Blog

Hacks & Workarounds

1184 articles

All articles tagged Hacks & Workarounds.

3 Prime Video Thrillers to Binge This Weekend: June 5-7

Prime Video's thriller lineup offers three distinct flavors of tension this weekend. From Nicolas Winding Refn's neon-drenched crime fever dream to espionage drama, here's what's worth your time.

Manaal Khan·6 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

3 Hulu Shows to Stream This Weekend: June 5-7 Picks

Hulu's June 5-7 weekend lineup brings Mindy Kaling's Gen Z workplace comedy 'Not Suitable for Work,' the fifth season of 'Welcome to Wrexham,' and the critically acclaimed return of 'Deli Boys.' Here's what to watch and why each show deserves your time.

Huma Shazia·6 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

Python Plotting: How to Build Better Charts Than Excel

Excel charts work for quick visuals, but Python's Matplotlib and Seaborn libraries offer automation, precision, and aesthetics that spreadsheets can't match. Here's how to set up a professional plotting environment and start creating publication-ready visualizations.

Manaal Khan·6 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

4 Galaxy Watch Features That Deserve More Attention

Samsung's Galaxy Watch packs several underused features that can transform daily interactions. From gesture controls that let you reply to texts without touching the screen to smart notification routing between phone and watch, these settings are buried in menus most users never explore.

Manaal Khan·6 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

Claude vs Gemini: Context Window Size Isn't What Matters

A 150-page document test reveals that Claude outperforms Gemini not because of raw context window capacity, but because of source fidelity and reasoning precision. Both models now exceed 1 million tokens, yet real-world performance depends on how accurately they reason across complex documents.

Huma Shazia·6 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

Sigma File Manager Shows What Windows Explorer Should Be

Windows File Explorer hasn't fundamentally changed since the Windows 7 era. Sigma File Manager, a free open-source alternative, demonstrates what modern file management could look like with better navigation, tagging, and project-focused workflows.

Manaal Khan·6 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

This $199 Adapter Brings CarPlay Back to GM EVs

General Motors removed Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from its electric vehicles, but a third-party adapter called EV Play LT restores both features. The device works on 2024-2026 model year Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC EVs, though GM could disable it via software update.

Huma Shazia·6 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

NFC Tags Under Your Nightstand Fix Smart Home Bedtime Woes

Automating a bedtime routine stumps most smart home setups because there's no reliable signal that everyone is ready for lights-out. One user solved this with a pair of NFC tags hidden under each nightstand, requiring both partners to tap before the routine runs.

Huma Shazia·5 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

3 Open-Source Apps That Replace Your Paid Subscriptions

Subscription fatigue is real. ONLYOFFICE, Jellyfin, and KeePass offer free alternatives to Microsoft 365, streaming services, and password managers. Setup takes a weekend, but the savings are permanent.

Manaal Khan·5 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

7 NERF Blaster 3D Printing Projects You Can Build This Weekend

The 3D printing community has turned foam dart blasters into a legitimate engineering hobby. These seven projects range from beginner-friendly sidearms to a 300 FPS powerhouse that outperforms anything Hasbro sells.

Huma Shazia·5 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

3 Netflix Documentaries to Watch This Weekend (June 5-7)

Netflix drops three heavyweight documentaries this weekend, including a deep dive into Michael Jackson's 2005 trial, a British cold case reexamination, and a new rapid-response headline series. Here's what's worth your time.

Huma Shazia·5 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

4 Ways to Bypass Windows 11's Forced Microsoft Account

Microsoft keeps closing workarounds that let users install Windows 11 with a local account. Here are four methods that still work in 2026, from registry tweaks to modified installers.

Manaal Khan·5 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

Samsung Gallery Now Does AI Edits Most People Buy Apps For

Samsung's built-in Gallery app has quietly become a full-featured photo editor with AI object removal, style filters, and custom sticker creation. The tools are accurate enough that many users have stopped downloading third-party apps like Snapseed or CapCut. Samsung is targeting 800 million Galaxy AI-enabled devices by end of 2026.

Manaal Khan·5 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

3 Excel Projects That Replace Your Paper Habit Trackers

How-To Geek's Tony Phillips published a guide to three weekend Excel projects. The projects turn the spreadsheet into a habit tracker, car maintenance log, and grocery planner. Each uses modern Excel functions like SEQUENCE and XLOOKUP to automate data entry and visualization.

Manaal Khan·5 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

5 ESP32 Projects You Can Build in a Weekend

The ESP32 microcontroller is cheap, powerful, and perfect for smart home projects. Start with these five beginner-friendly builds that teach you how to flash firmware, wire breadboards, and write basic code without getting overwhelmed.

Huma Shazia·5 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

Claude's No-Code Canvas Runs Python Scripts Without Setup

Claude's built-in execution environment lets you describe a data problem in plain English and get working code back in minutes. No Python install, no debugging sessions, no dependency errors. It writes, runs, and fixes code inside the chat window.

Huma Shazia·5 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

This Free Samsung App Beats Standard One-Handed Mode

Samsung's One Hand Operation + replaces awkward thumb stretches with simple edge swipes. The app has 16 million downloads but remains mostly unknown outside power-user circles. It turns a 6.8-inch Galaxy Ultra into something you can actually use with one hand.

Huma Shazia·5 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

5 Smart Home Devices Worth Paying More For

Not all smart home gear is worth the upgrade cost, but some categories deserve the premium. How-To Geek senior editor Tim Brookes singles out five device types where cheaping out creates more problems than it solves, from fire-risk smart plugs to locks that fail when you need them most.

Huma Shazia·5 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

7 Linux Apps That Replace Adobe, Premiere Pro for Free

A veteran tech journalist installed Zorin OS on older Windows machines to avoid e-waste. What started as a recycling project revealed free, open-source Linux apps powerful enough to handle real creative work—photo editing, video production, 3D design—without the recurring cost or subscription lock-in of Adobe and other commercial suites.

Manaal Khan·5 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

3 Netflix Shows to Binge This Weekend (June 5-7)

Netflix added three complete series perfect for weekend marathons. Cobra Kai brings decades of karate rivalry to its final season. Grey's Anatomy continues its 20-plus season hospital drama run. Resident Alien delivers deadpan extraterrestrial humor across four seasons.

Huma Shazia·5 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

5 Times PETG Beats PLA for 3D Printing (and What to Expect)

PLA is the beginner's favorite for 3D printing, but it cracks under pressure, melts in the sun, and warps in hot cars. PETG costs a bit more and needs different settings, but it survives the real world. Here's when to make the switch.

Huma Shazia·5 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

6 Ways to Stay Cool Indoors This Summer Without Breaking the Bank

As summer electricity bills hit a projected 12-year high of $784, homeowners are rethinking indoor cooling strategies. From supercooling techniques to strategic window management, here's how to survive the heat without destroying your budget.

Manaal Khan·3 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

3 Android Bluetooth Settings That Actually Improve Audio

Android often defaults to Bluetooth settings that prioritize stability over sound quality. Here's which settings are worth changing for better audio, and which popular 'fixes' you can safely ignore.

Huma Shazia·3 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

5 ESP32 Alternatives for Microcontroller Projects in 2026

The ESP32 has dominated DIY electronics for years, but the microcontroller landscape now offers specialized chips for specific needs. From the budget-friendly ESP8266 to the dual-architecture RP2350, each alternative trades off connectivity, power consumption, and processing capabilities differently.

Manaal Khan·3 Jun 2026