How-To Geek

Gmail is arguably the most ubiquitous email service used by the majority of us, including me. It's simply because of the convenience it brings to the table—one Gmail ID for everything from email, YouTube, Maps, Drive, and every other Google product we rely on in our day-to-day life.

My Pixel used to run hot every time I plugged it in—so much that I'd pull it off the charger mid-session. Surprisingly, simply swapping the cable fixed it completely, and the reason why says a lot about how charging actually works.

Having access to a 3D printer can, at times, cloud your judgment. You start to think in terms of printing your way out of a problem, which can mean overlooking easier and more economical options.

During the early days of Android, even flagship phones were fully plastic. But then manufacturers started introducing metal backs and frames, with HTC leading the pack. I remember that even my budget-focused HTC One V had a body mostly made of metal, while HTC's premium offerings, like the legendary HTC One, had premium aluminum unibodies, with metal being the preferred material for Apple as well back then.

There are two things that get a homelabber's pulse going. The first is a pile of thrown-out server gear that still works, but no one wants it because it's obsolete for data centers and professional server rooms.

It's the end of the month, meaning many movies will be leaving Netflix U.S. Thankfully, these three thrillers will remain on the service throughout September. Our first movie is one of David Fincher's most controversial films of the last 20 years. I happen to think it's one of his best.

When your day is packed, getting from one place to another can become a task in itself. Whether I'm heading out for a day of leisure or working my way through a long to-do list, Google Maps often ends up doing more than just giving me directions.

Milwaukee makes dozens of excellent power tools, and you probably own a few of its most popular, big, powerful models. But did you know the company also makes some tiny yet incredibly versatile and useful tools? Whether you're low on space, looking for something unique, or just don't want big tools, here are some small Milwaukee tools that produce big results.

Moving files in Windows feels like it should be a solved problem by now, and for small stuff it mostly is. The trouble starts when you're shifting hundreds of gigabytes and can't afford to mess up. At that scale, Windows Explorer is not the best tool around. One issue could ruin your whole transfer, and sometimes you may not know it. I lost a handful of videos once because I trusted the process and deleted the originals. TeraCopy is an old app that makes sure I never make that mistake again.

DDR5 RAM has been in short supply since the beginning of the year, and there's little sign of that changing anytime soon. As a result, first-time PC builders have been turning to older and more affordable but still relevant DDR4 platforms. The problem? DDR4 isn't exactly cheap anymore either. A budget 16GB 3200MHz kit currently costs around $120, while 32GB can set you back around $210 (for reference, I paid $93 for 32GB 6000MHz DDR5).

I love Niagara Launcher and the work that the team has put into making a beautifully minimalist Android home screen—but I would love it even more if it were open source. That’s why, a few times a year, I search for an alternative, and Escape Launcher is my favorite one yet.

Windows wins on convenience for most people, but a few everyday tasks remain genuinely simpler on Linux. Updating software, handling drivers, and diagnosing problems all lean in Linux's favor, thanks to design choices built into the system from the start.

Ryobi is a popular choice for DIYers and homeowners due to its large selection of 18V cordless power tools, but that's not all the company offers. Ryobi batteries can power a lot more than just tools, and the brand also makes some pretty great hand tools you'll love having around the house.

The best thing about Linux is that it respects its users. It does exactly what you tell it to do. Want to kill a program? Send the kill command and it'll be terminated without warning. However, the worst part about Linux is also that it does exactly what you tell it to do. Here's what I mean.

GitHub hosts an enormous amount of genuinely great free and open-source software. But as an interface for discovering and installing apps, it's one of the worst experiences out there. There's no browsing by category, no install button, and half the time the README assumes you already know what a build toolchain is. I got tired of it, so I used Claude to build myself a workaround—an app-store-like layer that sits on top of GitHub.

Most smart TVs you buy nowadays ship with Google TV software, which is basically a forked version of Android TV OS. Google TV promises to bring a content-first layout, powered by AI. The term "content-first" comes with a caveat. As soon as you switch on your TV, you’re presented with a big promotional banner, which is basically a show or movie in your region pushed to you. Following this banner are your apps and an endless list of recommendations from Google TV to watch, which can be overwhelming most of the time.

If you're still happy with your 3D printer, there's no reason to stop using it. However, if it's been a long time since you bought your machine, you might not be aware that the floor has been raised considerably.

Android Auto is quite literally the same Android that’s on your phone, but it doesn’t have the same level of customization. There are no alternate home screen launchers or icon packs. However, one thing you can do is move the taskbar—though the option is not easy to find.

There's an absurd number of Windows keyboard shortcuts for mastering system navigation, beyond the simple Ctrl + C/V/X for copying, pasting, and cutting. Some I use regularly include Win + I for opening Settings, Ctrl + K for inserting hyperlinks into text, and Win + Shift + S for opening Snipping Tool for all my screen capture and annotation needs.

Plex is probably the easiest way to get started with building your own media server, but even if you choose to upgrade to Plex Pass, it still doesn't give you everything you might want. Fortunately, there are some third-party apps that can fill in the gaps. I keep my setup fairly lean and built around three main add-ons for detailed stats, different ways to stream and download, and adding a request service.