How-To Geek
3 cool Linux apps to try this weekend (December 12 - 14)
If you ever wish that reading the system logs, optimizing music metadata, and checking battery health were easier on Linux, I've got recommendations. With your spare time this weekend, you may find an app that makes your Linux PC just a little bit more powerful.
3 Paramount+ shows everyone should try this weekend (December 12 - 14)
This weekend on Paramount+ I've decided to mix together three totally different genres in the hopes that at least one of them will spark your interest for a good weekend binge.
3 free Windows tools that help me fix tough PC problems
If something breaks on a Windows PC in my family or circle of friends, I am usually the one who gets the call. Over the years I have become the default tech support guy, and that means I spend a lot of time hunting down strange errors, slowdowns, and the kind of odd behavior that rarely shows up in Microsoft’s help docs. I have written before about the tools I rely on to fix Windows, including a few standouts from the Sysinternals Suite that have saved me more times than I can count.
3 Prime Video shows to binge this weekend (December 12 - 14)
I love the array of fresh available content on Amazon Prime Video. This week, I bring you some personally verified gems in a very witty historical comedy, a modern-day dramedy set in Bristol, and one of television’s most bingeable psychological thrillers of this century—you know, the kind that creates the obsession where you’d rather finish a season than stop to sleep.
Google once had the perfect way to follow the web—then it vanished
One usually visits a graveyard or cemetery to pay your respects, but also to remember the good times before you lost something special. That's me visiting the Google graveyard of dead products and services. When it's time to lay some flowers at the headstone of Google Reader, all I can remember is that the web used to be a much better place.
3 great shows to watch on Netflix this weekend (December 12 - 14)
As we speed through December and the weather outside is frightful (for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere), now is the perfect time to hunker down and watch some quality entertainment on Netflix.
6 formatting tips I wish I knew when I started using Excel
When I started using Microsoft Excel, my spreadsheets were a mess, and I wasted hours trying to make them look professional. If you're struggling with manual formatting, these six simple tips are the shortcuts I wish I had known from day one to clean up my data faster.
This $69 mechanical keyboard has features that usually cost $200
If you want the most satisfying typing experience and a decent gaming keyboard, you should opt for a mechanical.
Gas engines are making a comeback—and not just in America
As governments keep rethinking their rules around vehicle emissions, buyers are rethinking what they want to drive.
3 ways I use Notion to make my life easier
Notion has become integral to my daily workflow. During the week, there’s not a day that goes by where I’m not in Notion for at least a few hours, if not most of the workday. Here’s how Notion makes both my personal and professional life so much easier.
This storage tech was supposed to be the future—here is why it failed
A little over a decade ago, SSDs began to drop in price, making them a viable storage option for consumer PCs and offering significantly faster performance than traditional HDDs.
Why I stopped using a Raspberry Pi for self-hosting
Raspberry Pis are iconic devices among home labbers, self-hosting enthusiasts, and tinkerers alike. While they can be used for self-hosting services, I've stopped using them for that purpose only completely and moved my projects to a mini PC instead. Here's why.
Why your Home Assistant automations feel slow (and how to speed them up)
Sluggish automations can make your smart home feel unresponsive, which can ruin the user experience. Diagnosing the issue can be difficult, since there are so many variables you have to consider. Here are some things you should start with when trying to find the cause of your issues.
These 5 Lexus SUVs are ultra reliable and less than 5 years old
Lexus has built its reputation on long-term dependability, and the brand’s recent SUVs are some of the strongest examples of that legacy. In a market where new-car prices routinely exceed $50,000, finding a nearly new luxury SUV that you can trust for the long haul has never mattered more.
This hilarious new Netflix mini-series is the perfect Christmas watch
Christmas is the time of year when all the best holiday TV specials and movies are released, and this season is no different. Rowan Atkinson’s hotly anticipated comedy miniseries is finally out, making it the perfect time to settle on the couch and enjoy it with the family.
Obsidian 1.11.0 brings markdown links to properties and safer renaming
Obsidian 1.11.0 Early Access is officially rolling out. It completely changes how you access your notes on the go, thanks to a massive focus on widgets and deep system integration across both iOS and Android. There are also many upgrades for desktop users.
If you haven't streamed these 4 new Christmas movies, you're missing out
We all love the Christmas classics like Elf and Home Alone, but it's also worth checking out some new festive treats. JustWatch analyzed the Christmas movies that were released this year to see which are the most popular, and these are the results.
How to repurpose an old Samsung phone as a smart home sensor
Sensors are one of the most underrated parts of a great smart home. You can use them to measure temperature, humidity, presence, and so much more. But what if you didn’t have to buy anything? I used an old Samsung Galaxy phone as a sensor, and it’s surprisingly easy.
The dream of the Xperia Play lives on with this new slider phone
Retro gaming is pretty popular these days, with fans everywhere buying handheld consoles or gaming phones. But what if someone combined the two? After months of teasers, the popular gaming handheld manufacturer AYANEO just unveiled the all-new Pocket Play. A sliding Android phone with physical controls reminiscent of the Sony Xperia Play.
You need to know the difference between a range and an array in Excel
Whether you're interviewing for an Excel-related job or teaching a beginner, using the right terminology is crucial. Above all else, knowing the difference between a range and an array is the key to understanding how Excel processes data, giving you better insight into modern dynamic functions.


