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What to watch on iTunes and HBO Now for July 2015

Now playing: Watch this: What to watch on HBO Now and what’s coming to iTunes,… 1:55 Movie theaters can be awful places, so why venture outside when first-run movies are hitting iTunes? Apple’s got some interesting documentaries coming on the same day they arrive at theaters. There’s “Nowitzki,” which covers basketball star Dirk Nowitzki’s rise …

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How photo app Polarr topped the App Store the uncommon way

The Polarr image editor for iOS is built using the same Web technologies used by websites. Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET Conventional wisdom says that the technologies used to build websites are poorly adapted to the hotter and newer world of smartphone apps. But a photo-editing tool called Polarr may prove that thinking wrong. Polarr broke from convention and utilized that …

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How I solved a nagging laptop problem for just $5

The Ikea Brada in action. Rick Broida/CNET If you’re old enough to remember using a desktop as your primary computer, you probably also remember basic ergonomics: the top of the screen should be just about eye level, the keyboard should be angled up slightly and so on. Flash-forward to today. Most of us use laptops, meaning most of us end …

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These headsets promise a taste of VR without breaking the bank

James Martin/CNET The virtual reality conversation is currently dominated by devices like the Oculus Rift , HTC Vive , and Sony Project Morpheus , impressive gadgets that’ll leave you tethered to a gaming PC or console. The Samsung Gear VR is a bit more mobile, but it only works with select Samsung phones. And then there’s the matter of price: …

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What’s new on Australian streaming services in July 2015

The biggest news in streaming this month is the return of BoJack Horseman, the perfectly profane animated show about depression that just happens to star an anthropomorphic horse voiced by Will Arnett. But there’s also a great binge offering from Presto, including eight seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm and five seasons of Six Feet Under. Stan doesn’t disappoint either with …

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Will Americans buy unlocked phones from Chinese brands? (Smartphones Unlocked)

Huawei’s strategy is to continue to sell phones like the P8 Lite directly to US buyers. James Martin/CNET The historical relationship between phone buyers and wireless carriers in the US is one of codependence. Traditionally, providers like AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon have been the major gateway through which anyone bought a new phone: two-year contract a virtual given. Related …

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