How-To Geek

A jailbroken Kindle can be so much more than an eReader. Unlocking it lets you install third-party app stores and tackle some really wild projects. Not all of them are especially useful, but they can be a lot of fun.

JetBrains just dropped a major update for its Python IDE, PyCharm 2025.3.2. PyCharm and Google Colab are normally treated like separate tools, with the former PyCharm for that serious, heavy-duty local IDE power, and Colab for easy, GPU-accelerated cloud access. This update merges them.

Every web browser is being loaded up with generative AI features, whether you like it or not. Now, Chrome is getting more Gemini integrations, the Nano Banana AI image generator, and an 'Auto Browse' mode comparable to ChatGPT Atlas.

Once considered a DC fan’s paradise, HBO Max is the dedicated Warner Bros. streaming platform. Sadly, due to Warner Bros.' questionable business model, that is no longer the case. Warner Bros. has continued to sell the streaming rights to several of its most popular titles, all the way up until the company’s sale. Despite being the streaming home of all Warner Bros. content, HBO Max has less than half of DC’s media library available.

With much of the Northern Hemisphere fully covered in snow, we can safely say that winter is here. While we’re cozy in our warm homes, our cars unfortunately have to take all that beating outside (unless you have a garage, of course). One of those cars is my poor old BMW, which I thought wouldn’t be drivable this winter—until I fixed a surprisingly simple issue.

Lexus has long been a go-to for luxury, tech, and value, especially with models like the UX300h, NX, and RZ—all starting under $44K. Step up to higher trims with bigger engines and fancier features, though, and you’re easily looking at $60K or more.

The popularity of USB flash drives was undeniable a decade ago, but they’ve somewhat fallen out of fashion in favor of much faster external SSDs. However, now that SSD prices are creeping up and showing no signs of slowing, it might be time to give traditional USB drives another look.

Transmission is my favorite BitTorrent client, with excellent ports to Windows, Linux, macOS, and headless servers. Now, Transmission 4.1 has arrived after over a year of development, and it has some great changes.

Apple's native messaging app is the obvious choice for your texting needs as an iPhone user, especially if you're seeped into the Apple ecosystem. There are, however, a few changes you can make so your conversations feel smoother. If you're a new Messages user or want to improve your texting experience on the app, make sure you enable these settings now.

Android has long included bits and pieces of a make-shift desktop mode, but only Samsung has gone above and beyond with their own DeX experience. Last year, Google officially teased its brand new desktop mode for Android, and now we’re getting our first look at it in action.

AirPods have become the wireless earbuds everyone owns, and those who don’t often wish they did. However, just because iPhone users default to AirPods without considering other options on the market, that doesn't automatically make them the best option. Plenty of alternatives can offer more for a lot less money.

USB sticks are convenient gadgets for transferring files. You've probably got a bunch of them in your desk drawer, in your bags, plugged into TVs—and they're all putting your data at risk. Here's why.

Unlike Windows or macOS, there are Linux operating systems that can run entirely off a USB stick. They can be configured to save their data to that same USB stick or external hard drive, which makes them portable operating systems. You could take a USB stick like that anywhere with you, plug it into any PC, and boot into it. As soon as you log into it, you'll see all your files, settings, and apps just where you left them. Let me show how you can carry a workspace in your pocket.

Luxury buyers used to favor big, imposing SUVs, but the soaring popularity of the BMW X3 reveals a shift in priorities. In 2025, many buyers are gravitating toward smaller, more efficient luxury crossovers that deliver a compelling balance of performance, refinement, and everyday usability, without the size, cost, and bulk of larger SUVs. The X3’s strong sales make it a standout example of how expectations are changing in the premium market.

I used to think bigger was better when it came to computers, but I’ve begun to change my thinking on that. Mini PCs are more powerful now than ever before, and they have actually redefined what a desktop should be in my mind.

If you only use the clipboard feature occasionally, the default Windows clipboard is serviceable enough. However, if your workflow relies heavily on copy-pasting stuff (like mine does), there are better tools available. Ditto is one such tool. It's an open-source clipboard manager meant for power users.

Ever find yourself comfortable in bed, only to realize your PC is still running across the room? Do you want a way to shut down your PC with a single tap on your phone? Well, here’s how I added a one-tap kill switch for my Windows PC on my Android home screen.

One of the biggest buzzwords I remember from the 90s was "convergence", where different types of technology would all come together in a single device. Our smartphones are convergent devices. You can replace your mail, music, movies, books, and more with just this one device that does everything. By and large, I think convergence like this was a good thing.

Tech updates happen constantly, making it easy to forget the basic foundations that built our current digital society. We're hitting an amazing milestone this year because it's the thirtieth birthday of some truly iconic software. Anyone using tech today should really take a moment to reflect on the anniversary of these revolutionary platforms, which we rely on daily without a second thought.

A brand-new Tacoma starts just over $32K—a number that would have sounded laughable for a Porsche a few years ago. Today, that same cash can get you a used Cayenne E-Hybrid, a luxury plug-in SUV that once topped $80K.