CNET’s Cheapskate scours the Web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. And find more great buys on the CNET Deals page. You’ve heard this song and dance from me before: TV speakers suck. Sorry for the harsh language, but …

By working some of these shortcuts into your Firefox habits, you can become a more efficient with your internet wanderings. I use a Mac, so I have listed shortcut combinations for a Mac keyboard, but an equivalent Windows shortcut exists for most if you substitute the Command key for the Ctrl key. I note where a Windows shortcut does not …

A few years ago Kate Unsworth, a technology consultant in the corporate world, was hurtling towards burnout. “I was completely dialled in, completely swept up in the chaos,” she realised. “I was completely addicted to my phone and my brain was always firing 100 times a second.” So she decided to pack it in and head for the Himalayas to …

ESPN is apparently ready to take a shot at offering a direct-to-web live-sports package. That is, if a report from The Information is on target. An anonymous source told the news site that the Walt Disney-owned sports network is planning to offer a package that would include niche leagues and maybe some college sports, but none of the network’s blue-chip …

Available on Boost Mobile and Virgin for $70 without a contract, the Alcatel Dawn is the newest addition to the prepaid carriers’ lineup of affordable Android handsets. The phone features a 4.5-inch display and a 5-megapixel camera on the back. It’s powered by a 1.1GHz quad-core processor and a 1,780mAh battery. As for storage, it has 1GB of RAM and …

Evernote recently announced it will soon up the rates for its Plus and Premium paid plans, which may have you asking, is Evernote’s new price worth it? If your answer is a firm “no,” then it’s time to find a new home for your notes. Microsoft OneNote and OS X Notes are two likely suitors. Learn how you can export …

Hang out on social media long enough and you’re bound to run into a hater or two. YouTuber Simone Giertz decided to respond to killjoys by creating a “deal with it” meme droid. The “deal with it” meme is a popular online response to those who criticize your actions or comments. It basically means “accept it,” and it’s generally accompanied …

Amazon Prime Day is coming on Tuesday, July 12. But guess what? You can start scoring deals right now. That’s because Amazon is offering “Countdown” deals in the days leading up to the main event. Needless to say, the company is saving all the best deals for the big tamale, but it’s still worth a daily look to see if …

Fashion designers find inspiration in the most unusual muses — whether they be superheroes or crowded subways. But when it comes to transforming unusual materials into breathtaking gowns or 3D-printing one-of-a-kind footwear, Dutch designer Iris Van Herpen is the queen. The video “Defile Iris Van Herpen,” posted by Le Temps Tuesday, shows Van Herpen’s latest quirky fashion show for Paris …

Now playing: Watch this: Facebook Messenger adds end-to-end encryption 1:23 Can you keep a secret? Facebook thinks it can. The company shared its plans for completely securing conversations that you have in its Facebook Messenger app. Called “Secret Conversations,” the optional feature — which isn’t available yet — is ideal for safely sharing personal information, say like your credit card …

Your beautiful iPhone 6S is beyond repair, and you’re stuck with two options: Purchase a brand-new, contract-free iPhone 6S for $650+, or try your luck buying used. There are three main ways to buy a used iPhone — assuming you don’t have a friend or family member who wants to sell you one on the cheap. You can purchase a …

This week brought horrifying realities to your newsfeed. For 10 minutes on Wednesday, Facebook Live brought millions of users next to Philando Castile after he was fatally shot by a Minnesota police officer during a traffic stop. His girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, livestreamed the aftermath of the shooting, allowing viewers to watch the bloodied Castile slump over in his seat. They …

If you fancy a stroll through Westminster Abbey, but can’t afford a ticket to London, now you can open Google Street View instead. The centuries-old Gothic church, which has played host to royal wedding and funerals and the coronation of monarchs, was recently added to Google Street View, giving viewers a full tour of the rich interior and the history …

Now playing: Watch this: Ringing Bells’ $4 smartphone is a pleasant surprise 0:37 Enlarge Image Ringing Bells’ Freedom 251 smartphone — named so because it costs 251 rupees in India. That equates to roughly $3.70, £2.70 and AU$5. Manish Singh/CNET Ringing Bells has made a name for itself thanks to its $4 Freedom 251, but it turns out that selling …

Want an Amazon tablet for the price of four movie tickets? Just wait until next week. As part of the online retailer’s Prime Day sale this upcoming Tuesday, the company is cutting the price on its $50 Fire tablet to under $35, an Amazon representative told CNET on Friday. Amazon has been teasing out different Prime Day deals throughout the …