How-To Geek

Many of us have old phones shoved away in a box somewhere, and there are plenty of great ways to repurpose them. If you’ve been interested in getting into the home media server craze, you may be hesitant to buy a bunch of new hardware. What about that old Android phone?

Throughout the past year, I took a break from Linux to try and find a mobile platform that could fulfill the role of a desktop computer. First it was the BOOX Tab Ultra, an eReader. Then I moved onto the Moto Edge+ with Motorola's desktop mode, and later a Galaxy Z Fold 5 with DeX. Yet I'm back on Linux, and for good reason.

I recently purchased a TCL CM6K mini-LED TV, and I've been extremely happy with it. This is basically a regional variant of the excellent TCL QM6K, and as such it also comes with a built-in Google TV that serves as the operating system for the set.

When I decided to switch to Linux, I'd only ever used one OS: Windows. Admittedly, the differences between the two operating systems made the first few months of my switching experience challenging, but also interesting and exciting. Although Linux doesn't have an unbearably steep learning curve, it truly started making sense when I developed productivity-boosting workflows and stopped defaulting to habits I'd developed from years of using Windows.

This year, Isabela Merced topped IMDb's list of most popular stars, which ranks actors by the number of views their pages have had on the movie database website. She appeared in several high-profile productions this year, like The Last of Us and Superman, and is only going from strength to strength.

America’s most affordable family sedans are disappearing fast, and one of the last great bargains is on its way out. As automakers shift toward crossovers and EVs, the traditional midsize sedan has been pushed to the margins, and with it, the models that once offered roomy cabins, strong safety scores, and genuine value. Now, one of the segment’s final holdouts is being discontinued, making this a rare moment for buyers who still want comfort and practicality without an oversized footprint or an inflated price tag.

When Wear OS first launched as “Android Wear,” it had an awesome gesture that allowed you to navigate without touching the screen. The feature went away at some point, and I’ve missed it ever since. Google has finally brought it back, but it works a bit differently.

The early 2010s were a fascinating time for portable devices. Not only were smartphones advancing rapidly, but smartwatches were ushering in a new era of wearable technology. One company that was at the forefront of this movement was Sony.

After getting annoyed with having to switch between so many different remotes for my AV equipment, I ended up investing in a Logitech Harmony Hub and the Harmony Companion remote. I was able to replace all my existing remotes with just a single remote. Sadly, Logitech stopped making these products, and after mine broke, I was forced to find an alternative option.

When I decided to try a different Linux distro, I did what most people would do: I typed ‘the best Linux distros for beginners’ into my search bar. The AI overview and top ten organic search results recommended Ubuntu LTS, Linux Mint, Zorin OS, Pop!_OS, Elementary OS, and a few other Linux distros. I ran with Pop!_OS because it promised a fast, organized, intuitive, and modern UI, customizations, security, and hardware compatibility.

Do you have old tech sitting around your house unused? Well, it’s time to put that old Mac mini or Wii U to use and repurpose it as a network-attached storage server.

Excel's Format Painter button is seductive. It promises speed and efficiency, and for a quick fix on a handful of cells, it delivers. But once your workbook grows, the tool becomes frustrating, inefficient, and error-prone. That's why I use Find and Replace instead.

There are a ton of gaming-centric microphones on the market. However, you just don’t get the same level of recording quality that comes from a specialist audio brand that knows what it’s doing. And few brands in the world of microphones are as respected or as trusted as Shure.

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.