Blogroll
I didn't expect to recommend an Intel GPU in 2026, but here we are
At a time when GPU prices are off the rails, we have to be practical. Judging a GPU solely by its performance always tells you that the best consumer option is the RTX 5090, but the reality is that most of us don't need that much firepower in a PC.
4 addictive Prime Video miniseries you can binge in a single day
Indulging in high-quality miniseries is one of the best ways to enjoy the offerings in Amazon Prime Video’s catalog. They’re the perfect alternative to the platform’s bigger shows, like Fallout, that require a commitment to long, drawn-out watches, and they feel just as cinematic as any big-budget movie. Larger shows can be entertaining, but they aren’t always the best option when you’re in the mood for something quick.
4 filaments that make your 3D prints look like metal without costing a fortune
Metal 3D printers are pricey machines that make aerospace-grade parts and cost an absolute fortune. You can make your own “metal” 3D prints at home, out of regular filament, without the massive spend.
Why I wish I had disabled Windows fast startup sooner
In practice, Windows Fast Startup is supposed to be helpful, but after disabling it, a lot of things actually got a little better for my computer. I wish I had turned it off sooner, and for some of you, there are a few reasons you might want to do the same thing.
I made wireless Android Auto much smoother with one hidden developer setting
Android Auto is supposed to make driving easier, but that quickly falls apart if it's more annoying to use than your phone. This is especially true if you find yourself dealing with sluggish animations, delayed inputs, and an interface that takes ages to open apps.
Gemini turned Google's apps into my project management system
Are you deeply invested in the Google ecosystem? Do you actively use Google Keep, Tasks, Calendar, and Drive in your day-to-day life? Individually, each of these is an excellent tool—minimal by design but solid in functionality. The only problem is that these apps are mostly isolated from one another. But if you add Gemini as an orchestration layer, all of these tools can start talking to each other. That's exactly what I did, effectively turning Gemini into my personal project management system.
This forgotten 90s DVD format was supposed to change storage forever
Back in 1997, a few years after video game consoles and computers had fully embraced CD-ROM technology, a new optical format standard known as DVD-RAM was finalized.
This self-hosted service lets me stream my media remotely without paying for Plex Pass
Paying a monthly fee to stream movies and shows you already own that sit on drives in your house sounds silly when you think about it. Plex built its reputation on solving the home media problem, but it quietly put the best features behind a subscription. Jellyfin does everything Plex does, like remote streaming, mobile apps, offline downloads, metadata, and collections, and it doesn't charge you for any of it.
5 Excel settings I changed too late
I spent years fighting Excel's default behavior before realizing many of its biggest annoyances could be fixed in minutes. These buried settings changed the way I work and let me customize Excel to behave exactly how I want. Best of all, I only had to change them once, and Excel remembers my preferences every time I open the program.
I hooked up a phone to Home Assistant—now my smart home calls me when something’s wrong
I spend a lot of time at my desk in my home office, and I use my smart speaker multiple times during the day. I wanted a more reliable way to interact with my voice assistant, so I decided to go old school and add a phone to my desk.
The Odyssey sails towards a record-breaking opening weekend
True to its source material, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is headed for an epic opening weekend at the box office.
SEE ALSO: 'The Odyssey' review: Christopher Nolan turns an epic myth into a movie masterpieceAccording to The Hollywood Reporter, The Odyssey raked in $17.6 million from domestic Thursday night previews and is on track for a $117 million opening weekend. That would make it the best domestic opening for a live-action film this year, surpassing Michael, which took in $97 million and went on to cross the $1 billion mark worldwide in July. The two best domestic openings of the year belong to animated films: Toy Story 5 ($160 million) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($131.7 million).
A $117 million opening would also be the best opening for an R-rated film in 2026, overtaking Backrooms ($81.4 million). It would also be the best opening for an R-rated movie from Universal Pictures, a record formerly held by Fifty Shades of Grey ($85.1 million).
The Odyssey's opening weekend box office is also set to surpass that of Nolan's prior film, Oppenheimer ($82.4 million), making it his biggest since The Dark Knight Rises, which still holds a commanding lead with $160 million.
Based on The Odyssey's reported production cost of $250 million and reported marketing cost of $125 million, Forbes estimates that after theaters take their cuts, it will take between $625 to $750 million for The Odyssey to break even. However, given Nolan's track record, The Odyssey is sure to have massive legs, especially in premium, if exclusive, formats like IMAX 70mm. Screenings for that format in particular are sold out for weeks into the future, and have been since tickets for The Odyssey went on sale last year.
Clearly, the demand for The Odyssey is there. Could it be Nolan's third film to break $1 billion, following in the footsteps of The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises?
The Odyssey sails towards a record-breaking opening weekend
True to its source material, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is headed for an epic opening weekend at the box office.
SEE ALSO: 'The Odyssey' review: Christopher Nolan turns an epic myth into a movie masterpieceAccording to The Hollywood Reporter, The Odyssey raked in $17.6 million from domestic Thursday night previews and is on track for a $117 million opening weekend. That would make it the best domestic opening for a live-action film this year, surpassing Michael, which took in $97 million and went on to cross the $1 billion mark worldwide in July. The two best domestic openings of the year belong to animated films: Toy Story 5 ($160 million) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($131.7 million).
A $117 million opening would also be the best opening for an R-rated film in 2026, overtaking Backrooms ($81.4 million). It would also be the best opening for an R-rated movie from Universal Pictures, a record formerly held by Fifty Shades of Grey ($85.1 million).
The Odyssey's opening weekend box office is also set to surpass that of Nolan's prior film, Oppenheimer ($82.4 million), making it his biggest since The Dark Knight Rises, which still holds a commanding lead with $160 million.
Based on The Odyssey's reported production cost of $250 million and reported marketing cost of $125 million, Forbes estimates that after theaters take their cuts, it will take between $625 to $750 million for The Odyssey to break even. However, given Nolan's track record, The Odyssey is sure to have massive legs, especially in premium, if exclusive, formats like IMAX 70mm. Screenings for that format in particular are sold out for weeks into the future, and have been since tickets for The Odyssey went on sale last year.
Clearly, the demand for The Odyssey is there. Could it be Nolan's third film to break $1 billion, following in the footsteps of The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises?
I tried every major file manager on Linux and only this one felt right
I bounce between Linux programs like a bad habit. I'm constantly trying new applications, suites of programs, and replacements—especially when I'm trying to find something that "just feels right." In my search for the perfect file manager, I've used GNOME Files (Nautlius), Thunar, PCManFM, Nemo, Krusader, and more.
5 household chores that are easier with a 3D printer
3D printers can take a while to prove their worth around the house. You can have all sorts of fun printing toys, but it’s household repairs and objects that feel like quality-of-life improvements that’ll have you coming back for more.
Wear OS 7's best feature is the one Google barely mentioned
When Wear OS 7 landed on my Pixel Watch last month, there wasn’t much that caught my eye. To be honest, I pretty much forgot about it entirely. Recently, though, I’ve noticed something, and I realized this update was more important than I thought.
Effortlessly clean your pool this summer with Beatbot’s robotic pool cleaners
Summer is the perfect season for outdoor fun, especially if you have a pool and plan on hosting friends and family. This year, entertaining feels even grander with the FIFA World Cup happening alongside classic backyard barbecues. While you're busy preparing, the last thing you want to worry about is a dirty pool. Luckily, Beatbot has you covered with its smart, hands-free pool maintenance devices, and now many of its top models are discounted during its Backyard Bash Sale. So, you can pick up a robotic pool cleaner more affordably.
Are Hyper Tough power tools at Walmart worth buying?
When it comes to buying power tools for DIY projects around the house, many people instantly think of hardware stores like Home Depot or Lowe's, but Walmart is quietly becoming a go-to destination with more affordable options. While Ryobi and Milwaukee are great, Walmart's popular hand tool brand, Hyper Tough, is slowly but surely becoming a solid option for power tools.
6 open-source Android apps I’d use even if they weren’t free
The beauty of Android is the huge ecosystem of awesome open-source apps available for the platform. There is an entire app store called F-Droid that exclusively features free and open-source apps. Some of these apps are so good that I would pay for them if they weren’t free. I’m sharing a few here.
Your new router might already be obsolete—here's what to check before it's too late
There are only so many Wi-Fi tweaks we can try before finally buying a new router. The good thing about that purchase is that once you get a router, it'll be good for years and years.
5 genuinely useful ways to use the serial port on the back of your TV
If you look at the back of your TV, there are many ports that you probably never use. Some older TVs include an RS-232 serial port similar to those that you'd find on the back of old PCs. While the main uses of this port include professional diagnostics and servicing, there are several ways you can use your TV's serial port for other things.


