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: 6 min 21 sec ago

This 51 MPG hybrid sedan proves you don't need an expensive crossover

Wed, 07/22/2026 - 17:45

With crossovers dominating the market, it's easy to overlook the advantages that a traditional family sedan still offers. For buyers who prioritize comfort, fuel economy, and long-distance refinement, a well-executed hybrid sedan can often deliver a better ownership experience while costing less to buy and run.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I still miss these 3 Apple AirPort features every time I set up a new Wi-Fi router

Wed, 07/22/2026 - 17:30

Apple discontinued its AirPort Wi-Fi routers in 2018, and it's not surprising given that wireless networking had become a commodity years earlier. Why buy a router when your internet provider's included Wi-Fi is often good enough, and specialists like Eero and Netgear can sometimes offer more for your money?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why you shouldn't use Roku, Tubi, and Pluto TV the exact same way

Wed, 07/22/2026 - 16:45

I pay for Netflix and Amazon Prime, but I still spend most of my time watching free streaming services. We keep Netflix largely because my wife despises commercials, while I use the other benefits of Amazon Prime throughout the year and treat Prime Video as a bonus. The bottom line, however, is that when I’m choosing something for myself, I usually end up opening Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, or Tubi.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I turned ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini into project management apps, and one clear winner emerged

Wed, 07/22/2026 - 16:30

Large language models (LLMs) might be the most accessible and flexible technology we've ever had access to. By default, they're presented as chatbots—but that's just one way to interact with them. With the right prompts, you can transform an LLM into something that behaves like an entirely different app, complete with its own custom interface.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Phantom power drain could be costing you hundreds every year—here’s how to spot and stop it

Wed, 07/22/2026 - 16:00

Standby mode is both a blessing and a curse. Fast startup times and background processes are convenient, but have you ever stopped to ask how much these services are worth to you per year?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your old ThinkPad obsession is outdated, and here's the laptop that killed it

Wed, 07/22/2026 - 15:30

For a long time, if you've wanted a laptop built to last, there's been a single easy-to-remember bit of advice: buy a ThinkPad. These laptops have long been designed with business customers in mind, so they're made to be durable and repairable. Yet there's now a better brand if you want a laptop that's not only repairable—but upgradeable.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 takes aim at your tablet, while the Fold 8 Ultra keeps things familiar

Wed, 07/22/2026 - 15:00

For years, buying Samsung’s book-style foldable was simple—you picked the Galaxy Z Fold. That's changing this time. The company has overhauled its foldable lineup with a new member and naming scheme that might trip up even loyal fans. The standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 debuts Samsung’s brand-new wider design, while the usual tall and narrow foldable now carries the ‘Ultra’ badge.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung's Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 are faster and longer-lasting

Wed, 07/22/2026 - 15:00

Samsung is pairing the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 with major upgrades to its smartwatches. The company has introduced the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, both of which are more powerful and sport new AI capabilities.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I waited years for Google's answer to Alexa—here's why it still falls short

Wed, 07/22/2026 - 14:45

Smart home assistants were supposed to get better over time. More natural, more reliable, better integrated with everything else you already use. Google had every reason to lead that charge.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I replaced my default Linux terminal with this cross-platform one—and I'm not going back

Wed, 07/22/2026 - 14:30

Did you know there are different Linux terminals, some with unique and special features that can genuinely improve your day-to-day experience? For the average user, the choice doesn't matter much, but if you're planning to get serious about the terminal—using terminal apps, Vim, or Emacs—the terminal you choose becomes almost as important as the Linux distribution you run. With that in mind, here's why I settled on my current terminal, along with how the other popular options compare to my daily driver.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I stopped using HDMI-CEC, and my TV finally works right

Wed, 07/22/2026 - 14:00

HDMI-CEC was supposed to make home theater setups a lot easier to work with. At first, it seems like the kind of feature that would just work, but then the problems arise. The annoying part is that the protocol isn't broken exactly. It just has issues when it comes to handling the way most people actually build their setups. So it's better to turn it off.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This little-known Excel feature fixed one of my biggest spreadsheet problems

Wed, 07/22/2026 - 13:30

After years of using Excel, it's easy to fall into muscle memory. You click the same ribbon tabs, rely on the same shortcuts, and barely notice when Microsoft adds new tools. That's how I initially overlooked Focus Cell, a simple feature that solved one of my biggest frustrations when working in Excel.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 important reminders every Home Assistant user should set up today

Wed, 07/22/2026 - 13:00

Your smart home sometimes requires your attention in the same way that your brick-and-mortar home does. Remembering these tasks can help you avoid problems later on.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Obsidian plugins that feel so fundamental they should have been built-in

Wed, 07/22/2026 - 12:30

Obsidian has hundreds of community plugins—so many that simply browsing the list can feel overwhelming. Most plugins are built for specific workflows, and not every plugin will be useful to everyone.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 chilling Paramount+ thrillers to watch this week (July 21-26)

Wed, 07/22/2026 - 00:05

There's a reason Paramount+'s fast-paced new movie Wardriver sits at the top of the streamer's Top 10 rankings—it's a thriller, and people love them. In fact, according to FlixPatrol, most of the biggest streaming services currently have thrillers among their top five because they offer mystery, crank up the tension, and dare you to look away lest you miss something.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I finally tried an Atomic Linux desktop—and I'm no longer afraid to break my system

Tue, 07/21/2026 - 23:00

I have broken Linux desktops in all the usual ways. I have installed a random PPA because some forum comments from 2018 sounded confident. I have removed a package that looked useless, only to discover it was holding the login screen together with tape and ancestral prayers. Not only that, but I upgraded at midnight, watched the system return with a black screen, and then pretended this was “learning” (copeeee!).

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 must-watch HBO Max shows to binge this week (July 21-26)

Tue, 07/21/2026 - 22:30

HBO Max has a reputation to uphold. It's one of the O.G. premium cable networks and has been the home of prestige TV for decades—it's the home of the dragons, the mushroom-zombies, the goombahs, and the rich people misbehaving at luxury resorts. But it's also got a whole lot of weird and funny stuff to make a marathon out of.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I built a photo backup on a Raspberry Pi, and it beats Google Photos without the subscription

Tue, 07/21/2026 - 21:45

Google Photos caps your free storage at 15GB, and that isn't just your email—it is pooled between Drive, Gmail, Photos, and every other Google service. Given how many things it gets used for, that storage space disappears pretty quickly. If you need more storage, or if you use iCloud, you're basically forced to opt into a monthly subscription.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Prime Video shows I'm downloading on my phone before my next flight

Tue, 07/21/2026 - 20:30

When it comes to in-flight entertainment, there are two kinds of flyers—the ones who gamble on the random crud on the seat-back screen or the airplane Wi-Fi and those who download their entertainment the night before. Be the second kind. TV shows offer the ultimate flexibility when flying. You can watch a single episode between the drink cart and your nap, or binge a whole season on a long-haul flight—it's your call.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop holding the power button: How 'unsafe shutdowns' silently corrupt your SSD's mapping tables

Tue, 07/21/2026 - 20:12

If you've ever held the power button to shut your PC down, you've done an "unsafe shutdown," and chances are that your SSD wasn't too happy about it. The event was probably logged, adding up to your error count.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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