How-To Geek

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We explain technology. Learn more with our articles, reviews, tips, and the best answers to your most pressing tech questions.
Updated: 2 hours 37 min ago

I ran the same photo through 3 Android camera apps to find the one that looks the most natural

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 19:00

I'm sick of the poor quality, occasionally poor photos my phone's default camera app produces. While some of this is 100% a skill issue (I'm a hobbyist photographer at best), I sometimes feel like my photos just don't look as good as I'd like. So I tested a few camera apps to see which one took the best-quality photos.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Cadillac’s 830-HP V-ONE is its wildest performance concept in 20 years

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 18:30

Cadillac hasn't built a true one-off concept since the Cien debuted at the 2002 Detroit Auto Show, a drivable V12 supercar that hinted at where Cadillac's performance ambitions were headed, right up until the cost of its custom engine and a projected $200,000 price tag kept it from ever reaching production.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 insane Netflix series you must watch before school starts

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 18:15

Nothing starts a conversation faster with high school or college kids than an addictive Netflix series. These shows will spark debates that should spread across campus. It's the kind of show where, if you don't watch, you'll feel completely left out. I felt that way when Stranger Things first premiered and it became a true word-of-mouth show.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I connected my Kindle to my bedroom light, and now I can’t go back

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 18:00

I finally decided to jailbreak my Kindle and install KOReader. Doing so has given me access to features that aren't possible on a standard Kindle. I set up an automation that turns off my bedside light when I've finished reading, and I can't get enough of it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I underestimated Excel on Android until I discovered these 4 features

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 17:46

Most people who use Excel on Android tried it once, decided it wasn't worth the hassle, and went back to their laptop. That's a reasonable conclusion if you haven't used it lately, but the mobile version has gotten a lot better. The features that used to make spreadsheet work on a phone feel like a punishment have gotten fixed. In fact, I don’t even mind using Microsoft Excel on my phone anymore.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This official Microsoft tool revealed what programs actually start when I sign in to Windows

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 17:30

I thought I had a good handle on what started when I turned on my Windows PC. Then I opened Microsoft's Autoruns and was surprised by how many more entries it showed me. So I decided to investigate them to see which ones actually mattered and how much they were using my PC's resources.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Raspberry Pi is a terrible Linux desktop, but these 4 alternate SBCs deliver mini PC-level performance

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 17:00

The Raspberry Pi 5 is a fairly capable SBC, but it doesn't make a great desktop—as soon as you start trying to multitask, browser tabs start to lag, and the entire system will struggle. Between a relatively low-power GPU, the limitations of a microSD card boot drive (which is the default unless you buy an M.2 hat), and a CPU that will readily thermally throttle without active cooling, it just isn't up to the job.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 reasons I sold all my Milwaukee tools and switched to a cheaper brand

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 16:30

I bought my first cordless power tool over 20 years ago, and it was a shiny new Milwaukee V28 with a lithium-ion battery. Who remembers the V28 line? It was a big, expensive purchase, and over the years I've bought Milwaukee tools here and there, but eventually I got rid of them all and switched to Ryobi. Here's why.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Google Maps integrations that save me from jumping between apps

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 16:15

When you're navigating from A to B, the last thing you want to do is constantly switch back and forth between different apps. Any time you spend off the Google Maps navigation screen is time when you could miss that crucial turn. Thankfully, Google Maps has some useful integrations that mean you don't need to keep flipping from app to app.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 reasons cloud media servers will go down long before your discs rot

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 16:15

Whenever the discussion about physical media and its inevitable demise comes up, the argument that "discs rot and degrade" will inevitably raise its head.

Categories: IT General, Technology

7 effective ways to hide layer lines in your 3D prints

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 16:00

As great as 3D printing is, you can often tell when an object has come off a print bed and not out of an injection mold. This mostly comes down to layer lines, an inescapable symptom of the filament deposition modeling process.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 5 Python games teach you faster than any CompSci course

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 15:45

Learning Python from lectures and textbooks works for some, but I know firsthand how difficult it is to learn that way. When you can actually put your knowledge to use in a game, it's much easier to learn. Most CS courses get you comfortable with syntax and give you problems that have one clean answer and a grade attached. However, it's more fun to go to Python games that put you in situations where the code either works or it visibly doesn't, and the feedback arrives fast enough that you actually learn something from it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your router has 6 security holes you probably don't know about

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 15:30

Routers, while important, are not the most interesting bit of tech, and most people aren't interested in learning what all those toggles in the settings actually do.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The car with the best resale value after 5 years— and its closest rivals

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 15:15

When it comes to long-term value, few cars hold their resale power like this popular hatchback. Even after five years, it retains a surprising percentage of its original price, making it a standout in a market where depreciation often hits new vehicles hard.

Categories: IT General, Technology

AOL killed AIM years ago, but I brought it back and put Claude on my buddy list

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 15:15

Do you remember your younger years, talking to your friends over AOL Instant Messenger? Wouldn't you like to try it out again? Well, you can, and I did. I fired up this blast from the past to see if it's as fun as it once was.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I ditched a TV for a projector in my spare room—and it cost over $300 less

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 15:00

In the age of streaming, it is not uncommon to have a television in nearly every room. If there is a wall or space on the dresser, it is a perfect spot to put one.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 expensive DeWALT tools worth saving up for

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 14:45

DeWALT is one of the most popular power tool brands on the market, frequently found on job sites, in specific trades, and loved by DIYers everywhere. The company makes hundreds of powerful and capable tools you'll love, but they're often more expensive than competitors like Ryobi. With that in mind, here are a few expensive but great DeWALT tools worth saving up for.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Before you move into your dorm, change these 4 Android settings

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 14:30

Going away to college is one of the most exciting times in anyone's life. You're not quite an independent adult yet, but you're almost off the leash, and about to learn a lot of new things both inside and outside the classroom.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 4 secrets to taking better photos on a Samsung Galaxy phone

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 14:21

Samsung phones are among the most ubiquitous cameras in the world, and most of them also happen to be good ones—but don't expect to capture a good shot just by shooting from the hip. I've taken many of the photos I've published for How-To Geek directly on Galaxy phones, and here's how I pull it off.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Acura’s NEXERA Concept ditches power seats for a car that adjusts around you

Sat, 08/15/2026 - 14:15

Car seats slide forward and back, and on most modern vehicles they remember where the driver programmed them. Those who own a swanky luxury SUV may even have a massage function they can enjoy. Acura's newest concept throws the traditional seating setup out the window.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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