As a general rule, Apple products and “Cheapskate” don’t belong in the same sentence. But obviously zillions of people love Apple gear, price be damned. I like Apple gear, too, but damned if I’m going to pay full retail for it. That’s why I always advise people to choose refurbished hardware whenever possible. It’s usually …

The ability to book a ride with Uber disappeared from the Android Google Maps app with no explanation; it still gives you estimates and displays the available cars but now provides an “open app” button to perform the transaction. Google gave no explanation, just a throwaway bullet point in its Request a Ride help section for Google Maps. This brings …

iPhone users who call 911 will automatically be able to share location data with first responders when iOS 12 is released this fall, Apple said Monday. The service will allow 911 operators to more easily locate callers in order to dispatch responders more quickly and accurately to emergency situations, the company said in a statement. Apple first launched a version of …

Optus has announced that SBS will simulcast 48 hours’ worth of World Cup games on free-to-air TV while it tests its network and tries to fix problems with its app that left fans unable to stream games over the weekend.  SBS will broadcast a total of six games from Monday night until Wednesday morning on its free-to-air channels — games …

JPEG turns 25 this year, a remarkable achievement when you think about how the latest smartphone becomes ho-hum in a matter of months. But to celebrate JPEG’s birthday, we might finally be seeing something better. That’s because the Joint Photographic Experts Group has begun work on a successor, called JPEG XL that at a minimum should cut photo file sizes …

Amazon is ready to give you instant gratification, Australia. The online shopping giant has officially launched Amazon Prime in Australia, giving shoppers access to speedy deliveries and free video streaming perks that US Amazon users have had for over a decade. First launched in the US in 2005, Amazon Prime gives shoppers a raft of shipping benefits as well as …

Google is venturing into Asian e-commerce with the help of a local powerhouse. The company said Monday it will invest $550 million in JD.com, a leading Chinese e-commerce company also known as Jing Dong, to provide consumers easier options to shop online and tap into the Southeast Asian market. “The Asia-Pacific region is one of the largest and fastest growing …

The time has come for Apple to pay for the infamous Error 53 that bricked iPhones and iPads taken to a third party for repairs. The Federal Court of Australia announced Monday its order for Apple to pay AU$9 million (around US $6.6 million converted) for telling customers who encountered the error they weren’t entitled to a refund. The error …

Yes, it’s a feature that the app should have had when it launched a year ago, but now Adobe Scan can convert those quaint bits of stiff paper rectangles into usable contact information. Adobe’s mobile app for converting paper documents into searchable PDF files — still free with Adobe registration — has improved auto adjustment capabilities for cleaning up documents under …

This story is part of WWDC 2022, CNET’s complete coverage from and about Apple’s annual developers conference. The future of augmented reality headgear and smartglasses is still very much in flux. The long-awaited Magic Leap might emerge this year. Microsoft’s Hololens has hung in a state of enterprise limbo — one from which it may finally emerge next year. Little …