How-To Geek
I ditched a TV for a projector in my spare room—and it cost over $300 less
In the age of streaming, it is not uncommon to have a television in nearly every room. If there is a wall or space on the dresser, it is a perfect spot to put one.
6 expensive DeWALT tools worth saving up for
DeWALT is one of the most popular power tool brands on the market, frequently found on job sites, in specific trades, and loved by DIYers everywhere. The company makes hundreds of powerful and capable tools you'll love, but they're often more expensive than competitors like Ryobi. With that in mind, here are a few expensive but great DeWALT tools worth saving up for.
Before you move into your dorm, change these 4 Android settings
Going away to college is one of the most exciting times in anyone's life. You're not quite an independent adult yet, but you're almost off the leash, and about to learn a lot of new things both inside and outside the classroom.
The 4 secrets to taking better photos on a Samsung Galaxy phone
Samsung phones are among the most ubiquitous cameras in the world, and most of them also happen to be good ones—but don't expect to capture a good shot just by shooting from the hip. I've taken many of the photos I've published for How-To Geek directly on Galaxy phones, and here's how I pull it off.
Acura’s NEXERA Concept ditches power seats for a car that adjusts around you
Car seats slide forward and back, and on most modern vehicles they remember where the driver programmed them. Those who own a swanky luxury SUV may even have a massage function they can enjoy. Acura's newest concept throws the traditional seating setup out the window.
I just canceled my Google Drive subscription and replaced it with a local alternative that respects my privacy
I've been paying for a Google Drive (or, more accurately, "Google One") subscription for a long time, before Gemini even came into play. At some point, I stopped questioning whether I actually needed it. I paid the sub and used it without thinking twice.
I turned my daughter's handwriting into a font with one free Claude Code skill
My daughter has incredible handwriting. It genuinely amazes me how beautiful it is when my own scrawl is often barely legible. I'm sure her flowery style will become simpler as she gets older, so I wanted to try to preserve her current handwriting, and a free Claude Code skill was all it took.
Sort out your junk drawer for good with these 3D-printed models
Pretty much every home has a junk drawer or two, where things are thrown until they’re needed, and nothing can be found without a good rummage. Thankfully, you don’t need to go “full Gridfinity” to 3D print your way out of this mess.
6 guaranteed ways to make Windows faster without upgrading hardware or overclocking
Windows 11 is bloated, there are no two ways about it. The operating system eats up too much memory, Windows Search is slow and infested with Bing online results, and the amount of background tasks and services makes it feel sluggish on many PCs.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra Review: Not to be overlooked
You wouldn’t know it from the headlines, but Samsung launched two (2) new Galaxy Z Fold phones last month. The wide Fold 8 stole the show, turning the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra into an unusual underdog. Regardless, this is the model that Samsung adorned with the “Ultra” tag, and it did so for good reason.
3 intense new HBO Max documentaries to watch this weekend (August 14-16)
HBO Max doesn't let up when it comes to documentaries, and has had some serious standouts this year already, not least of which is Monsters of God, the ongoing saga of the illegal reptile trade that's 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Stop pretending Unraid and TrueNAS solve the same problem
The debate between Unraid and TrueNAS feels as strong as the debate between Plex and Jellyfin. The thing is, while Plex and Jellyfin solve a very similar problem, Unraid and TrueNAS aren't solving the same problem at all. In fact, they're very different at the core, so make sure you pick the right NAS OS for your specific use case.
These 4 open-source apps solved problems I didn't think software could fix
Open-source software usually gets recognized for the big, obvious wins, like replacing a cloud storage subscription or a password manager. What gets less attention are the smaller, oddly specific problems that software can fix just as well. Mostly because it doesn't occur to us that an app exists for it.
3 crisp new Netflix shows to lighten up your weekend (August 14-16)
August has so far been a pretty solid month for Netflix in the U.S., and not necessarily because of any one massive hit—although I admit to getting reluctantly sucked in by more than a few episodes of Let's Marry Harry (I blame my wife), and now I'm obsessed with the new docuseries about Charles Manson.
Why Wi-Fi 7 routers are still bad at the thing most people actually need from them
Wi-Fi 7 is the latest and greatest Wi-Fi technology you can buy as I write this, but it's still an expensive upgrade. Particularly when you consider that Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 are perfectly serviceable in a world where Gigabit fiber has only recently become more common across the world.
Please stop using these 7 deprecated Linux commands
Over the years, several Linux commands have been deprecated, either because they are no longer relevant, have security problems, or have ceased to be maintained. You might still be able to use these common commands, but you probably shouldn’t. Instead, try alternatives that are less prone to bugs and offer more features too.
3 award-winning movies to watch on Netflix this weekend (August 14-16)
There are weekends when I want something easy to watch without wasting time scrolling through Netflix. That's when I usually turn to movies that have already proven they are worth watching, especially older favorites that I haven't gotten around to revisiting.
Three rows, 495 lb-ft of torque, and a price tag that undercuts the competition
Full-size SUVs are getting harder to justify as prices climb, but there are still compelling reasons to go big. If you need three rows of genuinely usable space, serious towing capability, and enough power to move a nearly 6,000-pound vehicle with ease, few SUVs can match the versatility of this American favorite. It also undercuts several of its closest rivals on price while offering an impressive amount of standard technology and comfort.
The tiny dots in your Android phone's status bar are trying to tell you something
Have you noticed a tiny green dot lighting up in the upper-right corner of your Android phone from time to time? If you own a Pixel, you have probably noticed a blue dot as well. These dots don't appear randomly; they serve a useful purpose by notifying you the moment an app on your phone starts using your camera or microphone or accessing your location.
4 reasons your networking gear should never be plugged straight into the wall (and what to do instead)
Unless you run a massive rack-mounted Xeon server, your networking gear probably doesn't draw a lot of power. I can't think of a situation where someone I know plugged their router into the wall and tripped a breaker or shorted out their home.


