How-To Geek

Warm up those print beds, the weekend is here! That means it’s time to extrude some filament in the pursuit of some exciting new 3D printing projects. This week’s projects all rely on additional parts from elsewhere, but there’s plenty of value to be had from them.

If your Wi-Fi connection is constantly disappointing you, there's one commonly recommended fix: setting up a mesh system. But that's going to cost you some money, and you might not even need one.

Let's be honest: Notifications on Android Auto can be super annoying. Between lengthy group messages and random app alerts, it's easy to get overwhelmed while driving. The good news is that there are ways to fine-tune exactly how and which notifications appear on your Android Auto screen.

When we think of the Clock app, we see it as nothing more than a way to check the time or set alarms. But beyond its obvious purpose, it includes a hidden feature, Focused Sessions, that can help you stay focused. If you’ve missed this feature until now, try it out and work with fewer distractions.

If you use modern technology regularly, there are doubtless certain apps difficult to imagine going without. In the world of Linux distributions, there's no universal default set of apps, so you sort of have to forge your own path. After countless Linux desktop setups, here are my software essentials.

Local LLMs can give you a lot of the features of popular AI chatbots without the privacy concerns. The trouble is, not every computer is capable of running every model. The good news is that you can easily find the most capable models that will run on your PC or Mac using a free and open-source tool.

Having a NAS in a homelab is crucial, but 2026 is probably the worst time I’ve ever seen to buy a brand-new NAS. So, instead, I turn to the one place that hasn’t been revenged by supply shortages—the used market.

Let’s get this out of the way: I’m old. The first smartphone I owned was released in 2009. Back then, Android phones looked wildly different—and not just on the outside. It was a strange time for software design, but I remember it fondly.

Building a Power Query model in Excel only to refresh it manually is like buying a self-driving car and steering it by hand. While many reach for clunky VBA macros to automate the task, those scripts trigger security warnings and require constant maintenance. Here's the safer, set-and-forget way to do it.

Moving files shouldn’t feel like a multistep process. Yet most of the tools we use today still rely on the same slow routine: upload the file to the cloud, generate a link, then wait for the other person to download it. The bigger the file, the longer the wait. And the more likely you’ll run into size limits along the way.

Filling an SSD to the brim doesn't mean that you'll instantly kill your drive, but it still doesn't mean that it's something I can recommend doing. There are plenty of reasons to give your SSD a bit of breathing room.

I stream music on Spotify as much as the next guy, but regrettably, using the app's Linux desktop client isn't the most wholesome experience. Don't get me wrong; if all you need is basic music streaming, you'll (probably) have no complaints. Sadly, the moment your needs stretch beyond that, you'll quickly notice that Spotify's Linux desktop app still needs some work.

My smart home got its start with Samsung SmartThings, and I’m glad it did. Samsung has some of the best support for Matter and, compared to the companies behind the other “big four” smart home platforms, is the most enthusiastic about smart homes. I’ve since experimented with more private alternatives that aren’t dependent on the cloud, but there remain aspects of SmartThings that it has done best.

Cheers to the weekend. While some of you will be tuning in for March Madness, others might be trying to catch up on some of their TV shows. If Paramount+ is one of your streaming services, then this guide is for you. Paramount+ features original programming and shows from broadcast television.

Power tools are key to getting the most out of raw materials like wood and metal, while 3D printers allow you to do the same with plastic filament. So why not combine these two superpowers and get more from your power tools with a 3D printer? That’s exactly what many people have already done.

This weekend on Netflix, all eyes will be on Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, one of the most anticipated movies of 2026. The film marks the return of Cillian Murphy as the iconic Tommy Shelby. We understand that the Peaky Blinders movie will be a priority for many Netflix users. Afterward, we have three shows that should be next in your queue.

If your digital archives still house rows of DOC files, you're essentially keeping a fleet of 1998 Honda Civics in your garage. They were reliable back in the day, but they lack the airbags, fuel efficiency, and security of a modern ride. It's time to trade them in for the DOCX standard.

13 years ago, Cillian Murphy first donned his iconic undercut and newsboy cap in Peaky Blinders, a crime drama about a Birmingham gang post-World War I. The show ran for six seasons on BBC and Netflix, with its final episodes airing in 2022. However, Tommy Shelby's story is not over, as the character returns for the Netflix movie, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.

The Lexus ES has long been the cornerstone of the Japanese luxury brand, a sedan defined by its elegance, comfort, and sporty driving dynamics. Lexus fans may recall how the ES arrived alongside the flagship LS in 1989, and over the last three decades, it has built a reputation for giving buyers the executive treatment at a competitive starting MSRP.

Ryan Gosling is one of Hollywood's most likable movie stars. His Canadian charm paired with his handsome looks makes for a winning formula. Gosling's versatility is his greatest asset. The three-time Oscar nominee can play someone who steals your heart in The Notebook, just as he can easily beat you to a pulp in Drive. I'm glad to see the struggling cornerback in Remember the Titans got back on his feet.