SAN BRUNO, California — In a cable car high above Japan, the country’s distinctive architecture unfurls beneath me. I see clay kawara tiles covering rooftops, shimmering as the cable car gently swings. Suddenly everything stops, then goes dim. YouTube is buffering. The experience, which took place in YouTube’s unassuming headquarters here, underscores the promise and …

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. Ready for a router upgrade? If you’ve been experiencing slow or inconsistent connectivity across your home network, you might just be. Indeed, if your router is more than a few years old, a …

In the latest version of Android, you’ll find a battery saver feature called Doze. This feature allows devices that are not in use (screen off, not charging, not moving) to suspend apps so they use less power. Suspended apps are cut off from network access, so your device will perform a periodic sync, called the maintenance window, to check for …

The entry-level the ZTE Prestige became Boost Mobile’s latest phone on Thursday, targeting first-time buyers with a low price. Running Android 5.1 Lollipop, the Prestige sells for $50 with a limited-time promotion. After January 3, 2016, it’ll sell for double that, $100. Related Links Boost Mobile debuts ‘Growing Data’ rate plans ZTE jumps on lease-to-own trend for phones Boost Mobile …

Apple’s latest update to the software that runs iPhones and iPads was meant in part to fix several bugs, but it seems to have created a new one, at least for some users of the popular gadgets. According to posts on Apple’s Support Communities website, the update, called iOS 9.1 and released October 21, causes problems with the fingerprint sensor …

The Apple Watch is dominating the smartwatch market. Since its official launch on April 24, the Apple Watch has snagged a sizable lead with total worldwide shipments of almost 7 million units, research firm Canalys said Wednesday. That figure, covering just two quarters, was higher than the shipments of all other vendors combined over the previous five quarters, Canalys said. …

Now playing: Watch this: Lumenus Jacket 0:15 A startup called Lumenus is aiming to make biking and running safer with its LED-equipped “smart” clothing and backpacks. There’s already clothing with LEDs stitched into it, but what makes Lumenus unique is that its LEDs are tied to an app on your smartphone (via Bluetooth) that uses GPS and Google Maps to …

I’m a jotter. I’m a sketcher. I’m a midnight noter. Even if I wasn’t making a poor attempt to channel Steve Miller, those three statements are true. Most of the notes and lists in my life are of the pen-and-paper variety because I like the act of scribbling. I prefer handwriting to typing. An organizational structure is certainly lacking from …

If you have multiple apps that can perform the same function on your Android device, you’ll be prompted to pick which one you want to use when you tap on a shortcut. For instance, if you have another Web browser — like Dolphin — installed on your device, each time you tap on a link you’ll be asked if you …

A cuddlier, friendlier Reddit is taking a page out of the Netflix script. Reddit, the social news site that bills itself as “the front page of the Internet,” on Wednesday debuted its first free-standing video series, a collection of documentary shorts about the intersection of humanity and machine called “Cyborg Nation.” The idea was championed by Reddit co-founder and Chairman …

The streaming world is a bit different than it was a few months ago. Hulu’s become quite the movie destination and if you spring for the commercial-free option, the service feels entirely different. In November, Hulu will bring its usual television offerings, including season three of the History Channel’s “Vikings” as well as season finales for reality shows like “Ink …

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. I haven’t shared a desktop deal in many moons — in part because I don’t see them very often, and in part because I think most people use phones, tablets and laptops for …

There’s a war going on in your home. Your cat sleeps 23 hours out of the day and then spends the remaining hour shredding your toilet paper until your bathroom looks like an origami crime scene. If you have a 3D printer, though, you can put an end to this little, furry reign of toilet terror. Johnny Lawrence, an engineer …

Should you ever have the urge to open your Surface Book to try to fix a problem, resist it. Released on October 26 to shake up the laptop market, Microsoft’s Surface Book , has garnered generally good reviews for its solid design and powerful features. But a teardown published Monday from the folks at iFixit found the device a chore …

Dear Asus ZenBook UX305 Design Team, Love the laptop. Really. It’s thin, light, powerful and packed with features. Killer price, too. But there’s a problem with it that makes me want to cry. It’s the power button. You know, the one in the corner of the keyboard. The one right next to the Delete key and above the Backspace key. …