Now playing: Watch this: Our original Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review 2:11 Let’s face it, we all experience a brief moment of anxiety when handing our phone to a friend or family member, even if for a brief moment. Or at least I do. It’s not that I have anything to hide, simply that my …

Laser light has made its way into a new product line Intel expects will speed up the data centers at the heart of online services like Google search and Facebook social networking. After years of research, the chipmaker has begun selling a product using a technology called silicon photonics that builds lasers directly into computer chips. That means communications can …

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. And find more great buys on the CNET Deals page. If you rely on the Cheapskate newsletter for all your Cheapskate goodness, I have some, er, news: You might not be getting your …

Wireless carriers and others like Comcast and Dish Network are getting their checkbooks ready as they start bidding on airwaves the government has reclaimed from TV broadcasters. The second phase of the Federal Communication Commission’s so-called incentive spectrum auction kicked off Tuesday. This first-of-its-kind auction allows wireless operators and others to buy airwaves that TV broadcasters have agreed to give …

Now playing: Watch this: Intel turns to Overwatch to show off seventh-generation… 0:57 The PC industry’s glory days, when people snapped up new computers powered by steadily faster chips, are over. But Intel thinks its newest PC processor will get some hearts racing in a few months. At its Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco on Tuesday, Intel Chief Executive …

As cord cutters binge, pay TV purges. Cable, satellite and telecom pay TV providers lost more subscribers last quarter than ever, according to a report on Monday from Leitchman Research. “The top pay-TV providers lost about 665,000 subscribers in the traditionally weak second quarter, with net losses in 2Q 2016 surpassing the previous quarterly low set in last year’s second …

Some of you have been asking about the dark black-and-gray theme I’ve been sporting in my Windows 10 screenshots. If you’ve installed the latest Windows 10 Anniversary Update — which rolled out August 2 — then you can get this cool dark theme in native Windows apps right now. To do this, open the Settings menu and go to Personalization …

Apple’s FaceTime is incredibly simple to use, but only allows you to call fellow iOS or Mac users. Google’s latest app, Duo, attempts to recreate the simplicity of FaceTime but works across Android and iOS. As a refresher, Duo was first announced at Google I/O earlier this year, alongside Allo, yet another messaging app from Google. While Duo is available …

We’ve seen some weird iPhone torture tests involving hot melted-crayon baths, liquid nitrogen and trains. YouTube channel GizmoSlip decided to torture an iPhone using Flubber. Flubber, named for a fictional rubbery substance from the classic 1961 film “The Absent-Minded Professor,” is a material you can make at home using glue, water, borax and food coloring. Related stories iPhone 6 Plus …

Let’s be honest: Most people aren’t on Tinder to find a partner to discuss Russian literature. Or string theory. Or the strength of the dollar. That’s why this might be good news for those who hate small talk: Using an emoji or GIF will make your match 30 percent more likely to respond, Tinder found this week. The dating app’s …