Verizon Wireless's tiered-pricing data plans for smart phones went into effect last July, and new customers were no longer able to sign up for unlimited plans. Existing customers who had such plans were able to hang onto them—but that's about to end, according to Verizon CFO Fran Shammo. New data we've obtained, though, suggests that most of Verizon's smart-phone subscribers don't really need unlimited data.

We recently tested and rated two laptops from HP that are slim, light, and elegantly designed. With the exception of the screen size, both are similarly configured. The 13-inch Folio is a deal, at $775. The 14-inch Envy 14 Spectre costs $1,400. Is the slightly larger laptop worth double the price?

If you've ever struggled trying to decipher a CAPTCHA, a start-up company called Are You a Human has devised a much more playful verification solution.

The Max Payne series of games are known for their comic-book-style expository cut scenes and use of "bullet-time" effects, which slow down time so that you can, for example, see bullets in flight. It's been almost a decade since Max has been featured in a new game, so I was excited to see how Max Payne 3 would stack up. The fun and visual flair haven't diminished—and neither has the violence.

A system of text-like Wireless Emergency Alerts, including "imminent threat" (natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes), Presidential, and AMBER (missing children) alerts, are set to roll out to mobile phones soon, via participating carriers. Here are the details you need to know.

Looking for a fantastic techie gift for your favorite father? Or perhaps a recent grad you're especially fond of deserves a great gadget this year. Consumer Reports' electronics experts picked out some of our recent favorites for your consideration.

Netbooks could be going the way of the rotary phone: We've seen very few new models in the past several months, and that's not surprising. After all, the Apple iPad and some Android tablets are much more elegant solutions for most of the tasks you'd do on a netbook, and thin-and-light laptops such as Ultrabooks are squeezing netbooks from the other end.

iExit Interstate Exit Guide helps take the guesswork out of road trip pit stops, by identifying what restaurants, gas stations, hotels, and other services are available at each exit by name. Make a selection, and the smart-phone application gives the option of turn-by-turn directions or calling ahead to a business with one touch.

The HTC Evo 4G LTE should be a fine phone, once it actually reaches consumers and the network technology to support it is up and running. That's my take on this new Sprint phone after using a press sample for a few days.

Earlier this week, during Internet Week in New York, we reported on LG's new Google TVs, which will be available this month. I also had a chance to try the TVs briefly, to see how well they performed and what the Google TV platform added to LG's already robust Smart TV Internet service.

In our most recent telecom survey, seven out of 10 respondents with a triple-play service bundle didn't even try to bargain their bills down. But of those who did, more than 90 percent got some accommodation from their provider. We've been reporting for years that haggling with your telecom company can pay off—and now, one of our staffers can also testify that it does.

Social Security's new online benefits statement is a useful new resource for anyone doing financial planning or future financial projections. And, as I learned when I signed up to view mine, the statements provide some interesting new information.

Sony announced today two 16-megapixel, SLR-like advanced cameras—the Sony a37 and NEX-F3—that offer more automated features than usual. Some of these features are trickling up from point-and-shoots, such as Smile Shutter, which fires off a shot when the camera recognizes a smile, and Superior Auto, which selects an appropriate scene mode according to subject and lighting; others are custom-made for advanced modes.

If you head to Wikipedia and spot an advertisement, be warned: It probably means your computer's been infected with malware. The non-profit site is ad-free and funded by donors, so no ad you may spot there is legitimate.

Stream TV Networks announced today that it has struck a deal with a manufacturing company that will result in 3D-capable displays that don't require any 3D glasses.