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 13 min ago

4 innocent-looking Linux commands that can ruin your day

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 22:30

If you use Linux, you'll eventually want to get comfortable with the terminal. It streamlines your workflow and opens up a whole new way of computing that graphical apps simply can't match. This includes writing Bash scripts for system management and automation or administering a remote machine over SSH.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 ergonomic 3D prints to make you feel more comfortable this weekend (Sep 18 - 20)

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 22:00

One of the best things you can do with your 3D printer is create items that improve spaces, tools, and pastimes. The best prints don’t just make life easier; they make it more comfortable too.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 ways to repurpose an old Kindle eReader

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 21:30

eReaders are particularly great gadgets because they tend to stay perfectly usable for a long time. However, there will eventually come a time when you want to upgrade. So what should you do with the old one? We have some ideas for you.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You’re probably buying the wrong hard drive, and this 341,000-HDD study proves it

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 21:00

When shopping for HDDs, it's all too easy to focus on the price and nothing else. Sure, the biggest drives tend to have eye-watering price tags, and not everyone needs 20+ terabytes of storage anyway ... but a recent study, based on a massive sample size, reveals that those drives might be well worth the added cost.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 award-winning Netflix movies to watch this weekend (September 18-20)

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 20:30

Netflix’s award-winning catalog has picked up a few interesting additions lately, including two dramas that had strong runs at this year’s awards and an older blockbuster that still holds its charm. If you usually end up circling the same handful of decorated movies, this week’s picks give you a little more variety.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Excel Easter eggs ended 24 years ago—but this open-source Space Invaders project keeps the fun alive

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 20:00

I've always liked the fact that older versions of Excel had hidden games tucked away inside them. Microsoft stopped doing that years ago, but Excel users never completely stopped having fun with spreadsheets. I recently found an open-source Space Invaders-style game that runs entirely inside Excel.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I finally found out why these 4 Android Auto features look different in my car

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 19:30

Whenever I noticed an Android Auto feature missing in my car, I’d always blame my phone, Android Auto, or even the car’s software. I know these all matter too, but not in my case. I’d look up a feature, follow the exact steps, and still couldn’t find the option on my screen. Finally, I found the real culprit: my car’s small display.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Windows 11's low-latency mode is late to the party—here's how it compares to NVIDIA Reflex

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 19:00

Windows 11's Low Latency Profile promises snappier menus and faster launches through short CPU bursts. But does Microsoft's shell-level fix actually rival NVIDIA Reflex, the standard for cutting in-game input lag? Here's how the two really compare.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This ESP32 project lets you use fancy motorized faders in your smart home (Sep 18 - 20)

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 18:30

There’s something satisfying about physical controls, whether that’s a clicky button, chunky dial, or smooth fader. It feels like motorized faders are having a moment in the ESP32 hobbyist community, so today we’re going to look at how you can put them to use.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Valve's new open-source tool is bringing Android games to Linux and Steam

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 18:21

You could soon see more mobile games on Steam. Valve has released Lepton, an open-source tool that brings Android games to Linux and, of course, Steam.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 useful things you didn't know you could do with your iPad's USB port

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 18:00

Apple discontinued the last iPad with a Lightning port in 2024, so if you've bought a new iPad after that point, it will come with a lovely USB-C port, which is the only way to charge the tablet, given it lacks wireless charging features.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 junk Facebook Marketplace finds that are secretly hiding free hard drives

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 17:30

Do you like using Facebook Marketplace? I'll be honest with you: I don't. You're so often left to deal with scammers and/or bots that finding an actual person who will sell or buy the exact same thing they said they would is like finding a unicorn. But when you do find that unicorn deal, it can be so good, which is what keeps me coming back.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 harrowing Netflix documentaries to watch this weekend (September 18-20)

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 17:00

Fans of documentaries know that Netflix has a knack for delivering weekend viewing that sparks conversation come Monday. And the fact that the chilling series Death of a Pastor's Wife is still perched at No. 1 on the streamer's U.S. Top 10 also says a lot about viewers' appetite for true crime.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung Gallery finally syncs with Google Photos: Here's how to set it up

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 16:49

Your Galaxy phone now shares photos with the cloud service you're most likely to use. Samsung has confirmed that Gallery is starting to sync with Google Photos instead of Microsoft's OneDrive,

Categories: IT General, Technology

PITAKA’s Edge Case is a lightweight, protective companion to the iPhone 18

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 16:45

You want an iPhone case that protects your phone and has a functional, sophisticated style. But so many ultra-protective cases on the market are too bulky, overshadowing your iPhone’s design, so all that’s noticeable is that brick of a case.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your NAS isn't just for Plex—here's 4 other services you should try

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 16:30

Many people buy a NAS with a single goal in mind: building a private Plex media server for all their movies and TV shows. But Plex itself requires surprisingly few resources to run, meaning the processor and RAM in your NAS can spend most of their time sitting around, doing basically nothing.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Those power tool combo kits are a trap, and here's the better way to build your collection

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 16:00

It might be an unpopular opinion, but I think almost all power tool combo kits are a waste of money, especially if you already own a few tools or battery packs. We've all walked into a hardware store and found a 5-tool or 7-tool combo from Ryobi, DeWALT, Milwaukee, or others at what looks like a good price, but it's rarely the smart move. Here's why.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I wasted years listening to music on a smart speaker

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 15:30

I've spent a lot of time listening to music from a single smart speaker in my home office. While the sound quality is okay, there's only so much a single speaker can do. I recently acquired a ten-year-old hi-fi system, and the difference is night and day.

Categories: IT General, Technology

My Google Pixel replaced my Raspberry Pi (it’s now my portable Linux PC)

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 15:00

We keep saying our smartphones are more powerful than the computers we grew up with, but almost nobody actually uses their phone like a computer. That always bugged me, so I’ve tried to make my phone double as my PC for some time now. Granted, the experiments have always been hit or miss — until I finally tried it on my Google Pixel. While it can’t replace a proper workstation, I found it to be pretty good as a portable Linux PC. In fact, it’s so good that it has practically replaced my Raspberry Pi.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I built a better TV audio system than any soundbar for half the price

Fri, 09/18/2026 - 14:30

When it came time to replace my soundbar, I was ready for something better. The soundbar-and-subwoofer systems I was looking at were running between $300 and $600, and I wasn't excited about spending that much on another soundbar. I've never been completely happy with the soundbar experience, especially when I knew the same money could buy a traditional stereo setup with better speakers that would fill the room.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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