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We explain technology. Learn more with our articles, reviews, tips, and the best answers to your most pressing tech questions.
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I didn't know my Galaxy fingerprint sensor could launch apps until I found this hidden Good Lock feature

Tue, 07/21/2026 - 13:45

You know your Samsung Galaxy phone has a fingerprint scanner. But what you might not know is that the fingerprint scanner can be used to launch apps and shortcuts (I didn’t). Samsung hid this ability behind a poorly named feature in Good Lock, and I’m glad to have found it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I'm tired of talking to AI, so I built a system that does the talking for me

Tue, 07/21/2026 - 13:30

The way to use a chatbot is given in the name. They are designed to be used by having two-way conversations with the LLM using natural language. You type something into the chatbot, and it replies. In some cases, continually typing stuff into a chatbot isn't the most efficient way to do things, so I set up a system that does it for me.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This $44,000 Toyota SUV quietly beats its Lexus twin on fuel economy

Tue, 07/21/2026 - 13:15

Lexus is Toyota's luxury division, but Toyota often builds a Lexus-badged twin to capture buyers who want that extra refinement without the higher sticker price. The Grand Highlander and the Lexus TX mimic that pattern as closely as any two vehicles have. Both are three-row midsize SUVs, both ride on a version of the same platform, and both come from the same Toyota Motor Manufacturing plant in Princeton, Indiana.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your monitor's HDMI port is a trap—here's why DisplayPort matters

Tue, 07/21/2026 - 13:00

Buying a high-end monitor and then plugging it in with whatever cable came in the box is something most people do without thinking twice. HDMI is everywhere; the port fits, and the picture shows up, so everything seems fine. The problem is that there are plenty of issues that no one talks about. The cable and port you're using matter more than most people realize, and HDMI specifically has some limitations that aren't obvious from the outside.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your Windows PC has an expiration date—here's how to find it

Tue, 07/21/2026 - 12:30

Your PC isn't going to switch itself off one day. But the version of Windows sitting on it right now? It has a shelf life. And it's shorter than you'd think. You've probably heard the headlines about Windows 10 riding off into the sunset. This is a bit different.

Categories: IT General, Technology

DeWalt's battery lineup has a compatibility trap most buyers miss

Tue, 07/21/2026 - 12:00

Buying into a tool ecosystem is supposed to mean your gear works together. That's the whole point of sticking with one brand. DeWalt has leaned hard on that idea with FlexVolt. Unfortunately, it does come with a lot of stipulations, and it can feel like a trap if you don't know any better. While I like DeWalt, and they can be budget friendly, I think it could be clearer in its marketing for its batteries.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I use this overlooked Excel function to turn my boring worksheets into lightweight apps

Tue, 07/21/2026 - 11:30

Excel isn't known for being pretty, but the overlooked IMAGE function changes that. I'd used the IMAGE function before for simple visuals, but I wanted to see how far it could go. So I put it to the test by building a couple of interactive tools, and by the end, my spreadsheets felt more like apps than worksheets.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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