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. Now playing: Watch this: The crowd-pleasing Coolest is the Swiss Army knife of… 2:02 For a couple of …
Read More »
As everyone knows by now, Apple finally worked up the “courage” to eliminate the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus smartphones. According to Phil Schiller, head of marketing, the decision was based on three reasons: firstly to show off Lightning’s ability to adapt to uses beyond charging and data transfer, secondly to save space and thirdly …
Read More »
What are you doing this Saturday? If you answered “tailgating at my alma mater’s football game,” then get pumped up. This week we’re giving away a Nima football helmet Bluetooth speaker to satisfy all your pregame audio needs. Nima aptly describes the design as “baller.” The helmet features speakers on both sides that provide a full-range, 360-degree sound. It has …
Read More »
Even before we got on the plane to fly to Berlin, we knew something was up. This week we’re at the technology trade show IFA in Germany, where manufacturers and other industry types gather each September to show off their coolest new kit. With so many tech companies in one place, you get a sense of shifts and trends in …
Read More »
Over the last few months I’ve written about the persistent rumors that Apple will remove the headphone jack on the next iPhone. Every time I write about it, readers’ comments have been generally negative, with some folks threatening to boycott the iPhone when Apple drops the headphone jack. Well, from all indications, including published reports citing “people familiar with the …
Read More »
Finally, you can get Donald Trump to say or sing whatever, whenever and wherever you want. Sound of Power is commemorating Trump’s official nomination for president by the Republican Party by adding a bust of The Donald to its line of high-end speakers in the shape of some of the world’s more controversial leaders. “It’s with pride we present the …
Read More »
Now playing: Watch this: Samsung’s audio lab: peek behind the double-blind curtain 1:33 “Have you heard of the TMZ?” asks Allan Devantier, the head of Samsung’s new audio lab in Los Angeles. “Do you know what it stands for?” “It’s Thirty Mile Zone. See those buildings?” Devantier follows up, pointing out of the window. “They were built within the TMZ …
Read More »
Android users are embracing the iPhone. According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, 30 percent of new iPhone buyers had switched from an Android device in the July-to-September 2015 quarter. And this week, Cook reiterated that the trend is accelerating, saying: “We were blown away by the level of Android switchers that we had last quarter [October through December]. It was …
Read More »
Bluetooth speakers may be good enough for the masses, but if you crave better sound, the Onkyo A-9010 integrated stereo amp (US $300, UK, £199, Australia AU$549) would be a great place to start. Paired with Pioneer’s terrific SP-FS52 tower speakers, you’ll enjoy superb sound for not a lot of money, and if you’re into vinyl, add the Audio Technica …
Read More »
Used to be that cheap Bluetooth headphones didn’t sound so good. And by cheap, I mean anything under $100 or so. But that has started to change, as we’re seeing more inexpensive wireless headphones that we can recommend from a design and performance perspective. Since we’ve tested only a fraction of the Bluetooth headphones out there, this isn’t a definitive …
Read More »
