How-To Geek

There are all manner of video game-themed models contributed by a community of dedicated fans, but there are also occasions when the studios responsible for those games get in on the action too. Inspired by a recent Factorio release, this week we’ll take a look at some official 3D printing models for popular video games.

I've always liked the idea of a projector, and I've used them plenty of times at work over the years, but the tradeoffs were never worth the increased picture size for me until recently. First I was tempted by a new generation of portable LED projector, but now laser projectors are becoming affordable on a paltry writer's income, and I'm mighty tempted.

The first Google Pixel was released 10 years ago on October 20, 2016, with one mission: to raise the bar for Android through Google's own hardware and software. It replaced the Nexus line and ushered in an era in which Google was, to a degree, competing with its own phone and tablet partners.

Time is the enemy of old tech. Fortunately, cheap modern tools like the ESP32 can breathe new life into retro computing hardware, either by enhancing old functionality or replacing components that are difficult to get working today.

There's nothing quite like getting an error message on your Windows PC, only to discover that you can't always copy the text to find out what went wrong. I used to resort to typing the message into a search engine until my sister showed me a keyboard shortcut I've used for troubleshooting ever since.

By now, you've probably heard that enabling an EXPO (AMD) or XMP (Intel) profile in your motherboard's BIOS can improve RAM performance. These predefined overclocking profiles are tested by the memory manufacturer and should work in most systems without issue.

AI coding subscriptions have become expensive, and many developers want a cheaper way in. OpenCode Go promises capable coding agents for a fraction of the usual cost. Here is what it is, how it compares with Claude Code, and who should consider switching. Spoiler alert: it's not better, but it might be better for you anyway.

As much as I would love to say I've fully converted to physical media, most of my music listening still happens on my phone. But I really enjoy sitting in my den and listening to my turntable and cassette deck. Combining those two experiences was easier than I thought.

As the leaves start to turn and the days draw shorter, now is a great time to curl up on the sofa with horror films and hot drinks. But entertainment and liquid sugar can only get you so far; to really relax into fall, you also need the right ambiance.

Fedora has a reputation as the Linux distribution that gets things right first. A lot of people like it, and I get why. Spend some real time with it, though, and a different picture appears: a fast, modern base system wrapped in a desktop that still expects you to finish the job yourself. I tried it out, and honestly, I don't get the hype.

The Google Pixel Watch is wonderful. It's not only the 'official' smartwatch for Android users, but it also stands on its own with a distinctive look, timely software updates, and long battery life.

According to Jeff Goldblum, life finds a way, but a more accurate take is that life gets in the way. I have so many hobbies that I struggle to find time for, as so much of my day is taken up with work, parenting, and general life admin. While tech is often seen as the villain, there are some ways that tech has finally helped me to do more of the hobbies I love.

With Halloween just two weeks out, Netflix is stocking its shelves with scream-inducing things to watch. Josh Hartnett's and his Newfie accent are making waves with the sea-creature thriller Below, and the Filipino horror series Balaraw: Blood Island is set to arrive on October 29.

I recently rebuilt my NAS around an Intel N100 motherboard. I also have a DAS and another NAS for storing my files. Despite having several storage options, I found that accessing my most frequently used files over the network wasn’t as fast as I wanted. Instead of upgrading everything or replacing my existing storage hardware, I started looking at how I could organize my files differently.

One moment, you believe that Jon Bon Jovi might be your boyfriend, and the next minute, you're sending him thousands of dollars only to find out it's all a scam. Award-winning journalist Mariana van Zeller sets out to uncover the truth behind romance scammers in Super Scam Me, a documentary special coming to National Geographic, Hulu, and Disney+.

VLC has been around since 1996, when Google and YouTube didn’t exist. For nearly three decades now, the orange traffic cone has remained a familiar sight on computers. Several media players and file formats have come and gone, but VLC quietly keeps doing what it does best: playing media without asking you to pay. That longevity isn’t about nostalgia. VLC began as a student project before becoming open-source software that now works across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Beyond just handling audio and video formats, it also bundles a collection of built-in tools that don’t require separate plugins or apps.

RCS was supposed to fix texting. I personally held out hope for it, a lot. Yet, years after Google began pushing it, the experience still feels inconsistent and incomplete. What went wrong?

Red Hat gutted CentOS in 2020, and after CentOS 7 reached its final EOL in June 2024, countless servers lost their free, stable foundation. Three distributions, depending on who you ask, are filling that gap right now, each with a slightly different philosophy. Here is how CentOS Stream, Rocky Linux, and AlmaLinux compare, and what each means for administrators today.

Keeping on top of NFL scores can feel like a full-time job. If you're in a fantasy league, it can be hard to know how well you're doing without constantly checking your phone. I decided to build a scoreboard using a cheap ESP32 board to keep me informed while I'm at my desk.

Nothing ruins a long drive like losing 30% of your battery before you reach your destination.