How-To Geek

The Samsung SmartThings platform now supports Matter 1.5, bringing it up to the latest version of the smart home industry standard. That means you can now connect cameras over Matter.

JSON is everywhere nowadays: config files, web APIs, date formats, and more. It’s also proved popular with toolmakers, who have created many different programs to read, modify, and process JSON for a wide range of purposes.

For some reason, I've really been immersing myself in detective and mystery series lately. I think it's because the experience is less passive—you have to pay attention, or else you might miss a key piece of the puzzle as you try to get to the bottom of the crime yourself, making the watch more fun.

If you want one vehicle that can juggle daily life, road trips, and a little ego-boosting comfort, a luxury SUV is usually the move. Big cabin, big cargo space, and the kind of cushy ride that makes you feel at least adjacent to royalty.

Ethernet has been around for a long time. Invented in the '70s, commercialized in the early '80s, and it's still the fastest and most reliable network technology you can have in your home.

Looking for a TV show you can sink your teeth into this weekend? One that doesn't take a ton of commitment and that you can binge a pile of episodes of in one sitting, maybe even the whole darn lot?

For years, I've shared my Amazon account with my wife. When it was time to buy presents for each other for Christmas or birthdays from Amazon, we used to archive the order so that it wasn't displayed in the main list of recent orders. Amazon has removed this feature, however, so keeping gifts secret on Amazon is no longer so simple.

No Linux operating system is complete without a suite of handy software. This week I found some legitimately useful apps you can install on your system, including a planetarium for stargazing, a library of internet radio, and a way to learn terminal commands faster.

Time flies when you’re busy watching worthy content. Can you believe the year is almost over? I can’t. As you head into the biggest weekend of the year, then roll right into the biggest week of the year, take some time for yourself and prep for the holidays by preserving your energy and engaging in some non-holiday content. This weekend, laugh a lot, get lost in a supernatural saga, then burn enough calories to eat whatever you want in the coming weeks with a heart-pounding medical drama.

If there’s one thing car buyers consistently want, it’s an engine they never have to worry about. And while the market is full of complex hybrids, turbos, and high-strung performance motors, one humble Japanese four-cylinder has quietly built a reputation that outlasts most of the vehicles it’s been installed in. After more than 25 years on the market, its track record for reliability, longevity, and low running costs has made it one of the most trusted powerplants still in production.

How do you decide what to watch on Netflix? It's a tough challenge, especially if you're not the only person on the couch. Sure, you could play the first thing you see, but there's no guarantee that it's going to be any good.

I am a writer by trade, and like most knowledge workers, my job depends on sustained focus. When something pulls me out of my headspace, whether it is a notification, a pop-up, or a blinking icon, it is not just a brief interruption. Studies have shown it can take close to twenty minutes to fully regain focus after being distracted, which makes even small interruptions more costly than they seem. Because of that, anything I can do to reduce unnecessary noise on my PC is an easy win.

January is just around the corner, and with the new year comes new shows and films to stream. Netflix's lineup of releases for 2026 is exciting, featuring brand-new titles as well as new seasons of classic shows.

Smartphone speakers have come a long way, but they’ll never sound as good as a proper speaker in a decent-sized housing. But what if you didn’t have to choose between sound quality and portability?

Prime Video is already telling 2025 not to let the door hit it on the way out, today announcing its lineup of movies and new TV series for January 2026. And with more than 60 new movies, new seasons of returning favorites, and some fresh new series in store, it's looking like the new year will be off to a good start.

Firefox is addressing recent community concerns about AI integration by confirming it will include the option to completely disable all AI features within the browser. The team has been calling this functionality the "AI kill switch" internally, which is what I hope it ends up being called.

This is it. The last hurrah, the final curtain, the end game of 2025. And as Netflix looks forward to 2026, it's also already shelled out its list of movies and TV shows that are leaving the world's biggest streaming service in the U.S. next month.

A 3D printer is a wonderful tool, especially around the holidays. I recently upgraded to the Bambu Lab P2S, and wanted to put it to work making some fun games for the family to play. Here are five of the games I 3D printed to play (and gift) this Christmas.

Every app seems to end the year with a Spotify Wrapped-style recap now, but what if you could get one for the neighborhood where you live? How many people complained about potholes? What was the most complained-about spot? A new project turns neighborhood complaints into a personalized highlight reel for your city.

Europe’s long-planned 2035 ban on new internal combustion engine cars is no longer as clear-cut as it once seemed. Recent policy shifts and growing political pushback have reopened the door for gas-powered vehicles, signaling a major recalibration of the continent’s all-electric ambitions. For automakers and consumers alike, this change could have far-reaching consequences for product planning, pricing, and the pace of electrification.