Technology

Your wireless charger is wasting electricity—here's when wired is better

How-To Geek - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 21:45

Wireless chargers are very convenient, whether you're determined to minimize cord clutter or just tired of plugging in your phone every day. However, there's a hidden cost: your charger is wasting electricity, and that's costing you both money and time.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You can get your dream Aston Martin with a roaring V-8 for less than a Golf R

How-To Geek - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 21:01

Modern performance cars are faster, more efficient, and packed with technology, but many of them have lost some of the raw character that made enthusiasts fall in love with driving in the first place. For buyers willing to embrace the used market, there are still a few machines that deliver an experience no new car at the same price can replicate.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Paraguay vs. France online for free

Mashable - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 21:00

TL;DR: Live stream Paraguay vs. France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

France have looked unbeatable in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Now they face Paraguay for a spot in the quarter finals, a team that just knocked out Germany on penalties. It'll take something special for Paraguay to keep out the likes of Mbappé and Olise, but that result in the last round will have given them a lot of confidence.

If you want to watch Paraguay vs. France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Paraguay vs. France?

Paraguay vs. France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 5 p.m. ET on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Philadelphia Stadium.

How to watch Paraguay vs. France for free

Paraguay vs. France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Paraguay vs. France for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Watch Paraguay vs. France for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Paraguay vs. France (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Paraguay vs. France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop opening ports on your router to access your home server (do this instead)

How-To Geek - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 20:30

You've done the work—you picked a solid router, set a real admin password, maybe even splurged on a mesh system and a VPN subscription. Your home network feels locked down, and honestly, it probably is. Then, one day, you want to check your security cameras from the office, and you flip on one innocent little setting to make it happen.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Android Auto's hidden developer mode unlocks these 4 features nobody talks about

How-To Geek - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 19:30

Android Auto keeps its settings simple, for good reason. The app is based around the things you need every day, with minimal distractions. But if you unlock the developer mode in Android Auto, you can access a few more features. Most are designed for testing and debugging, but some are actually quite useful for everyone.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Xbox hopes to win back disaffected gamers with new disc-to-digital program

Mashable - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 19:07

Following the recent news that Sony will end support for physical discs for its PlayStation consoles beginning in Jan. 2028 and the attendant fan backlash (Forbes called it "Sony's Biggest Scandal in 20 Years"), Microsoft's Xbox team is taking proactive steps to get ahead of the negative publicity for its own next-gen console, the Xbox Helix, which is every bit as unlikely to have a physical disc drive as the rumored PS6.  

Last month, details about a new Xbox program code-named "Positron" were leaked, hinting at a potential disc-to-digital program, but the details were relegated to spare snippets of code labeled Disc2Digital. Now, a new report obtained by Windows Insider gives us better insight into what Microsoft hopes to achieve with Positron.

SEE ALSO: Leaker claims the PlayStation 6 costs Sony $960 to manufacture

Most of the fan backlash has focused on the second-hand market, which would be effectively killed off if all games became digital products, but there's another valid issue raised by the loss of physical disc drives: backward compatibility. What are the millions of gamers with vast libraries of physical games supposed to do if future consoles no longer support a disc drive? 

Thankfully, Microsoft has already emphasized the importance of backward compatibility in previous iterations of its Xbox gaming consoles, and Positron seems like a continuation of this same commitment. 

According to reporting by The Verge, Microsoft plans to allow gamers to digitize their physical media libraries without third-party hardware. All that will be required is the disc, a compatible game console, and a Microsoft account, though be forewarned: this feature will only apply to Xbox One and Series X discs — neither the original Xbox nor the Xbox 360 is supported by Positron. 

Of course, as we're still in the testing phases for this technology, and as neither the Xbox Helix nor PS6 has been officially announced, all of this is still subject to change. Maybe, just maybe, the fan backlash will be loud and convincing enough to force these major gaming companies to change course. Unfortunately, we'll likely have to rely on projects like Positron to keep our physical media alive and functioning in the future all-digital era.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Netflix shows that are impossible to stop watching after the first episode

How-To Geek - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 18:45

As a voracious consumer of television shows, nothing excites me more than a premiere episode so good that it’s impossible to avoid rolling right into the next one. These shows have characters that feel alive, narrative twists you never see coming, and cliffhangers that have you promising yourself that you’ll stop after just one more episode.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How I remotely access my Windows PC from my Android phone

How-To Geek - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 18:36

Ever wanted to quickly check something on your PC while you're away? Or maybe grab that one file you forgot to transfer to your phone? Here's what I use to seamlessly access my Windows PC from my Android phone, no matter where I am.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your old GPU isn't dead yet—try these 6 easy fixes before upgrading

How-To Geek - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 18:30

It's not a great time to replace your GPU right now, which means it's time to give it some love and try to make it stay with you for a while longer, even if it feels like it's officially too old at this point.

Categories: IT General, Technology

My favorite Linux app didn’t exist on Windows—so I built a better one with Claude

How-To Geek - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 18:15

Everyone’s talking about AI coding tools right now, but most of the examples feel abstract—a web-based operating system, a DOOM clone, portfolio websites. They’re cool, but they don’t really solve real problems in your day-to-day life. Well, I’ve been running into a frustrating app gap lately where some of the tools I rely on in Linux don’t exist on Windows, and vice versa. That disconnect has been slowing down my workflow, so I decided to vibe-code my way out of it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I reclaimed the Windows Start menu by turning off these 5 features

How-To Geek - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 17:45

Microsoft keeps stuffing new features into the Windows 11 Start menu, and with most of them enabled by default, it has become unnecessarily cluttered. Add web search results that have zero value—when I need to search the web, I'll just open a browser—and you end up with a Start menu that feels bloated rather than helpful. By disabling the following features and options, I turned the Start menu on my Windows 11 PC into a lightweight application launcher and local search interface.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I tested every SSD tweak that's supposed to extend drive life—most are just wasting your time

How-To Geek - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 17:30

If you read about solid state drives (SSDs), you'll encounter a mountain of advice about how you can optimize your SSD's speed and longevity. However, modern SSDs, advanced controllers, and operating systems have made much of that advice irrelevant. Worse yet, some of it can actually be detrimental to the stability of your PC, especially if you're running a system with limited amounts of RAM.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 more changes I make to my Android phone before every vacation

How-To Geek - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 17:16

Over the years, our smartphones have become the one piece of tech that never leaves our side when we travel. Whether it's navigating a new city, contacting the host for the stay, or just keeping yourself entertained while waiting for transport, it's safe to say that traveling would look very different without our beloved devices.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Taylor Swifts wedding details: Everything revealed so far, including Adam Sandler conducting ceremony

Mashable - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 17:00

Last night, right before the United States celebrates 250 years of independence, its undisputed queen of pop music, Taylor Swift, finally tied the knot to long-term beau, NFL tight end Travis Kelce, in what was surely the most anticipated and hyped up wedding of the century. 

And while the world's most-watched couple have been notoriously tight-lipped about wedding details, and have gone to extraordinary lengths to keep their nuptials private, including forcing their guests to sign "ironclad" non-disclosure agreements and firing workers who took photos of the wedding sets, details are beginning to emerge about last night's affairs

The fairytale ceremony

Ordinary couples have to pick a wedding venue, and the typical locations are a combination of personal meaning, romance, and spirituality. The list includes religious venues, seaside locations, large barns, and ballrooms. But if you're the world's number-one power couple, there's really only one city and probably only one place that can accommodate both your guest lists while still delivering privacy from the paparazzi and your millions of fans: Madison Square Garden.  

The home of the Knicks, played host to the Swift-Kelce wedding, and between the night itself and the two days of setup, the location fee alone is reported to be in excess of $3 million

And of course, it isn't enough just to rent the venue; you also have to secure it. Ahead of the affairs, the NYPD listed the street closures necessary to guarantee security for the couple, and it was comparable or even greater than the list released during the NBA Finals:

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And what about the clothing? In a testament to how well security was managed, we still don't have a photo of Swift in her wedding dress, but her publicist has revealed that both the bride and groom were garbed by Christian Dior Haute Couture, with famed Irish fashion designer Jonathan Anderson personally handling the designs — in close collaboration with the couple, naturally. The footwear for both the bride and groom was custom-made by Christian Louboutin, with even the sneakers selling for more than $1,000, while Cartier supplied her jewelry, according to PEOPLE

As for the flowers, another staple of weddings, details are still sparse, but Page Six did manage to snap photos of large peach flower arrangements being carted into the venue. 

The food and drink offerings largely still remain a mystery, but we have had some tantalizing glimpses into what was on offer, from luxury cake designer Julie Deffense teasing a video of the Swift wedding cake that "traveled over 1200 miles" before quickly deleting the video off her Instagram to TMZ slyly snapping pictures of the food being wheeled into the Garden, which included everything from lobster to fried chicken, onion rings and even a Krispy Kreme truck.

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Some loyal Swiftians who waited outside the venue were even blessed with leftover desserts by one of the catering companies. 

The attendees

Let's face it: a wedding isn't the venue, the food, or even the dress. A good wedding begins and ends with the guest list, with the friends and family you choose to celebrate your romance with, and the 1,000-strong list of the Swift-Kelce affair was a mix of A-list celebrities known the world over and friends, family, and even neighbors known only to the couple. 

While every guest was no doubt honored to receive the invite, three people in particular were most important to the couple: Austin Swift, Taylor Swift's brother; Jason Kelce, Travis's brother, and…Adam Sandler. According to the hosts of Good Morning America, George Stephanopoulos, Robin Roberts, and Michael Strahan, all of whom were in attendance and spent their morning show gabbing about the wedding, the bride and groom eschewed the usual list of groomsmen and bridesmaids in favor of a Man of Honor for Taylor and a Best Man for Travis, and unsurprisingly they both chose their brothers to fill these important roles. But the officiating was done by none other than Adam Sandler, who has reportedly been a friend to the families of both Travis and Taylor over the years, which required the famous actor-comedian to get a one-day license as a marriage officiant in New York.

Celebrity guests included a mix of athletes, entertainers, and models, from Swift's close friends Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, and Zoë Kravitz to A-list actors like Brad Pitt, Bradley Cooper, and Julianne Moore, according to The Independent, who also reported that Beatles legend Paul McCartney delivered one of the night's many performances.  

A few centuries ago, only the weddings of kings and queens elicited such fanfare, but given that Taylor Swift is pop culture royalty, it's no surprise that her wedding has been the most extravagant and publicized affair of 2026. We wish the happy couple the best of luck as they embark on their three-month honeymoon, the details of which are every bit as under wraps as those of their wedding.

Categories: IT General, Technology

7 best Fourth of July movies to watch this weekend on Paramount+, Netflix, and more

How-To Geek - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 17:00

Happy Fourth of July to all those who celebrate! Hopefully, your day is full of food, family, and fun. When you decide to wind down for the night and hit the couch, perhaps stream a movie related to the holiday or summer. Some of these picks are rather obvious, including the 1996 action movie named after July 4.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Canada vs. Morocco online for free

Mashable - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 17:00

TL;DR: Live stream Canada vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered the next round of knockout fixtures, and it all starts with Canada vs. Morocco. The co-hosts will need to do something special to knock out this talented Morocco side. They've looked really impressive thus far, but did need to rely on penalties to overcome the Netherlands in the Round of 32.

The winner is likely to meet France in the next round.

If you want to watch Canada vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Canada vs. Morocco?

Canada vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Houston Stadium.

How to watch Canada vs. Morocco for free

Canada vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Canada vs. Morocco for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit ITVX

  5. Watch Canada vs. Morocco for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Canada vs. Morocco (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Canada vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Categories: IT General, Technology

7 household repairs that are cheaper and easier with a 3D printer

How-To Geek - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 16:59

Repairing things is one of the best reasons to get a 3D printer, and it might just give you the push you need to learn to model items for yourself. If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are some examples of how a 3D printer can come in clutch and save you money.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 genius ESP32 projects that don't require any soldering

How-To Geek - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 16:30

The ESP32 microcontroller has become hugely popular in the worlds of DIY electronics and smart home automation. You can use the small chips to build an enormous range of different things at relatively low prices. One of the biggest barriers for people dipping their toes into the world of ESP32 is the fear of having to get stuck in with a soldering iron, but there are plenty of genius ESP32 projects that don't require any soldering at all.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 new Hulu shows and movies to watch in July

How-To Geek - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 16:00

Hulu's July lineup might even be more impressive than last month, which included the fifth and final season of The Bear. July's offerings include splashy premieres and anticipated returns. Kicking things off is the sequel to an underrated 2019 horror comedy that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Pips hints, answers for July 4, 2026

Mashable - Sat, 07/04/2026 - 15:47

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 July 4, 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 July 4, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 4 Pips

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 4 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 4 Pips

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

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

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

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically.

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-4, 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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