Explainers Articles - How-To Geek

Why You Should Never Disable Automatic Updates in Chrome

Google Chrome automatically updates itself. There’s no easy way to turn off automatic updates, but you can do it in several ways—by stopping the Google Update Service that handles automatic updates, for example. H...

Why You Should Upgrade Your Old Computer Monitor

Monitor tech has advanced dramatically in the last few years. If you’ve been focused on replacing other components, you might be long overdue for a monitor upgrade. Here’s what you’ve been missing!...

How to Write an Apple II BASIC Program in Your Web Browser

Have you ever wanted to program a vintage computer? If you use the BASIC programming language and run a simulation of the legendary Apple II in your browser, it’s easy! You’ll get an excellent idea what programmin...

What are AAA (Triple-A) Video Games?

You might have heard the term AAA or Triple-A video games before. These are big-budget titles that you see commercials for on TV. Here’s what they are, and how they shape the gaming industry.

Vann Vicente Apr 1st

Can You Get In-Stock Alerts From Stores? Not Important Ones.

In times of crisis, hoarding and overburdened supply chains can make essential goods hard to find. While some retail websites provide a “Notify Me” option for out of stock items, this rarely applies to common hous...

Joel Cornell Mar 27th

How Long Can Coronavirus Live on a Smartphone?

Smartphones are germ magnets at the best of times. With the spread of the novel coronavirus, they’re a potential vector for infection. The virus can potentially live on your phone’s screen for days....

Does Zoom Really Monitor Which Apps You’re Using on a Call?

Viral social media posts are alleging that Zoom, a popular video-conferencing tool, lets hosts “monitor what programs users on the call are running.” So, can your boss (or friend) really see what you’re doin...

Chris Hoffman Mar 25th

Does Online Gaming Really Use a Ton of Bandwidth?

Viral social media posts and online articles are encouraging gamers to stop playing, arguing that games are “the biggest threat to internet bandwidth in the next few months.” Here’s why that’s wrong....

Chris Hoffman Mar 24th

What’s the Difference Between Phone Cases, Protectors, Skins, and Covers?

Everyone has a mobile phone, but not everyone has the same level of protection on it. Here’s a look at how phone cases, protectors, skins, and covers protect your device—and which you should buy....

Vann Vicente Mar 23rd

Are Online Transcription Services Safe and Private?

Transcription was once a manual, tedious process. Doctors, journalists, and a swath of assorted professionals would record their notes and conversations on scratchy Dictaphone tape, and then sit down in front of their compute...

Text-Based VR: Explore the Pioneering World of MUSHes

Can you create virtual reality (VR) with nothing but text? People who MUSH think so! The MUSH game format (which is now 30-years-old) allows online players to collaboratively build text-based online worlds where their imagina...

Bit Rot: How Hard Drives and SSDs Die Over Time

Computer storage is both a blessing and a curse. We can store terabytes of photos, documents, and more at home. But that data is more precarious than we might assume thanks to a phenomenon known as bit rot or data degradation...

What Exactly Is a “Gacha” Video Game?

Gacha games are popular with mobile gamers all over the world. The term comes from Japan, but the games have spread internationally. Here’s how they work, and what makes them so addictive!

Vann Vicente Mar 13th

What Is Discord, and Is It Only for Gamers?

Discord offers free VoIP, text, and video chat servers, along with unique features for gamers like Twitch integration. It’s also a must-have for doing business in the gaming industry, and it might give other enterprises...

Joel Cornell Mar 12th

TN vs. IPS vs. VA: What’s the Best Display Panel Technology?

When you shop for a computer monitor, you have to choose a TN, IPS, or VA. The best one for you depends on what you’ll predominantly use it for. And, if you’re a gamer, different panel technologies are ideal for c...

What Is YouTube Premium, and Is It Worth It?

YouTube Premium is a monthly subscription service that promises to improve your viewing experience on the internet’s largest video platform. Here’s what you get for your money, so you can decide whether it’s...

Vann Vicente Mar 9th

What Does “OTOH” Mean, and How Do You Use It?

OTOH is a piece of internet slang that’s been around forever, but it still pops up on Reddit and Twitter to this day. So what does OTOH mean, where did it come from, and how do you use it?

How Secure Is Your Home Wi-Fi?

When it comes to modern technology, everything is a compromise between convenience and security. Everyone wants fast access to the internet, which is why Wi-Fi is everywhere. But how secure is your home Wi-Fi router? What can...

What Does “IDGI” Mean, and How Do You Use It?

IDGI is a common internet abbreviation that finds its way into Reddit threads and Facebook comments. But what does it mean? How do you use IDGI, and where did it come from?

What Is the Konami Code, and How Do You Use it?

Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A. It’s called the Konami Code, and it often meant the difference between life and death in a video game back in the 1980s.

What Are “Freemium” Apps, and How Do They Work?

Many apps we use follow a “freemium” business model. The combination of the words “free” and “premium” means you can download these apps for free, but you have to pay to get the premium fea...

Vann Vicente Feb 25th

Even 25 Years Later, the Iomega Zip Is Unforgettable

The year is 1995. You’re stuck with slow floppy disks that only hold 1.44 MB of data. But there’s an exciting new technology: Zip drives, which can hold 100 MB and free you from floppy disks!...

Will the EU Make Apple Get Rid of Lightning on the iPhone?

Earlier this year, after an almost decade-long period of anguish, the European Parliament approved binding plans for a Europe-wide charging standard. But what does this actually mean? Well, it’s complicated—but it...

What Does “NGL” Mean, and How Do You Use It?

Despite NGL’s popularity on Reddit and Twitter, it hasn’t gained the mainstream use of some other abbreviations. NGL stands for “Not Gonna Lie,” and it’s still common in many corners of the web....

What Is an Encryption Backdoor?

You might have heard the term “encryption backdoor” in the news recently. We’ll explain what it is, why it’s one of the most hotly contested topics in the tech world, and how it could affect the device...

Vann Vicente Feb 20th