Technology

You Can Roll Dice in the Linux Terminal, Here's How

How-To Geek - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 17:30

We usually think of the terminal as something purely functional—tweaking Linux settings, installing updates, or running commands for work. And for most people, that’s where it ends. But the terminal can be more versatile than you might expect. One surprisingly fun use case? Rolling dice. Yes, your Linux terminal can double as a digital dice roller.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I Switched to Home Assistant's New Dashboard, and It's Now My Favorite Hub

How-To Geek - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 17:15

I want to love Home Assistant, but it has felt overly complex compared to the likes of Samsung SmartThings and Google Home. Thankfully, there's a new dashboard on the way that completely rewrites my first impression.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Hidden Setting Sped Up My Android Phone

How-To Geek - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 17:00

How fast your Android phone feels isn’t just about the hardware. Software optimizations and features like animations play a big role in responsiveness. Fortunately, there’s a simple animation trick that works on basically every Android device.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to uninstall iOS 26

Mashable - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 16:54

iPhone users are still acclimating to the new iOS 26 look, which includes a massive overhaul of the iPhone's interface and the divisive Liquid Glass design.

But while many Apple heads quickly got the hang of the new icons and animations, and reveled in catchy ringtones, Apple Intelligence upgrades, and dozens of system tweaks, others felt like they had a major mistake.

SEE ALSO: Samsung’s Project Moohan VR headset could launch in October — here’s everything we know

"Will I regret updating to iOS 26?" one X user asked, who then responded to their own post with "Yup." "Apple iOS 26 is absolutely awful. I’ve totally ruined my phone by installing this. I couldn’t be more upset," wrote another. Even users who were into the new look expressed concern about updating as people reported more bugs, hoping to wait out the upgrade until Apple shipped its first fixes to the new operating system.

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So is it possible to go back if you've already taken the plunge? The answer is complicated.

Earlier this year, posts from iOS 26 beta testers showed people clamoring for a way to rollback the update as phones glitched and performance snags got in the way of everyday use, prompting publications and techies to publish multiple guides to resetting their devices. And, as CNET noted in its coverage, WatchOS users found they could not rollback the update at all.

For users on the new, full iOS 26 product, it may be even more complicated.

According to a MacRumors forum post, users who want to downgrade back to iOS 18 will first need to make sure they have a full device backup from the previous iOS, not a backup from iOS 26 — and come to terms with potentially losing all of their data in the process.

From there, user @orsev explained, users will go through a somewhat vexing process of downloading the previous iOS as an .ipsw file using a developer account, restoring their device in a hard reboot, and reinstalling the old iOS using an archived backup.

Tech aficionados will probably have an easier time with this, but for the average user, it may be best to just stick it out until the next major iOS 26 update. In the meantime, you might as well make those lock screens and group chats really cute.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I Was Skeptical, But Now I'm Glad There's an App for Everything

How-To Geek - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 16:31

As a long-time smartphone skeptic, I resented their role in our lives. Now I’ve not only made my peace with them, but I’ve come to truly appreciate that there is an app for just about anything and everything.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These Luxury Cars Don't Cost a Ton to Maintain

How-To Geek - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 16:15

Luxury cars often carry a reputation for breathtaking maintenance bills. Expensive parts, complex electronics, and specialized service can quickly turn ownership into a financial headache. Yet not every premium badge demands a blank check. A careful search reveals a handful of upscale models that combine comfort, performance, and technology with surprisingly manageable upkeep costs.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 Ways Smaller Tech Is Better Tech

How-To Geek - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 16:00

Companies continue to produce smaller and thinner tech, even though many of us are perfectly fine with the size of our current devices. Ultimately, though, we’re all better off due to this ongoing drive to make tech as small as possible.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to move the search bar to the top on iOS 26

Mashable - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 15:48

Apple's iOS 26 is here, complete with a new and divisive Liquid Glass design. Users — as usually happens when Apple drops a major visual overhaul — have a lot of thoughts.

Mixed opinions flooded the internet on Liquid Glasses' new elastic animations and semi-translucent app designs, as well as the new dark mode look (which many also struggled to toggle on and off). Some have complained about the readability of text or feeling like screens look overcrowded, while others have leaned fully into new customization options for home screens and group chats.

SEE ALSO: How to create a custom lock screen in iOS 26

Almost immediately, users took issue with a new UX choice that made using Apple's line of products (which many of us have been doing for decades now) less than intuitive: the new location of the device's search bar, which is now squarely at the bottom of the screen instead of the more intuitive top design. Muscle memory be damned.

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You can customize a lot on iOS 26. Users have also come up with quick fixes for some of its other quirks — including taking advantage of Apple's robust accessibility settings to adjust the transparency and movement of apps and unlocking home screens. Unfortunately, the search bar isn't one of them.

Users can choose the location of the address bar in their Safari settings or completely turn off the iPhone's home screen Spotlight Search if they can't bear to look at the iPhone's lower third. But for now, that search bar is stuck on the bottom everywhere else.

How to move the Safari search bar in iOS 26 Total Time
  • 2 min
What You Need
  • iPhone

Step 1: Go to settings

Step 2: Scroll (or search) for Safari

Step 3: Scroll to "Tabs"

Step 4: Select "Top"

You should see three options for Safari's search bar: Compact (a smaller, centered search bar), Bottom, and Top (the traditional location).

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 Common Smartphone Mistakes You Should Avoid

How-To Geek - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 15:30

Most of us hope our smartphones last for years, but without realizing it, we often make small mistakes that affect their performance and overall lifespan. From bad charging practices to skipping software updates and exposing your phone to extreme conditions, here are some common mistakes you must avoid.

Categories: IT General, Technology

9 iPadOS 26 Features That Made Me Upgrade Right Away

How-To Geek - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 15:16

iPadOS 26 has arrived. And just like iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe, it, too, features a Liquid Glass design, along with plenty of new features and enhancements.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Google Home app is getting a new look. Here’s what’s changing.

Mashable - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 15:04

A sneak peek of Google's new Google Home app design reveals that Gemini will be front and center as the company transforms its new products with artificial intelligenceSmart House, you will always be famous.

Google Home v3.41.50.3, a forthcoming app update, includes a significant UI overhaul, according to an exclusive by Android Authority. The app will now feature Gemini and Gemini Live (not Google Assistant) front and center, which allows users to fully automate their Google Home settings using the AI assistant. Simply "Ask Home."

SEE ALSO: Every Apple product announcement we still expect in 2025 and beyond — AirTags, Macs, and HomePod

Users will be able to use the new Ask Home search bar to do just that, and can oversee their preferred devices, automations, and environmental feedback on a revived "favorites" page. Google's also added tiles for expected video and thermometer add-ons. The app comes with fresh icons, cleaner pages, and important privacy disclosures for Gemini Home's data collection, too — keep your eyes peeled.

Google is set to announce a new line of smart products in October, including a new Nest speaker with built-in Gemini, a new Nest doorbell, and a series of Nest cams for a fully rounded smart home setup. In April, Google announced it would be ending support for first—and second-generation Nest Thermostats, which was explained as a necessary move to focus on supporting newer hardware.

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In addition to the hardware upgrades, Google Home users can expect new AI-powered functions and features, such as daily summaries and AI event descriptions, first demoed at the company's Made by Google event in August.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 More Satisfying Ways to End Calls on Android

How-To Geek - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 15:00

You simply need to hit the red button to disconnect a call on your Android smartphone. But what if I told you there are more interesting ways to end calls? Here are four different ways to end calls on your Android smartphone besides using the regular end button in the phone app.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 10 Best Used Sedans Under $30k For Driving Enthusiasts

How-To Geek - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 14:00

Car enthusiasts often chase coupes or roadsters, but some of the most engaging cars on the market have four doors. A well-chosen sedan can deliver sharp handling, satisfying power, and a balanced chassis that rivals dedicated sports cars, all while offering room for passengers and daily practicality. On the used market, that combination can be surprisingly affordable.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Live Hardcore—Jack Black’s Best Movie Roles, Ranked

How-To Geek - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 13:15

I recently decided that I was not hardcore unless I lived hardcore, so I went back into my Jack Black catalog of movies and was reminded of the kaleidoscopic nature of his talent. He’s one of those actors whose performances and propensity for timing never age, no matter what genres he’s tackling. He’s hilarious, energetic, and lovable in everything he does.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How I Got Windows 11 Running on a Decade-Old "Unsupported" PC

How-To Geek - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 13:00

Love it or hate it, Windows 11 comes with a catch: Microsoft’s strict system requirements leave millions of perfectly good PCs stuck on Windows 10 with no upgrade path. If your machine doesn’t have a modern CPU, TPM 2.0, or Secure Boot, you’re officially out of luck. So, what are your options? There are a couple of ways to extend support on your Windows 10 PC, but I'm looking for something a little more long-term.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Think Denuvo Is Bad? Be Glad We Don't Have These 3 DRM Solutions Anymore

How-To Geek - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 13:00

Denuvo is the most common video game DRM solution, shipping with many big-budget titles. It’s very hard to circumvent and comes with certain limitations, such as a limited number of PC activations, that are clearly anti-consumer. But if you think Denuvo is the worst, boy, do I have news for you.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 Undeniable Reasons Why AI Won’t Take Your Programming Job

How-To Geek - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 12:30

You've likely used AI and been amazed by both its brilliance and its stupidity—I have too. Yet these systems lack what it would take to truly replace a skilled programmer, and their financial backbone isn't looking likely to last. I'll explain why.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch India vs. Pakistan in the Super Four online for free

Mashable - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 12:24

TL;DR: India vs. Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup is available to live stream for free on Tamasha. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Asia Cup is slowly reaching its dramatic conclusion, with only four teams still in contention to lift the trophy. India and Pakistan have already met in the group stage, but now things are getting serious as they come together in the Super Four.

If you want to watch India vs. Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is India vs. Pakistan?

India vs. Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup starts at 10:30 a.m. ET on Sept. 21. This game takes place at the Dubai International Stadium.

How to watch India vs. Pakistan for free

India vs. Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup is available to live stream for free on Tamasha.

Tamasha is geo-restricted to Pakistan, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Pakistan, meaning you can unblock Tamasha from anywhere in the world.

Live stream India vs. Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like 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 Pakistan

  4. Visit Tamasha

  5. Live stream India vs. Pakistan for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch the 2025 Asia Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you plenty of time to watch the tournament for free.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Tamasha?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for live streaming on free sites like Tamasha, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Pakistan

  • 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 eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Asia Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

10 iPhone Settings I Changed After Upgrading to iOS 26

How-To Geek - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 12:01

The iOS 26 update is officially here. Alongside featuring an all-new Liquid Glass design, the latest update also expands AI capabilities to more apps and introduces two new apps—Preview and Games—among other enhancements.

Categories: IT General, Technology

What is the best robot vacuum for pet hair? My cats and I have been testing options at home.

Mashable - Sun, 09/21/2025 - 10:30

Automatic upkeep with shedding is something no seasoned pet owner would turn down. While the humble lint roller is still the most reliable line of defense for furniture and black clothes, the best robot vacuums for pet hair can take your hardwood and carpet maintenance off your hands.

SEE ALSO: I'm constantly testing Roombas at home — here's my Roomba buying guide for 2025

It's hard to envision how well a robotic vacuum cleaner could possibly work on a thick layer of pet hair until you've actually seen proof in person. Well, I have — I test new robot vacuums at home every month, and my cats hold nothing back when preparing the testing grounds. Three-quarters of the way through 2025, I've narrowed down my top five picks for the best robot vacuum for pet hair.

How to find a robot vacuum that works on pet hair

You've probably gathered that suction power is one major determinant of how well a robot vacuum works on pet hair. But the brush roll system is nearly just as important when choosing a robot vacuum to deal with pet fur. Two spinning brush rolls are far more effective than one at loosening fur embedded in carpet, and the separation between the two acts as an exit door for hair that'd start wrapping otherwise. Pet parents should definitely opt for a self-emptying robot vacuum — so much fur being sucked up will lead to a full dustbin faster, and you won't feel like emptying it yourself every day.

If hardwood or tile is prevalent in your home, the best robot vacuum and mop combo for pet hair will be able to sanitize the floor while mopping and then wash its own mops to rinse off any lingering hair

If your home zoo seriously needs the utmost fur-fighting power, though, I'd have a good cordless stick vacuum on standby — stick vacuums are just more powerful than robot vacuums in general.

Other robot vacuums we've tested recently

I tested several other top robot vacuums in the past that didn't make the most recent cut for this list. Some, like the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Master, Narwal Freo X Ultra, and various versions of the Roomba j7, were my top recommendations at one point, but have since been overshadowed by newer, more powerful models that are a better bang for your buck. I recently tested and was impressed by the Roomba Plus 505 Combo, which isn't in this list just because its more powerful sibling is the obvious pick for pet parents.

I've also tested some 2025 robot vacuum releases that were OK, but ultimately aren't a top pick for me. The Dreame X50 Ultra grabbed attention during its CES 2025 debut for its ability to "climb," though the fine print is that it can't scale thresholds taller than 6 millimeters (about 2.36 inches). A slew of new Dreame robot vacuums are slated to come out in fall 2025, among them a model with improved climbing abilities and a model whose self-empty dock can hold three sets of mopping pads. I'll be getting my hands on these as soon as possible and updating my top picks for this list accordingly.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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