Erin Lawrence

Last year’s comsumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas added a wealth of TV and Home Theatre technology to our world. As this year’s CES 2016 gets underway, let’s take a look back at some of last year’s announcements and technological leaps, and what you can get your hands on today.

What makes a great TV, well … great? It may seem hard to quantify what contributes to a really good video-watching experience, since “the screen just looks cool!” is what many people say when asked to explain what’s so awesome about their new TV. But there are several new and “new-ish” features on today’s flat screen TVs that contribute to that feeling of awe you get standing in front of a brand new screen. Click to take a look.

This week on Shelly’s Friday Favourites: a guest post! I’m Erin, and most of my articles are about home theatre and televisions, but today Shelly asked me to write about an event I participate in each year: a Cookie Exchange. 

Portable wireless speakers are taking over home entertainment. It’s just too easy to move them around and play your favourite music, podcasts, or web streaming services anywhere.  One of the big complaints about this kind of speaker has been audio quality, but thanks to audio giant Bose, there’s now an entire line of high end portable Wi-Fi speakers available to choose from.  What’s the difference in the different speakers in their line, and how well do they work? Read the review.

Wires are a pain when it comes to most technology, but with headphones, they’re even more annoying. They get tangled in everything from your arms, to the arm of a seat on the bus or plane, and they’re always getting in the way of your smartphone screen. If you’re still using the uncomfortable hard plastic wired headphones that came with your phone, or you need an upgrade, check out the top picks (both in-ear and over-ear) from Best Buy customers, who’ve tested these wireless headphones and love them.

While a TV is a super gift for the whole family, if you’re not in the market for one, there are still some great ways to upgrade your home theatre. Small and inexpensive accessories, like a universal remote, or a streaming device can add great features to any home theatre with ease.

While we can debate the complexities, intricacies, and philosophies of the game of golf, one thing there’s no need to fight about is that every golfer appreciates new gear, and the latest tools. With Mother’s Day and Father’s Day approaching, this is a great time to check out some golf gift ideas, from GPS technology, to wearables, to great low tech gear.

Need headphones to block out the world while you watch TV? These Sennheiser versions should do the job, but do they deliver? Read our review.