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: 9 min 30 sec ago

Hi3D turns AI-generated models into print-ready 3D projects

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 16:09

If you’re not a professional 3D designer, then creating custom 3D miniatures or models can be quite a task. Instead of hiring someone to design them for you or learning CAD yourself, Hi3D’s all-in-one AI 3D maker platform (free trial available) is a fantastic solution. It offers unique features that generate 3D models more simply and faster than ever before — especially for beginners.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your drawer is full of Raspberry Pis that could be doing this instead (July 10 - 12)

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 16:00

Those Raspberry Pis you have sitting in a drawer aren't doing you any good there. That's why I have three fun and simple Raspberry Pi projects for you to try this weekend.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your Samsung Galaxy is better for travel than a Pixel—here's why

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 15:46

Samsung and Google make some of the best Android phones, but if you're planning your next big getaway, you'll want to pack a Galaxy phone over a Pixel. Ditch airport anxiety with solid battery life, take stunning photos, stop shoulder surfers, turn your phone into a portable PC, or build a full travel itinerary in Samsung Wallet.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These fun sound effects bring Home Assistant to life—here's how to use them

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 15:00

Notifications are one of the most powerful smart home features, but they don’t necessarily have to clog up your phone. Sometimes, you just want an alert you can hear.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You're putting your Wi-Fi router in the exact wrong spot (and how to fix it)

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 14:31

If your Wi-Fi works fine in some parts of the house but feels downright miserable in others, you're probably dealing with Wi-Fi dead zones. And yes, they can still be a thing even right next to your router under the wrong circumstances.

Categories: IT General, Technology

7 more of the best Home Assistant custom integrations—according to the community

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 14:15

The Awesome Home Assistant list has a huge selection of some of the most useful custom integrations for Home Assistant. Each integration includes its GitHub star count, and these are some of the most popular integrations according to the people who actually use them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 HBO Max shows I'm downloading on my phone before my next flight

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 14:00

Similar to how you can download Netflix shows on your phone before a flight, the same capabilities are possible on HBO Max. Before you board your next flight, head into the HBO Max app on your phone and tap the download button beside the movie or episode description. Download these shows before hopping on the plane to ensure you can watch them offline without having to worry about streaming at 30,000 feet.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Microsoft tool helped me shut down the startup apps that Task Manager wouldn't show me

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 13:30

Windows Task Manager, as well as the Startup Apps page in Windows Settings, can show you which apps automatically start when you log in and let you disable the ones you don't want launching with Windows. But what you see in Task Manager's Startup Apps tab is only a small slice of what's really going on under the hood during startup. If you want to see the complete picture, you have to use the Autoruns utility.

Categories: IT General, Technology

If you still use these 5 ports, your PC is officially too old

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 13:27

The way hardware ages can be difficult to judge. You may be using a 10-year-old PC and feeling satisfied, or you may be running last-gen hardware and already looking at another expensive GPU to upgrade with—it's all a matter of mindset.

Categories: IT General, Technology

7 ways to use an ESP32 with your Bambu Lab 3D printer

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 13:00

Your 3D printer can take microcontroller projects to the next level with 3D printer enclosures and other parts. So what about using an ESP32 board to improve the 3D printer?

Categories: IT General, Technology

This free, open-source app is my task manager, cheerleader, Kanban board, and calendar

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 12:30

Free and open-source (FOSS) apps are often seen as less capable, hobbyist alternatives to paid professional apps—after all, they're free. However, Super Productivity completely changes that narrative by offering a feature-complete productivity app that can go toe to toe with most paid alternatives. Here's a quick look at everything you get with Super Productivity and how I use it as my main productivity app.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Fiat’s adorable new electric car isn’t actually legal on US roads

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 00:00

The automaker has launched the Topolino in the United States, but it's not a car in the traditional sense. It's the brand's first entry into the country's growing micromobility segment, a category built around golf carts and neighborhood electric vehicles rather than for everyday roads.

Categories: IT General, Technology

PC sales plunged for the first time in two years—except for one company

Wed, 07/08/2026 - 23:34

The computer market just faced one of its grimmest periods in recent memory. IDC analysts estimate PC shipments fell 4.9 percent in the second quarter (Q2) of 2026, representing the first decline in over two years — although one company remained unscathed.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The affordable sports car that makes a used Porsche Cayman less tempting

Wed, 07/08/2026 - 23:00

The Porsche 718 Cayman has long been the sports car benchmark for enthusiasts who want a premium badge without stepping into full supercar territory. Its mid-engine layout, sharp chassis, and near-perfect balance give it the kind of driving feel that makes every corner more rewarding.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 must-see shows you can't watch on Netflix anymore (and where to find them now)

Wed, 07/08/2026 - 22:31

Netflix's library of hit movies, award-winning TV shows, and unique originals is one of the reasons why the streamer remains so popular. Shows like Suits, which had a successful run on cable TV, exploded in viewership on Netflix. While Netflix would love to keep its licensed programming forever, it's an unrealistic ask, meaning many notable shows eventually leave for other streaming services.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Linux distro treats your PC like source code—and it almost works

Wed, 07/08/2026 - 22:00

Most operating systems work in the same basic fashion—you install apps from the binaries or an app store, change configuration files as needed, and perform piecewise updates as needed. NixOS changes that approach entirely.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why developers are ditching GitHub for Codeberg and self-hosting alternatives

Wed, 07/08/2026 - 22:00

By many measures, GitHub is as popular as ever. One new user joins every second, the service hosts over 600 million repositories, and nearly one billion commits were made in 2025.

Categories: IT General, Technology

ChatGPT has new voice models that make conversations feel much more natural

Wed, 07/08/2026 - 21:52

ChatGPT just became a much closer rival to Google's Gemini Live. OpenAI has released a major ChatGPT Voice update that brings far more natural conversations with AI, not to mention better answers.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 4 most useful Samsung Galaxy features that aren't available by default

Wed, 07/08/2026 - 21:30

For some reason, the very best Samsung tools and customization settings aren't shipped enabled by default. Instead, some of the best are hidden away in an app you have to download separately.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This is the only hybrid SUV that delivers over 50 MPG—and it costs less than $30K

Wed, 07/08/2026 - 21:01

If your goal is to spend as little as possible on fuel, the obvious choices usually come from Toyota or Honda. Those brands dominate the hybrid conversation, but they don't actually build the most efficient SUV on sale today. That honor belongs to a smaller, often-overlooked crossover that quietly outperforms them all at the pump.

Categories: IT General, Technology

eXTReMe Tracker