Americans who can’t afford broadband Internet access may soon get some help from Uncle Sam. The Federal Communications Commission said Tuesday it’s expanding the $1.5 billion phone subsidy program known as Lifeline to help low-income families pay for broadband Internet service by giving out a $9.25 per month subsidy. The five-member FCC will vote on …

I think one reason people get frustrated with their computers is that things seem to change without warning. For example, yesterday you could print; today the printer is “not found.” Or this: Yesterday Microsoft Word’s “Save As” screen included shortcuts to previously used folders; today it doesn’t. If that second example sounds awfully specific, it’s because it just happened. Last …

Julia Cordray made her career helping recruit people for jobs. So it makes sense she’d create an app that helps people manage their online reputation, soliciting and giving recommendations about their character. What she didn’t expect was to be savaged. Headlines across the Internet called her two-year-old company out for creating a creepy, bully-inspiring app. The Washington Post called it …

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. Enlarge Image The Jabra Vega noise-cancelling headphones could be yours. Jabra I’m seriously feeling the love for Jabra today. You know, Jabra — …

When sending a tweet or posting on your Facebook wall from a mobile device, it’s easy to add fun emojis to enhance the conversation. These can be faces that accurately depict your emotions, or just something random and funny. With Emoji Keyboard for Chrome, you can add those same enhancements to the messages you share on the Web, with just …

Google is busier than ever putting the kibosh on search results that link to material that allegedly infringes copyright. The company reported Monday that over the past month it received more than 76 million requests to remove from search results URLs that point to such content. That’s more than double the number of requests it received in the same period …

OnePlus has made it even more appealing to consider purchasing one of its unlocked Android-powered smartphones. The Chinese handset maker today announced it will accept payment installments for products priced $99 and higher. With global customers becoming increasingly more comfortable with purchasing unlocked phones directly from vendors, OnePlus offers an interesting alternative to phones like Google’s Nexus line. And, now …

Way before we all had easy-to-use laptops and Wi-Fi, there were desktop computers that used Windows 95. Those of use who still remember using Windows 95 might recall how long it would take computers to boot up and the sweet sounds of a modem connecting to the Internet. In this latest “Teens React to Technology” video from new-media production duo …

For just $349, the Nexus 5X is a pretty great smartphone. For $199, it’s a steal — and starting today, that’s the price you’ll pay if you buy it straight from Google. There is one important catch, but it’s not nearly as significant as you might think. To get that $150 savings, you have to activate the Nexus 5X on …

Hoverboards were hot items over the holidays — for all the wrong reasons. The popular self-balancing scooters grabbed headlines after reports that some had the unhealthy tendency to overheat and burst into flames. Last month, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission found all hoverboards unsafe, saying they pose an “unreasonable risk of fire.” Soon after, Amazon, Toys “R” Us, Target …

“It’s not okay to just say, ‘Switch off.’ And it’s also not okay to say, ‘It’s just online, it doesn’t count.’ It does count, and it’s having a real impact on women’s lives.” That’s the assessment of Canadian-Australian author, women’s rights advocate and UNICEF ambassador Tara Moss, who has used International Women’s Day to speak out about online harassment and …

Virginia on Monday became the first state to approve regulations outlining how daily fantasy sports websites can operate legally within its borders. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed into law the “Fantasy Contests Act,” a bill that distinguishes daily fantasy sports sites like DraftKings and FanDuel from gambling sites. McAuliffe’s approval comes amid a flurry of legislative debate over whether such …

With the November movie release of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” Harry Potter fans will have a chance to see wizards in action on US soil since it takes place in 1920s New York City. To celebrate the “Fantastic Beasts” film, Rowling previously revealed a new map on the official Pottermore website in February the locations of many …

How much does your privacy cost? A cool $1.35 million, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Verizon will pay a $1.35 million fine for use of permanent cookies that tracked customers’ web activity. Verizon On Monday, the Federal Communications Commission said it had reached a deal with Verizon over the company’s use of a technology that allowed marketers to track …

A couple months back, my trip to CES in Las Vegas almost didn’t happen. As I was walking to the gate, I received an alert that my flight had been delayed. A few minutes later, another alert: my flight had been canceled. What followed was a long series of calls to the airline and visits to various airport counters. What …