Once you figure out how you will get video into your house, you have to figure out how you are going to watch it. In the second of his "Cutting the Cord" posts, Agent Gavin C. discusses Internet speed and video streaming services.

So you are moving in to your new place and you are wondering if you can get by without that monthly cable bill. You aren't the only one - we run into cord cutters all the time and have plenty experience sending them down that path. Agent Gavin C. put together a couple of blog posts outlining an approach. Here's the first one.

The new release of Pokémon Go is out in the world. Here are some intitial impressions for some lucky enough to have used it.

Our Agent Kate B has been putting the Pokémon Go app on her smartphone through its paces the last couple of weeks. We recently persuaded her to take a break from her search for new Pokéstops and give us her impressions. Here is the second of her three posts with some tips on keeping your equipment working as you play..

A banana-powered piano? A video game controlled by a couple of watermelons? No, this is not the aftermath of a collision between a fruit cart and a Geekmobile. They are tools our Agents use to get young people excited about technology at our Geek Squad Academy camps.

For many, the most important thing on their computer is their data. Whether it’s photos of family events, small business financial records or a music library, your data is usually more valuable than any other files or software on your computer.

In the United States, the vast majority of adults drive cars. But most of us don’t really know how they work. Sure, we know to fill it with gas occasionally and how to operate them, but when it comes down to how the engine engages the drivetrain, most of us are at a loss. (That’s why we all have mechanics, right?)

A couple weeks ago, I wrote a post encouraging everyone to make backing up their data their New Years’ resolution. As I was reviewing the different ways to create data backups, it struck me how many devices we use on a daily basis now create and store digital files.

Most people who live in the northern states know how uncomfortable it can be to get in and start a cold car. The seats are cold and stiff, the steering wheel is like a disk of ice, and the defroster is blowing air with a wind chill. Since the late 1990s many technically-adept (and cold-hating) northerners have managed to avoid the grim reality of “warming up the car” by installing remote starters in their vehicles. Being able to start your car from the warmth of your house or office with the push of a button eliminated what was, for some of us at least, the worst part of winter.

At the most basic level, liquid and electricity don’t mix.  Liquid spills on any electronic device are bad news — and if the liquid has sugar, flavoring, or anything else dissolved in it, you’ve got more problems that just avoiding a short circuit. 

Imagine this – you are sitting at home minding your own business when you receive a phone call from an official sounding person telling you that your computer is seriously infected with viruses. They say they will help you out and eliminate the viruses if you will provide a credit card number.

I was raised to believe you could do anything you wanted with effort, time and persistence. It didn’t matter if you were a girl. It is the dream of every child to play in the dirt. We geologists get to do it for real. We don’t explore places; we explore time, way back in the past. It’s written in the rocks.
-Adriana Ocampo

So you splurged over the holidays and bought a brand-spanking-new laptop. Or you decided to pool all those gift cards and upgrade your home computing hardware. Let’s face it – you needed to put that old desktop that was still running Windows XP out to pasture. Feels better, doesn’t it?

Ah… portable electronics — the joy of modern technology. The most appealing thing about touchscreen phones, notebooks, netbooks and tablets is their portability. We take them just about everywhere we go. We toss them in our backpacks, our purses, and our pockets. And sometimes… they pay the price.

While holidays may bring out our creative side, they also bring out our crazy side. Few things bring out both like holiday decorating. As a Geek Squad Agent I love to use technology, which in this case means one thing – a computer-controlled holiday light show. Here’s a break-down of how to to put together this year’s Halloween show.

With international athletes converging on the UK this summer in their quest to be best, we’ve reached out “across the pond” to our fellow Geek Squad Agents in Great Britain to help us with a tech tip series for Americans attending the festivities in the UK. Read on!

‘Tis the season to give the gift of portable concert halls.

Getting in shape with the aid of technology!

Face the facts: filth is everywhere. We spend a significant amount of time in our ongoing  battle against filthiness.  Shower, scrub, soap (lather, rinse repeat) as we sluice the dirt away from floors, counters, dishes, and windows.  Don’t our electronic devices deserve the same care and attention?

It’s that time of year again – St. Patrick’s Day! You dress up in green, wear a “kiss me I’m Irish” button, and hit the pubs for some fun with friends new and old. It’s a day when, regardless of your ethnic background, everyone is Irish.

TRENDNet, maker of several IP Cameras, recently discovered a vulnerability in several of their SecurView cameras that allowed for online access in real-time by hackers. Fortunately the company released a quick firmware update to resolve the issue.

After the champagne has been popped and the ball has dropped, it’s time to put away the party hat and get serious about those New Year resolutions.

All those new, modern electronic devices are great, but in today’s Connected World what is going to bring them all together?

CES is traditionally the home of the latest and greatest in cellular, home theater, gaming, and computing technologies. 

We all have things that matter to us.  Cars, bikes, and houses are all examples of things in the physical world with value.  Family, friends, and pets are examples of living relationships we hold dear.

Over the last few months, we have renewed and reinvigorated the mission of the Geek Squad Intelligence Blog.  I am excited to be bringing additional Agents from around the United States to create articles to keep you informed, but that is only part of our new mission.  We are also creating the first international news wire for Geek Squad, bringing Agents together from countries around the world to battle unruly technology, keeping our public informed.

Many people hear the word “refurbished” and cringe. They see refurbished items as someone else’s castoffs and want nothing to do with them.  Here at Geek Squad, we want to show you that refurbished does not have to mean unreliable.  When we certify something, we mean it.

Around this time last year we informed you of a false security alert circulating online that appeared to be from Geek Squad.

This holiday season Best Buy is launching a Holiday Gift Card Sweepstakes. Unfortunately, some nefarious people see this as an opportunity to attempt to commandeer personal information from you.

Summer is fast approaching! Families are piling in the car and setting out on the Nation’s highways and skyways in search of an inexpensive and stress-free vacation. Here at the Geek Squad, we want to make sure you know about a few technologies available that will help ensure your vacation is safe, efficient and a little less stressful.

Updating Your Operating System (And Why It’s Important): A GeekSquad 2 Minute Miracle

These exceptional services demonstrate Geek Squad’s unerring commitment to empowering people to make the most of their gear. Geek Squad Agents are here to help day and night, present and future.

Summary: A security alert about the Facebook “Christmas Tree” application is circulating online now that states:

Geek Squad Agents Donald Barthelemy and Kat Koger-Solt help Food Network star Claire Robinson upgrade her Apple operating system.

Claire is the host of Food Network’s 5 Ingredient Fix (Saturdays at 12:30pm) and Food Network Challenge (Sundays at 8pm).

Geek Squad Agents Donald Barthelemy and Kat Koger-Solt help Food Network star Claire Robinson sync her wireless devices using MobileME.

In this 2 Minute Miracle, Geek Squad Agents Ryan and Will explain location-based services.

Geek Squad Agents Ian and Ricky explain how you can use technology while training for your next road race.

In this 2 Minute Miracle, Geek Squad Agents Adam and Justin explain what vampire power is and provide steps to avoid it.

Geek Squad Chief Inspector Robert Stephens always said “The Geek shall inherit the Earth.” After watching this video, I’d say Geeks are closer than ever to fulfilling that vision.

Geek Squad Agents John Eric and Joel offer tips on how to stay connected while traveling.

Geek Squad Agents William Phillips and Ryan Luering offer ways to cuts costs through the use of technology.

Geek Squad 2MM: Protect Your Computer Against Malware

Geek Squad 2MM: How to Extend the Life of a Laptop Battery

Defining Different Router Options: A Geek Squad 2 minute miracle!

Holidays are no exception. One of my favorite projects is a yearly Halloween graveyard lightshow I put together for my home display. Check out this video I created explaining the basics behind on the spooktacular show!

In this Two Minute Miracle Video Geek Squad Agents Lee Weisbecker and Mike Nelson explain different ways you can connect your home theater components, such as a Blu-Ray player, to the internet.

In this Two Minute Miracle Video Geek Squad Agents Lee Weisbecker and Mike Nelson explain different ways you can connect your home theater components, such as a Blu-Ray player, to the internet.

From homework to video games, school-aged children are connected to the online world now more than ever. In this 2 Minute Miracle video Geek Squad Agents Josh Musicant and Eric Irish offer five simple tips to protect your children online.

For the past few weeks, there has been a marked increase of scareware-malware (virus and spyware) infections. After speaking with multiple clients recently infected, it seems the latest infection is quite easy to fall for.

A few months back, we posted a Two Minute Miracle on disposing of your old tec. Since we shot this video, we’ve rolled out a  recycling program to help you get rid of your old PCs and other gear, and we’ve had a lot of questions about how to safely destroy data on the hard drive.

In early 2008, I purchased a Nintendo Wii. After experiencing the Wii at a competition in a Jackson, MI Best Buy, I was hooked. It was my duty to take on the public in Wii Sports, giving those who were up to the challenge a chance to win Best Buy swag and other prizes. A video game that is fun and interactive – wow.

What started out as a small micro-blogging Web site is now the center of mass appeal. Twitter.com, a social network for micro-blogging, has become one of the most popular online tools for staying connected with friends, family, and co-workers.

In this Two Minute Miracles, Geek Squad Agents Daniel Campbell and Gerald “Chip” Underwood will define the “geektionary” term malware, and what kind of forms it can take.

In this Two Minute Miracles video, Geek Squad Agents Andrew Leech and John Erik Christensen discuss the various online back-up solutions there are for protecting and safeguarding your data.

In this “Two Minute Miracle” video, Agent Hymans shows you the basics of a wireless network including the necessary parts and types of wireless networks.