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We explain technology. Learn more with our articles, reviews, tips, and the best answers to your most pressing tech questions.
Updated: 13 min 13 sec ago

The internet keeps telling you to 3D print these—don’t

5 hours 20 min ago

When you first gain access to a 3D printer, you might be tempted to print everything and anything you can. This urge can be amplified by the number of models available online and the passion of the 3D printing community.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Kia used to lag in reliability—now it’s closing the gap in 2026

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 23:30

Kia arrived in the US in 1993 with the Sephia and Sportage 4x4. Back then, it was all budget-friendly cars with few bells and whistles, but that’s no longer the case.

Categories: IT General, Technology

SSD prices have doubled: Why buying 'just in case' is a waste of money

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 22:30

It's safe to say that the ongoing component shortage has well and truly hit SSDs now, too. Many models are sold out entirely, but there's still plenty of options if you want to shop—provided you don't mind spending way more than you should, that is.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 things I learned adding my new HVAC system to Home Assistant

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 22:01

It’s summer here in Australia, and in the sub-tropics where I live, that means high temperatures, harsh sun, and punishing humidity. This prompted a pricey investment that we’ve been putting off for years: a whole-house ducted air conditioning system.

Categories: IT General, Technology

8 “hidden” terminal features that make Linux feel like a power-user OS

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 21:30

With the command-line shell, Linux provides countless tools and programs to wield power over your system. But many of these features are hidden below the surface, waiting for you to discover them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I switched to a "lean" version of Windows 11, and I'm never going back

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 21:30

Windows 11, especially in the latest versions, has become a big, bloated mess. It's slow, cluttered, and feels like a billboard to advertise Microsoft services more than an operating system. I tried a version of Windows that strips all of that away and makes your computer feel like yours again.

Categories: IT General, Technology

7 of the least-known Excel charts and why you should use them

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 20:30

Of the 17 different types of charts in Excel, I'd confidently speculate that only a few are used frequently. Actually, they all have their benefits in different circumstances and allow you to display your data in diverse ways.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I still use my 15-year-old dumb TV thanks to these modern accessories

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 20:30

We all have at least one TV collecting dust after an upgrade. If you’re like me, you probably have a few older sets tucked away around your home.

Categories: IT General, Technology

On The Inside: How this laptop dock transformed our editor's workspace

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 20:00

If you're someone who works from home like our editorial staff, there are no doubt times when you'll be wondering if there are ways to make your workspace better. Perhaps there are too many distractions around, or sitting around your home workspace is making you antsy.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google’s hardware graveyard: 7 obscure devices even Google wants to forget

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 19:45

Google is known for a lot of things, and one of those things is killing its own products. The graveyard is filled with Google apps and services you may have heard about, but there are interesting, lesser-known hardware projects, too. Some were ahead of their time, others were just not good.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 worthwhile smart home upgrades for your kitchen

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 19:30

Don’t ignore your kitchen when building out your smart home; the technology has so much potential to make your life easier and provide more convenience and peace of mind. Start with a few considered upgrades, rather than needlessly “smart” appliances.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 reasons to dump cron for systemd timers on Ubuntu

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 19:15

Cron has enjoyed decades of development and widespread use and is still an effective and reliable way to schedule scripts on Unix systems. But it’s not the only scheduling utility. In fact, many would argue that it’s time we all ditched Cron for systemd timers since they are the superior, more modern way to schedule scripts.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The first Microsoft Surface wasn't a tablet: It was a $10,000 table

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 19:00

Although we live in an era of constantly evolving technology, it sometimes feels like the truly innovative, unapologetically "out there" devices have already been invented and forgotten. One of those devices marks the origin story of the Microsoft Surface line of products. Yes, I do mean the laptops and the tablets like the Surface Pro ... only this one was neither.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The luxury coupe that won't punish you with big maintenance bills

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 18:30

Luxury coupes are often marketed as high-performance machines, but many buyers are really looking for something else entirely: quiet comfort, elegant design, and stress-free ownership. In a segment crowded with expensive European options that can quickly turn into maintenance nightmares, one Japanese luxury coupe takes a calmer, more sensible approach. It prioritizes refinement, long-term dependability, and everyday usability over chasing lap times or aggressive driving dynamics.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I found the ultimate "No Sudo" toolbox for Linux, and it’s a game-changer

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 18:15

Have you ever found yourself on a system that's lacking the necessary tools? Maybe it was a rescue or installation environment, an unfamiliar system you were repairing, or a Docker container you were debugging. If you've used Linux for a while, you've likely encountered these scenarios, and installing the required tools can be a hassle when all you want is to finish the job. That's where a convenient toolkit becomes a lifesaver, and I have one that fits the bill perfectly.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I had no idea Home Assistant and Plex could work this well together

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 18:00

I’ve manually turned lights off for movie nights for the last time. While I had a HomeKit scene to semi-automate this, I had no idea that I could integrate Plex into my smart home through Home Assistant, and I wish I had done this sooner.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Keep your movies—TV shows are way better

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 17:30

I’m probably not alone in feeling that movies rarely live up to the hype. While standout feature films are becoming increasingly rare, TV shows have quietly taken the crown. Thanks to streaming, there’s never been a more abundant and high-quality landscape of rich, immersive series to get lost in.

Categories: IT General, Technology

If you use Wi-Fi, this hidden Android setting could be wasting battery

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 17:15

There’s a special annoyance that comes with picking up your phone after it’s been sitting idle for hours, only to find the battery has dropped significantly. While the screen may not be on, your Android phone is always doing something. But is it doing too much?

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 more gadgets that got way better without anyone noticing

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 17:00

There are plenty of gadgets that were very simple when they were first released to the public, which would have been easy to blow off. However, time has a way of improving things, and you wouldn't believe how advanced these same devices have gotten.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Cheap, reliable, and fun: this German sedan checks every box

Sat, 01/31/2026 - 16:30

Finding a car that’s cheap to buy, dependable to own, and genuinely fun to drive isn’t easy, but one German sedan checks all those boxes in 2025. While many budget-friendly cars focus on value at the expense of personality, this model delivers engaging handling and a spirited driving feel without demanding a premium price or frequent trips to the shop. For buyers who want more than just basic transportation, that combination is rare.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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