How-To Geek

SSDs are more than just flash memory chips soldered to a PCB. They’re still relatively simple designs, but they can’t function without a small chip next to the flash that manages how and where data is written, moved, and erased, along with a plethora of other responsibilities.

My kids bought mood rings in the summer that change color, supposedly to reflect your current mood. This gave me an idea for building a mood ring of my own for my office that would give me useful information at a glance.

Amazon and Google have largely had the smart home world to themselves, at least for those who aren't interested in a solution like Home Assistant. They've not only built a load of hardware, but they also created whole ecosystems with tens of thousands of supported devices between them. They're not without their flaws, but they generally offer a turnkey smart home experience.

Everyone has found themselves scrolling through all their streaming services for ages, struggling to find something interesting to watch. Sometimes, though, it isn't the streaming service that is the problem. Sometimes we avoid watching good content simply because we aren't willing to take a chance on something new. There are tons to watch if you're willing to stick your toe outside your comfort zone.

Back when I had a cheap Wi-Fi router, I bought a Wi-Fi extender to compensate for the router's short range. But there was a problem. Its SSID and password were different from my normal router, so I had to connect manually each time I used the extender. The better solution for this was a mesh Wi-Fi system at a higher cost. At that time, I didn't even know that a mesh network was different from Wi-Fi extenders.

Need to print a document from your Googlebook? Thankfully, the process of connecting to a printer takes less than a minute, and although most Googlebook apps lack any printing functionality, Chrome and other standard Google tools will let you print a page or document with a simple keyboard shortcut.

Google Maps Timeline is one of those features that can be incredibly useful when needed. It can remind you where you went on a particular day, the places you visited on vacation, and even the routes you took from A to B. I never liked the idea of Google knowing everywhere I ever went, so I replaced Google Maps Timeline with a free, open-source alternative that stores location history on my local hardware.

Setting up a brand-new computer should feel clean and fast, but modern operating systems treat your personal desktop like an advertising billboard from the second you log in. It gets frustrating watching basic hardware stutter under background tasks you never wanted or asked for. Unfortunately, the best way to make Windows 11 faster is to turn off features it tries to force on you.

If you're looking for a hand tool that's tough, durable, and reliable, with a lifetime warranty that won't break the bank, there's a brand at Harbor Freight you don't want to overlook. I'm talking about Icon tools, and the lineup includes several great hand tools you'll absolutely love.

Google's Pixel phones have always been renowned for their excellent cameras. But what frustrates me is that what you see in the viewfinder doesn't always match what you get after you press the shutter button.

You don't need to spend iPad-level money in order to get a highly productive, high-performance tablet that can do everything you could possibly need: stream your favorite app's TV shows, work in WPS Office, take notes, or check your work emails. That's why something like the 11-inch Lenovo Idea Tab is such a fantastic choice, as it packs a sharp 2.5K display, 8GB of built-in RAM, and expandable storage. An even bigger reason to grab one? Its current $90 discount and included stylus pen make this one deal you won't want to pass up.

It's no secret that AMD has produced some of the best CPUs of all time. While Intel still beats AMD in raw market share, the last few years have brought with them a major shift in consumer mindsets: Many people, especially gamers, now default to AMD.

Nearly as frequently as it drops documentaries, Netflix adds new stand-up specials to its library almost every week, but a lot of them go unnoticed. That's a shame because the past couple of months have delivered some genuinely funny sets from some of the world's best comedians.

Earlier this year, Google Drive lost the ability to back up folders on your PC directly to Google Photos. This was a long-time feature that many people had come to love, and it vanished with only three days' notice. Thankfully, you don't have to look as far as you might think for a replacement.

Sticking to quality power-tool brands ensures years of service without breakdowns. Brands like Ryobi have stood the test of time and provide outstanding value for professional jobs and home DIY projects. You don't need to spend big when you can find products like the Ryobi Circular Saw and Reciprocating Saw at around 50% off at Home Depot.

I miss when Android felt like my playground. My ground, my rules.

Apple is introducing its first-ever smart display, the Apple HomeView. Announced at the October 13th Welcome Home event alongside an upgraded Apple TV 4K and the next-generation HomePod mini 2, HomeView aims to unify the smart home around a large, super-intelligent screen that looks suspiciously like an Apple Watch.

If Netflix has a reputation for being a king of thrillers, Paramount+ can claim to be a king of sci-fi. The Paramount streaming service is loaded with entertaining sci-fi shows and movies to watch with the click of a button.

Have you ever emailed yourself an attachment, uploaded a file to cloud storage, or connected your phone with a cable just to move something between devices? If so, you know how unnecessarily complicated and frustrating file sharing can be. Things become even more awkward when your devices run different operating systems.

The ocean is calling in the official trailer for Expedition: Saving Our Seas. Narrated by ocean conversationalist and Moana voice actress Auliʻi Cravalho, the one-hour National Geographic special studies environmental change in all five ocean basins.