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Hacks & Workarounds

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All articles tagged Hacks & Workarounds.

4 Netflix Documentaries Worth Your Weekend in May 2025

Netflix's documentary slate this weekend includes a Martin Short biography from director Lawrence Kasdan, plus three other recent arrivals. Here's what to queue up if you want something real instead of scripted.

Huma Shazia·15 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

10 Apple Mail Features You're Probably Not Using

Apple Mail ships with every Mac, iPhone, and iPad, so many users never look beyond its basic interface. But after decades of development, the app has hidden tools for organizing email, building custom workflows, and reducing inbox stress. Here are the features worth learning.

Huma Shazia·15 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

Why Rooftop Solar Still Scares Homeowners (And Shouldn't)

A tech journalist with a decade of rooftop solar experience breaks down four persistent myths that keep homeowners from installing panels. The math, he argues, favors solar for anyone who can secure financing and plans to stay in their home long-term.

Huma Shazia·15 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

5 ESP32 Bluetooth Projects for Your Weekend Build

The ESP32's built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi make it ideal for DIY home automation. From Home Assistant proxies to presence detection, these five projects cost under $15 in hardware and require no soldering.

Manaal Khan·15 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

Why I Use Claude First, Then Antigravity for Better Code

A developer workflow is emerging in 2026: use Claude for planning and architecture, then hand execution to Google Antigravity. Neither AI excels at everything, but together they cover each other's weaknesses.

Manaal Khan·15 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

5 Docker Containers You Can Deploy in Under an Hour

Self-hosted services let you replace subscription apps with privacy-respecting alternatives you control. These five Docker containers cover document management, uptime monitoring, photo backup, media streaming, and file sync. Each takes less than an hour to set up.

Huma Shazia·15 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

How to Stop Windows From Uploading Updates to Strangers

Windows has a feature called Delivery Optimization that uses your upload bandwidth to distribute updates to other PCs on the internet. Microsoft enables it by default. Here's how to reclaim your bandwidth.

Manaal Khan·15 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

4 ESP32 Upgrades That Transform Your Basic 3D Printer

A $5 ESP32 microcontroller can add Wi-Fi printing, real-time dashboards, and other premium features to budget 3D printers. These DIY upgrades close the gap between workhorse machines and expensive all-in-one models.

Manaal Khan·15 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·6 min

2 Linux Distros That Let You Skip the Terminal Entirely

Zorin OS and Nobara Project offer Windows refugees and gaming newcomers a graphical experience that rarely, if ever, requires the command line. With Windows 10 reaching end-of-life and Linux desktop share hitting a historic 5.03%, these distros are designed for people who want Linux without the learning curve.

Huma Shazia·15 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

Gemini's Scheduled Actions Are Paywalled. Here's Why That Stings

Google's Gemini has a genuinely useful automation feature called Scheduled Actions. It lets you set Gemini prompts to run automatically at specific times. The catch: you need a paid subscription to use it.

Manaal Khan·15 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

3 Things to Know Before Using an Old Phone as a Dashcam

An old smartphone has everything needed to record road footage: camera, storage, and processing power. But turning it into a reliable dashcam requires understanding heat risks, battery degradation, and storage limits that most guides skip over.

Manaal Khan·15 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

5 Smart Home Routines That Save Time, Not Just Show Off

Most smart home setups end up as expensive party tricks. A tech journalist shares five automation routines he actually uses daily, starting with a simple smart plug that makes his morning tea while he handles the chaos of getting kids to school.

Manaal Khan·15 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

5 New Shows to Stream This Weekend on Netflix, Paramount+

This weekend brings a Heat-inspired crime thriller to Netflix, the second season of Rivals on Hulu, and new content from Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone universe. Here's what's worth your streaming time from May 15-17.

Huma Shazia·15 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

Google Now Requires Phone Number for Full 15GB Free Storage

Google has quietly changed its free storage policy. New accounts that skip phone number verification are capped at 5GB instead of the usual 15GB. The company says it's testing the policy to curb multi-account abuse.

Huma Shazia·15 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

4 Streaming Services That Quietly Dropped Free Tiers

Several streaming platforms that once offered free, ad-supported viewing have moved their content behind paywalls. Crunchyroll ended its free tier in late 2025, and Peacock has similarly removed free access. Here's what changed and where to find genuinely free alternatives.

Huma Shazia·14 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

4 Things You Should 3D Print Instead of Buying

A consumer 3D printer can replace common household items at a fraction of retail cost. Wall hooks, soap dishes, organizers, and device stands all print in hours for pennies of filament. Here's what makes sense to manufacture at home.

Huma Shazia·14 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

4 Things to Know Before Building a UniFi Network

UniFi networking gear has a reputation for being complex and expensive. A recent hands-on build reveals the system is more accessible than expected, but comes with quirks worth understanding before you buy.

Huma Shazia·14 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

3 Homelab Projects That Improve Your Network This Weekend

A Wi-Fi heatmap, drive health dashboard, and uptime monitor. These three homelab projects take a few hours each and solve real problems: dead zones, failing drives, and service outages you don't catch until it's too late.

Huma Shazia·14 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

Why Your Smart Home Gadgets Are Killing Your Wi-Fi Speed

That 100-device smart home might be the reason you never hit the speeds your ISP promised. The 2.4GHz band your smart lights and thermostats depend on is likely congested, dragging down performance for phones, laptops, and streaming devices that share the same frequency.

Manaal Khan·14 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

4 Things That Will Frustrate You When Switching to Linux

Linux offers freedom from ads, better privacy, and more control over your system. But if you're coming from Windows, a few friction points can derail your switch before you settle in. Here's what to expect and how to prepare.

Manaal Khan·14 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

How to Make a 13-Year-Old Kobo Better Than a New Kindle

A tech writer installed KOReader on a 2013 Kobo Aura HD in minutes, no jailbreaking required. The result: a custom reading experience that outperforms current Kindle devices. Here's how it works and why Kobo's open approach matters.

Manaal Khan·14 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·5 min

Why You Should Build Tools With AI, Not Inside AI

Relying on ChatGPT or Claude projects for your daily workflows creates a single point of failure. If prices change, features move behind paywalls, or you want to switch services, your tools vanish. The smarter approach: use AI to build standalone tools you actually own.

Manaal Khan·14 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

3 Raspberry Pi Projects That Solve Actual Home Problems

Looking for weekend projects that go beyond blinking LEDs? How-To Geek highlights three Raspberry Pi builds that tackle real household needs: a whole-home music display, an LED status tower, and more. Each project pairs well with Home Assistant for automation.

Huma Shazia·14 May 2026

Hacks & Workarounds·4 min

5 Things n8n Can Automate That Home Assistant Can't

Home Assistant handles most smart home automation needs, but it has limits. The n8n workflow platform fills specific gaps, from email-triggered automations to spreadsheet logging. Here's what you can build when you pair them together.

Huma Shazia·14 May 2026