How-To Geek

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and I shifted to remote learning, I began transforming my home into a smart home. As a college student on a limited budget, I started with Amazon Alexa as my smart home ecosystem.

I’ve become a fan of Galaxy devices, but I know many are put off by what can feel like bloated software. Fortunately, if you find Samsung’s apps and interface to be a bit much, there’s a custom launcher that not only solves this problem, but it's arguably at its best when installed on a Samsung phone!

Spotify has finally joined the ranks of Tidal, Apple Music, and Deezer by offering lossless streaming, as long as you're subscribed to Spotify Premium. The lossless audio streaming feature isn't enabled by default, so here's how to enable it in Spotify's mobile and desktop apps.

The Nissan Kicks has quietly evolved into one of the most compelling budget-friendly crossovers in 2025. Despite its low starting price, the Kicks packs an impressive mix of style, practicality, and technology, qualities that continue to challenge established rivals in the subcompact SUV class.

Do you travel a lot? If so, you know how important packing can be. You must make sure you have everything essential—clothing and toiletries, of course, but also your electronic cables, laptop, and any other necessary items to get through your trip. Even if you're not a big traveler, you know how frustrating it can be to forget something important, especially if you can't buy a replacement at your destination.

HBO Max has just released their November schedule, and it’s packed with new additions and releases. The streamer will see a slew of classic titles included in their library, but the highlights are the new releases in store for you.

The Satechi OntheGo Bluetooth mouse is a minimalist and quiet travel mouse that feels so comfortable, I see no reason to limit its use to travel.

For years, I’d been looking for an app that would let me manage all the fans in my PC case from one place and link case fan speed to the GPU temperature. About five years ago, I found it. Since then, Fan Control has been a staple on my PC. I recommend it to everyone in need of a fan management app.

Windows XP is celebrating its 24th birthday today. Despite its age, the now-ancient operating system is one of the best pieces of software ever made by Microsoft, and the best all-round version of Windows. It defined an era, vaulted home computing to a new level of convenience and reliability, and established norms we take for granted in modern versions of Windows.

Has your mouse been weighing down your aim lately? Mine has, which is why I decided to try cutting its weight in half. Using a 3D-printed frame, I was able to turn my lightweight mouse into something that truly feels like a feather in my hand. Here’s how it went.

If you’re hunting for a used family hauler that maxes out cargo space and fuel efficiency, there’s one body style that should be at the top of your list—and it’s not an SUV. Sure, some drivers love minivans and others don’t, but the modern hybrid minivan leaves today’s SUVs in the dust when it comes to flexibility and space.

I've always liked the idea of a projector, and I've used them plenty of times at work over the years, but the tradeoffs were never worth the increased picture size for me until recently. First I was tempted by a new generation of portable LED projector, but now laser projectors are becoming affordable on a paltry writer's income, and I'm mighty tempted.

If you go check the back of your TV, games console, soundbar, or Blu-ray player, you'll almost certainly see a little port with red light coming from it. That's TOSLINK or "Toshiba Link".

Dropping expensive electronic devices onto hard surfaces often ends in tears, but not all drops are equal. Though device and case manufacturers are going further than they ever have in a bid to protect your smartphone, there are some surfaces around which you should exercise additional caution.

So, you dropped big money on a gaming mouse but find that you're just as bad with it as with that $20 rodent from your local Walmart. I hear you. Turns out, what really makes a gaming mouse great isn't the price tag—it's how well it fits you. Allow me to explain.

Google is a company that’s not exactly known for sticking with products for the long haul. However, it doesn’t always put the final nail in the coffin. There are a few Google apps still kicking around that could really use some love and attention.

In the race for best gas mileage without a hybrid badge, three major brands are in the spotlight, Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai. Each has made efficiency a priority, consistently coming out ahead when it comes to traditional gasoline vehicles.

Before buying a product or trying out a new service, you probably check online reviews first. What most of us don’t realize, though, is that some companies pay for fake reviews to sway buyers away from competitors. Thankfully, with a bit of attention, you can tell genuine reviews apart from fake ones.

I first discovered Waze back in 2014 when traveling to a tech event in Colorado. I flew into Denver and had a 120-mile journey to my destination. It seemed like a simple trip, most of my time would be spent on a single interstate, and the resort was only a few short miles from the exit. About an hour into the trip, Waze suddenly told me to get off the highway at the upcoming exit. I knew I had just over an hour left on this highway, but needing a pit stop, I followed the directions.

Are you ready to ditch Google Photos and self-host your own photo server? There are a number of ways to go about doing that, allowing you to store your pictures without giving Google the rights to crawl through them all.