How-To Geek

I love my Bambu Lab printers, but I got tired of the software lock-in and decided to see how well I could recreate it with community tools. I was actually able to get remote monitoring and notifications working fairly well without a ton of work, and here's how I did it.

Have you ever wondered why Arch Linux users can’t stop mentioning that they use Arch, by the way? Did you want to try Arch Linux yourself, but then saw the technically demanding installation process and told yourself, “Oh, that’s why”? Well, I’m happy to tell you that Arch Linux is no longer as hard to install as it used to be — and hasn’t been for some time now. Even if you don’t come from a technical background, you can install and set up Arch in an afternoon.

Whether you just got a new Wi-Fi router or you're busy trying a bunch of tricks to get faster speeds and a more reliable connection, one small setup decision could be sabotaging your home network. A common mistake is to bundle the power adapter and extra cable into a tidy coil right behind the router, but here's why I keep the power brick as far away as possible.

WinRAR is probably one of the most common third-party apps found on countless Windows PCs around the world, and for good reason. While it's technically paid software, you can use it for as long as you like without paying a dime, it handles a wide selection of archive formats, and it resides in the Windows context menu, so you don't even have to open it to use it.

If you're keeping up with the AI trend, you might be familiar with big tech companies like Apple and Google promising personalized AI experiences. Apple calls it Apple Intelligence, while Google calls it Personal Intelligence on its Gemini platform.

It’s been an interesting year for 3D printers. We’ve had brand new models, updated favorites, and several companies making big strides to push the technology forward. We’ve also had some disappointments that have me feeling a little more skeptical than I was last year.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve opened Google Maps, typed in my destination, and blindly followed the blue arrow as if it knows my life inside out. Whether I’m rushing to pick my daughter up from her drawing class or trying to find a new restaurant, I usually let Maps take over. But recently, I realized I’ve been using Google Maps the same way I did when I first installed it. It turns out I was leaving several underused features untouched. If you want more from Google Maps, go through the settings below. They might make you realize how much more Maps can do beyond basic navigation.

For years, Netflix remained steadfast in its belief in putting its biggest original movies on the service and only allowing small theatrical windows for its awards-season contenders. That mindset is slowly starting to change, as Netflix will allow larger theatrical rollouts for its originals. The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth will receive a two-week IMAX release this Thanksgiving, and Narnia: The Magician's Nephew will get a wide theatrical release starting in February 2027.

If you want a fast, stable connection, and you want to do it properly, you go wired. We all know this, but just because wired is the right answer doesn't mean there's no wrong way to do it. If you traipse one long cable all around the house and out to the annex, you may hit a wall you didn't know existed. Ethernet has a hard distance ceiling, and once you pass it, things will start going wonky.

I'm probably guilty of making Excel spreadsheets more complicated than they need to be, but I have one rule I keep coming back to: if I'm going to build a PivotTable, I want to actually enjoy using it. The basic summary is useful, but a few small additions can make a surprisingly big difference.

A smartwatch can do far more than show notifications or count your steps, especially if it's connected to the rest of your smart home. Google's ecosystem has quietly turned the wrist-worn device into a surprisingly capable remote control, letting you interact with devices around your home without reaching for your phone.

A Wi-Fi router can advertise hundreds of MBs, yet your Linux laptop may deliver a fraction of that speed. Before replacing the router, changing channels, or blaming the wireless adapter, there is one Linux setting worth checking.

Smart video doorbells can be incredibly useful, but they don't last forever. If you have an old or even broken video doorbell, you don't need to throw it away. There are plenty of ways you can put it to good use.

I always find that Android Auto is at its best when you keep it as stripped back as possible. It's great for navigation and music, but throw a podcast app into the mix, and it can quickly start to complicate things again. You don't want to be browsing through hundreds of episodes or fiddling with complicated menus while driving.

When Nvidia first announced DLSS 5 neural rendering, many were quick to label it "AI slop." And I get it. We're definitely getting some uncanny valley vibes.

Just got home and can't stop replaying that one crappy email or Slack you got and how it managed to ruin a nine-hour workday? It happens. All you want to do is sink into the couch and leave the day behind, but the last thing you need is six seasons of something that needs a wiki to get through. Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean

I have a soft spot for old software Easter eggs, especially the ones that make you wonder what developers were doing when nobody was looking. Excel 97 has one of my favorites: a secret 3D flight simulator hidden inside a spreadsheet. And, yes, I went looking for a way to play it.

We live in a world where almost everything is connected. Your phone is constantly communicating with nearby networks and devices, while your car keys, bank cards, and even some access cards can transmit information wirelessly without you giving it much thought. That convenience is hard to beat, but it also means there are more wireless signals around us than ever before, and not all of them are necessarily working in our favor.

Arch Linux has a reputation for being an operating system you build for yourself rather than one that comes built for you. That’s genuinely its biggest strength, since you get to build a hyper-personalized system where every component is there because you chose it. At the same time, it’s also its biggest weakness, because you need to know how to build and manage the thing. That said, not all Arch distros are the same, and some require more babysitting than others. As such, here’s my list of the top 5 Arch options and Arch-based distros, ranked from the neediest to the least needy.

Streaming sticks used to be a really good purchase that was pretty straightforward. You paid the cost, which changed over time, plugged it in, and watched your shows. The same devices now boot into ad-heavy home screens, autoplay sponsored trailers before you've touched a button, and push updates that make the interface worse on purpose. You technically own the hardware, but the experience is designed around someone else's revenue. Building your own box used to sound like overkill, but not anymore now that an option like Fire TV is bad for home labs.