Where to Watch the Olympic Events You Missed

Ah, it's Winter Olympics time. It's interesting to me how sports that people typically don't care about become the most fascinating things in the world whenever the Olympics come crashing down on us. Who ever thought we'd find out so much about curling, the biathlon (AKA best Bond villain competition) and funny Olympic pants?

While the games have been going on for a little over a week now, there's still about a week left to watch some of your favorite events. However, for those poor blessed souls that still don't have a DVR with their TV service, or if you're like me and you simply don't feel like recording huge 6 hour blocks of programming to catch one event, it sometimes seems like there is so much to miss. Fear not! Lifehacker has posted some cool tips and links about where to watch the Olympics online. Lots of the events are available to stream, as long as you have a fairly decent high-speed connection.

Now you know who to thank when you're up until two in the morning watching figure skating. You're welcome.

Which HDTV is Right for You?

If you’re in the market for a new HDTV the sheer volume of choice on the market can be a little overwhelming. Many people simply don’t take the time to learn enough about their options and end up with a TV that doesn’t suit their needs.

Instead of just wandering around your local big box store like a kid in a very expensive candy store and relying on the high-school students/sales assistants for advice, go in prepared like a pro and you’ll be sure to find the right TV. Here are the decisions you should make before heading to the store to buy:

• Screen Size – This comes down to two main concerns: money and space. It’s no fun to come home with a new TV that won’t fit in your room, so measure where you’re planning on setting up the TV to set your maximum screen size. And while everyone wants a huge screen, you may have to compromise to fit your budget—work out the minimum screen size that will make you happy. Now you have a range of screen sizes that will work for your needs.

Landline or Cell Phone?

In the times we live in, it seems that less and less consumers are keeping the landlines they have in their homes and apartments. Recently, my mother got rid of hers, and it was a number I've known by heart since childhood. When my wife and I moved into our home, she was convinced that we needed a landline after years of not having one. I guess it made things feel more official for her.

While there are many out there who would say that it's time to ditch landlines once and for all, there are actually many practical reasons that exist to keep using them. For one, 9-1-1 emergency calls are much easier for emergency services to track via landlines as opposed to cell phones. Likewise, if you want home security service, you will probably need a landline connection. There are also a few DSL providers that require phone lines in order to connect high-speed Internet as well.

So what are your preferences? Do you see the need to keep a landline, or do you stick with just the cell phone? If you are interested in home phone service, WhiteFence can get you connected.

Slash Printing Wastes with the Paperless PrePeat Printer

At this point, we all know we should be moving towards a paperless office for the sake of both our wallets and our planet. While printer paper is relatively cheap, printer ink is one of the most expensive liquids on the market. And even when you recycle your used paper like we do here at WhiteFence, printing is still far from an eco-friendly activity.

Yet, despite the environmental and financial impacts, there are times where you simply have to print something out. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a budget-friendly green solution for those occasions?

Japanese firm Sanwa Newtec think they have just that solution. Their PrePeat printer uses not paper, but heat-sensitive PET plastic sheets. These sheets can be used up to 1,000 times according to the manufacturer and totally cut out the need for both paper and ink. Think of it as the paper version of the CD-RW, those rewriteable CDs you could burn files to over and over again.

Of course, this is very early in the life of paperless printing market and costs are still pretty prohibitive for the average consumer.­ The PrePeat itself will currently set you back over five grand, not to mention the ream of 1,000 PET sheets you’d have to buy for over three thousand more dollars. But hey, even at those prices you’d be able to get one million prints for less than $10,000, which works out to less than one penny per print—not bad for an environmentally friendly printer.

As much as I’m looking forward to this, I do have one question: will people be able to see the “history” of your sheets?

Image Via Sanwa Newtec

DIRECTV 2 Go 3D

DIRECTV recently announced it is entering in to a strategic relationship that will bring 3D TV nationwide. Beginning in June 2010, DIRECTV HD customers will receive a free software upgrade enabling them to have access to three dedicated 3D channels if they have 3D television sets.

Panasonic will be the exclusive presenting sponsor of DIRECTV's new high definition 3D channels, leveraging their current relationships with programming partners and movie studios to obtain new and existing 3D content. DIRECTV says that it is currently working with AEG/AEG Digital Media, CBS, Fox Sports/FSN, Golden Boy Promotions, HDNet, MTV, NBC Universal and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., to develop additional 3D programming that will debut in 2010-2011.

"We led the way with HD and we are excited to do the same with 3D," said Eric Shanks, executive vice president, DIRECTV Entertainment. "Adding the most HD channels to our lineup gave customers a viewing experience that was incredibly lifelike; adding 3D to the mix will take that one step further allowing them to become part of the cast as the picture comes to life in their living rooms."

Get DIRECTV satellite television service for your home today! And to learn more about Panasonic's new 3D televisions, visit www.panasonic.com/3D.

Have a Green Valentine's Day

Typically Valentine's Day is associated with the color red – red roses, red boxes of chocolate and red heart-shaped jewelry. I say be different this year and go green – enjoy an energy conscience celebration with the one you love.

Here’s how to be an environmentally friendly Cupid.

• Cook a Romantic Dinner – Make your Valentine’s a feast-for-two in the microwave, or prepare cheese or chocolate in a fondue pot, two low energy ways of preparing small meals. Also by not driving to a restaurant you will have lowered your carbon footprint for you and your sweetie.

• Homemade Gifts – Using recycled items to make Valentine's cards and gifts is the way to go. Also the gift is more memorable to your sweetheart.

• Take a Moonlight Walk – Taking a walk with your sweetie is not only special, it's environmentally friendly.

• Snuggle Up – Turn down the thermostat and curl up with your loved one.

• Go Organic –  Purchasing organic flowers and chocolates is a pesticide free way of showing you care.

Google Wants to Offer Super Fast Broadband

Some day in the near future, you might be adding Google's name to the list of potential high-speed Internet providers. In addition to providing apps that allow for word processing, Voice, social media and whatever it is that Wave does, the search engine giant is looking to deliver ultra fast high speeds to up to 500,000 homes.

How fast are we talking? So far, the number bandied about has been 1Gbps (gigabit per second). In layman's terms? That's about 100 times faster than most people's high-speed connections. This is possible through Google's wide fiber network, which the company uses to connect its data centers to speed up its search processes and allow for faster YouTube streaming. They basically want to take that network and start connecting it to homes.

Right now, Google is putting some feelers out to find interested parties/city governments to take them up on the offer. Personally, I'd be curious to see just how fast this broadband really is. What do you guys think?

To read more about Google's broadband ambitions, visit BBC News.

Make Your Move Smoother with WhiteFence

Moving is incredibly exciting and amazingly stressful at the same time. My wife and I moved into our first house last year, and it was one of the most daunting projects we’ve ever had to deal with. Luckily, we planned our move with WhiteFence and everything went nice and smoothly.

Here are just some of the ways WhiteFence can help make your move a little easier:

• Organize everything with our moving checklist – Planning is the first step to a smooth move. Our checklist tool lays out everything you’re going to have to do, and when you’re going to have to do it. You may be surprised just how many things you haven’t thought of yet. Get started with the moving checklist now.

• Get quotes on moving service – No one wants to have to lug all of their junk to their next house. Leave the heavy lifting to the professionals and hire a moving company for your move. Visit our mover quotes page, tell us some details about your move and you’ll start receiving affordable customized quotes from moving companies. Get mover quotes for your move now.

• Change your address online – Who has time to waste an afternoon in line at the post office? At WhiteFence, you can change your address for free in just minutes. Change your address online now.

• Set up your utilities and home connections – Getting your new home up and running means connecting lots of services: phone, Internet, television, electricity, natural gas and more. Instead of wasting a weekend on the phone calling a million providers, simply enter your address on WhiteFence.com and you can start comparing offers from all the top companies in just seconds. Compare and order home services now.

• Change your locks – Many people don’t really give their new house keys a second though, but that can be a mistake. Just imagine how many people the previous owner has loaned keys to. Do you want all of those people to be able to open up your house whenever they please? Of course not. WhiteFence let’s you compare locksmith service to keep your home safe for less. Find a locksmith now.

Good luck with your move! Let me know if you have any questions about moving by leaving a comment.

How Premium Are Premium Channels?

I'm a self-described television nut. I will make no claims stating otherwise about my addiction, and how I need my fixes constantly in order to stay afloat in a world with many great television shows to choose from. While I'm not really sure where or when this TV addiction originated, I do know that it has grown stronger over the years. My most recent purchase of a 46" Samsung LCD TV is probably enough to demonstrate that.

However, as much as I am in love with all kinds of TV shows on both major network and cable channels, I've never quite made the jump over to adding premium channels to my TV service. Not because of any kind of opposition to it, really. I've just never done it. This has always been a rather easy decision for me, but lately, shows like True Blood, Dexter and others give me pause. Not to mention the Song of Ice and Fire series based on my favorite fantasy novels that's going to hit HBO sometime soon.

So because of this recent debacle, I thought I'd ask and see what you guys think about premium channels. Are they worth the money/ not worth the money? Vote away!

In addition, if you're in the market for new TV service, WhiteFence has the hook up.

Comcast Offers Norton Security Suite Free to High-Speed Internet Customers

Staring in mid-January, Comcast began offering Norton from Symantec to residential and business high-speed Internet subscribers for no additional cost. The company previously offered McAfee Security Suite.

Norton Security Suite includes PC security that protects against viruses, spyware, worms, Trojans, malicious bots and identity theft. It also includes a range of customizable parental controls. Comcast subscribers with Macs will receive Norton Internet Security for Mac.

According to Norton, a PC that does not have active and up-to-date security software can become infected within four minutes of connecting to the Internet. The Norton Security Suite Internet security features include:

• Virus scan – protects against viruses, bots, spyware, Trojan horses, worms and rootkits and includes Norton’s new reputation-based security technology
• Identity theft protection – helps block phishing Web sites, guards against keyloggers and stores and protects Web passwords
• Parental control tools for family safety – includes filters for age-appropriate Web site content, information about search terms kids are using, and information about their social networking accounts
• Two-way firewall protection – stops threats at point of entry using sophisticated behavioral security technology
• Windows protection – cleans and repairs Windows registry
• PC Tune-up – finds and fixes problems that slow your computer
• 24/7 one-click customer support – via e-mail, chat or phone support

The Norton Security Suite is valued at $160 for residential customers and the Norton Security Suite Business Edition is valued at up to $490 for business customers. The company says the suite is a key component to Comcast’s recently announced Constant Guard Security initiative, which involves a comprehensive approach to proactively assist customers with online security issues. Comcast and Norton will also be offering customers co-branded fee-based virus removal and PC Tune-up services later this year.

Does your high-speed Internet provider offer free security software? If not, see if Comcast if available in your area and switch today to get protected.