How-To Geek

I still clearly remember the first time I installed Windows 8 Professional on my computer. I was excited because I'd scored an amazing launch deal good enough that I could actually afford two copies of the OS for my computers.

The pace of technological development is frightening, with AI tools doing things we would have barely believed just a few years ago. That doesn't mean newer is always better; I still use several gadgets daily that are 10 years old or more.

You're lucky to get a handful of ports on a new laptop, so it's worth investing in a docking station, like this one from Acer, to connect multiple monitors or other devices. It has a slimline design that fits most laptop bags, and you'll never have to stress about your limited port selection again.

Android tracker tags have improved significantly over the past couple of years, but there are still a few areas where AirTag still reigns supreme. The focus is often put on software features, like notifying you when an item is left behind, but I think the real downside is something nobody talks about: their actual physical design.

The Pixel Watch 3 was only released two years ago, but it's already shedding a potentially vital feature. Google has warned that LTE models of the Pixel Watch 2 and 3 are losing free cellular access to Safety Signal on December 12.

The mechanical keyboard hobby has evolved significantly over the past few years. What was once a fairly niche hobby for gamers and typists has become much more mainstream.

The top story in Hollywood is easily the official merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery to form Skydance. How it will affect the entire streaming landscape has yet to be seen. For now, turn your attention toward things you can actually control, like picking out shows to watch this week.

The application of AI in the productivity space, especially note-taking, has been growing rapidly. We've seen newer tools like Granola and Fathom gain popularity, while established platforms like Notion have also integrated AI, helping users generate transcripts and notes from hours-long meetings. It looks like Google is also experimenting in the space but with a twist—a tool called Google AI Edge Foresight that runs locally on your Mac leveraging Apple Silicon. The company is experimenting with Foresight through Google AI Edge wing, a collection of technologies and tools designed to run AI models locally on devices.

Excel is one of those tools I can reach for whenever I need to organize something, which is exactly why I ended up using it as a task manager. But there's a point where a growing list of things to do stops being a spreadsheet problem and starts being a workload problem. So I turned to Super Productivity, and it has become my go-to when I need to get a handle on everything I have to do.

Every year, Google announces a new Pixel phone with a handful of new features. Some of these goodies never make their way to old models as recent as the Pixel 8. You have options when it comes to bringing your Pixel up to date with the latest and greatest.

Google recently launched Googlebook, its new Android-based laptop platform, and even though the machines are available for purchase at retail stores, some users still can’t get their hands on them. Many users don’t want to spend serious money just to feel the new Googlebook Operating System.

Every so often, after huge savings events, like following Prime Big Deal Days, Amazon keeps sale prices around on certain products (or just forgets to mark them back to the normal price). These golden opportunities are a perfect way to steal a deal that you may have missed during the savings extravaganza, and none may be a better score right now than the AirPods Pro 3s—which are still nearly 30% off.

Microsoft describes Windows 11 26H2 as a predictable, low-disruption update. It's an enablement package that mainly activates features you already have on your PC if you installed the monthly updates. Looks like not much will happen if you decide to go ahead with it.

Halloween is almost upon us again, and for those of us blessed with one (or more) 3D printers, it's the perfect time to get into the real spirit of Halloween and decorate your home with things you can't just buy off store shelves.

Content creation remains one of the most computer-dependent jobs in the world. While almost any laptop can handle a few emails and compose a slideshow or spreadsheet, content creators have specific needs.

The Home Assistant 2026.10 update is here, and it's aimed at making the open-source smart home platform easier to use. Rather than any major new features, this release improves several parts of Home Assistant that users interact with regularly, including automations, maps, and dashboards. Here’s what has changed and why it matters for your smart home.

As much as I like to talk trash about my laptop behind its back, the truth is that the cheap, useless thing is a lot less bad than that same amount of money would've gotten me a decade ago. It's true: cheap Windows laptops have come a long way.

On paper, there's a massive difference between standard "Full" HD and 4K UHD. A 4K screen has four times the pixels found in an FHD model. Coming to around 8.3 million pixels.

I have two old laptops sitting around doing nothing most of the time. One, until very recently, was literally sitting in a closet collecting dust. That's a waste of perfectly good hardware—many local AI jobs will run just fine on a CPU with 16GB of RAM as long as you have time to let them run. My old laptops fit into that scheme perfectly.

Amazon has completely overhauled its tablet line, and it's good news if you're an Android fan. The online retailer has introduced an Alexa Tablet family that is not only more powerful, but has access to the Google Play Store.