How-To Geek

You might not have to go with SpaceX's Starlink to get full satellite service on your phone. Amazon has requested approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch satellites for a Leo Direct-to-Device service with deployment starting in 2028.

Subcompact SUVs have become one of the hottest segments in the market as buyers look for affordable, practical vehicles that keep ownership costs in check. The Toyota Corolla Cross has long been a default choice thanks to its reputation for reliability, but the competition has caught up quickly, with newer rivals offering more space, technology, and refinement for similar money.

It's the last week of the month, and theaters are packed thanks to The Odyssey and soon-to-be-released Spider-Man: Brand New Day. At home, the major streamers are releasing a slew of movies before the calendar turns to August. The best new movie to hit streaming this week—and my top selection—happens to be one of the most shocking movies of the year. It stars two A-list actors and hails from A24. Need I say more?

QR codes are one of those things that became so normal so fast that most people stopped thinking about them entirely. You see a square, you point your phone at it, and you go wherever it sends you. That's normally how it works. That automatic trust is exactly what makes them worth understanding better. That blind trust is a big issue, and you need to break the habit.

I can’t believe we’re already knee-deep in summer listings with another month of premieres and library additions. Paramount+ has released its August lineup, and while it features a massive lineup of live sports, there is also a stacked lineup of TV and movies hitting the service.

Even old and tiny SSDs can find a new job if you give them the chance to, and in this economy, it's much better to get creative than to open up your wallet.

Software is one of the easiest business expenses to underestimate. Between Windows, Microsoft Office, VPNs, and creative tools, costs can add up quickly, especially for small businesses and freelancers.

These are some of my trusty community plugins Obsidian that I use daily on my phone and my computer. For readers who don't know, Obsidian is a markdown app where you can take notes, build knowledge libraries, draft and publish your writing, etc. You can use it vanilla too, but it's missing some critical features out of the box, which I patch with open-source plugins developed by the Obsidian community.

This week on Amazon Prime Video, we continue to explore some of the platform’s critically acclaimed movies. From gripping true stories to searing character studies, each of our selections pulls you into its authentic world and, at just the right time, releases you with its indelible impression, showcasing its cinematic commitment.

We all use our phones for navigation when we need to get from one place to another, and that includes places we probably should know how to get to on our own. As a result, I have started using contact integration in Google Maps whenever I visit family and friends. It's so much easier than typing.

I use local LLMs on a daily basis, but in my personal setup, they're only really useful for a limited selection of tasks. I wanted to see how a local LLM could handle everyday tasks. My most powerful device for running LLMs is my M2 MacBook Air with only 8GB of RAM, so while more powerful hardware could do much more, these results should broadly match what you can do on similar hardware.

The motherboard is the most important component in your PC. It's the massive PCB (Printed Circuit Board) that literally brings all of your components together. It allows your components to communicate with one another, and it contains the firmware that your computer needs to start up before the operating system takes over.

You may be in a rush to replace or get new power tools, but you really shouldn't try to buy everything you can. Manufacturers tend to add in things that help you pick their kits. It's better to just grab all the tools you need as extra additions. It's like buying your loyalty to a battery platform because you should never buy off brand, and everything else follows from that one decision.

The Recycle Bin was introduced in Windows 95 to replace clunky file-recovery methods and provide a safety net in case you delete something by mistake.

Most people assume Python in Excel is something you use for complex data analysis. I found it useful for a much simpler reason: it helped me deal with the spreadsheet jobs I normally leave until later. Splitting messy names, comparing lists, and turning numbers into written insights became much easier without relying on complicated formulas or Power Query.

It's a classic question in the world of electronic devices: can it run Doom? For a Raspberry Pi 3B+, the answer is a resounding yes. Doom is now more than 30 years old, so a more pertinent question is: can it run a local LLM? I took an LLM for a spin on a Raspberry Pi to see what was possible.

Most people who step outside of Windows and macOS assume Linux is the only alternative worth taking seriously. That's understandable, since Linux has a loyal community and many different distros. The operating systems covered here each exist because they solve something Linux can't. They also do it on hardware you already own without handing data to Microsoft or Apple.

Flashforge has been a stalwart in the 3D printer industry for many years now, but the Creator 5 Pro is the 3D printer to put them back on the map. With a heated (and HEPA13 filtered) chamber and four independent direct-drive print heads, the Flashforge Creator 5 Pro will be what ushers in a new era of 3D printing, and I'm here for it.

Luxury SUVs have never been more impressive, but they've also never been more expensive. Premium brands continue to command hefty price tags, even as many of the features that once defined the segment have become increasingly common elsewhere.

Most people have played around with the smart automation features on our phones. Between Samsung's routines, Google Assistant, and Gemini, it feels like there are plenty of ways to automate a job. However, I've always found that they're disappointingly surface-level, especially when you compare them to the Shortcuts app for iPhones, which is stellar.