Fueling Efficiency: Auto Trends 2013 & Beyond
Automakers are trimming excess vehicle pounds, downsizing their engines and adopting technologies such as turbocharging.
Consumers Digest’s 2013 Automotive Best Buys
Forty-three recommendations across 12 categories.
Certified Preowned Buying Guide
Haven’t thought about buying a certified preowned vehicle? Think again.
April 22, 2013—Apple iPhone 5 owners will have a new accessory option—a car.
April 16, 2013—Ford Motor and General Motors will co-develop nine- and 10-speed automatic transmissions that the automakers plan to use in future vehicles.
Feature Attractions: Best Values in Microwave Ovens
New features appear to deliver limited cooking benefits.
Refrigerators: The Newest Space Stations
Enhanced versatility is the rule of the day.
Playing All the Angles: High-Performance Dishwashers
The latest dishwashers are quieter, use less water and have more wash options than older models did.
April 22, 2013—General Electric’s newest front-loading washing machine also can dry your clothes.
April, 12, 2013—What are the germiest kitchen products? You might be surprised by the answer.
Off the Charts: Hand-Held GPS & Two-Way Radios
New GPS receivers act as compasses and altimeters.
Making The Grade: Best Buys In Educational Software & Exceptional Apps For Kids
You can’t count on the availability of CD-ROM, DVD-ROM and downloadable programs beyond 2013.
Streaming A/V Gear: Making the Right Connections
Streaming-video boxes deliver more features than ever.
May 6, 2013—U.S. Cellular will start to sell the Apple iPhone later in 2013, according to multiple news reports.
May 1, 2013—Internet companies increasingly take steps to block law enforcement or government agencies from getting access to your personal data, according to a report by an Internet privacy-rights group.
Affordable Kitchen Makeovers: What’s Below the Surface: Top-Rated Kitchen Cabinets, Countertops & Flooring
Makers of kitchen countertops and flooring have cooked up new features on their latest products.
Pouring It On: Innovative Kitchen Faucets & Sinks
The latest faucets have higher spouts than ever before.
Whole-House Air Purifiers: Efficiency Report
You should be wary about claims of overall effectiveness for whole-house air purifiers.
April 26, 2013—AT&T is the latest telecommunications company to launch a home-security and home-monitoring service.
April 10, 2013—Homeowners who reported foreclosure or loan-modification errors that were caused by mortgage-service companies will receive settlement checks beginning April 2013.
Medical Apps: Gambling With Your Health
Some medical mobile applications do what they claim to do, but others just siphon bucks from your pocket.
Energy Drinks: Monster Claims, Empty Promises, Marketing to Children
Consumers aren’t any closer to understanding what exactly is in energy drinks.
Home Fitness Equipment: A New Interactive Experience
Ellipticals • Exercise Bikes • Home Gyms • Treadmills
May 10, 2013—Food and Drug Administration warned consumers not to consume Juices Inc. juice products or other beverages.
May 10, 2013—Three members of a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee are looking into the safety of an ingredient that’s used in muscle-building supplements.
Waterparks: Is Public Safety Going Down the Tubes?
Because of a lack of nationwide regulation, waterpark visits might be an accident waiting to happen.
Amusement Parks: Top Attractions, Hottest Rides & Best Values
Excitement is on the rise. So are admission prices and fees.
Car Rental: How to Avoid Being Taken for a Ride
Disputes over damage claims and questionable tactics when companies rent recalled vehicles can spell trouble for you.
May 17, 2013—Viking River Cruises plans to expand to ocean and sea voyages in 2015.
May 1, 2013—A new study says 4,400 children are injured each year on amusement-park rides.
Making The Grade: Best Buys In Educational Software & Exceptional Apps For Kids
You can’t count on the availability of CD-ROM, DVD-ROM and downloadable programs beyond 2013.
High-Tech Hearing Aids: Hearing Is Believing
As technologies change in hearing-aids, consumers still must navigate a maze of confusion when it’s purchase time.
The Fleecing of America’s Elderly
Government could do a lot more to protect seniors.
May 6, 2013—Senior citizens who have questions about identity theft can submit questions to Federal Trade Commission on May 7, 2013, as part of an agency workshop that will be broadcast on the Internet.
March 11, 2013—Federal Trade Commission exposed another company for allegedly ripping off senior citizens.
Swing Shift: Backyard Playsets Evolve
You’ll want more space and you’ll spend more money to add horizontal climbing bars to your playset.
Grass Seed: Turf Wars: Separating Fact from Filler
It’s unclear whether grass-seed manufacturers’ claims about their products are accurate.
Grounds Keepers: Top-Rated Lawnmowers & Tillers
There are more zero-turn-radius riding models than ever before, and you’ll find more cordless electric walk-behind lawnmowers.
April 5, 2013—The first Cub Cadet electric-powered zero-turn-radius riding lawnmower will arrive in stores this month.
March 25, 2013—This spring, you can buy a riding lawnmower that cuts grass and saves gasoline—sort of.
Credit-Score Outrage
Why the Ultimate Numbers Game Is Out of Control
Reality Check: Third-Party Bill-Payment Services
Third-party bill-payment services, though desirable in theory, still are in their infancy.
Financial Forecast: Smart Money Moves for 2013
Expert Picks • Investments • Interest Rates • Real Estate
May 6, 2013—Senior citizens who have questions about identity theft can submit questions to Federal Trade Commission on May 7, 2013, as part of an agency workshop that will be broadcast on the Internet.
April 19, 2013—The wireless telecommunication industry’s voluntary guidelines that are designed to prevent cellphone users from getting unexpected overage fees appears to be effective, according to Federal Communications Commission.
Energy Drinks: Monster Claims, Empty Promises, Marketing to Children
Consumers aren’t any closer to understanding what exactly is in energy drinks.
Home-Security Services: Under Surveillance
A lack of regulation can lead to unlicensed workers installing home-security systems.
Out of Control
It’s bad enough that Americans pay $18 billion annually in cellphone fees and taxes. Now state and local governments are diverting that revenue to plug budget holes.
Think twice before you take your computer to the nearest repair specialist. Many people are scammed by technicians who are moved more by profit than principle.
You might face more than the grief of the loss of a loved one: grave desecration and double-sold plots.
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