How-To Geek

Analysis ToolPak is one of those Excel features I'd mentally filed under "I'll look at that one day." I'd seen it mentioned in tutorials, knew roughly what it did, and knew where to enable it if I ever needed it. The problem was that I never felt like I needed it. When I wanted to understand a dataset, I'd usually reach for formulas, Power Query, or lately, AI.

Apple unveiled the “Dynamic Island” four years ago, and Android fans have been mocking it ever since. Why would you want to make the camera cutout more noticeable? Recently, though, I’ve been using an Island on my Android phone, and I finally get it.

A bedroom in my house had become a Wi-Fi dead zone. Video calls froze, web pages loaded slowly, and the connection was rarely dependable. Instead of buying a mesh system, I decided to see whether an old router sitting in a drawer could solve the problem.

The ESP32-P4 is not quite like the usual ESP32 boards. You get a dual-core RISC-V processor running at up to 360 MHz, support for high-resolution displays and cameras, and enough horsepower for projects that would push older ESP32 boards to their limits. But once the excitement of buying a new board wears off, you are left figuring out what to actually build with it!

Has your Gmail inbox become cluttered and overrun? Maybe you're looking for a quick way to mass delete newsletters or emails from a specific domain name. Here's how to tidy up your Gmail account in record time.

Home security systems usually come with a steep price tag, especially when you want solid coverage for both your front door and your yard. As such, pairing a wired doorbell with a battery-powered outdoor camera is the most reliable way to keep a property covered without constant battery anxiety. With this Blink video doorbell and camera combo, you can do just that for only $35.

One of the main promises of 3D printing technology is that you can use it to create all sorts of useful household objects and even repair broken parts on your appliances and other items by printing spare parts. Or, more likely, the spare parts are just too expensive.

The last slab phone I truly loved was the Moto Edge+ 2023, which made it hard for me to watch as Motorola chose not to bring any of that phone's successors to the US. The good news is that's changing this year with the Motorola Signature 27. The bad news is no one will want to buy it, for one glaring reason.

If you have a modern laptop with only a handful of USB-C ports, you already know the frustration of running out of connections. You want to charge your device, plug in an external monitor, and transfer files from a USB drive, but there’s nowhere to plug anything in. That’s where a dedicated hub comes in, and right now, Amazon has slashed the price on one of the most solid options on the market.

I love a good board game. We've all played games like Monopoly and Mastermind, but it wasn't until I played TheSettlers of Catan that I discovered how awesome board games could really be. There are several games that are going on my Christmas list this year.

Keeping shows and movies downloaded for those times that you find yourself without an internet connection can be a lifesaver. I generally have a list of things loaded on my phone and ready to go, meaning I can catch up on some content when I'm on a bus, plane, or just on the treadmill at the gym. I am, however, chronically bad at making sure my downloads are up-to-date.

Upgrading an older desktop doesn't always require ripping out your motherboard and RAM. If you're still on an AM4 platform, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X is a perfect way to breathe new life into your PC without starting from scratch. Amazon has the 8-core, 16-thread chip available for $159, which is a solid price for gamers and multitaskers who want reliable performance without the premium of a next-gen socket.

After debuting Gemini Intelligence on the Pixel 11 series and holding back its AI-powered widget builder, Google is bringing that and more to Pixel devices through the November Pixel Drop.

Fedora is already a solid Linux distro, but a fresh installation doesn't have to be your final setup. A few small tweaks can make it more convenient, unlock additional software, and give you better control over your system.

Before Windows introduced native support for more archive formats, having an archive tool was pretty much mandatory. And while you can create 7z archives on Windows 11 without 7-Zip, I still find myself installing and using the tool pretty regularly.

One of the big benefits of Samsung devices is that they are pretty deeply customizable. However, if you're looking to take things a step further, then you absolutely need Good Lock. It is a free and official suite of modules designed by Samsung to give Galaxy users the ability to deeply personalize their devices, boost productivity, and streamline navigation.

Being born in the 2000s, I hardly got the chance to use any of the old operating systems many people talk about. As a Linux user, this topic always fascinates me. How old operating systems worked, what they offered, and most importantly, how they shaped modern OSes.

If you're like me, you're always looking for a reason to justify buying a few more power tools. Or, more importantly, additional battery packs for your collection. If so, I have good news. While it's not quite the holiday season yet, that hasn't stopped The Home Depot from launching a slew of discounts or free battery and tool deals that are too good to pass up.

Before smartphones became ubiquitous, the whole idea of a phone was to have a small communication and entertainment device that could comfortably slide into your pants pocket, jacket, or purse.

Durable watches that can take a beating don't need to be pricey, and you can find options like Timex's legendary Expedition Scout for under $50 with a limited-time Amazon deal. It's the quintessential field watch, blending style and simplicity to take on your outdoor adventures.