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7 things nobody tells you about hosting a Plex media server

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 21:24

Are you thinking about starting a Plex server soon? While the initial setup of Plex is easy, there are definitely some nuances I wish I knew about at the beginning. That’s why I made this list: to keep you from making the same mistakes I did.

Categories: IT General, Technology

ARC Raiders opts to replace AI-generated dialogue with professional voice actors

Mashable - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 20:47

In a bizarre inversion of recent trends, human actors have managed to steal work from artificial intelligence. Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz recently, Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund revealed that the studio had replaced AI-generated dialogue with human voices in their successful ARC Raiders game, albeit only after the successful October launch.

The decision came down to quality, with Söderlund ultimately admitting that the professional voice actors still offer something that artificial intelligence cannot: "There is a quality difference. A real professional actor is better than AI; that's just how it is."

SEE ALSO: 'Arc Raiders' issues widespread penalties for alleged cheaters

Despite the game's remarkable success on Steam, with 14 million sales in February and more than 6 million weekly active users, critics have balked at the game's clunky use of text-to-speech, claiming that it harms immersion in the otherwise compelling story and world. As proof that the studio is sensitive to criticism and still eager to improve their already-launched product, the developers have identified key sections of dialogue to be "upgraded" by paid voice actors. As of now, however, there are no plans to replace all AI-generated voice content with human actors. 

Embark Studios also emphasized that, while some artificial intelligence was used in the dialogue, no generative AI was used in creating the game's striking, much-praised visuals. 

While critics of AI are quick to point out the human cost in terms of jobs lost or the damage to artistic integrity when AI trespasses into the realms of the human imagination, proponents point to the incredible cost-saving benefits of artificial intelligence, which may ultimately give more creative power to cash-strapped individuals rather than corporations. 

For now, however, expected more heated debates on the virtues and vices of AI as its use continues to accelerate in the gaming industry.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why your expensive new router feels slow: 5 next-gen features disabled by default

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 20:30

Wi-Fi routers are often treated as plug-and-play appliances. For most people, the setup process begins and ends with plugging in the power cable and, if they're feeling adventurous, setting a custom network name and password.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Prime Video will restrict basic users to HD streaming

Mashable - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 20:02

Bad news for the more than 180 million Americans signed up for Amazon Prime: the service is revamping its membership structure and locking 4K video streaming behind a higher-cost tier, charging customers an additional $4.99 per month to unlock the highest-resolution experience.

Prior to the change, regular Prime members paying either $14.99 per month or $139 per year could stream in 1080p HD or 4K/UHD, while customers eager to stream ad-free could pay an additional $3 per month. Now, however, the basic Prime Video package restricts users to 1080p streams, while the ad-free experience is being upgraded and rebranded as "Ultra."

SEE ALSO: Alexa+ is now available to everyone in the US, and free for Prime members

To further entice customers to upgrade their subscription, Amazon is throwing in additional perks for Ultra members, including an increased download capacity for offline viewing (from 25 to 100), support for Dolby Atmos audio and Dolby Vision picture, and an increase in the number of concurrent streams from a single account, from three to five.

It isn't all bad news for basic Prime members, though: they will also gain access to Dolby Vision support, as well as an increase in the number of concurrent streams they can access from a single account, from three to four.

It's also worth noting that true 4K streaming is still a tall order for most customers, either because they lack the bandwidth or because their streaming device, especially on smartphones and tablets, doesn't support true 4K UHD resolution. 

For those Amazon customers who rely on Prime Video for their home theater, though, the Ultra upgrade should be mandatory.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 Reasons the 2026 Subaru Outback is still the ultimate adventure wagon

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 19:30

For three decades, the Subaru Outback has occupied a unique corner of the automotive world, carving out a niche that sits comfortably between a family wagon and a mountain-climbing SUV. With over three million sold since its debut, the Outback has become the literal and figurative utility player of the Subaru lineup.

Categories: IT General, Technology

When storage hijacked the motherboard: The forgotten history of the RAM-slot SSD

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 19:00

DIMM SSDs are one of those oddities that almost look fake at a glance if you're not familiar with them. They take up a RAM slot, but depending on the design, they might behave like a normal SATA SSD or a persistent memory module that sits much closer to DRAM than a conventional drive does.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 niche Milwaukee power tools (and what they're used for)

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 18:45

Fans of Milwaukee and those red power tools know that the company actually makes a little bit of everything. Milwaukee is wildly popular thanks to its capable tools, specialty offerings, and a steady flow of new tools each year. You probably own the basics, but here are a few niche Milwaukee tools you might actually want, along with what they're used for.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don't panic over new Linux exploits: How to check if your PC is affected in under 5 minutes

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 18:30

Every other month a new Linux vulnerability appears in the news and a CVE number starts circulating. If you use Linux, the reaction is predictable: "Am I vulnerable?" Before assuming the worst, take five minutes and actually check whether your PC is affected.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Here's how I turned my old Android phone into a PC performance dashboard

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 18:00

PC gamers love keeping an eye on their CPU, GPU, and other resource usage and temperatures during intense gaming sessions. While a secondary monitor can handle this easily, I prefer to turn mine off completely so it doesn’t distract me while I game.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Home Assistant isn't just for privacy: 4 practical reasons to build a fully local smart home

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 17:45

Home Assistant is a free and open-source smart home platform that operates entirely on a device on your local network, making it the go-to recommendation for any smart home enthusiast that's concerned about privacy—but there are many other reasons to choose a local smart home hub that isn't operating in the cloud.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Microsoft has lost the plot: 5 Windows "features" nobody asked for

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 17:30

Windows 11, Microsoft's newest operating system, got people excited at first because of its fresh look and modern features. However, as the software has been around longer, a clear trend of unfriendly design choices, really pushy ways to make money, and a plain lack of concern for your privacy have emerged. This growing list of unnecessary features shows the worst examples of how Microsoft is making the experience worse just to benefit its own corporate interests.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Everything leaving HBO Max in March

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 17:15

While March is heating up on HBO Max with several noteworthy new shows and movies, it’s also time to say goodbye to everything leaving the platform this month. Though most of the titles leaving are movies, there are some documentaries and shows in there that you’ll definitely want to see.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 3 best Apple TV shows to binge-watch this week (March 16 - 22)

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 17:00

While we wait eagerly for some of the new upcoming series coming to Apple TV, including new seasons of For All Mankind (March 27), Your Friends and Neighbors (April 3), and Criminal Record (April 22), there are some solid shows to while away the weeks.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why I refuse to buy another Windows PC

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 16:58

I grew up using Windows and laptops. Now, both of those feel like things of the past. While I can't say for sure that I'm done with laptops, if I do get another one someday, I know it won't come with Windows.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Smart home lag isn't normal—here's how to fix it

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 16:00

The idea of a modern smart home can sometimes be better than the reality. This generally happens when you treat it as a simple 'plug-and-play' gadget rather than the infrastructure of your home. You might have thought that kind of sluggishness was just part of the deal, but you can fix this by changing the way your devices operate.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This "weird" Ryobi tool solved the most annoying problem in my garage

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 15:45

All the different power tool brands produce a ton of excellent tools, especially Ryobi, which makes a little bit of everything. Every once in a while, you'll stumble onto some weird, obscure item that you never knew you needed. That's exactly what happened to me late last year at Home Depot, and that tool ended up solving one of my biggest workshop woes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 ways to practice Python without following a tutorial

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 15:30

If you're learning python, chances are you started with tutorials–and honestly, there's nothing wrong with that. They give you a solid foundation and help you get familiar with the basics. But at some point, you can get stuck in an endless loop of tutorial hell, this cycle limits real progress without you noticing. I'm now two years in, I've made enough mistakes to know which habits actually make you better. Here are the ones worth your time.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I asked ChatGPT which AI was best and it recommended Claude

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 15:15

There's been an online trend of people ditching their ChatGPT subscriptions in the wake of OpenAI's deal with the Department of War. I've used ChatGPT for years and have always been reluctant to change, but it felt like the right time, so I asked ChatGPT which AI was the best for my needs. The answer surprised me.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 myths about CDs we need to leave in the past

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 15:00

As we move further and further away from the heydays of the audio CD, things are getting a little muddled. Perhaps it wouldn't matter so much if physical media like vinyl, CDs, and cassettes were making a niche comeback among certain groups of people.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The one thing I do before (almost) every 3D print

How-To Geek - Sun, 03/15/2026 - 14:45

Failed 3D prints can be disheartening, but there are some things you can do to improve your chances of success. Printing with dry filament is a good starter, but even the driest of filaments can come undone if your build plate isn’t prepped correctly.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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