How-To Geek

Syndicate content
We explain technology. Learn more with our articles, reviews, tips, and the best answers to your most pressing tech questions.
Updated: 7 hours 8 min ago

5 Netflix Movies You Need to Watch This Week (October 20 - 26)

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 18:33

Netflix often dominates the water cooler discussion with its TV shows like Stranger Things and Wednesday, but the service also has plenty of great films, both original and licensed, that you shouldn't overlook.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Most Important Part of a Mouse Is How It Sounds

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 18:30

There isn't much to think about when buying a mouse, but one of the most important aspects is one you can't tell by glancing at the box—how it sounds.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon's DNS Bug Just Broke the Internet

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 18:28

Many online services are having reliability issues today, or have fully gone down, due to an outage with Amazon Web Services (AWS). Snapchat, the Alexa voice assistant, Reddit, Asana, IMDb, and many others are affected.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Forget Microsoft Word: Here's Why I Do All My Writing in Markdown

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 18:00

I spent years writing everything in Microsoft Word. But over time, its cluttered interface, messy formatting, and sluggish performance began to distract me from what truly matters—writing. That’s when I tried Markdown. Its clean, distraction-free approach won me over—and I haven’t looked back since.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 5 Hidden Windows 11 Settings Instantly Made My PC Faster

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 17:30

When your PC is sluggish, adjusting a few settings can help. If you don't know what's under the hood of the Windows 11 OS, I’m sharing some tips that work. These hidden Windows 11 settings give PCs an instant speed boost with minimal effort.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pebble's Official App Returns to Android and iPhone After a Years-Long Hiatus

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 17:17

More than a decade after its initial launch, the original Pebble app is now re-listed on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. It's compatible with all models of the Pebble smartwatch, including the new Pebble 2 Duo and Pebble Time 2.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Japanese Luxury Sedan Punches Far Above Its Price Tag

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 17:00

Hybrid cars are having a serious moment in the U.S. right now. With gas prices showing no signs of easing up, more drivers are realizing hybrids hit the sweet spot between efficiency and practicality.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Open Source Streaming Server Jellyfin Just Dropped a Big Update

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 16:59

The developers of Jellyfin announced the full release of Jellyfin server version 10.11.0 on Sunday, October 19. The major update brings several improvements for the self-hosted media streaming platform I'm excited to see, including a system backup and a startup interface for administrators.

Categories: IT General, Technology

KDE’s Image Manager Makes Bluring Backgrounds A Snap

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 16:57

DigiKam, KDE's popular open source photo and image manager, just hit version 8.8.0. It brings a fantastic new tool that lets you easily blur the background or subject in a photo. This update, code-named "Eclipse," also packs a ton of other improvements you'll want to check out.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 6 Easiest Ways to Back Up Your Windows PC So You Don’t Lose Everything

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 16:30

You didn't properly back up your files, and suddenly everything goes poof. Trust me, you don't want to be there. It happened to me once when I decided I'd had enough of Microsoft OneDrive. Here's what you can do to prevent this disaster.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Best Android Auto Wireless Adapter Now Supports CarPlay

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 16:16

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are some of the best features in newer cars, but if you've ever wanted to upgrade from a wired system to a wireless one, you were stuck with a few unreliable options. After a soft launch earlier this year, the AAwireless TWO+ is here, and it supports wireless CarPlay.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Experimental Browser Engine Servo Just Got Its First Release

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 16:01

Servo started as a project under Mozilla to create a next-generation browser engine, but now it's an independent project. Today marks the release of Servo 0.0.1, and you can try it out on your computer.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Excel's Custom Data Validation: A Trick You Didn't Know You Needed

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 16:00

Data validation in Excel lets you restrict what can be entered into a cell, whether whole numbers, decimals, dates, or a certain number of characters. However, one of the most powerful capabilities of this tool is custom data validation, which lets you create a more specific rule using a formula.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google Is Officially Killing the Privacy Sandbox

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 15:43

Google and “privacy” don’t necessarily go hand in hand, but for a while, it seemed the company was attempting to be better about it. After years of delays and backtracking, the company is finally pulling the plug on its big advertising privacy project.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don’t Overlook Gaming Monitors for Work, Here’s Why

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 15:30

If you're looking for a new monitor but only use your computer for work, you’ll likely be overwhelmed by the many gaming monitor options. Your first instinct might be to avoid them, but I think you should do the opposite and actively consider one. Hear me out.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Movies to Stream on Prime Video This Week (October 20 - 26)

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 15:15

Had a rough day? Hey, join the club, pal! When you're going through it, it's always good to take your mind off things by watching something interesting. But let's face it: you can only watch so many funny cat videos on YouTube before you start to go a little insane.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Forget Roku City, I’m Using This Classic Aquarium Screensaver Instead

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 15:00

Roku City has been my residence for several years now. Whenever my television goes into screensaver mode, I see the multi-building landscape with various billboards advertising new releases and content.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Best VPNs for Netflix in 2025

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 14:15

Using a virtual private network (VPN) allows you to enjoy all of your favorite Netflix TV shows and movies from anywhere. However, not all VPNs can get past Netflix's geoblocks. For the best binge-watching, even across borders, consider these VPNs.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Cheapest New Hybrid You Can Buy in America in 2025

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 13:30

Hybrid technology has come a long way from its early days of slow, uninspiring cars built solely for efficiency. Today, even the most affordable models deliver smooth performance, advanced features, and excellent fuel economy, and one particular 2025 hybrid now holds the title as the cheapest new option in America.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why NumPy is the Foundation of Python Data Analysis

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 13:00

You may have heard about NumPy and wondered why it seems so essential to data analysis in Python. What makes NumPy seemingly end up everywhere in statistical calculations with Python? Here are some good reasons.

Categories: IT General, Technology

eXTReMe Tracker