How-To Geek

Google finally unveiled its own answer to the AirTag, and on paper, you'd think the Pixel Tag will dominate, given Android's install base. That's far from a given, though. In practice, there are four major problems that will likely keep it from being the category leader it was hoping to be.

The modern hypercar has become a numbers game. More horsepower, quicker acceleration, faster lap times, higher top speeds, and of course bigger price tags. These are the measurements many manufacturers use to grab the attention of the public and potential customers. Making 1,000 horsepower doesn’t raise any eyebrows nowadays. You can go to your local Chevy dealer and pick up a Corvette that makes more than that. So, hypercar manufacturers are pressing for more, more, more.

Any machine with moving parts that touch needs some sort of lubrication to minimize the effects of friction if you don't want them grinding against each other. Apart from perhaps your car, there are probably few devices in a typical home with more moving parts than a 3D printer, so naturally you'll need to keep it lubricated if you want it to work correctly.

You might have deployed Pi-hole to stop all tracking on your network, but it actually can't do that. Pi-hole is a fantastic tool, and it can definitely block trackers from working on your network, but it's not a perfect solution—here's why.

Most people have a drawer, a box, or a pile somewhere full of physical documents they know they should digitize and never do. Scanners are either slow or too bulky when attached to a printer, even when you find the right one. And a phone app tends to upload everything to a server you didn't choose while not having the quality needed. A webcam you already own, pointed straight down at your desk, can replace all of that.

The 2026 Kia Niro Hybrid isn't the kind of SUV that grabs attention in a crowded parking lot. It doesn't have the size, power, or rugged image of many of its competitors, but it does something far more useful for everyday drivers: it keeps fuel costs remarkably low.

Like most of my friends, I got my first iPhone in high school. However, I have been using Android for the last four years. When I recently dabbled with an iPhone 17, I expected the switch to feel familiar, but I was struck by how much I missed several Android features that I rely on every day.

3D printers are hardworking machines, and it's also an area that's moving ahead so quickly that even relatively new machines can feel obsolete quickly.

I love reading, but I always find it hard to find the time these days. I read non-stop as a kid, but now I have kids of my own, life seems to get in the way. I'd seen people raving about how a tiny eReader had helped them read far more, and I was skeptical but decided to give it a try.

Plex is the ideal starting point for anyone who wants to build their own media server with minimal setup. But it isn't perfect. Some features you might want are missing, while others are locked behind a paywall. I use a few companion apps to add these features and upgrade my Plex experience in the process.

Part of owning a smartphone is knowing that apps track where I go more than I'd like to admit. That doesn't mean there's nothing you can do about it. I started spoofing my location on purpose: here's what happened, why it's worth trying, and what else you can layer on top of it.

Windows comes with a built-in firewall, and right out of the gate, I have to say that it is adequate. If you've never thought about the word "firewall" and don't have any interest in managing your Windows computer's network activity or security, then the default firewall is great.

Like many Linux users, I came to appreciate Linux through beginner-friendly distros like Linux Mint and Zorin OS. They make the transition from Windows much easier, and in Mint's case, a big part of the appeal is how little it asks of you. It's stable and familiar to Windows users. You can install it and use your PC without spending much time thinking about what's happening underneath.

You can do a lot of cool stuff with an older Rapsberry Pi. I use mine for a few things: development, home lab experiments, and some light writing and programming. But, like many Pi enthusiasts, I also use it for various retro projects. Lately, I've been using optical media for storage and retrieval for very specific reasons.

Who needs more cordless power tools? DeWALT tools are extremely popular among homeowners and professionals, partly thanks to their constant stream of exciting new products, and the company isn't slowing down anytime soon. Recently, DeWALT unveiled several new tools for the second half of 2026, and they'll be worth the wait.

When Nissan engineers borrowed NASA's research on neutral body posture to design the seats in the Infiniti QX60, they wanted to keep drivers and passengers comfortable on long trips. Believe it or not, that same engineering mindset extends to something a lot less glamorous than astronaut ergonomics. Cupholders.

I’m not one to simply buy power tools on a whim; I usually need a good excuse. Recently I decided to take the plunge on an impact driver to see me through a weekend project and into the future. I ended up with a relatively cheap Ryobi model, and I love it.

Back when Android phones were still establishing their core identity, and Google was still a bright-eyed company mostly focused on software, Google came up with a brilliant idea, and, surprisingly, its partners played along. It was called "Google Play Edition" phones.

Sometimes a Windows bug is too small to carefully fix but too annoying to ignore. For years, my sound card has had its output mode switched from stereo to 5.1 after every reboot. Fixing it manually isn't difficult or all that time-consuming, but over the thousands of reboots since I purchased the card years ago, it adds up to several hours just changing audio device configurations.

The one thing that makes it easier for me to get up at 6 am for a training session or video call with someone on the other side of the world is the guarantee that my first cup of coffee will be a good one.