What's new on ConsumerReports.org Find out what we're testing and when. Visit ConsumerReports.org to find information on the products and services you use every day...

What's New

October 2015 Share:

What's new on ConsumerReports.org Find out what we're testing and when. Visit ConsumerReports.org to find information on the products and services you use every day.  Lies, Secrets, and Scams: How to Prevent Elder Abuse Seniors are the predominant victims of impostor schemes, in which criminals pose as government officials or other authority figures and claim that money is owed. Seniors and their families lose billions of dollars each year to heartless fraudsters. The Federal Trade Commission says that fraud complaints to its offices by individuals 60 and older rose at least 47 percent between 2012 and 2014. Seniors are also hit hard by gambits involving prizes, sweepstakes, and gifts. Older people's vulnerabilities—including isolation, loneliness, generally trusting natures, relative wealth, and in some cases declining mental capabilities—make them ideal quarry for con artists. Learn how you can help a family member or a friend—or yourself.

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Making Sense of Volkswagen Dieselgate As Dieselgate continues to play out, our "Talking Cars With Consumer Reports" video podcast takes a look at the implications for consumers. An inevitable recall to make these vehicles compliant with emissions standards might have effects on the reliability, performance, and fuel economy of these cars, and there are questions about the potential diminished resale value because of TDI's tarnished reputation. The Truth About Tire Treadwear If your tires wear out quickly, your safety may be at risk. The amount of tread on a tire is critical in determining how well it will vacate water to maintain contact with the road in the rain. Our research tells us that when people shop for tires, their primary considerations are price, availability, and treadwear. Prices are easy to find. But until now, consumers had to rely on the government's treadwear ratings or mileage warranty claims from manufacturers—if available—to judge how well tires would wear. Avoid Medical Bill Sticker Shock Before Lisa Beach had surgery for severe back pain two years ago, she did everything she could think of to make sure she wouldn't have to pay a lot out of pocket. "I wanted to know the names of anyone who would have any kind of involvement in my surgery," she says. Then she ran the names by her insurance company to make sure the care would be covered. But it wasn't enough. How can you troubleshoot the increasingly tricky health insurance system? We pinpoint situations that can cause medical bill sticker shock.

8 Products on Deep Discount in October We track the prices of lots of products all year long, which means we can let you know which month (or, in some cases, months) you can find a deep discount on those items. In October, you'll find deep discounts on bicycles, computers, digital cameras, gas grills, lawn mowers and tractors, and much more. Best Blenders for $100 or Less We talk a lot about high-end blenders, mainly because they tend to perform best in our tests. But what if you can't shell out hundreds of dollars on this small appliance? Our Ratings of nearly 60 blenders includes several models that do the job for $100 or less. Here are three to consider. Production 2016 Tesla Model X Crossover Unveiled Tesla Motors has unveiled the much-anticipated Tesla Model X, the crossover iteration of its Model S with notable safety innovations and falcon-wing second-row doors. At an Apple-like event in California, Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk also handed out keys to the first Model X owners.

New TiVo Bolt Seems Like a Binge-Watcher's Dream Love watching TV shows without commercials? Then you might be interested in the new TiVo Bolt, an all-in-one DVR with a mode that lets you zip through advertisements with the press of a button. Not only does it rocket you through commercials, it also has an innovative QuickMode, which the company claims whisks you through recorded shows up to 30 percent faster without causing any audio sync issues. Imagine watching a replay of the Academy Awards in less than three hours—without missing a word. Alternative Motion Machines in Action The 1960s saw the rise of the treadmill, the 1980s had stair steppers, and elliptical trainers emerged in the 1990s. All three machines have plenty of benefits, but also certain weaknesses—and where there's weakness, there's opportunity for manufacturers to create a better product. Enter the "alternative motion machine," a new type of cardio-pulmonary exercise equipment that supposedly borrows the best concepts from the treadmill, elliptical, and stair stepper for a revolutionary workout experience.