- Q&A: Should I buy additional insurance policies by mail? Consumer Reports - 2 hours 34 minutes ago
Q: I have health care coverage, but I get offers in the mail for accidental death and dismemberment policies and for additional hospital coverage, which would pay regardless of whether my regular insurance ...
- Where to chow down on your road trips Consumer Reports - 23 hours ago
If you're a foodie, you might envision experiencing your very own version of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" during a Memorial Day or summer road trip. But unlike Guy Fieri and his apparently endless ...
- 4 noise-canceling headphones to help you mute the cicadas Consumer Reports - Fri, May 24, 2013 3:00 PM EDT
If you live somewhere between North Carolina and Connecticut, you've no doubt been bombarded with information about the Great Cicada Invasion of 2013 (a.k.a. Swarmageddon). Depending on the source, 30 ...
- Magellan SmartGPS navigator may be too smart for its own good Consumer Reports - Fri, May 24, 2013 12:00 PM EDT
Magellan has just introduced its latest connected device to the world of portable navigation with their new SmartGPS, and we're already well into testing this creative new device in our lab and on the ...
- CR Money Minute: Better smart phone banking security? Consumer Reports - Thu, May 23, 2013 11:00 AM EDT
Several major U.S. banks are beta-testing a new way to give you access to your mobile banking account, which could mark the beginning of the end for your password headaches, according to Toby Rush, CEO ...
- Best & Worst Airlines Consumer Reports - Wed, May 22, 2013 5:37 PM EDT
Virgin America got a clear thumbs-up from readers in our latest survey. See what airlines are at the other end of the runway.
- With consumer confidence up, will stock returns follow? Consumer Reports - Wed, May 22, 2013 4:30 PM EDT
Headed into the Memorial Day holiday, stocks, as measured by the Standard & Poor's 500 index, have returned more than 17 percent to investors in 2013. And consumer confidence is finally ticking upward ...
- Xbox One versus PlayStation 4: How the new consoles stack up so far Consumer Reports - Wed, May 22, 2013 3:30 PM EDT
The next generation of video-game consoles is almost upon us. Since some details on the upcoming Sony PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Xbox One have been revealed, we wanted to speculate how the two stack up ...
- Bought prescription eyeglasses online? Tell us your story Consumer Reports - Wed, May 22, 2013 2:00 PM EDT
Lots of websites sell eyeglasses these days. Many offer substantial discounts compared with the likes of eyewear chains (LensCrafters, Pearl Vision) and doctor offices and independent shops, potentially ...
- Is the HP Officejet Pro the fastest inkjet printer ever? Consumer Reports - Wed, May 22, 2013 11:00 AM EDT
At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, I saw a prototype for one of HP's newest all-in-one printers, which HP claimed would be able to print pages about as quickly as laser printers do—making it the ...
- 7 great geeky gifts for grads Consumer Reports - Wed, May 22, 2013 9:00 AM EDT
Know someone who's collecting a degree this year? All graduates deserve a reward for making it through school (and before they have to face the rather scary job market that awaits them). Here are some ...
- Microsoft Xbox One: An 'all in one' entertainment system for TV, video, and of course, games Consumer Reports - Tue, May 21, 2013 4:30 PM EDT
At an event today called, appropriately, Xbox Reveal, Microsoft announced the next generation of the Xbox, the first new version in eight years: It's an "all-in-one" entertainment system called ...
- 5 good reasons to buy a full-size camcorder Consumer Reports - Tue, May 21, 2013 9:00 AM EDT
Lots of digital devices can capture video, including basic cameras, smart phones, and tablets. But when it comes to shooting important events, it's crucial your videos are clear, sharp and in focus. For ...
- Panasonic ZT60 plasma TVs make you pay dearly for state-of-the-art blacks and contrast Consumer Reports - Mon, May 20, 2013 12:00 PM EDT
We recently wrote about Panasonic's new ZT60 plasma TVs (TC-P60ZT60 and TC-P65ZT60), which will be the company's flagship televisions for 2013. We knew a lot about the TVs—the 60- and 65-inch screen sizes, ...
- Samsung Galaxy S4 performance is top-notch Consumer Reports - Mon, May 20, 2013 9:00 AM EDT
The Samsung Galaxy S 4, one of the most advanced Android smart phones ever, is our new top-rated smart phone. The S4 delivered top-notch performance in the most critical areas of our tests, including the ...
- Samsung Galaxy Note 8 offers stellar performance Consumer Reports - Fri, May 17, 2013 2:00 PM EDT
The newest tablet in Samsung's lineup, the Galaxy Note 8 ($400) received top marks in our latest Ratings of 7- to 8-inch Wi-Fi tablets. It's largely the Galaxy's versatility that puts it at the top, with ...
- Faster Wi-Fi finally makes its way onto computers Consumer Reports - Fri, May 17, 2013 1:00 PM EDT
A laptop and desktop from Vizio—the Vizio CT15T-B1 Ultrabook and the Vizio CA24T-B0, respectively—are the first computers into our labs with the latest Wi-Fi standard, 802.11ac. Though it's up and running, ...
- HTC One and HTC First smart phones: Same maker, different results Consumer Reports - Fri, May 17, 2013 12:30 PM EDT
The HTC One and HTC First may share a manufacturer and an operating system, but the similarities end there. Each phone has a unique interface for presenting and accessing news feeds and messaging apps. ...
- That feel-good credit score may still disappoint Consumer Reports - Thu, May 16, 2013 6:00 PM EDT
If you ever failed to pay a bill that was subsequently sent to a collection agency, it can still hurt you even if you pay it off. That's because any blemish can stay on your credit report for up to...
- Traveling abroad? Save money changing money Consumer Reports - Thu, May 16, 2013 3:30 PM EDT
It's one thing to blow the bank on a gourmet dinner at a Paris restaurant, quite another to pay more than you need to for it because of fees or a bad exchange rate. So it will come as good...
- The best video game console to help you get fit Consumer Reports - Thu, May 16, 2013 1:00 PM EDT
Ever since the major video game platforms (the Nintendo Wii U, Sony PlayStation 3, and Microsoft Xbox 360) added motion-controlled gaming, players have been jumping off the couch and moving more than their ...
- Supersized LG Optimus G Pro is a noteworthy Note II challenger Consumer Reports - Wed, May 15, 2013 5:15 PM EDT
The LG Optimus G Pro, exclusively available now from AT&T for $200 with a two-year contract, is essentially a supersized version of the Optimus G, one of the highest-scoring models in our Ratings of smart ...
- Google Play Music All Access merges your tunes with entire Google music library Consumer Reports - Wed, May 15, 2013 3:00 PM EDT
Take that, Spotify! At its I/O developer's conference today, Google took the wraps off a new music subscription service, called Google Play Music All Access, that blends your own personal music collection—songs ...
- Why consumer advocates think a la carte cable programming could benefit you Consumer Reports - Tue, May 14, 2013 4:45 PM EDT
Are you tired of paying for cable channels that you never watch? So is Senator John McCain: He's introduced the Television Consumer Freedom Act of 2013, a bill that would offer incentives to cable companies ...
- BlackBerry updates the Z10 with better cursor control, HDR setting, and more Consumer Reports - Tue, May 14, 2013 12:45 PM EDT
At BlackBerry Live 2013, the company announced that the latest version of the BlackBerry 10 OS, version 10.1, will be available for download on the BlackBerry Z10 as of today. BlackBerry also announced ...
- Are Beats by Dr. Dre headphones worth the money? Consumer Reports - Tue, May 14, 2013 11:00 AM EDT
Do you care whether your headphones look as good as they sound? If so, you might be considering a model in the Beats by Dr. Dre line. Developed in conjunction with Monster Cable, Beats helped usher in ...
- Leaving underemployment, with lessons learned Consumer Reports - Mon, May 13, 2013 11:00 AM EDT
When the Consumer Reports Index reported recently that Americans are feeling significantly better about their personal finances, I could definitely agree. My husband recently found a new job after an uncomfortable ...
- AT&T Aio Wireless no-contract cell service: What you need to know Consumer Reports - Fri, May 10, 2013 5:30 PM EDT
AT&T's new Aio Wireless (pronounced A-O) service is the company's answer to T-Mobile's recent radical switch to simpler, lower-cost, no-contract plans for phones and tablets. Like T-Mobile, Aio Wireless ...
- 7 ways to turn your garage sale into a moneymaker Consumer Reports - Fri, May 10, 2013 5:15 PM EDT
I recently gave our house a top-to-bottom spring cleaning. My takeaway, besides sore muscles, was the realization that we have a lot of stuff we no longer use or want to clean. Among our collection are ...
- Mobile security experts name their favorite apps Consumer Reports - Thu, May 9, 2013 2:00 PM EDT
Last week at our expert panel on mobile-phone privacy and security, host Sree Sreenivasan lightened things up a bit when he asked the panel members (and the audience) to name some of their favorite apps. ...
- Now in our test labs: Seiki Ultra HD TV, plus hot new plasma TVs from Panasonic and Samsung Consumer Reports - Wed, May 8, 2013 10:00 AM EDT
Although we're just a few days away from posting new TV ratings—which include both smart TVs and more bare-bones models from LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Vizio, among others—our engineers are already hard ...
- Consumer sentiment reaches highest level since 2008 Consumer Reports - Tue, May 7, 2013 7:00 AM EDT
Americans are feeling significantly better about their personal finances, according to the monthly Consumer Reports Index. Consumer sentiment rose 8.8 percent to 54.5, the highest level in more than five ...
- 10 Mother's Day gift ideas today's moms will love Consumer Reports - Sat, May 4, 2013 9:00 AM EDT
There are just a few things to know about Mother's Day. First, remember the holiday. This year Mother's Day takes place on Sunday, May 12, so you don't have many shopping days left. Second, book a table. ...
- Google Play comes to B&N Nook tablets Consumer Reports - Fri, May 3, 2013 12:10 AM EDT
Google Play is available on Barnes & Noble's Nook HD and Nook HD Plus tablets, starting today. The move by the bookseller brings a much wider selection of apps to its tablets, which until now only included ...
- Expert panel weighs trade-off between smart phones' convenience and privacy Consumer Reports - Thu, May 2, 2013 4:08 PM EDT
"How do we make the most of this amazing device and do it in safe, sustainable manner going forward?" asked Sree Sreenivasan (Chief Digital Officer at Columbia University and faculty member of ...
- What you don't know about flood insurance could hurt you Consumer Reports - Thu, May 2, 2013 3:08 PM EDT
This spring's floods in the Midwest, against the backdrop of Hurricane Sandy's six-month anniversary, underline why a purchasing a national flood insurance policy can be so crucial regardless of where ...
- Test your app-titude: Would you download these 5 apps? Consumer Reports - Thu, May 2, 2013 12:00 PM EDT
It pays to be careful about which apps you download to your smart phone. More than 5 million smart phone users experienced symptoms of malicious software on their phones in the past year, our latest survey ...
- Backup batteries for digital phones are vital—but be prepared to pay Consumer Reports - Thu, May 2, 2013 9:38 AM EDT
The digital phone services used by millions of consumers today are likely to quit when the lights go out, as homeowners found to their dismay in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy last fall. These services, ...
- A field guide to smart-phone users Consumer Reports - Thu, May 2, 2013 8:08 AM EDT
There are just about as many types of smart-phone users as there are phones. Understanding the kind of user you are will help you figure out how to strike the right balance between protecting yourself ...
- 5 tips for managing your debt Consumer Reports - Thu, May 2, 2013 7:08 AM EDT
Recently we asked debt-management experts for their best tips on handling debt. Several are certified credit counselors in agencies connected with the nonprofit National Foundation for Credit Counseling ...
- Blu-ray discs: 'We're not dead yet' Consumer Reports - Wed, May 1, 2013 2:36 PM EDT
Think video streaming, from services such as Amazon and Netflix, is killing physical discs? Not quite yet, according to the Digital Entertainment Group (DEG), which reports that Blu-ray sales were 28.5 ...
- Consumer Reports survey: How safe is your home computer? Consumer Reports - Wed, May 1, 2013 11:08 AM EDT
Consumers' home PCs were no safer than they were last year, our annual State of the Net survey found. Heavy spam afflicted 43 percent of those surveyed. We've used our survey to extrapolate the number ...
- Consumer Reports video: 3 ways to keep your smart phone secure Consumer Reports - Wed, May 1, 2013 8:06 AM EDT
Many smart phone users don't adequately secure their phones, according to our latest survey. If that group includes you, here are three simple steps you can take to protect your privacy as well as the ...
- Consumer Reports: 39 percent of smart phone users don't secure their phones Consumer Reports - Wed, May 1, 2013 7:00 AM EDT
Smart phones are fast replacing home computers for many daily online activities. But 39 percent of the more than 100 million American adult smart phone owners failed to take even minimal security measures ...
- LG curved-screen 55-inch OLED TV will cost you $13,500 Consumer Reports - Tue, Apr 30, 2013 11:38 AM EDT
Would you pay $13,500 to be the first one on your block with a 55-inch OLED TV with a curved screen? Bases on an announcement this week from LG Electronics, which is now taking orders in Korea for the ...
- Apple is tops when it comes to computer tech support Consumer Reports - Mon, Apr 29, 2013 9:00 AM EDT
In our latest reader survey of computer technical support, Apple bested its own scores from last year's survey and walloped other brand-name computer manufacturers. The company scored far higher than the ...
- Superstorm Sandy, six months later: An exclusive survey of its impact Consumer Reports - Mon, Apr 29, 2013 7:00 AM EDT
Six months ago today—on October 29, 2012—Sandy slammed into the mid-Atlantic region. A new Consumer Reports survey documents the deep disruption and devastation Sandy wrought, along with highlighting the ...
- Archos GamePad tablet review: A good idea with so-so results Consumer Reports - Fri, Apr 26, 2013 3:00 PM EDT
The Archos GamePad is a tablet designed specifically for playing games—one of several others coming out some time this year, including the Wikipad, NVidia's Project Shield, and the Razer Edge Pro. The ...
- If Amazon offers a streaming media player, will it have Netflix? Consumer Reports - Thu, Apr 25, 2013 12:30 PM EDT
Recent rumors suggest that Amazon will launch a streaming media player this fall to compete with the likes of Apple TV and Roku. An interesting question is whether it will offer access to Netflix, the ...
- Samsung Galaxy Camera and others let you shoot trails of light Consumer Reports - Thu, Apr 25, 2013 12:00 PM EDT
Lots of people buy advanced cameras (such as the Sony NEX-7) because they're fast: They're great for taking action shots in sports, for instance. But some cameras are including special scene modes that ...