Amazon said Wednesday it’s appointed former National Security Agency chief Keith Alexander to its board of directors. Alexander will serve on Amazon’s audit committee, the internet retail giant said in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Alexander came under fire during his time as head of the agency after former NSA contractor …

Sales of technology products like laptops have boomed since the coronavirus pandemic led to shutdowns, quarantines and work from home policies starting in March. With the holidays fast approaching and the virus continuing to spread, analysts predict that the fourth quarter will see “historic growth” in tech sales, particularly in e-commerce.  In the fourth quarter of 2020, tech sales are …

Yubico on Wednesday released a new hardware security key, the $55 YubiKey 5C NFC, that brings new logon abilities to people who want a single key that works with their laptops and phones. It can plug into a USB-C port or link wirelessly with NFC (near-field communications) for what’s considered one of the strongest forms of authentication today. Sweden-based Yubico …

Surprising virtually no one, Microsoft has announced that the upcoming Xbox Series S game console will cost $300 (£250, AU$499), and that the more-hyped Xbox Series X will be $500 (£450, AU$749). Now that we have a better idea of the specs and differences between each system, it certainly looks to me like the smaller, somewhat less capable little brother is the better deal of …

Much of the West Coast woke up to dark orange skies this morning, as wildfire smoke from hundreds of fires burning across California, Oregon and Washington blocked the sun.  If, like many of us, you grabbed your phone to capture the creepy scene in a weird year that somehow continues to get weirder, you may have noticed that your phone’s …

Facial recognition has a reputation problem. What could be an exciting new technology with the potential to make our lives easier, safer and more secure has been blighted by reports that it repeatedly fails when asked to correctly identify the faces of Black people. But pioneering software engineer Charlette N’Guessan from Ghana has presented a different vision of what facial …

No one noticed Toralv Østvang fall and hit his head on the bathroom floor that night, except for his Apple Watch. Kacie Anderson used her watch to get out of her car after a near fatal accident left her and her 9-month-old baby trapped inside. The only warning sign Heather Hendershot had that something was seriously wrong with her body …

Update, Nov. 5: Read our reviews of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox Series X console will arrive Nov. 10 and cost $500 (£450, AU$749), the company announced Wednesday. That’s the same launch day as the stripped-down Xbox Series S, which will cost $300 (£250, AU$499).  See Xbox Series X at Amazon You’ll be able to preorder both consoles starting Sept. 22. The consoles will launch without Halo …

The Irish Data Protection Commission has asked Facebook to halt transferring user data from the European Union to the US. A preliminary order was sent in late August, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. Facebook confirmed the Irish DPC has begun an inquiry into its data transfers from the EU to the US. The move follows a legal decision by the …

In a further escalation in the feud between Apple and Epic Games, Apple will no longer allow Epic Games users to use its Sign In with Apple system starting Sept. 11, according to a tweet from the official Epic Games Twitter account.  Apple will no longer allow users to sign into Epic Games accounts using “Sign In with Apple” as soon …

Apple’s announcement of an event next week led many to speculate that the long-rumored new 5G iPhones were imminent. The company usually uses September to announce its latest phones, even with the expectation that this year’s crop would be delayed until October.  As it turns out, next week’s event will be focused on the Apple Watch and iPad Air. Those …

This story is part of Elections 2020, CNET’s coverage of the voting in November and its aftermath. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says it’s wrong to suggest the social media platform is designed to enrage people. In an interview with Axios on HBO, Zuckerberg admitted that partisan content on Facebook often gets high engagement  — such as likes or comments — …

Like many holidays, Labor Day — which honors the achievements and contributions of American workers — has evolved into a big sales event. And despite the weirdness of living through a global pandemic, this year is no exception. While a lot of Labor Day deals are gone, plenty of them are still in full swing. Some Labor Day sales kicked off late …

Trying to work in a cobbled-together workspace is hard. Cobbling it together to serve as an office by day and video-game sanctuary by night, especially with all the belt tightening everyone’s had to do during this coronavirus and COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s some gear that might make it go a little more smoothly. Hopefully, you’ve already bought or own the requisite laptop, desktop …

It’s been a long time coming, but Microsoft is officially back in the smartphone business with the launch of its foldable Surface Duo. Announced last October, the company’s new foldable phone takes the form of a two-screened Android device (yes, Android) joined together with a hinge that allows it to open up like a book. Microsoft says the two screens …