Geek Trivia: When Employees Are Encouraged To Experiment And Develop On Company Time, It’s Called?

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How Carriers and Manufacturers Make Your Android Phone’s Software Worse

Android’s openness is a big reason for its success, but cellular carriers and phone manufacturers often use this openness to make the experience worse for its users. Android’s openness gives carriers and device manufacturers the freedom to do bad things.

Geek Trivia: Workers In Which Of These Non-Nuclear Industries Are Classified As “Radiation Workers” By The CDC?

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PC Gamers, Give Left-Handed “Gamepads” a Try

Keyboards aren’t designed to play games…but most PC games are designed to be played on keyboards. It’s an interesting bit of evolutionary dissonance in the world of PC gaming, from back when people actually worked on computers and games were a secondary consideration.

How to Enable Night Mode on the Echo Spot

If you use your Echo Spot as a bedside alarm clock, then you might benefit from turning on Night Mode. This feature changes the background to black and dims the screen so that it doesn’t blind you at night while you’re trying to sleep.

Geek Trivia: Star Wars Character Boba Fett Was First Revealed To The Public In A?

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Netflix Will Help You Send Your Kids to Bed Early With Fake New Year’s Countdowns

New Year’s Eve is a holiday for staying up late to watch the current year slowly decay until it hatches in…

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Instantly Open a Full Screen Terminal On Your Mac Using a Keyboard Shortcut

Many Mac users spend their entire lives in the Terminal, but most of us only open it occasionally. Using a mouse to open a text-based interface feels weird, however. What if there was a way to always have the Terminal at the ready, triggered by a single keyboard shortcut?

How to Add Custom User Tags to Reddit

If you’ve spent any time at all on the Internet, odds are pretty decent that you’ve encountered Reddit, the link-sharing social network and discussion platform. And if you’ve spent any time at all on Reddit, odds are approximately 100% that you’ve encountered jerks. Not that Reddit is inherently jerky, mind you—it’s just that there are millions of users posting links and comments daily. Unless you’re specifically limiting your viewing to the /r/Aww subreddit, you’re mathematically certain to encounter a certain level of dickish behavior.

Best Desk Toys for Entertaining Yourself During Conference Calls

You’re sitting there at work stuck on a conference call in desperate need of something…

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How to Change Device Names on Google Wifi

One of the most valuable features of Google Wifi for me is the ability to watch my network activity on a per-device level. The thing is, a lot of devices don’t correctly report themselves to the router, so it’s hard to tell what is what. Here’s how to figure it out, then change the name.

What’s the Difference Between a Power Strip and a Surge Protector?

Surge protectors often look just like power strips, but not all power strips are surge protectors. Only surge protections actually help protect your gadgets against power surges. Many power strips are just glorified extension cords without any protection. But you can tell whether a strip provides surge protection with just a few seconds of examination.

How to Change the Clock Face on the Echo Spot

Amazon’s Echo Spot makes for a fantastic bedside alarm clock, and there are a handful of clock faces to choose from. Here’s how to change the clock face to find one that suits your tastes.

Geek Trivia: Which Of These Early Computers Had A Critical Defect That Erased Removable Media?

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How to Clear Your MacBook’s Touch Bar and Secure Enclave Data

Planning on selling or giving away your MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar? Even if you wipe your Mac and reinstall macOS from scratch, it won’t remove everything: information about your fingerprints and other security features are stored separately, and may remain after your wipe your hard drive.

How to Manage Podcasts in Google Play Music

Hey, did you know that the Google Play Music app that comes with your Android phone can subscribe to, stream, and download podcasts? The feature works okay, though not nearly as fleshed-out as the various dedicated podcast managers out there. But if you hate having extra apps on your phone, and you’re already an avid user of Play Music, it could be the right move for you. Here’s how it works.

Google and Apple Are Killing It With Photo Tech

 

When it comes to hardware phone makers are bor…

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How to Tame Your Chromecast’s Background Data Usage

Google’s Chromecast is an excellent little streaming device that offers an easy and affordable way to get content from the little screen to the big one. The thing is, when you’re not using it, it can use over 15GB of data every month just idling. That’s a pretty significant amount for anyone on a metered connection.

How to Speed Up Your Old, Slow iPhone or iPad

Every year, Apple comes out with new iPhones and iPads and a new version of iOS. While it’s a good idea to stay current on software, not everyone can afford to buy new hardware every year. If your iPhone or iPad is showing its age, here are a few tricks to squeeze out a bit more performance.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Kwikset Kevo Smart Lock

The Kwikset Kevo smart lock comes with a clever design that lets you simply touch the lock to unlock it—but that’s not the only feature that makes it so great. Here’s how to get the most out of our Kevo smart lock.

Geek Trivia: Which U.S. State Flag Has A Union Jack On It?

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How to Block Specific Ads on YouTube

Have you ever gone on a YouTube binge, only to get the same annoying pre-roll ad over and over again? It’s a systemic issue, thanks to Google’s user-targeting advertising algorithm. The easiest way to solve this problem is to pay for YouTube Red and get rid of all the advertising. The easiest free way to do it, however, is below.

9 Great Switch Games You’ll Only Find in the Nintendo eShop

While there are plenty of great Switch games you can grab right off the shelf at your local retailer, there are some gems you can only get if y…

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How to Turn an Android or Fire Tablet Into a Kid-Friendly Device with FreeTime

Amazon FreeTime is, hands down, the most sophisticated and easy-to-use parental control tool available for tablets. Here’s how to set it up, access the vast FreeTime Unlimited media library, and set time limits for your kids.

10 Handy Uses for Your Old iPad or Android Tablet

Tablet sales are slumping at the moment, probably as a result of big smartphones and convertible laptops chip away at a tablet’s usefulness. But if you have one or more tablets at home gathering dust while you happily poke away at your giant smartphone, there are probably some good ways to put them to use rather than selling them or recycling them. Here are a few ideas.

How to Remove Ads on the PlayStation 4’s Home Screen

If you’re a PlayStation 4 owner of any variety (regular, Slim, or Pro), you probably woke up today to an annoying Destiny 2 ad right there in your recent games bar. That’s pretty obnoxious, so here’s how to prevent it from happening again in the future.

Geek Trivia: The Largest Group Of Mammals, By Species, Is Composed Of?

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How to Buy and Sell the Digital Movie Codes that Come With Your Discs

At the moment, we’re in a transition to an all-digital world of entertainment, and we’ll soon be able to more or less forget about DVDs, CDs, Blu-rays, and game cartridges. But while we sit in this transitory phase, movie studios are trying to get us to keep buying movies on disc by sweetening the pot with free codes for digital copies.

The Cheapest Ways to Get Started with 4K Streaming

If you’re buying a new 4K TV this year, you&#821…

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How to Disable Website Links When Pasting Text Into OneNote

When you paste text from a web page into OneNote, it won’t just paste the text. You’ll also get a link to the web page you got it from. You can disable this feature if you like, forcing OneNote to only paste the text you actually copied.

Why Android Phones Slow Down Over Time, and How to Speed Them Up

If you’ve had your Android device for a while, you’ve probably started to notice some lag that wasn’t there before. Apps load a bit slower, menus take a bit longer to show up. This is actually (and unfortunately) normal—here’s why.

Geek Trivia: Samsung’s First Products Weren’t Electronics But?

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So You Just Got a Chromecast. Now What?

So, you just scored a Chromecast. That’s awesome! But you can do a lot more than just watch Netflix or YouTube on that bad boy—there’s actually a load of cool stuff under its tiny hood.

How to Set Up All Your New Holiday Gadgets

It’s the holidays, which means new gadgets for everyone! Whether you’re rocking a new PC or trying to get a handle on what the Amazon Echo really does, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to set up all your new tech gifts (and, let’s be honest: your family’s).

So You Just Got an Amazon Fire Tablet. Now What?

Hey, congratulations on your new tablet! The Amazon Fire Tablet series offers, without a doubt, some of the best bang for your buck devices you can get in today’s tablet market. You’re going to love it.

So You Just Got a Google Home. Now What?

So you scored a Google Home for Christmas. That’s awesome, because this is a killer little smart speaker that can do a lot of different things—in fact, it can be a little overwhelming. The good news is that we’ve got you covered. Here are some ideas on where to get started with your new Home.

So You Just Got an Xbox One. Now What?

The Xbox One is shaping up to be a great console. The Xbox One S offers 4K and HDR features you can’t get on the PlayStation 4 Slim, and the even newer Xbox One X is significantly faster than Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro. Here’s everything you need to know to get the most out of your new Xbox One.

So You Just Got a PlayStation 4. Now What?

Christmas has come and gone, the paper torn off of every box under the tree, and you just scored a brand new PlayStation 4 (or Pro!). Congratulations! It is, at least in this writer’s humble opinion, the best version of the PlayStation that has ever existed—especially the Pro. Let’s make the most of it, shall we?

So You Just Got a Nintendo Switch. Now What?

The Nintendo Switch is a great console—part living room system, part portable device, and all Nintendo. While the Switch isn’t as packed with extra features and apps as other modern consoles are, there are still many things it doesn’t tell you. Here’s what you need to know to get the most out of your new Switch.

How to Set Up and Configure Your Amazon Echo

So you just got an Amazon Echo, either from the recent sales or the holidays. Let’s take a look at how to set it up and some useful things you can task your Echo with.

How to Sideload Apps on the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick

Amazon’s Fire TV and Fire TV stick technically runs Android…but you wouldn’t know it from looking. Amazon has a wall of content for its set-top box, and doesn’t want Google (with its own competing platform) to crash the party. But even though the Fire TV only has official access to Amazon’s Appstore, you can install other apps too.

Geek Trivia: Which Of These Christmas Films Was Originally Released In The Spring?

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The Best Modern, Open Source Ports of Classic Games

Looking for a bit of PC gaming nostalgia? You could dig those old floppy disks out of your closet…or you could grab the new, improved, open source versions of those games online for free.

Geek Trivia: The Only Primate With A Toxic Bite Is The?

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Google, the World’s Biggest Advertising Company, Will Block Ads Soon. Is That Good?

It’s finally happening: on February 15, 2017, Google’s Chrome browser will block some ads out-of-the-box, regardless of whether you have a separate ad blocker installed.

How to Disable the Camera on the Echo Spot

The Echo Spot makes for a great bedside alarm clock with Alexa built in, but if you’re a little wary of a camera pointing directly at your bed, here’s how to disable it completely.

Geek Trivia: The Country With The Most Diverse Variety Of Breads Is?

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How to Use a Time Machine Drive for Both File Storage and Backups

When you set up Time Machine, your Mac wants to use an entire external drive exclusively for backups. Here’s how you can get around that and use a Time Machine drive both for backups and file storage.

WinX DVD Ripper Xmas Giveaway and Amazon eGift Card Contest [Sponsored]

Christmas is right around the corner and online stores are buzzing with festive promotion activity.

Great Last Minute Gifts You Can Send By Email, You Lazy Jerk

Another holiday deadline looms near and you forgot to do your gift shopping in advance. We get it.

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How to Make Your Steam Profile Private

Yesterday, fellow How-To Geek writer Eric Ravenscraft recommended a Steam game in our office chat room. It’s all about writing…and also it’s about anime-style schoolgirls and the wooing thereof.

How to Blur Faces and Text in Photoshop

There are plenty of reasons you might want to blur some part of a photo in Photoshop. Maybe you’re sharing a photo and you want to anonymize some people, or perhaps you want to show off how bad your passport photo is without revealing private information. Whatever the reason, here’s how to blur something in Photoshop.

The NVIDIA SHIELD Is the Most Powerful Set Top Box You Can Buy

There are a lot of streaming set-top boxes out there: The Apple TV, the Roku, the Amazon Fire TV…and sure, they each have their advantages. But if you want the set top box that does the absolute most, that can handle anything you throw at it and leave some room for tweaking, it’s the NVIDIA SHIELD with Android TV.

Six Things to Consider Before Installing a Smart Lock

Smart locks can offer a great deal of convenience when leaving and entering your home, but there are a few things you should be aware of before you install one on your own door.

Geek Trivia: The First Major U.S. Film Studio To Stop Distributing Movies On Film Was?

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How to Use Your Mac’s Disk Utility to Partition, Wipe, Repair, Restore, and Copy Drives

Need to create a new partition, or re-format an external drive? There’s no need to hunt down paid partition managers or disk-management boot disks: your Mac includes a built-in partition manager and disk management tool known as Disk Utility.

How to Fix Windows Explorer Showing Drives Twice in the Sidebar

When you plug in an external drive to a Windows 10 machine, it appears as a separate entry in the navigation pane in Windows Explorer. But it also appears as an entry in the nested item under “This PC,” as seen next to Deadpool here.

Subscription Crates Are a Perfect Gift for Curious Kids

Opening a gift on Christmas is pretty awesome, but opening a gift every month of the year?

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What Is the Google Pixel 2’s Visual Core?

The Google Pixel 2 has one of the best cameras you can get in a smartphone right now. But generally speaking, these “best camera” sort of ratings only apply to the stock camera app. Google is changing that thanks to the “Pixel Visual Core”—a custom image processing chip. But what does this chip do?

How to Use Emoji in Photoshop

In the last few years, Emoji have become a huge part of pop culture. There’s even a movie about them (although I’m trying my best to forget that). With Photoshop CC 2017, Adobe added proper support for Emoji, so let’s look at how to use them.

Without Google Chrome, the Windows Store Will Always Suck

Microsoft won’t allow Google Chrome in the Windows Store. Google tried to help users by putting an “installer” for Chrome in the Store instead, but Microsoft quickly tore it down. Microsoft is making the Store worse just to serve their business interests. The Store even allows other apps that use Google Chrome’s “Chromium” browser engine—just not Chrome itself.

You Can Speed Up Your Slow iPhone by Replacing the Battery

All phones slow down over time. As hardware gets older and software gets newer, it’s inevitable. But there’s another reason your iPhone might be slow: the battery.

When Does iMessage Mark a Message as “Read”?

Ever notice how iMessage will mark a message as “Read” when the other person sees it? These are called “read receipts”, and they can provide a lot of peace of mind for those that you message with. But when exactly does the other person know that you’ve read their message?

Geek Trivia: After Star Trek, James Doohan Starred In Another Sci-Fi Show Called?

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How to See What Your Mac Is Loading at Boot with KnockKnock

If you’re a Mac power user, you probably install a lot of software, only to delete it later. But how many of those applications, drivers, and customizations tools are still trying to do things when your Mac starts up?

How to Enable and Use Windows 10’s New Built-in SSH Commands

Microsoft announced it was bringing an integrated OpenSSH client to Windows in 2015. They’ve finally done it, and an SSH client is hidden in Windows 10’s Fall Creators Update. You can now connect to an Secure Shell server from Windows without installing PuTTY or any other third-party software.

PSA: Update Game Consoles Before Giving them for Christmas

The last thing you want on Christmas Day is for your kids to be unable to play the game console they’ve waited so long to enjoy. Read on as we highlight why you need to pre-game your console gift giving experience.

The Best Switch Games to Play with Friends and Family

It’s fun to play games together, and the holiday season is the perfect time of year to do that.

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The Best Non-Mechanical Keyboards

If you’re at all interested in computer accessories, you’ve no doubt noticed the trend towards mechanical keyboards. Their satisfying click-clack and deep customization options are appealing to a huge range of people. But that range doesn’t include everyone…and if you aren’t a fan of mechanical boards, you’re probably feeling a little left out.

Google’s Pixel Buds Are a Cool Translator That Make You Look Even More Like a Tourist

Google’s new headphones, the Pixel Buds,…

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If You Want Android, Just Buy Google’s Pixel Phone

Samsung may build the most popular Android phones on the market, but that doesn’t automatically mean they’re the best. In fact, there are a lot of reasons to ignore the Samsungs and LGs of the market and get your Android phone straight from the source: Google.

Geek Trivia: There’s A Popular Literary Genre In Japan Where The Works Are Composed Using?

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Give the Gift of Fast Phone Charging This Holiday Season

If you’re struggling with a last minute gift idea, here’s an easy one: buy them a fast charger for their phone.

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How to “Untrust” a Computer on Your iPhone or iPad

When you first plug your iPhone or iPad into a computer, you’ll be prompted to “trust” the computer on your device. This gives iTunes and other management tools on the computer the ability to access your photos, files, settings, contacts, and other data. Your iPhone or iPad remembers this decision and will automatically trust that computer in the future.

The Best Streaming Device For Everyone On Your Christmas List

Why Your Android Phone Isn’t Getting Operating System Updates and What You Can Do About It

Back in the early days of Android, system updates were very random: they would roll out at different times, and often several times per year. Now, Google has taken a much more streamlined approach, releasing one major Android update per year and much smaller, security-focused updates once per month.

How to Properly Thread Tweets for Your Tweetstorms

Twitter threads (aka tweetstorms), where someone posts a series of related Tweets one after the other, sit in a weird place: everyone claims to hate them, but lots of people post them anyway. Twitter has recently embraced the feature, integrating them into the platform and making them easier to do right. Here’s how to use them.

Despite Firefox Quantum’s Success, Mozilla Has Lost Its Way

Mozilla was supposed to be different. It brands itself as a non-profit organization dedicated to making the web better, one that cares about user privacy and security. But after this week, I’m starting to wonder if Mozilla really cares about its users the way they claim.

How to Enable Vacation Mode on the Schlage Connect Smart Lock

If you’re going on vacation and will be away from home for any significant amount of time, it might be a good idea to enable Vacation Mode on your Schlage Connect smart lock. Here’s how it works and how to turn it on.

Geek Trivia: Which Of These Christmas Films Became A Classic Due To A Copyright Filing Error?

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Your Amazon Wish List Is Public By Default. Here’s How to Make It Private

Amazon’s lists are helpful for keeping track of all the many ways you need to give Jeff Bezos your money. However, by default, your basic wish list is public, and anyone with your email address can look it up. That seems like something worth fixing. Here’s how to change the privacy settings on your wish list.

How to Get Detailed Information About Your PC

Sometimes, you need to find information about your PC—things like what hardware you’re using, your BIOS or UEFI version, or even details about your software environment. Join us as we take a look at a few Windows tools that can provide varying levels of detail about your system information.

What to Do If You Can’t Find the Layers Panel (or Any Other Panel) in Photoshop

Photoshop is an incredibly flexible program. To keep the interface flexible, Photoshop uses “Panels” for each tool or feature.

These 8 Subscription Boxes Are the Perfect Gift for Super Fans

 

Subscription boxes are an a…

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Seven Things You Don’t Have to Root Android to Do Anymore

For years, Android enthusiasts have been rooting their devices to do things that Android doesn’t allow by default. But Google has added many features to Android that once required root, eliminating the need for many people.

Geek Trivia: The First All Digital Film Featuring Performance Captured Actors Was?

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How Do “Surround” Sound Bars Work?

The idea behind a conventional surround sound setup is simple: the speakers surround you, and thus, so does the sound. But a new generation of sound bars, the all-in-one devices that sit below your TV and house multiple drivers in a horizontal layout, also claim to have surround sound capabilities. How can that be possible if the only speaker is directly in front of you?

Geek Trivia: Teleprompters Are A Practical Use Of An Old Illusionist’s Trick Known As?

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Why Your Kodi Box Isn’t Working, and What to Use Instead

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And Kodi boxes sound way too good to be true, offering unlimited free TV and movies for life after purchasing a single piece of hardware.

How to See Your Uber or Lyft Passenger Rating

After every Uber and Lyft ride, you can rate your driver out of five stars based on how good or bad the ride was. However, you may not know that drivers also rate you as a passenger. Here’s how to view your passenger rating for both Uber and Lyft.

Geek Trivia: The First U.S. President To Publish A Work Of Fiction Was?

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A Versatile Video Tool on 4K Video Upscaling and Downscaling [Sponsored Giveaway]

Upscale to 4K Resolution

How to Build Your Own Computer, Part Five: Tweaking Your New Computer

Congratulations, you’ve successfully selected parts, assembled your own PC, and installed Windows! Now you can get to…whatever it is that you want to get to, I guess. Do gamers still “pown noobs?” Is that still a thing?

10 Awesome Subscription Boxes for Geeks of Every Stripe

Looking for a super cool gift for a special geek on your holiday shopping list (or maybe you just really want to treat yourself in 2018)?

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How to Speed Up Animations to Make Android Feel Faster

Android devices display animations when they transition between apps, windows, and various menus. Animations oftentimes looks slick, but they do take up time—and sometimes can even cause the phone to lag if it’s low on resources.

The Best Things Google Assistant Can Do on Your Android Phone

So you got Google Assistant on your phone. Cool! …but, now what? Well, to make the most of your new Assistant, you need to actually use it. And the more you use it, the more you’ll learn about it. Here are some ideas to get you started.

How to Follow Hashtags on Instagram

Thanks to a new feature in Instagram, you can now follow specific hashtags and get the top posts for that hashtag to appear in their main feed. Here’s how to make it happen.

What Is Net Neutrality?

Net neutrality is one of the biggest policy debates around the internet, and the government has voted to officially repeal the net neutrality regulations. Here’s what net neutrality is, and how it affects you.

Geek Trivia: The Practice Of “Forest Bathing”, Walking In Woodland Areas For Health Purposes, Originated In?

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How to Build Your Own Computer, Part Four: Installing Windows and Loading Drivers

Much like configuring the BIOS, installing a new copy of Windows used to be a bit of a chore, but these days it’s been streamlined amazingly well. For most of it, you’ll simply follow the on-screen instructions, but feel free to keep this page open if you get stuck.

LEGO Stocking Stuffers

Full size LEGO sets, as any collector or parent knows, are anything but cheap.

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How to See What’s Taking Up Space on Your Android Device

When you picked up your shiny new Android device, you probably thought “yeah, this has plenty of storage. I’ll never fill it up!” But here you are, some number of months later with a full phone and no clue why. No worries: here’s how you can figure out where the space hogs are.

How Secure Are Mesh Wi-Fi Networks?

You’re considering a mesh Wi-Fi network, because you’re sick of that one spot in your house not getting any reception. But does the convenience of these systems come with the same security as other routers?

What Is a Corrupted File, and Is There a Way to Get It Back?

Corrupted files don’t happen too often on modern computers with good security measures in place. But when they do, it can be a nightmare. Let’s take a look at the common causes of corrupted files, how you can help prevent them, and what you can do when it happens.

How to Automatically Lock the Schlage Connect When You Leave the House

If your forgetfulness applies to locking your front door, you can have the Schlage Connect smart lock automatically lock behind you. So if you forget to lock it, you won’t have to worry about it in the first place.

Geek Trivia: The Deadliest Natural Disaster In U.S. History Was A?

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How to Build Your Own Computer, Part Three: Getting the BIOS Ready

So you’ve carefully picked out some parts and built a computer, but it doesn’t really do anything…yet. Before we hop into installing your operating system, we need to take a quick look at the BIOS and prepare it for our operating system.

Of Course the Nintendo Switch Sold 10 Million Units Already

What is coreauthd, And Why Is It Running on my Mac?

You’re looking through Activity Monitor to see what’s running on your Mac, when you notice something unfamilar: coreauthd. What is this process? First of all, it’s part of macOS, so don’t worry about it being nefarious. But here’s a quick look at what it does.

How to Search WhatsApp Chat Messages

Trying to find a specific message in your huge WhatsApp chat log? There are two ways to search, so you can find what you’re looking for quickly.

What Is a “Blockchain”?

If you’ve been watching the news lately, you might have heard about something called a blockchain. It’s a concept that makes data ultra-secure for specific uses. You’ve probably heard it in connection with Bitcoin, but it has applications far beyond everyone’s favorite cryptocurrencies. Here’s a quick explanation of how it works.

How to Switch Your Chromebook to “Mono” (So You Can Wear One Earbud)

On the majority of devices, audio is separated between the two speakers—this is called “stereo.” If you’re hard of hearing in one ear, or listen in an environment not conducive to clogging both ears with sound, you can easily switch your Chromebook to “mono” mode so the same audio comes from both speakers.

How to Rename Devices on Your Network in the Eero App

Eero is a fantastic mesh Wi-Fi system that can help eliminate spotty Wi-Fi in your house. However, devices can appear in the app as a jumbled-up mess. Here’s how to rename them so that it’s easier to know which device is which.

Geek Trivia: Many Medieval Manuscripts Inexplicably Feature Illuminations Of Knights Fighting?

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How to Build Your Own Computer, Part Two: Putting It Together

So you’ve selected your parts, double- and triple-checked their compatibility, and waited for economy shipping to bring them all to your door. It’s time to get to the fun part: putting them all together.

15 Geeky Stocky Stuffers for Fans of All Sorts (All Under $15)

There’s a little geek in each of us, so why not indulge your friends’ inner geek this holiday season with these 15 bargain geeky stocking stuffers?

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How to Save Photos from the iPhone Notes app to Your Photo Library

If you’re a heavy user of Apple’s Notes app on your iPhone, you’ve probably noticed a slightly weird behavior: unlike almost every other app, if you take a photo in Notes, it isn’t saved to the Photos app.

PC Companies Are Getting Sloppy With Security

Nothing is perfectly secure, and we’ll never eliminate every vulnerability out there. But we shouldn’t be seeing as many sloppy mistakes as we’ve seen from HP, Apple, Intel, and Microsoft in 2017.

How to Share a Contact Over Text Message on the iPhone

We’ve all gotten that text from a friend asking for another mutual friend’s number. You could jump into your contacts list and try to remember the number, but it’s a lot easier to just share the other person’s contact card. A couple of extra taps and boom—that person will be in your recipient’s contacts, too.

How to Edit Scenes for Your Philips Hue Lights

If you ever want to make changes to a scene that you have set up in the Hue app, you can actually edit a scene instead of deleting it and creating a new one. Here’s how to do it.

Geek Trivia: The Plant Fraxinella Is Most Notable For Its?

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How to Turn Your Computer Into a DLNA Media Server

Many boxes you plug into your TV, including the Roku, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and even some smart TVs themselves offer DLNA (“Digital Living Network Alliance”) streaming support. They can stream video files and music over the network from your PC—as long as you set up a DLNA server on the PC first.

How to Reboot Google Wifi From Your Phone

Look, sometimes routers need to be rebooted. If you’re a Google Wifi user, you could go unplug all of your units—or you could just reboot them from your phone.

Should You Buy Physical or Digital Switch Games?

Whether you’re buying Nintendo Switch games for yourself or your kids, you’re faced with the dilemma of buying physical or digital…

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How to Make Phone Calls from Your Mac Through Your iPhone

With Continuity, your Mac and iPhone work pretty well together. You can seamlessly transition between the two platforms…including make phone calls right from your computer. Here’s how.

How to Build Your Own Computer, Part One: Choosing Hardware

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and assemble your own desktop PC. Maybe you’re ready to take your PC gaming to the next level, build a tiny entertainment machine, or just save some money by assembling your own budget machine. Whatever your intentions, our five part guide is here to help you.

Geek Trivia: The First Movie Exhibition Spaces Were Called?

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Uber vs. Lyft: What’s the Difference and Which Should I Use?

Uber and Lyft are two very similar services. Both are “ride-sharing” apps you pull up on your phone to quickly get a ride somewhere from driver using their own car. These two services have become more and more similar over the years, but there are still some major differences between them.

Geek Trivia: Sideburns, The Facial Hair Style, Derive Their Name From?

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The Amazon vs. Google Feud, Explained (and How It Affects You)

Users shouldn’t have to know about tech company feuds. In an ideal world, where the user experience is the top priority, your ability to watch videos would not depend on how well two multinational corporations are getting along this month.

Geek Trivia: The First Spy Satellite Images Were Retrieved By?

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How to Turn an Old Android Tablet Into an Auto-Updating Digital Photo Frame

When’s the last time you touched your Android tablet? If it’s been more than a year or so, it might be time to find some other use for that thing—after all, it’s not like it’s getting any software updates, right? Here’s how to use it as a digital photo frame.

The Best Blu-ray Box Sets to Gift This Holiday Season

 

After the holidays are over and the snow starts falling, you’re going to need more indoor activities to keep yourself oc…

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How to Tag and Share Screenshots on the PlayStation 4 or Pro

Sometimes you just have to stop and take some screenshots while gaming, because modern games are overwhelmingly beautiful. And when you get the perfect shot, you want to show people. Or maybe those people are in it! Here’s how to tag people in screenshots when you share them directly from your PlayStation 4.

How to Share Your Location With Your Friends in WhatsApp

Meeting up with your friends in an unfamiliar spot is a pain. Once you get away from rigid grids, finding a location becomes a challenge. The best thing to do, rather than sharing an address, is to actually share your exact GPS location. Here’s how to do it with WhatsApp.

Bitcoin Is Not a Currency, It’s an (Unsafe) Investment

If the creators of Bitcoin wanted it to act like a currency, they sure made a lot of weird decisions. Bitcoin doesn’t function well as a currency, for reasons that are inherent to its design. It’s an investment people are speculating on…and even then, it’s more gambling than it is a stable investment.

How to Set Up and Use Apple Pay Cash on Your iPhone

The latest feature to hit iOS is Apple Pay Cash, which gives iPhone users a quick and easy way to send money to one another (as well as a way to spend money at stores without using a credit or debit card). Here’s how to set it up.

How to Reboot Your Eero Routers from Your Phone

Every router needs a reboot occasionally, when it’s acting wonky. If you have an Eero Wi-Fi system, you don’t have to go hunting for the plug—you can reboot your Eero routers from your phone, without even getting up from the couch.

Geek Trivia: The First Canned Dog Food In America Was Created To Dispose Of Excess?

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What Is Bitcoin, and How Does it Work?

Bitcoin. the digital currency, has been all over the news for years. But because it’s entirely digital and doesn’t necessarily correspond to any existing fiat currency, it’s not easy to understand for the newcomer. Let’s break down the basis of exactly what Bitcoin is, how it works, and its possible future in the global economy.

Your Smart Suitcase Just Became a Dumb Purchase

Major airlines are banning “smart luggage”, luggage with built-in power banks, in a move that should surprise absolutely no one.

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How to Run Sudo Commands Using Touch ID on macOS

Typing passwords is for suckers, which is why the best part of the latest MacBook Pro is Touch ID. Skipping the lock screen with a quick tap is easily my favorite feature. But there’s one place that still requires a password: the Terminal, if you want to use sudo.

Change How Long Your iPhone Screen Stays On Before Auto-Locking

By default, when you leave your iPhone or iPad unlocked, it will lock itself and turn off the display after one minute. This is great if you want to save battery life, but really annoying if you’re using it as a cookbook or other reference that you occasionally glance at. The good news is you can change how long it takes before Auto-Lock kicks in on your iPhone or iPad. Here’s how.

Top Photo Card Services for Spreading Holiday Cheer

With the holidays right around the corner, it’s time to either get those Christmas cards out…

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How to Share a Contact Over Text Message on Android

Sharing contact cards is actually the easiest way to handle situations like that—there’s no hassle of looking the number up, trying to remember it while you type it in (or jumping back and forth between apps to get it right), and then sending it. Instead, sending all of Dan’s information with a few taps is the way to go—and that way, your recipient can add them to their contacts instantly.

How to Stop Websites From Asking to Show Notifications

Web browsers now allow websites to show you notifications. On many news and shopping websites, you’ll see a popup telling you the website wants to show notifications on your desktop. You can disable these notification prompts in your web browser if they annoy you.

Smartphone Keyboards Are a Privacy Nightmare

Both Android and the iPhone allow you to replace the standard keyboard with a third-party one. By its very nature, though, a keyboard has full access to everything you type on it—from private messages to passwords and credit card numbers. Some of the keyboard’s data is often sent over the internet, where it could be stolen—or even abused by the keyboard’s developer.

How to Install and Set Up the Nest Secure Security System

Nest originally started with just a smart thermostat, but the company has grown quite a bit over the years. And now, they have their own security system called the Nest Secure. Here’s how to install it and set it up.

Geek Trivia: Which Of These Colors Appears Least Frequently In National Flags Around The World?

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There’s No Great Reason to Buy an Amazon Fire TV Anymore

Amazon has a history of using hardware platforms to make people buy stuff. The Kindle and the Echo are both useful on their own, but Amazon’s long-term plan for both is all about selling things. Amazon’s Fire TV line is no different.

How to Lock Down TeamViewer for More Secure Remote Access

TeamViewer is a great free program, whether you want to access your computer from afar or help out friends and relatives with their computer. But its default settings are remarkably insecure, instead favoring ease of use. Here’s how to lock down TeamViewer so you can make use of its features without opening yourself up to attack.

What Is Microsoft’s TruePlay Anti-Cheat System?

Hey Internet people, did you know that Microsoft makes video games? Okay, you’re probably aware of the various incarnations of the Xbox, yes. But long before the Xbox, Microsoft was a video game publisher for the PC…and still is! It even has its own distribution platform, which is the rather terrible Windows Store.

How to Charge Your iPhone or iPad Faster

If you’re using the charger that came with your iPhone or iPad, you’re getting “slow” charging speeds. You can buy a much faster charger. And, with iOS 11.2, there are now even several different speeds of wireless charging as well.

Protect Your Kids (and Your Beautiful New TV) with Inexpensive Safety Straps

Televisions are thinner than ever before and it’s incredibly easy to tip them over compared to their massive glass-tube forebearers.

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How to Make Your iPhone More Secure When Locked

Locking your iPhone does a pretty good job at keeping people away from your personal information, but there are still some things someone unscrupulous can do without typing in your passcode.

The Best “Lite” Versions of Your Favorite Android Apps

If you’re looking for a good way to speed up your phone or cut down on your data usage, there are a lot of official “lite” versions of popular apps like Facebook or YouTube. These are generally less feature-rich than their full-powered counterparts, but they’re often a great middle ground between features and function.

How-To Geek is Looking for a Freelance Product Review Writer (for Review Geek)

Think you have the perfect combination of product knowledge and writing skills? We’re looking for a few experienced freelance writers to join the team at Review Geek.

What Is Windows 10 on ARM, and How Is It Different?

Microsoft just launched a version of Windows 10 that will run on low-powered ARM hardware. Unlike Windows RT, the version of Windows 8 that powered the original Surface and Surface 2, this is a full version of Windows 10 with an emulation layer that allows it to run traditional desktop apps from outside the Windows Store.

How to Create a Game Event on the PlayStation 4 or Pro

If you like spending time gaming with others online, creating an event on the PlayStation 4 or Pro is an easy way to get everyone together at the same time, in the same game. Here’s how to set one up.

How to Automate All Your Christmas Lights

It’s that time of year when the fall directions come down and the festive Christmas decorations go up. If you’ll be hanging a bunch of Christmas lights around your house, here are several different methods for automating them, so that you never have to worry about turning them on and off manually.

Connect Your Wii to Your 4K TV with This Handy Adapter

Many newer 4K TVs have completely ditched older composite and component inputs in favor of only HDMI—which the now long-in-the-tooth Wii d…

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Geek Trivia: The Deadliest Wildfire In Recorded History Occurred In Which U.S. State?

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How to Migrate a Time Machine Backup to Another Drive

Maybe your Time Machine drive is full. Maybe you’re worried about an older hard drive dying on you, taking your backups with it. Whatever the reason, you want to migrate your Time Machine files from one hard drive to the other.

How To Check Out Library Books on Your Kindle for Free

Most libraries these days let you check out eBooks. Checking out eBooks works much like checking out regular books. Libraries have a certain number of copies to lend. If all copies of the book you want are already checked out, you have to wait for someone to check it in. Unlike regular books though, you can often schedule an automatic checkout when a copy is available, and you don’t have to worry about dropping by the library for returns.

Charge Your Android Phone Quicker with a Fast Charger

Fast charging is a relatively new feature that you might not realize your phone has.

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How to Quickly Share Your Location in a Text Message on Android

Let’s say your car breaks down and you have no idea where you are. You could call someone and tell them how to get to you…or you could just shoot them a quick text with your exact location from Google Maps.

How to Hide Specific Ads on Facebook

For a while, Facebook thought I was into basketball. Almost every ad was for something to do with basketball. The thing is, I’m not sure Ireland even has a basketball team. We certainly don’t have a professional one and I’ve never watched a game in my life. It was a confusing phase of my digital life and it took a few months before I started seeing relevant ads again.

What Is an SSID, or Service Set Identifier?

You’ll often see the acronym “SSID” when Wi-Fi networks are involved. A Wi-Fi network’s SSID is the technical term for its network name. For example, if you see a sign telling you to join a network with an SSID of “Airport WiFi”, you just need to pull up the list of wireless networks nearby and join the “Airport WiFi” network.

Is Facebook’s New “Messenger Kids” App Safe for My Kids?

Look, kids are undoubtedly drawn to technology—they’re essentially being raised on the stuff at this point. As parents, it’s our job to keep them safe online; to teach them to make good choices. But to do that, we have to have a little control over what they’re doing and who they’re talking to.

How to Enable the Alarm on the Schlage Connect Smart Lock

The Schlage Connect smart lock includes a built-in alarm system that can deter any potential thieves from breaking into your house through the front door. Here’s how to enable it.

Geek Trivia: Which Of These U.S. States’ Official Mammal Is Extinct?

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Byte Size Tips: How to Bring Libraries Back on Windows 8.1 and 10’s File Explorer

Microsoft began hiding libraries from the File Explorer’s navigation pane on Windows 8.1, and they’re still hidden by default on Windows 10. This is weird, because libraries are still used by Windows. The Photos app uses your Pictures library, the Groove Music app uses your Music library, and the media sharing server shares the contents of your media libraries, for example.

How to Stop Your Mac From Automatically Connecting to a Wi-Fi Network

Your Mac automatically reconnects to Wi-Fi networks you’ve previously connected to. Starting with macOS High Sierra, you can now tell your Mac not to automatically connect to certain Wi-FI networks. Your Mac will remember the Wi-Fi network’s passphrase and other connection details, but won’t connect unless you tell it to.

Is Wireless Charging Slower Than Wired Charging?

Look, Apple is making wireless charging cool again with the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X. I’m glad! But there are things you should know about this technology—like how fast it’s going to charge your phone. You know, practical stuff.

Best Photo Calendar Services

There are so many photo services that create personalized calendars for you, but how do you choose the right one?…

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What Is DirecTV Now, and Can It Replace Your Cable Subscription?

Streaming television is getting more and more popular, allowing users to get away from standard cable packages and into something that fits their lifestyle. DirecTV is one of the first traditional “cable” companies to get in on the action with DirecTV Now.

How to Stop Incoming Phone Calls from Ringing On Your Mac and iPad

When someone calls my iPhone, it rings, as you’d expect. But so do my Mac and my iPad. It sounds like a teenage band at their first rehearsal: everyone’s trying to play the same tune, but they’re not doing it at the same time.

Why Rebooting Your Router Fixes So Many Problems (and Why You Have to Wait 10 Seconds)

The internet is down, but you know what to do: unplug your router or modem, wait ten seconds, then plug it back in. It’s second nature at this point, but why does it actually work? And is there some magic to the ten second number?

Geek Trivia: The Black And White Gangster Film Kevin Watches in ‘Home Alone’ Is Called?

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Why You (Probably) Don’t Need a Crazy-Powerful GPU Like the GTX 1080 Ti

For us PC gamers, there’s a desire for the latest and greatest hardware, and there’s a definite cachet to having the coolest, fastest rig on the block. But in today’s PC gaming market, there’s really no reason to shell out for the most screamingly fast (and expensive) graphics card you can fit into your case.

Geek Trivia: In Japanese Animation, Sleep Is Frequently Indicated Not With “Zzzz”s But?

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What’s the Difference Between Microsoft Office’s Desktop, Web, and Mobile Apps?

Microsoft offers several different ways to run the various Office programs—as desktop apps, as mobile apps for Android or iPhone/iPad, and online in a web browser. As you might imagine, the online and mobile app versions aren’t as robust as the desktop version, but you might still find them useful. And for some of you, they might be all you need. Here’s the breakdown.

Geek Trivia: Which Country Is Second Only To The United States In Value Of Exported Foods?

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How to Customize Firefox’s User Interface With userChrome.css

Firefox Quantum‘s interface is still extremely customizable thanks to its userChrome.css file. You can edit this file to hide unwanted menu items, move the tab bar below the navigation toolbar, view multiple rows on your bookmarks toolbar, and do other things that normally wouldn’t be possible.

How to Use a Custom Background in Gmail

If you spend as much time with a Gmail window open as I do (thanks, Multiple Inbox feature!), you’re probably over the rather dull default theme. And even if you’re using one of the many custom themes available, maybe you’d prefer something else. Good news, everyone! You can use a photo from the web or your own computer as the background image, just like on your computer desktop.

Facebook Isn’t Spying On Everything You Say

There’s a persistent rumor that Facebook, using the app on your phone, is covertly listening to everything you say and using the things…

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How to Pin WhatsApp Conversations to the Top of the Chat List

WhatsApp has a neat feature where you can pin certain people to the top of the app. This means you can keep the important people in your life in the same place, above the rest of your chats. Here’s how to do it.

Stop Complaining That Your Browser Uses Lots of RAM: It’s a Good Thing

It’s been a complaint about Chrome for years: “it hogs so much RAM!” And now that Firefox Quantum is here, the fire rages on—some users see less RAM usage than Chrome, while others see similar amounts. And it seems to have a big hand in what browser people are using.

How to Change Your Snapchat Password

Snapchat has come along way from its slightly seedy, vanishing photo roots. Now you can actually save images to Snapchat’s servers indefinitely. With more potential personal information at stake, though, you’ve got to start taking your password security more seriously. If you used a really weak password when you first signed up, it’s time to change it. Here’s how.

Four Alternatives to YouTube Kids (That Aren’t Full of Creepy Fake Videos)

So you don’t want your kids on YouTube. That makes sense. There’s a lot of garbage on that site, and that’s before you even get to the comments.

Geek Trivia: Which Of These Performers Promoted An Album Release With Giant Statues Of Themself?

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How to Monitor (and Reduce) Your Data Usage on Android

Increasingly sophisticated phones and data-hungry applications make it easier than ever to blow through your cellphone plan’s data cap…and incur nasty overage charges. Read on as we show you how to manage your data use.

How to Make Your Windows PC Use “Mono” Audio (So You Can Wear One Earbud)

Most audio you listen to is in “stereo”, which means that different things are played in through both the left and right speakers. However, you can have your PC mix the sound to mono, playing everything combined through both speakers.

How to Turn Your PayPal Balance Into a Debit Card You Can Spend Anywhere

PayPal is a useful service for sending and receiving money, and it’s just about everywhere…at least, on the internet. But what if you have a bunch of money in your PayPal account and want to use it somewhere PayPal isn’t offered…like an actual brick and mortar store?

You Can Charge Your iPhone in Half the Time with a Fast Charger

Apple’s new phones support fast charging but it’s a (super awesome) feature hardly anyone has paid attention to.

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How to Stop Your iPhone From Showing Your Number on Other People’s Caller ID

There are plenty of reasons to not want your phone number showing up when you call someone else. Maybe you just don’t like giving it out to strangers, or perhaps you don’t want the person you’re calling realizing you’re ringing from a foreign number.

How to Increase Your Windows Laptop’s Battery Life

We often fixate on smartphone battery life, but most laptops still don’t have all-day battery life. Rather than tethering your laptop to an outlet, here are some ways to squeeze more life from your laptop’s battery.

What Is Bitcoin, and How Does it Work?

Bitcoin. the digital currency, has been all over the news for years. But because it’s entirely digital and doesn’t necessarily correspond to any existing fiat currency, it’s not easy to understand for the newcomer. Let’s break down the basis of exactly what Bitcoin is, how it works, and its possible future in the global economy.

How Three-Way Light Switches Work

If there are lights in your house that can be controlled from two different light switches (as opposed to just one), then the light is commonly referred to as a three-way light, and the switches are referred to as three-way light switches. Here’s how they work.

Geek Trivia: As A Marketing Stunt, Sony Once Sold Walkmans Encased In A?

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How to Get the Simple, Lightweight YouTube Go App in Any Country

YouTube is great, but only if you have a consistent data connection and unlimited bandwidth. That’s the norm for city dwellers in rich countries, but not for most people on planet earth.

How to Stop Certain Apps From Showing Content in Spotlight Search on Your iPhone

As iPhones have become more powerful, Spotlight search has gotten a lot more useful. Now when you search for something, Spotlight also searches the contents of your apps (if the developer has the feature enabled).

How to Run Any Command Prompt Command with Cortana

Cortana may not be as popular as Microsoft was hoping for, but it can be useful. No longer do you need to be next to your computer to perform a task; you can shout it from the other side of the room. However, there are some things Cortana can’t do out of the box.

The Headphone Jack Is Dead… and I’m Delighted

The iPhone 7, 8 and X don’t have a headphone jack. Google’s a year late to the game, but they’ve cut it from the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

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How to Add Falling Snow to Your Photos With Photoshop

Taking photos in the falling snow is hard. It’s cold, your gear gets wet, and everyone ends up grumpy. Why bother going outside at all when you can fake it in Photoshop? Here’s how.

Chromebooks Are More than “Just a Browser”

Chromebooks have come a long way since their humble introduction with the CR-48 back in December of 2010, but people still think of them as “just a browser”. The thing is, this platform has grown significantly since then, and that mindset is just outdated.

Huge macOS Bug Allows Root Login Without a Password. Here’s the Fix

A newly-discovered vulnerability in macOS High Sierra allows anyone with access to your laptop to quickly create a root account without entering a password, bypassing any security protocols you have set up.

How to Stop Your iPhone or iPad From Automatically Connecting to a Wi-Fi Network

Your iPhone or iPad automatically joins Wi-Fi networks you’ve previously connected to. You can now override this behavior, telling your device not to automatically connect to a specific Wi-Fi network. Your iPhone or iPad will remember its passphrase and other details, but will only connect when you choose to do so.

Do iMessage’s “Typing” Bubbles Only Appear When I’m Actively Typing?

If you have an iPhone and you send a text message to someone who also has an iPhone (or other Apple device), you’ll see a small bubble appear when the other person is typing out a message.

HP Just Installed a Bloated Telemetry Service on Your PC. Here’s How to Remove It

Not to be outdone by other terrible PC manufacturers, HP has been quietly, remotely installing a telemetry service known as “HP Touchpoint Manager” on its PCs since at least November 15, 2017. It’s sending data back to HP, introducing security holes, and generally bogging PCs down.

Geek Trivia: In The 1930s, It Was A Fad Among College Students to Swallow?

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How to Manage Your Child’s Android Phone with Google Family Link

If you’re the parent of young child and would like a way to keep them safe when they use their phone, Google Family Link may be the option you’ve been looking for. It’s a way to provide a child with a fully capable smartphone that you can control.

Best Travel Surge Protectors for Gadgets Big and Small

When you’re on the go, whether it’s a family vacation or a business trip, the last thing you need is for one of your devices to stop working from a po…

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How to Stream Higher Quality Music on Spotify

With Spotify Premium, you get access to higher quality music streaming. By default (and if you’re on the free plan), Spotify streams at 96kbps on mobile and 160kbps on your computer. At these sort of bitrates, you’ll hear a small but noticeable drop in quality compared to a CD.

How to Block Cryptocurrency Miners in Your Web Browser

Cryptocurrency miners are a new scourge on the web. Web pages can now embed JavaScript code that runs in your web browser to mine themselves Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies using your computer. The website keeps the cryptocurrency, and you get higher electric bills, 100% CPU usage that drags down your computer, and reduced battery life.

How to Set Up Multiple User Profiles on Android

If you share an Android device with other people, it can be rough to keep your account separate from theirs. Fortunately, Android supports multiple user profiles, allowing users to share devices without fear of encroaching on each other.

Geek Trivia: The Space Shuttle Enterprise Was Originally Named?

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What Is the WMI Provider Host (WmiPrvSE.exe), and Why Is It Using So Much CPU?

The WMI Provider Host process is an important part of Windows, and often runs in the background. It allows other applications on your computer to request information about your system. This process shouldn’t normally use many system resources, but it may use a lot of CPU if another process on your system is behaving badly.

What Is UEFI, and How Is It Different from BIOS?

The BIOS will soon be dead: Intel has announced plans to completely replace it with UEFI on all their chipsets by 2020. But what is UEFI, and how is it different from the BIOS we’re all familiar with?

Why Did My Chrome Home Page Change?

The idea of a home page has kind of fallen by the wayside with modern browsers, what with their auto-recall tabs and syncing across devices. But it doesn’t help that Chrome, arguably the most popular browser on full desktop operating systems, isn’t entirely clear on exactly what your home page is. This can be especially frustrating if your home page changes without your knowledge.

The Game Console Shopping Guide For Parents

Alright, parents. Your kid wants a new gaming console, but you’ve got some questions. Don’t panic just yet.

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How to Find a List of Every App You’ve Installed from Google Play

If you’ve had a smartphone for any reasonable amount of time, you’ve probably installed and uninstalled more apps than you care to remember. Here’s how to access a list of all the apps you’ve installed on your Android phone(s) over time.

How to Stop Instagram from Sending You Constant Notifications

Instagram is by far my favorite social network. It’s a lovely place where people share all the good stuff that’s going on in their lives…and memes. Epic memes. That, however, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a few annoyances.

A Short History of the Blue Screen of Death

It’s iconic, but Microsoft wishes it wasn’t. In the 90s it was as core to the Windows experience as Paint and Solitaire, but these days it’s not seen very often.

HomeKit Isn’t Worth the Trouble: Use a Smarthome Hub Instead

Apple has had a few duds over the years, but HomeKit is particularly frustrating: After a few years, it’s still a mess disguised as an intuitive smarthome platform.

Geek Trivia: Work On Which Of These Sci-Fi Movies Actually Led To Real World Scientific Papers?

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The Best Ways to Video Chat from Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android

If you live far away from the people you care about, video chatting is the best way to feel more like you’re there with them in person. But there are so many video chat apps out there, many of which only work on certain platforms. How do you know which one to use?

Geek Trivia: Which Of These Performers Has An Album Cover Created With A Game Boy?

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Firefox Quantum Isn’t Just “Copying” Chrome: It’s Much More Powerful

Sure, Firefox has become more like Chrome in a few ways, but it’s still more powerful and customizable than Chrome is—which are integral to Firefox’s DNA.

How to Make the $50 Amazon Fire Tablet More Like Stock Android (Without Rooting)

Amazon’s $50 Fire Tablet may be one of the best deals in tech—especially when it occasionally goes on sale for $35. It may feel limited, but with a few tweaks—no rooting necessary—you can turn it (and its larger, slightly more expensive brethren) into an almost-stock Android tablet perfect for reading, watching, and even light gaming.

Are Cheap Android Phones Worth It?

Cheap Android phones are quickly becoming commonplace—for as low as $99, you can get a reliable, initially-impressive handset that you’re free to take to a bunch of different carriers. While these bargain-bin devices are definitely appealing, you have to ask yourself: is it really worth it?

Geek Trivia: Which Of The Beatles’ Songs Was Written Just To Confuse Fans?

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9 Ways to Give Your Old Scratched DVDs a Second Chance to Live [Sponsored Giveaway]

Old DVDs still mean a lot to some people. To keep DVD content/data stay safe and sound permanently, DVD owners are seeking for a way to copy old DVD to a new one or create a digital copy of it. Well, look no further, WinX DVD Copy Pro is your preferred program for Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7 and lower to backup old and even scratched DVDs swiftly and losslessly, be they are home-made or commercially copy-protected. See how it renews your old DVDs.

The Best Chromebooks You Can Buy, 2017 Edition

While once considered a novelty item by many tech enthusiasts, Chromebooks have broken out of the “just a browser” mold and become legitimate laptops. They’re full-featured, lightweight machines that can do everything most users need them to do. Best of all, they’re more secure and often more affordable than the competition.

Oculus Rift vs. HTC Vive: Which VR Headset Is Right for You?

The home virtual reality market might be a long way from mature, but the two main players on the PC side are firmly established: Facebook-owned Oculus and its Rift headset, and HTC’s Vive platform partnered with Valve.

The Best Blu-Rays to Show Off What Your 4K HDR TV Can Do

4K TVs are finally cheap enough for everyone, but th…

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Which Amazon Echo Should I Buy? Echo vs. Dot vs. Show vs. Plus and More

The Amazon Echo started off as a simple device, but now there are more than nine different Echo products out in the wild and on Amazon’s virtual shelves. So what’s the difference between them all, and which one should you buy?

Which Roku Should I Buy? Express vs. Stick vs. Stick+ vs. Ultra

So you’ve decided you want a Roku, but there are so many choices. There are currently five different models (not including full TVs with Roku built-in), and it’s not at all clear what the difference between them is. Which one do you want?

How to Make the Most of Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales

It’s that shop-til-you-drop time of year again, and retailers have already spent most of November with teaser sales and ads for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Here’s how to score the best deals and avoid getting ripped off.

How to Install the Google Play Store on the Amazon Fire Tablet or Fire HD 8

Amazon’s Fire Tablet normally restricts you to the Amazon Appstore. But the Fire Tablet runs Fire OS, which is based on Android. You can install Google’s Play Store and gain access to every Android app, including Gmail, Chrome, Google Maps, Hangouts, and the over one million apps in Google Play.

What’s the Difference Between the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Slim, and PlayStation 4 Pro?

Sony’s PlayStation 4 has been out since 2013, but there’s a pair of new, updated players on the stage: The PlayStation 4 Slim and PlayStation 4 Pro. But what’s the difference, and which one should you buy?

What’s the Difference Between the Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X?

There’s more than one Xbox One. Microsoft has already released the Xbox One S, a redesigned Xbox One with a few upgrades. Microsoft also released a major upgrade named the Xbox One X, which was released on November 7, 2017 and was codenamed “Project Scorpio”.

Geek Trivia: Churchill, Canada Has A Specialty “Jail” Just For?

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Should You Get an “Ultra HD” 4K TV?

Walk through any electronics showroom and most TVs you see will be some form of “Ultra HD” 4K. There are plenty of models available, and they’re cheaper than ever. But should you buy one?

The Complete Guide to Giving Better Family Tech Support

It’s that holiday time of year again, and that means it’s over the river and through the woods to…well, fix your family’s Wi-Fi and other tech problems.

How to Forward Ports on Your Eero Wi-Fi System

Pretty much every router on the market comes with the ability to forward ports, and the Eero Wi-Fi system is no exception, despite its easy-to-use interface.

Geek Trivia: The Largest City In The World That Is Inaccessible By Road Is Located In?

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How to Change or Customize Firefox’s New Tab Page

Firefox Quantum‘s new tab page has a lot of stuff on it, from recommended articles to highlights from your history. But if you don’t like that design, you aren’t stuck with it. You can restore Firefox’s old new tab page, or set any address you like as your new tab.

How to Watch Local Video Files on Your Roku

The Roku is a streaming box…and not much else. There’s no hard drive space onboard for your personal videos, and most models don’t even have a USB port for external drives. But that doesn’t mean you can’t play your own videos, listen to your own music, or browse your photo collection.

The Best Affordable Automatic Watches

If you just need to know the correct time, look at your phone or get a cheap d…

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Amazon Fire Tablet vs. Fire Tablet Kids: What’s the Difference?

Amazon’s Fire Tablets offer arguably some of the best value in tablets today. The company also offers various sizes and builds of these tablets—including “Kids Edition” tablets designed for, well, kids. But what makes these different than the standard edition tablets?

How to Save Money on Apple Products (Like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac)

Apple’s computers and phones have a reputation for being expensive. While it’s true that their products are all high end (and priced accordingly), they’re rarely objectively overpriced (dongles and other accessories aside). But if you want to pinch a few pennies, there are still ways to save money on Apple products.

Intel Management Engine, Explained: The Tiny Computer Inside Your CPU

The Intel Management Engine has been included on Intel chipsets since 2008. It’s basically a tiny computer-within-a-computer, with full access to your PC’s memory, display, network, and input devices. It runs code written by Intel, and Intel hasn’t shared a lot of information about its inner workings.

How to Join a Beta and Download Early Versions of Android Apps

Back in the earlier days of Android, if you wanted to beta test an application, you generally had to sideload it alongside the current stable version of the app. But now, Google has “beta channels” in the Play Store, making it a lot easier to give beta apps a shot.

How to Turn Your iPhone or iPad Into a Shortcut Remote for Your Mac with Alfred

Alfred is a fantastic Spotlight Search replacement for macOS, but it also comes with a secondary feature that can turn your iPhone or iPad into a shortcut keyboard of sorts. That feature is named Alfred Remote.

Geek Trivia: In The Late 19th Century, There Was A Global Panic Over Increasing Amounts Of?

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How to Test Your Roku’s Internet Connection

You’ve got big plans for tonight, and they all revolve around Netflix. You fire up your Roku and…it’s not working. Is your Internet down, or is Netflix?

What Is Net Neutrality, and What Will Happen If It Gets Repealed?

Net neutrality is one of the biggest policy debates around the internet, and the government is getting ready to vote on it once again. Here’s what net neutrality is, and how it affects you.

How to Disable the Beeper on the Schlage Connect Smart Lock

The Schlage Connect is a great smart lock, but it makes a pretty annoying beeping noise whenever you press a button and lock or unlock it. Here’s how to disable it for good, either on the lock itself or from your phone.

How to Disable the Window Minimize and Maximize Animations on Windows

Windows normally animates windows whenever you minimize or maximize them. These animations can be disabled, if you like, making windows hide or appear immediately. This option is available on all modern versions of Windows, including Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Whatever TV You Buy Next, Make It a 4K One

It took a little while to gain steam, but the age of affordable 4K is finally upon us.

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How to Change Your Twitter Password

You should use a strong password for every important web service you have. While Twitter may not be up there with Facebook in terms of the personal data connected to your account, you may still use Twitter for important stuff, or have it connected to other accounts.

Streaming Box Showdown: Apple TV vs. Roku vs. Amazon Fire TV vs. Chromecast vs. Android TV

It’s no secret that “smart” TVs aren’t really that smart. Generally, and a dedicated streaming box or stick is the way to go. There are quite a few to choose from, though, so how do you decide which is the best for your movie-viewing needs?

How to Turn Your Wink Smarthome Into a Security System with Wink Lookout

Wink’s user interface doesn’t really focus a lot on security like other smarthome platforms do, but that has changed with a new feature added to the Wink app called Lookout. Here’s how to set it up.

Geek Trivia: The Large Protrusion That Hangs Off A Turkey’s Forehead Is Called A?

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How to Remove the Pocket Button from Firefox Quantum

Firefox Quantum has deep integration with the Pocket read-it-later service, which is now owned by Mozilla. You’ll see a Pocket page action in the address bar, a “View Pocket List” feature in the Library, and recommended articles from Pocket on the new tab page. Firefox offers a way to disable this Pocket integration, but it’s hidden.

The PlayStation 4 Accessories You’ll Actually Need

The PlayStation 4 Slim and Pro are now a year…

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Why I Switched From Chrome to Firefox Quantum

I’ve been using Firefox Quantum non-stop for more than a week now, starting from before its official release. For years, every Firefox release has felt slower than Chrome to me. But Firefox is now a real, speedy, modern option again. Enough so that I’m switching from Chrome back to Firefox.

How to Share Your Spotify Playlists with Friends (or the World)

Spotify and other streaming services have changed how people listen to music. While playlists were once the preserve of the radio DJ, annual compilation albums like Now That’s What I Call Music, or painstakingly put together mixtapes for a crush, now anyone can make one in a few minutes.

How to Make Calls and Texts From Your Smartphone Without Cell Service

Smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, and carriers know it—so they charge a lot of money for something they know you’re going to pay. But what if I told you that you could use your phone, including calls and texts, with nothing but Wi-Fi?

Geek Trivia: Star Wars’ Iconic “Opening Crawl” Text Was Inspired By?

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How to Add Custom Ringtones to Your iPhone

The iPhone has been around for a long time, and yet there’s still no easy way to add your own custom ringtones—but it is possible. If you don’t want to buy ringtones or use the ones that came with your iPhone, you can create your own with iTunes.

Geek Trivia: The Best Selling Movie Soundtrack Of All Time Was For The Movie?

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Why Firefox Had to Kill Your Favorite Extension

Firefox 57, or Quantum, is here, and it’s a huge improvement. Firefox has finally caught up with Chrome in terms of speed, the interface is a lot cleaner, and there are some great new features to boot. There’s not a lot to complain about here.

Don’t Buy Internet-Connected “Smart Toys” for Your Kids

Just when you thought talking toys couldn’t get more annoying, new internet-connected toys like the Furby Connect and i-Que Intelligent Robot are smarter than their predecessors, allowing your child to ask questions, get answers, send audio messages, and more. And thanks to unpatched security holes, they’re more dangerous, too.

Why You Still Shouldn’t Buy Star Wars: Battlefront II

If you’ve been following video game news at all for the last couple of weeks, you’ve probably heard that EA’s Star Wars: Battlefront II is having some teething troubles. EA has backpedaled to avoid more controversy, but we’re here to say: don’t fall for it.

Geek Trivia: Boba Fett Made His First Appearance In Which Of These Star Wars Properties?

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How to Set Up and Use Multiple Profiles (User Accounts) in Firefox

Firefox has its own profiles system that works like Chrome’s user account switcher. Each profile has its own bookmarks, settings, add-ons, browser history, cookies, and other data. For example, you might want to create a profile for work and a separate profile for personal use, keeping them separate.

How to Stop Samsung’s App Permission Monitor From Displaying Notifications

If you have an Android phone, you should be aware of the permissions your apps have been granted. For instance, there’s no reason for a calculator app to connect to the web. On the Galaxy Note 8 (and probably any phones coming after), Samsung has automated this process with a tool called the App Permission Monitor, which notifies you if any apps use a permission that’s especially important or outside their normal operating range.

Five Tips For Your TV Holiday Shopping Spree

Black Friday is coming up, but you don’t have to slay the retail dragon to score a deal on a new TV.

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How to Set Up a VPN on Android TV

There are several reasons you may want to use a VPN on your Android TV box, but it’s not available as a stock option like it is in Android phones or tablets. Fortunately, there are a few ways around this.

How to Change Your Instagram Password

Instagram accounts are a popular target for hackers. I know firsthand, because someone pretended to be me to try and steal some accounts. Fortunately they didn’t succeed, but if you have a weak password, you might not be so lucky. Let’s look at how to change your Instagram password to something a little more secure.

Lots of Android Apps Will Lose Features or Disappear from the Play Store Soon

Android, as an operating system, is great for power users—apps have the ability to do all kinds of stuff that other, more locked-down phones can’t do. Unfortunately, one of those abilities is disappearing soon, and many power user apps could lose features or disappear from the Play Store as a result.

How to Delete a Saved Wi-Fi Network on Windows 10

Windows 10 saves a list of Wi-Fi networks you connect to along with their passphrases and other settings. If you want to stop your PC from connecting to a network automatically, you’ll need to make Windows “forget” the Wi-Fi network.

Geek Trivia: The Advent Of Smartphones Put A Dent Into The Sales Of?

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How to Build Your Own VPN with the $20 macOS Server

VPNs can be useful tools for keeping you secure online. A VPN encrypts your traffic, useful when you’re using a public Wi-Fi hotspot or any network you don’t trust. There are many different third party VPN services to choose from, but ultimately using a VPN means trusting the service will keep your browsing data private.

How to Redeem and Play Digital UltraViolet Movies

Physical media is having a rough time of it in the digital age. While Blu-rays are still a perfectly legitimate means of getting HD video, and ideal if you don’t have a high quality Internet connection, the convenience of web-based services like iTunes, the Google Play Store, and Amazon Instant Video is beginning to supersede them.

How to Customize Firefox Quantum’s New Interface

Firefox Quantum is here, and it’s chock full of improvements, including the new Photon UI. Photon replaces the “Australis” interface that’s been used since 2014, and features a ton of customization options. Which is good, because there are a few annoyances—like all that empty space on either side of the URL bar.

Eight Advent Calendars for Every Taste

Advent calendars have come a long way since the little milk chocolate filled ones you may have gotten from doting grandmothers in your youth.

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How to Switch Your Android Phone to “Mono” (So You Can Wear One Earbud)

When you listen to music as it’s intended, you generally hear two different things from each speaker—this is called “stereo” sound. However, there are legitimate reasons to want to hear everything combined in both speakers, which is called “mono.” On Android, this is easy.

How to Take Screenshots and Videos on Your Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch has a dedicated button to take screenshots. It can now even record videos in some games, too. These screenshots and videos are saved to your Switch’s internal storage or a microSD card, and you can view them, move them around, and post them to Facebook or Twitter right from your Switch.

Should I Leave My Laptop Plugged In All The Time?

Should you leave your laptop plugged in and charging when you’re not on-the-go? What’s best for the battery? It’s a tough question, and there are quite a few contradictory recommendations out there.

How to Automatically Turn On Your TV with the PlayStation 4 or Pro Using HDMI-CEC

Call it petty, but there’s just something about eliminating the “turn on the TV” portion of firing up your PlayStation 4 that makes the whole process seem faster. And the good news is that getting this action on your setup is as easy and ticking a box.

How to Create and Manage User Codes for the Schlage Connect Smart Lock

The great thing about having a keypad lock like the Schlage Connect is that you don’t need physical keys at all. Instead, you just enter in a key code (aka user codes) and you’re off to the races. Here’s how to create and manage key codes for the Schlage Connect smart lock, both on the lock itself and on your phone.

Geek Trivia: The Practice Of Denoting A Corrected Word With An Asterisk Comes From?

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How to Disable Custom Ads and Tracking on Your Roku

In 2017, TV watches you. At least, it does if you’re using a Roku device: that platform monitors everything you do on their devices. Data is shared with Neilson to supplement ratings, mostly it’s used for advertising purposes.

How to Check Your BIOS Version and Update it

You probably shouldn’t update your BIOS, but sometimes you need to. Here’s how to check what BIOS version your computer is using and flash that new BIOS version onto your motherboard as quickly and safely as possible.

Which Amazon Echo Should I Buy?

Amazon has grown its family of Echo products from a single smart speaker to a wide array of Alexa-enabled devices for every room in your home.

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How to Make the Most of The Pixel 2’s Awesome Ambient Display

Android phones with Ambient Display are nothing new, but it’s taken a really long time to perfect them. Google finally did that with the Pixel 2, provided you’re willing to make a few tweaks. Here’s how to make it work for you.

How to See All the Apps You’ve Ever Downloaded on Your iPhone or iPad

In the seven years I’ve been using an iPhone, I’ve downloaded hundreds of apps. I’ve deleted the vast majority of them off my iPhone, but iOS has kept a record. There’s a way to see every app you’ve ever downloaded and re-download them. Here’s how.

How to Migrate All Your Data From Chrome to Firefox

If you’re thinking about switching to Firefox Quantum—or at least trying to switch—Firefox makes it pretty easy. Firefox can import your bookmarks, saved passwords, browser history, and cookies directly from Google Chrome.

How to Restore Firefox to Its Default Settings and Start Fresh

Any browser can slow down and become cluttered over time as you install add-ons, build up history, and change settings. Firefox can “Refresh” your profile to quickly give you a clean slate while keeping your most important data. This would let you try the overhauled Firefox Quantum with a fresh profile, speed Firefox up if it’s become slow, or fix other browser problems.

How to Send Audio Recordings Over MMS on Android

Text messaging is great and all, but it’s not always the most efficient way to communicate with another person. In fact, some would argue that voice messaging is the best chat feature you’ve never used. I won’t argue that, but if you’re interested in trying it out for yourself, here’s the best way to do it on your Android phone.

How to Install and Set Up the Schlage Connect Smart Lock

The Kwikset Kevo is one of the most popular smart locks on the market, but if you’re a stickler for keypads, the Schlage Connect is an option to consider. Here’s how to install and set up the Schlage Connect smart lock.

Geek Trivia: The Film Back To The Future Is Banned In China Because It Features?

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How to Search Every Streaming Site at Once With Roku Search

It’s one of the great annoyances of the streaming media age: figuring out which shows and movies are on which services. Searching Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and other sites individually takes up way too much time, especially when you just want to relax and watch something.

How to Remove Malware and Adware From Your Mac

Yes, Macs can get malware. Beyond traditional viruses, worms, and Trojans, there’s now a thriving ecosystem of adware and spyware programs that bombard you with ads and spy on your web browsing, just like on Windows.

How to Enable Parental Controls on Your PlayStation 4

Your PlayStation 4 offers parental controls that can limit access to games, Blu-ray movies, DVDs, and web browsing. Restrictions you set are protected with a four-digit numerical PIN so they can’t be easily bypassed.

Two Smartphones: The Solution to Your Battery Problems

No smartphone battery lasts 24 hours of actual use.

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How to Customize the Google Feed (and Make It Actually Useful)

When Google first released Google Now, it was celebrated by Android users across the board. When Now evolved into the Google Feed, however, this change was much less accepted. But the Feed is great if you just take the time to customize it.

How to Change Your Facebook Password

Most people use terrible passwords. If you’re one of them, you should change all your important passwords to something a lot more secure—and believe it or not, that incldues Facebook.

What’s New in Firefox Quantum, the Firefox You’ve Been Waiting For

Firefox transforms today. It’s now a multi-process browser with a new design, gaining speed but leaving traditional Firefox extensions behind.  If you’ve switched to Google Chrome, you might want to give Firefox another chance. But, if you’re already using Firefox, you’re in for some big changes.

How to Switch Between Farenheit and Celsius on Your iPhone

There are two units of temperature that are commonly used around the world: degrees Celsius (ºC) and degrees Kelvin (ºK). For some strange reason, Americans also use degrees Fahrenheit (ºF).

Geek Trivia: The First Photograph Depicting Someone Flashing The “Middle Finger” Is A Photo Of A?

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How to Make Your Computer Read Documents to You

Since the beginning of the computer age, people have always enjoyed making computers talk to them. These days, that functionality is built right into Windows and you can easily use it to have your PC read documents to you.

How to Back Up Messages From Windows 10’s Mail App

These days, it’s rare to see Microsoft’s Outlook email client on anything except a dedicated office machine. Who needs an expensive application when web email is all the rage? But if you’d still prefer to have a local program managing your mail, Microsoft includes a free one with every copy of Windows 10. It’s called…Mail.

The Xbox One Accessories You’ll Actually Need

The Xbox One X is finally out and there will be deals galore this holiday season.

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How to Mute Conversations in Gmail (and Why You Might Want to)

We’ve all been a part of an email chain that just won’t quit, and on a long enough timeline it really starts to get annoying. Even if you delete it, boom—it returns again with another reply. Fortunately, you can use the Mute feature in Gmail to permanently silence the chatter.

How to Delete WhatsApp Messages

Sometimes you just want to delete a message from WhatsApp. Maybe you’ve sent a message meant for your partner to your mother, or perhaps you just want to hide personal details like a password you’ve shared. Whatever the reason, let’s look at how to do it.

Why Some Games Suck After Being Ported From Console to PC

If you’re a PC gamer, you’ve probably experienced this situation before: you wait months or years for an exciting new game to jump from major consoles to the PC, only to find out that the ported game is a buggy, broken mess.

Geek Trivia: Children’s Author Beatrix Potter Was Also An Accomplished?

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The Amazon Echo Plus Is a Horrible Smarthome Hub

Amazon’s new Echo ($100) is smaller, contains new microphone technology, and boasts better sound. The old Echo form factor has been remade into the Echo Plus ($150), which comes with a built-in smarthome hub. It’s not very good.

Geek Trivia: Which Of These Early Video Games Had A Cast Of Forty Actors?

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The Four Best Free Email Services

Email used to be the sole domain of the earthbound office worker, a boring and beige evolution of the fax and the sticky note. These days, email is still pretty boring (hey, we’re not going to lie to you), but it’s also an essential part of online life for anyone with an Internet connection.

How to Change the App Layout on the Apple Watch to a List

If you’re not a big fan of the crowded app layout on the Apple Watch, WatchOS 4 has introduced a simpler alternative that makes it easier to scroll through and locate an app.

Got a Logitech Harmony Link? Get Your Free Upgrade by Simply Contacting Them

When the news broke that Logitech was bri…

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Geek Trivia: Marge Simpson’s Towering Blue Hair Was Originally Intended To Conceal?

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The Best Footrests for Your Office

Footrests aren’t just just for taking a load off and putting your tired feet up for a spell (although you and y…

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How to Stop Spotify From Playing All Songs at the Same Volume

When sound engineers are mixing an album, they decide how loud they want each track to be. Depending on what the artist’s intentions are, they might want one track to be slightly quieter than another to add to the overall atmosphere.

Is There a Way to See Who Has Viewed Your Facebook Profile?

There are plenty of browser extensions, apps, and websites that claim to be able to tell you which of your Facebook Friends have recently visited your profile, and how much time they spent there. Unfortunately, none of these extensions or apps do what they claim.

How to Make Your Own QR Codes from Your iPhone or Android Phone

You might think that QR codes are so 2006, but they’re coming back in a big way. Here’s how to create your own.

Geek Trivia: Historically, A “Devil’s Advocate” Was Employed To Argue Against?

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How to Stop Windows From Automatically Connecting to a Wi-Fi Network

Windows automatically connects to Wi-Fi networks you’ve previously connected to. On Windows 10, you can tell Windows not to automatically connect to certain networks. Windows will remember the passphrase and other connection details, but will only connect when you manually initiate a connection.

The Nintendo Switch Finally Gets a Streaming Video App, and It’s Hulu

Good news, Switch fans!

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Don’t Bother with Smart TV Software, Use a Streaming Stick or Set-Top Box Instead

 

It is all but impossible to buy a TV without getting some kind of bundled software that’s supposed to make your life easier (…

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How to Make Your NVIDIA SHIELD or Controller Blink When it Hears “OK Google”

NVIDIA’s SHIELD is the first Android TV box to get the Google Assistant, and you can already do some cool thing with it—like use it with the TV turned off. If you’d like a visual notification that it heard you, though, there’s a hidden tweak for that, too.

How to Save Spotify Music Offline (and Stop Using Mobile Data)

While audio streaming is nowhere near as hungry as video streaming, you can still burn through your data cap pretty quickly if you listen to a lot of music. And if you happen to be roaming at the time, you can easily rack up a several hundred dollar phone bill just by listening to a playlist or two on Spotify.

How to See What Web Sites Your Computer Is Secretly Connecting To

Your PC makes lots of Internet connections in a day’s business, and not all of them are necessarily sites you’re aware connections are happening with. While some of these connections are harmless, there is always a chance that you have some malware, spyware, or adware using your Internet connection in the background without your knowledge. Here’s how to see what’s going on under the hood.

How to Set Up Alexa Routines to Control Multiple Smarthome Devices at Once

It’s great to control your smart house with your voice, but it’s even better when you can say one command and have multiple things happen at once. Here’s how to set up Routines to use with Alexa and your Echo devices.

How to Block Tweets Over 140 Characters (If You Really Must)

After over a decade of staunchly restricting users to 140 characters in each message, Twitter just flipped the switch and enabled 280 characters in most supported languages. And not everyone is happy.

Logitech is Bricking the Harmony Link: Here’s Who it Affects

The news of Logitech willfully bricking a product line has a lot of people nervous about their Logitech products.

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Geek Trivia: When A Cultural Element Is Exported, Transformed, And Then Re-Imported To The Original Culture, It’s Called The?

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How to Manage All Your Mac’s Saved Passwords With Keychain Access

Your Mac stores all kinds of passwords. It’s saved the passwords for your Wi-Fi networks, the ones used by your applications, and even the ones you save in Safari. You might be wondering where those passwords are stored, and whether you can look at them.

How to Hide Sensitive Notifications From Your iPhone’s Lock Screen

In iOS 11, your iPhone gives you much more control over notifications. You can designate certain apps as “sensitive”, so that it hides the content of notifications while your phone is locked, only letting you see the full preview when you use Touch ID or Face ID to unlock your iPhone. This works in every single app on your phone, unlike in iOS 10 and before.

Philips Hue Lights Are the Perfect Smarthome Starter Pack

The smarthome market is still, very much, a market for early adopters—complete with successes, duds, and plenty of confusion.

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How to Make Your NVIDIA SHIELD Listen for OK Google, Even When the TV is Off

Recently, NVIDIA’s SHIELD became the first Android TV device to get access to OK Google and the Google Assistant. The thing is, you really need the TV to be on in order to really make the most of it—but a new setting will still let you use it even when the screen is off.

How to Enable an Equalizer for Spotify on iOS and Android

An equalizer (or EQ) is a filter that adjusts the loudness of specific audio frequencies when you’re listening to music. Some equalizers will boost bass, while others will reduce bass and boost the high end. Different equalizer settings will work better or worse on different kinds of music.

The Best Online Tools to Help You Build Your Next PC

Building your own desktop isn’t as difficult as it looks—it’s often called “LEGO for adults.” And while that phrase might be a bit condescending (adults can enjoy LEGOs too, ya jerks), it’s not wrong. Even so, the sheer breadth of choices, options, and compatibility issues can be intimidating, especially for a first-time builder. Here’s a collection of online tools to help you make sure that process goes as smoothly as possible.

How to Download Steam Games to Your PC From Your Phone

Steam allows you to remotely install games from your smartphone, just like you can with a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. You can download games to your gaming PC from anywhere, ensuring those big downloads are complete and the game is ready to play when you get home. You can also do this from any web browser.

How to Use Your Apple Watch as a Flashlight

Your iPhone have a flashlight function, but why pull it out of your pocket if you don’t have to? Your Apple Watch can do something very similar. Here’s how to use it when you need to stumble your way through a dark room.

Geek Trivia: Which Of These Aquatic Animals Doesn’t Actually Swim?

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How to Open the System Information Panel on Windows 10 or 8

The System Information provides a quick way get information about your system, but how you open it depends on what version of Windows you’re using. Here’s how to do it.

How to Mount Removable Drives and Network Locations in the Windows Subsystem for Linux

Starting with Windows 10’s Fall Creators Update, the Windows Subsystem for Linux now allows you to manually mount drives. It still automatically mounts all internal NTFS drives. However, you can now manually mount external drives and network folders using the Linux mountcommand.

I Miss Smartphone Bezels Already

The iPhone X came out this week.

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How to Customize the Recommendations Row on Android TV

When you fire up Android TV, the first thing you see is a list of movies and shows the system thinks you’ll like. It’s often full of the latest flicks or hottest news, but sometimes it could just be things relevant to your interests and the apps you have installed. The thing is, you can actually optimize this row to show suggestions only from the apps you want.

How to Get Spotify to Crossfade Between Songs Like an Actual DJ

When you listen to a live DJ, one song doesn’t stop playing and then another start after a brief pause. Instead, the tracks transition into each one another. One popular technique for doing so is called “crossfading”. The two tracks overlap for a few seconds, the volume going down for the first track as it comes up for the second.

What Is Bitcoin, and How Does it Work?

Bitcoin. the digital currency, has been all over the news for years. But because it’s entirely digital and doesn’t necessarily correspond to any existing fiat currency, it’s not easy to understand for the newcomer. Let’s break down the basis of exactly what Bitcoin is, how it works, and its possible future in the global economy.

How to Use Voice Dictation on Windows 10

Windows 10’s Fall Creators Update makes voice dictation much easier to use. Now, you can immediately begin dictation by pressing a key Windows+H on your keyboard. You don’t have to dig through the Control Panel and set anything up first.

How to Associate Certain Smart Lights with a Specific Echo

In the past, if you wanted to tell Alexa to turn the lights on or off in a room, you had to be specific as to which room. But now, with the new way Alexa handles groups, you can associate certain lights with a specific Echo device.

Geek Trivia: The Oldest Continuously Published Newspaper In The United States Is The?

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How to Block Your Neighbor’s Wi-Fi Network From Appearing on Windows

Does your neighbor have an obnoxious Wi-Fi network name? You can hide it from the Wi-Fi menu on your computers, preventing it from showing up. You could go even further and block all other Wi-Fi networks, too, only allowing your PCs to see and connect to the Wi-Fi networks you allow.

Why Are MOBA Games like League of Legends So Popular?

Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas, or MOBAs, refer to a very specific subset of top-down, team-based strategy titles. Despite humble beginnings as a modded offshoot of real-time strategy games, these titles have exploded into the forefront of PC gaming, gaining tens of millions of players and a spot at the top of the eSports (blech*) world.

The Best iPad Cases for Kids: Keep Your Tablet (and Kid!) Safe and Sound

Whether you’re worried about your kid smashing their iPad on the ground or smashing their face on the iPad, there’s a case for you.

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How to Find Your Lost or Stolen Android Phone

You’re having a night out. With dinner down the hatch, you’re walking down the street with your sweetheart to the next destination. You reach into your pocket to pull out your phone, when that feeling hits the pit of your stomach: your phone is missing. Did you leave it at the restaurant? Or maybe at home? Did someone steal it? Your mind races. You have no idea.

How to Make iPhone Notifications Disappear as Soon as You’ve Read Them

The Notification Center in iOS is split into two sections: your new notifications, and your History. Notifications for things that have happened since you last looked at your phone appear at the top. After that you’ve got all the older notifications that you’ve seen but haven’t done anything about; they appear under Earlier Today, Yesterday, and so on.

How to Tether Your Android Phone and Share Its Internet Connection with Other Devices

Tethering is the act of sharing your phone’s mobile data connection with another device—such as your laptop or tablet—connecting it to the Internet through your phone’s data connection. There are several ways to tether on Android.

Geek Trivia: The Carnivoran Mammal With The Largest Geographic Range Is The?

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Stupid Geek Tricks: How to Enable Windows 10’s Hidden Retail Demo Mode

If you click a word in Windows 10’s Settings app five times, it enables a hidden Retail Demo mode. You almost certainly don’t want to do this yourself, but knowing how to escape the Retail Demo Experience is essential if you ever see the name “Darrin DeYoung” on your login screen.

Geek Trivia: Early On, The UNIVAC Computer Made International News By Accurately Predicting A?

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Four macOS Server Features That Are Now Built In to High Sierra

Apple’s server software isn’t what it used to be. Once a considerable investment, these days macOS Server only sets you back $20, a bargain considering all the features you get.

How to Create a Custom Apple Watch Face from a Photo or Album

While you still can’t create completely custom watch faces on your Apple Watch, you can use any photo you want as your wallpaper, either by using a single photo or rotating through a photo album. Here’s how to do it.

Geek Trivia: During A 1980s-Era Remodeling, The Statue Of Liberty Got A New?

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How to Speed Up Downloads on Your Mac, iPhone, and iPad with Content Caching

Are there multiple iPhones and iPads in your house? What about Macs, or Apple TVs? Have you ever thought about how much bandwidth all those individual Apple devices use downloading the same updates, media, and iCloud content as each other?

Blizzard Is Doing eSports Right with Its New Overwatch League

eSports, the colloquial and irritating name for organized tournaments featuring multiplayer PC and console games, are all the rage these days…among geeks. But because of their decidedly geeky roots, there seems to be a limited appeal for general audiences: you’re unlikely to tune into the DOTA  International if you’ve never played a round of the game itself.

How to Disable the “Is Running in the Background” and “Is Using Battery” Notification in Android Oreo

If you have a Nexus or Pixel device running Oreo, you’ve likely seen the “[app name] is running in the background” notification. If you have a Pixel 2, you may have seen this notification, though the verbiage is slightly different—it reads “[app name] is using battery.” While useful, this can also be quite annoying. Fortunately, you can pretty easily turn it off.

PSA: AppleCare Replaces Your Broken Charger and Headphones for Free

People usually get AppleCare for one reason: avoiding expensive repairs—but AppleCare offers so much more.

Despite the number of peo…

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How to Stop Apple Music from Taking Over Your iPhone’s Play Button

Apple’s Music app is…okay. It’s a decent music player and Apple Music is a competent streaming service. Here’s the thing, though: I don’t use it. And it’s constantly nagging me to use it.

How to Calibrate Your Laptop’s Battery for Accurate Battery Life Estimates

So you’re using your laptop and, all of the sudden, it dies. There was no battery warning from Windows—in fact, you recently checked and Windows said you had 30% battery power left. What’s going on?

Review Geek is Looking for a Freelance Product Review Writer

Think you have the perfect combination of product knowledge and writing skills?

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How-To Geek is Looking for a Freelance Product Review Writer (for Review Geek)

Think you have the perfect combination of product knowledge and writing skills? We’re looking for a few experienced freelance writers to join the team at Review Geek.

How to Get the Most Out of Your SkyBell HD

If you get all kinds of different folks approaching your door, a video doorbell like the SkyBell HD is a worthwhile investment, but you may not be using it to its full potential. Here’s how to get the most out of your SkyBell HD video doorbell.

The iPhone X is the Biggest Status Symbol Since the iPhone

I still remember when I saw my first iPhone.

I was in after-school study in September, 2007.

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Geek Trivia: The 1993 U.S. Senate Hearings Held Over Video Game Violence Focused On Mortal Kombat And?

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How to Create and Use a Recovery Drive or System Repair Disc in Windows 8 or 10

Windows 8 and 10 let you to create a recovery drive (USB) or system repair disc (CD or DVD) that you can use to troubleshoot and restore your computer. Each type of recovery media gives you access to Windows’ advanced startup options, but there are differences between the two options.

How to Embed Fonts in a Microsoft Word Document

When you email someone a copy of your Word document or PowerPoint presentation and they don’t have a font installed, Microsoft Office shows that document with the default font instead. This can mess up the whole layout and make the document look completely different, but you can fix this by embedding fonts into your documents.

Thank God You Can’t Blowup Your iPhone By Double Charging It

What happens if you put your shiny new iPhone on a wireless charging pad and plug it in to charge at the same time?

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The Pros and Cons of Buying Phones from Your Carrier

I’m sure you’ve heard it a hundred times: don’t buy phones from your carrier. The thing is, it’s not that black and white. There are legitimate reasons why it’s okay to buy from your carrier…on top of the reasons you may want to avoid it. Let’s talk about the pros and cons.

What Is an eSIM, and How Is It Different From a SIM Card?

With the launch of the Apple Watch 3, the term “eSIM” has been thrown around a lot. And now, Google’s Pixel 2 is the first phone to use this new technology, it’s time we take a closer look at what it is, what it does, and what this means for consumers moving forward.

Best Travel Pillows for On-The-Road Comfort

You spend a lot of time sitting around when you travel—be it by plane, train, or automobile—so you might as well get some quality sl…

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How to Turn Your iPhone On and Off Without Using the Power Button

Apple has gradually started removing every breakable, physical button on the iPhone—like the Home button, which isn’t even a real button on the iPhone 7 and 8. There are, however, still a few physical buttons that remain: the volume buttons and the Power button.

How to Create and Manage Lists with Alexa

Until recently, Alexa would only let you create a shopping list and a to-do list. Now, you can create any kind of list you want. Here’s how to make it happen.

Geek Trivia: Before Star Trek, Multiple Cast Members Appeared On Another Space-Themed Show Called?

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What Is trustd, and Why Is It Running on my Mac?

So you found something called trustd running on your Mac, and are now wondering if it can be…trusted. The good news is you have nothing to worry about: this is part of macOS.

How to Remove “3D Objects” From This PC on Windows 10

Windows 10’s Fall Creators Update adds a “3D Objects” folder to This PC. It even appears in File Explorer’s sidebar. Microsoft is clearly trying to promote Paint 3D and Windows 10’s other new 3D features, but you can hide the folder if you don’t like it—you just need to dig into the registry.

The iPhone 8’s All-Glass Design Makes It (Shockingly) Hard to Drop

One of the first reactions many people had to the iPhone 8’s glass sandwich design was to grimace at the thought of dropping it but, weird…

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How to Enable or Disable “Now Playing” on the Pixel 2

The Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL bring a lot of cool new features to Android users, including an awesome Now Playing utility that actively listens for music in your environment and displays the current track on the ambient display.

How to Disable Handoff on Your iPhone and Mac

Handoff is a really great feature of iOS and macOS if you’re the only person who uses your devices. It lets you seamlessly move from doing something on your Mac to doing it on your iPhone, and vice versa.

How to Spot Fake and Scammy Amazon Sellers

Amazon is one of the biggest direct-to-consumer marketplaces on the planet. And not just of its own goods and services: though the company operates huge warehouses all over the world, it also lets smaller companies sell harder-to-find items on its marketplace, including individual sellers of new and used items. But with a relatively wide-open policy towards third party sellers, a few with less than noble intentions are sure to slip through the cracks. Here’s how to spot them.

Which Amazon Echo Should I Buy? Echo vs. Dot vs. Show vs. Plus and More

The Amazon Echo started off as a simple device, but now there are more than nine different Echo products out in the wild and on Amazon’s virtual shelves. So what’s the difference between them all, and which one should you buy?

How to Enable the Apple TV’s Dark Mode, Manually or Automatically

When it’s after dark and the lights are out, the last thing you want is to be blinded by the bright white of your Apple TV’s home screen when your movie ends. Here’s how to enable dark mode on the Apple TV to make your late-night TV escapades more enjoyable.

Geek Trivia: Which Of These Halloween Movies Was Critically Panned, But Became A Cult Classic?

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Save Big on iPhone 8 Cases by Buying an iPhone 7 Case Instead

If you need an iPhone 8 case, your first impulse is to search for an iPhone 8 case and buy the one you like, right? Not so fast.

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What’s the Difference Between APFS, Mac OS Extended (HFS+), and ExFAT?

So you’re using Disk Utility to partition your new hard drive when you’re presented with a choice of potential file systems. The list is longer than you’d think, with terms like “APFS (Case-sensitive)” and “Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted)” to choose from.

How to Send a Steam Digital Gift Card in Any Amount

Valve just added digital gift cards to Steam, allowing you to send money directly to a friend’s Steam Wallet. You can also use the same trick we used adding Steam Wallet funds to send almost any amount—not just the preset values.

How to Enable Color Filters to Read the Screen More Clearly on Windows 10

Windows 10 now includes color filters, an accessibility feature that changes the color of everything on your screen. They apply at the system level and work the same way as Night Light, so they work with any application. Filters can turn your screen black and white, invert colors, help with light sensitivity, and make colors easier to distinguish for those with color blindness.

Best Micro SD Cards for All Your Devices

It’s really hard to distinguish micro SD cards from one another. Besides their capacity, they’re all the same, right?

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