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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 min 6 sec ago

Forget Mercedes-Benz—This affordable Korean Hybrid SUV feels surprisingly luxurious

2 min 59 sec ago

Luxury SUVs have become incredibly expensive, with many premium hybrid crossovers now pushing well beyond the $60,000 mark before options. That rising cost has made mainstream alternatives far more appealing, especially as affordable brands continue improving interior quality, ride comfort, and in-car technology. Buyers no longer need a luxury badge to get features like leather upholstery, premium sound systems, massive digital displays, and a genuinely refined driving experience.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your Fire TV Stick has a developer menu that unlocks features Amazon doesn't advertise

18 min 1 sec ago

The Amazon Fire TV Stick is in an odd spot in the streaming market; it's both very accessible and very restricted for a smart device. However, for many years, there has been a conflict between Amazon and its users. The issue is that it isn't transparent or free enough; its default interface hides important performance information and deliberately limits adding third-party apps. There is a hidden developer menu that lets you get more out of the device.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google's 15GB free storage now comes with a catch: your phone number

18 min 9 sec ago

Google has offered 15GB of free storage with its accounts for years, but there can now be some strings attached to claiming the full amount. Users have noticed that some new account holders have to link their phone number to get the expected storage. Otherwise, they're capped at just 5GB.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Home Depot slashes RIDGID tool prices ahead of new lineup launch this summer

28 min 38 sec ago

Are you looking to buy some new cordless power tools for DIY projects this spring and summer? If so, we have some deals you don't want to miss. I'm talking about three RIDGID battery packs, all for only $100, or huge 10-tool combo kits at a massive 50% discount.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This EV is finally for people who hate electric cars

1 hour 2 min ago

I’ve driven a lot of EVs lately, and many of them seem obsessed with feeling futuristic at all costs. Some are great tech showcases, but not all of them are particularly easy to live with day to day.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 "free" streaming services that quietly added fees (and what to use instead)

1 hour 18 min ago

The cost of streaming service subscriptions continues to rise. Even services that used to offer free content are moving it behind paywalls. Here are some once-free streaming services that have added fees, removed free tiers, or just made free viewing harder, and some alternative options you can use instead.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The SuperDisk was a better floppy, but the world didn't want a better floppy

1 hour 33 min ago

The humble floppy disk in its various incarnations ruled the computer world for a long time. Too long, as it turns out. Eventually, the tiny capacity of floppy disks was a mismatch for growing hard drives and ballooning file sizes, so something new was needed.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Honda plans 15 new hybrid cars by 2030, including the next Civic and RDX

1 hour 34 min ago

Honda is responding to its collapsed EV plans by refocusing on hybrids, with 15 new models planned by March 2030. It's concentrating on North America, and previewed what are likely to be next-generation Civic and Acura RDX hybrids.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Sideloaded Android apps can now auto-update like Play Store apps (here's how)

2 hours 3 min ago

One annoying thing about installing apps from outside the Google Play Store is that they don't auto-update. It's a pain to download a new APK and reinstall it to get the updated version every time. Let me show you two ways to automatically update those apps.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Emmy-nominated Hulu series was canceled far too soon—and fans were rightfully furious

2 hours 47 min ago

When it comes to streaming services that I grew familiar with as I aged, one of them was Hulu. For years, I would visit this website to watch amazing dramas and interesting comedies and, most of the time, to catch up on the TV shows I had been watching throughout the week.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 things I wish I knew before building a UniFi network

3 hours 2 min ago

UniFi’s networking capabilities have no rival in the consumer or prosumer market. The system is relatively easy to use, extremely powerful and capable, and the platform has more fanboys than Marvel it seems. But, after setting up my home UniFi network, here are the four things I wish I knew before I got started.

Categories: IT General, Technology

What’s the deal with the Open Home Foundation, owners of Home Assistant?

3 hours 18 min ago

If you use Home Assistant, ESPHome, or any number of similar projects, you might have heard of the Open Home Foundation. What you might not realize is just how important this entity is to safeguarding the projects you depend on.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Audi's Q9 challenges the Mercedes GLS with 4D audio and a digital cabin for 10K less

3 hours 32 min ago

The arrival of the 2027 Audi Q9 is getting closer, the German manufacturer's new flagship that seats up to seven. While Audi has shared glimpses of the camouflaged exterior for a while now, the automaker has officially opened the doors of the Q9 to provide a first look at the interior ahead of its full reveal on July 28th.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 more homelab projects to try this weekend (May 15 - 17)

3 hours 47 min ago

Are you ready for another set of weekend homelab project ideas? This weekend, I'm showing you a few things that I wish I had done sooner in my homelab, including setting up a Wi-Fi heatmap, building a drive health dashboard, and spinning up an uptime monitor.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your next laptop's RAM might be upgradeable after all

4 hours 3 min ago

In the past few years, buying a new laptop usually meant choosing between a thin-and-light model with soldered memory or a slightly thicker one that still used upgradeable SO-DIMM RAM. As someone who wants the lightest device possible but also values long-term upgradability, that trade-off always felt like a massive compromise.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop building your life around Claude and ChatGPT—make them build something you actually own

5 hours 33 min ago

AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Claude are incredibly useful tools that allow you to set up custom projects or dedicated tools to perform specific tasks. Becoming reliant on a single service to access your tools is far from ideal, but there is another option.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 things n8n can automate that Home Assistant can't do alone

5 hours 48 min ago

Using Home Assistant, you can create powerful automations for your smart home that can do far more than proprietary systems such as Alexa. There are some automations, however, where Home Assistant may need a little help. The n8n workflow automation platform can make your automations even more powerful.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Wi-Fi dead zone hiding right next to your router

6 hours 3 min ago

We've all been there. The Wi-Fi acts up, a video call freezes, a download stalls, and the first instinct is to grab the laptop and move closer to the router. It feels logical, right? Closer to the source equals stronger signal equals better internet. Problem solved.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I found the easiest way to encrypt files on Android (it takes just 30 seconds)

6 hours 17 min ago

Androids have become fortresses that can stop threats and protect data when powered off. However, they haven't consistently given us the ability to easily and quickly lock down a single, sensitive file, which would make it as secure as possible. It's strange when you think about it, since it's a very old feature that should be possible without any tricks. Luckily, there is a straightforward solution to client-side file protection. You just have to look outside the apps you are given.

Categories: IT General, Technology

A "signal light" is what my Home Assistant smart home was missing all along

6 hours 48 min ago

It can be hard to convey information in your smart home in an effective yet subtle manner. Mobile notifications work well for some things, but they can be easy to miss, and most of us receive too many of them anyway.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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