How-To Geek

I first came across LinuxPDF in a Reddit thread, and I had to read the post twice to make sure I understood what it was saying. Linux was apparently running inside a PDF file. This wasn't a screenshot of a terminal or a simulated command prompt. It was an actual Linux environment that you could interact with from the document.

Ryobi is one of the most popular power tool brands on the market, and a big part of that is affordability. We all love a budget-friendly tool, but here are some expensive Ryobi tools that are worth saving up for.

Many tech companies like to tout "world's best" claims, but here's one that actually matters. Lexar has introduced the "world's thinnest portable SSD," the Muse, and it looks to be genuinely helpful if you love recording video (or any media, really) on your phone.

If your old speakers are gathering dust and you're not sure what to do with them, you've come to the right place. Don't worry; I've got plenty of ideas that won't involve complicated DIY Raspberry Pi projects. Let's dive into a few creative ways to put your old speakers back in the game.

Buying a new phone leaves you with an older one that is pretty much useless unless you trade it in. No one really needs a second phone unless it is for work. Once you've moved your contacts and photos over, it's easy to forget the old phone is still useful when repurposed. It won't lose any of the features that make it such a good mini computer, and you should take advantage of that.

After a pretty solid run of documentaries for August, it's finally September, and for non-fiction fans, that means Netflix has re-upped its library of gripping real-life stories to sink your teeth into. Let's jump right in.

Excel has plenty of features that can make everyday spreadsheet work easier, but some of the most useful ones are surprisingly easy to overlook. If you have a little time to experiment this weekend, try three of my favorite hidden gems.

If you watch a lot of YouTube or regularly scroll through social media feeds, you’re probably used to seeing a handful of brands show up time and time again. From minimalist wallets to bed cooling systems that promise a better night’s sleep, these products are pushed hard and at premium price points.

Are you hoping to avoid yet another subscription? Rather than opting for a Ring Protect or Nest Aware plan, buy a smart doorbell that gives you options instead. Here’s how to avoid the ongoing fees.

As cutting-edge as they may seem, foldable phones have more in common with regular ‘ol slab phones than they don’t. One of the biggest differences I’ve noticed, however, has nothing to do with flexible screens, and it’s something that would instantly improve every regular phone.

Netflix is not the only streaming service loading up on new shows in September. Hulu has several new and returning shows premiering throughout the month. First up is a Glen Powell comedy set in the world of college football. Next is a Snowfall spin-off that picks up shortly after the events of the finale.

If you've been on Android since its early days, you probably remember just how sluggish it felt compared to iOS and how Google gradually managed to make it smoother and more responsive. Sure, part of that was the rise of faster phone hardware, but software optimizations also played a major role.

For many people, Bluetooth headphones are not and never have been a straight-up replacement for wired—they're just convenient to use on the go. But manufacturers have been trying to kill the 3.5mm jack for years now, stripping it from flagship phone models and even laptops.

An old laptop isn't the kind of device you think of when someone says "local AI," but as long as you pick the right AI, they can be pretty useful. Whatever device you use, it needs 8GB of RAM at a minimum, though 16GB is better. Luckily, even laptops from five years ago frequently had that much memory available.

Samsung spent over a decade building a smartwatch platform on Tizen, then walked away from it in under two years. Now open-source developers are racing to keep thousands of orphaned watches functional before batteries outlast the software.

Keeping your eyes on the road sounds simple, but it isn’t. Notifications, checking directions, incoming calls, and daydreaming can turn into a distraction at the worst possible moment. That's the reason I turned to Android Auto's automations, which make it easier to access the things I need while driving, whether I’m making a call, controlling my music, or following directions.

UGREEN wants to be sure your home studio has network-attached storage that's always up to the job—even if you're juggling multiple tasks at once. The company has come to IFA 2026 with two NAS units, the NASync DXP6800 and DX8800 Ultra, that are meant for everyone from individual creatives through to fast-growing shops.

There are some products that are so successful that the brand name becomes the default term for that product. Brands such as Band-Aid, Photoshop, and Scotch tape are often used for any products of that kind, and the same is true of Kindle. While the Kindle has been the dominant force in the eReader market for a long time, a tiny eReader makes me believe that things are starting to change.

The Pixel Tag gives Android users their first true first-party rival to Apple's AirTag, backed by Google's massive Find Hub network. But after looking into how it actually works, one omission stood out immediately, and it's the single feature I've wanted from an Android tracker for years.

When Even Realities introduced its G2 smart glasses, there were some fair criticisms of its interface limits and performance. However, I had the opportunity to try them on at IFA 2026 — and they've found new purpose at a time when the backlash against Meta's camera-equipped glasses is fiercer than ever.