegas for casinos since no one was gambling … but it was still the biggest week for prostitution. Go figure.

Here are a few items that have caught my attention at this year’s CES — for better or worse.

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It’s nuts how cheap you can get a smart TV these days. Let me rephrase: It’s nuts how much of our data we’re willing to hand over for a cheap TV. 

Alas, you still want yours to last. That means you need to do a lot more than dust the screen now and then.

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If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a big-screen TV, you couldn’t be around at a better time. That’s because TVs are much cheaper today than just 10 years ago. Sadly, the luxury comes at a steep cost — especially if you value privacy.

Keep reading to find out why TVs are so affordable these days.

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We can recommend many travel tips, including using the hotel’s safe, bringing an emergency door-stopper and blocking the peephole in your room. Tap or click here for five clever tech steps before you hit the road.

But how many travel tips do you know that focus on the hotel TV? These devices are notorious for being expensive ways to relax between outings. The good news is they can be so much more than that.

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Streaming isn’t for everyone — especially since it means you must constantly juggle ever-changing subscription costs. It’s easy to overpay for movies and shows you don’t have enough time to watch. If you want to save yourself from subscription misery, this guide will help you find and record free shows and movies.

Maybe you don’t want to abandon Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and your other favorite services. Or you’re looking for free streaming services to add to your paid services. Tap or click here for the 15 best sites to watch movies and shows for free.

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Most TVs in the ’90s and early ’00s used Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT), which gave them a prominent bulge at the back. But it wasn’t just TVs, as many computer monitors used the same technology. This technology is back in the news for all the wrong reasons.

Read on for details on a class-action lawsuit settlement to determine if you’re owed.

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Anything that connects to the internet can be hacked. However, many people wrongly assume that smart TVs are immune. Tap or click here for four vital steps to protect your online accounts from hackers and scammers.

While there isn’t much personal information stored on your TV, hackers can cause trouble in other ways. A new trend is thieves forcing pop-ups onto unsuspecting victims’ smart TVs. If you fall for them, you’ll end up handing your money to crooks.

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Here at Komando HQ, we’ve written a lot of guides about cutting the cord. Here’s a five-step plan you can follow to ditch cable and start streaming. But sticking to cable has its upsides.

In fact, some cable packages include free streaming subscriptions, which means you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Unfortunately, it can be time-consuming to research all the cable TV perks out there.

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Streaming emerged as a cheaper alternative to cable, helping to launch the cord-cutting revolution. Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case as Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and other heavy hitters are raising prices. Tap or click here for a trick to save hundreds of dollars a year on your streaming bills.

Cord cutters have another option besides streaming, and it’s probably one you haven’t thought about in a long time. We’re talking about an antenna. Before you scoff, know that antennas have come a long way since the ones attached to your old TV (though some still retain the rabbit-ear look).

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Fun fact: The first Compaq Portable computer shipped in 1983 and cost more than $8,400 in today’s dollars. Wow, times have changed.

Still, your computer is a significant investment, and you want it to perform well for years. Tap or click for my five-minute fix to speed up your PC.

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Subscribing to more than a few streaming services will make you gasp at your monthly bill, but there’s a trick to catch your favorite TV shows and movies without breaking the bank. Tap or click here to save hundreds of dollars a year on streaming.

So you found your next date-night movie or binge-worthy show. The problem is you can’t hear what the characters are saying! Low-volume dialogue isn’t just annoying and unpleasant — you might miss something important under all the noise.

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Holiday promotions make December the perfect time to upgrade your home theater. The only question: Which TV is right for you? Tap or click for five of the best budget TVs on our radar.

The quality of streaming, sports and your weekend movie marathon all depend on the right device. There’s a lot to choose from, so we’re here to set the record straight.

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Christmas is still a couple of weeks away, but Roku users just got an early present. You’ll get 13 new Roku channels to stream this holiday season. This tip will break down all the details, from where to watch to what’s available.

Before we dive in, you should know that you can stream these free channels even if you don’t have a Roku device. We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for more freebies to watch on movie night. Tap or click here for the 15 best free streaming services out there.

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Sick of the same old Christmas movies? Relive old memories with your loved ones instead. Tap or click here to convert your old VHS tapes to digital in time for the holidays.

Remember your furry friends. This time of the year is dangerous for our precious cats and dogs. Here are the holiday hazards you need to watch out for.

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Can’t get enough TV? It’s hard to resist with all the streaming options out there. You know about the big names like Netflix, Prime and Hulu, but there’s another service you may be overlooking.

This platform just added over 4,000 episodes of popular TV shows that you can watch for free. Tap or click here to see what’s available and where to watch.

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Watching TV at home is supposed to be an easy stress reliever. But it’s hard to relax when your roommates or family tell you to turn it down. Sometimes, they make you turn it down so low you can barely hear anything.

Sure, you could mute it and turn on subtitles, but then you’re missing a ton of dialogue and music. If you want to listen to the TV without disturbing others, you know it’s not an easy task. That’s especially true if you’re hard of hearing.

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If your TV is “smart,” I have bad news. It’s probably keeping an eye on everything you do and sending that info back to advertisers.

You can stop that, at least to some extent. Tap or click for settings to change on your television to stop this privacy invasion.

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Imagine buying a shield — only to have someone rip it out of your hands and beat you with it. Metaphorically speaking, that can happen when you don’t secure smart home devices.

Take your security devices, for instance. If you don’t protect them with strong passwords, the tech you bought to protect yourself can put you in danger. Tap or click here for four ways to keep hackers out of your smart home security cameras.

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Smart gadgets can introduce you to a whole new world of possibilities. Sometimes, that world also comes with a few hard-to-crack mysteries, like “Where is the apps section on my smart TV?” Don’t waste an hour searching settings — read this guide to find and manage apps on your smart TV.

Maybe you have a regular TV, but you’re ready to upgrade. Tap or click here for five of the best new TVs for under $500. That’s right: You don’t need to drain the bank account to upgrade to a 55-inch screen.

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I have a rule: If an email is going to take me longer than a minute to write, I pick up the phone instead.

For many things, using our voices is just faster and easier. That’s true for controlling your phone, too. Tap or click for genius commands to try with Siri or Google Assistant.

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