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How to manage your iTunes subscriptions

When you subscribe to a magazine or a service such as Netflix or Hulu Plus using your iTunes account, the subscription will keep auto-renewing until you turn it off. Turning off auto-renew, essentially canceling your subscription, only takes a few taps or clicks; you just have to know where to look.

There are two ways to manage your subscriptions in iTunes. You can use your iOS device, or you can use iTunes on your PC or Mac.

On your iOS device, launch the App Store and make sure you're viewing the Featured tab. Scroll to the bottom, tap on … Read more

Create and edit high-quality HD and 3D video with Pinnacle Studio Plus 16

When it comes to video, you're not a pro, but neither are you a noob. You can use better video tools, but the best is way out of your price range. Pinnacle Studio Plus 16 might be what you're looking for. This full-featured video suite is compatible with the latest HD and 3D standards, including Blu-ray and AVCHD. It offers 24-track editing, multilayer special effects, animated graphics, custom titles, and hi-fi audio quality. You can save your productions in a variety of formats, share them online, or burn them to disk. Pinnacle Studio Plus 16 is free to … Read more

Is the Xperia TL worthy of James Bond?

Friday's CNET Update is highly classified:

In today's tech news roundup, we're trying to not feel overwhelmed with the number of smartphone choices at AT&T this holiday season. AT&T showcased its upcoming gadgets at a New York event Thursday night, which included Sony's Xperia TL. You'll find the Xperia on the big screen this November in "Skyfall." Other high-end phones to keep an eye on include the HTC One X+, the LG Optimus G, and the Nokia Lumia 920. If you're looking for something with trendy features (like … Read more

Nook goes HD to face-off with Kindle

Wednesday's CNET Update puts a filter on it:

Barnes & Noble added two Nooks to the tablet family that have better screens and faster processors. Arriving in October, there's the 7-inch Nook HD (starting at $200 with 8 GB) and the 9-inch Nook HD+ (starting at $270 with 16 GB). They weigh in lighter than the competition and both have slots to add your own memory cards. But neither has a camera.

Gamers will be interested in the Wikipad, 10.1-inch tablet that has a controller dock with two analog sticks, a directional pad and four buttons. It … Read more

Attack your opponents and build your empire with Mini Empires Plus for iOS

Mini Empire Plus is a strategy game that could be described as being a combination of Risk and Farmville. This fun game offers a great user experience with a well-designed interface that lets you get started right away.

For users who have already played strategy games, Mini Empire Plus's controls and actions will be a no-brainer, but we liked the in-game guidance that helps new users get acclimated. The first launch takes you to the Stone Age so you start building your virtual empire. From there, you can start taking on other players. You can choose your method of … Read more

Get a 47-inch Vizio 3D HDTV with Wi-Fi for $598

Looking to replace an old LCD panel (or even, horrors, a tube) with something new, modern, and feature-packed? Ah, who are we kidding, "feature-packed" is code for "not in my budget."

It might be today. For a limited time, and while supplies last, Amazon has the VIZIO E3D470VX 47-inch LCD HDTV for $598 shipped. When it comes to features, this model's about as packed as they come.

For starters, it's a 3D TV, one that relies on lightweight passive glasses rather than expensive, inconvenient active-shutter glasses. Vizio supplies two pairs, but you can expand … Read more

Windows 8 hybrid-tablet mania

Thursday's tech news roundup calls for a deluge of tablet-PC hybrids:

Everyone is talking about tablet hybrids at this year's IFA electronics trade show in Berlin. Every major laptop maker is getting in the game, all because of the October 26 release of Windows 8. Some choose to have the screen swivel or fold to be held like a tablet, such as the Dell XPS Duo 12 and the Asus Taichi. But most hardware makers are also offering tablets with full keyboards that snap on, like HP's Envy x2 tablet and Samsung's Series 5 and 7 Slates (… Read more

Gesture on the go with StrokesPlus Portable

StrokesPlus is a powerful and flexible program that lets users perform a variety of common tasks, such as cutting and pasting text, launching programs, and adjusting the computer's volume, all by making simple mouse gestures. StrokesPlus Portable is, as the name suggests, a portable version of this useful program. Whether you're experienced with using mouse gestures or looking to try them for the first time, StrokesPlus Portable is a great choice that lets you use your mouse gestures wherever you go.

StrokesPlus Portable appears as an icon in the system tray, and right-clicking it reveals a comprehensive set … Read more

Use mouse gestures to save time with StrokesPlus

Mouse gestures are one of the simplest -- and, we'd venture to say, most clever -- ways to save time on the computer. With a flick of the wrist you can launch or close a program, adjust your volume, undo your last action, or perform any number of other tasks. StrokesPlus is an easy-to-use program that provides users with a variety of predefined mouse gesture actions, as well as the capability to create others. We think it's a great way to save time and mouse strokes on commonly performed tasks.

StrokesPlus appears as an icon in the system … Read more

There's no escaping the mobile-ad attack

Thursday's tech news roundup is feeling square:

In the search for more money, YouTube is adding video commercials to play before videos on smartphones and tablets. These ads will play for five seconds before users can skip right to the video. As we spend more time on mobile devices, it's only natural for advertising to migrate. Android users will be the first to see pre-roll ads, since the YouTube iPhone app cannot show ads. But that will change in the next YouTube app version for iOS 6.

The Google+ network has updated its sliders. The feature, found in … Read more