How-To Geek

The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is an aggressively mid-range Android phone. So much so that its flashy design, Glyph notification screen, and fun software make it tempting enough for someone to ditch a Samsung or Google flagship in favor of joining the Nothing bandwagon and saving some money in the process.

Today, we look back on Windows XP with rose-tinted glasses and a half-wish that Windows 11 could be that great. But we've forgotten that Windows XP didn't launch in its final state. Far from it—Windows XP was actually a nightmare when it first appeared.

High-performance sedans have redefined what it means to drive a practical car, blending everyday usability with levels of power once reserved for dedicated sports cars. In today’s market, some four-door models are capable of delivering acceleration and top-end performance that rival far more expensive coupes. One American super sedan takes that formula even further, packing nearly 500 horsepower into a package that looks as comfortable on the school run as it does on a racetrack.

It's easy to make yourself believe that you need one of the best graphics cards in order to run all the latest games, AI workloads, and other resource-heavy stuff.

Matter smart home devices are becoming increasingly popular. If your device offers Matter over Thread, you may assume that you need to buy a special hub before you can use it. However, you may already have some devices in your home that can do the job.

Microsoft PowerToys debuted with Windows 95, evolved during the Windows XP era, but was discontinued until Windows 10. In 2019, Microsoft revived it with a modern UI and made it open source. Even after three decades, it remains my go-to tool for improving Windows with extra features.

Adobe Lightroom feels like the boss of digital photography workflows, and it is well-earned. However, over time, the company has made questionable decisions. The shift to a mandatory subscription, combined with it needing more powerful computers and you feeling increasingly locked into its file management, has made it less appealing. Luckily, Darktable, a powerful, open-source raw editor, has also grown over time. This app gives you a budget-friendly way to leave the Adobe world. It gives you the technical control over your photos and true ownership of your files that Lightroom's cloud-focused approach has increasingly pushed aside, and it totally convinced me to finally cancel my Adobe subscription for good.

Smart displays like the Google Nest Hub sound cool, but they’re extremely limited in real life. Ironically, the display is the weakest part. You can make a much more useful “smart display” with any Android phone or tablet.

When it comes to watching movies and TV shows or listening to music, I’m mostly a streamer these days. That said, I always have a Jellyfin server running on my network just in case the internet fails me.

PowerShell is very intimidating, but it has stood the test of time in Windows 11. The command-line interface seems like an arcane realm reserved for IT professionals and developers. However, the core of the operating system is built on an automation engine that handles data as structured objects, giving everyday users the power to execute complex operations instantly. PowerShell is really a universally accessible productivity engine that Windows 11 hides in plain sight. In fact, it has a leg up over the terminal and command prompt.

Like you, I had to sit through years of those "You wouldn't steal a car" anti-piracy videos on DVDs that I had paid for. Ironically, people who actually pirated their DVDs didn't have to see any of that, but that's a conversation for another day.

A year and a half after releasing the Arrow Lake CPU lineup, which earned middling reviews, Intel is slated to launch its Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs (also known as Core Ultra 200S Plus) on March 26, 2026.

Your homelab is the perfect place to learn about both the good and bad sides of networking and server infrastructure. On the one hand, a homelab is an extremely useful tool for any tinkerer. On the other hand, it’s a security nightmare if not set up properly. Here are four privacy settings that most homelabbers get wrong, and how to fix them.

Windows Search is one of those features I want to like more than I actually do. It's built into the operating system, it's always one keypress away, and in theory it should be the fastest way to get anything done on your PC. In practice, it's often slow, inconsistent, and weirdly unreliable. I've had it miss apps that are clearly installed, ignore files I just opened, and hang long enough that I end up clicking around manually instead. At some point, you stop trusting it.

The Windows user interface is very mouse-oriented, but if you're willing to learn a few shortcuts, the keyboard can save you time and effort. These are some of the shortcuts I use daily.

With desktop 3D printers becoming so common, what used to be a really specialized manufacturing tech is now available for everyone. However, don't think this easy access means that modern 3D printing is just a simple, plug-and-play device. Getting reliable, high-quality results isn't about how much your printer costs; it's more about what you put into it.

Prepare for liftoff. March marks the arrival of Project Hail Mary, one of the first event movies of 2026. Ryan Gosling headlines the space odyssey as Dr. Ryland Grace, a science teacher sent into space to save the world. Along the way, Grace meets Rocky, an alien who becomes his friend and a partner in the mission.

Subcompact SUVs have become one of the most popular choices on the road, with buyers swapping small sedans and hatchbacks for something taller and more versatile. Automakers rushed in to meet the demand, packing the segment with compact crossovers aimed at commuters, young families, and city shoppers.

Visual Studio Code has switched to weekly updates, so new features and bug fixes are now arriving at a rapid pace. The new version 1.112 update is now available, with a significant upgrade for web development and a few more AI coding features.

The Nissan Versa is gone, and just like that, the Hyundai Venue takes the crown as America’s cheapest new car at $22,150. It’s not exactly fresh—this thing’s been around for a while—but it still nails the basics with a boxy design, a simple infotainment setup, and just enough punch for everyday driving.