Get your TV (and other devices) football-ready. Also - Great smartphone games to get ready for 'the big game

CNET - With the annual Big Game coming up, now's the time to make sure your TV is set up perfectly. Here are CNET's best tips for making sure your living room is ready for some football.

The NFL championship game is around the corner, and if you're planning to park yourself in front of your TV for the day, now's the time to make sure your set-up is perfect. Here are our best tips for making sure your living room is ready for some football.

Tips for watching the game online

Watch the Big Game on just about any device

The big game is set to take place on February 2 at MetLife Stadium. Here's how you can watch it live on any device.

Read: How to watch the Super Bowl live

Buying the right TV

Great super-sized TVs

TVs are getting bigger every year, and our annual American football championship can be all the reason you need to upgrade your set. Here are our favorite TVs over 64 inches.
Read: Six big screens for the big game 

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Great smartphone games to get ready for 'the big game

In gearing up for the big game this Sunday, I've put together a collection of football games for both iOS and Android.

The big game is this coming weekend, and most Americans will tell you it's a lot more than just a football game. Many people make an event out of the game with parties, barbecues, and betting pools, even if their favorite team isn't in the running. My team lost a week ago, but you can bet I'll be watching just for the fanfare. Even the commercials shown during the game are an event in themselves with advertisers spending huge amounts of money for 30 second and one minute spots.
While you wait for next Sunday's festivities to kick off, I've put together a collection of mobile games to get you excited for the main event. All but one of the games here have versions for both Android and iOS, with Ted Ginn: Kick Return being the odd man out.

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In Madden NFL 25 you can see the whole field.

(Credit: Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET)  

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New Windows malware tries to infect Android devices connected to PCs

PCWorld - A new computer Trojan program attempts to install mobile banking malware on Android devices when they’re connected to infected PCs, according to researchers from Symantec. 

This method of targeting Android devices is unusual, since mobile attackers prefer social engineering and fake apps hosted on third-party app stores to distribute Android malware. 

“We’ve seen Android malware that attempts to infect Windows systems before,” Symantec researcher Flora Liu, said Thursday in a blog post. “Android.Claco, for instance, downloads a malicious PE [portable executable] file along with an autorun.inf file and places them in the root directory of the SD card. When the compromised mobile device is connected to a computer in USB mode, and if the AutoRun feature is enabled on the computer, Windows will automatically execute the malicious PE file.” 

“Interestingly, we recently came across something that works the other way round: a Windows threat that attempts to infect Android devices,” Liu said.    Read More

On-the-Go Power: Mobile Chargers Keep Your Devices Alive

If you depend on your smartphone or tablet to keep up with a full day’s activities, one of these mobile chargers will make sure you have a recharge handy, even with no power outlets in sight.

 

Mobile battery chargers

It’s inevitable: At some point during a busy day of business travel, your smartphone is going to run out of juice — usually when you don’t have access to a wall outlet. While some smartphone owners can drop in a spare battery, others (who use, say, Apple’s iPhone or Motorola’s Droid Razr) don’t have that option. Their best plan is to get a mobile charger.

Mobile chargers vary greatly in capacity, size, style and price. Most can charge your phone and other small devices, and some can also handle tablets (but not laptops). Arranged from largest capacity to lowest, here’s an array of chargers to get you and your phone through the day.

 

Iogear GearPower High Capacity Mobile Power Station

Many of us carry more than one mobile device around, and the Iogear GearPower High Capacity Mobile Power Stationlets you charge a couple at the same time using its two USB power ports. It can, for example, charge a tablet and a phone, or two phones; it can also handle a digital camera and most MP3 players.

You can use either your own device’s power cable or the Micro-USB cable that comes with the GearPower. The GearPower recharges via a wall socket or a computer USB port, and comes with its own carrying case.

Price: $79.95
Capacity: 6600mAh
Dimensions & weight: 4.4 x 3.5 x 0.6 in.; 12 oz.

 

myCharge Portable Power Bank 6000

If you’re a power user — in both senses of the word — you might want to try out the myCharge Portable Power Bank 6000. This compact battery pack comes with three built-in connectors for Micro-USB, Mini-USB and Apple devices; it also has a standard USB port so you can plug in any USB charging cable.

According to the company, the Power Bank is capable of charging the average smartphone four times, and giving an iPad a nearly complete battery boost. Have more than one device? You can charge up to four simultaneously.

Price: $99.99
Capacity: 6000mAh
Dimensions & weight: 4.4 x 2.9 x 1.0 in.; 6.5 oz.

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