Latest Entertainment How-To Stories
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Hassle-Free PC
Two Google scheduling tricks to keep you organized in the fall
The fall is always a big period of adjustment. These two tools baked into Google can help by keeping your academic, professional and home lives organized.Hassle-Free PC
Not sure you want to buy a Chromebook this fall? Try out Chrome OS in Windows first
Chromebooks are still a drop in the bucket of PC sales overall, but there's no denying they are growing in popularity. If you're not sure you want to buy in just yet, Google offers a way to test drive Chrome OS in Windows 8.1.How-To
How to switch Chrome channels to test new features before they’re cool
Chrome's newest features aren't available to the typical installation. But there's a way you can get them early, before the public knows about them.Hassle-Free PC
Google Search: 5 of the most useful instant answers
Google isn't just a search engine it's also an answer machine. Here are five key queries you may find helpful on a day-to-day basis.How-To
How to play DVDs and Blu-ray discs in Windows 8
Unlike Windows 7 and its other predecessors, Windows 8 won't play DVDs natively. Fortunately, there are low-cost ways around the problem.How-To
How to find out if someone has been snooping in your Gmail
A hidden feature in Gmail can tell you if someone's been rummaging through your love letters. Here's where to find it.Hassle-Free PC
How to use Google Calendar to keep groups organized
Google Calendar has several ways to keep your friends, family, and coworkers on the same page.How-To
How to digitize holiday photos and videos
Move precious memories online (and create digital backups) with help from a scanner, a video converter, and better-than-basic editing software.How-To
How to transform any HDTV into a smart TV
Third-party devices can add smart features to an existing set, and some of them are quite cheap.Bugs & Fixes
Bugs and Fixes: updates to Windows iTunes, Java, and Internet Explorer
A fix stops Java from disabling itself, and iTunes for Windows and Internet Explorer get some security tweaks.Hassle-Free PC
Block online spoilers with Unspoiler for Google Chrome
This ingenious add-on lets you browse the Web, Facebook, and Twitter without fear of ruining your favorite shows.How-To
How to keep your real name and face out of Google’s ads
Google just updated its terms of service to allow the company to use your real name, face, and comments in ads. Here's how to slam the brakes on it.Hassle-Free PC
Get link previews right inside Gmail with iFramely for Chrome
The extension embeds content from the likes of Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube so you can view it without having to depart Gmail.Answer Line
Connect your PC to your HDTV, and control it from across the room
Peter asked me for the best way to connect a PC to an HDTV, and, once connected, how best to use itHassle-Free PC
How to get an extra 10GB of Google Drive space for free
If you don't already own one, beg, borrow, or steal an Android or iOS device to score the extra storage for your cloud drive.Hassle-Free PC
Find out if the movie you want to watch is available for streaming
This search engine for streaming movies and TV shows saves you the hassles of checking multiple services manually.How-To
How to download streaming media and watch it anywhere, anytime
Go offline with impunity. Try these tools or services to store your favorite TV shows and movies from Amazon Prime, Hulu Plus, and Netflix for later viewing.Hassle-Free PC
Force YouTube to buffer your entire video
If a slow connection is causing streaming problems, browser add-on YouTube Center can help.
How-To
Saving YouTube videos for offline viewing
Watching a YouTube video typically requires an Internet connection, but with a little preparation the videos can be saved for later offline viewing.Hassle-Free PC
How to add YouTube to your Roku box, the sequel
The beloved VideoBuzz channel is back. Here's how to get it.Hassle-Free PC
Can you record a Netflix stream for offline viewing?
There are some utilities that make it possible, but use them at your own risk.
How-To
Jumpstart your recording career for free with Audacity
Produce your own music, podcasts and other audio projects with this powerful (if obtuse) open-source software.Answer Line
Find and watch free TV on the Internet
Lucyer asked about Web sites where you can watch television programs for freeHassle-Free PC
How to manually lower Netflix’s streaming bit rate
Why would you want to do that? To avoid hitting your data cap, for one. And maybe to improve performance.How-To
7 browser tricks to get the most out of your Chromecast
Chromecast already offers a ton of value for its $35 price tag, but the Cast extension for the Chrome browser can help it do so much more.How-To
How to put your DVD library in the cloud
Free your films from their shiny silver prisons so you can watch them forever on your phone, tablet, Roku box, game console, and other devices.How-To
Transform your PC into a mean, media-streaming machine
All you need is a trusty PC and good media-server software to stream your music, movies, and photos wherever you want them to go.Hassle-Free PC
Make Windows Media Player the default audio player in Windows 8
If you're spending most of your time in Desktop mode, you might not want Microsoft's Music app to be the system's go-to player.How-To
Get more out of Google Earth with these tips for power users
Google Earth users can do more than just fly around a virtual globe. The free mapping application can display real-time weather, help compose photographs and measure distances much more easily than its Maps cousin.Hassle-Free PC
Strip away all of YouTube’s clutter with Cleanr
This browser extension gets rid of all the distracting stuff so you can focus on what matters: the video.Answer Line
Add an external drive to your WMP or iTunes music collection
Kat Korsmo asked how to play music off an external hard in Windows Media Player library. (My answer covers iTunes, as well.)Hassle-Free PC
Tweak your browser to show YouTube song lyrics
Available for all the major browsers, this handy extension lets you sing along to your favorite music videos.Hassle-Free PC
Spruce up your Windows Media Center TV guide with My Channel Logos XL
This newly updated add-on lets you pimp your program guide in all kinds of cool and practical ways.Answer Line
Privately share a video that only a select few can watch
Larry wants to make a video available, via streaming, to friends and family, and only to friends and familyHassle-Free PC
How to find out where you can see your favorite movie
A little-known feature on a big-name site will tell you when and how you can watch your favorite flicks.How-To
Designing your digital legacy
Virtual life can go on. Here's how to set up your online estate through major social networks and useful Web services.Answer Line
How to grab a freeze-frame from a video
Thc008 asked the Photo Editing forum about saving a video frame as a single photo.How-To
How to set up two-factor authentication for Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and more
No more excuses! Microsoft, Google, and Facebook make it easy to improve your account security with two-factor authentication. Here's how.Hassle-Free PC
How to decrease the spacing in Chrome’s bookmark lists
No, you're not imagining it: Google just starting padding your bookmarks. Here's how to undo the change.Hassle-Free PC
Convert video files for free with WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe
Normally $49.95, Digiarty Software's utility can be yours free of charge, no strings attached.How-To
How to migrate RSS feeds from Google Reader
With Google Reader closing in the coming months, taking your RSS feeds with you to a new service doesn't need to be a painstaking process. In this IDG News Tech Tips video, we'll show you how it's done.How-To
Google Chrome: Best security tips for safer browsing
The browser's built-in security features are good but not perfect. Here's how to work around Chrome's shortcomings and protect yourself from attack.Hassle-Free PC
Three great alternatives to Google Reader
So Google is pulling the plug on yet another popular service. Thankfully, there are other ways to manage your RSS feeds.Simply Business
Tackle overloaded Google Apps Gmail accounts with FreeSpace
If your users are constantly bumping into their storage limit, this app can help clear out space-hogging attachments.Hassle-Free PC
Use a Google Voice phone number to keep your personal number private
Google's free service might just be the ultimate 'disposable' phone number for online activities.
How-To
How to add to your music collection for free
Janisum asked the Music & Video Software forum about acquiring songs for an iPod without spending money.Hassle-Free PC
Convert a Kindle ebook to a different format
Whether you're looking to back up your Kindle books or read them on another device, you'll need to remove the DRM.Hassle-Free PC
How to get Google Voice Search on your PC
If you've fallen in love with the feature on your smartphone, you can have it on your PC as well—if you're willing to switch browsers.How-To
Windows 8 and Xbox: How to realize their hidden synergy
With Windows 8, the ties between Microsoft's blockbuster operating system and its blockbuster gaming console have never been tighter. Here's how to get the two playing nicely together.Hassle-Free PC