How-To Geek

Did you know that many of the tools you use every day have free, open-source alternatives that are just as good as—or even better than—their expensive commercial counterparts?

Google Chrome already releases new major versions every four weeks, delivering new features, web APIs, bug fixes, and critical security patches. That’s now changing to every two weeks, and other Chrome-based browsers could follow suit.

March is here, and so are some new Android updates. Google is releasing several features for Android users at large, as well as the latest Pixel Drop. There are better tools for finding everything from luggage to friends, Circle to Search improvements, a highly-requested app, and much more.

Congratulations—you finally got up to actually making backups of your data. If you think it's a "run and forget" ordeal, though, you're very, very wrong.

Motion sensors are a part of many smart homes. They're very useful for common purposes, such as having your lights automatically turn on when you enter a room. Where you position them can be key to how quickly they react, and the obvious positions aren't always the best.

I've long been a fan of Humble Bundle, but I have never purchased as much from the site as I do now—and that has everything to do with my book-style foldable phone. If you're not sure why someone might want a phone with a large square-shaped inner screen, I firmly believe that Humble Bundle is all the reason you need.

Affordable SUVs are often built with cost savings in mind, but long-term reliability doesn’t always come with a low price tag. Yet one compact Japanese SUV has built a reputation for doing exactly that, lasting for years with minimal repairs while remaining one of the most budget-friendly options in its class. The Honda HR-V stands out as a rare example of simplicity, durability, and everyday practicality rolled into one package.

CDs, DVDs, and other spinning discs are thought of as antiquated technology, but in some ways, they're superior to even the most expensive solid-state drives.

3D printing is a super fun hobby. I love my 3D printer and use it quite often for a wide range of things. There are some projects that are just plain dumb, no matter how much 3D printing enthusiasts love them.

When we talk about Windows app compatibilty, we usually think of Linux running some sort of WINE configuration. That's not all the wonderful world of open-source has to offer though. Some really talented developers have managed to reverse engineer the Windows NT architecture. They've been working on it for almost 30 years. The project is called ReactOS, and it's directly compatible with Windows software and drivers (no compatibility layers or emulation required).

Apple has finally revealed new models of the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. The MacBook Air is getting double the base storage and an upgrade to the M5 chip, while the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro now has M5 Pro and M5 Max options.

You've probably heard a lot of tips, dos, and don'ts about hard drives. The thing is, a lot of it is either a straight up lie or is based on oversimplified or older advice.

If you only want your Home Assistant automations to run at certain times or on certain days, you can use a time condition. Hard-coding your schedule this way is simple to do, but there is a better way.

In movies, you'll sometimes see characters grapple with a "dead man switch." If someone doesn't push a button or enter a password every few hours (or days), it triggers a self-destruct sequence or sends out a secret message. I've always found that concept really cool, so I built one with an app on my Android phone.

Even the most seasoned senior developers, armed with years of experience, routinely stumble over traps in Python. It's not hard and doesn't stem from a lack of technical skill, but from an ingrained reliance on programming intuitions that simply do not hold true in the Python ecosystem.

Plex is the go-to app for most users with a large home media library. But not everyone actually needs it. If you just want to watch shows or movies on the big screen, your TV might already have the tools you need.

If you're a Ryobi owner, you probably have a good collection of its lime-green 18V ONE+ power tools. With more than 350 products that run on the same battery, it's often all you need. But when you're battling weeds, fighting an overgrown lawn, or trying to finish jobs quickly while outside in the heat, Ryobi's 40V platform is the better choice.

Apple AirTags have changed the game for anyone who constantly misplaces their keys or wallets. Almost every major brand now offers its own alternative, from the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 to the Motorola Moto Tag.

Apple recently released the latest phone in its "e" series, the iPhone 17e. Unlike the "SE" line that came before it, this one seems to be on track for annual updates. However, for a variety of reasons, the "e" series is far less compelling—and it shouldn't exist.

There would be many more programmers in the world if not for the fact that programming is hard, and you need to spend a lot of time learning, practicing, and testing your code.