How-To Geek

Let's face it: now is not exactly a great time to shop for PC upgrades. With the RAM-pocalypse in full swing, it's not just RAM that's getting pricey—many components are. Those who were hoping to score a thrilling piece of tech this holiday season are in for a disappointment.

When I first heard about AutoMix and saw tech bloggers posting about it on social media, I was excited to try the new feature. I’ve had Crossfade enabled since it was introduced and thought AutoMix would be a great way to enjoy my playlists—especially those with a variety of genres.

Raspberry Pis have been popular for small self-hosting jobs and tinkerers for years, and it is pretty common to have a few old ones forgotten in a drawer somewhere. Here are a few great ways to put those old Raspberry Pis to use.

Apple does a great job of keeping older iPads up to date. However, just because an iPad is compatible with the latest version of iPadOS doesn’t mean you’ll get every feature it offers. Here are four features you won’t get if you don’t have one of the newer iPad models.

When it comes to podcast streaming, Apple and Spotify both have their own unique offerings for listeners. But Apple Podcasts is not for everyone, as the app can feel very challenging to use at times, given its organization and categorization.

It might be hard to imagine now, but not too long ago the idea of free software with source code that anyone can modify wasn't one with much enthusiasm behind it. How could that be safe? What about support? Could you trust mission-critical stuff to this software?

Are you like me and type thousands of words per day on your keyboard? Is the keyboard that you’re using one of those cheap membrane-style ones? Here’s why you should stop using a membrane keyboard if you type all day and switch to mechanical.

Webcams in laptops aren’t great, and even external webcams struggle unless you pay for a high-end model. Before you look for an upgrade, think about the much better camera that’s already in your pocket. You can turn your Android phone into a high-definition webcam with shocking ease.

Enshittification is an inescapable fact of life. Apps and services that were once good fall foul of the constant need to maximize shareholder profits, which comes at the cost of user experience. Very few apps escape the march of enshittification, but there are some that have gotten significantly worse this year.

I love making my own 3D models and 3D printing them at home. The problem with making my own models is that I can go through several, or even dozens, of prototypes before getting to the final product.

Car ownership and maintenance can be expensive, and there's nothing worse than firing up your vehicle and seeing the dreaded check engine light. I've been in that situation, and fortunately, this affordable little device told me what was wrong, saving me an expensive trip to the dealership.

Notifications are one of the most useful tools in Home Assistant. You can use notifications to alert you that motion has been detected at your front door, that your washing machine has finished running, or that the battery needs changing on one of your smart home devices. Notifications can do so much more than just send you messages, however.

If you're looking to start using YouTube Music or are a loyal user who wants to improve your music experience on the streaming platform, you may want to tweak a few essential settings that can transform your streaming.

Winter isn’t exactly prime time for roadster fun—you’ll spend more time bundling up than enjoying the breeze. But that’s also when smart buyers can score a deal, since prices drop when demand cools.

If you own a large collection of physical media, be it movies, TV shows, games, or music, you've probably made at least a few double purchases. Or, maybe you've missed out buying something rare because you assumed it was already in your collection. There’s an easy way to solve this problem: make a list of your stuff.

When's the last time you visited Google Earth? It's not exactly as popular as Google Maps when it comes to exploring our planet, and most people who do visit the site probably just spin the globe a few times and move on to something else. However, there are quite a few very cool features—such as Voyager.

Occasionally rebooting your router and modem is pretty normal, and some routers even have a reboot schedule function that can take care of this for you. Though problematic network equipment should be replaced, adding a smart plug to your setup can save you effort and even automate the entire process.

There are certain movies that people consider to be Christmas classics that are wheeled out every year for nostalgic enjoyment. Chances are, Elf and Home Alone make that list for you. I'm not here to tell you those are bad movies by any means—certainly the adventures of Buddy and Kevin have their place. However, I am here to tell you to give another movie a try this festive season. One that is simultaneously funnier and darker and does a much better job at capturing the Christmas spirit.

Ryobi makes hundreds of 18V tools in various options, but when you need a little more power or longevity, you'll want to reach for one of its bigger 40V tools. Sometimes it's hard to know what the right tool is for any given job, but if it's a bigger task, there's a good chance you'll benefit from going with a Ryobi 40V over smaller models. Here are a few of my favorites.

This was another busy week in tech, with a major update for Visual Studio Code rolling out, Amazon changing its DRM for Kindle books, changes to Plex servers, and much more. Here are the biggest stories you might have missed.