Matt Elliott/CNET I often show up at a friend’s house with a five-pack. I intend to arrive with a six-pack of a new or interesting brew, but my curiosity and thirst often get the better of me. If you are a beer lover always on the hunt for new and interesting ales and lagers, I …

Newly approved web standard promises faster page loads. A new version of the HTTP standard that promises to deliver Web pages to browsers faster has been formally approved, the Internet protocol’s first revision in 16 years. The specifications for HTTP 2.0 have been formally approved, according to a blog post by Mark Nottingham, who as chairman of the IETF HTTPBIS …

Snapchat video/Screenshot by CNET Snapchat is reportedly seeking a new round of funding that could value the company as high as $19 billion. “A person with knowledge of the matter” said that the company would be hoping to raise as much as $500 million, with executives “in advanced discussions” with fund managers over the new round of funding, according to …

Comcast in Philadephia has unleashed a new remote with a branding cue taken from Apple in Cupertino. Marguerite Reardon/CNET On today’s episode of brands behaving bizarrely, we virtually head to Philadelphia, where Comcast has put together a branding strategy that’s a bit of a head-scratcher. I think we all get that brands need to put their marks on things so …

The tech would also include the ability to project virtual design elements, so users can see what a sneaker will look like after production. Nike Sneaker maker Nike has invented a new way for people to design sneakers with help from holographic-like technology, a new patent reveals. Earlier this month, Nike was awarded a US patent on an “Augmented Reality …

Verizon has had its fill of spectrum, the radio frequencies that power all wireless service. At least, that’s according to Verizon Communications Chief Technology Officer Tony Melone, who told investors on Tuesday that the company has enough spectrum to handle consumer demand for mobile broadband capacity for the next few years. That’s largely due to the $10.4 billion it spent …

FitFox Fitness trackers and apps are burgeoning in popularity, so it was probably only a matter of time before fitness equipment started getting connected. One of the early adopters is Sophia — a skipping rope currently seeking crowdfunding that connects to an app to keep your rope-jumpin’ interesting — and, of course, to track your progress. Related articles The best …

The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge, one of the company’s many efforts to try differentiating from its competitors. Juan Garzón/CNET Samsung started doling out more cash to its shareholders last year, but it warned that kind of treatment may not continue in 2015. Instead of more investor goodies, the South Korean electronics giant will look to direct its $56 billion cash …

Social networking in virtual reality? Facebook says yes. Nick Statt/CNET Facebook is sharing a little more of its vision for virtual reality. Less than a year after Facebook closed its acquisition of Oculus VR, maker of the innovative wrap-around Oculus Rift headset and a pioneer in the virtual-reality video game realm, Facebook revealed Tuesday it’s developing versions of its apps …

Samsung will host its Unpacked event March 1. Samsung Samsung in March will “unpack” its newest smartphone, and CNET will bring you all the action. The South Korean electronics giant will host an event at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona on March 1 at 6:30 p.m. local time. CNET will be on hand to provide you with …