AI Doom: Are we all gonna die (again)?
Hardly a day goes by without some "exciting" news about AI. This time, it's warnings of doom if we don't change course: god-like AI that runs everything, a scorched Earth covered in data centers, etc. So, right... What's REALLY going on here? Most likely, all is not...
Tech Prices in USA vs EU: What the heck?!
The USA was always the best place to buy tech. The selection was bigger than most other countries, and the prices were the lowest around. But that all changed in recent months. Now - believe it or not - you can often get good tech CHEAPER in Europe! I'm at a complete...
Skip ‘Add your Microsoft Account’ during Windows 11 installation – 2026 Edition
As I wrote 2 years ago: "Windows 11 is okay - except when it comes time to do a big update or install it from scratch. In both cases, MS has decided to force you to log in to Windows using your Microsoft account. Wouldn't it be nice if you could skip this step?" Why...
Fix Remote Desktop black screen… AND choppy gaming?!
There's a simple fix for the Black Screen of Death when connecting with Remote Desktop - and it may actually improve your gaming! It's not often that Microsoft makes things that easy for us... And as you might suspect, this case is no exception. But if you understand...
The Truth about “Doomscrolling” and how to Stop
When I say "doomscrolling", you think about endlessly scrolling through bad news and getting all depressed. And officially, that IS the definition of the word. In my opinion, it's totally wrong! The fact is that the same brain chemical hooks are involved in ANY kind...
Fix: PDF thumbnails not showing
Who doesn't love PDFs? Unfortunately, far too often you won't see a thumbnail of a PDF file's first page. Instead, you'll see a generic PDF icon. This has been a known issue for YEARS, and it boggles my mind that even Adobe can't manage to fix the problem. But now,...
How to convert your WSL 1 virtual machine to WSL 2
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is super-handy. It lets you run various flavors of linux semi-natively in Windows. The problem comes when you started with WSL 1, and you do something wild like try to upgrade node/npm to version 24 or newer. You get weird errors...
Fix: Google Assistant keeps popping up
That Google Assistant is driving you nuts when you accidentally long-press the home button or navigation handle on your Android smartphone? Turn the dang thing OFF! Just two quick settings to check and you never have to see it again... Fix it fast:...
My vote for Best Charger of 2026
UGREEN - the company that brought you the World's Cutest USB Charger - has done it again. Their Nexode product line includes a USB charger with an integrated, retractable USB type C cable. It's not an original idea, but it IS a sturdy, capable device that feels solid...
Make your Linux gizmos appear on a Windows Network
Ah, Windows networking... It sucks. Chances are, you've got some linuxy gizmos like a NAS or local linux server for media or whatever. And chances are, it does NOT show up in Network in the file Explorer. Fortunately, this is the easiest thing in the world to fix -...
Finally, LANscanner works (FAST) on Windows 11!
Way back in early 2009, I wrote a post entitled: How to Determine the Master Browser in a Windows Workgroup Since then, quite a number of people have downloaded and used my little LANscanner program for displaying the IP addies, MAC addies, workgroup, and Master...
How to upgrade your Synology DiskStation NAS the Easy Way
Every NAS has its day, but eventually they get old. This happened to me recently. My trusty old DS416 got an update to DSM 7.4 - but the upgrade notes said that this would be the last upgrade my device will get. Since upgrades to DSM (and DSM itself) are one of the...
iPhones aren’t as safe as you think
If I say "Apple", no doubt you think "security". Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, you might even be making it EASIER for the bad guys to spy on you if you use an iPhone. In any case, the cat's out of the bag - and it's all thanks to US...
Fix: Remove Now Brief button from lockscreen
On Samsung smartphones, you may have a new friend: the dreaded Now Brief button. It's right near the fingerprint reader and deliberately placed so that when you try unlock your phone, OOPS! You open Now Brief instead. SIGH... Here's how to turn it OFF!! YouTube:...
Fix: No more AI crap in your browser!
These days, web browsers are no longer just browsers. There’s AI everywhere, ads popping up on the new tab page (and elsewhere), tracking metrics sent back home, and so on. Wouldn’t it be nice if your browser was just, well, a simple WEB BROWSER again?? Watch and...
Linux world shaken by nasty bugs
When you hear the word "linux", you probably think of nerds hidden away in a cramped office, managing all the servers that make our high-tech modern world actually go. You probably also associate "linux" with "security". Unfortunately, recent events have shown that...