How-To Geek

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We explain technology. Learn more with our articles, reviews, tips, and the best answers to your most pressing tech questions.
Updated: 17 min 22 sec ago

Thinking of a Toyota Crown? This top trim Honda offers similar luxury for less

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 17:45

The Toyota Crown has carved out a unique space in the sedan market by blending premium comfort, hybrid efficiency, and upscale styling without wearing a traditional luxury badge. For buyers who want near-luxury refinement with everyday practicality, it makes a strong case. But it isn’t the only option delivering that formula, and it may not be the best value.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Browser password managers have a hidden vulnerability that puts all your accounts at risk

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 17:30

These days, you need a lot of different logins. That's a lot to remember, so most people look for the easiest way to handle it. For a long time, the easiest option was the password manager built right into your web browser. This feature lets you get into sites without typing long, complex logins. However, this widespread convenience has hidden a basic security problem in how web browsers work. The convenience you get day-to-day isn't worth the big, ongoing risk of someone taking your private data, which is why some people use BitWarden.

Categories: IT General, Technology

My Home Assistant dashboard runs DOOM, and yours can too

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 17:15

You usually think of a modern smart home as a place for order and automations that feel like magic. However, under this surface of usefulness, there is an opportunity for play. For decades, the world has been driven by one obsessive question that acts as a test for any new hardware: can it run DOOM?

Categories: IT General, Technology

I capped my frame rate and my aging GPU suddenly felt new again

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 17:00

As a PC gamer, I'm more than familiar with the "need more fps" mentality. The "higher number better" mentality. The constant feeling like 60 fps isn't enough, you need 144 fps, and when that's not enough, you need even more.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Lowe’s and the NFL team up on a $32 Mini Toolbox—and they’re selling out fast

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 16:47

Are you an NFL fan patiently awaiting the start of the new season or getting amped about the NFL draft? Do you also love power tools? If so, you'll be happy to hear that Lowe's just dropped some awesome NFL-themed Kobalt Mini Toolboxes, but they're selling out fast.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Skip the Benchy, these are the first 6 things you should print with a new 3D printer

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 16:45

The humble Benchy is the go-to first print for many proud new 3D printer owners, a “torture test” benchmark in the form of a model boat that was designed to put the printers of the past through their paces.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Audible's default settings are slowing down your listening—here's how to fix it

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 16:30

Let’s say that you have an Audible subscription, or you’re even an Audible Plus member, and you’re looking to listen to even more books in your free time. But it just feels like there’s not enough time in the day, and slowly, the idea of keeping this subscription might not even be worth it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

7 smart home brands that bricked their own products, proving you can't trust the cloud

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 16:15

Cloud services that support smart home devices offer convenience. For example, a cloud service can allow you to control a smart home device remotely when you're away from home. However, history has shown that when companies stop offering cloud services, it can render your smart home devices completely useless.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your router is dying a slow heat death—here's how to save it

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 16:00

We all have a router, and we all neglect them. You've probably heard the tall tales of how heat affects performance, and you may not buy into it. However, the effects on electronic components are very real. Knowing the dangers could save you money, not only on routers but on all your expensive equipment.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google Wallet is becoming a better travel companion (Update: Rolling out)

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 15:52

Whether it’s finding your next train or taking a flight across the ocean, travel can be incredibly stressful. Google Wallet is already an essential travel app, but it’s getting a nice update that will make it even more useful on the go.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your driving habits determine if a hybrid is worth the premium—here's how to know

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 15:46

If you are shopping for a different vehicle these days, you have likely noticed how prominent hybrid options have become. What used to be a niche alternative is now a mainstream choice for almost every vehicle, from compact sedans and midsize SUVs to full-size pickups.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 4 Windows laptop fixes unlock performance your manufacturer didn't want you to know about

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 15:00

You've just unboxed and powered up your shiny new Windows laptop and once you've gone through the needlessly complicated OOBE (Out-of-Box Experience), you're good to go, right?

Categories: IT General, Technology

9 open-source apps I install on every Samsung Galaxy phone

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 14:45

I've owned a Samsung Galaxy S21 FE for more than three and a half years now, and while I recently demoted it to my secondary phone, I continue using it at least a few days each week. I've got tons of apps installed on it, with a good chunk of them being open source.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This "meme" distro actually laid the groundwork for modern desktop Linux

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 14:30

RebeccaBlackOS is a fan-made Linux distribution (the title is a reference to the singer of the viral song "Friday," which I'm listening to for the first time as I write this). It sounds like a meme distro, but unlike actual meme distributions (Hannah Montana and Justin Bieber Linux come to mind), RebeccaBlackOS wasn't abandoned within months. Its developers have regularly released updates for the past 14 years, with the latest upgrade rolling out on February 22, 2026. Surprisingly, it's actually a useful and practical distro for Linux users.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Italian luxury SUV drives like a sports sedan and undercuts its German rivals

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 14:15

Luxury SUVs from German brands have long set the standard for performance, prestige, and premium design. But for buyers who want sharper handling and more personality without paying the usual premium, one Italian contender makes a surprisingly strong case. It delivers the kind of driving engagement typically associated with a sports sedan, while still offering the space and practicality expected from an SUV.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why '90s giant TVs looked amazing but were actually terrible to own

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 14:00

I clearly remember the first time I walked into someone's house in the 1990s and saw a rear-projection TV. At the time, we had just upgraded to a 20-inch Panasonic TV, which was a big step up from the 11-inch TV we'd had up to that point.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You’re using the wrong app to open ZIP files on Windows

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 13:30

When you open a ZIP file on your Windows PC, what happens? Does an app like WinRAR or 7-Zip pop up and show you the contents of that archive?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop avoiding ESP32 projects— this kit removes the biggest barriers to entry

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 13:00

ESP32 boards are a cheap way to build your own smart devices, but the thought of having to solder pins or wire things up to a breadboard can be enough to put people off. If you're yet to try making your own ESP32 devices, there's a new kit on the way that will make things much easier.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I bought a Linux tablet, and it’s both better and worse than Android

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 12:30

When I recently built a privacy-focused desktop, I knew I wanted a tablet–not a laptop–to go with it. Instead of an Android tablet, I purchased one running Linux. Here’s how it has fared.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Latest Rufus update debloats and installs Windows 11 silently

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 01:37

Rufus has always been one of the best apps to create a bootable USB drive for installing Windows 11. The latest version of the app now includes even more features to significantly de-bloat Windows 11 and remove Microslop before installing the operating system. The update even introduces a new “Silent” mode for unattended installation.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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