How-To Geek

I gave my old Kindle a new lease of life by jailbreaking it and installing KOReader. While KOReader is packed with features, it lacks the polished feel of the stock Kindle software. Thankfully, there's a free KOReader plugin that makes my Kindle way more useful while still looking great.

Whether you're starting college this year or coming back in the fall for another semester, one thing is almost universally true: dorm Wi-Fi is a bit of a joke. You can't expect much in a building shared with hundreds of other students, all of whom rely on the internet for both their studies and their entertainment.

If you've ever searched for ways to make your Excel spreadsheets look better, you've probably been told to avoid Comic Sans MS, stop using thick borders, and choose better cell colors. But that advice is mostly geared toward appearance rather than usability. I get much better results by using Excel's built-in formatting tools to make data easier to read, compare, and understand.

I'm tired of giving my money to streaming platforms that can take away my favorite shows on a whim and raise their price at a moment's notice. I'm ready to own media again, so this year I started buying my family's favorite shows and movies on DVD. Unfortunately, I quickly remembered what's annoying about physical discs.

Google has finally introduced the Pixel 11 phone series, along with the Pixel Watch 5 and Pixel Tag. The emphasis this year isn't just on AI features like Gemini Intelligence — it's on cameras that can do everything short of pressing the shutter button.

A sports car probably isn't the first thing most parents think of when shopping for a teenager's first car. Reliability concerns, maintenance costs, and the risks that come with giving a new driver too much power can make even an affordable performance car a questionable choice. But for a teenager who is genuinely passionate about cars, there is one lightweight coupe that offers something unusual: an engaging driving experience without a huge price tag or excessive power.

Apple’s AirTag, Chipolo, Tile, and Moto Tag have run the Bluetooth tracker show for years. Now, Google is officially entering the segment with the Pixel Tag. It will help you find misplaced belongings, so finding keys, wallets, or bags is about to become less stressful for Android users.

Alongside the next-generation Pixel 11 series and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, Google also announced the Pixel Watch 5. It doubles down on proactive health tracking and Gemini-powered intelligence while retaining the familiar design and hardware. The biggest addition to the latest wearable is passive blood pressure and insulin resistance tracking—two common invisible health risks. These are aimed at encouraging healthy habits.

Want your kids to use Linux but can't decide which distro makes the best introduction? Should they use your daily driver or something different? Well, here are five distros I'm seriously considering for my own kids—and the reasoning behind each choice.

No one wants ads and other junk popping up on their screen, especially if those ads are frustrating notifications from an overly aggressive app on your Galaxy phone. Thankfully, if you're on the latest Samsung One UI 8.5 update, you can use a new ad blocker hidden in the settings menu.

The ESP32 is a tiny and versatile microcontroller that sips power. This means it can perform a variety of tasks and fit almost anywhere. Even so, I’m frequently amazed by the weird and wonderful things people are using it for.

Google Maps for Android Auto is slowly getting a huge upgrade, and the experience is so good that I might be ditching Waze. Some of the most frustrating Android Auto navigation problems are a thing of the past, and while Waze still has several strengths, Google Maps' new 3D Immersive View is a big deal.

When it comes to power tools, all the popular brands make some of the most common and essential gear. And while there is a ton of overlap, each brand misses the mark on several items. DeWALT is an extremely popular option for a myriad of reasons, but Ryobi manufactures a bunch of niche tools you can't get from the competition. Here are four tools you might need that you can't get from DeWALT.

Since its arrival on the scene, Linux has faced a persistent myth that refuses to die: it’s difficult to use for everyday people, especially compared to a more familiar operating system, like Windows. It’s endured so much that many people are unaware of Linux’s desktop benefits.

I wanted to build a NAS that I could take everywhere with me that would be battery-powered and easy to use. My spare Raspberry Pi 4 B ended up being the perfect tool for the job, and here's exactly how I built my TravelPi.

Android Auto is all about accessing the apps on your phone while driving, and Google Maps is probably the most important. It’s easy to use the digital assistant to start navigation, but for your most frequent places, an NFC tag is even better.

AI chatbots can help you solve technical problems you may not be able to solve by yourself. The problem is that even when a chatbot's solutions work, they can be completely overcomplicated. If you're using an AI such as ChatGPT or Gemini to help you set up your homelab, there are a few tips that can help you find the right solution for your needs.

A lot of 3D printing video content boils down to fairly simple printer reviews that often draw very similar conclusions. While being clued in on the latest printers is all well and good, there’s a lot more to the hobby than that.

Most people assume a slow boot comes down to hardware, and the obvious fix is buying a faster drive. I spent a while convinced of that too, but what actually made the difference for me wasn't new hardware at all. I didn't have to spend a dollar to make it boot faster, and you don't either.

What did you think of that massive House of the Dragon season 3 finale? Betrayals, big character deaths, dragon action—what more could you want?! Oh, you already want something else to watch on HBO Max? I get it. Well, while Lanterns is days away and season 5 of Abbott Elementary even longer, the pickings are a bit slim, but there's still some good TV to watch that might surprise you.