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: 33 min 25 sec ago

Light guns, LaserDisc, and 240p games: Why I'm keeping my CRT TV

Mon, 04/13/2026 - 14:00

It's funny, for a long time people could barely give CRT TVs away. However, as people began to realize that CRTs have unique advantages over modern flat panels, the demand started going up, making it harder to get a good model for a reasonable price.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 7 Fedora cleanup commands freed up more space than I expected

Mon, 04/13/2026 - 13:30

Fedora is known for its cutting-edge software, stability, and clean implementation of upstream technologies, but even it can accumulate digital clutter over time.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 ESP32 projects that are far more useful than they have any right to be

Mon, 04/13/2026 - 13:00

ESP32 boards are inexpensive, tiny, and easy to work with, which makes them the perfect choice when you need to DIY a solution to a problem. Because they're so widely supported and work with so many components, you can often build something that doesn't have an off-the-shelf counterpart, giving you the flexibility to create something unique that suits your needs.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 toxic Linux behaviors that drive away newcomers (and how to fix them)

Mon, 04/13/2026 - 12:30

Whether you're new to the Linux community or a hardened veteran, you've undoubtedly encountered grumpy graybeards or toxic gatekeeping. Like many communities out there, Linux has its internal divisions and senseless tribalism. Countless arguments have raged over nothing, with many things said yet nothing resolved; I comment on four kinds of conflict that keep the Linux community perpetually divided.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Thinking about leasing a car in 2026? Here’s when the math actually makes sense

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 23:30

Vehicle leasing has seen wild swings in popularity over the decades. In the 1990s, leasing exploded as an affordability option, allowing people to drive high-end luxury cars for a fraction of what the monthly payment would be through financing.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This 25-year-old Windows tool is better than Task Manager

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 22:46

No Windows experience is complete without occasionally opening the Task Manager to figure out which application is using all of your RAM, or to end a program that has been frozen for ten minutes with no hope in sight. But it isn't even the best tool for the job—there is something else you should be using instead.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Godzilla's golden age is gone—these 5 classic films prove why modern versions can't compete

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 22:00

Godzilla is easily one of the most iconic Kaiju of all time, and now most of his films can be found on HBO Max. Relatively recently, Kaiju and many other recognizable Toho figures have been rebooted into the Monsterverse. Yet, all these modern films only cement the fact that the King of Kaiju's golden era is far behind him.

Categories: IT General, Technology

2026 Hyundai Tucson trim guide: Which one actually belongs in your driveway

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 21:45

The 2026 Hyundai Tucson remains a heavy hitter in the compact SUV segment, offering a good mix of style, technology, and practicality. With a lineup that includes gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains, it covers a broad range of needs for potential buyers, from efficient daily driving to more rugged weekend use.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don't buy a soundbar, 10-year-old surround systems are better and cheaper

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 21:30

Soundbars offer convenience and are a fairly simple way to significantly upgrade the sound quality of your TV. If you're looking for the best sound for your dollar, however, then an old surround sound system might be a better choice.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You need to try this CarPlay customization trick that no one talks about

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 21:00

When you use CarPlay, you probably just start some music, enter a destination, and drive off. However, there is a lesser-known feature that can make your CarPlay experience a lot more personal and fun: setting a custom greeting or sound when it connects to your car.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 everyday items I no longer have to buy thanks to 3D printing

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 20:45

Owning a 3D printer comes with the promise that you can just make some stuff yourself now instead of buying it from the store. At least, that's what you tell yourself as you place your order for the magic factory box, but most of us don't actually end up doing that at all.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Modern phones are locked down, but this legendary HTC ran every operating system imaginable (even Ubuntu)

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 20:00

When you pick out a phone, you’re also picking out the operating system—that typically means Android or iOS. What if a phone didn’t follow those rules? What if it could run any OS you wanted? This is the story of the legendary HTC HD2.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 landmark animated films that still stop people in their tracks

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 19:45

Animation is my favorite visual medium, and I have watched an incredible amount of it in my life, but these five movies are without any doubt ones that each represent a major turning point in the art form. One could easily do a top 100 list too, given the near-century of animation to choose from, but for my money, these are the key titles.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I use Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT every day—here's the only one you should pay for

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 19:30

I use Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude almost every day, both for work and for my own projects. Each service has its strengths and weaknesses, and you can access a lot of the features for free. The paid plans offer even more features, but if you only want to pay for one, there's a clear winner.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don't throw away your old GPU: It's the secret to a better Plex server

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 19:00

Plex streaming isn't just a matter of having a hard drive spacious enough to fit your collection of movies and shows. It turns out, though, that in order to have an optimal experience, you need a lot of things, including a computer capable enough to decode your media into something watchable on your specific form factor. Your old GPU can go a long way at helping you out with this.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 annoying Spotify settings you need to turn off now (and why)

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 18:15

We all have certain icks with our favorite apps—a bug, subpar display, long navigation, or even core features that we want to change to our liking. With streaming platforms like Spotify, you can get annoyed quickly when these issues manifest every day.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Home Assistant automations that aren't just solutions in search of a problem

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 17:45

There are plenty of Home Assistant automations that look impressive but are really just showing off what the smart home software can do. Having an AI generate a snarky description of the person at the front door when the doorbell rings is fun but not really necessary. There are some automations that are genuinely useful, however.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 reasons I can no longer use Windows as my daily driver

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 17:30

I'm a recovering Windows user. From Windows 3.11 to earlier this year, I've always had a love-hate relationship with Microsoft's flagship OS.

Categories: IT General, Technology

My smartphone made me verify my age, and you might be next

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 17:15

When I updated my iPhone to the latest version of iOS, I was greeted with an unexpected demand: verify my age in order to continue to have access to some features. Currently, this only applies to people in the UK, but it's likely coming to your neighborhood, too.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 8 GNOME extensions transform a minimal desktop into a powerhouse

Sun, 04/12/2026 - 17:00

GNOME aims to be simple to use, with a minimal interface, a small set of core apps, and basic customization available by default. But GNOME extensions can offer almost anything you might miss from a fuller-featured desktop environment.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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