How-To Geek

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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: 2 hours 56 min ago

6 ways to repurpose an old iPad

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 22:30

The Apple iPad is an exceptionally long-lived device. There's no reason to upgrade them frequently and in my personal experience these tablets don't show much battery wear over the years either.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How installing Linux on a USB drive made every PC as comfortable as my own

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 22:00

Sometimes you need to use someone else's computer. Maybe you're at a library, maybe you're at a friend's house helping them troubleshoot a new device on their network. Whatever the situation, sitting down to a computer that feels completely alien is never great.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The big smartwatch upgrade I didn't know I needed

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 21:30

I have had a hot and cold relationship with smartwatches, but I recently took a chance on an LTE smartwatch for the first time—and I had no idea how big a difference this one change would make. With how freeing the experience has been, I feel like I'm living in the future.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Introduction to Git for beginners: Understanding the essentials

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 20:30

If you're just beginning programming, you've likely encountered the name "Git"—but what is it? And why do you need it? Git is the most important tool I use, next to my text editor, operating system, and laptop. I'm using it right now. It tracks every change I make to my articles and code. While basic Git skills are easily attainable for beginners, it possesses many features which make it seem complex. In this article, I'll reveal why Git is crucial and why you should start using it today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Dumphone users are obsessed with their “EDC”—here’s what that means

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 20:00

In an age where your smartphone can do almost anything, it might come as a surprise to learn that the “dumbphone” movement is gaining momentum. Instead of the latest iPhone or Android smartphones, some people are embracing the simplicity of handsets that do less.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best used three-row SUV you can buy for the price of a new Honda Civic

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 19:30

A new compact sedan may seem like the safe, predictable choice, but the used market tells a different story. For the same money, shoppers can step into a far larger, more capable vehicle, one designed to haul families, luggage, and weekend gear without breaking a sweat. It’s a reminder that depreciation can work heavily in your favor if you know where to look.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to set up mailbox alerts with Home Assistant and a cheap sensor

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 19:00

Why walk all that way to the mailbox only to be disappointed when it’s empty? With this smart home automation, you’ll know exactly when you’ve got mail because Home Assistant will tell you.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 6 vintage handheld PCs were decades ahead of their time

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 18:30

While the modern handheld PC market revolves around gaming handhelds that rose to prominence only a few years ago with the Steam Deck, handheld PCs have a surprisingly rich history spanning nearly four decades. Below you'll find six handheld PCs that moved the needle in one way or another.

Categories: IT General, Technology

When's the next Plex Pass sale?

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 18:15

The discount bonanza holidays are upon us, and that means Plex Pass should be on sale soon, right? Right! If you want to know when the next Plex Pass sale is, I’m here to tell you it shouldn’t be long.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to report road hazards to Waze while driving

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 18:00

Trying to tap through crazy menus while you're flying down the highway is finally a thing of the past. If you want to know how to report on Waze using your voice, this new setup, which they officially call “Conversational Reporting,” is super simple to use.

Categories: IT General, Technology

7 ways I use NotebookLM to make my life easier

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 17:30

NotebookLM doesn’t get enough credit for how much it helps you with daily life. While it can help you learn, it could also be the assistant you’ve been waiting for since AI first started getting popular.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I always spend too much money on the GPU — here's what's worth spending your budget on instead

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 17:00

It's no secret that the graphics card (GPU) is the most exciting part of a gaming PC. The GPU is the key to high frame rates, and if yours is weak, you'll be fighting low fps instead of enemies.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 7 touch gestures that make Android feel way faster

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 16:30

Gestures are not new to Android, but they’re infamously under-explained. You could easily be missing out on some of the best time-saving gestures on your phone. Maybe you know some of these, but you might not know all of them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop trusting the cloud: Why I still carry a flash drive in 2025

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 16:15

Chances are that if you don't have a flash drive within arm's reach as you read this, you at least know where to find one in less than five minutes. I bought my first flash drive in 2002, and I've never been without at least one ever since. We've left so many different storage devices behind—floppies, CDs, DVDs, and, to some extent, mechanical hard drives, but even in 2025, the flash drive is still plenty relevant.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Must-Have Milwaukee Tools for DIY Car Repairs

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 16:00

Whether you're an aspiring mechanic or prefer to do-it-yourself, having the right tools for the job makes all the difference in the world. A quick 30-minute auto repair can quickly turn into an hours-long process, which is why I've put together a list of Milwaukee tools perfect for at-home car repairs.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to add your personal movie and TV libraries to the Plex home screen

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 15:30

Can't find your personal media on the Plex home screen? The same thing happened to me after Plex rolled out its redesign, and although it took me a while to deal with the problem, it turns out that the fix is actually pretty straightforward.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The new Home Assistant hardware, Google's Visual Studio Code replacement, and more: News roundup

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 15:00

This was another busy week in tech news, with Home Assistant revealing a new adapter for Thread and Matter support, Google making its own Visual Studio Code competitor, AirDrop coming to Android phones, and much more. Here are the biggest stories you might have missed.

Categories: IT General, Technology

GRUB not detecting Windows: How to fix

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 14:30

If you recently set up a dual boot configuration with Windows and Linux, you might have run into the same problem I did: Windows not showing up as an option in the GRUB menu. I'll show you how I solved it (and the technical reason behind it).

Categories: IT General, Technology

I use these 3 Excel formulas to organize my daily life

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 14:15

Microsoft Excel isn't just for work. In fact, by leveraging just three single, powerful formulas, I use the popular spreadsheet software at home to track warranties, manage my budget, and ensure I never forget a birthday. Thanks to Excel, I've ditched my chaotic life for one that's highly organized.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Affordable twin-turbo V-6 sedan under $30k beats the new Camry in value

Sat, 11/22/2025 - 14:00

Forget the dull, sensible sedan — for under $30,000, you can step into a twin-turbo V-6 sedan that delivers far more excitement for the money. Once positioned as a premium performance model, it has now become one of the best-kept secrets on the used market, offering serious power and refinement at a price most shoppers wouldn’t expect.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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