How-To Geek

We live in an increasingly disposable world where people upgrade their perfectly functional phones every year or are forced to replace products because they're no longer supported. It's not always the case; my surround system is still going strong after more than 15 years, which isn't something that can always be said of soundbars.

Ultralight mice have completely taken over the FPS scene. The CORSAIR SABRE v2 PRO weighs in at a featherweight 36 grams, putting it in the same weight class as some of the most agile wireless mice on the market. If you've been waiting for a flagship wireless mouse that balances top-tier specs with a more reasonable price, today's deal is exactly what you've been looking for.

I love a good FOSS tool. LibreOffice has long been one of my go-to suites for work, both personal and professional. Used in conjunction with my other favorite productivity tool, Obsidian, I find that I can get a lot done. The spreadsheet (Calc) is superior to Excel for my needs. I love the word processor (Writer), and I still use my old desktop publishing tools for major work, but I've converted to LibreOffice Draw for quick projects. But it does have some occasional hiccups, like paragraph justification in LibreOffice Writer. I've certainly noticed it in the past, but learned that a recent update to LibreOffice fixed this text problem. It's noticeably different and very easy to use.

It’s no secret that the iPhone Duo launch has been plagued with issues. However, a nasty screen defect is far from the only reason why people are unhappy with Apple’s first foldable phone. The complaints go beyond the surface.

In the streaming wars, Fox has a new asset in Roku. On Nov. 6, Fox Corporation successfully completed its $22 billion acquisition of Roku, Inc., which came well ahead of the previously projected 2027 date. Roku will now fall under Fox Digital Platforms, a new division that includes Roku, Tubi, Fox One, Red Seat Ventures, and other digital products and services.

Not everyone has a new car with the latest touchscreen infotainment systems. That doesn't mean you can't upgrade to the latest tech and get Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and modern navigation. Upgrading is easy with Surcsa's 9-inch CarPlay Screen, now 40% off with a limited-time deal.

Google Fi's first key feature was the ability to automatically switch between multiple networks. In recent years, however, Fi transitioned fully to a T-Mobile-only MVNO. Now, Google is bringing the network switching technology back, specifically for 5G.

I spent years putting up with Phone Link when it kept letting me down. The connection kept dropping, notifications didn't show up, and most of the time the find phone feature didn't work. I eventually found a different app that I now use every single day.

There are some pieces of technology that are at their best when they don't stand out. If they're doing the job you need them to do, you'll forget they're even there. The Baseus Spacemate RD1 Plus 14-in-1 (WIN) Docking Station is exactly that type of device.

While my Pixel 10 Pro doesn’t have the best hardware or cameras around, it packs a slew of cool and unique features that are, at least in theory, perfect party tricks. Some aren’t really that intuitive to show off to your friends, but there are a few I love to show people, especially those who haven’t seen a Pixel phone before (I’m still surprised by just how many people don’t recognize one).

I'm a big Excel advocate. Whenever I see someone recommending that I replace it with another app, my first reaction is usually the same: what's the point? Excel already does most of what I need. One app I keep seeing recommended, though, is Airtable.

We’ve all experienced searching for something on the internet only for ads about that thing to follow us around for weeks. It even crosses devices; targeted ads show up on your computer after searching a keyword on your phone. Perhaps it’s just a mild annoyance, but it’s a visible reminder that we’re all tracked across the web.

One of the biggest benefits of Zigbee is that it uses less power than Wi-Fi, so many devices can run on batteries. You can put battery-powered devices almost anywhere without worrying about where the nearest power outlet is, but the downside is that all batteries will eventually run out. There are plenty of ways that you can use Home Assistant to keep track of your batteries so that your devices don't keep dying.

When many of us think of ebooks, we think of an Amazon Kindle eReader. But these days, there's another portable piece of tech that is literally shaped like a book—the book-style foldable phone. I carry one in my pocket, and I'm now reading more than ever.

Jellyfin is a self-hosted media server that you can use to stream your TV show and movie collection to other devices. It's a popular alternative to Plex that many people run on a device such as a Raspberry Pi or a mini PC. However, an old phone can also work, and there are some significant benefits over other options.

Facebook Marketplace is still probably the best place to buy and sell things within walking or driving distance of your home. For me, it’s the best reason to keep my Facebook account alive in 2026, but not everything listed is a bargain or even worth buying.

I've been annoyed for years by that awkward gap between clicking a browser icon and actually seeing a window. It's only a couple of seconds, but it happens dozens of times a day, and it adds up. It also feels like we're too far in the future for this to be an issue. Microsoft seems to have fixed this in Edge on Windows 11, and Chrome is what it is being tested against. So I set up a few launch tests on real machines to see what changed and what didn't.

Back when I built my current PC in late 2020, I thought its six USB ports, along with the two on my case’s front panel, would be enough for my needs. The one thing I didn’t account for was that I’d still be using the same motherboard six years later, and that I’d end up with a bunch of USB peripherals, each needing its own port. Something had to be done, so I took the road less traveled: instead of getting a PCIe USB card, I expanded my USB ports with a USB-C dock.

As a puzzle lover, I am a huge fan of apps that challenge the mind. Solving logic-based problems or riddles scratches an itch inside my brain that nothing else can. If you're a Wordle addict, you'll relate. One popular format that I keep coming back to is an age-old classic: sudoku.

I never thought about auditing my carrier's software because I never knew how easy it was. I'd checked app permissions, turned off ad tracking, and cleaned out old apps, but the preloaded packages that came with my Galaxy stayed untouched because I assumed they were just part of the phone. I spent an afternoon looking into what T-Mobile and Samsung put on my device, what it can actually do, and what happens when you turn it off. It's easy enough to try yourself.