How-To Geek

Syndicate content
We explain technology. Learn more with our articles, reviews, tips, and the best answers to your most pressing tech questions.
Updated: 7 min 52 sec ago

I doubled my Galaxy Watch's battery life with these 5 simple tweaks

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 17:15

My Galaxy Watch typically has lasted a little over a day, which I always considered good enough—until I went on a trip. It completely changed my routine. I forgot to charge my watch before leaving, and by the middle of the day, I was walking around with a useless device strapped to my wrist.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 affordable multi-tools to kickstart your EDC journey

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 17:00

Power tools are great, but sometimes you don't need something that big or powerful for around the house. And while you can choose from an array of compact power tools, occasionally, all you need is a good multi-tool. Leatherman instantly comes to mind, but they're not the only ones that offer solid options perfect for multiple jobs.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The EV comeback is already happening in the US—most people just don't see it yet

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 16:45

The U.S. EV market is bleak. Sales are down, the federal tax incentive has gone away, and major automakers have either canceled electric models (like Ford's F-150 Lightning) or scaled back production (including Nissan and Volkswagen). For now, the future of electrified cars in America revolves around hybrids.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 5 open-source apps prove you don't need to buy a Kindle or Kobo

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 16:30

You don't need to buy a Kindle or Kobo to enjoy a great ebook reading experience. No matter what device you have, there's probably an excellent ebook reader app that can turn it into your own personal library device.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your failed hard drives aren't 100% dead: 6 things you can still do with them

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 16:15

Even tiny drives, like a 120GB SATA SSD, can come in handy. After all, if the drive is working, there's nothing stopping you from giving it a more or less useful job.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your room matters more than your soundbar or speakers—here's how to make the most of the audio you already have

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 16:00

Before you spend another dollar upgrading your audio gear, consider this: the room you're listening in might be holding back the sound far more than your equipment ever could.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These two hidden settings made my Galaxy phone feel faster than ever

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 15:45

Do you wish your Samsung Galaxy phone was a little faster or had longer battery life? It's fair to assume we all look for ways to make our phones better, and that's why you'll love these two settings hiding in plain sight that'll actually make a pretty big difference in performance.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 smart home heating and cooling ideas you've never thought of

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 15:30

Automation is the real reason to invest big in a smart home, and few systems can benefit quite like your heating and cooling. From saving money to maximizing efficiency, here are some heating and cooling options you should know about.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This open-source app and Raspberry Pi helped me identify every bird in my neighborhood

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 15:00

We have swift boxes on the side of our home to try to encourage swifts to come and nest. There used to be nesting swifts in the area, so the hope is to lure them back. I wanted a way to track which birds were in the area based on their songs, so I set up my Raspberry Pi and an open-source app to help.

Categories: IT General, Technology

BeOS was the most innovative OS of the '90s—here is how it lives on today

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 14:30

If you don't run Windows or macOS, you will probably have some flavor of Linux on your system. Or maybe even one of the BSDs if you're brave. If things had gone differently in the late '90s, you might be running something else: BeOS. BeOS still changed computing history, even though it was a flop. You can also install a successor today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why CDs failed to stand the test of time

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 14:24

CDs were the most popular method for listening to music for over 20 years. Unsurprisingly, something new eventually came to take over...but then something old did, too.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your router has a hidden dual-ISP mode that ISPs don't want you to find

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 14:15

When your internet is down and you call your ISP, what's the usual answer you get? I'm willing to bet it's either telling you to restart your router or telling you to wait. I've heard that one before; I've had my fair share of ISP troubles.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 new Netflix movies to watch in August

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 14:00

A new month means it's time to look at the list of movies coming to Netflix in August. First up is a documentary that might make you look at fried chicken in a new light. Two days later, a mysterious sci-fi thriller hits the service, and it looks like a mix between Signs and Twilight Zone: The Movie.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I hated Copilot in Excel, but these 3 tests made me change my mind

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 13:30

When I first tried Copilot in Excel, I wasn't impressed enough to keep paying for it. It felt more like an interesting extra than something that genuinely improved my workflow, so I downgraded to Microsoft 365 Classic. A year and a half later, I decided to give it another shot by testing whether it could handle more than basic spreadsheet tasks. The results might have just convinced me it was worth resubscribing.

Categories: IT General, Technology

10 websites to download models for 3D printing that you’ve never heard of

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 13:00

You’ve heard of MakerWorld, Printables, and Thingiverse, and it’s true that these websites probably have more models than you’ll ever need. But there’s more to 3D printing than the top three, whether you’re looking for premium models or niche interests.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 ways GIMP 3.0 made switching from Photoshop much easier

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 12:30

Switching away from Photoshop has always had a catch. GIMP was free, capable, and cross-platform, but actually using it felt like a trade-off. You had to justify every session. It took me so many tries to fully jump away from Photoshop. If I had tried switching over today, it would have been no problem thanks to everything GIMP has now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Miura SV arrived in 1971 for $13,800—and taught Lamborghini how to build its best cars

Sat, 08/01/2026 - 00:00

Lamborghini spent the early 1970s trying to fix a problem most carmakers would have envied: a car that was already a legend yet still had room to improve. That car was the Miura, and “the fix” became the Miura SV, the model Lamborghini credits with starting a naming tradition it still uses today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The hybrid SUV that makes every gallon go farther

Fri, 07/31/2026 - 23:30

Hybrid SUVs have become increasingly efficient, but most earn their reputation by excelling in stop-and-go city driving. Maintaining that efficiency at highway speeds is a much tougher challenge, where the gasoline engine does far more of the work.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 perfect-score HBO Max documentaries to watch this weekend (July 31-August 2)

Fri, 07/31/2026 - 23:00

It's the final weekend of July, and while we wait for the hot new lineup from HBO Max to arrive for August (with DC's Lanterns and new docuseries Monsters of God on the way), the prestige service still has a few tricks up its sleeve for documentary lovers.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These are the last remaining sports cars you can get under $50,000

Fri, 07/31/2026 - 22:45

Affordable sports cars are becoming an endangered species. As prices continue to climb and automakers shift their focus toward SUVs and electrification, the number of genuinely fun performance cars that ordinary buyers can still afford has dwindled to just a handful.

Categories: IT General, Technology

eXTReMe Tracker