I’m back! Hugs all around. If you’re wondering how I spent my summer vacation, I can sum it up thusly: gelato. Yes, I was lucky enough to visit Italy, including Rome, Florence and parts in between. Those parts included the most beautiful rolling countryside I’ve ever seen. Absolutely dazzling. And the food? Well, let’s just …

Amazon Prime Day is coming soon: July 16 to be exact. This year the deals day will last a day and a half at 36 hours. And it’s spreading to even more countries this year, adding Australia, Singapore, Netherlands and Luxembourg to the fold. We had already extrapolated an educated guess on where Prime Day would land this year, based …

Cheeps! I’m on vacation this week (and next), but before I left I lined up a few sweet deals to tide you over. (And as you’ve no doubt discovered by now, some of CNET’s finest will be filling in the rest of the time.) For example, the Cheapskate is no stranger to VPN deals. A VPN is one of those …

Cheeps! I need a vacation — so I’m taking one. You’ll have to live without me for the next couple weeks, but fear not: I’ve lined up a few sweet deals that’ll pop up while I’m gone, and CNET has a deep bench of awesome cheapskates to fill in the gaps. Speaking of benches, are you tired of sitting all …

Google on Tuesday took the wraps off its eponymous Podcasts app, answering the prayers of many an Android user tired of relying on Google Play Music for podcast listening and management. If you’re new to podcasts or just planning to take Google Podcasts for a spin to see how it compares with other apps, here are some tips to help you …

At this year’s CES, Acer unveiled some “hearty updates” to the Nitro 5 laptop. Today, I bring you a hearty discount: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Best Buy has the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop for $679.99 shipped (plus tax). Regular price: $800. get your game on (For what it’s worth, Ebates offers a 1-percent rebate on …

If you’re driving a car, you shouldn’t be using your phone. There, I said it. Unfortunately, almost no one heeds this advice, myself included. Because maps must be viewed, podcasts must be played, text messages must be glanced at (but never responded to, unless it’s by voice) and so on. But let’s face it: that’s insanely dangerous. It’s really hard to not use your …

Rick’s Words to Live By (TM): Always use a password manager, always use a phone mount in the car and never settle for a TV’s built-in speakers. I was reminded of this last one while visiting family this weekend. Beautiful cottage, wonderful company… and a TV that no one could hear. (I know, I know: Why was anyone watching TV? …

As a general rule, Apple products and “Cheapskate” don’t belong in the same sentence. But obviously zillions of people love Apple gear, price be damned. I like Apple gear, too, but damned if I’m going to pay full retail for it. That’s why I always advise people to choose refurbished hardware whenever possible. It’s usually good as new or darn …

How many times per day do you interact with your phone? A few? A few dozen? Maybe a hundred? In what probably comes as a surprise to no one, too much of this can be bad for your health — your mental health. According to a recent NeuroRegulation study, digital addiction is real, and smartphones are causing it in a …