Following price hikes in 2021 and modest increases in early 2022, Tesla's cars have significantly jumped up in price again, according to Electrek, which tracks the price increases on Tesla's website.

Here's a breakdown of the price hikes:

• Tesla Model 3: $2,500 increase, from $54,490 to $57,990.
• Tesla Model Y Performance: $2,000 increase, from $67,990 to $69,990.
• Tesla Model Y Long Range: $3,000 increase, from $62,990 to $65,990
• Tesla Model S Long Range : $5,000 increase, from $99,990 to $104,990
• Tesla Model X Long Range: $6,000 increase, from $114,990 to $120,990

Tesla didn't disclose why the prices on these vehicles are climbing. However, it's possible that the rising cost of aluminum, which Tesla uses to make its cars, and ongoing supply chain issues, one driver of today's inflation, are pushing up Tesla's costs. 

The company didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Elon Musk, the electric car maker's CEO, has been vocal about the risk of a recession, saying he has a "super bad feeling" about the economy, according to Reuters. 

Dell's Precision 5470, which was unveiled Thursday, is the world's smallest, thinnest and most powerful 14-inch workstation, according to the PC-maker. Designed for creators, engineers and other specialty professionals, the Precision 5470 is the first to be built around a 12th-gen Intel Core H-series processor.

Available in April with pricing coming soon, the 5470 can be configured with up to 4TB of storage, up to 64GB of DDR5 memory and up to an Nvidia RTX A1000 graphics chip. A new cooling system had to be developed by Dell engineers to optimize system performance, Dell said in its announcement. 

On the Precision 5470, Dell will also introduce the latest version of its Optimizer software that uses AI to learn your work patterns and the most-used software to automatically adjust performance and battery based on your usage habits. New presence-detection features improve privacy by locking the laptop when you walk away and unlocking it when you return. It can also dim the display when you look away or someone approaches from behind you. It can also simultaneously connect to multiple networks -- wired or wireless -- so you never drop a connection as you move around the office. 

The Precision 5470 will be joined in April by several new Latitude business laptops including two other record-setting models for Dell. The Latitude 7330 Ultralight is the world's smallest and lightest 13.3-inch premium commercial 16:9 laptop. Then there's the Latitude 9430 laptop or two-in-one that's the world's smallest 14-inch 16:10 business PC. 

Dell also announced it will update other Latitude 7000- and 5000-series models with 12th-gen Intel Core processors and introduce a new Latitude 3300, which is a sub-$1,000 13-inch model available in a laptop or two-in-one design. All of these models will also feature Dell's Optimizer software. 

A strain of malware based on the Zeus trojan has been modified to monitor and potentially take over your Facebook and Twitter accounts. 

The malware, which was originally designed to steal banking and financial credentials, has been repurposed with "new espionage capabilities," according to an article at ZDNet. In addition to affecting Facebook and Twitter posts, the malware can also monitor email, ZDNet reported, citing research by Bitdefender, a Romanian tech security company. 

Known as Terdot, the malware targets Windows systems. It's been active since mid-2016.

The malware uses social media accounts to spread itself and can steal login information so that access to the accounts can be resold, Bogdan Botezatu, a Bitdefender analyst, told ZDNet. 

A Terdot attack, like many other attacks, starts with phishing email that appears to contain a PDF. Clicking that file directs the computer to download the malware. 

We've tested a lot of Dell laptops over the years and there's no doubt that its current crop is some of the best laptops it's ever made. Whether you're looking for a small, lightweight laptop, a stylish two-in-one, a budget-friendly model for creatives and creators or a powerful gaming laptop, there's something for everyone. Many of the best Dell laptops have features to improve remote or hybrid work or school such as improved webcams and microphones, better audio quality, longer battery lives and faster charging and the fastest Wi-Fi 6 wireless.

Like other PC makers such as HP, Lenovo, Acer and Asus, Dell is in the midst of updating the processors in its laptops and two-in-ones. That means Intel-based models are moving from 11th-gen to 12th-gen CPUs while AMD Ryzen systems are switching from 5000-series chips to 6000-series. If you're looking for laptop deals, look for older models of the best Dell laptops. However, we've seen big performance improvements with the new processors. An updated model might cost a little more but will add to the overall longevity. 

Editors' note, March 7, 2017: This post is getting considerable attention in March 2017, now that a cache of Wikileaks documents has allegedly revealed that the CIA might be using these same Samsung TVs to spy on you. However, if that's true, it's unlikely that the steps in this guide would protect you. Read more about the so-called "Weeping Angel" hack.

Original post:

It sounds like something straight out of George Orwell's 1984. Samsung's Smart TV privacy policy, which most people never bother reading, reveals that your shiny new television set may be capable of spying on you. Samsung warns that customers should "be aware that if your spoken words include personal or other sensitive information, that information will be among the data captured and transmitted to a third party through your use of Voice Recognition."

It sounds scary, but it's a bit overblown. Many devices have similar speech features that are always listening; that includes the Moto X, Nexus devices, Amazon Echo , Microsoft Kinect and even the iPhone (when the device is plugged in and the Hey, Siri command is enabled).

This so-called scandal also affects only a small number of Samsung Smart TV models. While most of Samsung's Smart TVs have some sort of voice function, almost all of them require you press the microphone button on the remote before it starts listening. The models that can recognize your voice are the ones that include a built-in camera and microphone, such as the Samsung PN60F8500 . The TV won't actually begin to process anything you say, however, until you say a voice command, such as "Hi TV."

Regardless, if you are fearful that Samsung and an unnamed third-party partner (the company actually translating your voice to text) are listening to your conversations, you can simply turn off the Voice Recognition feature.

To do this, head to the Settings menu and select Smart Features. Then scroll down to Voice Recognition and switch it off. While you will no longer be able to use the "Hi TV" command to activate the voice features, you can still access them by pressing the microphone button on your remote.

Beer is already pretty great, but one company thinks it can make your brew even better.

That company is Fizzics, and it's developed a battery-powered countertop machine of the same name that is supposed to use high-frequency sound waves and oscillation to create a dense, long-lasting head and consistent carbonation and distribution of the beer so you get a better pour.

To use it, you put a full bottle or can of beer inside the machine, insert a tube in the beer and close the top. The beer should then pressurize, oscillate and be ready to pour almost instantly using the tap on the top of the machine. You're supposed to flip the tap forward to pour the beer, and after your glass fills most of the way, flip it backward to pour the thick foam.

The Fizzics gadget is said to be compatible with all standard beer bottles and growlers, as well as 16- to 32-ounce cans, but the founders note you should always use cold beer with the machine for optimum results.

It's expected to retail for $199 (about £130, AU$250), but early backers of the Indiegogo campaign can secure a machine for a$119 (about £80, AU$150). That price includes free shipping to the US; the page says international backers will be contacted shortly after the campaign closes with their shipping quote. The target for shipments is this October, but as with all crowdfunding campaigns, actual shipping times may vary.

At those prices, the Fizzics machine isn't for everyone; it's meant more for the craft beer enthusiast who is always searching for the best possible brew and wants to consume beer the way the brewers intended. If you're still someone who drinks only the cheapest beer you can find in the liquor store, this probably isn't the gadget for you.

Lenovo ThinkPads rule the business laptop market and, although the company's premium ThinkPad X1 models get all the attention, your IT department is more likely to give you something from its X, T, L or P series of laptops. That's nothing to sniff at, though, as the PC-maker announced today that all those lineups are getting refreshed models with 11th-gen Intel or AMD Ryzen 5000 mobile processors. 

And those aren't the only enticing changes to the new models. The ThinkPad X13 and X13 Yoga now have up to a 13.3-inch WQXGA display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, giving you more vertical room to work. You'll also find Wi-Fi 6 or 6E in the Intel models, while AMD configurations will have Wi-Fi 6 and mobile 5G or 4G wireless will also be an option. Enhanced security features will include match-on-chip fingerprint readers and IR cameras for facial recognition.

The new 14- and 15.6-inch T-series laptops will share the same processor, wireless and security features as the X13 but will add bright 500- and 600-nit displays to make it easier to work under overhead lights or outside. You'll also be able to get it with entry-level discrete Nvidia GeForce MX450 graphics. But if you need more graphics muscle for design work, you'll want to look at the new P-series laptops. 

Also see: Lenovo announced its thinnest ever ThinkPad 2-in-1 at CES 2021, the X1 Titanium Yoga

The ThinkPad P14s and P15s can be configured with 11th-gen Intel Core vPro processors matched with Nvidia T500 workstation discrete graphics. Their displays -- available in 14- and 15.6-inch sizes -- ship with X-Rite factory color calibration as well. 

If you're looking for just a general workhorse laptop, the ThinkPad L series is also getting refreshed with new Intel and AMD processors, up to Nvidia MX450 discrete graphics, Wi-Fi 6 and optional 4G wireless and is available in 14 and 15-inch sizes. It's also the least expensive starting at $689 when it arrives in May. That converts to approximately £489 or AU$870. 

Along with the refreshed ThinkPads, Lenovo announced the ThinkVision P40w-20, a 39.7-inch IPS 300-nit HDR-compliant display. It's the world's first Intel Active Management Technology-capable Thunderbolt 4 monitor, which gives IT departments a secure, stable connection for remote setup and assistance. The display also has eKVM capabilities so you can connect to two PC sources and even split those sources simultaneously side-by-side on the display. 

The monitor is expected to be available in June for $1,699. 

If you've noticed images of red flags filling up your Twitter feed, you're not alone. The platform is bursting with warnings about anything you can think of. It's a new viral trend that has tweeters using the red flag emoji to signal opinions and behaviors that raise, well, red flags. Not a baseball fan? Red flag. Promise you'll pay someone back later? Red flag. Top your pizza with pineapple? Red flag.

The platform says it's seen a 455% increase over the last week in tweets using the emoji in the US. Tuesday saw 1.5 million red-flag-emoji tweets globally.

From people cautioning about worrisome behavior from a prospective date, to brands trying to capitalize on the trend, here's the rundown on the rows of red flags filling up your timeline.

What do all the red flags mean?

Outside Twitter, the phrase red flag is used as a warning. Merriam-Webster defines red flag as a "warning signal or sign," or "something that indicates or draws attention to a problem, danger, or irregularity." The dictionary pinpoints the first usage of red flag as a noun dating back to 1748.

Thanks to the red flag emoji, Twitter users can just punctuate a tweet with the symbol, or even use a whole row of them to show something is troublesome. 

How did the red flag trend start?

According to the Mary Sue, the trend started among Black Twitter users this week who were talking about red flags in dating. The tweets covered things like someone who's always online but is slow to text back; someone saying they're still friends with their ex, or "going all day without talking to me." A tweet calling out the latter is one of the top retweeted tweets of this trend, raking in more than 28,000 retweets so far. 

going all day without talking to me 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

— I N A (@inaflorescaa) October 12, 2021

TEXT SLOW BUT ALWAYS ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

— PEGEE (@VH1PNUT___) October 12, 2021

"me and my ex are still friends" 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

— 🧘🏾‍♀️ (@mykelrenee) October 12, 2021

Though not always, many of the tweets are formatted as quotes followed by the flags.

What are people warning each other about?

In short, everything. People are tweeting opinions on sports, food, movies, music, politics and more that they find to be problematic. Not all the tweets are serious; many of them are jokes.

One Twitter user tweeted: "My favorite movie is Fight Club."

"My favourite movie is Fight Club." 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

— Andres Ghoulsman (@pocketwriter) October 13, 2021

Another tweeted: "My team is the Dallas Cowboys."

"My team is the Dallas Cowboys" 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

— jordan grimes ☯️ (@jordanxtsg) October 13, 2021

Celebrity chef Padma Lakshmi tweeted that a red flag for her would be someone saying, "I don't like Indian food."

"I don't like Indian food"🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) October 13, 2021

"Im not really on social media" 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

— Kozza (@Kozza) October 13, 2021

From sports teams to restaurants, brands are also going all in on the trend, like the PGA Tour flagging, "Golf is not a real sport."

"Golf is not a real sport."

🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 13, 2021

"I'm not a Crocs person"🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

— It's Croctober! (@Crocs) October 13, 2021

"No thanks, I don't want any Tubby Custard!" 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

— Teletubbies (@TeletubbiesHQ) October 13, 2021

Qualcomm may be facing fire for its licensing practices, but it managed to reach an interim agreement with one previously resistant handset maker.

The company on Wednesday said Huawei, the world's second-biggest smartphone company, has signed a short-term licensing agreement with Qualcomm. The deal, reached in Qualcomm's fiscal first quarter that ended Dec. 30, runs through the company's fiscal third quarter. 

Huawei will pay Qualcomm $150 million each quarter, Qualcomm Financial Chief George Davis said during a call with analysts about the company's financial results. 

Huawei and Apple were the only two major companies still fighting with Qualcomm over its licensing terms. Reaching a deal with Huawei -- even if it's currently only interim -- alleviates some worries about the company's future in charging handset makers for using its technology. Qualcomm continues to battle Apple in courts around the world. The two will face off over patents in March and over licensing in April, both on Qualcomm's home turf of San Diego, California.  

Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf on Wednesday said he's confident in the company's prospects when it comes to the ongoing litigation over its licensing practices. 

"We continue to believe that over the course of 2019, we will reach a resolution on the key outstanding issues in our disputes with Apple through settlement or litigation, and we are prepared for both outcomes," Mollenkopf said Wednesday during a call with analysts. 

Huawei, for its part, also facing legal battles. Just Monday, the US slapped it with 23 indictments for alleged trade secret theft and fraud.

Qualcomm is the world's biggest provider of mobile chips, and it created technology that's essential for connecting phones to cellular networks. The company derives a significant portion of its revenue from licensing those inventions to hundreds of device makers, with the fee based on the value of the phone, not the components.

Because Qualcomm owns patents related to 3G, 4G and 5G networking technology, as well as other features like software, all handset makers building a device that connects to cellular networks have to pay it a licensing fee, even if they don't use Qualcomm's chips.

But an FTC lawsuit could break that model. It's the latest in a series of legal battles for Qualcomm that include a fight against its former major customer, Apple, and against regulators in the US, South Korea, China and the European Union. 

The FTC in January 2017 accused Qualcomm of operating a monopoly in wireless chips, forcing customers like Apple to work with Qualcomm exclusively and charging "excessive" licensing fees for its technology, in part by wielding a "no license, no chips" policy. Qualcomm's practices prevented rivals from entering the market, drove up the cost of phones and in turn hurt consumers, who faced higher handset prices, the FTC said. 

Qualcomm battled the FTC in a San Jose, California, courtroom for most of January. The FTC wrapped up its antitrust case against the company on Jan. 15, and Qualcomm rested its defense Friday. Both sides presented closing arguments Tuesday. The trial has revealed the inner workings of tech's most important business, smartphones, showing how suppliers wrestle for dominance and profit. 

Mollenkopf on Wednesday said he believes Qualcomm will ultimately prevail in the antitrust case. 

"The trial reinforces the important role we play in the mobile industry," he said. "This is especially critical now as we enter the early innings of 5G, the first mobile generation that is truly shaping industrial policy."

At the same time, Qualcomm continues to negotiate a settlement with the FTC, Mollenkopf said. 

"If we think that we can find a resolution, we would take that to try to remove this risk off the table," he said. "This is not a statement on how we feel about our case, but this is an important element and we continue to work it."

The comments came as Qualcomm reported fiscal first-quarter earnings that were better than it had expected. It also projected revenue for the second quarter in line with analysts' expectations. 

Other chipmakers haven't fared as well when it comes to quarterly results and projections. Intel, Samsung and others have estimated lower sales than expected because of weakness in China. Davis said Qualcomm's business -- both chip sales and licensing -- has been doing well in China, but "demand in China has been substantially lower than we would have estimated for total demand in China."

The company's shares rose 2.9 percent to $51.60 in after-hours trading. 

Taking It to Extremes: Mix insane situations -- erupting volcanoes, nuclear meltdowns, 30-foot waves -- with everyday tech. Here's what happens.

Special Reports: CNET's in-depth features in one place.

Motorola on Wednesday rolled out software that lets you use your Edge Plus phone's features on a bigger scale. The Ready For software hub, available for Verizon customers, lets you use the 5G phone's main 108MP rear camera for video calls while connected to a TV or a display with USB-C cable. You can also use the phone's ultrawide camera to make sure people aren't cut out of the frame. 

It also lets you create a mobile desktop on the external display, so you can view multiple windows at once or look at a larger version of an image. And you can connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to mirror the traditional desktop experience. If you use your Edge Plus for gaming, you can use Ready For to do so on a bigger screen. 

Ready For software comes as part of the Android 11 update for Verizon Motorola Edge Plus phones.

Also coming is a Ready For dock, which you use to control your phone while it's linked to the software. The dock can hold your phone in both portrait and landscape positions and be flipped to show the screen or use the rear cameras. Motorola Atrix phone and laptop memories anyone? The dock is scheduled to be available in the US on Amazon starting April 19, but Motorola isn't revealing pricing until closer to launch.

It's true: Android apps are finally available for Windows 11. Thanks to a collaboration between Microsoft, Intel and Amazon, the apps are now integrated into the new Microsoft app store and downloadable through the Amazon Appstore. The public preview of for Android apps in Windows 11 is live, just like Microsoft Chief Product Officer Panos Panay said in a blog post in January.

Android apps are something that's seemingly been in the works forever but is actually happening. And the best news is, you might not need anything other than Windows 11 to get them working. However, there are some hardware requirements to use the Android app public preview.

A long time coming

It seems like people have been trying to get Android apps running on Windows PCs for a decade. (Oh wait, it has been a decade.) Microsoft has long had trouble attracting app developers to Windows despite developing tools for Android and iOS devs to port their apps to Windows. 

However, in the past few years, Microsoft changed its strategy by making moves to bring your phone experiences to your PC. The company's Your Phone app, for instance, lets you pair your Android device with a Windows 10 PC so you can send and read texts, make and receive calls, see your photos and get notifications. 

Also read:  Psyched for Android apps on Windows 11? Here's how you can already use some now

Toward the end of 2020, Microsoft started rolling out an update to Your Phone that allows you to run Android apps from your phone on your Windows computer. The feature developed from a relationship with Samsung and, consequently, it only works with Samsung devices currently.

Samsung also worked closely with Microsoft and Intel for its latest Galaxy Book Pro laptops to give them the responsiveness of a phone as well as access to your Galaxy phone's features and apps. The apps still run inside of another window and not directly on the PC.

Intel helped make it happen

Windows 11, however, isn't dependent on an Android device being synced with your PC. Instead, the apps will run natively on them using Intel's Bridge technology, "a runtime post-compiler that enables applications to run natively on x86-based devices, including running those applications on Windows," Intel said in its related Windows 11 announcement.

Basically, instead of Microsoft trying to get Android developers to convert their apps for Windows as it had in the past, Microsoft teamed up with Intel to just make them work in Windows 11 -- no code changes necessary. AMD and Arm chips won't need Bridge to run Android apps, either. 

Amazon is part of the package

While Intel is helping make it possible to run Android apps on Windows 11, it's Amazon -- not Google -- that will deliver the apps to users. Amazon's Appstore is integrated into the updated Microsoft Store and could boost both companies in the process.

Like Microsoft, Amazon has struggled to get developers to deliver Android apps for its Appstore. Amazon's Fire tablets run on a modified version of Android and anyone who's owned one can tell you there are many holes in what's available. People end up installing Google's Play Store because of it. 

The Microsoft Store can be similarly infuriating to use -- from its selection to navigation to payment. With the redesign, Microsoft made it easier for developers to get their apps in the store and make more money doing it. Likewise, Amazon is using the new access to hundreds of millions of Windows customers to attract developers and expand their reach by getting in the Appstore. In the public preview, there is integrated search, browse and discovery for apps in the updated Microsoft Store. 

It's not clear if you'll be able to sideload Android apps from other sources or install Google Play Services and the Play Store separately like the Fire tablets. Amazon was the first to get involved but Microsoft says it's not exclusive. 

Google not being directly involved here isn't exactly a surprise, either. After all, Google's competing Chrome OS already has access to Android apps through the Google Play store. The thing is, despite being an option for years now, not all Android apps work on Chromebooks. Hopefully, Microsoft can avoid that with how apps will work on PCs.

Why do I want Android apps in Windows?

A big focus for Windows 11 (and Windows 10, too, really) is this move toward an OS and devices that perform the same regardless of how you use them. Your laptop experience should feel like and be as responsive as your phone. Along with that, you should be able to do the same things regardless of the device. 

Opening up Windows to Android apps means a greater selection of tools for productivity and content creation as well as entertainment and gaming. If you want to easily play your favorite mobile games on your laptop or desktop, that will be possible now. (Although, if you live in South Korea, Hong Kong or Taiwan, you can do it right now.) There are also services that have a better mobile app experience than using on the web. 

The addition of apps means Windows is adapting more to your needs than you having to adapt to what the OS can do. The addition of Android apps to Chrome OS gave Chromebooks a significant boost in appeal. Adding that same flexibility to Windows should have a similar effect.

Wing, a drone delivery business run by tech giant and Google parent Alphabet, will begin flying packages from a host of businesses to residents of the Dallas area this week, a dramatic expansion of a service conceived a decade ago. 

Starting Thursday, Wing will deliver packages from the pharmacy chain Walgreens to residents of Little Elm and Frisco, Texas, which are north of the city. Soon after, the drone company will provide deliveries for other businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb, including ice cream from Blue Bell Creameries, prescription pet medications from Easyvet and first-aid kits from Texas Health.

"We're going to get started in Little Elm and Frisco on April 7, but our long-term goal is to serve many, many more people around the DFW metroplex," Wing said.

Drones have the potential to make speedier deliveries than trucks and cars because they can whisk over traffic and houses instead of sitting in traffic. To succeed broadly, though, drone delivery must overcome regulatory and safety obstacles.

Wing's expansion to Texas comes as the company racks up experience navigating the skies to make deliveries by drone. The company has delivered more than 200,000 packages, including 1,000 deliveries in a single day in Canberra, Australia, according to the company. Wing also makes deliveries in Helsinki, Finland, and Christiansburg, Virginia.

The Dallas-Fort Worth area could prove busier than regions previously serviced by Wing. The area has a regional population of about 7 million, and Wing says its airspace is much more complicated.

To help ease regulatory approvals, Wing adopted a "store to door" approach in which retail employees process orders and load packages on the drones. Elsewhere, a single pilot oversees multiple drones as they fly.

Wing's drones, which carry one package at a time, take off vertically from a "nest" using an array of 12 upward-pointing propellers. Four forward-pointing propellers on a conventional wing accelerate the aircraft horizontally at speeds up to 70mph, an approach that's quieter and more energy efficient than conventional quadcopter designs. When it reaches its destination, the drone hovers at an altitude of 23 feet and reels its package down on a cable into a customer's backyard.

A University of Virginia survey about drone operations in Christiansburg found 87% of respondents viewed the technology positively. If people have concerns, they can contact Wing at howdy@wing.com.

Wing drones can deliver small packages, such as a book or cup of coffee. Customers order using a Wing app on their phones. There's no extra fee for delivery, Wing said.

Drone delivery hasn't spread fast, but many companies are working to make it mainstream. Wing's competitors include Amazon, Flytrex, Manna, Zipline, MissionGo, UPS and Wingcopter.

This story is part of Recession Help Desk, CNET's coverage of how to make smart money moves in an uncertain economy.

The prices for nearly everything have ballooned in the past year. Record high inflation means the cost of food, fuel and other everyday essentials has gone up, which has put severe financial pressure on US households, particularly low-income Americans. 

And then there's the hidden costs added to your purchase before checkout, or tacked on to the receipt without warning. 

These additional merchant fees are called drip pricing, and they're inflicting pain on our already-stretched wallets. Businesses often claim these fees are the only way to offset the burden of inflation and supply chain shortages. For consumers, it means the things we buy are pricier than they initially appear. 

"Most of the time we find out about these fees when it's time to pay, not before," Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, author of Financial Adulting, told me via email. "Because these fees really run the gamut, you never really know what you are going to get." 

I asked my Instagram followers about these new and surprising fees, and they gave me loads of anecdotes. From restaurants to medical offices to rideshare services, here's a look at some charges that I discovered. 

And I'll offer tips on how to manage these unexpected surcharges.

---

Restaurants are charging more, and not just for food

Many restaurants are still reeling from a fiscal slump during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with rising food and payroll costs, eateries continue to struggle. "Average small business restaurants run on very tight margins of around 3 to 5% pre-tax," said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of research with the National Restaurant Association. "The typical restaurant business model is not set up to deal with this sustained and accelerated cost of food and labor, which is putting extraordinary pressure on operators, and indications are these will continue." 

Here are some of the new fees you may see on your restaurant bill: 

Credit card surcharges

Earlierthis spring, major creditcard companies like Mastercard and Visa increased interchange fees, which is what merchants pay to card issuers every time a customer uses a credit card. Also known as "swipe fees," they cost businesses 1.5 to 3% per transaction. They're most challenging for smaller establishments like restaurants, and some are passing this expense on to customers as a percentage of their total bill. 

When Feinstein Gerstley dined out with her family last summer in Sapphire, North Carolina, the restaurant charged a credit card processing fee that she says was not mentioned until the bill arrived: "We were a party of 15 who had drinks, apps, dinner and dessert so the charge was substantial, over $100." Many states permit businesses to pass on their card swipe fees to customers, but they must properly disclose the surcharges on visible signage and their websites. The customer fee also cannot exceed what the business pays to the credit card companies.

Increased labor costs

Back in April, Sarah Morisson saw a $5 surcharge when the bill for her enchiladas arrived at a restaurant in Alpharetta, Georgia. The reason? "Increased labor costs." This may also be called a "kitchen appreciation fee" in some eateries and comes in the form of an added $3 to $5.

Health care charges

Restaurants are competing for workers and offering more benefits as a draw. This added cost may show up on your receipt next time you eat out. In Chicago last month, Rema Shamon noticed a few dollars added to her dining bill labeled "health care for staff." Similarly in West Hollywood, California, Claudia Scott was charged 3% more for "employee health insurance" at a local eatery. 

Add-ons for staff who don't get tips

At a sandwich shop in Portland, Maine, a couple weeks ago, Jennifer Steralacci and a friend paid a $4 fee "for non-tipped staff" -- and that was on top of the gratuity. "I didn't recall seeing anything on the menu that indicated this charge," Steralacci told me.

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Rideshare and food delivery apps are charging more for gas

Fees were already climbing because of the pandemic, but as rideshare companies compete to hire drivers, they're luring them with sign-on bonuses and higher pay. That's another reason your rideshare total seems more expensive than ever. On top of that, in March, Uber and Uber Eats announced a new fuel fee to help drivers cover the cost of rising energy prices. 

That'll cost an additional $0.45 or $0.55 on each Uber trip and either $0.35 or $0.45 on each Uber Eats food order, depending on the location. Uber says 100% of that fee goes to drivers.Rival rideshare companyLyft has also announced a 55-cent fuel surcharge. Grocery delivery app Instacart says it's tacking on a new 40-cent fuel fee, too.

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Fees at doctors' offices are adding to the shock, too

Increased supply and materials fees

Keep an eye out for this line-item cost at your next medical visit, which ranges in price. In Dallas, Kelsie Whittington got hit with an unusual $18 "supply fee" after her son's routine pediatrician visit in May. The medical office explained that it was for pricier bed covers, needles, gauze and other equipment. 

With insurance companies slow to issue reimbursements, the clinic was having patients eat the cost. "I was a little shocked at first, then empathetic. I needed to pay for my son's health," Whittington said.

Facility fees

While doctors' offices have been charging facility fees since before the pandemic, patients may not know about them until they receive an itemized bill. According to Consumer Reports, facility fees, which typically cover the cost of maintaining the medical office, urgent care center or clinic that's owned by a hospital, can add hundreds of dollars to a bill... and insurance may only partially cover it.

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What can you do about all the extra hidden charges?

To minimize the blow of these new fees and surcharges, we need to gather facts and self-advocate. Here are four pieces of advice:

1. Question the fees: We may feel awkward or embarrassed to ask about new and unusual charges. But if a business is not upfront and hasn't disclosed their charges ahead of time, it's within our right to understand and ask questions. We may learn that the fee is justified and we're actually happy to pay it and continue patronizing. In other cases, it may deter us from returning.

2. Ask for a cash discount: Like many gas stations, some restaurants offer cash discounts to help minimize their credit card processing costs. For example, at The Fifth Season restaurant in Port Washington, New York, cash-paying diners receive a 3.5% bill reduction through its Cash Discount Program promoted on the eatery's website. 

Even if not advertised, ask if a business will offer you a cash discount, a win-win for both you and the merchant. I've successfully used this trick at small, independently owned stores, too. 

3. Think twice about using third-party delivery apps: Delivery apps are convenient but they can quickly double the cost of your pizza order after fees, taxes and the suggested 25% tip. Ordering takeout the old-fashioned way by calling the restaurant directly could result in substantial savings. Some eateries may require you to pick up the food, but others may offer free delivery of their own -- just be sure to tip the driver. If you want to stick with third-party deliverers, MealMe helps identify the lowest options by comparing pricing across the board.

4. Vote with your feet: It's our choice where and how to spend, and if paying extra fees is too much to bear, we have the right to walk away and patronize a different business next time. When a restaurant manager refused to remove the surprise credit card surcharge, Feinstein Gerstley said a family member in attendance shared the experience on Yelp. "We definitely didn't return to the restaurant," she said. 

If a charge does not come with any adequate disclosure, the merchant may be in violation of state laws, so consumer advocates recommend filing a complaint with both your credit card issuer and the state attorney general. According to Riehle, "The restaurant industry is very competitive, and operators know that if a consumer's last experience doesn't meet their expectations, they are likely to vote with their feet."