How-To Geek - We Explain Technology

An Android User’s Take on the iPhone

I started using Android with the original Motorola Droid back in 2009, and I’ve been a hardcore Android user ever since. Four months ago, I got an iPhone 8 and have been using it alongside my main Android phone. This is an Android user’s take on using the iPhone.

Why Do Some Smartphones Use Multiple Cameras?

Lots of high-end smartphones have added multiple camera modules and lenses to the back of their designs. But why? The fact is that they do different things for different phones, so we’re here to break it all down for you.

How to Disable the “Low Disk Space” Warning on Windows

Windows displays “Low Disk Space” notifications whenever any partition on your computer has less than 200 MB of space remaining. Here’s how to get rid of the notifications, even if you can’t free up the space.

How to Protect Your Privacy on Facebook

In response to the Cambridge Analytica fiasco and the new EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Facebook has started making it easier for people to control who and what can see and use your data on Facebook. Let’s take a look at what you can do to protect your privacy.

What’s the Difference Between Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin Gold, and Others?

Despite their names, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin Gold, Bitcoin Diamond, Bitcoin Private, and others are not the same thing as Bitcoin. They’re based on Bitcoin, and are piggybacking on its name, but they’re different things. Here’s how to know which Bitcoin variant is which.

The Best Shooter Games (For People Who Suck At Shooters)

Shooter games dominate the medium, which can be discouraging if you’re not actually very good at them. Luckily for you, we’ve found quite a few great FPS games that are a blast to play no matter what your skill level.

How to Send Web Pages from Chrome to Your Phone

There are times when you look something up in Chrome on your PC, but want to transfer it over to your smartphone. While there isn’t really a straightforward, built-in way to do that, we do have some other solutions for you for both iPhone and Android.

The Best Smartphone VR Headsets

A full-scale VR rig is expensive, but you don’t need to spend a fortune to try out VR. If you have a decent modern smartphone, you can use one of these headsets to get into VR on the cheap.

How to Create the Perfect Facebook Cover Photo

Your Facebook profile says a lot about you. It’s likely your most visible online presence, so it’s worth making it look good. Here’s how to pick a great cover photo.

The Best Ways to Send Money with Your Phone

If you need to pay someone back for dinner, send rent money to a roommate, or send someone cash when they need it, you can do it all easily from your smartphone. We’ve rounded up the best mobile payment apps that help you send money easily.

Is 24/7 Professional Home Security Monitoring Worth It?

Having 24/7 professional monitoring of your security system might seem like a great way to keep your home safe and catch burglars in the act, but is it really? Or does it just provide a false sense of security on which you’re wasting a monthly fee?

The 5 Best Ultra Portable Photo Printers For Speedy Snaps

Thanks to our ever present smartphones it’s easier than ever to snap tons of photos. But what about those times when you want to print one out though? We’ve tracked down some of the best ultra portable photo printers out there so you can snap and print on the go.

How To “Silence” Your Noisy Mechanical Keyboard

Mechanical keyboards are loud. It’s just something you have to deal with if you like the feel of the keys. Or is it? Lately there have been some impressive developments in “silencing” mechanical keyboard mechanisms.

How to Find Your Lost AirPods

Apple has a “Find My AirPods” tool that lets you view their location on a map. You can even make your AirPods play a surprisingly loud beeping sound if they’re powered on.

Use This Playlist to Test Your New Headphones

Don’t take the claims of headphone makers at face value. Use this playlist to test them out (and learn how to create your own playlist along the way).

When Will Your Phone Get Android Oreo?

Android updates always pose the same question: when will my phone get it? Here’s what we know about the most popular handsets and their current status for Android Oreo.

Shutting Down Doesn’t Fully Shut Down Windows 10 (But Restarting Does)

When you click “Shut Down” on your Windows 10 PC, Windows doesn’t fully shut down. It hibernates the kernel, saving its state so it can boot faster. If you’re experiencing computer problems and need to reset that state, you’ll need to restart your PC instead.

Not Getting macOS Notifications? Here’s How to Fix It (Without Rebooting)

If your Mac is mysteriously no longer showing notifications, restarting your Mac will most likely fix the problem. However, here’s a quick way to remedy the situation without restarting.

Best USB-C Docks for Your MacBook Pro

Newer MacBooks are sorely lacking in ports, but you can easily upgrade your experience with a full featured and flexible USB-C dock that not only offer more ports but can turn your Macbook into a desktop workstation.

Microsoft Should Name Windows 10 Updates After Dogs

Dear Microsoft: your names for Windows 10 updates aren’t memorable, and therefore impossible for humans to keep track of. You know what humans can keep track of? Dogs.

The Best Keyless Lock For Every Need

Somewhere between a regular door lock and a full-blown smart lock, there sits a middle ground. These dumb locks, with keyless options like keypads, are that middle ground.

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GEEK TRIVIA

When Khrushchev Visited IBM’s California Facility In 1959, He Brought The Concept For What Home With Him?

FYI GEEK

Google and Carriers Plan to Replace SMS With a New Protocol Called ‘Chat’

Google tried, and failed, to dominate messaging with Hangouts, Voice, Allo, Duo, and even Wave at one point. The next strategy: replacing SMS with the RCS protocol, and calling it “Chat.” Read More »

Facebook Is Using Dark Patterns To Undermine EU Privacy Rules

GDPR, a new European privacy law, means users must explicitly give permission for most data collection. Facebook would like you to give them that permission. Read More »

‘My Time at Reddit Made the World a Worse Place’ Says Former Head of Product

Dan McComas, former Head of Product at Reddit, does not feel great about growing one of the web’s biggest sites. Read More »

Microsoft Kills OneNote Desktop in Favor of the Microsoft Store Version

Microsoft is killing off the “desktop” version of OneNote, and recommends people use the Windows 10 version instead. Read More »

Skill Blueprints Lets You Design Your Own Alexa Responses

Amazon just launched Alexa Blueprints, meaning you can create custom responses for your Echo and also set up a bunch of personalized games. Read More »

Minecraft’s Official Website Distributed Malware-Infested Skins

Minecraft skins hosted on the official Minecraft website were infected with malware, according to Avast. Read More »

You Can Still File Your Taxes Today

Good news if you missed yesterday’s US tax deadline: the IRS issued a 24-hour extension. You have until tonight to file on time. Read More »

Chrome Now (Sort Of) Mutes Auto-Playing Videos

Chrome 66, out today, supposedly blocks one of the most annoying things on the web: auto-playing videos with sound. Read More »

Tube Is YouTube Without Any Attention Stealing Clutter

Web: Search for a video, watch that video, then get on with your life. That’s Tube, a third party website that strips YouTube back to basics. Read More »

Stop Using Six Digit Numeric iPhone Passcodes Right Now

Sorry, iPhone users: your six digit numeric passcode isn’t enough anymore. Use a longer alphanumeric code if you really want to lock things down. Read More »

Constant Blue Screens Delayed The Windows 10 April 2018 Update

The Windows 10 April 2018 update, which includes the new Timeline feature, was supposed to come out last week, but Microsoft never shipped it. The reason: a blocking bug, discovered at the last minute, that created reliability issues. Read More »

Why Isn’t PBS Offered By Sling and Other Streaming Services?

PBS doesn’t have the streaming rights to its shows, which is why cord cutting viewers like you can’t watch your local PBS station. Read More »

Plover.io Quickly Shares Files Between Local Devices

Quickly transferring files from, say, a Mac to an Android is more complicated than it needs to be. Plover makes it simple for devices on the same network. Read More »

Voice Assistants Are Only Intuitive If You’re Already Tech Savvy

It’s easy to confuse “familiar” with “intuitive”. This applies to voice interfaces as much as it does to desktop ones. Read More »

Headlines About ‘The Dark Web’ Are Usually Nonsense

Think critically when news outlets report about private data “showing up on the dark web,” because it probably doesn’t mean what you imagine. Read More »