How-To Geek

Battery technology in smartphones has been steadily progressing for a while, but over the past couple of years, we've seen a major leap. This is thanks to a new type of silicon-carbon battery, which offers much higher energy density. After using this tech in my new phone, I’m completely sold on its potential.

For those who want to binge-watch a bunch of TV series or watch endless movies, Netflix has long been the go-to destination. So much, in fact, that almost everyone has a subscription these days. For years, it was great, but I don't think that's true anymore.

Like a lot of people, I put up with frustrations because I don't know there's an alternative. This happened with my Mamba environment for data science. Then I found Pixi. This new tool solved my headaches. It might solve yours, and you don't need to be a a data scientist to use it.

SSDs are some of the most reliable forms of storage. In fact, when treated well, they might be up there as the most reliable consumer option for backups. But they can still fail even at 100% health, for any reason whatsoever, at any given time—so it's easy to spiral into anxiety when yours starts behaving weirdly.

Family SUVs need to balance a long list of priorities—space, comfort, safety, and fuel efficiency—without pushing the price beyond what most households can afford. While many midsize SUVs offer one or two of these strengths, few manage to deliver them all in a single package. The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid stands out as a rare exception, combining practicality and efficiency in a way that makes it especially appealing for modern families.

Did you recently lay your eyes on Deepin Linux and think to yourself: this is the best-looking Linux distro ever—why don't more people recommend it? Well, I, too, agree that Deepin is beautiful, but it's plagued with too many security issues. That's one of the reasons why I'll never use it, and why I recommend others avoid it too.

AI has made many things easier; almost anyone can vibe-code something usable without any programming knowledge. Unfortunately, thanks to AI, it's also never been easier to hack someone's smart home.

Microsoft Excel's default column charts are fine for a quick glance, but they often feel generic and don't tell the whole story. By making a few small tweaks and using hidden data series, I turn boring visuals into custom dashboard tools that give me a much more useful view of my data. Here's how you can too.

Google didn't rock the boat for this year's budget Pixel. Instead, the company fully delivered on what the Pixel 9a wanted to be. While this release doesn't quite feel like a fully realized sequel, the Pixel 10a is still a better phone and one that's easy to recommend.

If you've ever felt that Microsoft PowerPoint has weak image-editing tools, that may finally be changing. A new update adds AI-powered editing features that let you erase objects, move subjects, upscale images, and even edit text directly inside a slide.

Physical media are having a bit of a revival as I write this, as old and new generations discover the weaknesses in the streaming model. Shows and movies become available nowhere, and digital platforms offer no way to truly own and control the media you care about.

Recently, I've seen a huge number of people promoting apps on forums. These are apps that they've vibe coded themselves, and that they're trying to monetize. There are so many reasons why you shouldn't pay for these apps.

Not all hybrids are built the same. The word “hybrid” often brings the Toyota Prius to mind, but that famous fuel-sipper represents just one approach to hybrid technology—and it’s far from the only one on the road today.

March is ripe for must-see TV. While 2026 has seen a fair number of new releases so far, they’re nothing compared to the superstar shows that the streaming world is dropping on us viewers this month.

Our time is limited, but there’s a nearly unlimited number of podcasts, audiobooks, and YouTube videos to watch. You wouldn’t be alone if you turned to the seemingly innocent “1.5x” or 2x” speed button as a solution, but at what cost?

Smartphones have gotten ridiculously good over the years. Screen resolutions went from 480p to 4K, performance has more than quadrupled, and cameras are well over 20MP. They’re super thin and sleek now, too, and yet some would have you believe thickness is still a problem. It’s not.

Netflix's new additions on the movie front are warming up like the weather is, with some interesting picks landing in the streamer's recent Top 10 (at time of writing), including Expendables 4, The Addams Family animated movie, K-Pop Demon Hunters (37 weeks and counting!), and a couple on the list below.

Compact SUVs have come a long way in a short time. What started as a niche alternative about a decade ago is now the default choice for families, and just about every automaker—from budget brands to luxury heavyweights—wants a slice of the segment.

Smart buttons are a useful way to trigger scenes and automations in your smart home. With Home Assistant, I've found that sometimes NFC tags can be more useful, as they allow me to know not just when a tag was scanned, but also the device that scanned it.

2025 has seen some of the biggest leaps forward for folding smartphones. With its newly refined look, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the most well-received foldable to date. And yet, while these book-style devices are getting all the attention, it'll be the smaller flip phones that ultimately win out.