How-To Geek

CachyOS has taken the Linux world by storm lately. It’s currently one of the most popular Linux distros, and for good reason — it’s fast, polished, and, most importantly, reliable. I’ve used it myself, and I can see why so many people, especially Linux gamers, are fans of it. That said, if I were building a Linux gaming system, I’d choose Bazzite over CachyOS, and it boils down to one key reason.

Wi-Fi 8 is coming, just like Wi-Fi 7 was before it. And it promises us the sun, the moon, and the stars in terms of performance. Faster speeds. Lower latency. Better reliability. And sure, I'm sure it can deliver all of that. But, as this Reddit meme makes quite clear, can Wi-Fi 8 ever match the power of a good ol' Ethernet cable?

Docker Desktop is the default way to run containers on a Mac, but it is not the only one. Colima, a free open-source runtime driven entirely from the terminal, offers a lighter and more configurable alternative. Here is what it is, how it compares, and who should switch.

In 2019, during my school days, I was introduced to the world of smart wearables. The Honor Band 5 was my first smartwatch — I still remember how niche it felt to wear tech among students back then. It offered a solid two-week battery life. Ever since, I have associated smartwatches with devices that don't require frequent charging, until my recent stint with Samsung's flagship Galaxy Watch Ultra.

Ryobi tools strike a balance between cost and competence that weekend warriors love. That said, they’re not without their problems, and it pays to know what you’re getting yourself into before you invest in the ecosystem.

Picking a tool platform is almost more difficult than picking what house to buy. For some reason, it feels very permanent. However, two tool platforms can definitely coexist. I run both Milwaukee's M12 and Ryobi's 18V ONE+ platform in my workshop, and this is how I make the distinction of which tools I use for what job.

I use Android Auto every day, and honestly, I keep coming back to the same apps. Google Maps for directions, Spotify for music, and WhatsApp for those last-minute messages. It works, but there’s more to Android Auto than the apps I open out of habit.

The great thing about ESP32 projects is that often someone else has done all the hard work for you. For example, if you've always wanted a desktop weather display that can tell when you're in the room, then this project can provide everything you need to build your own.

Google TVs come packed with some pretty smart tools. Part of the appeal is that they obviously come loaded with built-in connectivity features, access to many apps, and integration with your Google account. Unfortunately, this all comes with a major drawback, with your Google TV tracking your behavior and collecting tons of information about you.

The '90s and the '00s were one of a kind, and this isn't just my millennial nostalgia peeking through here. In the tech world, they were most certainly special, because they were filled with bold, brave, often useless innovations that may have crashed and burned, but will be remembered longer than the same-y laptops and smartphones we get every year now.

For years, Python threads could not use more than one CPU core at a time. That changed with the free-threaded build, which is now officially supported as of the time I'm writing this. Here's a brief introduction to it, and why it could be a big deal.

Being a Google Pixel user is hard, especially when you spend most of your time around tech enthusiasts raving about Samsung Galaxy phones. You see, Pixels offer a close-to-stock Android experience, while Samsung’s Galaxy phones are packed with features that naturally appeal to enthusiasts. And while I do love me some minimalism, I also like having access to powerful features that make my life easier.

Whether you've encountered an issue with Googlebook OS, you're planning to sell or return your Googlebook, or you just need a fresh start, a factory reset is something you'll need to know how to do. Fortunately, like with most things on Googlebook OS, a factory reset is simple to do, even if it's different than factory resetting a Chromebook. Here's everything you need to know about preparing your Googlebook for a reset, and then safely removing all of your user profiles, data, and apps.

Cordless power tools are wildly convenient, and they're getting better or more powerful all the time. By now, you've probably replaced several older corded tools, but that doesn't mean you should get rid of them.

I know I am just a drop in the ocean of people who've grown tired of artificial intelligence worming its way into everything. AI can legitimately improve our lives in many ways, but it also often makes things more complicated than they need to be. This sentiment applies to everything from simple productivity apps to creative tools.

I never like to leave my family's two cats, Benni and Comet, home alone for too long. For one, Comet is a young cat who likes to stalk the senior Benni like the Predator, and two, it just doesn't feel great leaving my fur babies in a silent house.

Docker makes running software feel lightweight, but that convenience hides a costly default. Containers start with no cap on memory or CPU, so a single forgotten service can quietly consume your machine’s resources around the clock. Here’s why it happens and what you can do about it.

It's hard to believe that there have already been five generations of the Pixel Watch. With Google's typically low trade-in values, you may have decided to hold on to old models. The good news is that there are some creative uses for an off-wrist smartwatch.

Nothing disappoints me more than a TV show that fails to live up to the expectations set by its first season. It's called the "sophomore slump." It happens more often than you think. Some shows deliver a near-perfect first season before taking a noticeable dip in quality.