How-To Geek

Syndicate content
We explain technology. Learn more with our articles, reviews, tips, and the best answers to your most pressing tech questions.
Updated: 5 min 23 sec ago

A water leak sensor isn’t enough, protect your home properly with this upgrade

36 min 50 sec ago

Water leak sensors are the smart home upgrade for everyone. Whether you live in a house or apartment, own or rent, these tiny devices can save you money and hassle.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 overlooked open-source apps that became essential to my workflow

1 hour 6 min ago

In my daily life, I like to take things slow. I take my time, weigh the pros and cons of various decisions, and stop to smell the roses whenever possible (despite being allergic to them). But when it comes to working or doing projects, I like to be efficient. I use shortcuts, custom key bindings, self-hosting, and many other tools that improve my workflow. Here are 6 applications that make my workflow run extremely well.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 little-known Excel features to try this weekend (July 17-19)

13 hours 36 min ago

Most of us use the same handful of Excel commands every day, overlooking features designed to make our spreadsheets easier to manage. This weekend, explore five hidden gems that can change the way you work with Excel.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 intriguing HBO Max documentaries to watch this weekend (July 17-19)

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 23:00

If you're in the market for a documentary this weekend to throw a bit of realism and fascination in between all the fire-breathing that HBO Max has been focused on for the last few weeks, then you've come to the right place. Not only has the prestige streamer's new Top 10 four-part Burning Man series, The Man Will Burn, continued to air its weekly episodes (episode 2 is now streaing), but this weekend has a couple of new additions in store, too.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 exciting Netflix shows to binge this weekend—one brand new (July 17-19)

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 22:30

With the World Cup wrapping up this weekend, we're about to have a lot of sports fans staring into their pints looking for the next thrill. Netflix might just have a few things that can help, for U.S. subscribers, including a new season of the docuseries Quarterback (read about it in this weekend's documentary roundup), and my top pick this weekend, a hilarious new golf series starring Will Ferrell (more below).

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 5 Unix ideas from the 1970s are why Linux still works so well

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 22:00

While people think of Linux as a modern operating system, it embodies ideas that are more than 50 years old. Here are some of the oldest ideas and why they stick around in modern Linux distros.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The coolest enthusiast EV on the market is about to get a $6,300 price cut

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 21:45

Even the sportiest of EVs have struggled to really garner the praise of driving enthusiasts. Creating an electric car that feels fun to drive has proven to be one of the biggest challenges that modern automakers have had to face. One slightly surprising brand has, however, seemingly cracked the code. The Ioniq 5 N is undoubtedly one of the most entertaining cars on the market, electric or not.

Categories: IT General, Technology

My local LLM struggles with big questions—here's what it's actually good at

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 21:30

When I first installed a local LLM, I expected to use it the same way that I'd been using ChatGPT. It soon became apparent that on my modest hardware, this wasn't going to work. By changing the way I use my local LLMs, they've become much more useful.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 award-winning movies to watch on Netflix this weekend(July 17-19)

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 21:00

Awards don't always mean a great movie or a streaming session worth sitting through, but they do make narrowing down Netflix's extensive catalog a little easier, especially when you are getting overwhelmed by new releases that flood your home page recommendations.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The new SUV that finally gets the adventure formula right

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 20:00

Finding the right SUV can feel impossible. There are fuel-efficient hybrids, massive family haulers, and serious off-roaders, but most buyers want something that can handle everyday life and still escape the pavement when needed.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 uncomfortable truths about Home Assistant

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 19:52

Home Assistant is, in my opinion, the best smart home software available. It's free, open-source, privacy-focused, works with a huge number of devices, and can make your smart home do almost anything you can think of. Despite all that, Home Assistant definitely has its faor share of problems.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 thrilling Prime Video shows to watch this weekend (July 17-19)

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 19:45

With most of Amazon Prime Video’s July TV show highlights having already dropped, aside from the new season of Batman: Caped Crusader, now is the perfect time to indulge in series that will bring on some summertime thrills. Whether they're psychological, science fiction, or full of action, the streamer has plenty to offer in that vein.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How I saved my overflowing NAS without buying a single new hard drive

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 19:30

A NAS is a great way to host a few services and back up your files, but you shouldn't rely on one device to protect you against file loss. I have two separate NASes on my network that do two very different things: One serves as a daily driver, the other is "cold storage" that only receives periodic backups.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How a $300 phone became the most highly coveted Android device of 2014

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 19:28

Back in the day, Android phones were a lot more daring. Companies experimented with all kinds of wild designs, features, and even pricing. Among all the phones that tried to stand out over the past decade, one captured the enthusiast fanbase like no other: the coveted OnePlus One.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 juicy Paramount+ documentaries to watch this weekend (July 17-19)

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 19:00

If you've already binged your way through Paramount+'s fantastic new docuseries The Real Wolf of Wall Street that we included in last week's roundup, then now is the perfect time to take a dive into the streamer's vault as we unearth some juicy and controversial shows from not too long ago that still make for compelling weekend viewing.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 Raspberry Pi projects that make Home Assistant more useful this weekend (July 17 - 19)

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 18:45

It's time for more Raspberry Pi projects! This weekend, however, I'm going to be showing you three unique ways to use your Raspberry Pi with Home Assistant.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I stopped comparing mesh router specs after learning they all use the same hardware

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 18:30

There are a lot of different mesh router brands, models, and designs. So much so, that it can be daunting to step into the world of mesh routers for the first time.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Android 17 quietly fixed the multitasking annoyance that's bugged me for years

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 18:15

There's no denying that Android 17 is light on new features, with the biggest one—the ability to create your own widgets—not even being present at launch. While I'm disappointed that I can't create custom widgets for the time being (the feature should arrive in a future update), there's another Android 17 feature that caught my eye.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 thrilling new Netflix documentaries to watch this weekend (July 17-19)

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 18:00

Somehow it's 2026, and Little House on the Prairie is the most-watched show in America, adding a whole lotta wholesome to Netflix’s summer. But its documentary side just got a shot of adrenaline.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Ausom’s Soccer Season Sale offers great discounts on its e-scooters

Fri, 07/17/2026 - 17:53

Getting to your next summer event can be economical, fun, and more affordable — and Ausom proves that with some unbeatable deals on its top e-scooters. And right now, along with the best discounts of the year, you’ll get an extra $50 off with code: HTG50. There are multiple models available to fit a wide range of budgets and needs.

Categories: IT General, Technology

eXTReMe Tracker