How-To Geek
I turned my $15 ESP32 into a mini PC with this tiny OS
ESP32 boards are cheap and versatile, making them highly popular in the maker community. Setting them up isn't always that simple, but there's a tiny OS you can run on an ESP32 that allows you to use one as if it were a very small PC.
5 new shows to watch this weekend across Netflix, Prime Video, and more (September 4-6)
The streamers are loading up on new and returning shows to kick off the month, giving viewers plenty of options for weekend streaming. Netflix has two shows that made the cut for this list. One is a reality show featuring an extremely popular influencer, and the other is the second season of a Guy Ritchie show. Elsewhere, a British motoring show returns for an all-new season on Prime Video.
6 Intel CPUs that have aged like milk
Intel has had a colorful history over the years. While many people have made the switch to AMD Ryzen, plenty still remain loyal to Intel—and for good reasons.
The first turnkey local AI-powered smart home hub is here and I'm excited
Cloud-based smart homes have been the norm for over a decade now. There are inherent problems with cloud-based smart devices though, with privacy being at the forefront of those issues. UGREEN just surprised everyone and announced the first turnkey local smart home hub that actually matters.
I built an Excel job tracker that tells me more than where I applied
Once you've applied for more than a handful of jobs, keeping track of them can become a job in itself. You need to remember where you applied, when you applied, how you applied, who you spoke to, what the salary was, and whether you ever heard back.
Google's new Pixel phone revives a classic feature that other phones already do better
The Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL bring back notification lights with a feature called HiLight. It's a nice touch, but Google isn't the first to modernize this idea, and its version currently trails what's already on the market.
There are two kinds of Windows users—and one of them is unknowingly making the OS worse
Most Windows users just want to get to the desktop, so they blindly accept whatever Microsoft wants them to install. That indifference is exactly what Microsoft is counting on, and it's shaped the OS for years in ways that frustrate people who actually pay attention. If people paid more attention to what was going on, Windows wouldn't have nearly as much bloat as it does now, and it would be much faster.
3 small Raspberry Pi builds that offer surprisingly useful payoffs (September 4 - 6)
It's that time of the weekend again, time to start thinking of what Raspberry Pi projects you're going to be working on before Monday rolls around! Today, I'm showing three unique projects that can run on either a Pi Pico or a full-size Pi.
5 ways to repurpose an old or broken Galaxy Z Fold
If you've got a Galaxy Z Fold you aren't using anymore and don't plan to sell, you can put it to good use even if its screens no longer work. Thanks to the phone's versatility, courtesy of its massive foldable display and beefy hardware that's quite capable even in older Galaxy Z Fold models, the most popular foldable around can fulfill a variety of roles.
My $3 DIY cooling hack dropped my home server's temperature by 8°C
Fire TV is quickly becoming the worst streaming option for homelabbers
Amazon's Fire TV streaming devices have been based on Android from the start, which made them an excellent choice for anyone who likes to tinker and modify things. Amazon subsidized the price of Fire TV streamers by monetizing them with ads and, of course, using them as a funnel for subscriptions and more Amazon purchases.
I've used Excel for years, and this is one shortcut I keep coming back to (Alt+;)
Every Excel power user knows that keyboard shortcuts are one of the best ways to speed up their workflow. But there's one problem: there are more than 200 of them. My way around this is to focus on a select handful that genuinely save me time, and Alt+; is high up that list.
I loaded Ubuntu Touch on an old phone to "de-Google" my life—here's where it all went wrong
DeGoogling your digital life is difficult, though not impossible, when you have an Android phone. By default, all of Google's services are deeply integrated into the operation of the phone; if you start removing them, you'll quickly find your phone no longer functions.
I stopped getting lost in KDE’s settings after finding these simple shortcuts
Linux is well known for being receptive to customization, and KDE Plasma is no exception. In contrast to the minimalism of GNOME, KDE’s shell lets you fine-tune hundreds of different settings, and the default way to do so is via System Settings.
MAMMOTION's LUBA 4 AWD and Maston take on difficult lawns at IFA 2026
Robot mowers are great at covering open grass. The trouble begins near walls, beneath trees, and on steep or uneven ground, where navigation becomes harder and tight turns can tear up the turf. Many models still leave a strip around the boundary to finish off with a string trimmer.
4 new Ryobi tools coming this fall that you need to see
The warm summer months are winding down, and that means you should probably start preparing for fall lawn care and DIY projects. If that includes buying new tools, Ryobi just announced several exciting products coming soon to your nearby Home Depot.
Before the USB flash drive: 5 'floppy killers' that lost the retro storage war
The floppy ruled removable storage for decades, but it quickly became too small and spurred on many pretenders to the throne. Yet while many tried to topple the floppy from its throne, it clung on far longer than you'd expect.
Motorola's new Moto Watch Ultra is the right answer to the Galaxy Watch
Samsung once again has major competition for the Galaxy Watch Ultra in the Android world. Motorola has unveiled the Moto Watch Ultra, its most advanced Wear OS smartwatch yet — and with a few advantages over its Korean counterpart.
Lenovo's first RTX Spark PCs are Yoga models built for creators
Lenovo is finally sharing details of its first PCs based on Nvidia's first consumer PC processor, the RTX Spark. The brand has shared first details of the Yoga 9n 2-in-1 and Yoga Pro 9n, both of which are aimed at creators and developers—and in some cases, gamers. I've had hands-on time with both ahead of IFA 2026, with a catch.
Lenovo's IdeaPad Vibe proves Windows laptops can compete on style, not just price
Lenovo is taking its turn at fighting the MacBook Neo by borrowing its colorful design for a potentially more capable laptop. The company has introduced the IdeaPad Vibe as a more powerful Windows alternative, and I've had hands-on time with it at IFA 2026.


