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Hacks & Workarounds

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All articles tagged Hacks & Workarounds.

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

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

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