Car Smart

  • Special editions signal change ahead for model

    An increasing number of automakers are rolling out special editions of certain 2013 models.

  • Mercedes-Benz covers your back

    As automakers add more sensors and lane-assist features to keep you aware of possible hazards in front of or to the side of you, Mercedes-Benz is looking behind you.

  • Shifting even more gears

    Automakers continue to increase the number of gears that are in their vehicles’ automatic transmission.

  • Volkswagen Routan dropped

    The Chrysler Town & Country appears to be marked for extinction, so it doesn’t come as much of a surprise to us that the other shoe has dropped for the Volkswagen Routan, which is built upon the same platform.

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Consumer Alert

  • Disney’s eye on you

    Walt Disney World is set to keep a close eye on you—if you let it—but the proposal has prompted privacy concerns.

  • Gatorade drops flame retardant

    Gatorade might be a bit more flammable now, but that’s probably a good thing.

  • Plavix under legal fire

    A blood-thinning medicine that already carries a warning from Food and Drug Administration now is being blamed for 10 deaths.

  • Dog treats might cause problems

    If the treats that you give to Fido are made in or have any ingredients that are made in China, you might want to switch brands.

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Healthy Living

  • Actress talks thyroid disease

    Gena Lee Nolin had thyroid disease for 12 years without knowing it, while she appeared in the TV show “Baywatch” and modeled for various magazines.

  • Aspirin might cause eye problems

    A new study suggests that aspirin might be tied to macular degeneration, which causes a loss of vision in patients.

  • A patch to treat migraine headaches

    People who have migraines might have new pain relief in the form of a battery-powered patch.

  • Whole lot of confusion with whole grain

    If you want to eat more healthfully, you should be careful about being roped into buying items at the grocery store that carry promises of “whole grain” on the label, because those products likely are only slightly more healthful than are products that don’t have “whole grain” on the label.

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Marketplace

  • Polaroid tries retail

    Polaroid plans to open at least 10 image-printing retail stores across the United States by the end of 2013, and more are expected to follow.

  • Amazon sees life for CDs

    Amazon is giving consumers more incentive to buy CDs.

  • Delta marks up member dues

    Delta customers will have to spend more to qualify for the airline’s Medallion program.

  • Feds want to free up Wi-Fi

    Federal Communications Commission wants to relieve congestion and increase the speed in public Wi-Fi networks, such as at airports or in conference centers.

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What's New

  • Visual help for calls

    Clarity wants to provide more assistance for the aging or hard-of-hearing when it comes to holding a telephone conversation.

  • Trying to stay in tune

    Consumers already have access to guitars that can teach them how to play. Now Peavey has a model that it claims can keep them in tune.

  • Keeping better track of your luggage

    Globatrac’s Trakdot Luggage tracker won’t stop baggage handlers from putting your suitcase on the wrong airplane, but it will give you a head start in retrieving the luggage in the event that it’s lost.

     

  • Wi-Fi that can fit into your pocket

    Consumers who seek an easy way to access the Internet when they’re on the go might be interested in the WL-330NUL Pocket Wi-Fi router by Asus.

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Your Money

  • Warner’s playbook: Smarter ways to give

    Former National Football League quarterback Kurt Warner has made charitable giving a big part of his retirement, but you don’t need a star athlete’s income to follow his game plan.

  • New mortgage rules looming

    If you are thinking of buying a home and have a lot of debt or are self-employed, you should consider buying in 2013 before rules go into effect.

  • New option on home-office deductions

    If you spend hours keeping meticulous records so you can deduct your home-office expenses on your taxes, you might be in for a break next year.

  • Commercial real estate has a solid future

    Improved fortunes of retailers and a growing preference for renting over home purchase mean that now might be a good time to invest in those kinds of commercial property, according to PricewaterhouseCooper’s December 2012 Real Estate Investor Survey.

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