How-To Geek

In my earliest years of using Android, I often had an animated forest as my background, or fish wading through water. I forgot about live wallpapers for most of the last ten years, but now I’ve landed on a new favorite.

If you're running Linux on 30-plus year old hardware, lend me your ears: in recent weeks the Linux kernel has been updated to no longer support Intel 486 and 586 processors. Here's why it's happening, and how you can check the CPU in your device.

The family car has come a long way—morphing from sedans to station wagons, minivans to SUVs—shaped by shifting needs and changing times. And now, we’ve arrived at the era of the all-in-one crossover.

There are things that make a home feel calming, and the same is true of our phones. Here are four apps I’ve personally installed that have done a lot to reduce the anxieties I feel when using my phone.

If you're ever in the mood for something that's easy to pick up and play, look no further than browser games. While there's a seemingly endless supply of relaxing time-wasters and addictive score-chasers made specifically for browsers, you can also find browser ports of retro gaming classics from all genres.

Thanks to a shipping snafu, I only received my Nintendo Switch 2 a week after launch, but since then I've been making up for lost time. However, like most people, what I've mainly ended up playing are original Switch games, but taking advantage of the additional horsepower of the new console.

As much as I want my PC to run as smoothly as possible and avoid running into issues, I don't take exceptionally good care of it. Sometimes, old habits get the best of me, and I find myself slipping into a lack of maintenance that doesn't do my computer any favors.

Building a PC is equal parts exciting and frustrating. There's nothing quite like gaming on a new PC for the first time, but with so many components to think about, getting there is a challenge. While most hardware choice comes down to personal preference, one small detail you shouldn't overlook is RAM clearance.

Ever accidentally copy something very personal into your work chat? It's a nightmare scenario for anyone who uses their personal device for work (employers might be worried about data moving in the other direction, too). Here's how to avoid mixing work with play with virtual machines.

Are you frustrated with free productivity apps offering bare-bones functionality? Or annoyed by paying a monthly fee for apps that fail to make you any more productive? Well, say hello to Super Productivity—a free app boasting powerful features that’ll put premium alternatives to shame!

Electric cars are more than just an eco-friendly trend—they’re fast becoming the go-to choice for drivers who want to ditch gas without the guilt. And while going electric used to feel like a leap, today’s EVs come packed with perks that make the switch easier than ever.

If you want to kick off your day with a dose of motivation, like I do, you can get your Windows 11 PC to show you your chosen motivational quotes every morning. Setting this up is easier than you think, and I’ll walk you through the steps.

There is so much to love about mini PCs. These tiny little boxes pack all the capabilities that used to require a bulky desktop tower. I want one, I really do—I’ve just never had a practical need.

The GameCube era was one of Nintendo’s most creatively experimental periods, and it's long overdue for more representation on Nintendo Switch Online. At the time of writing, only three GameCube titles have made their way to Switch Online on the Switch 2: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soulcalibur II.

Wondering how to prepare your child for a future where technical literacy matters more than ever? While giving them a computer is definitely a start, I believe the choice of operating system will play a more important role. That’s why my kids’ first PC will run Linux.

It's ironic that the very job I do—writing for online publications—killed technology magazines over the last ten years or so. Circulation started to drop when you could get pretty much the same content, instantly, and for free as long as you can put up with a little advertising to pay the bills—thanks for that, by the way!

People these days obsess over minimalistic user interfaces, to the point that they sacrifice functionality for aesthetics, and I get it. I keep my desktop fairly clean, too. But when it comes to my taskbar, it’s a different story; I keep every system tray icon shown, and it's been working great for me.

USB ports don’t all offer the same speed. Using a slower port can cause delays in file transfers, slower charging, and poor performance for high-speed devices. So, how can you identify the fastest one? You can figure this out by checking the port symbol or color, or performing a quick speed test.

SentinelPro is a powerful, all-in-one analytics platform offering real-time insights, full data ownership, and both free and affordable paid plans for businesses of all sizes.

If you join meetings on your Windows 11 PC, you can make your system prepare for the upcoming meetings by itself. Thanks to a custom script, your computer can automatically adjust the brightness, enable do-not-disturb mode, close distracting apps, and launch your meeting apps.