How-To Geek

How much do you think about the resale value of your smartphone? I know that for some people, this is something they are a little obsessed about. After all, you just paid hundreds or even thousands for a new phone, and you want it to stay in perfect condition until the day you're done with it.

There was a moment when it felt as if the world were consumed by Marvel streaming shows. No matter what time of year it was, you could always count on Disney+ to have some kind of new Marvel show streaming on its platform. And then, after some time, it finally slowed down.

I witness many of my smart home automations in action multiple times a day. Every time I walk into my home office, my lights turn on and my Mac wakes, and I can see it happening in front of me. There's one automation that I set up some time ago, and most of the time I completely forget that it's running.

“There’s an app for that!” We’ve all heard this slogan before, and it’s usually true. Apps have replaced many single-purpose products, but that doesn’t always mean they’re better. Some physical items are actually easier and more convenient than tapping a screen.

The BMW X3 has spent years turning itself into one of the safest picks in the compact luxury SUV world. It blends strong performance, comfort, and everyday practicality so well that for many buyers, it became the default choice rather than just another option.

If you walk through my house, you’ll see plenty of Roku gear. I've got Roku TVs and a couple of streaming sticks, and for the most part, they do exactly what they're supposed to do. They're simple, they're familiar, and they're good enough for most people. And honestly, if you just want something that works the same way every time you turn on the TV, that familiarity is hard to beat.

Finding the perfect shop vac can be the difference between a quick cleanup and a time-consuming mess, and that's before we even talk about cordless vs corded vacs from all your favorite tool brands. Whether you're a professional contractor or a weekend DIYer, choosing the right one is tough. Here are some of the best-performing models from Milwaukee to RIDGID.

Do you struggle to understand how to boost your Linux skills? Are you sick of getting stuck in tutorial hell? A lack of inspiration can hold you back for years, but all you need are some ideas and a refined process. I have a guide that combines both how I learned Linux and how I approach difficult subjects, so you can breeze past beginner mode and into graybeard territory.

The luxury car market hasn’t had the strongest start to 2026. Slowing demand and shifting buyer priorities have weighed on overall sales, with several established nameplates posting noticeable declines in the first quarter. But even in a cooling market, a handful of models are standing out, delivering strong results while much of the segment struggles to keep pace.

As fans of the Fromanxiously await season 4, MGM+ and director Jack Bender (Lost) have released a specific list of episodes to rewatch. Each holds key moments and clues capable of shaping the next chapter, revisiting major traumas, story gaps, and moments worthy of deeper explanation.

I've tried a lot of to-do list apps, from Todoist to Things 3, but I've never found one that has really felt like a perfect fit. I decided to try to build my own using Home Assistant.

Every professional who works with data knows that moment of dread when opening an old, complex Excel file. They can quickly become a file of mismatched formats, formulas that are great but overused, and data full of errors. This is a massive time sink. The struggle is real, and it's a direct drain on productivity, forcing you to focus on cleaning data rather than extracting useful insights from it. However, we can finally give the most tedious, technical, and repetitive tasks to AI. I recently applied this new approach, and I am happy not having to do the grunt work. If you try what I'm doing, then you're likely going to love this new method too.

Gaming on Linux is better today than it ever has been, but that doesn't mean it is perfect. NVIDIA's drivers are notoriously finicky, especially when you want to use more advanced features like DLSS or Frame Generation.

Bambu Lab has taken the 3D printing world by storm with its range of easy-to-use and affordable printers. The filament sold by the company is dependable and available in a wide range of materials and finishes, yet it somehow still manages to be a source of frustration.

While Python is my primary programming language for statistical analysis, I'm picking the other major language, R, even though it's considered niche. Here are the reasons why.

I write about documentaries on streaming services a lot, and it's no surprise that the lion's share of them are on Netflix these days. But consider this a stern reminder that HBO was the king of compelling, premium documentaries since before Netflix was stuffing DVDs in the mail. From 1996's Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills to the more recent surfing stunner, 100 Foot Wave series (both Emmy winners), you can still find a truckload of excellent docs on HBO Max.

Google Fi Wireless—first named “Project Fi”—launched over a decade ago with a single plan. There are now four plans to choose from, but the original pay-for-what-you-use plan has stuck around. It’s still a shockingly good deal in 2026.

If you're thinking about self-hosting multiple services, Proxmox is a great option. Proxmox is a virtualization platform that lets you run multiple isolated services on the same machine using containers or virtual machines. There are plenty of great services that can run in Proxmox.

The ESP32 is a tiny microcontroller that you can pick up for a few dollars. Thanks to its small footprint and low barrier to entry, it’s perfect for powering a variety of simple smart home projects from super simple “flash and go” sensors to more complex ventures that involve skills like soldering and coding.

We've all been there: struggling with a nested Excel formula that breaks when your data shifts, or using Flash Fill only to find it missed half the rows. I stopped relying on those fragile workarounds and switched to Power Query's Column From Examples for more reliable automation.