How-To Geek
The Toyota Tacoma proves you don't need a full-size truck (and you'll save $10,000)
Full-size pickup trucks have become the default choice for a lot of buyers, despite the fact that most people rarely use even half of the capability they offer. Massive towing figures and oversized dimensions may look impressive on paper, but they also come with higher prices, worse fuel economy, and a more cumbersome driving experience. For the average driver, a modern mid-size truck often makes far more sense.
Your motherboard has a hidden storage limit that has nothing to do with gigabytes
I've come to realize that the problem with PC storage isn't capacity, it's scalability. After all, while even a small 250GB drive has its uses, no one is stopping you from buying an 8TB SSD. Sure, it'll cost a fortune, but you do you.
Google Messages backup settings are a trap: Here's why you should disable cloud sync immediately
In many ways, Google Messages is a big step forward for texting on Android, but in other ways, it's a trap. Just like how using Google Messages makes it exceedingly difficult to transfer your number back to any other texting app, enabling backups in Google Messages comes with inadvertent downsides as well.
Why a great stereo setup beats cheap surround sound every time
If you’re in the market for a new speaker system and are on a limited budget, you should seriously consider getting a quality stereo (2.0 or 2.1) system instead of a cheap, but compromised, surround setup. A high-end stereo setup has always been, and likely always will be, a better choice than a cheap and poor-sounding surround sound system for reasons that go beyond superior sound quality.
Google is not beating the Liquid Glass allegations in Android 17
Last year’s biggest mobile software story was Apple’s divisive new “Liquid Glass” design style. Then, this year started with hints of Google bringing a similar look to Android 17 on Pixel phones. Google has directly denied any inspiration, but the latest beta tells a different story.
If you're buying a car for your teen, IIHS and Consumer Reports say buy a Honda
Buying a first car for a teenager is one of the more important decisions a family makes. The vehicle has to be affordable, reliable, and safe. Traffic crashes remain one of the leading causes of death for teens between 15 and 18, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with novice teen drivers twice as likely as adults to be involved in a fatal crash.
My favorite Raspberry Pi project doesn't even need a screen
Pi-hole might be the simplest Raspberry Pi project of them all, while at the same time being one of the most impactful in terms of everyday usage. Once you’ve set Pi-hole up, leave your Raspberry Pi plugged in and it will quietly do its job without the need for a display, mouse, keyboard, or anything else.
I ditched my Raspberry Pi cluster for one mini PC—and saved hundreds
The Raspberry Pi is one of the most popular single-board computers out there among tinkerers, self-hosting enthusiasts, and homelabbers. However, if you're looking to get the best homelab performance for your dollar, the Pi isn't a great option—it just isn't designed for that use. There are better options out there at the same price.
3 more homelab projects to try this weekend (May 29 - 31)
Are you ready for another set of homelab projects? It's all about backups and optimizations this weekend, as I show you how important game server and GitHub backups are, as well as how to optimize the downloading of updates and apps across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
The most useful Samsung Galaxy Watch features that aren’t enabled by default
Samsung has never been scared to include as many options as possible in its devices. That includes the Galaxy Watch as well, of course, but not all of the best features are enabled fresh out of the box. Let's make sure you haven't overlooked some grayed-out toggles.
Don't buy a network switch—turn your old router into one instead
Like all good tech geeks, I am a terrible hoarder. I have drawers full of old cables for phones I no longer own, and empty boxes from devices I sold years ago. I also have several old routers gathering dust, and decided to put one of them to good use.
I built a water tracker that actually works, unlike every app I tried
My favorite thing about owning a 3D printer is being able to invent solutions for my everyday life. Those small annoyances or inefficiencies that store-bought products can’t fix. One recent example is my custom desktop water tracker. Come along with me on this problem-solving journey.
Learning this one feature means covering a huge chunk of Bash's capabilities.
Are you pondering learning how to script on Linux? Perhaps you wanted to create a service or automate something, but thought Bash was too much. The if-statement represents a huge chunk of how a script functions, yet you can learn it in an hour. That knowledge opens up many new, strong options on Linux, so it's worth taking the time to learn.
Intel's new Arc G3 chip could finally dethrone AMD handhelds like the Steam Deck
Intel finally has a clear answer to the AMD Ryzen Z chips powering handheld gaming PCs like Valve's Steam Deck and Lenovo's Legion Go. The company has introduced Arc G3 and G3 Extreme processors that are meant to deliver "PC-class" performance in Windows handhelds without compromising on battery life.
3 more Raspberry Pi projects to try this weekend (May 29 - 31)
The weekend is almost here, and the weather is getting warmer outside. That means you're probably want a way to cool off this weekend with a fun new Raspberry Pi project or two. So, here are three Raspberry Pi projects you can try this weekend.
I used Google Illuminate to turn boring PDFs into podcasts, and now I’m hooked
Reading a technical report or a dense academic paper sometimes feels like a chore. You tend to need a quiet desk and hours of uninterrupted time. I used to let important documents pile up in my downloads folder because the mental effort required to go through complex charts and over sophisticated wording felt like a battle of attrition. Google Illuminate ended up being better than NotebookLM, and I pay for the latter monthly.
Snapdragon C is Qualcomm's answer to the MacBook Neo
Now that Intel has released Core Series 3, it's Qualcomm's turn to provide its effective response to the success of Apple's MacBook Neo. The tech giant has unveiled Snapdragon C, an ARM system-on-chip aimed at the "entry-tier" Windows PCs not covered by the X2 series.
I spent weeks blaming my router, then I plugged two PCs together and found the real problem
Home networking is something we all wish was simple, but anybody who has spent more than a weekend messing with routers knows that it's really not. Stuff breaks for no apparent reason, and there are so few ways to know what kind of problem you're having.
Why your "unlimited" phone data plan may fail on a long road trip
If your car came with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, you may have used it during the trial period and then let it expire, assuming your phone's hotspot could handle everything just as well. For short trips around town, that's probably true.
Your Windows PC already has Snagit's best features, and they're completely free
Snagit is a powerful screen capture tool that packs a ton of handy features, but it also costs a pretty penny. Worse still, you can't buy a perpetual license anymore, and instead need to shell out $39 a year to keep using it.


