How-To Geek

Valve made clear SteamOS was coming to more devices when it started taking Steam Machine orders, and now it's clear just how broad that support will be. The company has confirmed discussions with Intel and Nvidia to expand support for its Linux-based platform beyond AMD hardware.

We've all spent too long tweaking spreadsheet numbers by hand, trying to hit a budget target or find the best outcome. Instead of relying on trial and error, use Excel's hidden Solver tool—it finds the best possible outcome based on the rules you define.

In my view, the Kindle is both the best and most frustrating product Amazon has made. And that's why I no longer recommend new ones. If you already own one, there's a good chance that it's got years more life in it. And if you don't, buying a new Kindle is often the least best option.

Power outages are rude and arrive without knocking, cutting through your plans, and leaving your filesystem looking at you like it has just been betrayed. The usual answer is to buy a UPS, plug everything into it, pray the batteries still work, and pretend the problem has been solved until the UPS starts beeping like a dying microwave. I wanted something a little different.

I am no stranger to having to deal with flights and passport issues. That kind of moment is exactly what Samsung is trying to solve with its new partnership with CLEAR. It sounds both too good to be true and a major security violation, but it is so much bigger than that. You can likely access it right now if you have a Samsung, and if your other electronics are packed well, you could skip the long wait.

Sick of the monthly Netflix fees? Amazon Prime Day is back in session, so if you want to take control of your media and spin up a local streaming service with Plex or Jellyfin, now's the cheapest time to buy the hardware.

My experiments with a Pi-hole started as a way to fix a few common problems: a network that was getting bogged down, smart devices phoning home, and ads that made websites literally unusable.

For the longest time, automating your work meant dealing with complicated software—or writing some form of code or pseudocode, like PowerShell scripts. That put automation out of reach for the majority of folks who weren’t comfortable coding or the technical side of computing.

Home Assistant OS, the full operating system that runs your smart home server on dedicated hardware, is getting a major update. And although it doesn't include any flashy new features or automation settings, Home Assistant OS 18 tackles increasingly common problems for those utilizing Raspberry Pi setups, older mini PCs, and anyone running a growing collection of add-ons, integrations, and automations.

AI can be a useful tool, but does it belong in 3D printing? I think it has its place, but you definitely should keep an eye out for AI-designed 3D prints—they might not be as great as they seem on the surface.

I find file formats, archives, and audio/video storage media fascinating. In my experience, how they work, what they do, and why they were created are usually built around fascinating stories or interesting research and development.

Prime Day is the perfect time to upgrade your smart home cleaning lineup, and Narwal, the renowned household robotics brand, is making it easier than ever. Its new flagship robot vacuum and mop combo has dropped to its lowest-ever price, exclusively for 2026 Prime Day. The new Narwal Flow 2 is discounted from $1,499.99 to $1,049.99, saving buyers $450 on this cutting-edge, hands-free cleaning system. That’s 30% off Narwal’s newest release, which features a specially-designed mopping system and multiple AI upgrades. The deal is live now through June 26.

Samsung makes some of the best Android phones, which is why I've been buying and reviewing Galaxy devices for over 14 years. From the early days of TouchWiz and curved screens to the feature-packed One UI software, capable cameras, and fancy, cutting-edge designs, here are my favorite Galaxy phones of all time.

The first Pi wasn't just great for builder projects and learning to code, but made for an amazing general-purpose computer if what you needed was the ability to surf the web and write essays. The Pi range has gone on to release some real bangers, and I think both my Pi 4 and Pi 5 are amazing machines, even at today's ridiculously inflated prices.

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of paying for apps, especially now that everything seems to come with a subscription. So for a while now, I’ve been hunting down free and open-source (FOSS) alternatives that don’t charge a monthly fee and also don’t force me to compromise on the features I actually need. Turns out there are plenty of great options out there, and I’ve started feeling a little dumb for paying in the first place.

The humble Benchy has become a rite of passage for many new 3D printer owners, even though benchmarking modern 3D printers isn’t strictly necessary. But let’s say you’ve assembled a small armada of these toy boats, and now you’re wondering what to do with them.

I have a subscription to Claude and use the free tier of Gemini. Both are incredibly powerful tools that I use on a daily basis, but I also run a small local model on my modest mini PC. I use this local LLM for almost all of my automated tasks, and despite the relative lack of power, it can offer things that Claude and Gemini can't.

Ugreen is back with another NAS update, this time to the DXP2800 and DXP4800 line with the new GT series models. Featuring updated processors, 10GbE connectivity, and more, these are some of Ugreen's best NAS systems yet.

If you're not at least a few episodes into the new season of The Agency, or haven't started watching all the Scream movies in order on Paramount+ yet, then you're either too busy enjoying the weather (good on you) or those selections just might not be your jam.

My wife and I have been binging our way through the great new Netflix series I Will Find You that everyone's been talking about, but like with any intense binge, sometimes you need to take a break and watch something different. We like to do that by throwing on a movie to change things up—they're one-and-done, and nicely wrapped up (usually).