How-To Geek

I've been using Home Assistant to control and automate my smart home for more than a decade. I don't regret my decision for an instant; in my opinion, it's the best smart home software there is. I just wish I'd known how much work it was going to be.

It's easy to get intimidated by the Linux terminal's numerous commands. cp, mkdir, lsblk, piping—are they really worth memorizing? Not necessarily; you can actually make use of the terminal without memorizing complex commands thanks to TUIs.

Losing files and photos can be more than just an annoyance, it can be a large problem if you lose something important. The best way to ensure that never happens is with a robust backup system. This is how I incorporated a Raspberry Pi into my setup.

When it comes to the automotive world, few names stand out to mechanics as much as Snap-On, and with good reason. The company offers reliable hand tools with a renowned lifetime warranty. However, more and more mechanics are ditching the "old way," ignoring tool trucks, and switching to brands like Milwaukee.

Nokia’s S60 Symbian phone series has a special place in my heart. The Nokia 6600 introduced me to the world of smartphones and fostered my curiosity about smartphones, hardware, and technology. Below are my top 10 favorite Nokia Symbian phones!

The new RS 5 is Audi Sport’s first high-performance plug-in hybrid (PHEV), combining the brand’s rich RS heritage with advanced hybrid technology in both Sedan and Avant configurations. In the words of Audi, whether you’re taking on winding roads, cruising on the highway, or moving quietly through town on electric power, the RS 5 is going to handle all of those situations (and more) with precision and grace.

IKEA’s transition from Zigbee to Matter over Thread is almost complete. The new range is already available in stores, and dwindling old stock is bad news for those of us who are happy to stick with Zigbee.

At a time when GPUs are awfully overpriced, we're all left to chase the highest possible frame rates with any method available to us. Oftentimes, that method is frame generation, or in Nvidia's case, one aspect of DLSS 3 onward.

Choosing the right trim level can make the difference between getting a good SUV and getting the best value in the lineup. With multiple versions of the CR-V Hybrid available for 2026, buyers are faced with a familiar dilemma: save money on a base model or pay more for luxury-focused upgrades. The Sport-L Hybrid stands out as the trim that strikes the most balanced middle ground, delivering premium features without drifting into luxury-car pricing.

I've never owned an iPhone, and its limited features are part of the reason why. Samsung Galaxy phones are some of the most capable and flexible phones you can buy—powerful in areas where Apple doesn't even try to compete.

Whenever a movie starring Tom Cruise arrives on streaming, it's an exciting development, especially if it involves Ethan Hunt and the IMF. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning is now available to watch on Netflix.

The ability to accommodate up to seven, plenty of cargo space, especially with the third row folded, tons of creature comforts, and a more commanding view of the road to really take advantage of that powerful engine. Driving a large luxury SUV has a number of benefits like this, and a gently used Infinit QX80 offers all of them without runaway maintenance costs and a max towing capacity of 8,500 lbs.

Are you tired of people recommending Ubuntu when it never quite feels right on your desktop? Well, the problem might not be Ubuntu—it might be your hardware. Here’s why Ubuntu can be an excellent distro for laptops, but not ideal for desktop users.

Using a 3D printer can be misleading at times. While we’re closer than ever to the “plug-and-print” future, we still can’t completely trust these machines and the software they rely on.

After a decade of using Linux, it has now been two years since the last time I loaded up a distro to get work done—and it's becoming increasingly hard for me to see myself going back. The computers I use and the way I use them has changed, and Linux just isn't suited for my new computing world.

The Homey Pro Mini is a more affordable, miniature version of the $400 Homey Pro. At half the price, while still being performant and easy to use, the Homey Pro Mini is one of the easiest smart home hubs to recommend to anyone looking to start or upgrade their smart home.

Microsoft is finally bridging the gap between web-based tools and local spreadsheets. If you're using Excel for Windows and Excel for Mac, you can query local files directly via Copilot Chat, allowing the AI to scan data stored on your hard drive without requiring you to move the file to a remote server first.

The Toyota C-HR was always known for its bold and unique styling, but that might have been about it. Discontinued in 2022, the C-HR suffered from a sluggish and noisy powertrain, minimal passenger space, and an uncomfortable ride. Even its best feature, the exterior styling, caused blind spots while driving.

Luxury used to be simple: slap a German badge on the hood and everyone assumed it was top tier. That perception stuck for years, even when the actual car didn’t always justify the price.

LibreOffice might be the best free and open-source office suite, but it still doesn't have a web app version, like Google Docs or Microsoft 365. That might finally change, as the LibreOffice Online project is coming out of retirement.