How-To Geek

Most people only use USB ports for charging and file transfers, but that’s barely scratching the surface. Modern USB ports can do far more than most people realize. If you’ve never stopped to think about what that little port is actually capable of, let me enlighten you. Here are three surprisingly useful ways to use the USB port on your laptop or PC.

Like so many of you, the first "smart" home device I ever bought and installed was a Bluetooth-enabled RGB light bulb that came with an app. Now I could lie in bed and change the room's color and light temperature to whatever I wanted, or set a time, so the light would wake me up in the morning.

As we head into another weekend, it's time to take a look at three more fun Raspberry Pi projects to tackle. This weekend, I'm showing you two similar projects that are pretty easy to accomplish with the right hardware, and one that will make you think a bit harder than normal to see through to the finish line.

Gemini began a wide rollout for Android Auto, and the shift is way more helpful than a simple rebrand. For years, Google Assistant relied on rigid, specific commands. If you didn't say the phrase exactly right, it wouldn't work. Gemini replaces that headache with the ability to speak to your car more like you would a person. You don't have to remember specific syntax; as long as you get close, it'll be able to bridge the gap.

Are you considering the switch to a different power tool brand? You might want to think twice before ditching them for a shiny new drill that's on sale. Switching tool platforms may feel like a simple upgrade, but the hidden "power tool tax" of jumping into an entirely new battery ecosystem will cost you hundreds.

One of the most common uses for smart home tech is to make the lights in your home turn on and off. Smart bulbs are reasonably affordable and simple to install, and combined with switches, can make your lights easy to control. There are three other smart home sensors that can make your smart home even better.

I wouldn’t call myself a “frequent flyer,” but I’ve done some international traveling. My carrier of choice for those trips was Google Fi. However, it seems I might need to rethink that before my next trip across the ocean—especially if it’s lengthy.

Jellyfin is a powerful self-hosted media server platform that enthusiasts love, but its “developer-first” feel can be a barrier for the average user, pushing them toward the more polished but restrictive Plex. If you’re willing to tinker just a little, though, Jellyfin might be the better option — and it’s completely free.

Home Assistant gives you a high level of control over how you run your smart home. In your rush to add devices, integrations, and automations, you might overlook some basic customization options.

Mitsubishi has revived the iconic Eclipse name once again, but this time it's neither the popular sports car nor the cheap-but-practical Eclipse Cross. The Japanese badge has introduced the 2027 Eclipse Sportback EV as its first purely electric crossover, and it's open about where the design comes from.

After writing about documentaries for the last six months, I can safely say that 2026 has already delivered some remarkable unscripted movies and series. The major streamers—from Netflix and HBO Max to Paramount+ and Prime Video—have all quietly stacked their libraries with some of the most compelling and enlightening nonfiction filmmaking in recent memory, covering everything from rock gods and wizard-like daredevils to more than one comedy legend and too many regular people caught up in serious crime and unspeakable tragedy.

We’ve been told over and over again how Gemini is an “upgrade” over Google Assistant. In many ways, it is—but the areas where it still lags behind feel infuriating. Google says Gemini can help you remember where you parked, but the reality feels embarrassing.

While subscriptions seem to be becoming the normal in the modern world, I've found a way to avoid paying for them: self-hosting. Here are five self-hosted apps that replaced my monthly subscriptions (and why I won't ever go back to paying for those services again).

The average new-vehicle transaction price is hovering at or near $50,000 today, the highest it has ever been in the automotive industry. Even buyers with a solid, steady income are feeling the squeeze when factoring in insurance, fuel, and financing, on top of a sticker price that would have seemed far-fetched a decade ago.

Home networks are easy to ignore once you set them up to perfection. Before that, not so much.

Over 10 years since its introduction, systemd can still get some Linux users riled up. I happen to not be one of them. Even though I try out systemd-free distros, I'll still likely regularly use systemd-based distros. Here are some of the reasons why.

The 2026 Oscars have passed, with One Battle After Another walking away with the prestigious Best Picture award. Earlier in the night, Sentimental Value came away with a historic win in the Best International Feature Film category. Because Neon acquired the North American distribution rights to Sentimental Value, it is now streaming on Hulu in the U.S.

Some of Excel's most common "best practices" aren't actually best practices at all. Believing the wrong advice can lead to bloated workbooks, broken formulas, and unnecessary manual work. Here are six spreadsheet myths worth leaving behind.

Android is special not because of what it is, but what you can turn it into. This was especially true in the early days, when the out-of-the-box experience was quite rough, and you needed to install a custom launcher to get the most out of your device. For those of us who lived through it, we can remember different eras of Android based on which custom launchers were dominant at the time.

Years of various internet-related problems, combined with working from home, gave me some serious trust issues. As in, I just don't trust my network to perform 100% of the time, even though I go to great lengths to make that happen.