IT General

One small change made Google Wallet so much better on my Pixel Watch

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 17:30

Nothing makes me feel more futuristic than tapping my smartwatch to a terminal to pay for a bag of chips. However, there’s one part of the process that has always been a bit annoying to me. Thankfully, Google Wallet on the Pixel Watch finally fixed it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How I turned an old Kindle into a slow-refresh security camera monitor

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 17:16

Now that I've finally jailbroken my Kindle, I can't stop thinking of things to do with it. I'd messed around with making it display various things, and I wondered if I could make it do something genuinely useful and display the feed from my video doorbell.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop calling it a home server (you accidentally built a datacenter)

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 17:01

Just a decade ago, a home server sounded like something only serious tinkerers bothered with. Maybe it was an old desktop under a desk, a basic NAS in a cupboard, or one shared folder. For most people, it was fairly small scale, outside of those of us who were self-identified data hoarders and needed lots of space.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 Ryobi tools you didn’t know you needed this summer

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 16:46

Summer is in full swing, which means you're likely busy with DIY projects, lawn care, and other home maintenance. The right Ryobi tool can help you finish jobs faster and easier, stay cool while you work, and get back inside to the AC. With that in mind, here are several Ryobi tools you didn't know you needed.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Microsoft Secure Boot certificates expire June 27—here's what that means for your old PC

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 16:15

Microsoft introduced Secure Boot alongside Windows 8 in 2012 as a way to improve security on Windows PCs by preventing malicious software, including rootkits and bootkits, from loading into your system before the operating system even starts.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Skip the new Camry and get this German luxury sedan for the same money

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 16:01

New-car shoppers are often told that buying a mainstream sedan is the sensible choice. Models in this segment offer strong reliability, good fuel economy, and plenty of practicality for everyday driving. However, rising vehicle prices have created an interesting situation where some lightly used luxury cars now cost the same as brand-new mainstream alternatives, opening the door to a much more premium ownership experience without stretching your budget.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I finally added my PS5 and Xbox to Home Assistant (it was totally worth it)

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 15:45

Many of us collapse in front of the TV with a controller in hand after a long day at work. These devices are an essential part of your home and routine, so why not add them to your smart home too?

Categories: IT General, Technology

You probably don't need a NAS: Why a DAS is better for most people

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 15:35

NASes are not for everyone. They can be expensive, and oftentimes, they provide features that, frankly, a lot of people don't need. A NAS is what you get when you want your own cloud storage of sorts, but if you don't need the cloud part, a DAS can be a better option.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Someone was stealing my mom's Wi-Fi, so I hacked their printer

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 15:30

Most people find out someone is stealing their Wi-Fi thanks to how slow the network gets. What happens next is usually just a password change, and that's it. However, I once took a different approach because of the audacity. What some people don't realize is that when they put their devices on someone else's Wi-Fi, they've opened up their own door as well.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Android Auto got better after I disabled these 3 features

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 15:00

Android Auto is obviously designed to be used on a screen in your vehicle while keeping your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. And that means it doesn't necessarily need access to everything you get on your phone. It's packed with navigation apps, voice controls, regular apps, and entertainment, but I've turned off a few things.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Beatbot robotic pool cleaners on sale this Prime Day

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 15:00

If keeping your pool clean has always felt like more work than it should be, Beatbot has the answer. The brand has built a lineup of AI-powered robotic pool cleaners designed to take the effort out of pool maintenance, from quick daily top-ups to whole-pool deep cleans. Rather than relying on fixed cleaning patterns or basic suction, Beatbot's robots use onboard AI to map the pool, detect debris in real time, and adapt their route accordingly, covering floors, walls, waterlines, and surfaces, depending on the model.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Toyota refused to chase EVs like everyone else—and it won the long game

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 14:45

A lot of people owe Toyota an apology. For years, the Japanese automaker has faced criticism for refusing to fully embrace the “electric vehicle revolution.”

Categories: IT General, Technology

These low-power chips beat the ESP32 for battery life

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 14:30

The ESP32 is the go-to microcontroller for DIY projects, smart home sensors, and other lightweight projects, but it’s not the only game in town. If energy efficiency is high on your list of priorities, the nRF52 series might be a better choice.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Everything leaving Netflix in July 2026—what to watch before it's all gone

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 14:15

The calendar is about to flip again, and, like clockwork, Netflix is clearing house. As June succumbs to July, a big pile of movies and shows heads for the exits for U.S. subscribers, so consider this fair warning for any of them still collecting dust on your watchlist—time is ticking for you to watch them before they're gone.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Getting away from Google: 4 Apps that Change My Digital Life for the Better

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 14:00

I have been desperately trying to flee, or at least rely significantly less upon, the Google ecosystem for far too long. For research, reading, and communication, I've largely been able to ditch Google products. But AI overviews, rampant enshittification, and everything announced at Google I/O this year made me less than enthusiastic about staying with Google.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your Excel regression is probably a mess—here's how Python fixes it

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 13:30

Excel and other spreadsheets are the workhorses of modern business. You've probably used the regression function to find a trend line or other linear relationship in your data. Here's why using Python on your data can turbocharge your regression analysis.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I made a custom t-shirt design with my 3D printer and an iron

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 13:00

PLA is the most common type of 3D printing filament. Its poor heat resistance is seen as a weakness by many, but there are some use cases where this is a real benefit. So what if you softened thin PLA prints enough to make your own t-shirt transfers at home?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Here's what happens when you force Windows to create a file in the Recycle Bin

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 12:30

The Recycle Bin has been a constant feature of Windows desktops for decades, and it is understandable that everyone thinks of it as "just another folder." However, it is actually much more interesting and more clever than that.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Synology DS225+ NAS review: A great NAS for beginners

How-To Geek - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 12:00

Synology's latest 2-bay DS225+ NAS is a solid way to get started with network attached storage systems. It offers a streamlined and simple experience with an affordable-enough price for those who have never used a NAS before.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Pips hints, answers for June 20, 2026

Mashable - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 11:49

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 20, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

  • Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

  • Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

  • Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

  • Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

  • Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 20, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 20 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 20 Pips

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 20 Pips

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (7): Everything in this space must be less than 7. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 3-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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