How-To Geek

Androids have become fortresses that can stop threats and protect data when powered off. However, they haven't consistently given us the ability to easily and quickly lock down a single, sensitive file, which would make it as secure as possible. It's strange when you think about it, since it's a very old feature that should be possible without any tricks. Luckily, there is a straightforward solution to client-side file protection. You just have to look outside the apps you are given.

It can be hard to convey information in your smart home in an effective yet subtle manner. Mobile notifications work well for some things, but they can be easy to miss, and most of us receive too many of them anyway.

When people build a home audio system, they tend to prioritize raw output and deep bass. It's common, and I've even done it. It is easy to think that bigger is inherently better, and overspending on a single, massive unit that dominates your floor space won't create distortion. However, theater-level bass is really only needed in theaters; it won't do well in your home. By moving away from the temptation of the massive single box, you can get professional-grade audio without the premium price tag.

If you use ChatGPT, you already have access to Codex. At the time of writing, it’s available to both free and paid users. You can download it as a desktop app for Windows or macOS. It’s incredibly powerful, but most people ignore it because they assume it’s only meant for programmers. I understand why—after all, the word “code” is right there in its name—but Codex is too useful to overlook. Here are three reasons why I prefer it over the regular ChatGPT app.

It's no secret that I'm a Windows user, although Linux is catching up fast in my house. I've been using Windows since the Windows for Workgroups days, so I've lived through more Start menu redesigns, control panel reshuffles, and "future of computing" experiments than I can count. I'm not someone who thinks every older version of Windows was automatically better. In a lot of ways, modern Windows is more stable, more secure, and more capable than it has ever been.

Amazon's Alexa is now available on the company's shopping app and website in the US, bringing a wide range of new capabilities. Customers can now visit the Amazon app or website to have Alexa support them with suggestions, guidance, and a couple of useful features while shopping.

Windows 11's April update made several tangible improvements to the operating system which made it a bit easier to use. However, they didn't solve the main reason that I tweak the registry: customization. There are too many customization settings without easily-accessible toggles, and until that changes, the registry will be one of my go-to tools.

I felt the Unihertz Titan 2 was too big, too ugly, and too janky—but the Unihertz Titan 2 Elite may just be the biggest glow-up across one generation I've seen in my entire career of covering Android phones.

Plex has rolled out a new update for Android and iOS, bringing a host of new features alongside fixes. Among the features, there’s a highly requested one that has finally been added. Plex will now allow users to upload custom artwork directly from their mobile app.

Electric vehicles used to come with one major compromise: affordability. If you wanted to stop paying for gas, you often had to accept a much higher monthly payment in return. That gap is finally starting to close, with a growing number of electric crossovers now landing comfortably below the $40,000 mark while still offering solid range, modern tech, and everyday practicality.

Android 17 is shaping up to be one of the biggest and most important Android releases in years. It’s packed with new features and changes. Here’s my personal ranking of the seven features I’m most excited about in Google’s new “intelligence system”—yes, that’s what Google is calling Android now.

It might seem unlikely to compare a Buick to an Acura. For as long as any of us can remember, these two brands have operated on different wavelengths: Buick as a torchbearer of American "attainable luxury" and Acura as the high-tech, performance-oriented Japanese disruptor.

Tom Cruise wants to know if you feel the need for speed. If you're like me, then the answer is always a resounding yes, especially when it involves Cruise and action. Starting on May 13, Paramount is rereleasing Top Gun for one week in select theaters to celebrate the 40th anniversary. The sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, will also head to the big screen during this run.

Modern performance cars have become obsessed with numbers. Every new launch seems to focus on bigger horsepower figures, faster acceleration times, and headline-grabbing lap records. The problem is that all this added performance has come with a major downside: weight. Sports cars are heavier than ever, and many have lost the playful, connected feel that once defined the segment.

Google wants you to see Googlebook as the premium step above Chromebooks. It's the alternative to MacBooks and sleeker Windows PCs for people who want to go all-in with Android and Gemini.

Battery life on most Android phones is now pretty good, but apps can still drain your battery more than you realize, even when you aren't using them. As your phone gets older and the battery life shrinks, it's important to get them under control. I've started using the free app GSam Battery Monitor to do exactly that.

The arrival of the 2027 Audi Q9 is getting closer, the German manufacturer's new flagship that seats up to seven. Set for a full and proper reveal on July 28th, Audi gave us a glimpse of the Q9's interior, though it kept the exterior under a camouflage wrap.

There's nothing worse than investing hours into a great new TV series only to have the rug pulled out from under you by a network or streaming service canceling it just when things are getting good. In the current age of streaming, though, it's not enough to have the adoration of fans and a Rotten Tomatoes score through the roof—massive production budgets, shrinking viewership, and corporate takeovers are becoming more of a death knell to great shows than any number of downturned thumbs.

I don't know how it happened, but somehow I pay for four whole terabytes of cloud storage every month. Sure, it's shared with the entire household, but over the years I went from a few gigs of free cloud storage to a substantial annual fee for a big hard drive in the sky.

In partnership with The Home Depot, RIDGID has announced an all-new, powerful yet compact cordless 18V power tool lineup to take on Ryobi, Milwaukee, DeWALT, and more. It's called the RIDGID NUKE Subcompact.