How-To Geek

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We explain technology. Learn more with our articles, reviews, tips, and the best answers to your most pressing tech questions.
Updated: 1 hour 18 min ago

Your next car might get better after you buy it—here's how

Tue, 08/25/2026 - 14:15

Vehicles used to be finished the day they left the assembly line. Whatever the powertrain output, whatever the infotainment system menus, and whatever extra options and packages there were, they all stayed the same for as long as the buyer owned that vehicle. If they traded it in or sold it later, the second owner had all the same "fixed" features.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Logitech solved the "too many USB dongles" problem years ago—so why am I still using all these dongles?

Tue, 08/25/2026 - 14:00

Bluetooth is a great technology, especially if your expectations are low. However, anyone who has switched from using a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to ones with proprietary USB receivers knows that the ease of use and improved performance are very much worth it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I've used Excel for decades, and Ctrl+Enter is still the most useful shortcut I know

Tue, 08/25/2026 - 13:30

One way to become more efficient in Excel is to learn keyboard shortcuts. The problem is that there are so many that trying to remember them all is pretty much impossible. That's why I narrow my shortcuts down to a select few that really help with my workflow—and Ctrl+Enter is one of those. You might already know that this shortcut lets you commit a value or formula without moving to the next cell, but it has some even more useful tricks up its sleeve.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 warning signs every 3D printer owner should look out for

Tue, 08/25/2026 - 13:00

Not every 3D printing problem ends in a failed print or a mess of spaghetti. In order to catch problems early, you should keep an eye out for warning signs that things are wrong. Doing so can prevent greater problems down the line, and even result in better quality prints.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 free games that make learning the Linux command line addictive

Tue, 08/25/2026 - 12:30

Picking up new skills can be tricky, and the Linux command line is so powerful, there’s always something more to learn. Fortunately, you can have a bit of fun while you do it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 nostalgic Paramount+ movies to check out this week (August 24-30)

Tue, 08/25/2026 - 00:15

It doesn't take too much digging around on Paramount+ to find a few movies that you might consider favorites—comfort food flicks you could watch again and again, quirky classics anchored around one famous line, or, in the case of my top pick this week, something to pay homage to a star gone too soon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This hybrid SUV gives you standard AWD and 35 mpg for under $40,000

Mon, 08/24/2026 - 23:30

The 2026 Subaru Forester Hybrid delivers something many hybrid SUVs don't: standard all-wheel drive while keeping most trims below $40,000. With 35 mpg combined fuel economy, a roomy cabin, and a starting price of $34,730, it gives family buyers a rare combination of efficiency, traction, and value.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 top-rated Netflix movies I'm watching this week (August 24-30)

Mon, 08/24/2026 - 22:30

Even as we barrel down to the last days of what has been an exciting August for movies (The Last House, Don't Say Good Luck, Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy among the highlights), Netflix's Top 10 has still been filling up with some solid choices for U.S. subscribers to the service—not to mention The Whisper Man still to come.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I've owned Pixel phones for 8 years. The Pixel 11 really isn't as bad as it seems

Mon, 08/24/2026 - 21:45

The Pixel 11 series’ reception has been less than stellar. Google is taking it on the chin for iterative changes, half-baked ideas, and increased prices. As a long-time Pixel owner, I somewhat agree, but much of the outrage is overblown. These phones are not bad.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Mazda proved big screens were a mistake — then ruined its best SUV with one

Mon, 08/24/2026 - 21:30

Mazda spent years proving that modern car interiors didn't need to revolve around giant touchscreens. The outgoing CX-5 was the perfect example, pairing a neatly integrated display with physical climate controls, a rotary controller, and a cabin that felt far more upscale than its mainstream price suggested. It was modern without being distracting, and technology complemented the driving experience rather than dominating it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 new movies to watch this week across Netflix, Prime Video, and more (August 24-30)

Mon, 08/24/2026 - 21:00

It's the last full week of August, meaning the streamers are running out of time to add new movies to their respective services before the calendar turns to September. The highlight of this week is a crime thriller with a trio of terrific actors, including Robert De Niro. That movie, our top pick in this article, will be on Netflix by the end of the week.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 5 router tweaks sped up my Wi-Fi so much that I downgraded my internet plan

Mon, 08/24/2026 - 20:30

How much are you paying your ISP every month? If you ask me, it's always too much, but I've had some bad luck with mine (one tried to get me to pay them $1,000 to let me leave).

Categories: IT General, Technology

I took a Genesis GV60 on a road trip and got 108 MPGe instead of the promised 90

Mon, 08/24/2026 - 20:00

Genesis loaned me a 2026 GV60 Performance AWD for a week here in Detroit recently, a sharp-looking SUV finished in Uyuni White over a Sky Blue and Prussian interior. It's an eye-catching vehicle on the road, with just about every luxury feature you'd expect from an all-electric SUV in this class.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN bundle just got pricier. Here's the breakdown

Mon, 08/24/2026 - 19:43

You aren't immune from the wave of streaming service price hikes just because you have a bundle. Disney is raising prices for bundles that include ESPN and Hulu, as well as stand-alone ESPN access.

Categories: IT General, Technology

GrapheneOS' privacy-friendly Motorola phones are coming next year

Mon, 08/24/2026 - 19:39

It's now clearer just when you can expect GrapheneOS' privacy-oriented Android ROM to be available beyond Pixel devices. The GrapheneOS team has finally shared more details on when its software will come to Motorola phones.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop destroying your main SSD: Why you might still need a 'scratch disk' in 2026

Mon, 08/24/2026 - 19:15

In the olden days, everyone taking their hardware seriously also had scratch disks. But they're currently considered to be from a bygone era.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These free GIMP add-ons make Photoshop's price tag harder to justify

Mon, 08/24/2026 - 18:30

Photoshop is still the photo editor most people know, and there's a reason it has stuck around for so long. But paying for another monthly subscription is harder to justify when GIMP is free and already handles most of the editing work many people actually need. Adobe currently charges $22.99 per month for Photoshop on an annual plan billed monthly, which works out to about $276 a year before you've even added any other Adobe apps.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This 3-row hybrid SUV can go 619 miles without stopping for gas

Mon, 08/24/2026 - 18:15

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid is a big three-row SUV, but its size doesn't stop it from going a surprisingly long way between fuel stops. The front-wheel-drive version has an estimated 619-mile range, giving it the kind of road-trip range you'd normally expect from something much smaller.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pixel 11 Pro Fold Review: A classic foldable, for better and for worse

Mon, 08/24/2026 - 18:05

Foldable phones are having a big moment. Samsung’s two Galaxy Z Fold 8 phones are thinner, lighter, and pushing into brand new form factors. The iPhone Fold is also rumored to be coming this year. Meanwhile, it’s business as usual for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold—but I’m not reviewing it from a typical perspective.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your fancy PCIe 5.0 drives are probably running at half speed

Mon, 08/24/2026 - 17:45

If you shell out some of your hard-earned cash on a PCIe 5 SSD, you certainly expect it to hit five-digit speeds. It's meant to be the fastest it can possibly be in this current generation, after all. But what if testing the drive reveals much slower speeds?

Categories: IT General, Technology

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