How-To Geek

The week before a new school year starts has a way of feeling productive without actually being productive. Setting up a few self-hosted Docker containers won't fix your study habits, but it will replace a handful of tools you're already paying for or tolerating. It’s better to learn how to use Docker containers than to use regular apps, because it keeps your work together.

Are you ready for this weekend's Raspberry Pi project roundup? Well, ready or not, here are three projects you can try that take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete, including building your very own photo booth.

Are you tired of installing the same dozen apps every time you set up a new machine? Are you wondering what everyone else is using and whether you're overlooking some hidden gems? Well, here are eight underrated free apps—some open source—that I always install on all of my PCs. They're an essential part of my workflow, and they're all cross-platform, so they work on both Windows and Linux.

For parents, finding a first car that keeps their teenager happy without creating a financial or safety headache can be surprisingly difficult. Most affordable cars are sensible but forgettable, while the ones that look genuinely cool often come with compromises that make them poor choices for a new driver. Fortunately, there is a Japanese hatchback that manages to strike an unusually good balance, offering sleek styling, a surprisingly upscale cabin, dependable ownership, and enough driving fun to keep an enthusiast teenager interested.

A neatly cut lawn takes more work than it looks, and finding the time can be difficult, between work obligations, as well as recreational events and activities that all require some of your free time. Trusted by more than 750,000 families worldwide, MAMMOTION’s latest robot mowers can keep the grass maintained throughout the week without monopolizing your schedule.

I've been reviewing and writing about tech for the past decade, and during that time, other tech journalists and I have written plenty of articles busting myths and laying out best practices around PC storage, Wi-Fi, and networking. And while you do see consumer habits improve overall, there are some habits that just refuse to die. Here are four I keep seeing over and over.

In 2008, you might think Chris Carter, the creator of The X-Files, had full autonomy to write and direct The X-Files: I Want to Believe, a feature film based on the hit show. The X-Files was a cultural phenomenon that ran for nine seasons before 2008, so Carter certainly had more than enough evidence to show the studio that when it came to the property, he knew best.

Have you ever wanted to buy a new Ryobi tool but saw the sticker price and walked away? If so, that was a smart move, because several Ryobi tools are constantly on sale. If you want your dollar to go further while growing your toolbox, certain items are frequently discounted at Home Depot.

Luxury SUVs are often associated with steep repair bills and costly maintenance, but not all of them fit that stereotype. In fact, a growing number of premium models combine upscale comfort with dependability, proving that owning luxury doesn’t have to drain your bank account.

I like the Google Pixel 11 series. Between the camera upgrades, faster processor, and the potential of Gemini Intelligence, there's a lot to appreciate. And yes, I appreciate perks like Qi2 wireless charging and bright colors.

Building a smart home can be an expensive process. You need something that can control your smart home as well as all the devices that you want to control. You don't always need to buy new smart home devices; you may already have some useful Home Assistant accessories gathering dust in your junk drawer.

AI fatigue is a real thing. Companies continue to shoehorn unnecessary and unwanted AI features into everything they can, to the point where just seeing the letters "AI" can be enough to put you off. Using the free Assistant plugin for KOReader to add AI to a jailbroken Kindle seems like a terrible idea, but it turns out that it can be incredibly useful.

The state of SSD pricing as I write this isn't great. In fact, you might describe it as an apocalyptic trash fire, but I'll let you be the judge on whether that's hyperbole or not. Yet, the need for storage isn't going anywhere, and with massive media files and ballooning video game installs, you're going to need more storage eventually.

Widgets have been a core part of the Android experience for nearly two decades, but I must admit I’ve never fully taken advantage of them. At most, I usually have a couple of widgets on my home screen, but that’s it. I decided to finally and truly use Android widgets to their full potential.

After literally decades, I'm frankly sick of reading (and writing!) about the "year of the Linux desktop" where the world's most popular server and embedded OS finally makes a dent in the desktop OS market.

Your 3D printer’s hotend is responsible for melting filament so that it can be extruded and formed into new shapes. This printer component can be damaged if you don’t take enough care, putting your printer out of action and costing you money in new parts or repairs.

I probably couldn't use Excel today without XLOOKUP. For quickly pulling information from one table into another, it's one of my most-used Excel functions. But as my workbooks grew, I found myself adding countless lookup columns and formulas just to make reports work. Power Pivot gave me a better way to connect my data.

YouTube Premium has never piqued my interest. While I use YouTube daily, I'm content with ad-supported videos. Plus, my music streaming service of choice is Spotify. Therefore, YouTube Music is a luxury that I don't need right now.

The type of person who likes to self-host services on their home network is often also the sort of person who likes to optimize and tweak everything. For some, it's hard to accept that the default settings in the software they're using are already as good as they're going to get.

Wi-Fi extenders are marketed as a way to expand your Wi-Fi coverage, so it's no wonder people think of them as a dead-zone fix. They're inexpensive to buy, and once you plug one in, you'll usually see an instant improvement in your signal strength. I totally get the appeal.