Google’s new productivity features are geared toward students. James Martin/CNET SAN FRANCISCO — Google is ready to go back to school. The search giant has updated its suite of productivity apps with an eye toward helping students with school projects. Changes to the apps, which include word-processing program Google Docs and spreadsheet program Google Sheets, …

Hulu has traditionally kept ads even for paying subscribers. Joan E. Solsman/CNET Hulu will finally stream your shows without any ads — for a price. The streaming-TV service introduced a more expensive subscription Wednesday that removes all commercials as you watch its catalog of original shows, big network series and movies. Hulu is a joint venture of some of TV’s …

Alibaba Netflix has voiced its desire to expand into China, but this week that tough task became even tougher as homegrown e-commerce giant Alibaba launched its Tmall Box Office video-streaming service. According to Tech In Asia, TBO was rolled out Tuesday in an update to Alibaba’s Smart TV operating system, with subscription models of 39 yuan ($6.10) per month or …

Enlarge Image Acer CEO Jason Chen reveals the company has bought Xplova, a maker of a GPS cyclist tracker. Shara Tibken/CNET BERLIN — Acer is rolling into the cyclist market by buying Xplova, a GPS biking tracker maker. Acer CEO Jason Chen, speaking Wednesday at the IFA electronics show here, revealed his company has purchased Xplova, which provides hardware and …

Sony wants to make one thing clear: It’s no bargain-smartphone company. That’s the impression the Japanese consumer-electronics maker left Wednesday as it unveiled the Xperia Z5 , Xperia Z5 Compact and Xperia Z5 Premium — which all share a more powerful 23-megapixel camera, waterproof body and fingerprint scanner. The differences between models are primarily the screen size, materials and, in …

As Sony’s marquee phone for late 2015, the Xperia Z5 Premium comes out swinging with a huge battery, a promising 23-megapixel camera and a jaw-droppingly high screen resolution. (Before you get too excited about that mammoth 4K screen resolution, read why we think it’s serious pixel overkill.) See how the Z5 Premium matches up against today’s top phones, spec for …

Apple and Samsung are set to meet in court again early next year to argue over the amount of damages due to the iPhone maker. CNET Apple and Samsung will have to wait awhile before they can again duke it out in court over their seemingly neverending patent battle. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh set a retrial for …

The ZenFone Selfie has impressive front-facing camera hardware. Nic Healey/CNET Asus may be planning to launch up to seven smartphones in 2016, but the hardware maker is clearly saving the good stuff for later. Although the company isn’t announcing a new ZenFone at the IFA electronics show in Berlin this year, it is taking the opportunity to put its current …

Enlarge Image Sony’s new h.ear on headphone line hits the US in November for around $200. Sony I’m sure Sony’s new $200 Hi-Res Audio compatible headphones sound pretty good, but their name is a bit of a head-scratcher: h.ear on. That’s pronounced “hear on” for the befuddled. Never mind that everything is lower-case. What exactly does it mean? Chalk it …

The Tamron SP 45mm f1.8 Di VC USD lens. Lori Grunin/CNET Tamron is known for its affordable lenses that are never quite the first choice, but that are frequently worth the compromises given the price. The company is hoping to change that perception with its redesigned SP (Superior Performance) series of lenses, starting with a couple of fast single focal-length …

Here’s one of 11 new Dash buttons Amazon introduced Wednesday. Amazon Amazon would like to worm its way into your kitchen shelves, medicine cabinet and storage room — and stay there. The country’s biggest online retailer said Wednesday it’s doubling down on its Dash buttons — a set of small Internet-connected buttons emblazoned with brand logos that consumers can click …

The new Nexus phones will be a showcase for Android 6.0, also known as Marshmallow. Google BERLIN — Google is doubling down on its Nexus smartphones. The tech giant is set to hold an event September 29 in San Francisco to unveil two new Nexus devices, according to people familiar with the company’s plans. One smartphone will be a smaller …

You’re at dinner. Suddenly you’re stuck with the check as everyone promises to pay you back later. Sure, they can hand you cash the next time you see them, but maybe you’d rather just have the money go directly to where it came from — your bank account. To request an electronic transfer from your indebted friends, you’ll have to …

The Robin hit its Kickstarter goal within the first day. Nextbit Nextbit sounded a call to see who would be interested in its cloud-based smartphone, and the people have responded. The startup, run by former executives from Google and HTC, hit its Kickstarter goal of selling $500,000 worth of products in a single day. The company said that it would …

Pandora surpassed 50 billion “thumb up” inputs by listeners this year. Joan E. Solsman/CNET Pandora turns 10 years old next week, and it’s letting its hair down for an all-day dance party. On September 9, Pandora will turn off ads to mark the anniversary of its release to the public. How long ago was 10 years ago? The iPod Nano …