How-To Geek

Convertibles may not dominate today’s automotive market, but they still deliver something that SUVs and crossovers simply can’t replicate. In a world where most new vehicles prioritize practicality over personality, a drop-top remains one of the purest ways to enjoy driving. Whether it’s a scenic coastal cruise or a spirited back-road run, few vehicles make summer driving feel as special.

Do you love the convenience of wireless earbuds but hate the intrusive feeling of having silicone tips shoved deep into your ear canals? Or perhaps you avoid wearing them because you can't hear your surroundings. Either way, open-ear earbuds could finally be the solution you've been looking for.

Pixel phones are known for their cameras, but the stock camera app isn’t perfect. The image processing is quite heavy, and there’s little manual control if you want to experiment. I recently started using Open Camera, a free open-source alternative, and I'm now getting even more from my Pixel's camera.

“Yes, Chef!”

Compact cars have become smarter, more efficient, and more comfortable than ever before, but many of them have also become a little dull. In the pursuit of fuel economy and everyday practicality, a lot of affordable sedans and hatchbacks have lost the sense of fun that enthusiasts still crave. For drivers who actually enjoy being behind the wheel, finding a compact car with genuine personality has become surprisingly difficult.

Are you just using your router for Wi-Fi? Well, it actually does a lot more than that. Here's everything else your Wi-Fi router can do.

Planning a road trip this summer? Despite high gas prices, millions will still hit the road. The real question: what will they be driving?

If you've started mentally tallying up your software subscriptions and wincing a little, you're probably overdue for a cleanup. The good news is that the open-source ecosystem has quietly become really good—good enough that some apps outright beat their paid alternatives. Last year, I switched to these six free, open-source apps, and they saved me nearly a grand without forcing me to compromise.

I adore E-Ink technology and there has never been a more exciting time to be a fan. New devices offering distinct ways to experience this paper-like technology are dropping all the time.

Memorial Day is more than just the unofficial start to summer. It serves as a day of remembrance for those brave soldiers who died serving in the United States military. These courageous individuals loved their country so much that they were willing to sacrifice their lives for it.

A DVD drive in your homelab? What madness is this? Well, if you actually stop to think about it, there are many logical reasons why your homelab should include at least one drive capable of reading and writing DVDs.

Home Assistant is a powerful smart home application. The problem is that there are so many incredible integrations, add-ons, and custom components that it can be hard to know where to start. Thankfully, there's a very useful community-maintained resource that can help.

Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching, marking the unofficial start of the summer travel season—and the perfect time for an annual family road trip. Despite soaring fuel prices, a recent Hertz survey found that 64 percent of Americans still plan to hit the road this summer. With our nation’s 250th anniversary and Route 66 celebrating its 100th birthday, there are more reasons than ever to embark on a memorable family drive. Now, all that’s left is to choose the perfect car.

Everyone can agree that setting up a new phone is a pain. The backup and restore process has considerably improved the experience over the years, but you’re still stuck with signing into a dozen or more apps. Recently, I switched phones and purposely made this process even worse. I’m glad I did.

Who wants a few more capable and versatile power tools? Milwaukee is a fan favorite for its solid collection of tools for homeowners and professionals, not to mention its constantly expanding lineup. And while several new tools have arrived this year, more are on the way that are actually worth waiting for.

Many Excel tutorials give the same advice for speeding up spreadsheets: avoid volatile functions. While that can help, software settings often have a bigger impact on performance. If your spreadsheets lag—even on a high-end PC—you may need to change how Excel handles calculations. These two buried settings can make large workbooks feel dramatically faster.

The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger famously sang, “You can’t always get what you want,” and when applied to television shows, his statement couldn’t be truer. Many end with epic cliffhangers due to unforeseen circumstances, like cast issues, network notes, early cancellations, and more, which is risky because it often promises a continuation that the show may never deliver.

Google Maps on Wear OS can automatically launch and give helpful nudges when you start navigating from your phone. This is particularly useful when walking or biking, but it could be just as valuable while driving. Unfortunately, it gets all messed up when Android Auto is involved, and Google has known about it for years

For a long time, Plex served as a reliable media center that respected the boundaries of your personal library. The application focused entirely on your local files instead of pushing external content that you had zero interest in seeing. The days of putting up with poor streaming are over, because I can't stand what Plex is doing now. I decided I was done and moved on to Kodi, and you should too if you're tired of UIs being forced on you for reasons against your best interest.

Excel is the ultimate productivity tool, but it has some incredibly frustrating default habits. It treats your data like it knows better than you do, leading to endless manual corrections. Before you start working on your next spreadsheet, adjust a few hidden options so Excel finally starts working on your terms.