How-To Geek
Google apps are getting better weather forecasts
Google's WeatherNext 2 is here, and it's not just some advanced AI model to help with Gemini. It is designed to give faster and much more detailed global weather predictions. This should fundamentally change how Google generates forecasts, making them smarter, quicker, and more useful.
Apple Watch Sleep Tracking: Lagging Behind the Competition?
The Apple Watch has offered sleep tracking since 2020, and since then, it has been updated with new visuals and features. Each update has provided more insight into your sleep patterns and overall performance.
This tiny portable SSD has USB-C and USB-A connectors
Even though we're over a decade into the USB Type-C era, there are still many desktops, laptops, and other electronics without the port. Thankfully, SanDisk has a new portable SSD with both Type-A and Type-C ports, making it easy to move files across all your devices.
Another airline gets free, high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi
Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet provider, is appearing everywhere in homes, on RVs, boats, and even airplanes. While we've seen some airlines, like United, add Starlink to select planes, this week another major airline announced that it'll be outfitting its entire fleet with super high-speed internet, starting later this month.
7 simple tweaks to reduce CPU usage on Windows
If you've noticed high CPU usage on your Windows desktop or laptop, you’ve come to the right place. Unless you’re running a demanding application, high CPU usage usually means something is using more processing power than it should, causing your computer to feel slow or unresponsive.
Firefox just upgraded its tab groups
Firefox just rolled out some upgrades to its Tab Groups feature to make browser organization far more useful. This is the kind of thing you would normally see from Google Chrome, so it's now something you wouldn't miss if you switched to Firefox from Chrome.
I replaced Google Photos with a cheap NAS and I'm not going back
Are you tired of giving Google tons of your hard-earned money while also giving them the ability to mine your information and photos? Kicking Google Photos to the curb and picking up a cheap NAS is definitely the right way to go if that describes you.
These are the only 3 Linux distros I recommend to newcomers
Are you tired of Linux distros that try to hide all the technicalities and simplify everything? Do you want distributions to let you optimize, configure, and push your system to its limits? Well, here are four distros built for all you power users who enjoy tweaking their machines!
These Chromebook features make reading and writing easier with AI
Did you know that your Chromebook has both reading and writing help built-in? Help me read and Help me write are two AI-based functions that come baked into Google’s Chromebook Plus lineup.
Four fun ways to light up your home for the holidays during Govee’s Black Friday sale
You don’t need to be a decorating master to add some sparkle to your house this holiday season. TikTok may be going off about “Ralph Lauren Christmas,” but one thing will never go out of style: stunning Christmas lighting displays. Smart-home brand Govee, best known for its LED lighting products, is holding its annual Black Friday sale from November 20 until December 1, offering up to 42% off its best-selling lights. So, now is the best time to transform your home for the holidays with the brand’s smart lighting systems and customizable indoor and outdoor displays.
This hidden feature lets me turn on my Windows PC from anywhere
Ever wished you could turn on your home computer while you’re miles away? With the Wake-on-LAN (WOL) feature, that’s entirely possible—a capability many Windows users don’t even know exists. Set it up once, and you’ll be able to power on and access your computer remotely whenever you need.
Kia, Toyota, and Honda reliability comparison
For years, Toyota and Honda were the go-to names for cars that just keep running. Their long-standing reputation for reliability made them the default choice for many buyers.
5 Prime Video movies you have to watch this week (November 17 - 23)
As the big November holiday inches closer, that means more time we all have to watch plenty of movies. Amazon Prime Video is seeing to it that there’s no shortage of titles in their catalog. This week, I’ve chosen some gems consisting of pure, unadulterated entertainment. Join me as we venture through action and thrills, a perilous open-water situation, a scandalous drama, and plenty of absurd circumstances to laugh at. There's even some group therapy—but don't worry, no participation is required.
How to optimize your battery usage in Windows
Under normal usage, a Windows laptop should typically last between three and six hours on a single charge. But what if your laptop's battery isn't getting the job done?
The easiest way to get into 3D printing isn't buying a 3D printer
While I’m confident in my ability to spend lots of money on a 3D printer to kickstart a new obsession, knowing what you’re getting yourself into before you pull the trigger is probably a good idea. Thankfully, there are some good ways to try out 3D printing before you buy.
Tired of paying for Microsoft Word? These open-source alternatives get the job done
I’ve been deeply entrenched in the Microsoft ecosystem for most of my career. From PowerPoint and Word to Excel and Teams, I’ve relied on them for everything from writing and editing to collaboration and file management. But over the years, the software has grown heavier, slower, and more expensive. Every new version seems to bring more features I don’t need and more nudges toward cloud subscriptions I never asked for. At some point, I began to think that I was spending more time managing licenses and updates than actually getting work done.
Here's how I turned a Raspberry Pi into an in-car media server
Many of us have a large collection of physical media sitting around, be that CDs, vinyl records, or cassettes. Unfortunately, there isn't nearly as much to do with them as there used to be—you'd be hard-pressed to find a modern vehicle that runs CDs, much less cassettes.
6 open-source Linux apps I'd use even if they weren't free
Are you looking for really good open source software for your Linux computer? There are some applications that I use so much, I'd be first in line to pay if there was suddenly a price tag on it.
5 BIOS Settings to Avoid Tweaking (Unless You Know What You're Doing)
If you know what you're doing, you can mess around with the BIOS on your computer to personalize your experience to the letter. However, if you're new to tweaking BIOS, you should leave some settings alone, lest you cause some serious problems.
The Japanese sports car with better resale value than the Toyota Corolla
A sports car usually isn’t the place you look for long-term value, yet one Japanese performance model is defying that rule entirely. While the average enthusiast coupe tends to lose value quickly, this one is holding onto its price so well that it actually depreciates less than a Toyota Corolla, a benchmark economy car famous for rock-solid resale. For buyers who want thrills without financial fallout, it’s a rare combination.


