Slivver There are many reasons you might find yourself in need of a stylus. Jotting notes or sketching images on a phone or tablet, for example, is much easier with a plastic tip than a big old finger. If you need to sign your name electronically, like for many an app-powered purchase these days, a …

The Nexus 5 is thin, sleek and light. Google I continue to regard Motorola’s Moto G as one of the best entry-level phones you can buy, but the current-gen model is limited to 3G connectivity — and you still have to pay for service, most likely to the tune of at least $30 per month. That’s what makes today’s deal …

I want to build a whole new home theater around this baby. Denon There’s the home theater, and then there’s the home theater. You know the kind I mean: HD projector, wall-size screen, cushy seating, maybe a few movie posters and, of course, speakers everywhere. One of the key building blocks of such awesomeness is the AV receiver, the hub …

The Quicklock can be opened with a key card, shown here, or a ring or fob. Rick Broida/CNET Padlocks date back to Romans, though the etymology of the word itself is a bit more recent: sometime between 850 and 1000 A.D. such locks were used to secure livestock in their pens — better known as paddocks. So: “paddock lock” became …

HP This is an update of a deal I’ve featured a few times before, but a newer model with a lower price. It’s like a rerun with new scenes added! I often hear Chromebooks referred to as “the new netbooks,” but they’re really not that at all. Netbooks were cramped, clunky, underpowered and overpriced. Chromebooks, which leverage Google’s nimble, lightweight, …

Sorry, ladies, this custom grill isn’t available to the general public. But you can create your own! Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET I’m a sucker for anything custom. One of my favorite early iPhone cases was emblazoned with a photo of my very own kids. And Motorola’s Moto X smartphone with all those nifty you-pick design options? It was almost enough …

A cash-back service like Ebates can help you get a lower final price on Mother’s Day gifts. Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET Mother’s Day is looming large on the calendar — it’s May 10, in case you’re wondering — so any gift shopping better start soon. Flowers? Please. They’re overpriced, ephemeral and done to death, don’t you think? To really show …

Apple Quick housekeeping item: Following last week’s Raise gift-card deal (now expired), a few readers mentioned an odd verification process after signing up. Though unusual, this process is explained on the company’s FAQ page. Frankly, I wouldn’t oblige any online store that asked me to supply a photo ID (though Raise didn’t, not for me), even in the name of …

Sideclick adds TV-control buttons to your existing streamer remote. True Bloom LLC Everyone loves their Apple TVs, their Fire TVs, their Roku boxes. But using one inevitably means juggling two remotes: one for the streamer, one for the TV itself. You’d think that in this highly competitive product category, Apple, Amazon or Roku would offer a programmable clicker. Maybe they …

Lewis N Clark A quick housekeeping item before we get started: I think many people were confused (and a little disgruntled) regarding yesterday’s deal, which involved signing up for TopCashback and then making a purchase from gift-card reseller Raise. I apologize if I didn’t adequately explain how cashback services work. I’ve updated the post with some additional information, so I …