How-To Geek
Your Pixel phone is always scanning—disable these two settings to add hours of battery life
Pixel phones are always doing a lot in the background. Some things are obvious—like weather apps grabbing your location—but others aren’t as upfront. Even worse is when seemingly simple features have a bigger impact on battery life than we know.
Your next 3D printer may be "poop-free," but that's not necessarily a good thing
If you have a modern 3D printer, most likely the "CoreXY" design that's become so popular, then you may have noticed a little rectangular hole on the back of the machine. Whenever the nozzle has to be purged of its current filament in exchange for a new one, a little filament "poop" comes out the back.
Google Photos just killed automatic PC backups—here are 4 alternatives
Google Drive used to make it easy to send photos and videos from folders on your PC straight to Google Photos. That changed when Google removed the feature from Drive for desktop. You can still back up PC folders to Google Photos, but you now have to select and manage that destination directly within the Drive for desktop app settings rather than having Drive and Photos sync automatically.
This is the easiest way to build interactive websites without JavaScript
Although you can create a huge range of web page designs using just HTML and CSS, when it comes to interactivity, you’ll need to start writing JavaScript—right? Well, not necessarily.
These Raspberry Pi Pico builds solve surprisingly relatable problems (August 28 - 30)
Today's weekend Raspberry Pi projects will be coming from a bit of a different angle than normal. Instead of focusing on the traditional Raspberry Pi single-board computer, I'm going to show you three fun projects to do with a Pi Pico microcontroller.
Linux does these 5 things effortlessly that Windows still struggles with
As long as Windows and Linux exist, people will argue about which one is better than the other. Linux is a favorite of programmers, sysadmins, and other technical types, for good reason. Here are the things that are easiest for technical professionals to get their work done but are a pain in Windows.
You're probably making these 4 common mistakes with your cordless drill
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced DIYer, there's a good chance you often overlook some cordless drill basics. From ignoring the torque clutch to tightening the chuck, here are four everyday mistakes to look out for and avoid.
6 things I do to my PC now that I used to think were only for broke college kids
I've been building PCs since I was in my early teens. Obviously, I had very limited funds, so I had to learn how to make the most of every dollar. As an adult, having an expendable income and overwhelming FOMO have pushed me toward more high-end builds, leaving the penny-pinching to broke college kids.
The Galaxy S26 FE is the affordable "flagship" phone we need right now
Samsung has a timely answer to soaring phone prices: a budget version of its latest flagship phones. As expected, the company has used its event to introduce a Galaxy S26 FE that is a mild upgrade over last year's S25 FE, but could be worth buying simply due to a relatively low price.
The discontinued Ferrari-powered sedan that made BMW M3 owners jealous
Performance sedans are increasingly becoming faster, more digital, and arguably less engaging, making this discontinued Italian model feel even more special in hindsight. With more than 500 horsepower, rear-wheel drive, razor-sharp handling, and a Ferrari-derived twin-turbocharged V-6, it offered a driving experience that few rivals could match. It wasn't the quickest car in its class on paper, but behind the wheel, its character and communicative steering gave it an edge that spec sheets couldn't capture.
3 more free, open-source (FOSS) apps to replace your defaults
If you've been using a computer for a decade or more, you've probably settled into a set of default apps. At some point, you weighed your options, picked what seemed best, and never looked back. In the meantime, the software landscape has evolved quite a bit while you weren't looking. There's a decent chance you're paying for software—or putting up with limited free versions—while completely overlooking equally capable, if not more capable, open-source tools. Here are three such FOSS apps worth switching to.
7 things you can do with Ryobi batteries (aside from powering tools)
On top of being a budget-friendly choice, Ryobi has a dizzying array of battery-powered gadgets. While most of these are power tools, a huge number fall into other categories.
5 reasons Linux is the most valuable software in the world (even though it's free)
Linus Torvalds created the Linux kernel and gave it away for free. Anyone can take it, change it, and do whatever they like with it, as long as the changes they make are also available for free to everyone else.
Bambu Lab X2D review: The new sweet spot in Bambu’s 3D printer lineup
It's been nearly four years since Bambu Lab did a refresh of its X series of 3D printers, and the X2D definitely lives up to the hype. It improves on the X1 Carbon in every way, except for the one area where it lowers the bar—price. Here's why the X2D just became my go-to recommendation for anyone wanting to get into 3D printing.
5 new shows to watch this weekend across Netflix, Hulu, and more (August 27-30)
Looking for something to watch this weekend? There are shows premiering on streaming services over the next few days. Apple TV builds on its strong sci-fi reputation with the return of its Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly thriller. It's our No. 1 ranked show on this list.
This once-overlooked Ford SUV is now a great buy
The Ford Edge never became the go-to midsize SUV that models like the Toyota Highlander or Honda Pilot did. It was easy to overlook, even though it offered a roomy two-row cabin, standard all-wheel drive, useful technology, and a choice of turbocharged engines.
Kia’s updated $25k Seltos makes expensive compact SUVs hard to justify
Finding a new SUV for around $25,000 usually means accepting a stripped-down interior, limited technology, and a cramped cabin. This newly redesigned crossover challenges that expectation, combining a surprisingly upscale interior with a long list of standard tech and more passenger and cargo space than you'd normally expect at this price.
Android apps will be forced to use less memory in 2027—here's why
Android phone makers are offering less RAM in their latest devices to keep costs down. Now, Google is calling on Android app makers to limit the performance hit. As of February 2027, Android apps on the Play Store will have to meet "bad behavior thresholds" to stay on Google's good side.
Hyundai's 600-mile EREV could finally end range anxiety for EV buyers
Hyundai thinks it has found a solution to one of the biggest problems holding EVs back. Its first extended-range electric vehicle is due in 2027, promising more than 600 miles of total range by combining electric motors with a gasoline engine that works as a generator.
The first 5 Android settings I turn off before using a new phone
There’s a certain thrill in opening a brand-new phone. You peel off the plastic, transfer your photos, sign in to your Google account, and start taking your first picture. But in all that excitement, we often forget to check a few important settings that can make our phone better.


