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 Some seriously cool-looking desktop speakers. Accessory Power Desktop cord clutter is one reason I don’t miss …

Donald Trump is in the headlines once again this week after making some rather radical proposals about barring Muslims from entering the US and soliciting Bill Gates’ help to somehow shut down parts of the Internet (video). Before you get all worked up, either because you think he’s nuts or he’s someone finally speaking the truth, take a deep breath …

Last month, Twitter tweaked the “favourites” function, turning them into “likes,” a switch that many users didn’t take well. Now, the social media platform introduced its newest set of changes. The main tweak is that photos will now be displayed uncropped on timelines accessed through Twitter’s website. Until Tuesday, only a section of an uploaded picture would be displayed natively, …

Apple has long been known for simplicity. Then came this year. The tech titan’s 2015 was punctuated by high-risk, big-ticket launches that have taken it into entirely new areas. It’s no longer just that iPhone company, even if its revenue suggests otherwise. Apple this year introduced a smartwatch, a subscription music service, an updated streaming-TV box and a larger tablet …

Twitter has released its annual analysis of tweets. Twitter The Paris terror attacks, America’s legalization of same-sex marriage and Bruce Jenner’s transformation to Caitlyn sent people rushing to Twitter over the past year. The microblogging site published on Sunday its annual analysis of the top tweets, trends and hashtags from the past year. The diversity of the 2015 topics underscores …

Those of you obsessed about seeing every three-pointer or killer crossover from Stephen Curry, take note: The National Basketball Association is tinkering with technology that can ensure you never miss a highlight play. The NBA said Monday that it is working with Israeli startup WSC Sports Technologies to create customized highlight videos within minutes after a game ends. Initially, the …

Consumers looking for an affordable Windows 10 Lumia phone can turn their attention to Microsoft’s Lumia 550. The Redmond, Washington-based software giant said that sales of the new Lumia smartphone start Monday in Europe, followed in the coming weeks by other regions around the world. Equipped with 4G LTE support and Windows 10, the 550 is priced for $139. Microsoft …

With time running out on the year-end shopping season, Amazon is helping customers get into the holiday spirit with daily discounts across all its product categories — it’s all part of the “12 Days of Deals” promotion that started yesterday and will continue through December 17. Amazon promises to roll out a new themed-deal every day with at least five …

There’s something wonderful about gifting someone with a book you read and loved. But today, you’re likely to find that many friends are reading their books on an e-reader like the Nook, Kindle, or iPad. Gifting someone with an e-book is a lot easier than it seems, but will vary depending on which e-reading device he or she owns. Here’s …

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 An Apple Watch encased in Epik Aluminum is ready for the apocalypse — zombie or otherwise. Lunatik So I’m kind of …

Facebook’s Slingshot app missed its mark. So did Riff and Rooms. The social-networking giant has quietly curtailed its Creative Labs, the startup-like initiative that encouraged its employees to design innovative and unusual mobile software. Among the first casualties: Slingshot, an ephemeral messaging service that competed with Snapchat, and Rooms, a group messaging service. As of Monday, Slingshot, Rooms and Riff, …

AT&T is dangling an early holiday gift to 38 new cities: the promise of wicked-fast Internet service in the coming year. New cities where AT&T’s GigaPower service will be available include Detroit and Los Angeles. Marguerite Reardon/CNET The Dallas-based telecommunications giant said Monday it plans to expand its GigaPower service, which uses fiber-optic lines to greatly enhance the broadband speed …

Amazon and Monoprice offer cheaper HDMI cables than any traditional brick-and-mortar store. When it comes to cheap HDMI cables, two companies dominate: Amazon and Monoprice. Both offer well-reviewed cables of multiple lengths, all for far less money than many other brands. Since all HDMI cables perform the same when it comes to video and audio, what’s the better deal? Who’s …

Uber has made hitching a ride off your smartphone a regular thing. Now, OnePlus is turning the tables, using a taxis to sell its smartphones. Ola, an Uber-like service based in India, on Saturday announced a partnership with OnePlus that would see the Chinese manufacturer sell its X smartphone through Ola’s taxis. “Fans wishing to purchase the OnePlus X can …

Some of the ships and planes and battlefields of World War II remain to this day, maintained by diligent museum staff around the world. From the USS Missouri battleship in Pearl Harbor, to the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier in New York, to the beaches of Normandy and more, these museums respect and preserve a legacy of service. Here are photo …