How-To Geek

I've covered routers and various networking matters here at How-To Geek quite extensively. You've seen me advocate for buying your own router and suggest ways to fix bottlenecks that break fiber internet connections. I'm no stranger to networking gear, and yet, my favorite purchase cost me all of $10.

High-profile movies don't just feature big names. They also create mass audience appeal with their often unique, highly marketable premises and significant industry backing in the form of big budgets, renowned directors, and A-list talent.

This is the hot hatch Volkswagen doesn’t really give you. The Mazda 3 Turbo Premium Plus brings all-wheel drive and a 250-horsepower turbo punch that actually tops the base GTI.

Spotify is continuing to expand beyond music by getting into your daily fitness routine. It's launching guided workouts that include a collaboration with Peloton.

If you own anything with specialized parts or complex appliances, you know that frustrating feeling when a small piece breaks and the manufacturer wants a fortune for a replacement. This doesn't feel very fair, and there are plenty of other expensive buys that feel inflated. However, the solution to your problem can be as simple as making your own replacement. A 3D printer is a great way to save money, but your first prints should be items to save you money.

April has been a good month in streaming. Last week, Marty Supreme on HBO Max and Apex on Netflix highlighted our list of new movies to watch. Those are two quality films that should find themselves at the top of their respective streaming service charts. There are not as many original high-profile releases on services this week. I bet it has something to do with the end of the month, so expect more to come in May.

Cloudflare is a great DNS service if you value simplicity and speed, and Cloudflare's infrastructure makes it extremely reliable. However, if you want greater control of your network, that simplicity-first approach can be a bit limiting.

The best thing about Flatpaks is how many great apps you can find. The worst part is how many mediocre ones you have to sift through to get there. Installing Flatpaks can feel like gambling an entire afternoon on the chance you’ll stumble across a hidden gem. To save you trouble, I did the testing for you. Here are five genuinely useful Flatpaks worth installing on your Linux PC.

Entry-level luxury SUVs are no longer just about badge access, they’re expected to deliver real performance, premium design, and modern technology without pushing buyers into higher price brackets. In 2026, Audi’s most affordable SUV is proving that entry-level doesn’t have to mean basic, thanks to a major update that significantly changes the driving experience.

Whenever you buy a new phone, you've got to deal with the question of what to do with your old one. In my experience, trade-in prices have slumped. The days of getting a great discount when upgrading seem to be over. And for private sales, the value depends on how in-demand your model is.

If you haven’t heard of G2A.COM before now, you’re missing out. This digital marketplace connects you with sellers who offer deep discounts on software, games, and more.

Excel tutorials are everywhere, but many "pro tips" are actually bad habits in disguise. From broken formulas to messy data formatting, here are the popular tips that are secretly ruining your workbooks and what to do instead.

Luxury sedans don’t sell themselves anymore. In today’s market, SUVs and crossovers grab most of the attention, which means traditional four-doors have to work a lot harder to stand out.

There are people who fight over terminals the way audiophiles fight over headphones—deeply passionate and extremely opinionated. If this behavior confuses you, it's probably because no one explained what these tools are actually competing on. Spoiler alert: it's not the ability to run commands—every terminal can do that. Here's a breakdown of how terminals differ from one another, and which ones you should care about.

A smart speaker is supposed to connect everything easily and let you control your house without effort. We gave up some privacy for the convenience of setting timers, controlling lights, and getting quick answers just by speaking a command. As these speakers get smarter, it feels like they've become a little too human.

I finally got tired of using Gigabit networking with my NAS, so I upgraded to 2.5GbE. The upgrade was actually cheaper than I expected, and the results were better than I expected. Moving to 2.5GbE completely changed how my NAS works in my homelab, and I think it will for you, too.

More people are looking for alternatives to proprietary apps every day—even hugely popular apps like Google Maps. OpenStreetMap is the backbone of many open-source map apps, but it relies on volunteers to keep it updated. StreetComplete makes it easy and fun to participate.

The Adaptive Lighting custom component in Home Assistant can change the brightness and color temperature of the lights in your smart home throughout the day to mimic the natural light of the sun. This can help make lighting feel more comfortable throughout the day and may help support better sleep habits.

I've tried vibe coding for fun mostly. But I realized that when done right, it can make some quality software products, especially if you're a vibe coder with programming knowledge. That's why I've been testing different techniques and found some that work really well.

Electric vehicles often face the range wall, a common concern for car buyers when trying to decide whether to go full-electric or stick with a gasoline vehicle. If a person is taking frequent cross-country road trips, this range wall becomes a major factor in their buying decision.