Blog Posts by Ilyce R. Glink

The Grillbot.The Looj gutter cleaner from iRobot.The Winbot. Click the photo to go to a Yahoo! News product test.Robots are taking over. Need proof? Robots were everywhere at the 2013 International Home and Housewares Show, which just ended yesterday in Chicago.

There was the Grillbot, a robot that removes grease and grime from your grill – without supervision. iRobot showcased the Looj, a gutter-cleaning robot you can control with a detachable remote. There were robots on display that clean pools, floors and everything in between.

But perhaps the most innovative was Ecovacs Robotics’ Winbot, the show's Innovation Award winner in its category. The gadget debuted at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show.

“Winbot is the world’s first window cleaning robot,” said Nick Savadian, executive general manager of Ecovacs Robotics. “Winbot does windows, any size and thickness, and I’m very pleased to say it makes windows sparking clean.”

Watching the Winbot in action was one of the highlights of this year’s International Home and Housewares Show. Simply add the cleaning pad to the bottom of the robot, mist

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(Photo credit: Thinkstock)If you own a home, you have homeowners insurance. What you may not know is that, like your home, your insurance policy needs maintenance and updating. Failing to update your homeowners insurance policy could cost you big bucks in the long run.

But how do you know when it's time to update your insurance policy? Generally speaking, significant upgrades to your home or changes in your life mean it's time to do an audit of your insurance coverage. Here are some situations where taking another look at your insurance policy is necessary:

1. You want to remodel your home.

Think remodeling your 5-by-8-foot powder room is no big deal? Think again. Even a small renovation like this can have a big impact on your homeowners insurance. Consider this: If your contractor and subcontractors don't have worker's compensation policies, they could sue you if they're hurt on your property. That means you could end up footing the bill for medical expenses, any necessary rehabilitation and wages lost while

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(Photo credit: Thinkstock)Sunday's Academy Awards have us in a movie frame of mind. But if you're looking to get caught up on "Argo" and "Lincoln," "Zero Dark Thirty" and "Silver Linings Playbook" – and you're not terribly interested in shelling out $10 to $15 per movie (per person!) to see them in theaters – watching all those movies can be a challenge.

Luckily, you don't have to hit the theaters to see the films everyone is talking about. Here are the best ways for movie buffs to see recent films from the comfort of your own living room.

Internet streaming: Pick and choose (and save)

Streaming movies online – whether you subscribe to a library of titles, as with Netflix, or you individually choose and pay for titles, as with Vudu – may be the cheapest, easiest way to get access to all the movies you want.

And these days, if you want to watch on a screen larger than your computer's, you don't need a smart TV. All you need are services that stream movies from the Internet to your television through an external

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(Photo credit: Thinkstock)Refinancing your mortgage is all about saving money. Sometimes even a small monthly savings can mean big changes in your life – especially when you're on a tight budget.

The money that Allison and Joe saved from their small refinance made a big difference when it came to getting out of credit card debt. This is their story:

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When my fiancé, Joe, and I first discussed refinancing our mortgage back in early 2011, we were living paycheck to paycheck. We had a combined $7,000 in credit card debt and were struggling to pay it off. Every month that went by meant another interest payment at 17 percent, and though we threw extra money at the debt when we could, paying just slightly more than the minimum balance was all we could afford most months.

We weren't drowning, but we were certainly treading water. We couldn't seem to get ahead, and both of us knew that any significant upset in our life together could ruin us financially. If our condo was damaged by fire -- as had happened to another

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(Photo credit: Shutterstock)New flooring is one of the easiest ways to brighten up a space. But with such a wide range of available flooring options, picking the perfect material isn't always easy.

To find the right type of flooring for each room in your house, consider the unique needs of each space.

Living Room

The living room is the perfect place to try solid hardwood flooring. Wood flooring will add warmth to your home and can last decades, since it can be refinished multiple times before it needs to be replaced.

Proper installation is the first step to keeping your floor looking good for years to come. A good contractor can ensure the new floor will be able to withstand both everyday wear and tear and long-term issues, like the house settling.

When hiring a contractor, be sure to ask about training, licensing and insurance. Check with services like the Better Business Bureau, Yelp and Angie's List for reviews, complaints and the overall reputation of the contractor you're considering.

[Want a pro to take

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(Photo credit: Thinkstock)The new year has brought even more changes to the mortgage market. New and evolving lending standards mean borrowers need to pay more attention to debt and credit when shopping for a loan. And even lower interest rates mean homeowners and new home buyers alike should consider shorter loan repayment terms.

Whether you're looking to buy your first place or refinance your current mortgage, you'll want to keep these changes in the mortgage market in mind, as they could mean big differences for you. Here's what you need to know about this year's mortgage market:

#1. The rules have changed.

At the beginning of 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced a rule forcing lenders to ensure that buyers have the ability to repay their mortgages. Under the Ability-to-Repay rule, all new mortgages must comply with basic requirements designed to protect consumers. Based on these requirements, lenders will need to issue what the CFPB calls "qualified mortgages."

Not all of the

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(Photo credit: Thinkstock)

It's tough enough to refinance or take out a mortgage when you're the only borrower. But the process gets even more complicated when you're trying to take out a mortgage with your significant other.

Whether you're married or just own the property together, your significant other's financial stability directly impacts your ability to get a loan.

The solution is to manage the process before you even fill out a single mortgage application. Here's how to iron out some of the most common issues that come up for couples borrowing together, whether they're trying to refinance or take out their first mortgage.

Problem 1: Credit issues.

Your significant other may have a few nightmarish financial issues in his or her past. If you're trying to refinance and have already applied for a mortgage together, you may already know about them. But if this is your first mortgage, it's time to have a less-than-romantic discussion of what your credit reports look like.

Job loss, illness or unpaid debt can

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(Photo credit: Thinkstock)If you're a tech junkie who can't wait to get your hands on the hottest new hardware, you already know how important it is to have good service behind those devices. After all, what good is a smart TV with HD resolution if you only have an antenna that receives four channels?

Here are a few must-haves that will help you get the most out of your new gear – no matter what you're using it for.

The ultimate gaming experience

If you're a gamer, you had plenty to drool over at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. Whether you're playing Xbox on an 85-inch TV or using a portable gaming table like the new Razer Edge, there's nothing that ruins an epic virtual battle quite like a slow Internet connection.

[Want a faster Internet connection? Click to compare rates from providers now.]

To avoid lag time during gaming, power your tablet or console with an Internet speed that can handle quick uploads and downloads. Some providers, like Comcast, offer Internet with speeds up to 105 Mbps, but that's

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