Gadgets

From the most basic handsets to ultra-advanced smartphones that are essentially pocket computers, mobile phones are complex devices. They reach out to the cloud, surf the Internet, play music, run countless apps, connect to social-networking services, are messaging masters, and, yes, they even make voice calls. … Read more

Dell's $24.4 billion deal to go private is a sign of the times. The PC market is collapsing, Microsoft is trying to save it, and the IPO isn't what it used to be.

The company is about to get a major transformation. Once the deal is completed (with a $2 billion loan from Microsoft as part of the financing), it will be owned by Silver Lake Partners and Dell founder Michael Dell. But what exactly does going private mean for the company? What impact will it have on the markets?

Here are a few potential consequences of … Read more

Not all kitchen gadgets are gleaming devices shimmering with moving parts. Sometimes, utility is provided by something just sitting there minding its own business. Take tea, for example: not much goes on while it steeps. Another example might be ice chilling down a beverage. Finally in a trifecta of passivity, infusions require little more than placing a bunch of sliced fruits, herbs, and whatnot into a liquid. Considering the simplicity involved, it only makes sense that there would be one kitchen helper designed to do all three of these tasks.

The Primula Flavor It Beverage System 3-in-1 Infuser Pitcher, which … Read more

BlackBerry is betting its future on the Z10 and its new OS, but they won't be enough to prevent the company's inevitable demise.

By every standard, the BlackBerry Z10 is the best smartphone that BlackBerry (formerly RIM) has ever produced. It's a massive upgrade in terms of design, user experience and technology. I welcome the departure of the home button in favor of gestures. So let me first give credit where credit is due: BlackBerry has built a decent phone. The Q10 isn't bad either, if you're a die-hard fan of QWERTY keyboards.

Building decent … Read more

Have you decided to ditch DVDs and Blu-rays to instead buy movies and TV shows only in a pure digital format?

There are certainly advantages to that. But one of the biggest downsides of going all digital is that how you can view your content is largely dependent on the service you purchased it from.

Digital video providers In this column, I look at how "trapped" video content purchased from iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Xbox and Google Play may be. The first four video marketplaces were listed yesterday by NPD as among the top ways people purchase digital video. … Read more

If you're wondering just how well the new BlackBerry Z10 stacks up against the smartphone competition, wait no longer. We've compiled the key speeds and feeds of RIM's latest touch-screen handset along with the iPhone 5, HTC Droid DNA, and Nokia Lumia 920. … Read more

Need a way to surf almost anywhere without relying on sketchy public Wi-Fi? Verizon sure thinks you do and hopes to entice subscribers with a new Jetpack mobile hot spot. … Read more

Breakfast is more than the sum of its parts. Sure, bacon, egg, cheese, ham, sausage and the like are all delicious enough on their own, but when put together something magical happens. The transformation of breakfast ingredients into a breakfast meal is one that can happen in so many ways. Yet time and time again, people gravitate towards a classic: the breakfast sandwich. Often prepared with an English muffin or a bagel, the mingling of ingredients creates an easy to carry meal that is packed with flavor. And now, one kitchen gadget wants to make it even easier to construct … Read more

It must be tough for carriers to make an extra dime these days with upstart apps offering customers for free what network operators want to charge for. With today's announcement that T-Mobile now supports the StarStar Me app, it's clear that TMO feels the heat. … Read more