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The economics behind Amazon's possible set-top box gambit

Yes, Amazon makes the successful Kindle Fire tablet computer. And yes, it's reportedly considering offering a smartphone.

But a streaming video set-top box? Bloomberg reported Wednesday that Amazon plans to dive into that hardware business, citing "three people familiar with the project who aren't authorized to discuss it." What's Amazon thinking?

It's a crowded market already. Companies such as Roku and Boxee already make set-top boxes that can stream video content to televisions. Consumers can stream video from gaming consoles such as the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. And they can catch streaming … Read more

Home networking explained, part 6: Keep your network secure

Editors' note: This post is part of an ongoing series. For the other parts, check out the related stories section below.

If you were concerned after reading CNET's recent report that most home routers can be easily hacked, I don't blame you. The study did sound ominous, but the good news is that your network is likely far less susceptible than the report suggests. And more importantly, there are things you can do to make sure it's secure.

Two things are vital to keeping your network safe: proper settings and prudence. The first step is easy; you … Read more

AntTek Quick Settings

A quick settings menu, only available on the new Android 4.2 operating system, allows immediate access to all of the important settings that one may wish to change with a quick swipe of the thumb. AntTek Quick Settings brings this intuitive feature to all Android devices regardless of the operating system. It's a great app that functions perfectly.

AntTek Quick Settings installs very quickly. At only 2.5MB, it's very light on the resources, too. The look and feel of Jelly Bean is preserved in the remake of its menu. A black background is highlighted with intuitive, … Read more

Throttle 7.4.15.2013 Review

There is just no substitute for bandwidth when it comes to Internet speed. Whether it's water or data, the principle is the same: the bigger the pipe, the bigger (and faster) the flow. But that doesn't mean there's nothing you can do on your end to improve your online experience, especially if you're one of the many users still running dial-up connections. If you're trying to squeeze every bit of performance out of your Internet connection, you may want to have a look at Throttle. Throttle offers to maximize your PC's network settings, whether … Read more

Apple HDTV rumor roundup

There hasn't quite been this much hype, intrigue, and mystery around an Apple product since the first iPad.

We're speaking, of course, about Apple's TV set. A device that began as a twinkle in an analyst's eye, and has since ballooned into what just about everyone expects Apple to roll out as its next major flagship product.

But where are these rumors coming from? How have they changed? And most importantly, how are you supposed to keep up with them? CNET's rounded up all the major ones below, a document we plan to keep lovingly … Read more

GameGain Review

If your computer can't keep up with your games, it may be time to give it a boost. For a small fee, this program wants to change a few settings on your computer to make things run faster. Sadly, the GameGain trial version doesn't make good on its promises; you won't notice any performance upgrade in any of your favorite games.

The program offers a free trial that lasts for 29 days, while the full version costs $12.99. You can't unlock GameGain's "fastest" setting" without paying up, though. The program occasionally … Read more

Get Android 4.2 Quick Settings on any device

As one of the more handy options in Android 4.2.2, the Quick Settings menu gives users easy access to common device settings.

Accessible by swiping down from the right side of the notification bar, the menu allows for toggling of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, brightness, and more.

Unfortunately, only 2 percent of today's Android smartphones run Android 4.2, with even fewer running this particular release. Enter AntTek Quick Settings.

Available for any Android device running 2.1 or later, this free application provides not only the standard Quick Settings options, but a ton of extras as well.

Even … Read more

Speed up your gaming and Internet experience with GameBoost

Is your older computer struggling to keep up with the latest and greatest games? GameBoost claims to save you from having to boost your hardware by giving you more performance through software tweaks. However, any changes the trial version makes aren't noticeable at all. In fact, the program doesn't boost your computer's power or speed one bit.

The trial version of the program offers most of the performance tweaks for 29 days. The "fastest" performance upgrade isn't available unless you buy, though. GameBoost requires some administrator access to work, which makes you think it … Read more

Older and slower systems will get the biggest PCBoost

We've seen plenty of tools that promise to boost your PC's speed, but like the proverbial bear in the woods, some do and some don't. PCBoost promises to boost your PC's speed, too, and it has some options and displays that can help you do that, up to a point. It's shareware, though you can try it for free for 30 days. It's affordable, but it doesn't do more than many free system optimizers, and actually does less than others. It claims to exert control over how your PC prioritizes processor resources, "… Read more