http://www.abcnews4.com/category/192865/abc27-consumer-center en-us Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WCIV Consumer 15 abc27-consumer-center http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22284639/generator-know-how http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22284639/generator-know-how?t=2013-05-17T18:00:07Z WCIV Fri, 17 May 2013 17:57:00 EDT Superstorm Sandy, which left millions without electricity, turned out to be a real boon for portable generators. But buying a generator is just job one. Consumer Reports says there are important do's and don'ts - from installation to storage. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22261369/diy-cracked-iphone-repairs http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22261369/diy-cracked-iphone-repairs?t=2013-05-15T18:15:12Z WCIV Wed, 15 May 2013 18:01:00 EDT Cracked iPhone screen? There's an app for that! Well, not exactly. But there are online videos on how to fix a broken screen and move on. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22237391/cheap-chromebooks-first-take http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22237391/cheap-chromebooks-first-take?t=2013-05-13T17:56:28Z WCIV Mon, 13 May 2013 17:55:00 EDT If you've been thinking about getting a backup laptop, either for yourself or one that's easy for your kids to use, there's a new kind that's being heavily advertised. It's called a Chromebook. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22218616/deceptive-mortgage-deals http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22218616/deceptive-mortgage-deals?t=2013-05-10T19:39:35Z WCIV Fri, 10 May 2013 18:50:00 EDT They arrive in the mail all the time and keep popping up on your computer screen: home refinancing ads that promise rock-bottom mortgage rates and easy approval. They're tempting, but Consumer Reports says watch out: the offers can be misleading. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22196944/eyelash-enhancement-hazards http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22196944/eyelash-enhancement-hazards?t=2013-05-08T18:29:58Z WCIV Wed, 8 May 2013 17:54:00 EDT Women have been looking for ways to darken and thicken their eyelashes since the days of Cleopatra. And in the spotlight these days, super-long lashes from pop star Adele and rap singer Nicki Minaj. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22173424/securing-your-smart-phone http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22173424/securing-your-smart-phone?t=2013-05-06T17:50:14Z WCIV Mon, 6 May 2013 17:48:00 EDT If you store sensitive information on your smart phone, losing track of it could spell disaster. A just-released survey by Consumer Reports projects more than 7 million smart-phone owners had a phone that was lost, stolen, or ruined in the last year. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22156228/mechanically-tenderized-beef-risk http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22156228/mechanically-tenderized-beef-risk?t=2013-05-03T18:07:04Z WCIV Fri, 3 May 2013 18:05:00 EDT Before you fire up the grill for some great summer meals, Consumer Reports has a caution. The beef you buy may have been tenderized by machines, and that process can introduce potentially deadly bacteria into your food. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22131790/ground-turkey-caution http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22131790/ground-turkey-caution?t=2013-05-01T20:49:15Z WCIV Wed, 1 May 2013 19:33:00 EDT Ground turkey can be a better choice. But a just-released Consumer Reports investigation reveals that it can also be a breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22109358/does-as-seen-on-tv-sharpener-cut-it http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22109358/does-as-seen-on-tv-sharpener-cut-it?t=2013-04-29T19:17:33Z WCIV Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:13:00 EDT If your knives aren't quite cutting it these days, perhaps you're thinking of getting the Edge of Glory infomercial sharpener. It claims to make your knives like new. Consumer Reports News http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22089217/celebrity-candy-face-off http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22089217/celebrity-candy-face-off?t=2013-04-26T17:51:14Z WCIV Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:50:00 EDT Unreal Candy says it's "reinvented candy without the junk." It doesn't use artificial colors and ingredients such as hydrogenated oils to produce its "unjunked" sweet treats. It's promoted by celebrities like supermodel Gisele, football ace Tom Brady and actor Matt Damon. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22065993/snappy-healthier-crackers http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22065993/snappy-healthier-crackers?t=2013-04-24T18:57:36Z WCIV Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EDT Cruise the cracker aisle these days, and you'll see that competition is really heating up for your snack dollars. Sure the old favorites remain, but now there are lower-fat siblings and store-brand twins—not to mention newer flavors. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22044830/great-go-anywhere-action-cameras http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22044830/great-go-anywhere-action-cameras?t=2013-04-22T18:26:39Z WCIV Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:22:00 EDT Catching great action shots from your mountain bike or on the beach is a lot easier these days with cool new video cameras. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22026524/latest-in-bluetooth-car-kits http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22026524/latest-in-bluetooth-car-kits?t=2013-04-19T22:34:45Z WCIV Fri, 19 Apr 2013 22:32:00 EDT Most cars now come with Bluetooth technology built in so that you can talk hands-free. Although talking while driving is not ideal, sometimes it can't be avoided. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22004410/paying-with-your-smart-phone http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22004410/paying-with-your-smart-phone?t=2013-04-17T18:25:31Z WCIV Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:21:00 EDT Over the last year, people are starting to pay for stuff by waving, sliding, or tapping their smart phones. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/21981906/more-reliable-motorcycles http://www.abcnews4.com/story/21981906/more-reliable-motorcycles?t=2013-04-15T18:52:06Z WCIV Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:50:00 EDT Motorcycles offer an exhilarating riding experience and can deliver impressive fuel savings. If you're thinking about getting one, Consumer Reports National Research Center surveyed more than 4,000 motorcycle owners to find some of the most reliable ones. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/21962227/big-name-drug-savings http://www.abcnews4.com/story/21962227/big-name-drug-savings?t=2013-04-12T17:54:19Z WCIV Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:54:00 EDT Consumer Reports checked out prices of atorvastatin at more than 200 pharmacies, including Walgreens, CVS, Target, Walmart, and Costco, as well as independent and supermarket pharmacies and online. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/21935380/save-on-tv-phone-internet http://www.abcnews4.com/story/21935380/save-on-tv-phone-internet?t=2013-04-10T17:24:54Z WCIV Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:24:00 EDT To save on TV, internet and phone bills, many people get all three services from the same company. Those "triple plays" get you steep discounts, but only for a limited time. Then bills often shoot up. But Consumer Reports says there are ways to save. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/21911317/first-tests-of-20000-tvs http://www.abcnews4.com/story/21911317/first-tests-of-20000-tvs?t=2013-04-08T18:31:56Z WCIV Mon, 8 Apr 2013 18:28:00 EDT If you think you've got the latest and greatest TV out there, wait till you see what's coming: Ultra-HD televisions. Consumer Reports Dennis Buterbaugh Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/21892863/super-absorbent-toy-ball-caution http://www.abcnews4.com/story/21892863/super-absorbent-toy-ball-caution?t=2013-04-05T17:55:16Z WCIV Fri, 5 Apr 2013 17:53:00 EDT They're colorful and alluring, but Consumer Reports says there's a potential safety hazard with popular small toy balls and beads that expand dramatically in water. Consumer Reports Consumer http://www.abcnews4.com/story/21868103/chain-restaurant-calorie-count http://www.abcnews4.com/story/21868103/chain-restaurant-calorie-count?t=2013-04-03T19:02:19Z WCIV Wed, 3 Apr 2013 19:02:00 EDT New restaurant regulations that were supposed to require chains with more than 20 locations to list calorie counts on their menus are stalled. But many restaurants have already started disclosing that information anyway. Consumer Reports wanted to see whether restaurant-goers are getting a good count. Consumer Reports Consumer