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Hacks & Workarounds

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All articles tagged Hacks & Workarounds.

10 Ways to Build a Better Outdoor Sound System This Summer

Your tiny Bluetooth speaker won't cut it for backyard parties. Here's how to set up outdoor audio that actually sounds good, whether you want a permanent wired system or a portable solution you can take anywhere.

Manaal Khan·3 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

Your USB-C Cable Might Run 20x Slower Than Your Device

That USB-C cable in your phone box probably tops out at USB 2.0 speeds, even if your device supports 10Gbps. Two identical-looking cables can differ by a factor of 20 in transfer speed. Here's how to tell what you actually have.

Huma Shazia·3 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

How to Optimize Your Smart Home for Summer Heat

Your smart home can do more than adjust the thermostat from your phone. With the right setup, it can track weather forecasts, learn your habits, and automatically prepare for heatwaves before you feel a thing.

Manaal Khan·3 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

5 Samsung Apps to Uninstall on Every Galaxy Phone

Samsung Galaxy phones ship with redundant apps that waste storage and clutter your home screen. A veteran tech writer shares the five Samsung apps he removes from every new device, explaining why each one is expendable.

Manaal Khan·3 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

8 New Paramount+ Shows and Movies Arriving in June 2026

Paramount+ is loading up June with a mix of original documentaries, live events, and returning series. Highlights include The Agency's second season, a UFC documentary on Ilia Topuria, and the 79th Annual Tony Awards.

Manaal Khan·3 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·7 min

Why Firefox Lost to Chrome Despite Being Free and Private

Firefox had everything going for it: open-source code, strong privacy protections, and zero cost. Yet it now holds just 3% of the global browser market while Chrome dominates at 70%. The answer lies not in which browser is better, but in who owns the world's most popular search engine.

Manaal Khan·3 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

How to Hide 3D Print Seams: A Practical Guide

Those vertical lines on your FDM prints are seams, and they form wherever the printer starts and stops a layer. You can't eliminate them entirely, but slicer settings and manual painting tools can make them nearly invisible.

Huma Shazia·3 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

10 Perplexity Tips That Turn It Into a Real Research Tool

Perplexity AI works fine as a Google alternative, but its paid features go much further. From cross-checking answers with multiple AI models to automating daily research tasks, these techniques help you get more value from a tool many people underuse.

Huma Shazia·3 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

10 Tasker Automations That Make Android Actually Smart

Tasker remains the most powerful automation app for Android, but its learning curve keeps many users away. Here are ten practical automations that show what the $3.99 app can do, from weather-based alarms to automatic wifi connections.

Manaal Khan·3 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

Amazon Prime Day 2026 Runs June 23-26: What to Know

Amazon has confirmed Prime Day 2026 will run June 23-26, marking the earliest Prime Day in the event's history. The four-day format returns for the second consecutive year, and the June timing appears designed to avoid conflicts with the FIFA World Cup and July 4th celebrations.

Manaal Khan·3 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

4 HBO Max Shows Worth Watching This Week (June 1-7)

HBO Max subscribers looking for something to stream before the big June releases have solid options. This week's picks include a unique castle renovation series, a basketball dynasty drama, and two comedy gems with strong critical reception.

Manaal Khan·3 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

How to Fix Stuck Pixels on Your OLED TV for Free

Stuck pixels can ruin an otherwise perfect OLED display, but a free app might solve the problem without a trip to the service center. Here's what causes stuck pixels and how to fix them at home.

Manaal Khan·3 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

Samsung One UI 9 Requires PIN to Power Off Your Phone

Samsung's One UI 9 beta introduces a security feature that requires PIN verification before powering off or restarting Galaxy phones. The change also triggers automatic Lockdown Mode when users exit the power menu, making stolen devices significantly harder to disable.

Huma Shazia·3 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

MacBook Neo Ships 1.1 Million Units in First Three Weeks

Apple's $599 budget laptop outsold both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro during its March launch window. IDC reports the Neo's aggressive pricing and rising Windows laptop costs are driving first-time Mac buyers in record numbers.

Manaal Khan·2 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·7 min

Excel Dynamic Arrays: One Formula, Thousands of Results

Microsoft's dynamic array functions let a single Excel formula return multiple values that automatically expand as your data grows. This guide covers the core functions, common errors, and practical use cases that replace manual workflows with self-updating systems.

Huma Shazia·2 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

6 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Shows Arriving in June 2026

June 2026 brings a packed slate of fantasy and sci-fi releases across streaming platforms. House of the Dragon returns for Season 3, Interview With The Vampire rebrands as The Vampire Lestat, and The Legend of Vox Machina kicks off its fourth season.

Huma Shazia·2 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

How to Bypass CGNAT for Remote Access Using RustDesk

Your ISP's Carrier-Grade NAT blocks traditional port forwarding, making remote access to home servers impossible. A cheap VPS running RustDesk's relay server offers a practical workaround that costs less than a static IP subscription.

Huma Shazia·2 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

3 Open-Source Android Apps Worth Paying For (But Free)

A look at three open-source Android apps that deliver premium-quality features without charging a dime. From a keyboard built for terminal power users to system-level utilities that rival root access, these tools prove that free software can outclass paid alternatives.

Huma Shazia·2 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

Claude vs Gamma vs Canva: Which AI Tool Builds Better Portfolios?

A hands-on test of three AI design tools reveals distinct strengths. Claude excels at iterative collaboration and gives you raw HTML you actually own. Gamma and Canva deliver polished visuals faster but lock you into their platforms.

Huma Shazia·2 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

6 Excel Visualizations You Can Build in Under 10 Minutes

Excel tables filled with raw numbers are hard to scan. These six visualization techniques, from column charts to sparklines, help you spot trends and present data clearly without advanced design skills.

Huma Shazia·2 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

5 Claude Pro Features Most Subscribers Never Use

You're paying $20 a month for Claude Pro, but odds are you're using it the same way you used the free tier. From Claude Code to Projects, here are the capabilities hiding in plain sight.

Manaal Khan·2 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

5 Network Mistakes That Are Killing Your Internet Speed

Your ISP isn't always to blame for slow internet. Five common home network mistakes, from router placement to outdated cables, could be throttling your connection before data even leaves your house.

Manaal Khan·2 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

5 Netflix Shows to Watch in June 2026

Netflix's June lineup includes a Michael Jackson trial documentary, the return of Sweet Magnolias, and Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2. Here's what's worth your time this month.

Huma Shazia·2 Jun 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

Open Notebook Lets You Self-Host a NotebookLM Alternative

A solo developer's open-source project called Open Notebook replicates NotebookLM's core features while letting you choose your own AI models and keep data offline. For anyone frustrated by Google's locked-down approach, this might be the escape hatch you've been waiting for.

Manaal Khan·2 Jun 2026