How-To Geek

When you hear the phrase “home lab,” do you picture a server rack, tons of monitors, and screens/devices everywhere? I don't blame you if you do, but my home lab is nothing like what I just described. It's much, much smaller. However, I still needed to keep an eye on things, so I turned an old phone into an always-on monitor for my work.

Mid-August has a way of sneaking up on you, and HBO Max has so far done a great job of dangling several delicious carrots in front of its U.S. subscribers with movies like Mortal Kombat II and The Drama creeping up its top 10 chart (not to mention House of the Dragon). As for this weekend, things are about to get awesome, with the premiere of a new action film I'm personally stoked for.

Android Auto does a decent job out of the box, but some of its default settings are clearly designed for the average case instead of your specific situation. That kind of thing is okay at first, but it gets really annoying when the novelty of the apps wears off. None of these are terrible on their own, but together they add up to something more annoying than it needs to be. Luckily, they’re easy to change.

Finding recipes online can be a hassle at best. I don't like outsourcing stuff like that to an LLM and I absolutely don't want someone's life story before getting a recipe. So I tried making a recipe terminal with a modded Fire Tablet, some Python, and my good friend Docker.

A Mercedes-Benz GLC is easy to like. It looks sharp, feels properly upscale, and has the kind of polished driving experience you'd expect from a luxury SUV.

By default, a router's DHCP server assigns IP addresses to devices as they connect to the network. Frankly speaking, this works fine for most households, but when you're into self-hosting and want more control over a network filled with devices, constantly changing IPs are a massive headache. After assigning static IPs to all of my mainstay devices, my life became a lot easier. Here's why.

As the weekend approaches, it's time to take a look at another three homelab projects you should try out! This weekend, I'm focusing on building a private GPS tracking system and some simple-but-useful homelab tools you should definitely be running.

The vinyl revival is still going strong, with a niche but loyal following of audiophiles and a new younger cohort that are just looking for a more meaningful, tactile alternative to a world where music is only accessed via streaming.

Prime Video might not have as many Emmy-winning hits as Netflix, but it still has a number of critically acclaimed shows that fans continue to revisit. One of the most successful shows in Prime Video history returns for a fourth season. It's bigger, badder, and more action-packed than ever, making it our top selection of the week.

We're living in a time when personal privacy is slowly becoming a thing of the past, or at least that's what big tech behemoths want you to believe. What's true, no matter how you look at it, is that privacy has become a sought-after commodity, and self-hosting your password manager is one way to preserve it without compromising your security. Below are three self-hosted password manager platforms you should keep an eye on in 2026.

The big word Google has been throwing around a lot for Pixel phones this year is “intelligence.” It wants your phone to genuinely be able to take control and do stuff for you. When it comes to automation, though, Pixel phones don’t seem very smart.

Shopping for a compact luxury sedan usually means starting with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Audi, especially now that several alternatives are disappearing from the market. But there’s still one sedan that makes a pretty strong case for looking beyond the usual German choices.

The week before a new school year starts has a way of feeling productive without actually being productive. Setting up a few self-hosted Docker containers won't fix your study habits, but it will replace a handful of tools you're already paying for or tolerating. It’s better to learn how to use Docker containers than to use regular apps, because it keeps your work together.

Are you ready for this weekend's Raspberry Pi project roundup? Well, ready or not, here are three projects you can try that take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete, including building your very own photo booth.

Are you tired of installing the same dozen apps every time you set up a new machine? Are you wondering what everyone else is using and whether you're overlooking some hidden gems? Well, here are eight underrated free apps—some open source—that I always install on all of my PCs. They're an essential part of my workflow, and they're all cross-platform, so they work on both Windows and Linux.

For parents, finding a first car that keeps their teenager happy without creating a financial or safety headache can be surprisingly difficult. Most affordable cars are sensible but forgettable, while the ones that look genuinely cool often come with compromises that make them poor choices for a new driver. Fortunately, there is a Japanese hatchback that manages to strike an unusually good balance, offering sleek styling, a surprisingly upscale cabin, dependable ownership, and enough driving fun to keep an enthusiast teenager interested.

A neatly cut lawn takes more work than it looks, and finding the time can be difficult, between work obligations, as well as recreational events and activities that all require some of your free time. Trusted by more than 750,000 families worldwide, MAMMOTION’s latest robot mowers can keep the grass maintained throughout the week without monopolizing your schedule.

I've been reviewing and writing about tech for the past decade, and during that time, other tech journalists and I have written plenty of articles busting myths and laying out best practices around PC storage, Wi-Fi, and networking. And while you do see consumer habits improve overall, there are some habits that just refuse to die. Here are four I keep seeing over and over.

In 2008, you might think Chris Carter, the creator of The X-Files, had full autonomy to write and direct The X-Files: I Want to Believe, a feature film based on the hit show. The X-Files was a cultural phenomenon that ran for nine seasons before 2008, so Carter certainly had more than enough evidence to show the studio that when it came to the property, he knew best.

Have you ever wanted to buy a new Ryobi tool but saw the sticker price and walked away? If so, that was a smart move, because several Ryobi tools are constantly on sale. If you want your dollar to go further while growing your toolbox, certain items are frequently discounted at Home Depot.