How-To Geek

If you've been on Android since its early days, you probably remember just how sluggish it felt compared to iOS and how Google gradually managed to make it smoother and more responsive. Sure, part of that was the rise of faster phone hardware, but software optimizations also played a major role.

For many people, Bluetooth headphones are not and never have been a straight-up replacement for wired—they're just convenient to use on the go. But manufacturers have been trying to kill the 3.5mm jack for years now, stripping it from flagship phone models and even laptops.

An old laptop isn't the kind of device you think of when someone says "local AI," but as long as you pick the right AI, they can be pretty useful. Whatever device you use, it needs 8GB of RAM at a minimum, though 16GB is better. Luckily, even laptops from five years ago frequently had that much memory available.

Samsung spent over a decade building a smartwatch platform on Tizen, then walked away from it in under two years. Now open-source developers are racing to keep thousands of orphaned watches functional before batteries outlast the software.

Keeping your eyes on the road sounds simple, but it isn’t. Notifications, checking directions, incoming calls, and daydreaming can turn into a distraction at the worst possible moment. That's the reason I turned to Android Auto's automations, which make it easier to access the things I need while driving, whether I’m making a call, controlling my music, or following directions.

UGREEN wants to be sure your home studio has network-attached storage that's always up to the job—even if you're juggling multiple tasks at once. The company has come to IFA 2026 with two NAS units, the NASync DXP6800 and DX8800 Ultra, that are meant for everyone from individual creatives through to fast-growing shops.

There are some products that are so successful that the brand name becomes the default term for that product. Brands such as Band-Aid, Photoshop, and Scotch tape are often used for any products of that kind, and the same is true of Kindle. While the Kindle has been the dominant force in the eReader market for a long time, a tiny eReader makes me believe that things are starting to change.

The Pixel Tag gives Android users their first true first-party rival to Apple's AirTag, backed by Google's massive Find Hub network. But after looking into how it actually works, one omission stood out immediately, and it's the single feature I've wanted from an Android tracker for years.

When Even Realities introduced its G2 smart glasses, there were some fair criticisms of its interface limits and performance. However, I had the opportunity to try them on at IFA 2026 — and they've found new purpose at a time when the backlash against Meta's camera-equipped glasses is fiercer than ever.

ESP32 boards are cheap and versatile, making them highly popular in the maker community. Setting them up isn't always that simple, but there's a tiny OS you can run on an ESP32 that allows you to use one as if it were a very small PC.

The streamers are loading up on new and returning shows to kick off the month, giving viewers plenty of options for weekend streaming. Netflix has two shows that made the cut for this list. One is a reality show featuring an extremely popular influencer, and the other is the second season of a Guy Ritchie show. Elsewhere, a British motoring show returns for an all-new season on Prime Video.

Intel has had a colorful history over the years. While many people have made the switch to AMD Ryzen, plenty still remain loyal to Intel—and for good reasons.

Cloud-based smart homes have been the norm for over a decade now. There are inherent problems with cloud-based smart devices though, with privacy being at the forefront of those issues. UGREEN just surprised everyone and announced the first turnkey local smart home hub that actually matters.

Once you've applied for more than a handful of jobs, keeping track of them can become a job in itself. You need to remember where you applied, when you applied, how you applied, who you spoke to, what the salary was, and whether you ever heard back.

The Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL bring back notification lights with a feature called HiLight. It's a nice touch, but Google isn't the first to modernize this idea, and its version currently trails what's already on the market.

Most Windows users just want to get to the desktop, so they blindly accept whatever Microsoft wants them to install. That indifference is exactly what Microsoft is counting on, and it's shaped the OS for years in ways that frustrate people who actually pay attention. If people paid more attention to what was going on, Windows wouldn't have nearly as much bloat as it does now, and it would be much faster.

It's that time of the weekend again, time to start thinking of what Raspberry Pi projects you're going to be working on before Monday rolls around! Today, I'm showing three unique projects that can run on either a Pi Pico or a full-size Pi.

If you've got a Galaxy Z Fold you aren't using anymore and don't plan to sell, you can put it to good use even if its screens no longer work. Thanks to the phone's versatility, courtesy of its massive foldable display and beefy hardware that's quite capable even in older Galaxy Z Fold models, the most popular foldable around can fulfill a variety of roles.

Amazon's Fire TV streaming devices have been based on Android from the start, which made them an excellent choice for anyone who likes to tinker and modify things. Amazon subsidized the price of Fire TV streamers by monetizing them with ads and, of course, using them as a funnel for subscriptions and more Amazon purchases.