How-To Geek
I built a voice assistant that is faster than Alexa and completely private
Alexa and Google's Gemini are convenient, but they have trade-offs. You pay for convenience with your privacy, subscriptions, and sometimes even ads. Beyond the obvious privacy concerns, there is also a practical performance issue: most of the processing done by those types of devices takes place on cloud servers, which can introduce noticeable latency.
What’s the difference between HDMI ARC and eARC for home theater audio?
Sound matters. Among the many labels you’ll encounter when setting up a soundbar or home theater, “ARC” and “eARC” are sure to pop up. But what do they actually mean, and why should you care?
Skip the trade-in: 3 reasons everybody should own two Android phones
When you get a new phone or device, the first thing people think about is what to do with their current one. More often than not, they trade it in to get money back or lower monthly payments on their new device.
You can pre-order a Googlebook now—here are the first Android PCs
Months after the initial tease, the first Googlebooks are available to pre-order today. The Android laptops are as high-end as promised and can compare well against rival Windows PCs — at least, if you're heavily invested in the Google ecosystem.
These 5 docuseries prove Netflix is the king of true crime
America is obsessed with true crime. I once talked to my friend's dad, who told me he puts on a documentary every night and falls asleep to "death and crime." It's a bit morbid, but it doesn't take away from the fact that these scandalous docuseries are extremely popular. You can find true crime on Hulu and HBO Max, but Netflix is still one of the top destinations for true crime.
I let AI handle my Plex transcode and saved 8.5TB without lifting a finger
My Plex library had grown far too large, and it was time to downsize it. I could delete stuff, sure, but I wanted to keep most of what was there. So, I turned to converting my entire library to H.265, and it saved me nearly 10TB of space.
6 lightweight self-hosted apps that convinced me my old laptop's worth keeping
I recently went through my box of old computer junk and discovered an old laptop. After checking it out, I discovered it had 8GB of RAM, a slow quad-core processor, and a battery that is ready to quit after 10 minutes.
I bought a 10GbE switch for my 1GbE network, and it’s not as crazy as it sounds
Buying a 10GbE switch for a network where almost everything still runs at 1GbE sounds unnecessary. If your computers, access points, printers, and other devices still have Gigabit Ethernet, spending money on a 10GbE switch can look like buying hardware for a problem you do not have. That was my situation, and I still bought a 10GbE switch.
Replacing your webcam won't fix your video quality, but this affordable accessory will
A high-end or "professional" webcam can cost hundreds of dollars these days, which will give you a major sense of disappointment when you set it up and realize you don't look any better than before, using a cheap camera.
The network settings I changed after realizing my printer can see everything in my house
Most people assume their printer is the least interesting thing on the home network. It sits there, waits for jobs, and doesn't do much else. But it's actually one of the most active and noisy devices on your whole network. The settings I changed after that audit weren't dramatic, but they kept me safer than I have been in years.
I finally tried Linux Mint, and now I understand why Windows users switch
I'd heard the name Linux Mint, but I only knew it was a derivative of Ubuntu. I've been with Ubuntu and Debian for most of my Linux life. I decided to check out Linux Mint recently, and I was impressed by what I saw.
USB dock vs. KVM switch: There's a better way to expand your PC's capabilities
USB docks and KVM switches are more like two different coins than two sides of the same coin. They can both upgrade your desk setup, but they do it in quite different ways. Let me walk you through their differences and, as someone who uses both, help you decide which one is right for your needs (hint: they aren't mutually exclusive).
5 Ryobi electric yard tools that belong in every garage
Ryobi is a go-to in the DIY and homeowner space for a reason—they have tons of tools for just about any task. Today, I'm going to show you five Ryobi electric yard tools that every homeowner should have in their garage and why.
3 exciting Netflix thrillers to watch this week (September 21-27)
If you're seeking thrillers, you've found the perfect destination. Several new thrilling movies have been added to the major streaming services, like The Runner on Prime Video. For this article, we're sticking to Netflix, which boasts one of the best streaming libraries.
Should you shut down your PC every night? Here's what it actually does to your computer
When I was growing up in the '90s, one of the first things I learned about our home computer was that I had to run the "park" command before turning the computer off. If you didn't, you might find your hard drive was corrupted the next time you turned it on.
These Windows apps required an online account, so I switched to offline versions that respect my privacy
Everything is a subscription now. All the apps seem to want you to sign up for an account. They want your name, email, and blood type. Even when there's no reason for it that benefits you as a user in any way.
Your USB flash drive gets slower every time you use it (and the easy fix you don't want to hear)
When I got my first flash drive, it changed my world. I was never concerned about how fast it was, even for a minute.
7 Windows features I disabled after realizing nobody needs to use them
Despite legions of fellow nerds exclaiming the virtues of Linux or macOS, I still actively choose Microsoft’s Windows. I do so for the same reason I elect to play video games on my console instead of my more expensive, capable, powerful, and modular desktop: convenience. Windows 11 is far from perfect, though, and many default features and apps can be disabled to reduce clutter, improve performance, and make your computer better for you.
How I added a screen to my Echo speaker without buying Amazon's expensive display
I have several old Echo smart speakers around my house that I've accumulated over the years. Despite not being a fan of Alexa, they still get regular use. Having repurposed my Echo Show devices, I missed having a screen with my smart speakers, so I decided to add my own.
I ditched Gboard for a keyboard with hexagons, and it cut my typos in half
Gboard has been my go-to Android keyboard for years, but lately, I’ve found myself wondering whether I’m really getting the best typing experience. Customization feels limited, privacy can be a concern, and some features I’d like to have simply aren’t there. None of these issues is a deal-breaker on its own, but together they made me curious about what else was available.


