MakeUseOf
Articles about MakeUseOf
Google Play has a better answer than uninstalling apps just to get storage back
Most of us have a few apps on our phones that we don’t open every day but still keep around. It could be an app you use only occasionally or something that’s too much of a hassle to set up from scratch.
The new ESP32 put Wi-Fi 6 and gigabit ethernet on a chip that used to blink LEDs
The ESP32 is by far one of my favorite pieces of DIY tech. It's the board I reach for whenever a project needs to read a sensor, drive a relay, blink LEDs, or even detect presence with Wi-Fi, all without costing much. Its beginner-friendly demeanor is what's primarily responsible for its popularity, but that's also what limits its capabilities.
I went looking for Windows File Explorer alternatives and found one built completely differently
Windows File Explorer has improved enough that replacing it isn’t the reflex it used to be. Tabs are finally here, the context menu is cleaner, and most days I can move files around without picking a fight with it. Microsoft has fixed enough of the obvious annoyances that plenty of people will never need to bother with other Windows File Explorer replacements.
I tried the aluminum foil Wi-Fi trick everyone swears by, and here’s what actually happened
When I went to install some security cameras in my driveway a while back, I found that the Wi-Fi signal strength wasn't powerful enough to make them work. Then I heard about this aluminum foil trick, where you add regular kitchen foil to your router setup, that could help with my problem.
I swapped 5 built-in Windows apps for open-source ones for a month, and only 3 survived
Windows 11 has reached a weird point where several of its built-in apps are actually pretty good. Notepad remembers what I was doing, Snipping Tool can pull text from screenshots, Paint has layers and background removal, and File Explorer finally has tabs. Microsoft has spent years fixing many of the reasons I used to replace this stuff on day one.
Google's Dreambeans finds stories on its own, and it's the first AI app I want to keep
I've spent years testing new apps, websites, and experiments powered by AI. Many of them are the result of solid ideas and middling execution, and it's tricky to figure out how they fit into your daily life or productivity workflows. Take Gemini Omni or Nano Banana, for example — I don't need AI to create photo and video slop. I'm admittedly biased, but I also don't need Google AI Overviews to summarize the news. Often, when I click through to the original source, it says something completely different from the AI Overview's summary.
Google Maps remembers more about your life than you probably realize
Most of us stop thinking about Google Maps the moment we arrive. Depending on your settings, the app keeps paying attention, logging where your phone sat all afternoon and saving every search you typed. A newer feature can even read place names off your screenshots. Nearly all of that history stays private between you and Google, but your reviews land on a profile anyone can scroll.
Binge these Amazon Prime shows this week (October 12-18)
Binge-watching the same type of show all week can get pretty boring. Mixing things up can make it easier to stay interested, whether you switch from a serious drama to something lighter, and luckily, Amazon Prime Video has you covered.
I made one Windows file exist in two folders without creating a second copy
If you ask almost anyone where a file is on Windows, they'll name a folder, and I would usually agree. But after making a single text file live in two different folders, with no copies involved, I started looking at things differently. There's a built-in mechanism on Windows for this, and all you need is a single command.
I gave my old tablet one permanent job, and now I use it every day
I bought an iPad Pro in 2019, and it was the device I relied on most in college. The tablet housed my textbooks, stored my handwritten notes, and could edit video in a pinch. The edge-to-edge display, Face ID support, and USB-C port all combine to help the 2018 iPad Pro lineup age extremely well — this model doesn't look too different from the latest iPad Pro M5. The A12X Bionic chip inside is another story.
I thought good projectors had to be big. I was wrong
I've always associated good projectors with bulk, and for good reason. I've tried a few smaller projectors myself, and while they work fine, especially for the price, they're not quite the projection quality you'd want. They're often too dim, too soft, or too awkward to set up for anything useful.
My Bluetooth headphones sounded unusually quiet until I changed this Android setting
Are your Bluetooth headphones sounding unusually quiet without any apparent reason? Before you decide that the unit you received may be faulty, or the model has not been tuned well, make sure to check out a few key settings on your Android device.
5 settings I only found after my hardware wasn't working the way it should
Think about a PC that's not broken enough to do an RMA, but you know something is off. The computer works, but the GPU benchmarks don't match the reviews, or your Ethernet drops once a day for no reason, or your high refresh rate gaming monitor feels a little sluggish.
Wi-Fi has a weird new smart-home use case: detecting people
Wi-Fi normally connects your smart home, but it can also sense whether anyone is inside it. The trick isn't tracking a phone or watching connection logs. Instead, there are systems that can observe how a human body changes radio waves moving through a room. This idea is no longer a research demo being run in a lab either. Researchers have used Wi-Fi for everything from activity recognition to human identification, and routers are already turning into motion sensors in the real world.
These free Windows tools make my mouse and keyboard feel like new hardware
My hands spend a surprising part of the workday commuting. One leaves the mouse to press a shortcut, the other leaves the keyboard to click a menu, and they keep crossing paths over the desk.
I stopped using Google Docs after realizing I could host the whole office suite myself
After years of using Google Docs, it became the one tab I never close; it was always there, synced, and holding every draft I'd ever written. But when I started moving toward self-hosted open source tools, I knew my time with Google Docs was up.
You don’t need Google apps on your phone anymore — try these instead
Every time you tap on a Google app, you're feeding a data-hungry machine that watches your every move. If that doesn't sit well with you, it's time to break up. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives, and many are even better experiences.
This Windows 11 version loses security support tomorrow, here’s how to check yours
Tomorrow, October 13, 2026, marks the day Microsoft ends security support for Windows 11 version 24H2. According to Microsoft's official notice, this affects the Pro and Home editions of Windows 11. The company promised an extended one-year buffer for Enterprise and Education editions of Windows 11 running the 24H2 version, with an end-of-support date of October 12, 2027.
I changed these Google Photos settings, and finally got my photo library under control
Google Photos allows you to save storage space on your device by uploading images and videos to the cloud. You can also enable automatic syncing and choose which folders you want to back up.
I thought these Samsung apps were bloat until I actually used them
Similar to other brands, Samsung phones ship with a lot of apps you didn't ask for. Being a long-term Samsung phone user, I used to either ignore them or uninstall them the moment I got my phone unboxed. The apps included Samsung Flow, Reminder, Notes, and My Files. I had set alternatives to these apps, and used to think that they were just copies of Google's apps. I was wrong.
Windows has a faster way to copy thousands of tiny files and File Explorer isn’t it
I have noticed a certain File Explorer behavior when I copy project files. The progress bar sprints to around 90%, after which it stalls and crawls until the job is completed. I don't have the same experience copying single giant video files, and it has always felt backward.
You don’t need a discrete GPU to run local LLMs anymore
Running local LLMs usually mandates a powerful, dedicated graphics card to handle all that compute. While it is still technically possible to run an LLM using your CPU, it’s still a fair deal slower than what you’d get from a proper graphics card.
KDE Plasma 6.8 finally adds easy backups, so I ran the beta to see if it’s ready
It’s been 30 years since the KDE desktop environment was released, and the team has a very special release in the form of version 6.8 set to release on October 14. This “anniversary edition” of KDE Plasma brings with it a lot of improvements and new features — including the Kup utility, a handy and easy-to-use backup tool in the overall excellent KDE Plasma desktop environment.
8 Netflix thrillers where knowing less makes the movie much better
There are multiple thrillers on Netflix that are easy to recommend based on their premise alone. Then there are the ones that are better approached with as little information as possible. That's especially true when a story depends on a change in perspective, a revelation about one of its characters, or an odd situation that's difficult to explain.
My Windows PC locks itself when I walk away, and I didn’t install a thing to make it happen
My favorite Windows features aren't the grandiose ones that let you do a bunch of stuff in one sweep. What impresses me are the ones that do one particular thing, no matter how minuscule, well. Often, these are things that you didn't know you needed, but living without them becomes impossible. One such feature is Dynamic Lock. I went years without knowing it existed, despite it serving a genuinely useful purpose for my use case: it automatically locks my computer when I'm away from it.
Your microSD card has five speed ratings, and you’re probably looking at the wrong one
Buying a microSD card should be one of the easiest tech purchases. Pick the storage size you need, grab one from a brand you trust, and get on with your day. Then you actually look at the card and find C10, U3, V30, A2, a Roman numeral, and some heroic read-speed number all fighting for attention on a piece of plastic smaller than your thumbnail.
This extension is the whole reason I use Firefox instead of Chrome or Brave
Open enough tabs for research and the browser stops being useful. Every page you need is sitting right next to a dozen others you probably don't, and there's nothing to tell you which one led to which. You know you need a page, but finding it means you have to dig through several rows of similar-looking tabs.
Everyone’s watching DC’s Lanterns, but HBO already gave us something much better
James Gunn and Peter Safran are busy building out a new DC Cinematic Universe, and they have just completed an important project: the first season of Lanterns, an HBO show about the Green Lantern Corps, has wrapped up. Overall, it was a success, but HBO has already made a vastly superior show based on DC Comics.
My old MP3 collection finally has a home on Android Auto
I'm old enough to have a fairly decent MP3 collection, back from when we were burning our CDs to our hard drives and collecting them on our iPods (or Zunes, I guess).
An old phone already has the 5 things a Raspberry Pi home-server project makes you buy separately
A Raspberry Pi looks like the obvious starting point for a tiny home server. The board is inexpensive, compact, efficient, and supported by a huge community. Add a power supply, storage, a case, cooling, and perhaps a screen or camera, and that affordable board quickly stops being so affordable as it turns into a collection of accessories.
I thought I needed a USB switch until I found this app
I work across multiple computers, and at least two at any given time. Recently, as I started to use more and more voice dictation to write on any app that supports it, I needed a way to use my HyperX mic across both computers without manually plugging the cable each time I wanted to switch.
I thought my $200 headphones were fake until I found these 3 Windows settings
I got a really expensive pair of headphones for my birthday a couple of months ago. I was pretty ecstatic about the purchase, but the moment I connected them to my Windows PC, the joy on my face — or ears, in this case — faded.
I switched from PowerToys to a free tool that remembers what I was doing, not just what was open
Reopening your apps after a restart is the easy part. Getting back to the folder, tabs, notes, or even the URL you were working from takes longer. PowerToys Workspaces helps by reopening your apps in their saved windows, but that doesn't necessarily bring back what you were doing inside them.
I stopped paying for privacy after finding the apps that give it for free
Privacy software has caught the subscription bug along with everything else. A VPN wants a few dollars every month, your password manager wants its share, and before long you’re paying enough recurring fees to wonder when keeping your data private became another household bill.
I turned my broken laptop into the most useful device in my home without fixing it
My first-ever laptop ended up in a drawer for years, collecting dust. That was until I realized I could repurpose it and give it a new life.
I replaced my browser’s download manager with one app that handles almost everything
Browser download managers are easy to forget about because they usually work well enough to stay out of the way. You click a file, choose a folder, and Chrome or Firefox drops it onto your drive while you get on with whatever you were doing. That was good enough for me until larger downloads, failed transfers, and the occasional magnet link started pushing me outside the browser anyway.
The best wide foldable isn’t the Galaxy Z Fold 8 or iPhone Duo when this $500 phone exists
Wide foldables are surging in popularity thanks to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the iPhone Duo. While folding phones with a squarish form factor have never garnered wide appeal, casual users are starting to see the benefit of carrying a short and stout foldable in their pocket. When shut, they're short devices that are easy to maneuver. Open them up, and they're multipurpose devices superb for video playback in landscape mode or productivity in portrait mode.
Your Windows PC is sharing more with Microsoft than you probably realize
User data is like gold right now, and it's more valuable than ever. Software companies will do anything to collect this data, just like Thanos collecting the Infinity Stones. In fact, these companies thrive on it.
I gave a $45 Raspberry Pi a $500-a-year subscription bill and made it earn its keep
A $45 Raspberry Pi doesn't look like a serious subscription-eliminating machine at first. Mine is a Raspberry Pi 3B+, a 2018 board with a 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, four USB 2.0 ports, and Ethernet limited to 300 Mbps by its USB-based architecture. That is a modest machine even by mini-computer standards.
Your smart TV isn’t complete until you install Kodi — here's how to get started
Kodi isn't just another streaming app like Netflix or Hulu. It's a powerful open-source media center that allows you to organize, stream, and play almost any type of content, including movies, TV shows, live channels, music, and even photos. I love that Kodi is entirely customizable and keeps everything arranged within a single, intuitive interface.
The best space horror on Netflix isn’t set in deep space at all
Space horrors like the Alien franchise work so well because they pull us into the darkest depths of unexplored territory, and The Silent Sea, Netflix’s 2021 Korean sci-fi thriller, borrows from that principle while staying much closer to home.
Google Maps on Android Auto is perfect now that I’ve added this app
When it comes to navigation on Android Auto, most of us trust Google Maps, even though there are other alternatives available. But it can't warn you about the storm coming from 20 miles up the road. That's exactly the gap Weather & Radar fills. It offers you more than just the temperature or weather conditions outside. Weather & Radar puts a live radar map on your car's screen via Android Auto, right next to your usual navigation. I think it's one of the best Android Auto apps to install.
VS Code has been letting you write invalid JSON for years, and it’s completely intentional
My VS Code settings.json file is full of notes to myself. One line explains why autosave waits a moment; another reminds me why the build folders are hidden. After adjusting a handful of VS Code settings that make coding feel lighter, those comments are how I remember why each one exists.
Most new homeowners don’t need a huge tool collection; I’d start with these Ryobi tools
Closing on a house brings a strange urge to fill the garage. Every Home Depot trip after moving in walks you past six-tool combo kits stacked on pallets, and each box looks like the responsible buy. Most of those tools would sit in their bags for years.
This $299 engraving tool should be great for newbies, but needs some software polish
When Creality sent me its consumer-level engraving unit, the Falcon A1C, I was excited to try my hand at personalizing things for gifts and items around the house. The company sent along blanks for stone coasters, commemorative coins, metal wallets, and wood blanks that can be engraved and even cut out.
It was at this moment that I realized I shouldn’t cheap out on SSDs
Yes, storage prices are crazy. With SSD prices climbing as high as triple in just a year, it's easy to seek out... "deals." By deal I mean a price that's reminiscent of the good old times, times like last year.
Google is locking down Android sideloading, so I tested its escape hatch
I’ve always believed that an app store’s catalog should never decide what a phone can do. Genuinely useful software can disappear for various reasons, including political, regional, and commercial ones. When that happens, being able to sideload apps manually gives me another way to install them. It also makes me feel like I still own the device I actually bought.
My watch caught something about my power tools I’d been ignoring for years
My Apple Watch Ultra 3 tapped my wrist in the middle of a garage project and told me the room was too loud. I looked down at a Noise Notification, then found the same warning waiting on my iPhone once I’d set the tool down. For years I’d run a garage full of Ryobi tools with nothing in my ears, even though a pack of earplugs sat in a drawer a few feet away.
The number that says a hard drive is too old isn’t its age, it’s this
The 1TB hard disk on my laptop has been spinning for close to 20,000 hours. Honestly, almost every rule of thumb tells me it's overdue, so I've half expected it to die for a while now.
The busiest fantasy author alive explains how he writes so much faster than George R.R. Martin
In 1996, George R.R. Martin published A Game of Thrones, the first book in what would become his A Song of Ice and Fire series. HBO adapted the books as Game of Thrones, which ran for eight seasons between 2011 and 2019. But when it ended, Martin still hadn't finished his books. In fact, fans have been waiting for the sixth entry, The Winds of Winter, since 2011.
I turned off these Android settings and my phone felt noticeably less distracting
My phone often asks for my attention. It's not just social media notifications, either. I find myself picking up and unlocking my phone dozens of times a day, and mostly, it's not on purpose. Then I realized my phone isn't distracting because I'm weak-willed. It's distracting because I have set it up that way.
Roku didn’t let me change my DNS settings, but I found the perfect workaround
My Roku Streaming Stick Plus (model 3830R) handles almost everything I throw at it. Then I tried pointing it to a different DNS server, and it stopped responding.
I thought swipe typing had peaked until this Android keyboard let me use both thumbs
Not to brag, but I type extraordinarily fast on my phone for one simple reason: I use swipe-typing instead of thumb-typing.
I stopped opening Excel for quick math after finding these 4 apps
Excel remains one of the most useful tools on my computer, especially for organizing data, tracking expenses, and building detailed models. But somewhere down the line, I started opening it for calculations that didn't need rows, columns, or formulas spread across multiple cells.
Your “125W” Intel CPU can officially use more than twice that
Modern PCs are power-hungry machines. High-end GPUs like the RTX 5080 alone have a TGP (total graphics power) of 360W, raising the minimum requirement for PSUs in high-end systems to a minimum of 850W, as Nvidia advises. However, these GPUs aren't the only power-hungry components in your system. For the CPU, it seems like it would barely sip power, but that's not true for newer processors.
Cloud gaming is the future, but Nvidia’s GeForce Now isn’t it
Cloud gaming has always intrigued me. Getting access to my favorite games on almost any device, at any time, without hardware limitations is a fascinating proposition that felt too good to be true. So, when I saw GeForce Now finally being made available in my region, I had to join in right away. On the surface, it's an excellent concept: you pay a small monthly fee and get access to your own games from your Steam, Epic Games, or Xbox library, on any device that can connect to the internet.
I recorded a full boot trace with Microsoft’s free profiler and found what was really slowing my startup
I've trimmed my startup apps list quite a few times, and even gone through Autoruns line by line. Yet none of these tools perfectly explain why my laptop can feel busy long after the login screen.
This 50MB operating system can resurrect your old PC
I have a decade-old Dell Inspiron laptop with a 2nd-gen Intel Core i3 processor, 4 GB RAM, and an integrated Intel HD GPU. It came with Windows 7 out of the box and was eventually upgraded to Windows 10. However, after 13 years, it's not the most enthusiastic laptop, and getting anything done on it seems like a task in itself.
Your new Pixel’s battery has a 200-cycle countdown you can’t turn off
When you unbox a newer Google Pixel phone and start using it, a secret clock starts. Every time you charge and discharge your phone's battery, it's counted as a charge cycle. As your phone racks up charge cycles, its usable lifespan shortens. This isn't exclusive to Pixel phones — it applies to every device with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. What's unique about new Pixel phones is that once your battery hits 200 charge cycles, a management feature that throttles battery life and charging speed immediately kicks on.
VMware abandoned my old homelab server, so Proxmox VE got it instead
When my Intel S1200 server motherboard gave out, I figured a cheap replacement would get my humble ESXi server up and running again. An old Gigabyte GA-H97M-D3H I purchased second-hand gave my old Xeon CPU another home, and I couldn't justify upgrading hardware to keep a homelab hypervisor running.
Windows has had a fix for “file name too long” for 10 years and still makes you turn it on
"File name too long" is one of the Windows errors that has wasted a lot of my time. There's a Windows setting that allows compatible applications to work with paths longer than the traditional 260-character limit. However, it's off by default and the error message doesn't point you directly to it.
Your TP-Link router has an official expiry date
TP-Link is the most popular router brand nationwide, with its routers sitting in more than a third of every house and office across the country. Yet it's coming under considerable pressure as the US ban on foreign-made routers continues to take hold and push networking manufacturers to move operations stateside.
Please stop storing passwords in your browser
For a long time, I saved every password in my browser. It's effortless: log in once, click Save, and your browser does the rest. It syncs across devices, remembers every login, and makes sign-ins practically invisible.
Apple TV’s extra storage can’t do the one thing I expected from it
The Apple TV 4K is one of the best streaming boxes you can buy, even if your other products are outside the Apple ecosystem. The hardware is fantastic compared to the competition, featuring the same A-series chips powering older iPhones. Amazon, Google, and Roku offer compelling alternatives to the Apple TV 4K, but it's hard to accept the additional bloat and ads that come with them.
I checked my Google Maps settings and found my real-time location was being shared with someone
Someone had been able to see exactly where I was, in real time, for months. It wasn't a tracking app or anything suspicious, but an ordinary Google Maps setting I had turned on during a trip and never switched off. I had tightened my Google privacy settings since then, reviewed app permissions, even turned off Location History. None of it touched what was happening inside Google Maps.
I don’t understand why everyone installs these Windows apps
Most of us have a list of apps we always install on a new PC. While those lists are never identical, there are a few popular ones you'll find on almost every Windows PC. Apps like Adobe Acrobat, WinRAR, CCleaner, and LocalSend have been around for so long that they've built a reputation of being "essential."
Samsung Good Lock gave my Galaxy three extra buttons I didn’t know I had
Samsung's navigation bar ships with three buttons; Back, Home, and Recents, and there is no obvious way to add more. Phone makers spent years telling us to abandon that strip entirely, insisting that full-screen gestures were the smarter way to use a big display. So you make the switch, clear the bottom of your screen, and try to get used to swiping from the edges. But on a massive Galaxy, that clean look has a catch.
5 home appliances you can supercharge with a smart plug
A smart plug is one of the cheapest ways to make an old appliance feel surprisingly modern. Put one between the appliance and the wall, and suddenly you gain remote switching, schedules, voice controls, and in some models, even energy monitoring.
I gave ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity the same Android chores to see who actually deserves my power button
I've never changed the assistant on my Pixel 9 Pro XL. Gemini was there when I set up the phone, and I just kept long-pressing the power button without thinking. Meanwhile, I pay for ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, and Perplexity Pro every month, and none of them ever got a turn.
Find Hub found my phone, but the feature I needed never warned me it failed
I recently had the pleasure of borrowing a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 for a month or so, just after launch — thank you, Samsung!
This “faster” router setting can make everyone’s Wi-Fi worse
You can't blame me for not questioning my router's 2.4GHz band set to 40MHz. Who wouldn't choose a wider channel that promises more throughput? However, I didn't know up front that the extra width could take up more of the 2.4GHz band, potentially interfering with nearby networks.
I tried a dozen Linux distros in my browser without installing a single one
I’m more than comfortable setting up virtual machines and breathing new life into old hardware with Linux. But sometimes I just want to poke around a desktop without it turning into a project.
Your RAM has been running at 2014 speeds since the day you built your PC because of one switch
Even with decades of experience building PCs across multiple generations, it still takes me hours to properly set up a system before it's fully tuned to utilize all of its horsepower. The BIOS menu alone has multiple switches that need to be flipped before your components perfectly sync with each other.
This firmware update will make your 3D printer less capable than the day you bought it
Firmware updates are supposed to improve the hardware you already own. Bambu Lab's authorization-control firmware patches vulnerabilities, but it also changes who decides which software and accessories control your printer.
Qualcomm is fixing one of the biggest reasons to avoid Snapdragon laptops
Windows on Arm wasn't a serious alternative to the x86 version until very recently, but the script has completely flipped. The latest laptops powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X series and Nvidia's RTX Spark series aren't just rivaling Intel-based systems — they're better for the average user. Laptops running on Arm chipsets aren't perfect, though. App and game support are still iffy, and mainstream Linux support has been all but nonexistent on Snapdragon laptops since their 2024 breakthrough.
5 Ryobi tools where I’d pay for brushless every time
Most of Ryobi's popular tools come in two versions. One has the base brushed motor; the other carries an HP badge and a brushless motor, and the gap between them runs anywhere from $25 to more than $100. I've argued before that brushless is wasted money on some tools, and I still run a brushed sander without regret.
A hidden setting is draining your phone’s battery: here’s how to turn it off
Frustrated users on Reddit have flagged a lesser-known feature that could be behind your phone's rapid battery drain: Connectivity Assist. If you've recently upgraded to iOS 27, you might want to check whether Connectivity Assist is enabled, and something similar applies to Android users.
I save hundreds on Wi-Fi each year with this Android hotspot trick
I long for the day 5G cellular connectivity becomes a mainstream feature on laptops, but until then, I'm stuck using my phone as a mobile hotspot. By now, I'd bet most smartphone users have tried using their device as a personal hotspot for something else, like a tablet, laptop, or gaming handheld. However, mobile data isn't the only thing your Android phone can share over a Wi-Fi hotspot.
I can’t stop writing in this gorgeous open-source notes app
I’ve tried countless note-taking apps over the years — OneNote, Google Keep, and everything in between — from the ultra-minimalist to the overwhelmingly feature-packed. Yet none have made me want to write quite like Anytype.
PS4 games are already running on Android, and I wasn’t ready for how well
Emulation on Android has been somewhat of a fascinating ride, and as the tech keeps on improving, so does the scope of these projects. We’ve already seen GTA 5 (PC) and certain PS3 games run surprisingly well on mobile hardware, and it was about time that Sony’s eighth-generation console made its way as well.
My Wi-Fi calls dropped every 25 minutes on cue until I tweaked one router setting
I never had trouble with Wi-Fi calling at home until I changed my router. I swapped out my trusty Nokia Wi-Fi Beacon G6 for a TP-Link Deco BE65, and everything has, frankly, been terrible since then, overshadowing my upgrade to Wi-Fi 7.
I tried to break Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and Syncthing on purpose
Cloud-sync apps are boring when everything works. Save a file on one computer, wait a few seconds, and it appears on another. The interesting part starts when two machines disagree. What happens if I edit the same document offline and online, rename it in two places, or delete it on one PC while changing it on another?
I installed malware test files on my Galaxy Z Fold 8 to test Security Brief but it didn’t catch any of them
My Galaxy Z Fold 8 has had two sideloaded apps on it for over a week, and One UI 9's new Security Brief was already switched on. Samsung says it flags exactly that kind of app, but I haven't seen any report.
I run this command weekly, and my PC never slows down
Windows machines run great until they suddenly start slowing down out of nowhere. If you're not maintaining your machine regularly, these slowdowns can become much more severe.
My browser’s password manager was good enough until it wasn’t
For years, I never thought about using a dedicated password manager. My browser's built-in password manager had all my passwords. After all, it could save my passwords, generate stronger ones, and fill them in whenever I wanted to log in. On top of that, it was built into something I used every day. I found that extremely convenient. That said, sometimes I would hit a wall.
Google Chrome is testing one of Firefox’s most controversial mobile features
Google is testing a new toggle in Chrome Canary for Android on the Appearance settings page that lets users completely hide or show the mobile browser's bottom navigation bar.
Those sponsored buttons on your Google TV remote can do so much more than you think
One of my favorite things about owning a Google TV is that you can change almost anything you dislike about it. You just need the right app to do it. I'd already swapped out the default launcher a while back, and this time I had to do something about those streaming shortcuts on my remote because some of them were completely useless to me.
Windows Update is shutting down in 2027 for millions of PCs, and yours could be at risk
Bad news if you’re putting off important software updates: Microsoft has announced that a key backend security feature—the digital certificates your computer uses to communicate securely with Microsoft's update servers—will rotate out on May 17th 2027 and June 19th, 2027.
PS5’s next big entertainment update is aimed at One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen fans
Coming next spring, Sony is planning to add a dedicated anime hub to the PS5 home screen. Per Sony's official announcement, you can use it to watch many popular anime series, play anime-inspired games, and access Crunchyroll directly.
After a decade of reading on Kindles, I finally switched to a Kobo
Every e-book I've read in the last 10 years has been on Amazon hardware. I started with an old Kindle whose model I can't even remember, then a Fire tablet, then my 2018 Paperwhite that still sits in a leather case on my desk. When I got a Kindle Colorsoft as a gift, I assumed it would carry me through the next decade. It didn't, and I've already explained why the Colorsoft wasn't the upgrade I expected.
One everyday kitchen appliance could be using 1TB of your data in just 10 days
A user on X recently sparked widespread amusement and disbelief after claiming his parents’ Keurig coffee machine burned through a staggering 1TB of data in less than two weeks after connecting to their home network.
The cheapest Ryobi tools I own never came from Home Depot
Ask most Ryobi owners where the tools come from and you'll hear one answer: Home Depot. It has been the brand's exclusive big-box retailer for decades, and it's where my first drill kit came from. My three cheapest tools came from somewhere else, though. Techtronic Industries, the company that builds Ryobi, runs its own discount store called Direct Tools Factory Outlet, and it sells the same green tools for less than Home Depot charges.
I made my mesh Wi-Fi less wireless, and it finally got faster
When the speed and range of your wireless router isn't cutting it, the easy answer is to replace it with a budget or midrange mesh networking system. The main router in a mesh system connects to your modem over Ethernet, and extends the network to additional satellite router nodes. In theory, the result is better coverage and more reliable wireless connections. The limitations of Wi-Fi make that ideal situation difficult to replicate in the real world. The success of your mesh Wi-Fi network might depend on exactly how wireless it is.
My Android battery lasted longer after I turned off this “helpful” feature
Your Android phone comes with plenty of useful little features that make life easier in one way or another. But not all of them are always helpful, at least not to everyone.
You don’t have to pay more for Milwaukee’s higher end battery packs
There's almost nobody who is looking to spend more money on tools than they have to. You don't go into Home Depot or Lowe's and look for the most expensive tool, no matter what you need. You need to do some research in order to avoid paying an arm and a leg and this doesn't mean trusting the manufacturers.
These 6 shortcuts have transformed how I use my Android phone
I'm lazy. I want my phone to do what I want with as little effort as possible, and especially with not having to dig around in settings or in my app tray. From the quickest way possible to turn your phone into a 5G hotspot to easily taking screenshots without having to press multiple buttons, I found a bunch of shortcuts that save a lot of time and that avoids opening certain apps and settings and they've made using Android so much better. Here are six such shortcuts.
I replaced Files by Google with an uglier app, and I’m not going back
Files by Google works great for basic file management, has a nice UI, and comes in handy when you want to do some cleanup and free up storage. However, it doesn't let you make folder shortcuts or move files from Drive to local storage.
Your router still speaks a 2003 security protocol, and it’s capping your Wi-Fi at 54Mbps
My parents' TV kept buffering over Wi-Fi, so I was called to take a look. They pay for a 100 Mbps plan, which should be more than enough for streaming Netflix and Disney+. I ran a quick speed test, and the Wi-Fi only managed about 22 Mbps.
Everyone says Immich is the best Google Photos alternative, but this free self-hosted alternative has even more features
The tricky part about finding a Google Photos replacement isn’t storing photos or working within its ecosystem. Often it’s just finding an alternative that makes photos just as easy to search, organize, and share as Google does.
I replaced NextDNS with Control D and I’m not going back
Once you’ve decided to ditch your ISP’s DNS, the big question is which DNS to pick. There are plenty of good choices beyond the obvious Google DNS, like Cloudflare, Quad9, NextDNS, OpenDNS, and AdGuard.
DeWalt built a battery that changes voltage when you move it between tools
I have two battery fleets in my garage. Ryobi 18V packs run my drill and the impact driver, and my Ryobi 40V packs run the trimmer and the blower. Neither one fits the other's tools. That split is normal across cordless brands, and it's a big part of why the battery is the real business for all of them.
Quick Share transfers files in seconds, and I have no idea why it’s not the default
If you own an Android device, you've probably explored efficient ways to transfer files at some point. This could be you wanting to get a new music album or movie from a friend, or just transferring files between your Android devices and a Windows PC.
I made the Windows 11 right-click menu make sense with one free app
Windows 11 has a lot of problems. Yes, we know. But I’m tired of complaining, and the truth is, I’m not switching to another OS anytime soon. So instead of fighting it, I’ve decided to improve it. And today, it’s the right-click menu’s turn.
6 mesmerizing Netflix miniseries perfect for binging this weekend (October 9-11)
Every week, Netflix puts out hours upon hours of captivating new content, and every weekend, we get to consume it. We're here to let you know which of the newest Netflix miniseries are worth watching.
Windows 11 to bring one of macOS’ handiest feature to Search
Microsoft is turning Windows 11 Search into a place for doing things, rather than just locating items. According to the official Windows Insider Blog, a new preview allows you to perform actions such as muting your PC, turning on Bluetooth, or arranging open windows directly from the taskbar's Search panel.
I thought my monitor was already set up right until I found these features
Most of us don't pay nearly as much attention to our monitor's settings as we do to our PC. I got my Samsung monitor three years ago, glanced at its settings on day one, and never touched them again. I didn't realize I was leaving better picture quality, faster response times, and a premium gaming experience on the table the whole time.
I changed one temperature setting and cut my 3D print failures by half
For a while, my 3D printer was reliable enough to keep me optimistic but inconsistent enough to waste plenty of filament. One print would come out perfectly, while the next would have rough overhangs, weak layers, blobs, or enough stringing to resemble a spiderweb. I kept adjusting retraction, cooling, and even the Z-offset, but the improvement just wouldn't come.
I changed one iPhone setting and stopped wasting mobile data
I thought my iPhone data usage was under control. After all, I don't spend hours watching videos on the bus or downloading huge files without Wi-Fi. Yet, I kept getting closer to my monthly data limit faster than I expected. At first, I assumed one of my apps was eating up my precious data in the background. Later on, I realized that it was because of a feature built into iOS, switched on by default, and designed to help me, at my expense.
I didn’t know you could use Plex like this
Plex surprises me with its suite of features, from its ability to work with useful add-ons to its ability to access personal images, like my own cloud storage. Not to mention the companion apps, like Plexamp, which is my personal favorite media player for playing back my CD collection.
The XbotGo Falcon dual-lens AI camera tracks every play automatically
If you've ever tried to record your kid's soccer match or your local five-a-side game on a phone, you already know the problem. The action moves faster than you can follow, the ball ends up out of frame half the time, and by the third quarter your arm is aching from holding the camera steady. Team sports are genuinely hard to capture well, and that difficulty is a big part of why so few grassroots games ever make it to video at all.
These 5 ESP32 and Raspberry Pi smart home projects take a weekend and cost less than $50
A free weekend is enough time to turn a spare Raspberry Pi or inexpensive ESP32 board into something genuinely useful. There are tons of projects that are compact enough to finish, or at least reach a satisfying first version before the weekend is over, yet open-ended enough to keep improving later.
Your old Android phone is going to lose Android Auto very soon
If you're still using an older Android phone, one of its most useful features might be on borrowed time. Google is reportedly preparing to drop Android Auto support for phones running Android 10, which means you could soon lose access to navigation, music, and hands-free calls on your car's display — even if Android Auto has been working perfectly until now.
One of Netflix’s best sci-fi shows was canceled twice and still deserves your weekend
The animated sci-fi series Scavengers Reign began as an eight-minute short in 2016 before spending years trying to become a full series. It eventually premiered on HBO Max in 2023, earned lots of critical acclaim, and was canceled after one season. Netflix then picked it up, giving fans hope that the streamer known for saving many axed series might allow the story to continue.
I ditched my carrier’s voicemail service after finding this Samsung feature
Voicemail is one of those features that just hasn't moved with the times. Visual voicemail is helpful, but there haven’t been any meaningful upgrades beyond that, like automatic summaries, noise removal, or anything else that feels like an upgrade.
Alleged China ties put America’s favorite Wi-Fi router brand under fire
Your TP-Link Wi-Fi router could be a security risk, and four US states are suing the company over misleading customers about its products' manufacturing origins. According to the Montana Attorney General’s lawsuit, Florida, Montana, Iowa, and Nebraska each filed complaints against TP-Link on October 6, raising concerns regarding TP-Link's dependence on Chinese-made parts.
Virtualization isn’t emulation, and it took installing Proxmox for me to really understand the difference
Virtualization, emulation, and containerization might all sound familiar, but their approaches couldn’t be more different. The three methodologies have very different use cases, and it can be confusing to keep track of them all. I've been trying out all three, and it's important to know when to use which.
I replaced Google Drive with Syncthing and realized I never needed the cloud
I’ve been using Google Drive for over a decade, and it’s become ingrained in almost everything I do online. I love that all my files sync across devices, but I never stopped to question whether they needed to be in the cloud, or what would happen if, for some reason, I couldn’t access Drive anymore.
My Ryobi felt underpowered until I replaced the cheapest part on it
My Ryobi ONE+ circular saw started acting its age last month. Crosscuts in 2x4s slowed to a crawl, the kerf smoked, and a pack that used to last an afternoon quit after a couple dozen cuts. My first suspect was the battery, even though I'd already argued that a bigger Ryobi battery rarely fixes the problem you think it will. My second was a brushless upgrade.
I replaced 7-Zip with the version that actually looks like it belongs on Windows 11
7-Zip is one of those programs I stopped seeing years ago. It just became part of Windows in my head, the same way Notepad or Task Manager is, except with a much uglier toolbar and a habit of showing up whenever someone sends me an archive in a format Windows doesn't quite know what to do with.
Gemini finally caught up to the one Claude and ChatGPT feature I use constantly
Until recently, Gemini Gems were the only way to create a repetitive workflow with Google's AI assistant. However, these Gems never worked with the larger workflow within Gemini.
These Ryobi tools pay for themselves the first time you use them
Garage trash cans fill up with parts that still have life left in them. Think of the saw blade that scorches every cut, the spade bit that skates across the wood, the sanding disc packed solid with dust, and the mower blade that shreds grass instead of cutting it. Most of us toss them and buy fresh ones, and those small purchases add up over a year of projects and mowing.
After years of flexibility, Google Messages is removing the one SMS switch millions rely on
Google Messages is about to discontinue a useful feature for individual conversations which lets users choose to use traditional SMS and MMS messaging for particular contacts instead of depending entirely on Rich Communication Services (RCS).
3 reasons why I’ll never use Wireless Android Auto again
Wireless Android Auto is great. You slide into the driver’s seat with your phone still in your pocket, and the dashboard magically springs to life with all your favorite Android Auto utility apps and navigation, ready to go. It feels futuristic and clean, and it's precisely how technology should work.
If your Bluetooth headphones suddenly sound terrible, check this page
Bluetooth headphones can go from perfectly normal to embarrassingly bad audio without disconnecting, stuttering, or giving you any useful clue about what happened. Music suddenly sounds flat, compressed, and weirdly telephone-like, even though the connection itself looks completely healthy.
My lawn looked fine until I paid attention — that’s when I realized I needed help
When I moved into my house, I was all excited about working on my lawn. Growing up, I would cut the grass in my yard and enjoyed using the riding mower to keep the lawn looking fresh. I was too naive to realize that's only half the battle when you're trying to have a lawn that looks good. I took care of the mowing and that was it.
These One UI 9 features completely changed how I use my Galaxy
I’ve been spending a lot of time with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra lately, and in the process, I’ve been putting One UI 9 through its paces. Like every major Samsung update, there are plenty of new features to play around with, but this time, I didn’t have to wait for the update to arrive. One UI 9 came pre-installed on Samsung’s latest foldables, which has given me plenty of time to figure out which features I actually keep coming back to.
Forget Linux Mint, this is the Windows alternative you need
I used Windows 10 for years, and with Microsoft pulling the plug on it, several machines like my 2015 HP EliteBook 850 G2 will be left behind. These systems aren’t bad, but simply don’t meet the strict hardware requirements. The only viable choice is switching to an operating system that feels familiar but doesn’t require a hardware upgrade.
Stephen King’s latest Carrie adaptation is out just in time for Halloween, but don’t skip these in the run-up
The horror genre translates especially well from book to screen, and with Halloween just around the corner, Mike Flanagan’s new miniseries of Stephen King's classic Carrie is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video. However, several adaptations of the Maine-based author’s works already show us how effective his horror can be when fiction comes to life.
I’m all for saving money on PC builds, but this is the one part I always get new
In times like these, buying a gaming PC seems impossible due to the absurd component prices, thanks to the AI-led memory and storage shortage. Unfortunately, it's not just that memory prices are being impacted; the snowball effect has raised prices for all components, including parts that don't even use memory, like the CPU or motherboards.
I stopped mounting my phone in the car after realizing what it was doing to the battery
For years, getting into a car or riding my bike meant mounting my phone to the dashboard, opening Google Maps, starting some music, and plugging my phone in. It seemed like the perfect setup. The phone was visible, navigation convenient, and I arrived with more battery than I started with.
I used Jellyfin for a week and realized I don’t need Plex on my TV anymore
I’ve been running an experiment with Plex for a good while, taking my small collection of DVDs and Blu-rays, ripping them, and hosting them on a separate computer of mine. I even tried using Plex for audiobooks, and it was very successful. But now I’ve set my sights on a new goal: downgrading my collection for Jellyfin.
The best thing I did to my smart TV was disconnect it from the internet
A smart TV seems like a harmless device for streaming content, but it’s easily the most invasive gadget in your living room. It logs all kinds of information about you and ships that data off to the manufacturer. Its ability to connect to the internet is what makes all of this ridiculously easy.
I crashed Windows three ways to find the best diagnostic tool, it’s not what Microsoft ships
When a Windows PC crashes, it's hard to tell what triggered it. Often, it's a bad driver or newly installed hardware such as a new memory module or a USB device. However, if that's not the case, the built-in Windows tools like Event Viewer and Reliability Monitor can be hit or miss. Sometimes they can tell what went wrong; other times they fail to catch the culprit.
Blue switches feel amazing until you use them for 8 hours straight
For a long time, I assumed the keyboard switch I enjoyed the most would naturally be the one that helped me type best. Blue switches seemed to confirm that theory. They were crisp, deliberate, and wonderfully noisy. Every keystroke felt like a tiny mechanical event rather than an input that just went to my computer. Then one day, I decided to try a handful of other switches.
This one Windows command freed up 10GB of space I didn’t know I had
Storage is precious (and now expensive too), so anyone running a PC with a smaller SSD has to manage it smartly. That also means doing everything possible to stop Windows itself from wasting space.
I ditched my cloud password manager for KeePassXC, and I feel more secure than ever
For a long time, I've used LastPass, a cloud-based password manager. I even paid the $3-per-month subscription fee for the extra perks, and I stuck with it even after its infamous 2022 security breach. But then, LastPass had another security incident this year, and although it wasn't as damaging as the 2022 incident, it became an eye-opener for me.
I didn’t realize Windows could tell me this much about my SSD
Every device, whether mechanical or electronic, eventually suffers from wear and tear, and SSDs are no exception. The more you use one, the more its memory cells are eventually subjected to wear.
I built the Android privacy setup Google doesn’t give you out of the box
I always felt Android's privacy options were half-baked. Even though it gives a lot of tools for manual control, to be frank, I often feel the built-in toggles aren't enough. I spent a few weeks building a stronger setup, and the best part was that all these apps are available free of cost. The only thing is that they aren't apps you can get from the Play Store. These are third-party apps, fully safe and secure, that improve your Android's privacy features. You can get them from F-Droid, which is a Play Store alternative, except for one app.
I stopped using Task Manager after finding System Informer’s hidden troubleshooting powers
Whenever my PC acted weirdly, I used to hit the Ctrl + Shift + Esc key combo. That’s the ritual of every Windows user. Task Manager feels familiar and gives me a quick view of what’s consuming my resources. After all, we all have been using it for years. The problem is that Task Manager often tells me what's happening without telling me why. It works fine when I want to close a frozen app or find out what's eating up my RAM. However, when I need more information like why I can’t close an application, Task Manager hits a wall.
I’ve used Bitwarden for years and didn’t know about these 6 hidden settings that boost your security
After setting up Bitwarden a few years ago, I've barely bothered to change any settings because it just works. Having tried several password managers, I decided to revisit Bitwarden to see if I was leaving any real security improvements unused.
This Samsung routine fixed a battery problem I didn’t know I could automate
Have you ever woken up to a dead battery just because your phone's charger came loose, or perhaps your phone's alignment on its wireless charger shifted?
I nearly disabled this useless-sounding router setting until I learned what it actually does
When trying to troubleshoot Wi-Fi connectivity issues on my old Android phone, I was fiddling with QoS-style features, hoping that something would fix the problem. While doing so, I also turned off a rather useless-sounding feature called Wi-Fi WMM.
I tried Googlebooks, and these 5 features might finally get me to leave my Mac
Googlebooks are here, and in a sentence, they're premium laptops that run Googlebook OS — something of a hybrid between Android and ChromeOS. I was incredibly skeptical when I first heard Googlebooks would start at $899, because at that price point, they're competing with full-fledged macOS and Windows laptops. Given that ChromeOS (and Android, for that matter) is designed to run efficiently on lower-tier hardware, I wasn't exactly wishing for expensive Googlebooks with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 or Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chipsets.
5 ESP32 projects worth building that have nothing to do with fixing your Wi-Fi
The ESP32 is often treated like a tiny networking appliance. People turn it into a Wi-Fi extender, connection monitor, captive portal, or travel router, even though its radios are only part of what makes the board interesting. Underneath that familiar wireless feature set is a cheap, programmable controller that can read sensors, drive displays, transmit infrared commands, process Bluetooth signals, and do so much more.
Java has been on your computer your whole life and here’s what it actually does
If you used a Windows PC through the 2000s or 2010s, Java probably became one of those pieces of software you recognized long before you understood why it was there. Games asked for it, work programs depended on it, browsers nagged you about plugins, and every so often that little updater would surface in the system tray looking for attention.
You can free up 12GB of storage on macOS 27 with this simple command-line script
With macOS 27, Apple is pushing Siri and Apple Intelligence more aggressively than before. Previous macOS versions gave you a single switch for opting out. But with Golden Gate, you'll need a little bit more help to free up the storage that Apple Intelligence takes up on your Mac.
Can a Ryobi battery jump-start a 4.0L V6? I tested it
About a week ago, I left my lights on, and it drained the battery in my 2021 Toyota 4Runner Limited with a 4.0L V6. It wouldn't start. I had jumper cables, but I also had a Ryobi 18V ONE+ jump starter and a charged 4.0Ah HP pack, the same kind of battery that runs my drill. After using the kit, the engine fired on the first attempt, and the pack still showed four bars afterward.
You can now play SteamOS games on Android, but good luck getting it to work
Handheld gamers using Android devices like the Ayaneo handhelds have long had access to emulation apps like Winlator and GameHub that opened up the big, wide world of PC gaming. But now, a new app, DroidDeck, will let gamers get the full Steam Deck experience without ponying up almost $800 for a new Steam Deck — no streaming required.
Android's navigation pill does way more than go home, here are 4 hidden gestures
Most people don't think about the little line on the bottom of most Androids, which some call the navigation "pill." This pill does more than you think: it's not just for going back to your home screen or for swiping away misbehaving apps.
Why does airplane mode still exist?
You’ve seen airplane mode on your phone hundreds of times, and you’re asked to enable it on every flight. But with modern technology, is this still necessary? Why does airplane mode continue to exist, and does it need to?
I’m weirdly excited for the new series of NCIS, and it’s not just because it’s finally set in the Big Apple
NCIS is one of the longest-running shows in the history of television. Since 2002, a crew of special agents at the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service have been investigating crimes involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and they show no signs of slowing down.
Passwords aren’t the only consideration when it comes to choosing a password manager
Security is the obvious starting point when choosing a password manager. I want strong encryption, a credible zero-knowledge architecture, independent audits, and a company with a track record I’m comfortable trusting. Once several options meet that standard, though, comparing cryptographic terminology starts to offer less useful separation.
Windows 11 users report up to 3GB less RAM usage after this update
Microsoft's 26H2 update for Windows 11 is mostly targeting security updates and bug fixes. But now, many users are reporting a noticeable change in RAM usage after installing the update.
You’re probably using PNG and JPEG wrong
Most people choose an image format by habit. JPEG for photos, PNG for everything else. That habit will work for almost everything, but it also misses out on the most important trade-offs in performance, quality, and editing flexibility.
This is why I won’t ever buy a Pixel Watch
I wear a smartwatch for one main reason: keeping track of my health and fitness. When I was using an iPhone every day, my Apple Watch was pretty much glued to my wrist. It tracked my workouts, monitored my sleep, and, as silly as those little rings might seem, constantly gave me that extra push to get up and move.
I quit Spotify for good, and I don’t miss it one bit
I’ve been an avid Spotify user for what feels like forever. It’s the app I’d open without even thinking on commutes, while working, or when I just needed something playing in the background. But somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling the same. The music didn’t sound as good, the recommendations felt off, and the whole experience just started to lose its spark over the years.
Your game controller can do way more on Windows than just play games
Controllers are the quintessential icon of gaming and the ideal way to enjoy third-person RPGs on PC (and consoles alike). As a PC gamer at heart, I've always been a "mouse and keyboard guy." However, I do tend to pick up my Xbox controller to play games like Elden Ring or Monster Hunter Wilds. Although I do like browsing Steam Big Picture using my controller, it never occurred to me that I could also use it to navigate, well, Windows itself, until now.
I raced Google Maps with Apple Maps for 4 days, and one thing kept deciding the winner
I can install either Google Maps or Apple Maps on my motorcycle head unit, which made me wonder which was best for navigation. So I spent a 4-day biking vacation in the Philippines comparing the routes the two apps suggested. Rather than choosing four easy highway journeys, I wanted something that would force them to make some difficult decisions, including mountain roads, twisting curves, long highways, potentially hazardous sections, and, finally, a winding route toward the coast.
Partitioning your drive still makes sense in 2026 for these 5 reasons
Partitioning a drive sounds like something from the Windows XP era. It's the kind of thing that was useful for old hard drives, not something you need to bother with on large SSDs. And yes, partitioning is technically optional. Your Windows PC can run just fine off a single drive without asking you to touch Disk Management.
Bose QuietComfort 2 headphones review: Super comfortable, not as quiet
I travel a few times each month, and wireless headphones are the difference between a flight or train ride being peaceful or miserable. It's not hard to find wireless headphones with excellent active noise-canceling (ANC) power. The AirPods Max are my top pick for those who need to block out unwanted sounds. It's also pretty easy to find comfortable, lightweight headphones. But it's tricky to find all these qualities in the same pair of headphones.
I left my Ryobi drill on the same gear for years, and I was using it wrong
The little slide switch on top of my Ryobi drill sat on 2 for years. I never gave it a second look. I assumed it only controlled speed, and faster seemed better for everything from hanging shelves to boring through studs. That switch is actually a two-speed gearbox, and position 1 is where the drill keeps most of its twisting force. A couple of hole saw jobs finally taught me the difference, and they were not gentle lessons.
Windows built-in ransomware shield switch is off by default, and I figured out why
Windows has a ransomware shield most people never notice because it's off by default. It's called Controlled folder access, and it blocks apps from changing files in the folders you protect unless Windows trusts them or you allow them. It's one of the stronger Defender protections that Windows leaves to your discretion.
I stopped handing my real email to random websites, here’s what I use instead
Some websites have a remarkable amount of confidence when asking for your email address. You might be downloading one file, checking a coupon, joining public Wi-Fi, or trying a tool you'll forget exists by tomorrow, yet somehow your permanent inbox has become the admission price.
Your old printer might stop working on Windows 11, but there’s a workaround
If you rely on an older printer, Microsoft's gradual discontinuation of support for traditional printer drivers might force you to get a new one in the future. According to Microsoft's official roadmap, Windows now prioritizes its built-in Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) driver over legacy V3 and V4 drivers when installing compatible printers. The plan is to make the built-in driver the default and move away from third-party drivers entirely.
Goodreads’ most requested feature in years is here, and it’s going to change how people rate books
The most-requested feature for Goodreads is here! Half and quarter-star ratings are now available. With this latest update, you can now give books you’ve read a, for example, 4.5, 3.25, or a classic whole-star rating. This seemingly small feature has been missing since launch, and it could have major implications for some books on the platform.
Your streaming setup is probably down-mixing Dolby Atmos, and here’s how to stop it
Whether it's a movie or a playlist, streaming Atmos passes through your plan, your hardware, and an app setting before it reaches your speakers or headphones. Any of them can drop it to 5.1 or stereo, and you might not even notice at first.
Your Windows Recycle Bin has a size limit, and every drive gets a different one
I assumed the Recycle Bin was my undo button with no expiration date. This ended up costing me data. On Windows, every drive gets its own Recycle Bin size limit, and the limit isn't displayed prominently.
Android Auto can finally play YouTube, but I tried it and there’s a catch
For years, Android Auto users have been looking for ways to watch YouTube videos on their car's dashboard. They have employed various third-party methods to do it, too. Finally, there's an official way to watch YouTube videos on your car's head unit, but there's a catch: You need to be parked and not driving. Google paired it with 3D navigation and home-screen widgets as part of the big Android Auto redesign it's been teasing all year. Here's what you need to know, and what's still missing.
You don’t need as many Android apps as you think — I proved it with a factory reset
The first thing we instinctively do after getting our hands on a new device is install a bunch of apps. These can range from daily essentials like messaging apps and streaming services to shopping apps and more.
I stopped leaving Google Maps to research places; Ask Maps does it now
Until earlier this year, finding a place on Google Maps was often just the first step. If I wanted more information about a place, I would leave Maps and go to Gemini or search Google for the business.
My phone was blocking calls I actually wanted until I changed 4 settings
I recently tweaked a few Samsung call settings to stop telemarketers, and for weeks, it seemed like the problem was solved. Then I realized my phone was quietly blocking real calls too. These built-in filters don't just target robocalls and scam operations. Settings spread across the Phone app and system menus treat every unfamiliar number the same way, and legitimate calls get caught alongside the junk. I tracked down four of them after discovering how many genuine calls my phone had silently rejected.
I stopped chrome from restoring my old tabs, and it made a huge difference
When I opened Chrome, it greeted me with the collection of tabs I’d left open days or weeks earlier. Twenty or even thirty-odd tabs would come up showing my half-read articles, a shopping page I’d forgotten, a Google Doc for my unfinished article, and videos that started playing before I could find which tab they were in. For me, this was convenient, but it eventually became an excuse to never close anything.
My old Fire TV Stick felt really slow until I changed these settings
The Fire TV Stick is an incredible piece of tech, especially for its size and price. However, it's also probably the slowest and clunkiest streaming device that I've ever used in my media center. And as is the case with every new piece of tech that gets periodic software updates, the Fire TV Stick becomes exponentially slower and clunkier with age.
These Android settings helped my phone last longer between charges
I used to treat my phone’s battery as London’s winter weather: something to complain about but not something I could change.
I stopped partitioning my drive and freed up 36GB just by reorganizing
AI-driven memory shortages have made SSDs expensive, so managing your storage matters more than ever. For years, partitioning drives was the way to organize, allocating space for specific purposes. However, partitioning drives is counterproductive in modern storage, adds complexity, and still doesn’t address the main issue: storage shortages.
I cleaned out my Google One storage and found 10GB I’d been paying to keep
Google One storage is one of those things that can easily go out of hand. Emails, WhatsApp backups, photos, Drive files — it all counts toward the same quota, and with most of these things backing up automatically in the background, it doesn't take long for that storage bar to creep into the red. Upgrading is always an option, sure, but that's just kicking the can down the road.
The real reason your keyboard has F1 through F12
Of all the keys on your keyboard, the F1 through F12 keys at the top are likely not your most-used. While they aren’t as useless or frustrating as other keys like Scroll Lock or Insert, their long-standing presence poses a mystery in plain sight.
Google’s new paywall will remove Gemini’s advanced models from free accounts
Google is moving more capable Gemini models behind paid subscriptions. According to Google's updated support page, people using Gemini without a Google AI plan will only be able to use the Flash-Lite model. The Flash and the more advanced Pro models that you could use up until now will be inaccessible on October 9 unless you get a paid plan.
Forget Plex’s creeping paywall: I moved my whole library to Jellyfin, and nothing broke on the way
Plex was always my go-to media library for a variety of reasons, including its familiar interface, organization, and remote access, which let me watch my movies and shows away from home. However, as more Plex services became subscription-based, I started wondering whether other options were available.
Intel’s new CPU tech beats AMD on paper, but the catch makes it a hard sell
For the last decade or so, AMD has quickly gained favor in the PC community, becoming the new no-brainer choice across builds of all scales. The Zen architecture helped them gain a lead over Intel, and the competition worsened as Team Blue faced repeated setbacks and struggled to move to smaller nodes.
Cartridge printers trap you with the razor-and-blades game — refillable ink breaks it
While we haven't quite yet entered a paperless world, our printing needs have changed. Unless you work in a big office that deals with a lot of important paperwork, you probably have less printing needs today than you did 10-15 years ago. I still print at least weekly and I would never not have a printer at home as part of my essential work-from-home setup. That said, I would never buy an ink cartridge printer again. That's because I switched to a cartridge-free printer a decade ago. Since then, I will never look back.
The most neglected key on your keyboard is becoming a Windows 11 Shortcut
Shipping in a couple of weeks, Microsoft is giving the tilde key (~) a useful job in Windows 11. According to the company's latest release notes, File Explorer's address bar now recognizes "~" as a shortcut to your user profile folder.
The one power tool mistake that convinced me to go cordless for good
I like to try and do my own yard work as much as possible. There was a good amount of landscaping, shrubs, bushes, trees, and more put in by the previous owners of our house. We haven't done much in terms of planting new ones since we moved in, but we've tried to keep up the lawn and house's landscaping to the best of our abilities.