How-To Geek

Vehicle thefts in the United States fell 23% during the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to the latest analysis from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). The organization credits the collective efforts of law enforcement, automakers, and insurers for the drop, yet some common everyday vehicles still top the list of the most stolen vehicles.

Smart plugs are a great way to start your smart home journey. They can turn almost any device from dumb to smart, allowing you to turn them on and off remotely or as part of an automation. However, there's a lot more you can do with smart plugs beyond turning things on and off.

Android’s history with tablets is filled with failures. Ironically, one of the most sought-after Android tablets didn’t actually launch with Android at all, but it had a lasting impact on the platform. This is the story of the HP TouchPad.

Don't you just love it when technology just won't cooperate? That sinking feeling when you realize you're going to need to reinstall the OS, and no amount of quick fixes is doing the trick, and everything's going to take forever to fix (if it even can be fixed). Been there, done that.

The cross-platform notes tool Obsidian just received a massive update. Obsidian 1.12 on desktop platforms includes a command line interface for scripting and automating with your notes, and the mobile apps have a few new tricks as well.

Three-row family SUVs are designed to excel at space, comfort, and everyday versatility, and the Toyota Grand Highlander has quickly become one of the segment’s strongest benchmarks. It promises generous passenger room, efficient powertrains, and the kind of practicality modern families demand. But in 2026, a familiar rival is quietly outperforming it in the very areas that matter most to buyers looking for maximum value.

Digging for great documentaries on Prime Video is a little like rummaging through a giant media closet—you know there's a treasure trove in there, but you just have to move a few dusty boxes around to find them. Well, I've found three near-perfectly scored choices for you this weekend.

Not everything needs to be an hours-long project. Sometimes you just want to 3D print an item and have it in your hands in an hour or less. Sometimes the “project” is little more than bulk-printing a bunch of items and putting them all around your house.

Hybrid SUVs are usually marketed as fuel-saving alternatives, but affordability often takes a back seat to technology and features. In today’s market, finding a vehicle that delivers outstanding efficiency without pushing past budget limits is becoming increasingly rare. Yet one compact hybrid SUV manages to lead on both fronts, offering class-leading fuel economy while remaining the most affordable option in its segment.

Spotify is obviously best known for music streaming, but it’s recently been making a huge push into audiobooks. Over the last year, the streaming service has added several features that bring it up to speed with and even go beyond Audible. The latest addition lets you see charts for books just like you can for podcasts.

Netflix is the world's largest streaming service, chock full of its own award-winning original movies and shows, as well as titles it picks up from other studios. But when things get crowded each month with all the lovely new content coming in, and some of the licensed stuff starts to expire, it's time to trim things down. And that means you'd better hop to it and watch all these movies and shows leaving the service in March, before it's too late.

Netflix has more documentaries and docuseries than you can shake a remote at, and there are always new ones being added, which is awesome when you're in a curious mood, but brutal when you just want to find something to watch. I'm here to make that easy for you.

More and more people are looking for a break from screens and endless notifications. The good news is you might already have everything you need to build your own “minimalist phone,” and it’s already right there in your pocket.

If you’re like me, you’ve probably collected a pile of accessories for your Apple devices. No matter which device you own, there’s always an accessory explicitly made for it. The problem comes when it’s time to upgrade. Suddenly, those accessories may no longer be compatible, and Apple doesn't care.

If you spot a really good deal on a USB flash drive, you might be tempted to shop. I'm here to tell you: Stop for a second.

If you spend significant time debugging systems, analyzing servers, or reviewing application behavior, you know that logs are the most valuable and most exhausting part of your workflow. They are detailed, precise, and completely chaotic depending on your system’s temperament that day. I have stared at hundreds of GB of logs in a single session, watching lines scroll past like a waterfall.

RISC-V is the hot new CPU architecture on the block, with the potential to displace x86 and ARM processors in everything from tablets to servers. Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu Linux, says RISC-V computing will be ready for the masses in 2026.

Smart home automation is fun, but it can also have a serious side. You can use Home Assistant to help protect you and your home. Here are some safety-focused projects you might want to try out this weekend.

Who's up for some insightful entertainment on Amazon Prime Video this weekend? I'm super excited because one of my absolute favorite TV shows on the planet is finally available to stream again, and it hasn't been for quite some time now. Don't worry; you know I've included it below in my recommendations.

Reliability is front and center for car shoppers in 2026, especially in the luxury space. With prices climbing and depreciation hitting harder than ever, more buyers are planning to hang on to their cars instead of flipping them after a few years.