Skip the Auto Shop, You Can Decode a Check Engine Light at Home

December 21, 2022

Did You Know?

President Reagan is the only U.S. President whose inauguration has ever conflicted with Super Bowl Sunday. He was inaugurated, for his second term, on Sunday, January 20, 1985 in a private ceremony at the White House.

Happy Wednesday! Mozilla announced it will start its own Mastodon server in early 2023. The company also just fixed an 18-year-old bug in Firefox — that’s quite the to-do list backlog.

Speaking of web browsers, Google is speeding up Chrome’s release cycle again, after compressing it to just four weeks back in 2021.

– Corbin

Sometimes you can’t avoid a trip to your mechanic. But with this little device, you can decide whether the trip is necessary or if you can troubleshoot it at home. And if you end up in the shop, you can walk in knowing what’s wrong with your car. Read More »

Mac not running as well as it used to? Don't miss out on your chance to clear out the clutter, squash those pesky bugs, and rekindle that fresh-out-of-the-box performance you've come to cherish. Through Friday, December 23, save 30% on MacPaw's robust CleanMyMac X cleaning service and fall in love with your fast, smooth, and powerful Mac all over again. You don't have long, so claim this offer now before it's gone.

HDMI is the most common display connection today, but sometimes you’ll have to convert HDMI to DisplayPort or vice versa. Unfortunately, making these two ports play well together isn’t as straightforward as it should be. Here’s what you should know. Read More »

Click the button below to enter our giveaway of a smart clock that our reviewers loved! Stay tuned for more giveaways exclusive to newsletter subscribers.

It’s time to take control of your smart home, and this Bluetooth and Wi-Fi-enabled Lenovo Smart Clock (2nd Gen) may just do the trick. Available now for $24.99 ($65 off), the multipurpose clock and docking station with wireless charging capabilities are a mountain of convenience capable of doing more than just tell time. Read More »

If you have a robot vacuum, you know that you need to keep your wires tucked away. Most models have difficulty avoiding cables, and getting them out of the way is key to ensuring the robovac doesn’t mangle them.

Individual cables are easy enough to tuck away, but what about surge protectors or a bundle of wires coming from your PC tower? This cable box from Bluelounge will get anything bulkier out of your robovac’s way.

Even if you don’t have a robot vacuum, this cable box can still tuck everything away and make your space look a lot cleaner.

When looking for an alternative to Twitter, Mastodon is probably one of the options that pops up more frequently. Yet, you’re probably faced by a confusing choice on which server to join — Mozilla wants to be the answer. Read More »

It’s time to buy a new computer, but you’ve got a tough choice ahead of you: do you buy or build a Windows PC or go for a Mac instead? Here are some of the reasons you might want to go for a Windows PC instead of a Mac. Read More »

Amazon Prime Video has a film library full of everything from classics to low-budget obscurities, and the same goes for the service’s holiday offerings. Here are the 10 best Christmas movies to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Read More »

We all have a to-do list with items that have been there for too long, as more important problems come up… or procrastination kicks in. That’s even true for Mozilla, which recently fixed a Firefox bug that was first reported 18 years ago. Read More »

Smart plugs and power strips are great if you need flexibility, routines, and other features. But what if you just want auto-magic power saving, no programming or smart app required? You need one of these power strips. Read More »

More than any other streaming service, Netflix has gone all-in on original Christmas content, including some hidden gems. Combine those with a few classic Christmas titles, and Netflix has plenty of good holiday movies worth watching. Here are the 10 best. Read More »

Google Chrome was one of the first web browsers to ship new releases on a fixed schedule, which is part of the reason the version number is now in the triple digits. Google is now preparing to speed up Chrome’s update schedule yet again. Read More »

Video doorbells keep your home safe by monitoring your front door and sending instant alerts to your phone. This lets you respond immediately to someone or a package at your door. Here are our top picks for the best video doorbells. Read More »

You don’t need a massive budget or a massive table to enjoy these games. Here are twenty-five really fun games you can slip into a stocking without breaking the bank. Read More »

Whether you just got a Raspberry Pi (or another single-board computer) or you’ve left one sitting in a drawer somewhere, supplemental gear might be the inspiration you need to kickstart a new project. These Pi accessories range from fun to exteremely practical. Read More »

You’ve got Christmas cards that haven’t arrived, and there might just be some cash gifts in some of them. The mail running is pretty important. Read More »

Maybe you need a last-minute appetizer, or maybe you forgot to buy a key ingredient for your cookies, either way, you’ve got to head to the grocery store on Christmas Day. But is anything even open? Read More »

Time travel is a concept that’s been around since the 1800s. Countless movies and TV shows have featured time travel, but it’s not easy to pull off. Let’s flip the switch and look back at a few of the best. Read More »

Proton VPN is a VPN service operated by Proton, a Switzerland-based company specializing in privacy-related services. It has a great reputation among the members of the How-to Geek newsroom so I took Proton VPN for a spin to see what it’s all about. Read More »

Apple’s self-repair program launched earlier this year, but so far, you could only really repair iPhones with it. It was recently extended to Macs, and now, more of Apple’s computers are joining the fray. Read More »

Blending power and portability, the MacBook series is the most versatile of all Apple’s computers. Whether you save some money on a lightweight MacBook Air or shell out for a portable powerhouse in the form of a MacBook Pro, here are some of the standout features you should be using. Read More »

The Logitech StreamCam is one of the best webcams around, but at an original MSRP of $169.99, it was too expensive for what it offers. Now it’s on sale for a much more competitive $99.99, a 41% discount. Read More »

Sometimes it’s best to create a text message while you’re thinking of it. But what if you don’t want to actually send it until later? Here, we’ll show you how to send a scheduled text message on iPhone at whatever time you prefer. Read More »