How-To Geek

Popular AI tools such as Claude Code and Codex can write code from scratch. You don't always need to reinvent the wheel; you can also use these tools to change code that already exists. I've used AI coding assistants like Codex and ChatGPT on several occasions to fix open-source apps that don't do everything that I want.

Since it's near the end of summer, it feels right to watch some movies on Netflix U.S. The first movie takes place in the Amazon rainforest, where a group of people come face-to-face with an aggressive and gigantic snake.

The Linux world has no shortage of software. A new distribution drops every other week, and more and more developers are creating FOSS alternatives to popular proprietary apps. However, the same can’t be said about the Linux hardware space. Most of what we get are laptops that ship with Ubuntu preinstalled or iterative smartphones trying to replace Android—which, all things considered, is Linux.

Genesis unveiled its first full-size flagship SUV, the GV90, on Aug. 19 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. It's the production version of the Neolun concept the brand revealed in 2024. The forthcoming SUV comes in two variants, a standard GV90 and a Neolun version with doors that open and close on their own.

Over on Prime Video this week, a couple of interesting things are afoot. Season 4 of Alan Ritchson and his chiseled jaw are at the top of the TV chart with Reacher, and Masters of the Universe—which didn't come anywhere near recouping its $170 million budget in theaters—is enjoying the top spot on Prime's movie charts. Indeed, streaming is a great equalizer.

PivotTables are great for turning thousands of rows into useful summaries in Excel, but they're only as good as the data you give them. So before I build one, I take a few moments to prepare my source data using four simple functions.

When thinking of processors, what comes to your mind first? (Outside of a food processor, that is.)

Back in the early days of Android (circa the early 2010s), I decluttered my phones of redundant files with third-party storage-cleaning apps. At one point, I even used one of those infamous RAM cleaner apps, but I quickly realized the error of my ways and banished memory cleaners from my phone for good.

Windows 11 came with a number of refreshed default apps and a sleek new user interface, but it still leaves a lot to be desired. The basic media app often struggles with unusual formats or HDR content, the UI changes were not universally popular, it still lacks the ability to interact with some kinds of files effectively, and managing your installed apps is a messy nightmare.

If you own even a moderately modern car, you may not have a CD player in your vehicle at all, but that doesn't mean you can't find some way to enjoy your high quality audio collection on the road.

If you know a thing or two about power tool brands, you're probably well aware that Black+Decker is primarily aimed at at-home DIYers looking for affordable, easy-to-use power tools. On paper, I sound like the perfect customer, but I have some real regrets a year after buying my first cordless drill from the company.

Google Maps is one of those apps I use so often that I just assume I know everything it can do. I was wrong. When I started digging, I found some features that solve surprisingly common problems and make everyday journeys easier. Here are seven hidden gems worth knowing.

An aggravating amount of software today requires a sign-in to use, even if it doesn't require a subscription or license to use. Software that just used to install and work now has an extra step.

When I first planned out my home theater setup, I knew there was one thing I didn’t want: a bunch of wires running all over the room. Having fewer wires reduces the tripping hazard and the chance of them getting caught on something and pulling what they are connected to down.

Nothing beats the experience of unboxing a brand-new phone, removing the protective sheets, and turning it on for the first time while you're gliding all over it with your fingers to get a feel for the case's texture. After unboxing dozens of phones in my life, this still hasn't gotten old.

Everyone says Linux is technically complicated, intended for tech-savvy users who like to dwell in the terminal. However, as someone who has used Linux as my daily driver for 10 years and nudged plenty of friends and family toward it, I can tell you that reputation is a myth—at least on modern Linux desktops. To prove my point, I put my mother-in-law—a completely non-technical user—on Linux. And spoiler alert: it went better than her time on Windows ever did.

An old Kindle can do far more than you might imagine. The only thing holding it back is Amazon's locked-down software. By jailbreaking my Kindle, I was able to turn it into a useful second monitor in less than an hour.

If you're new to the world of cordless power tools, it can be rather confusing. There are brushless tools, older brushed motors, different voltages, battery capacities, different output types, and so many brands to choose from. Ryobi is popular with the DIY crowd, but you'll also hear people everywhere suggesting buying Milwaukee. And while there's a lot to consider in that decision, don't go by voltage alone.

While I don't have the built-in MSN Weather app on my Windows 11 PC (I deleted it ages ago), I decided to reinstall it to see whether those recent reports about the app using more than 1GB of memory on Windows 11 weren't overblown. And, well, I was indeed surprised, and not in a positive way.

After seeing several videos of drivers getting out of trouble because they had dashcam footage, I finally bought cameras for both my SUV and my wife's car. She drives about 15 miles each way to work, much of it on the highway, and I'm always thinking about how quickly a normal commute can turn into a mess if there's a crash or some other incident.