Saturday, March 31, 2018
Geek Trivia: Long Before Modern In-Car GPS Systems, Motorists Used Automated Directions Provided By?
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Don’t Trade in Your Phone, Sell It for More Money
Most manufacturers and carriers offer some sort of trade-in program for old phones when you buy a new one. The thing is, you can get a lot more money if you just sell your phone yourself.
Friday, March 30, 2018
Backups vs. Redundancy: What’s the Difference?
Backups and redundancy schemes are both data protection methods, but they are not interchangeable. Join us as we explore what makes them different, and why that’s important to you.
Blindfold Hides All Retweets, Makes Twitter Seem Less Angry
Anger tends to go viral. Blindfold is a simple tool that hides all retweets, which can really cut back on how much rage you see in a day.
Geek Trivia: Prior To 1968, Telephones Didn’t Have?
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macOS Now Officially Supports External GPUs
Mac: External graphics processors, or eGPUs, are officially supported in macOS High Sierra 10.13.04, which came out yesterday.
Your MyFitnessPal Account Was Almost Certainly Hacked, Change Your Password Now
If you’re one of the millions of the 150 million MyFitnessPal users, bad news: hackers have your email address, your user name, and your hashed password.
How To Indent Paragraphs In Google Docs
Indenting paragraphs in Google Docs requires access to the ruler, which you’ll only find in the full web version. The ruler is not present in the mobile apps.
WinX DVD Ripper V8.8.0 Raises the Bar on DVD Ripping Speed | Chance to Get Full License [Sponsored]
A former Netflix employee may frustrate you by telling CNBC that Netflix’s DVD business would disappear after 2025. But the guys at Digiarty Software, one of the leading multimedia software companies specialized in personal video audio entertainment, just advise you to live in the present and brace you up with a new DVD ripper software update.
The Best Hearing Protection for Kids
It’s never too early to start protecting your kids hearing (and instill in them the good habit of wearing ear p…
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Stupid Geek Tricks: How to Fake a Web Page Screenshot (without Photoshop)
With April Fool’s Day coming up, now is the time to start thinking about some good ways to play pranks on your friends. One of our favorites is to create fake screenshots of the news. Let’s look at how to do it.
What’s the Best Online Backup Service?
Using an online backup service to back up your computer is not only convenient, it protects your data against big incidents like theft, fire, and natural disaster. There are lots of backup services out there, but we like Backblaze and IDrive the best.
Timestamps Shares Twitter Videos Starting at a Certain Time
Android/iPhone/iPad: Live videos can be long, which makes sharing a particular moment tricky. Timestamps is a new Twitter feature that fixes that.
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Up Next Shows Your Calendar Appointments in the macOS Menu Bar
macOS: If you’re the kind of person who forgets what’s on your calendar, it helps to put reminders everywhere. Up Next is a free tool that does just that.
How to Remotely Access Your Synology NAS Using QuickConnect
Your Synology NAS includes a QuickConnect feature that lets you access its DiskStation Manager interface remotely. Here’s how to set it up.
6 Great Apps to Build New Habits
To develop a new habit (and have it stick) you need to persist with it day after day.
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Geek Trivia: The Legal Concept Of “Ad Coelum” Gave People Ownership Of?
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How to Disable Notifications on Your iPhone or iPad
iPhone and iPad apps have to get your permission to send notifications, but it’s still easy to end up with a noisy phone that won’t stop buzzing. Here’s how to get only the notifications you care about.
How Tech Companies Use ‘Dark Patterns’ To Trick You
Websites like Amazon, Facebook, and Google don’t just appear: people make them. Everything about their design is intentional, is serving some kind of purpose—and sometimes those designs deliberately make things hard in order to change your behavior.
TV Ad Spending Is Down Because of Cord Cutting
Cord cutting isn’t a fad. Millions of people really are changing their habits, and it’s having a profound impact.
How to Pair a Bluetooth Speaker with Google Home
Google Home’s speaker sounds pretty good, but the Home Mini is a little lacking. Now, you can pair any Home or Home Mini with a Bluetooth speaker for a better audio experience.
HAVIT Mechanical Keyboard Review: Low Profile, Colorful, and Fun to Type On
If you’re looking for a mechanical keyboard that offers slim keys, a short keystroke, and color customization, all while…
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How to Use Apple Music on Your Sonos
Although Apple has a bad reputation for playing nice with the other kids, some services, like Apple Music, are nicely cross platform. You can even set it up on your Sonos smart speaker. Here’s how.
What is Firmware or Microcode, and How Can I Update My Hardware?
Firmware is a type of software that runs on a hardware device, performing low-level tasks. For example, everything from a television remote control to a computer hard drive to an aerial drone runs its own firmware. And microcode is basically firmware for your CPU.
2007 Article: Will MySpace Ever Lose Its Monopoly?
It’s easy to think the world as it exists now is the world as it will always look. That’s always eventually proven wrong.
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Find Out If Your Boss Can Download Your Slack DMs
Don’t say anything on Slack you wouldn’t say to your boss’ face, because there’s a chance he can download everything—even your DMs.
How to Disable Plex News
The Plex News feature gives you access to tons of video clips from various news sources. However, if you get your news other ways, you can disable Plex News and prevent it from showing up in your Plex client.
Geek Trivia: Highlighting Missing Children On Milk Cartons Gained Traction After The Abduction Of Two?
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PopSocket Review: A Stick-On Phone Grip with Style
PopSockets are a small stick-on phone accessories that are one part stand, one part grip, with a dash of fidget cube mixed in.
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Third-Party Nintendo Switch Dock Accidentally Bricks Some Consoles
If you have Nyko’s third-party Switch dock, be wary of the latest 5.0 update to your console.
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Simpler Facebook Privacy Settings Are On The Way
Facebook’s privacy settings are a mess, making it hard to do something like make it hard for someone to find your Facebook account. That’s changing.
Should You Use a PCI, USB, or Network-Based TV Tuner For Your HTPC?
Whether you’re interested in recording live TV using Plex or considering setting up NextPVR, you need a tuner card. But which form factor is best?
You Can’t Buy the $50 Logitech Crayon Unless You’re a School
Want to buy the $50 Logitech Crayon for your iPad, instead of forking out $100 for Apple’s own Pencil? Too bad: it’s only available for schools.
How to Disable Notifications on Android
Notifications are great, and Android’s notification system is arguably the best out there. But if there comes a time when you don’t need all those notifications, here’s how to shut them up.
6 Great Apps For Tracking Your Receipts and Expenses On The Go
Expense tracking isn’t particularly fun but with the right tool it can be virtually painless.
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How to Record and Edit Slow Motion Videos on Your iPhone
Slow motion video recording is one of the coolest features on the iPhone. Here’s how to use it.
What is the System32 Directory? (and Why You Shouldn’t Delete It)
The C:\Windows\System32 directory is a critical part of the Windows operating system where important system files are stored. Some pranksters online may tell you to delete it, but you shouldn’t—and we’ll show exactly what happens if you try.
Facebook’s Settings Include Privacy Buttons That Do Absolutely Nothing
Facebook’s privacy settings are a mess—I can never find the tweak I’m looking for. Apparently Facebook isn’t sure what’s in there either.
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
How-To Geek is Looking for New Writers
Think you have the perfect combination of geek knowledge and writing skills? We’re looking for a few experienced writers to join our team.
How to Install and Set Up the Lutron Caseta Plug-In Lamp Dimmer
Smart plugs are everywhere nowadays, but if you want one that comes with a physical remote control, Lutron’s Caseta Plug-In Lamp Dimmer is a smart plug to consider. Here’s how to set it up.
Will Schools Buy $300 iPads Over $200 Chromebooks?
Remember Oregon Trail on the Apple II? Lots of current adults do, because Apple used to make their computers affordable for schools.
Everything You Need to Know About Apple’s New iPad
Today, at Apple’s “Let’s Take a Field Trip” Education event, the company announced a newer, cheaper iPad…
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Geek Trivia: Yale’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library Has “Windows” Made Of?
Think you know the answer? Click through to see if you're right!
Facebook Container Isolates Facebook From The Rest of Your Firefox Browsing
Firefox: Facebook tracks your activity across the web, thanks to a network of “Like” buttons and embedded ads. If that creeps you out Facebook Container can help.
How To Upgrade Or Replace Your PC’s Wireless Card
The Wi-Fi adapter in your PC is one of its smallest but most crucial components. If yours has gone out, or you want to upgrade to a newer one, here’s how to replace it.
6 Great iOS Apps to Track and Improve Your Sleep
Sleep is an essential part of life, but it’s something that many of us struggle to get the right amount of.
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Samsung’s Bixby Sucks. Here’s How to Turn it Off.
If you use Android, you probably use the Google Assistant. If you’re a Galaxy user, Samsung’s own Bixby can get in the way—especially with the Bixby button on the S8, S9, and Note 8. But there’s good news: it’s easy to turn off.
How to Use Spotify on Your Sonos Speaker
Spotify is the most popular music streaming service in the world and Sonos is one of the top brands of smart speakers. Here’s how to get them to work together.
Monday, March 26, 2018
What Should You Do with All Your Smarthome Gear When You Move?
You’ve decked out your house with all of the coolest smarthome products, and now you’re moving. What should you do with all those sweet smarthome gadgets?
Shepherd Tricks You Into Reading Something Instead Of Scrolling Though Facebook
Android/iPhone/iPad: Most of us mindlessly scroll through Facebook or Twitter whenever we open our phones. If you wish you’d do some reading instead, Shepherd might be able to help.
Geek Trivia: The Bagheera Kiplingi Spider Is Unique Among Spiders Because Of Its?
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Using Amazon Locker Is Super Easy, and Can Save You Time and Money
Amazon doesn’t just want to sell you more stuff, it wants to deliver that stuff to you in new and innovative ways to ensure everyone who…
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This Card-Based Google Home Jukebox Gives Way Too Much Power To Your Party Guests
Sure, your voice assistant can play just about any music you can ask for, but there’s a tactile pl…
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An Intentionally Stupid Cow Clicker Game Collected Facebook Data From 180,000 Users
Cow Clicker, a parody Facebook game, collected personal data from 180,000 people back in 2010-2011.
Vegas Casino routinely tracked patron’s every move by monitoring their phones
Most people have an idea that free sites like Facebook and Google make money by tracking their users, but they have no idea how far that tracking goes. That’s changing this month.
What Is Ray Tracing?
Recently a demo from Epic, the makers of the Unreal game engine, raised eyebrows for its photo-realistic lighting effects. The technique is a big step forward for ray tracing. But what does that mean?
How to Take a Selfie Using Siri
Siri can be useful for a number of things—some powerful, others more trivial. When it comes to the trivial, asking Siri to grab a shot of your mug may be one of the easiest.
7 Best Places to Download Free Music (Legally)
It’s never been a better time to be a music fan. Streaming services like Spotify serve up the latest hits, but you can dive deep and listen to true indie music. Here are some of the best places to get free, legal music.
How to Install Custom Themes and Visual Styles in Windows
Windows has had support for themes, also known as “visual styles”, since Windows XP. By default, Windows only loads Microsoft-signed themes—but you can get around this limitation.
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Geek Trivia: The First Sitting U.S. President To Receive A Speeding Ticket Was?
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If You Used Android, Facebook Probably Has Years of Your Phone Call and Text History
For years, we’ve complained about Android permissions being far too lax compared to iOS, but nothing quite prepares you for finding out that one of the most popular apps in the world has been tracking and storing your call and text history—but only if you were using an Android device.
7 Reasons Cord Cutting Might Not Work For You
Cord cutting—ditching cable or satellite TV and watching stuff online instead—is great. It’s also not for everyone.
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Geek Trivia: Which Of These Animals Has Natural Ear Plugs To Protect It From Its Own Loud Vocalizations?
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What to Do if Your Facebook Account Gets “Hacked”
A few days ago, I got a strange Facebook message from my uncle. It was clearly out of character for him, so I knew something was up: his account had been compromised. Here’s what to do if this happens to you or someone you know.
Friday, March 23, 2018
How to Get Rid of Vibration and Noise in Your NAS
The moving parts in a hard drive can create a lot of vibration and noise, and when you pack a bunch of hard drives together into an enclosure, that ruckus multiplies. Here’s how to keep it at bay.
Geek Trivia: Which Of These Birds Teaches Their Offspring A Secret Password While They Are Incubating?
Think you know the answer? Click through to see if you're right!
You Can Now Try Android Games Without Downloading Them
Tired of downloading games only to realize they suck? Google Play Instant might mean never doing that again.
Voice Assistants Still Feel Like Prototypes
Voice assistants are all great at specific tasks, but there’s a hard limit to what they can and cannot understand. At times this makes them feel like beta software.
How to Turn Off Annoying Mac Notifications
Notifications are great when you need them, and terrible when you don’t. Here’s how to turn off all notifications temporarily, and configure which apps and websites can show them otherwise.
Best Budget Bluetooth Earbuds for the Gym
There’s a time and place for incredibly high-end headphones, but maybe running in a busy…
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How to Open HEIC Files on Windows (or Convert Them to JPEG)
Apple’s iPhone and iPad now take photos in the HEIF image format, and these photos have the .HEIC file extension. Windows doesn’t support HEIC files, but there’s a way to view them anyway—or convert them to standard JPEGs.
How to Quickly Delete Lots of Old Facebook Posts
It’s easy enough to delete one Facebook post at a time, but there’s no built in way to delete posts in batch. For that, you’ll need to turn to a browser extension.
Windows on ARM Doesn’t Make Any Sense (Yet)
Microsoft is launching new “Always Connected PCs” that pair Windows with smartphone-class ARM processors. These devices can run traditional Windows desktop apps and offer long battery life with cellular connectivity, but they’re just too expensive and limited.
Thursday, March 22, 2018
What Is Alexa’s Brief Mode and How Do I Turn It On (or Off)?
Alexa’s new “Brief Mode” makes her a bit less chatty when responding to commands. Here’s exactly what Brief Mode does and how you can turn it on and off.
The Best eBook Reader for Every Budget
Reading is a pleasure for many, whether it’s the latest thriller from your favorite author or an informative piece of non-fiction.
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Geek Trivia: Informally Called “Hole-In-One” Insurance, The Formal Name For This Insurance Is?
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YouTube on Apple TV Sucks Now Because Google Is Pushing One Interface on Every Platform
YouTube sucks on Apple TV now. The interface doesn’t look like an Apple TV app, and features like the Remote app flat-out don’t work.
How to Clone Your Raspberry Pi SD Card for Foolproof Backup
Raspberry Pis can be fickle. If you’ve ever gotten a corrupt SD card from a power outage, bad cable, overclocking, or other issue, you know how annoying it can be to start from scratch. But we can fix that.
iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit Review: The Last Gadget Repair Kit You’ll Ever Need
Getting your first toolkit is a rite of passage when you become an adult.
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How to Stop Facebook Giving Your Data to Third Parties
The Cambridge Analytica fiasco wasn’t really a data breach. Everything collected was allowed by Facebook’s Terms of Service. So, how can you protect yourself against these sort of things?
How Bad Are the AMD Ryzen and Epyc CPU Flaws?
AMD has now confirmed that the “AMD Flaws” revealed by CTS-Labs are real. We recommend installing the BIOS update that fixes them when it’s available. But, don’t worry too much. The danger of these flaws has been exaggerated.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
How to Buy and Sell Stocks on Your Smartphone
The stock market can be a scary place, especially if you’re just getting into trading or investing. However, some smartphone apps help decrease the barrier-to-entry and make it easy to get going. Robinhood is my favorite.
The Best iPhone and Apple Watch Combination Charging Stands
Just because you’re deep into the Apple ecosystem with an iPhone, Apple Watch, and–maybe–even some AirPods, that doesn’…
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Geek Trivia: The Average Color Of The Universe Is Referred To As?
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Facebook Messenger Now Has Admin Tools to Manage Your Unwieldy Group Chats
Facebook Messenger is a convenient way to message a group of people, but it can be difficult to manage large groups.
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Consolidate Movie Collections in Kodi with Movie Sets
Start ripping your DVDs and Blu-Rays to Kodi and your collection can get overwhelming fast. Happily, Kodi lets you sort movies into sets.
How 802.11mc Wi-Fi Will Be Used to Track Your Location Indoors
Much like GPS is able to track your precise location outdoors, the 802.11mc Wi-Fi standard will be able to do something similar indoors. This feature is generally referred to as RTT, or “Round Trip Time.”
SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post Review: It’s The Best Scratching Post You’ll Ever Buy
If you’re a cat owner in search of a scratching post that’s inexpensive, stable, tall, and so durable it lasts for years, then we
Ever Wonder How Much Facebook Knows About You? Here’s How to See
Facebook has a lot of information about—every post shared, photo uploaded, message sent, item clicked on, and pretty much every other data point you can imagine. And it’s all in the name of serving you better ads and keeping you on Facebook.
What Is an API?
You’ve likely seen the term “API” come up. Operating system, web browser, and app updates often announce new APIs for developers. But what is an API?
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Dear Companies: Stop Putting Voice Control In Everything
Ever since the rise of smarthome technology and smart speakers like the Echo, companies have gone out of their way to add voice control to pretty much anything and everything, and it needs to stop.
Geek Trivia: The First Toy Advertised On Television Was?
Think you know the answer? Click through to see if you're right!
FlexiSpot Standing Desk Review: Sit, Stand, or Even Cycle
We’ve put a FlexiSpot standing desk through an extended test and we’re happy to report that if you’re in the market for a rea…
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The Internet Archive Just Uploaded a Bunch of Playable, Classic Handheld Games
Before the Switch, before the PS Vita, and yet some time after the advent of the Game Boy, stores carried a slew of handheld games–not c…
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How To Upgrade and Install a New Hard Drive or SSD in Your PC
A hard drive upgrade is one of the easiest ways to improve your PC, whether you’re looking for more storage or the speed boost an SSD provides. Here’s how to choose and install your new drive.
How to Transfer Photos from Android to Your Windows PC
Getting pictures from your Android phone to your PC can be a daunting task if you don’t know where to start. Fortunately, it’s pretty straightforward once you know where to look.
Can You See Who Viewed Your Twitter Profile?
It’s a natural instinct to wonder who is viewing your Twitter profile and your Tweets, but while plenty of services claim to offer this feature, it’s really not possible.
Windows Spectre Patches Are Here, But You Might Want to Wait
To fully protect your PC against Spectre, you need updated Intel CPU microcode. This is normally provided by your PC manufacturer via a UEFI firmware update, but Microsoft now offers an optional patch with the new microcode.
Monday, March 19, 2018
How Is The HTC Vive Pro Better Than The Original Vive?
We finally know when HTC’s new-and-improved Vive Pro VR headset is coming, and for how much. But what makes it better than the original Vive that debuted two years ago? Let’s break it down.
The 7 Best Laptop Desks for Comfortable Work and Play
You may have bought a laptop to get away from working at a desk but that doesn’t mean you should just plop your laptop on…
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Google Maps Is Tentatively Rolling Out the Most Useful Shortcuts Yet
For all its problems, Google Maps is still one of the most useful free apps that comes on your Android phone.
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Geek Trivia: The Floppy Disk Icon As A Save Button On Modern Software Is An Example Of A Design Element Called A?
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What Is cfprefsd, and Why Is It Running on my Mac?
You’re browsing Activity Monitor when you notice something named cfprefsd. What is this, and should you be worried about it?
4 Ways to Look Better On Conference Calls and Streaming Video
Whether you have to video conference call for work or you’re film YouTube videos for fun (and profit?) we increasingly find ourselves in…
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How to Get Started with Android’s Home Screens
The Android home screen is powerful and customizable—if you take the time to set it up. While not an extensive guide on all things home screen, this beginner’s guide to the Android launcher should help get you started.
How to Download Your Photos from Facebook
Facebook isn’t the best place for keeping your photos, but its convenience makes it a decent space for sharing them. If you want to download a photo you’ve uploaded (or even one your friend has uploaded), here’s how.
What’s the Difference Between Cloud File Syncing and Cloud Backup?
Not all cloud file storage services are the same. There’s a big difference between file syncing tools like Dropbox and online backup services like Backblaze when it comes to backing up your important files.
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Geek Trivia: What Off-The-Shelf Addition Did NASA Scientists Add To The Voyager Probes At The Last Minute?
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How to View (and Monitor) Your Credit Report For Free
If you keep a regular eye on your credit report, you’ll notice when identity thieves open accounts in your name and when errors are listed that might cause you problems in the future. Here’s how to do it for free.
Saturday, March 17, 2018
How to Get Started Listening to Podcasts
You keep hearing about podcasts—from friends, online, even on TV. But what are podcasts, and how do you get started listening to them?
Friday, March 16, 2018
Geek Trivia: The 1956 Centurion, A Buick Concept Car, Had Which Of These Modern Features In It?
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How to Make Siri Understand You Better
Siri isn’t all that great to begin with, but here are some ways to at least improve the Siri experience and get her to understand you better when shouting voice commands.
Geek Trivia: Historically, Valuable Library Books Were Protected With?
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Amazon’s Is Rolling Out “Brief Mode” For Some Echo Users to Make Alexa Less Talkative
Amazon’s Alexa is a useful voice assistant, but sometimes it can talk a little too much.
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What is cloudd, and Why Is It Running on my Mac?
You might have noticed something named cloudd running on your Mac while using Activity Monitor. Should you be worried? What is this? This process is part of macOS, and is related to iCloud.
What Is Fuchsia, Google’s New Operating System?
Fuchsia a totally new operating system, currently in the very early stages of development at Google. How does it differ from Android and Chrome, and might it replace either one? Let’s break it down.
How to Set Up and Use “Routines” in Google Assistant
Google recently announced that Assistant would be getting “Routines” that let people execute multiple actions with a single phrase. Routines are now live, and here’s how to use them.
Best Humidifiers for Your Dry Home or Office
Dry weather isn’t just rough on your skin, it’s rough on your general health and even on your home.
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How to Make Facebook Less Annoying
Facebook has become a must-use service for a lot of people. Unfortunately, Facebook has some annoying quirks, not the least of which is how it handles your news feed. Here’s how to make it better.
How to Get Refunds for Apps and Games
Some app and game stores offer refunds for digital purchases, and some don’t. For example, you can get refunds for Android and iPhone apps, or PC games you purchase from Steam or elsewhere.
Thursday, March 15, 2018
How to Select Hard Drives for Your Home NAS
If you’re thinking about jumping into the NAS game and are shopping around for high-capacity hard drives, not just any hard drive will do. Here’s what you need to know.
Geek Trivia: The Plumbing Traps Found In Sinks, Toilets, And Other Drain-Connected Items Are Intended To?
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6 Great Gardening Gadgets to Improve Your Gardening Experience
With the arrival of Spring comes a ton of gardening chores as plants, well, spring back to life.
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How to Add The Unofficial App Store to Plex
If you use Plex, you’ve probably noticed that their Channel ecosystem is a little…lacking. A third party app store can help.
How To Upgrade and Install a New Graphics Card in Your PC
Upgrading your desktop PC’s graphics card can give your gaming a pretty big boost. It’s also a fairly easy thing to do. In fact, the hardest part is choosing the right card right card in the first place.
What to Do if an App is Incompatible with Your Chromebook
Most Chromebooks have Android app support now, but not all your favorite apps are along for the ride. Here’s what to do if an app you want show up as “not compatible” with your Chromebook.
Philips Hue Dimmer Kit Review: A Great Smart Lighting Entry Point or Addition
Whether you’re thinking about experimenting with smarthome lighting or you want to expand your existing Hue system, the Philips Hue Dimme…
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How to Organize Your iPhone Photos with Albums
Over time, your iPhone’s Camera Roll has probably filled up, making it harder to find images. You can solve this problem by organizing your favorite photos into albums. Here’s how to do it.
How to Watch March Madness Online without a Cable Subscription
March is the biggest month of the year for college basketball. If you’re looking to catch all the March Madness action, but don’t have an active cable subscription, here are the best ways to stream all 67 games. That’s a lotta ball.
Chaos to Order: How Program Uninstallation Can Save Your PC [Sponsored]
A PC is like a work desk. If you use it regularly, it gets piled up with unnecessary programs, files, documents, and folders. But unlike a work desk, it takes more time to put a PC back to order. Indeed, sometimes deleting old files and program shortcuts may be enough, but the programs on your PC require some attention too. In particular, consider uninstalling software you no longer use.
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
How to Use Alexa’s New Follow-Up Commands
If you frequently give Alexa several voice commands in a row for various tasks, you may be pleased to know that Amazon has made it a lot easier and quicker to do so.
5 Ways to Watch Video With Your Long-Distance Friends
The internet is a wonderful tool that lets you connect with friends all around the world.
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Geek Trivia: Which Of These Fruits Was A Symbol Of Hospitality In Colonial America?
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Google Lens in Assistant Can Now Select Text—Here’s How to Do It
Google Lens was heavily touted at Google I/O 2017, and we’re finally starting to see some of its best features start to trickle out. Today, it got the ability to identify and select text from what it sees through your smartphone camera, and then provide results based on that text.
What’s the Best Plex Client For HTPC Users?
You’ve set up a Plex server, and now you’re wondering about the best client for watching stuff on your home theater PC. The answer: it depends.
Amazon and Twitch Will Now Give Away Free PC Games Every Month
The best part of having an Amazon Prime Membership is occasionally getting surprise with new, free stuff just for being a member.
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What is the HEIF (or HEIC) Image Format?
The High Efficiency Image Format (HEIF) is used by Apple’s iPhone and is also coming to Google’s Android P. It’s a modern replacement for JPEG, and often has the .HEIC file extension.
6 Great Smartwatches For $200 Or Less
Smartwatches are an extension of your smartphone and often come with a similarly high price tag.
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How to Get Missing Apps from Your Android Phone to Your Wear Watch
On Android Wear 2.0, apps from your phone no longer sync to your watch automatically. But not all apps available for Wear show up in Play Store search results, making it hard to find everything that’s on your phone.
How to Duplicate Photos and Videos on Your iPhone
Duplicate files are often seen as a bad thing, but when it comes to photos and videos, that’s not always the case. Fortunately, duplication them is simple to do on iOS.
Watch Out For These Dirty Tricks From Discounted Software Resellers
Low-price listings for expensive software like Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative Suite are usually too good to be true—especially on secondary markets like Craigslist or eBay. Let’s take a look at some of the ways scammers try to rip you off.
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
How to FaceTime on Your Apple TV
FaceTime is a great way to video chat with long-distance friends and family, but if you’d rather keep your hands free while you chill on the couch, you can FaceTime on your Apple TV instead of your iPhone or iPad.
Geek Trivia: The First Smartphone-Powered Satellite Is Powered By The?
Think you know the answer? Click through to see if you're right!
How to Set AdBlock to Only Block Ads on Specific Sites
If you like the idea of blocking overbearing ads, but don’t want to steal revenue from sites you like, you can set AdBlock to allow all ads by default, and then block them as needed.
How to Organize Your iPhone Home Screen
Your iPhone’s Home Screen is a pretty personal place. Do you sort apps type, use folders, or is it just a mess that only you can decipher? Whichever way you like things, here’s how to organize your iOS Home Screen.
The iPhone X Might Be Samsung’s Most Profitable Phone: How Tech Companies Rely on Each Other
Tech companies hate each other, right? Reading the popular tech press certainly makes you think so, but don’t buy into it.
Monday, March 12, 2018
Do Smart Bulbs Use Up Electricity Even When They’re Off?
Smart bulbs are super convenient, and can save you money compared to traditional bulbs. One question, though, is whether they still use electricity even when the lights are turned off.
7 Great Apps For Tracking The Weather
When making plans for the next few days or week, it’s useful to know the weather forecast—even if just to know when to bundle up o…
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Geek Trivia: Alcohol Sold For Human Consumption In The United States Has Trace Amounts Of?
Think you know the answer? Click through to see if you're right!
How to Fix “The Driver Being Installed Is Not Validated For This Computer” on Intel Computers
Intel’s graphics drivers will refuse to install on some computers, even if they use Intel graphics chips. If you see this error message, your computer manufacturer wants you to install drivers from their website, not directly from Intel. But there’s a way to bypass this message and install the Intel drivers anyway.
What’s the Latest Version of Android?
Android can be confusing. There are a lot of different versions, and many of them are still running on devices today. Keeping up with the latest version can be a challenge, but fret not—we have you covered.
Are Full Color Smart Bulbs Worth It?
There’s an obvious appeal to smart bulbs—you can control them with you voice or smartphone, set timers, and do all sorts of neat t…
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How To Not Drop Your Phone
Glass is back, baby. And glass is back for backs. Most new high end phones this year—like the iPhone X and Galaxy S9, have glass screens and backs. This could mean expensive repairs, so let’s go back to basics, and look at how to not drop your phone.
Why are Mechanical Keyboard Keycaps so Expensive?
If you’re getting into the mechanical keyboard hobby, prepare your wallet for some serious hits. In addition to the hardware itself, the customized keycap sets that you add to the mechanical switches can be shockingly expensive. But why?
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Geek Trivia: The Highest Grossing James Bond Film, Adjusted For Inflation, Is?
Think you know the answer? Click through to see if you're right!
Can You Really Make Money Mining Bitcoin With Your Gaming PC?
People mining cryptocurrency have driven up the price of GPUs. So, if you’re a gamer and you already have a powerful GPU in your gaming PC, can you really make some extra cash mining cryptocurrency (like Bitcoin) with your PC?
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Geek Trivia: 19th Century Abolitionists Used Which Of The Following For Baking As A Form Of Political Protest?
Think you know the answer? Click through to see if you're right!
Why Old Video Games Were So Hard: The Unofficial History of Nintendo Hard
If you’re old enough to have played games in the 80s or early 90s, you’ll remember that they were hard: really damn hard. Why they were they so infuriatingly difficult? The answer presents a fascinating look at the history of video games.
Friday, March 9, 2018
How to Factory Reset Your Synology NAS
If your Synology NAS drive is giving you problems, or you’re just upgrading to a whole new system, there are a few ways you can reset it, depending on what you want to do with it.
Geek Trivia: The First (And Presently Only) U.S. State With An Official Microbe Is?
Think you know the answer? Click through to see if you're right!
Super Smash Bros., Also Other Games, Are Coming to the Switch
Every once in a while, Nintendo holds a Nintendo Direct event to announce what’s coming up for the company.
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Troubleshoot Browsing Issues by Reloading the DNS Client Cache on Windows
Have you ever gotten DNS errors while trying to browse the web, but another computer on the same network is working just fine? There’s a good chance you need to clear the computer’s DNS cache to fix it.
How to Access Your Ubuntu Bash Files in Windows (and Your Windows System Drive in Bash)
Linux environments you install from the Store (like Ubuntu and openSUSE) keep their files in a hidden folder. You can access this folder to back up and view files. You can also access your Windows files from the Bash shell.
How to Force the Dark Quick Settings Theme in Android Oreo
Android Oreo (8.1) automatically applies either a light or dark theme to the Quick Settings menu depending on your wallpaper. If you want a specific wallpaper and theme instead, there’s an easy way to force it.
Everything You Need to Know About Apple’s AirPower Charging Mat
With Apple’s forthcoming AirPower charging mat they actually did something very unusual: they announced the product before it was ready to go.
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How to Silence WhatsApp Group Notification Sounds
Group chats are the bane of most WhatsApp users’ existence. Just when you put your phone down, your mates decide to solve world hunger, the nuclear proliferation problem, and the unconscionable decision to push Game of Thrones’ final season back to 2019. Here’s how to get a handle on all those notifications.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
How to Get File Explorer Tabs Now in Windows 10
Microsoft is working on a “Sets” feature that will bring tabs to File Explorer and other applications in the Redstone 5 update, which should appear in October 2018. But you can get tabs in File Explorer today without waiting.
N30 Pro Controller Review: A Dose of Nostalgia For Your Switch Controller Needs
The Nintendo Switch Pro controller is a pricey way to get a more comfortable alternative to the standard Joy-Con.
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Geek Trivia: The Oldest 20-Sided Dice Belonged To Which Ancient Culture?
Think you know the answer? Click through to see if you're right!
Alexa’s Newest Music Voice Commands Let You Be Even More Vague
An Echo is a great way to listen to music, except for one minor issue: your voice commands have to be pretty precise most of the time.
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How to Use Zsh (or Another Shell) in Windows 10
Ubuntu and the other Linux distributions available on Windows 10 use the Bash shell by default, but that’s not your only option. Windows has a compatibility layer for running Linux software on Windows, and you can use it to run Zsh or whatever shell you prefer.
How To Create Custom Templates in Excel
Odds are pretty good that you create the same types of Excel spreadsheets over and over again. Creating a custom template can help make that process a lot smoother.
How to Use Google Keep for Frustration-Free Note-Taking
There are a lot of note-taking apps out there. Google Keep may not be as powerful as services like Evernote, but its value is in its simplicity. Let’s talk about how to make the most of it.
How to Delete or Offload an App on iPhone or iPad
If you’re anything like me, you’ve downloaded dozens of iOS apps, tried them, and then never used them again. Instead of leaving them to clutter up your home screen, you should get rid of them.
How Android “P” Will Block Apps from Spying On You
Privacy is a major concern these days, and it’s easy to worry about smartphones that are “always listening.” To combat this, Google is making a major change to how background apps are handled in its upcoming Android P.
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Which Smart Plug Should You Buy?
Pretty much every company that dabbles in smarthome technology sells their own smart plug. With so many choices, it can be hard to choose the best one to use with your lamps and other appliances.
Geek Trivia: In The Early 19th Century, England Was Gripped By A Craze For?
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These 5 Apps Turn Your To-Do List and Productivity Into a Game
To-do lists are the bane of many people’s existence but also a necessary evil if you want to maximize your productivity.
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Get the Latest Xbox Features Before Everyone Else with the Insider Program
Microsoft offers an “Xbox Insider Program” that works a lot like the Windows Insider Program. Join it to get access to new versions of the Xbox system software and apps before everyone else does.
Amazon Is Offering Discounted Amazon Prime to Medicaid Recipients
Amazon wants to sell things to everyone on Earth, but families with a lower income can have a hard time joining the company’s Prime-fuel…
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How To Tag Any Windows File For Easy Organization
If Windows Search just isn’t cutting it for helping you find your files, you can give it a little help by adding tags to any Windows file.
River Power Station Review: A Perfect Power Source for Emergencies and More
If you’re looking for a source of clean power that’s easy to use, will power nearly all your gadgets big and small, and works as we…
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What is Project Treble on Android and Will My Phone Get It?
Non-consistent updates on Android devices have plagued the platform since its initial rise to popularity. Project Treble is Google’s plan to help manufacturers streamline the update process for more timely updates.
How to Use a More Secure iPhone Passcode
Touch ID and Face ID have made unlocking iPhones super fast and secure. It’s hard for someone to fake your fingerprint or face. Now, let’s do something about those short passcodes.
Why There Will Never Be a Spotify For TV Shows and Movies
Spotify is great. $10 a month gets you access to pretty much all the music ever made, and you’re done. We’re not going to get that kind of thing for TV shows and movies.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
How to Update Plex on Your Synology NAS
Synology makes it super easy to install Plex Media Server on its DiskStation NAS boxes, but missing from the simple user interface is a way to update Plex Media Server if a new version releases. Don’t worry, though—there’s still a way to do it.
8 Products for Book Lovers (That Aren’t Books)
Looking for a gift for a book lover and don’t want to buy them a book or gift voucher?
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Geek Trivia: Instead Of The Lunar Rover, NASA Considered Using Which Of The Following Instead?
Think you know the answer? Click through to see if you're right!
These Are Bluetooth Shoes That Order Pizza Hut Pizza and Control Your TV
What if your shoes could order pizza for you? While we’re at it, what if your baseball cap could order beer?
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How To Keep Track of Your Streaming And Broadcast Shows With Trakt.TV
Between cable networks putting out fantastic shows, streaming platforms making serialized originals, and broadcast networks trying to keep up, keeping track of all your shows can be a headache. The Trakt.TV service can help.
How to Prevent Chrome from Reloading Tabs When You Switch to Them
Chrome has built-in memory management that causes inactive tabs to “sleep” as RAM is filled. When you click the tab again, it has to reload the page. It’s annoying.
How to Put a Folder on Your iPhone’s Dock
The dock on your iPhone only gives you space for four icons (eight on an iPad), and most people keep just their favorite apps there. But did you know you can stick app folders on the dock, too? Here’s how.
How to Disable Notifications on Windows 10
Notifications can be distracting, but Windows 10 has a one-click switch that disables all of them. You can also disable notifications for individual apps, or hide the many other notifications that appear throughout Windows.
Monday, March 5, 2018
You Don’t Have to Pause After Saying “Alexa”, “Hey Siri”, or “OK Google”
Raise your hand if you summon your smart speaker by saying its wake word and then waiting a second or two for it to light up. You might be surprise to know that you don’t have to wait for a response.
Geek Trivia: The First City To Install Curb Cuts In Their Sidewalks Was?
Think you know the answer? Click through to see if you're right!
The Best Small TVs to Put In Your Kitchen
Between meal prep, snack time, and the way the kitchen functions as a hub in many homes, many of us spend a lot of time there.
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How to Broadcast Your Xbox One Games on Twitch or Mixer
The Xbox One can broadcast your gameplay on Microsoft’s own Mixer service, but it also lets you broadcast on Twitch. Twitch streaming just requires some quick setup the first time you do it.
How to Change the DNS Server on Your iPhone or iPad
Your iPhone or iPad normally uses the DNS servers provided by whatever Wi-Fi network you use. But you can set a custom DNS server and use Google Public DNS, OpenDNS, or any other DNS server you prefer.
Use These 7 Great Apps to Share Your Location with Friends and Family
When you’re trying to coordinate plans with friends or just find time for plans with them in the first place it can be really useful to…
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What is sandboxd, and Why Is It Running on my Mac?
You noticed something called “sandboxd” while looking through Activity Monitor, and now you’re here. So what is this thing?
How to Install and Use the Linux Bash Shell on Windows 10
The Windows Subsystem for Linux, introduced in the Anniversary Update, became a stable feature in the Fall Creators Update. You can now run Ubuntu and openSUSE on Windows, with Fedora and more Linux distributions coming soon.
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Geek Trivia: Nintendo Created Mario When They Failed To Get The Licensing Rights To?
Think you know the answer? Click through to see if you're right!
How to Sign For a Package Online (So You Don’t Have to Wait at Home)
You don’t have to wait at home to sign for a package—even if you have a package on the way that requires a signature. UPS and FedEx both allow you to sign for many packages online, and the US Postal Service also allows you to authorize deliveries that might not occur if you weren’t there in person.
Saturday, March 3, 2018
Geek Trivia: At The Top Of The First Escalator Installed In London, An Attendant Would Offer Shoppers?
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Re-Live 90s Computing In Your Browser Right Now
Remember the 90s? Computers were slow, and connected over dialup, but we loved them anyway. If you ever feel nostalgic for that era you can revisit it online, right now, without leaving your web browser.
Friday, March 2, 2018
How to Get the Most Out of Your Arlo Pro Cameras
If you have Netgear’s Arlo Pro camera system, the fully wireless capabilities are no doubt treating you well. However, there might be some other features that you’re missing out on.
Geek Trivia: Which Of The Following Is The Rarest Big Cat Species?
Think you know the answer? Click through to see if you're right!
The Best iTunes Alternatives for macOS
iTunes is hot mess. Bloated and ponderous, iTunes continues Apple’s ongoing trend of having lost its design mojo. But fear not: there are some pretty good iTunes alternatives for macOS Sierra.
How To Add and Change Cell Borders In Excel
Excel spreadsheets can be hard to read at a glance, thanks to dense information and the grid formatting. Spending a little time on your spreadsheet to make it easier to read is a solid plus, starting with the borders around different cells.
6 Inexpensive Must-Have Emergency Items For Your Car
Nobody likes thinking about emergencies (and we all hope we’re never in one) but a little planning can go a long way towards staying sa…
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