Now playing: Watch this: Continuum helps Windows 10 play nice with touch and peripherals 1:12 Touchscreen, or mouse and keyboard? Now Windows won’t have to decide because it can switch back and forth seamlessly. The new feature Continuum that debuts in Windows 10 helps the operating system work better with devices that support both a …

When it comes to Windows Phone, Microsoft is hoping less is more. Microsoft VP Joe Belfiore runs through a demo of Windows 10 on a smartphone. Screenshot by Lynn La/CNET The less, in this instance, is the “Phone” bit of the Windows Phone name. Microsoft confirmed that it plans to drop “Windows Phone” in favor of the name of its …

Microsoft’s answer to the ever-changing world of mobile devices? More of the same. The Redmond, Wash., software giant offered up some tantalizing details about Windows 10 on Wednesday, the highly anticipated upgrade to its operating system designed for both computers and tablets. Unlike past versions, which have straddled a line between annoying and stale, Windows 10 will power new features …

Screenshots on iOS. Jason Cipriani/CNET The use case for screenshots has undoubtedly expanded beyond troubleshooting an issue or showing off your home screen arrangement. Screenshots are a quick way to capture and store information you’ll need access to. Say, for example, a friend sends you a recipe in iMessage and you don’t want to spend hours scrolling through your chat …

You can cover your eyes and see absolutely no light, but you can’t cover your ears and block out all sound. Even the very best earplugs can only reduce, but never eliminate all sound. Listening seems totally automatic, but once you focus your attention on sound you’ll hear a lot more. To start, sit alone in a room, turn off …

Microsoft will offer a version of Windows 10 specific to devices with a screen size smaller than 8 inches. Lynn La/CNET Microsoft isn’t leaving smartphones and tablets out when it comes to the upcoming Windows 10 operating system. At an event in Seattle, the software titan said it would offer a tailored version of Windows 8 for devices with screen …

eBay, getting ready to separate from its PayPal payments service, will cut about 7 percent of its workforce this quarter, the company said Wednesday as it delivered its fourth-quarter earnings report. About 2,400 jobs will be eliminated in the first quarter from its e-commerce units, eBay Marketplaces and eBay Enterprise, and PayPal. eBay is also consider selling eBay Enterprise or …

The former home page of Silk Road 2.0 Another arrest has been made in connection with black market site Silk Road 2.0. Brian Richard Farrell, a 26-year-old man from Seattle, was arrested Tuesday for allegedly acting as a “key administrator” for Silk Road 2.0, acting US Attorney Annette Hayes announced. Farrell, who allegedly used the handle “DoctorClu” on the black …

With Presto TV already up and running, Australians are getting another streaming video option this month, with Stan beginning operations from January 26 — Australia Day. Stan is the TV and movie video on demand service from Nine Entertainment and Fairfax. Announced back in August 2014 as StreamCo, the joint venture was rebranded as Stan in November last year. It …

Samsung’s Galaxy S5, which was released last year with a Snapdragon chip inside. CNET Samsung may be planning to dump Qualcomm’s processor from its next Galaxy S flagship smartphone, opting to use its own Exynos chips instead. Bloomberg reported Wednesday that Samsung, the world’s biggest smartphone maker, won’t be using the Snapdragon 810 chip from Qualcomm, the world’s biggest maker …

Amazon’s new line of diapers apparently left some buyers unsatisfied. Pictured here: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. CNET E-commerce giant Amazon has decided to temporarily stop selling its own brand of diapers, the company has confirmed. Amazon started selling diapers to Amazon Prime members under its Elements brand last month. But now, just seven weeks later, “customer feedback” has prompted it …

The most out-there announcement from Microsoft’s event: Windows Holographic. Screenshot by Sarah Tew/CNET This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Windows 10; operating-system releases don’t power out like race cars, they ooze out like honey, sometimes taking a year between the first previews and the first shipment. That’s good. It takes time for developers to ramp up support and for …

Google reportedly wants to experiment with low-cost mobile plans. Getty Images Google makes the software running on most smartphones, and now may also want to manage your mobile data and voice calls. The world’s largest online search company is getting ready to sell mobile plans that will run on Sprint and T-Mobile’s cellular networks, according to The Information. The project, …

MetroPCS offers up a promotional rate plan with unlimited LTE data. MetroPCS MetroPCS on Wednesday introduced a promotional rate plan that gives subscribers unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data for $50 per month. Available immediately, the limited-time deal does come with a couple of hoops to jump through. Related Links T-Mobile’s new prepaid plans start at $40 per month …

Just a sampling of Freegal’s DRM-free MP3s available to many library card-holders. Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET Tim Cook: “You didn’t like our U2 album giveaway? Fine. No tunes for you!” OK, Apple’s head honcho never said that, but perhaps he thought it. Because after 11 years of offering a free iTunes “Single of the Week,” Apple appears to have pulled …