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Get an Apple EarPods two

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. Quick note about yesterday: Shortly after my free-game post went live, Bundle Stars appeared to run out of …

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Hoverboards banned again…this time not for fires

Hoverboards are facing another ban, but this time it’s not because they’re known to burst into flames. The US International Trade Commission has issued a ban on the import of “certain personal transporters” that infringe on Segway patents related to self-balancing technology, the federal agency said Wednesday. This means any hoverboard or similar smart-balancing device using tech covered in Segway’s …

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Apple Watch gets serious heart monitoring with the new Kardia wrist strap

Wearable manufacturers talk a big game about “health” and “fitness”, but a new accessory for the Apple Watch is looking to up the stakes significantly with a medical grade electrocardiogram (ECG). AliveCor already makes an FDA-approved ECG accessory for your phone, and the company is now bringing its technology to the Apple Watch. Kardia Band is pretty much what it …

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You can now compare ride

Until we all have a Google self-driving car to get us home at the end of a long night, we must rely on friends, public transportation, a taxi or a ride-sharing service like Uber. Uber and its ilk are an increasingly popular option for getting around town, and yesterday Google Maps announced it will soon add a new tab to …

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Getting started with Windows 10’s Skype video app

Microsoft has broken Skype up into three different apps in Windows 10: Skype video, Messaging, and Phone (Skype video is the only app that bears the Skype name). Skype video is, as you’ve probably figured out, for video-chatting with your Skype contacts. The Skype video interface is extremely simple — much simpler than Skype’s traditional desktop program, which combines all …

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Optus to launch 24

Football fans (fans of the one true football code we should say), it’s time to rejoice: Australia is getting its first ever 24-hour soccer channel. But there’s a hefty catch — you’ll need to be an Optus customer to get the goods. After nabbing the rights for the English Premier League in November last year, Optus today confirmed how it …

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Getting started with Windows 10’s Messaging app

Microsoft wants you to use Skype Messaging — simply titled “Messaging” in Windows 10 — as your main over-the-top messaging app. (Over-the-top messaging is a data-based alternative to texting — think Whatsapp, Line, and iOS’s iMessage.) With the new Messaging app, you can “text” anyone from your Windows 10 device, providing they also have Skype installed. Because Microsoft really wants …

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