Spotify is CNET’s favorite music streaming service, and right now it’s my favorite as well — because they’re giving it away. For a limited time, you can sign up to get three months of Spotify Premium absolutely free. That would normally cost you $9.99 per month, or $14.99 if you opt for the six-user Family …

Amazon continues to make small but worthwhile improvements to the Fire Tablet lineup. Today, for example, the company announced two new Fire HD 8 models, adding a faster processor, more storage and USB-C to the mix. In fact, the Fire HD 8 Plus also supports wireless charging, a rarity among modern tablets. Although you can preorder the new Fire HD …

Epitaph I’m adding to my tombstone: “Buy a soundbar!” Because as I’ve long maintained, TV speakers are terrible. But recently I realized that if you’re — sigh — over 50 like myself, you should probably consider a soundbar that can enhance dialogue, making voices easier to hear. Here’s a great deal on just such a product: For a limited time, …

If you’re working from home on a laptop, it can be challenging to stay productive within the confines of a single, smallish screen. Thankfully, it’s easy to plug in an external monitor, either a big one that becomes your primary display or a second one you use alongside your laptop. Here’s an option for the latter category: For a limited …

How good can a supercheap smartwatch possibly be? Turns out, surprisingly good, if you keep your expectations in check. See, these wearables claim to be jacks of all trades — fitness tracking, heart-rate monitoring and so on — but often prove to be masters of none. And that’s OK, provided they’re effective at some things, which many are. For example, …

Talk about the right sweepstakes at the right time. Sure, you already know about the great free alternatives to Netflix and all the free entertainment to help you survive quarantine. But what would you say to a motherlode of premium streaming services? Plex Premium, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video and more? Thanks to the fine folks at Plex, you’ve got …

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites. Hang in there, everyone. Even though the coronavirus situation is showing signs of progress, we need to stay safe and stay home a little while longer. Fortunately, there’s plenty of free entertainment to make that proposition easier. Nearly every day I learn of some …

Raise your hand if this is familiar: You’re dialed into the company meeting or Zoom call and you put your phone on speaker so you can do other things while listening in. But the sound quality is terrible, both for you and the people at the other end. That’s no surprise; your phone has to rely on one tiny microphone …

Nothing beats escaping into your tunes while blocking the blare of the outside world (or, in these times, inside world). There are two ways modern earphones help you accomplish that. First, there’s a physical seal between the silicone ear tips and your ear canals. Then there’s ANC (active noise cancellation) technology, which produces a secondary noise that matches and reduces …

Got kids? Got bored kids? That’s probably redundant these days, what with the quarantine depriving them of school, friends and playgrounds. A $40 Fire 7 tablet is a godsend right now, but obviously too much screen time isn’t ideal. That’s why I’m seriously jazzed about this deal. Today only, and while supplies last, Meh has a 2-pack of Propel One …