How-To Geek
These New SmartThings Features Will Make Your Smart Home Feel Smarter
It’s very easy for a smart home setup to feel more complicated than it’s worth. All those individual settings, the convoluted routines, and just the sheer amount of time it takes to get things right. Samsung SmartThings is looking to change that.
5 Open-Source Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat for Editing Your PDFs
Why pay for Adobe Acrobat or risk your data with online editors when excellent open-source PDF tools offer powerful, private alternatives? These PDF editors give you complete control over your documents and are free of cost.
The Fairphone 6 Got a Perfect iFixit Score
Personally, I love the Fairphone range. It goes against everything that's "normal" in the smartphone ecosystem to put together a repairable, long-lasting phone. Now, an iFixit teardown reveals that the new Fairphone 6 is, indeed, every bit as repairable as you'd expect it to be.
Microsoft Edge Is Still Speeding Up
Microsoft has been slowly rewriting its desktop Edge web browser with faster responsiveness. According to the company, most interface elements in the browser now load in under 300ms, making the entire browser feel much snappier overall.
Android's Photo Picker Is Getting a Helpful Upgrade
Android users are getting a big update to how they pick and share photos and videos. Google is going to add a much-requested search bar to its Photo Picker, and eventually, a date-based browsing tool will also be released. These changes will make it easier to find specific files to share.
6 Alternative CLI Tools I Immediately Install on Linux
The standard utilities on Linux are boring; have you ever noticed that? Their function is essential, but they're boring. Wouldn't you like to jazz up their outputs with some pretty colors? Or even speed them up? These terminal utilities do that and more.
Google Pixel Phone Alarms Keep Breaking
Do you have one of Google's Pixel phones that somehow keeps missing the alarms you set? If so, you're not alone. It looks like the famous Pixel alarm bug is back and causing all sorts of problems for owners.
9 Years Ago Today, Nintendo Forced Gamers to Touch Grass
Pokémon GO took the world by storm, and seemed to come out of left field, and it's hard to believe that the game has been out for nearly a decade! There are still a huge number of people playing the game today, though, of course, nothing like the game at its peak.
This Is the Thing I Envy Most About Windows
For most of my life, I've used an operating system other than Windows. I'm no fan of Microsoft's platform, but there is one thing it does better than anyone else.
How I Get Google Drive to Automatically Sync New Windows 11 Files
If you want to keep your local files in sync with your Google Drive account, you can use a graphical or command-line method on your Windows 11 PC. I’ll show you how.
How to Close All of Your Open Apps on Windows 11 Instantly
If you want a button that quickly closes all your chosen running apps, you’re in luck. Windows 11 lets you make such a button, and I’ll show you how.
LibreELEC Might Be the Best Linux Distro for Your Mini PC
When everyone talks about minimalist Linux distros, they start with things like Raspberry Pi OS or a headless Ubuntu server. However, if you're just trying to set up a home theater PC (or other streaming box), you have a much better option.
I Forgot About Live Wallpapers—But This One Is Now My Favorite
In my earliest years of using Android, I often had an animated forest as my background, or fish wading through water. I forgot about live wallpapers for most of the last ten years, but now I’ve landed on a new favorite.
How to Check If Your PC Uses an i486 or i586 Processor
If you're running Linux on 30-plus year old hardware, lend me your ears: in recent weeks the Linux kernel has been updated to no longer support Intel 486 and 586 processors. Here's why it's happening, and how you can check the CPU in your device.
Busy Family? This Hyundai Hybrid SUV Has You Covered
The family car has come a long way—morphing from sedans to station wagons, minivans to SUVs—shaped by shifting needs and changing times. And now, we’ve arrived at the era of the all-in-one crossover.
Smartphones are Overstimulating—These Apps Actually Calm Me Down
There are things that make a home feel calming, and the same is true of our phones. Here are four apps I’ve personally installed that have done a lot to reduce the anxieties I feel when using my phone.
11 Best Fan-Made Browser Ports of Classic Games
If you're ever in the mood for something that's easy to pick up and play, look no further than browser games. While there's a seemingly endless supply of relaxing time-wasters and addictive score-chasers made specifically for browsers, you can also find browser ports of retro gaming classics from all genres.
Why My Switch 2 Has Me Playing Old Switch Games Docked Again
Thanks to a shipping snafu, I only received my Nintendo Switch 2 a week after launch, but since then I've been making up for lost time. However, like most people, what I've mainly ended up playing are original Switch games, but taking advantage of the additional horsepower of the new console.
These 10 Things Are Terrible for My PC, but I Still Do Them Anyway
As much as I want my PC to run as smoothly as possible and avoid running into issues, I don't take exceptionally good care of it. Sometimes, old habits get the best of me, and I find myself slipping into a lack of maintenance that doesn't do my computer any favors.
Don’t Make This Rookie PC Building Mistake With RAM
Building a PC is equal parts exciting and frustrating. There's nothing quite like gaming on a new PC for the first time, but with so many components to think about, getting there is a challenge. While most hardware choice comes down to personal preference, one small detail you shouldn't overlook is RAM clearance.