How-To Geek
Toyota refused to chase EVs like everyone else—and it won the long game
A lot of people owe Toyota an apology. For years, the Japanese automaker has faced criticism for refusing to fully embrace the “electric vehicle revolution.”
These low-power chips beat the ESP32 for battery life
The ESP32 is the go-to microcontroller for DIY projects, smart home sensors, and other lightweight projects, but it’s not the only game in town. If energy efficiency is high on your list of priorities, the nRF52 series might be a better choice.
Everything leaving Netflix in July 2026—what to watch before it's all gone
The calendar is about to flip again, and, like clockwork, Netflix is clearing house. As June succumbs to July, a big pile of movies and shows heads for the exits for U.S. subscribers, so consider this fair warning for any of them still collecting dust on your watchlist—time is ticking for you to watch them before they're gone.
Getting away from Google: 4 Apps that Change My Digital Life for the Better
I have been desperately trying to flee, or at least rely significantly less upon, the Google ecosystem for far too long. For research, reading, and communication, I've largely been able to ditch Google products. But AI overviews, rampant enshittification, and everything announced at Google I/O this year made me less than enthusiastic about staying with Google.
Your Excel regression is probably a mess—here's how Python fixes it
Excel and other spreadsheets are the workhorses of modern business. You've probably used the regression function to find a trend line or other linear relationship in your data. Here's why using Python on your data can turbocharge your regression analysis.
I made a custom t-shirt design with my 3D printer and an iron
PLA is the most common type of 3D printing filament. Its poor heat resistance is seen as a weakness by many, but there are some use cases where this is a real benefit. So what if you softened thin PLA prints enough to make your own t-shirt transfers at home?
Here's what happens when you force Windows to create a file in the Recycle Bin
The Recycle Bin has been a constant feature of Windows desktops for decades, and it is understandable that everyone thinks of it as "just another folder." However, it is actually much more interesting and more clever than that.
Synology DS225+ NAS review: A great NAS for beginners
Synology's latest 2-bay DS225+ NAS is a solid way to get started with network attached storage systems. It offers a streamlined and simple experience with an affordable-enough price for those who have never used a NAS before.
Stop paying $80,000 for a BMW SUV with less space—the X5 does everything better for less
BMW has built its reputation on blending luxury and performance better than almost anyone else. Whether you're looking at a sedan, coupe, or SUV, the brand consistently delivers vehicles that feel refined on long journeys while still offering enough athleticism to keep enthusiastic drivers entertained. Few automakers have mastered this balancing act quite as effectively.
3 stunning HBO Max documentaries to watch this weekend (June 12-14)
It's perhaps the biggest weekend of the year to be an HBO Max subscriber—House of the Dragon's third season debuts on Sunday, in what critics are already saying is poised to be its most explosive and brutal of them all. But before the Targaryens start barbecuing each other with their dragons, HBO Max's documentary library has some great stuff landing for this weekend.
3 Netflix shows with 100% scores you can binge in a weekend (June 19-21)
There’s a lot happening on Netflix for U.S. subscribers right now, with new shows and movies still being added as we head into the final stretch of June. And while you may have already hit paydirt with The Four Seasons or you’re waiting to see what the critics say about Harlan Coben’s I Will Find You that premiered yesterday (it looks awesome), sometimes you just want a sure thing—a show that’s dazzled critics with a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score.
The affordable sports car that combines Porsche handling and Lexus reliability
Performance cars are often associated with compromise. The sharper the handling and the greater the excitement behind the wheel, the more owners typically expect to spend on maintenance, repairs, and long-term upkeep. For enthusiasts shopping on a budget, finding something that delivers genuine driving thrills without becoming a financial burden can feel like an impossible task.
3 award-winning movies to watch on Netflix this weekend (June 19-21)
When it comes to award-winning films, Netflix is the gift that keeps giving. Whether it's originals or its monthly release schedule, the streaming giant will always have a passable collection of decorated films across genres, languages, and years.
Stop relying on your phone's call screening—this shortcut checks unknown numbers against real scam databases
When a call comes in from a number you don't recognize, it can be hard to know whether to answer or not. I missed several calls from my Dad, who was ringing to tell me he had a new number, because I assumed it was a spam call. I tried Apple's call screening features, but they felt too restrictive and meant that I missed important calls from genuine callers, so I decided to build a shortcut to check numbers while the call is still coming through.
Your phone's automatic backups are costing you hundreds—here's what I did instead
Cloud storage is as useful as it is seamless, at least these days. Most of us use some form of cloud storage; after all, those photos you take with your phone end up somewhere, and there's a reason why you can easily access them across many devices.
I tried using Excel to track my life for a week—and saw patterns I'd been missing
My phone is full of life-tracking apps, but it became increasingly apparent that they don't talk to each other. So, I decided to try logging my sleep, spending, routines, food, and work in Excel for a week to see whether consolidating everything would make the data easier to understand. By Sunday, patterns had started to emerge that I wasn't previously aware of.
I stopped recommending Amazon eero routers—here's what I suggest instead
It's always been hard to really stand behind any one brand when recommending a networking setup to friends or family—especially those without a ton of technology experience. UniFi has changed that though, and it's now the only network that I recommend to anyone who asks me.
3 deep-cut Paramount+ documentaries to watch this weekend (June 19-21)
Paramount+ is where many of us look for the loud, boisterous stuff—Sly Stallone running the Tulsa underworld, the latest Star Trek voyage, and, apparently, UFC fights at the White House. But quietly tucked away behind Taylor Sheridan's cowboy hat sits an excellent documentary library that's easy to scroll right past.
iPhone's new Gemini experience puts Google's own Pixel phone to shame
Google has dominated smartphone AI for years, with Assistant and Gemini having pulled well ahead of Siri. Well, Apple just upended this narrative with the introduction of Siri AI in iOS 27.The new assistant uses Gemini as a teacher, but has customizations that make it do things Android users have wanted for years
I got fed up with OneDrive, so I replaced it with something better
OneDrive is integrated into every corner of Windows 10 and Windows 11, and it seems very likely that integration will only increase as Microsoft pushes more and more cloud features into Windows. If you want to get rid of OneDrive but don't want to give up the convenience of a cloud service app on your desktop, you have options.


