The battle between Apple and the FBI just got a lot more heated. Bruce Sewell, Apple’s top attorney, on Thursday ramped up his criticism of the government, accusing the US Department of Justice of taking a “cheap shot” and waging a smear campaign. His remarks were made in response to a Justice Department filing earlier …

I use Google Docs for all of my writing, from CNET blog posts and other writing for work to quick lists and tried-and-true recipes. I opened up Google Docs this morning to start my daily labor to find an outline panel on the left side of my document. It had recognized the bold headers in my document and used them …

Imagine that you are trapped in some kind of twisted “Saw” scenario. You’re locked in a dingy room that looks like the store room of an abandoned factory with no windows, doors that you can open by hand or a shred of a memory of how you got there. Suddenly, a low, creepy voice emits from a speaker and asks …

You have probably grown so accustomed to your iPhone’s SpringBoard animations when opening and closing apps that you hardly notice the animation where apps spring onto your screen when you open them and then fade away when you close them. You can reduce this animation by going to Settings > General > Accessibility and turning on the Reduce Motion setting. …

You should be able to decide what data your broadband or wireless provider shares with marketers. Period. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has proposed new regulations to protect broadband and wireless customers’ private data. That’s the message the Federal Communications Commission is sending with a proposed regulation intended to safeguard private customer information and to require broadband and wireless companies to …

Is that pop-up ad on your phone for a diaper discount annoying or helpful when you walk into the grocery store? That may be what’s at stake as the US government looks to make online privacy its next priority. The Federal Communications Commission is preparing a proposal that lays out new rules governing how broadband providers handle your online activity. …

And just like that, Jeremy Bray found himself with a new line of credit for $1,500. While shopping online last year, the 28-year-old entrepreneur decided to sign up for PayPal Credit to buy a $1,000-plus laptop. After a short application process, he was approved in less than a minute and even got six months to pay PayPal back without incurring …

If your Android phone is feeling a little sluggish, there are a few ways you can speed it back up. First, you might want to start by cleaning out some of the junk you don’t need to keep around. Second, it’s good to maintain a healthy reboot schedule — like once a day, or every couple of days. And third, …

US Cellular on Thursday introduced a limited-time promotion that rewards customers for defecting from another service provider. Starting today, customers can earn up to $300 for porting their phone number from another carrier. Related Links Before you switch wireless carriers, read this Samsung Galaxy S7: Should you upgrade? Google tries to get jump on Apple with early release of new …

It’s been less than a year since one of the world’s biggest names in tech launched the much-hyped Apple Watch and, since then, it seems every tech brand and their dog has jumped on the wearables train. Now Optus has joined the fray, going down a very un-telco path with the release of what it calls a range of “lifestyle” …

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. Hey, quick reminder: Enter for your chance to win a Jabra audio bundle! You’ve got until this Friday to toss your name into …

Microsoft makes sharing files — including photos, videos and music — and printer connections easier with its HomeGroup networking service. A HomeGroup is a password-protected home networking service that lets you share your stuff with other PCs that are currently running and connected to your network. This is particularly nice if you have non-PC devices connected (such as an Xbox …

AT&T and T-Mobile are currently offering limited-time, buy one, get one promotions centered around the Samsung Galaxy S7. With seemingly all eyes on Samsung’s flagship smartphone for 2016, the Galaxy S7 is readily available from both tier-one and prepaid carriers. So, in order to lure new customers (or keep existing ones), service providers turn to deals and discounts. If you’re …

Not every drone lives a life of luxury, flying lazily over parks with soft grass below to cushion its fall in case of an accident. Some drones live dangerously and get run over by flying jet skis in spectacular mid-air collisions. Filmmaker Guy Mac on Tuesday released the official event video for the 2016 Yamaha New Zealand Festival of Freeride …

President Barack Obama is spending his last months in office trying to make sure you have the opportunity to get a job in tech. President Barack Obama announces a series of initiatives to push for more diversity in the tech sector at the first ever White House Demo Day in 2015. Screenshot by CNET On Wednesday, the White House announced …