If you're shopping for new appliances, you might hear the argument that energy-efficient models don't perform as well as their power-hungry counterparts. Or that you'll have to spend more for maximum efficiency. A report out today from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project refutes both claims, and it does so with a deep analysis of real data, including more than 20 years' worth of findings from Consumer Reports' test labs.

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 the Xbox One. Not only has the console's architecture changed both inside and out, but improvements have been made to the Kinect and the remote control, and new entertainment options abound, says the company.

While many families are hitting the road for the Memorial Day weekend, car shoppers can take advantage of the attractive sales being offered on new cars. This long weekend we're spotlighting the best deals on Recommended, American-made models.

It may not look radically different on the outside, but the Chevrolet Silverado pickup has been completely redesigned and significantly upgraded for 2014. A new chassis, updated powertrain technology with several mileage-enhancing measures, and a plusher interior promise to keep this cash cow competitive. We recently had the opportunity to drive a new LTZ crew-cab, and we liked it.

Price isn't the best indicator of a gas grill's performance but cheap and flimsy parts, especially when they come with short warranties, are a tip-off that the grill is not long for this world. On average, Americans pay just over $325 for a gas grill and then haul it to the curb in three years, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. Before you buy a new grill find out if your old one is worth repairing.

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 those, here's why you'll do better with a full-size camcorder:

A new small SUV champion has been named: the 2014 Subaru Forester. This redesigned model earned an impressive road-test score of 88 points (out of 100 possible), besting last-year's model by eight points and trouncing the previous leader, the Honda CR-V, by 11 points. Yeah, it's that good.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently recommended that states reduce their blood alcohol content (BAC) limits from .08 to .05, or even lower, in an effort to eliminate alcohol-impaired driving. The move is a bold one, so we decided to reach out to our Facebook fans to find out what they think.

Even a top-performing walk-behind mower, lawn tractor, or rider won't make your lawn the belle of the block if your mowing is too random. Here are some tips for smarter use of your mower or riding machine, along with some finishing touches to help your yard look its best before you fire up the grill this Memorial Day weekend.

With the long Memorial Day weekend here and summer-travel season coming, consider these two burglary tales from one family. Mom and Dad return from a day at the beach to find a window near their front door smashed and cash stolen from their home. The window didn't need to be smashed—they'd left the door unlocked. Fast forward, and their daughter returns from a weekend at the lake to find a rock heaved through a sunroom door and her jewelry taken. She hadn't turned on the home-alarm system.

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, the new customizable home screen, the Swipe & Share 2.0 features that lets you send content back and forth between the TV and a mobile device—but we didn't know how much they'd cost.

If you're a homeowner, don't be bamboozled into paying big bucks for a copy of your property deed. Scammers have been sending solicitations from companies using official-sounding names, such as "Record Retrieval Department" and "National Deed Service," asking in some cases for more than $100 to provide homeowners with copies of their deed, attorneys general in several states have warned.

Testosterone drugs such as Androgel 1.62% and Axiron increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events in men who take the drugs. Children accidentally exposed to testosterone can experience early puberty, and women who touch the stuff can experience acne and the growth of body hair. Need another reason to steer clear of the drugs? Consider this: The gels are flammable.

Memorial Day is fast approaching and that means millions of Americans will be hitting the road for a family trip. The roads will be crowded and you should expect lines at gas stations. A car bred for long-haul driving, with bladder-bursting range, can give a distinct advantage, especially on cross-country journeys. To aid travelers, we have compiled a list of the best road-trip friendly cars that can go the distance.

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 camera.