How-To Geek

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We explain technology. Learn more with our articles, reviews, tips, and the best answers to your most pressing tech questions.
Updated: 1 hour 31 min ago

3 reasons a NAS is the best way to learn Linux

Thu, 06/04/2026 - 15:01

If you've been meaning to learn Linux but never quite made it stick, it's probably not a motivation problem. The desktop is usually not the best place to start learning Linux because you already have a working desktop in your Mac or Windows PC. A NAS, on the other hand, is exactly the kind of project where Linux earns its place, and where you'll actually end up learning something that stays with you.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This secret Samsung Galaxy setting gave me 19GB of storage space back

Thu, 06/04/2026 - 14:45

Our smartphones have more storage than ever, but running out of space is still a common problem while using the powerful cameras for photos and video, large modern apps, and everything else. If you're low on storage, here's how I just freed up nearly 20GB of space on my Samsung Galaxy by taking advantage of one hidden setting.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your Excel charts are hard to read—here's how I fixed mine in 10 minutes

Thu, 06/04/2026 - 14:30

Excel's default charts often make data harder to read, with distracting gridlines, awkward spacing, and attention-grabbing colors. That's why I have a quick cleanup routine to transform basic charts into more professional-looking visuals in minutes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

WiiM's first soundbar wants to replace more than your TV speakers

Thu, 06/04/2026 - 14:19

WiiM has launched its first-ever soundbar called the WiiM Bar after releasing the Sound Lite smart speaker last December. And this time, the brand has a different vision—it is designed to function as a standalone streaming speaker and work with compatible WiiM gear instead of just being a soundbar for a movie night.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why the upcoming Audi Q9 is a tough sell over a Genesis GV80

Thu, 06/04/2026 - 14:15

Genesis launched its brand in the United States in 2016 with a straightforward promise: build vehicles that could compete with the European and Japanese luxury brands without the price tag. Nearly a decade later, Genesis has grown into one of the most decorated brands in the segment, earning consistent praise from owners, journalists, and other automotive industry organizations alike.

Categories: IT General, Technology

7 new Hulu shows and movies to watch in June

Thu, 06/04/2026 - 14:00

At first glance, Hulu's June lineup looks extremely promising. The streaming service has added several movies this month that are celebrating key milestones, including Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (20th anniversary), AI: Artificial Intelligence (25th anniversary), and Independence Day (30th anniversary). All three movies will tap into the nostalgia of each era.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Linux promised freedom, but the command line demands something harder in return

Thu, 06/04/2026 - 13:30

Talk to people who've heard about Linux but haven't used it, and they'll often say something like, "Don't you have to use the command line?" It's possible to do more outside the terminal on modern Linux distros, but I'll happily stay in the command line. It's still the primary interface for Linux for serious users.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your 3D printer doesn't belong in your bedroom—here's where to put it instead

Thu, 06/04/2026 - 13:00

3D printers come in a range of sizes, from small compact units right through to room-sized behemoths. While space is a determining factor for where your 3D printer should go, there are some things that might sway you if you have the luxury of choice.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This 34-year-old open source tool is still the fastest way to write on your computer

Thu, 06/04/2026 - 12:30

The next time you're writing on your computer, pay attention to how much time you spend on editing text. How often you move the cursor. Or select some text to erase it. Scroll up or down a document. Jump around pages, chapters, paragraphs, sentences, and even words. Your hands are almost always switching between the keyboard and mouse when writing. These micro actions seem insignificant, but the time and effort they add up to are definitely not-so-insignificant. Imagine if you could cut them all out of your process. You could just wish a paragraph would disappear and instantly it would. Or just think about jumping to the bottom of a page, and you'd be instantly teleported there. Vim is a text editor built for that. It lets you edit text at the speed of thought.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Uber is rolling out 500 custom EVs to collect robotaxi data—here's why

Thu, 06/04/2026 - 01:34

Six years after scrapping customized cars for the self-driving market, Uber is back—if not in the way you'd expect. The ridesharing giant has revealed a prototype version of Hyundai's Ioniq 5 that will be used to gather self-driving data for partners like Waymo and WeRide.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Tesla robotaxi service finally covers an entire metro area—with a handful of cars

Wed, 06/03/2026 - 22:08

You no longer have to be picky about where you hail a Tesla robotaxi in its flagship city, provided you aren't too picky about when your ride arrives. The company has confirmed that its "unsupervised" service now operates across the "entire" Austin metro area.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This American luxury SUV quietly gets everything right

Wed, 06/03/2026 - 22:00

American luxury SUVs used to be all about excess. Bigger engines, bigger dimensions, and enough chrome and leather to make sure everyone knew you'd arrived.

Categories: IT General, Technology

America's cheapest new vehicle in 2026 is a surprisingly practical SUV

Wed, 06/03/2026 - 21:00

With new vehicle prices continuing to climb, genuinely affordable transportation has become increasingly difficult to find. The days of sub-$20,000 new cars are effectively over, leaving budget-conscious shoppers with fewer choices than ever before. That makes the remaining value-focused models more important, especially for buyers who simply need dependable transportation without taking on a massive monthly payment.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best upgrade to my home media setup was this $13 device

Wed, 06/03/2026 - 20:30

There's one streaming app on my smart TV that was a pain to watch. It was always buffering or even throwing me out of the content completely and resetting to the start of the episode so that I'd have to try and find where I'd gotten to again. A cheap network switch was the solution to my problems.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Google Pixel's real problem isn't the camera or the chip

Wed, 06/03/2026 - 19:46

If you went by many reviews, Pixel phones would reign supreme if Google simply upgraded their spec sheets: faster chips, newer cameras, and larger batteries. And those do need updates, as Google has been held back by sub-par Tensor performance and tech that sometimes hasn't changed for years.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How a few 75TB data hoarders killed unlimited cloud storage for everyone

Wed, 06/03/2026 - 19:26

These days, cloud storage feels more limited than ever. It's expensive, fragmented, and locked behind various tiers. Meanwhile, our storage needs continue growing, as the 3-2-1 rule relies on external storage, and for many of us, that just means cloud backups.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 2027 Mazda MX-5 deserves more than just another muted paint option

Wed, 06/03/2026 - 19:00

Sports cars are supposed to be emotional purchases. They're meant to make you smile before you've even turned the key, blending sharp styling, engaging performance, and a sense of fun that practical vehicles simply can't replicate. Few cars embody that philosophy better than Mazda's beloved roadster, which has spent decades proving that driving enjoyment doesn't require massive horsepower or an exotic price tag.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 entertaining Prime Video miniseries you can finish on a plane ride

Wed, 06/03/2026 - 18:15

The calendar has turned to June, and summer is almost officially in full swing. Many of the major streaming services, including Prime Video, do not release their biggest shows during this period, electing to save them for the fall or spring. This makes it the ideal time to catch up on shows you might have missed during the year.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I can now plug untrusted computers into my network without fear—here's why managed switches change everything

Wed, 06/03/2026 - 18:00

Have you ever wondered what the purpose of a managed Ethernet switch was? I wondered that for years until I finally used one. Managed Ethernet switches are extremely powerful in a homelab, and mine has completely changed how I connect computers to the internet.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Nanoleaf is evolving from smart home lights to robotics with the help of a major merger

Wed, 06/03/2026 - 17:58

Nanoleaf is synonymous with the smart desk and wall lights that YouTubers and Twitch streamers love, but it's pivoting away from them toward robotics and AI — and just secured a big merger to help make that happen. OneRobotics, the owner of smart home heavyweight SwitchBot, has agreed to acquire Nanoleaf for $40 million.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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