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: 11 min 19 sec ago

Beloved Hulu hockey TV show renewed for season 6

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 20:40

With hockey TV shows taking over pop culture, Hulu is bringing back one of its staples for another season.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This 3-year-old sedan proves Lexus is still the king of reliability

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 20:30

In a market where long-term dependability matters just as much as comfort and refinement, one three-year-old sedan quietly proves that Lexus still sets the standard for reliability. While many competitors chase flashy tech or aggressive styling, this model continues to deliver the kind of trouble-free ownership that has made the brand a favorite among drivers who want peace of mind as much as prestige.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Sony returns to vinyl with two new Bluetooth wireless decks

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 20:14

Sony is jumping back into the vinyl game for the first time since 2019 with the introduction of two new Bluetooth-enabled turntables. The PS-LX3BT and the PS-LX5BT make the analog experience much more accessible by baking in modern wireless audio technology.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why your iPhone apps keep uninstalling themselves (and what to do about it)

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 20:00

Ever unlocked your iPhone and wondered where a specific app went? Seeing apps disappear can raise alarms and make you feel suspicious. The truth is, your iPhone removes apps intentionally. But why does this happen? Let’s explore the common reasons behind it and what you can do to prevent it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop ignoring the USB port on your router (It's better than you think)

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 19:31

Yes, it's a USB port. Let's get that out of the way right off the bat, as if the big picture of a USB port on a router above wasn't enough to tip you off. In case you've never noticed, or thought to use it, if your router has a USB port on it there's a good chance you can actually use that router as a basic NAS.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Homelab projects to try this weekend (January 23 - 25)

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 19:00

It’s that time of the week again, the time when I showcase three pieces of homelab software for you to try out over the weekend. Today, I’m taking a look at both advanced and simple projects, from running a PXE server to playing retro games in your browser. Here are three homelab projects to try before Monday comes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Asana is down right now, it's not just you

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 18:59

It's not just you: the task management platform Asana is currently having an outage. It's affecting both the website and mobile apps, at least for some people.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Generate realistic test data in Python fast. No dataset required

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 16:01

Sometimes I want to test out Python statistical libraries, but I can't find any datasets. Fortunately, it's easy to get around that by generating some of my own. Here's how I do it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Here's every 2026 Oscar best picture nominee and where to stream them

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 15:30

After months of predictions, the nominations for the 2026 Oscars are live. While the true cinephiles will scour the list looking for snubs, the biggest headlines will come from the Best Picture category. Winning Best Picture is cinema’s version of the Super Bowl. It’s the most sought-after prize in cinema, and one of these 10 films will take it home on March 15, 2026. For now, catch up on the movies you missed and find out how to stream all 10 Best Picture nominees. Some of the streaming services you'll need to watch these movies include Netflix, HBO Max, and Peacock.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Here's how I debug my Home Assistant automations

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 15:00

Sometimes, you can create an automation in Home Assistant, and it will work perfectly the first time. Sadly, this isn't always the case. If your automation isn't working as expected, you may be able to find the problem faster using traces.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Spotify is letting you control the algorithm with new Prompted Playlists

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 15:00

It’s common knowledge that many apps use algorithms these days. However, years before “For You” timelines, Spotify subscribers were already complaining about the algorithm. Well, the music service is finally giving you the keys to its recommendation engine with Prompted Playlists.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How GNOME has evolved in 26 years

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 14:30

While most desktop environments (DEs) evolve gradually, GNOME prefers dramatic revolutions. I tested all the major GNOME releases over the last weekend, and it was a journey through radical redesigns and shifting ideas about computing paradigms. Here's how it evolved over the last 27 years.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 annoying Google Photos features you can turn off

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 14:15

Google Photos is one of my most-used apps, but I have to admit I don’t love everything about it. When an app tries to do as much as Google Photos does, there’s bound to be things that annoy you. Thankfully, most of these things can be simply disabled.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 free Windows 11 apps for a "keyboard-first" workflow

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 14:00

I spend the better part of most days working on a computer. Writing, editing, managing files, jumping between apps, it all adds up fast. When your day lives inside Windows 11, even small bits of friction start to feel expensive. Every extra click, every manual resize, every time you retype the same thing slows you down more than you realize.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why VLC Media Player is the ultimate Swiss Army knife for your media

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 13:30

Most people know VLC as the orange-cone app that plays everything. But, did you know that VLC media player is a Swiss Army knife for media? Here is why.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Creating drop-downs from table headers in Excel seems impossible—but this trick fixes it

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 12:30

You've built a perfect Excel table, but the moment you try to use its headers in a drop-down menu, everything breaks. Excel's Data Validation is notoriously picky with tables, but there's a clever workaround. So, stop hard-coding your menus and use this dynamic sync instead.

Categories: IT General, Technology

In 20 Years, 0–60 times won’t define sports cars—here’s what will

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 00:00

Automakers have been chasing speed and power for over 100 years. When developing a new sports car, these aspects are the benchmarks for success. Auto engineers try to achieve this feat by increasing power, reducing weight, and using just about every other trick in the book to improve a new model’s performance. Today, cars are reaching performance levels that are at the limits of what most humans can handle.

Categories: IT General, Technology

My old PC can't run Windows 11, so I'm using it for this instead

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 23:00

Whether you've had an old PC sitting in a closet collecting dust, or your old Windows 10 PC recently became a relic thanks to Windows 11's hardware requirements, one of the best ways you can put it to work is a Home Assistant server.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don't throw away your old Apple TV: 5 ways to give it a second life

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 22:31

Your Apple TV is likely the last device you upgrade regularly. In recent years, updates have primarily focused on faster chips and a redesigned Siri Remote, which remains compatible with older models.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Windows Notepad is now a better Markdown text editor

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 22:21

Notepad was overhauled with a modern interface and new features alongside Windows 11, and Microsoft has continued updating it. Now, the text editor is getting even more Markdown editing features and a few other changes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

eXTReMe Tracker