How-To Geek

Google has released its first mainstream Fitbit device in three years, the Fitbit Air, and it's a not-so-subtle response to screenless fitness trackers like the Whoop series — including a partnership with basketball superstar Stephen Curry to make sure you notice.

VS Code is a common editor for many developers because it feels like the general-purpose editor you go to as a beginner and even as a professional. It is easy to use, and you can add features whenever you need them. Since it's a text editor instead of a full IDE, it isn't bloated with features you'll never use. That means that it can actually be a smart choice for those who want AI, and it's an extension I can't live without now.

Subscription costs have a way of feeling invisible. You might have a cloud storage here, an AI tool there, a transcription service you barely use anymore. All of this can add up to something substantial. But if you own a mid-range GPU, there’s a good chance you’re paying for things your hardware could handle for free.

The beauty of Home Assistant is that if something doesn't work quite like you want it to, there's often a way to fix it so that it does. Whether you wish your smart air quality monitor were smarter or that your smart home could show you what was going on instead of telling you, there's a project you can tackle to make it happen.

I want to love Obsidian, I really do. The problem with Obsidian is Obsidian itself, and, after trying it out again, I see why so many people choose to use Notion instead.

I do a lot of different projects in any given week. It can be everything from home lab experiments, features, instrument building, to making comics and doing some woodworking/household projects.

Linux is more popular and accessible than ever, but anyone looking into switching from Windows or macOS is quickly going to run into an important question: Which distro should I use?

Tech that looks like tech is all well and good when it’s a laptop, router, or game console. Designing a good smart home is all about making unobtrusive choices that don’t ruin your home’s decor with flashing lights and LCD screens.

It's no secret that Google Photos is one of the best photo management and storage options on Android, not to mention the obvious go-to for many users. But with storage limits running out, more features turning into a subscription fee, or as a way to de-Google life a bit, many users are looking for an alternative.

Consumer Wi-Fi routers are great at providing a basic firewall, reliable Wi-Fi, and speedy Ethernet ports for your wired connections. However, they really don't offer you much control over your network.

One of the most underrated features that nearly every flagship smartphone had over a decade ago was the humble notification LED. These tiny lights gave you just enough information, like which app or type of alert a notification came from, without pulling you into your phone. Now, with rumors of a new "Pixel Glow" feature tied to the Pixel 11, it looks like that idea might be coming back in a smarter, cooler way—and I’m excited to see it.

If you’re thinking that you need two separate servers for running Plex and a local LLM, think again. Plex and local large language models have more in common than you might think, and that’s why running them on the same hardware actually makes sense.

There are plenty of devices in your home that are obvious candidates for automation, such as smart light bulbs, thermostats, and smart locks. However, there are some devices that you may not have considered automating.

Standard dynamic range (SDR), which has roots going back to the start of television, was hitting its limits and couldn't capture the light and shadows of the real world. High dynamic range (HDR) arrived to TVs and monitors with a promise to show contrast and color more like the human eye does, intending to make films and games look more realistic. It was presented as the next step for anyone who cares about picture quality, fixing the visual compromises we have lived with for decades.

If you're thinking about programming or just learning to code, you might notice that developers tend to favor Linux. Why is that? Here are the reasons you should care about Linux's hold over developers.

Bambu Lab printers are famously plug-and-print, requiring little in the way of setup and only a roll of filament to get started. Upgrades can make your experience even better by optimizing workflow and adding more capabilities to your printer.

Every year, another "Excel killer" shows up claiming spreadsheets are finally on their way out. The story sounds neat: cleaner tools, smarter AI, no more messy grids.

The Toyota Crown Signia lands in a pretty interesting spot that a lot of entry-level luxury SUVs struggle to hit. It’s comfortable, well-built, and loaded with tech in a way that feels more premium than you’d expect at this price.

The Toyota Corolla is the safe, sensible choice, reliable, efficient, and brand new for the price. It’s the kind of car you buy when you want zero surprises. But in today’s market, that same money can unlock something far more exciting, if you’re willing to look in the right places.

You no longer have to shop the Ring lineup if you want an Amazon video doorbell with high-quality visuals. The company's Blink brand has released two new doorbells that promise a 2K resolution and AI alerts to help you learn who (or what) is outside.