How-To Geek - Stop Using Your Phone as a Flashlight

December 22, 2022

Did You Know?

The symbol for the band Queen, a large crest-like logo, was designed by Queen frontman Freddie Mercury and includes references to the zodiac symbols of all four members: the two lions (Leo) on the sides for John Deacon and Roger Taylor, the two fairies (Virgo) for Freddie Mercury, and a crab (Cancer) for Brian May.

Happy Thursday! ASUS just broke a CPU overclocking record using super-chilled liquid helium. Don’t expect to buy helium for your gaming PC anytime soon, though.

Google also has some announcements to share. The Play Store will allow children to send purchase requests to parents, instead of having direct access to a payment method, and Google Meet is rolling out some nightmare-inducing camera filters.

– Corbin

Smartphones come with a fairly powerful built-in flashlight that is so convenient and easy to use. But you should stop relying on it (and putting your phone in peril) right now. Read More »

Never replace another battery again with these stylish solar powered watches from Solios. Crafted from recycled stainless steel and eco-friendly vegan leather, these watches are made with highly durable materials that are meant to last you a life-time. If you're still looking for the perfect holiday gift for someone special in your life, be sure to check out the men's and women's collections at Solios! Plus, Solios is also offering free in-house engraving services until December 31st. Check them out!

Need an email account and don’t want to pay for it? Sometimes “free” means great features, less hassle, and exactly what you need without the fluff. Here are six free email services to check out, ranked from best to still great. Read More »

Some PCs can be overclocked to achieve faster performance, but a significant difference usually requires more advanced cooling and higher-end components. ASUS just broke a world record for CPU overclocking, using an Intel Core i9 and liquid helium. Read More »

Traveling for the holidays? The last thing you want to do is get sick, and your smartphone attracts a lot of germs. While you can clean your phone with rubbing alcohol and give your case a good scrub, one thing that can take care of the job between deep cleaning sessions is PhoneSoap.

PhoneSoap 3 is a UV phone sanitizer that lets you sanitize and charge your phone at the same time. The ultraviolet light will kill bacteria and germs, and is big enough to accommodate even larger devices. Grab one and stay healthy!

Steam sales are a beloved part of PC gaming culture. These events see hundreds of price cuts on blockbuster games, indie darlings, and everything in between. They typically run for about a week, and they’re an excellent way to save money while filling up your library with a boatload of great games. Read More »

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 »

From remote workers to in-office personnel, employees in numerous fields work with PDF documents on a regular basis. While many rely on the barebones options that came with their PC or Mac, an overall lack of features, complexity, and expensive upgrades can leave users with much to be desired. UPDF provides consumers with a compelling alternative for reading, annotating, and editing PDF documents while boasting user-friendly features and affordable pricing that’s even cheaper at 56% off for a limited time. Read More »

It’s only been a few months since Apple’s latest AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) hit the market, and they’re already back on sale for the holidays. Returning to the same price we saw over Black Friday, you can grab these buds today for just $199.99 ($50 off). This offer is only available for a limited time, though, so get them while you can. Read More »

Every year, film scholars gather to debate one of the most important philosophical issues of our time: Is Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis, a Christmas movie? Opinions on both sides of this argument are surprisingly heated. Read More »

When you next get on a plane, you’ll probably have to declare devices like power banks if they are over a certain size, and may have to leave some behind, but do airlines care how big your batteries are? Read More »

Netflix’s massive library checks nearly every imaginable content box, but the streaming service hasn’t ventured too far into exercise and training. That’s now changing, as Netflix is teaming up with Nike to offer more fitness content. Read More »

The first-ever TV special based on Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts characters, A Charlie Brown Christmas, premiered on CBS in December of 1965 and has been a beloved holiday tradition ever since. Here’s how you can celebrate the holidays by streaming A Charlie Brown Christmas. Read More »

Streaming on Twitch and video conferencing on Zoom are more popular than ever, which means you’ve probably realized your computer’s webcam isn’t great. Thankfully, one of these excellent cameras will make you look good during that next meeting. Read More »

What does your choice of smartphone say about you? You may be asking that question if you’re shopping for an Android user. The good news is people who like Android will probably like a wide variety of techy gifts. Read More »

As the year comes to an end, it’s fun to look back on some of the products our readers seemed most excited about in 2022. Whether you are in the market for something snazzy or not, browsing a list of must-have items is always entertaining. Read More »

Card games are super fun and usually easy to play, making them a solid choice for game nights or parties. But you can only play a card game so many times before it gets…boring. Like, really boring. That’s why card games that “live,” or are expandable over time, are such a smart investment. Read More »

You’re running late for work or school so you hustle out the door, only to look down and see your phone at 12% battery life. You can hope someone has a cable and charging block for you to borrow, or you can keep a portable charger, like the Benks MagClap On-Go Power Bank, handy for a recharge. Read More »

Without looking (because you never should), what color is the sun? Chances are you said yellow. If you’ve ever watched a video from the ISS, you might have said white. But Elon Musk is here to tell us the sun is green. But what color is the sun, really? It’s yellow. And white. And green. No, really! Read More »

QD-OLED combines techniques first seen in QLED LCD panels with self-emissive OLED technology, improving on both for better colors and a brighter picture. Prices for QD-LED monitors at the time of writing exceed $1000, though, so should you consider buying one? Read More »

Creative’s Sound Blaster line started in the 1990s as computer sound cards, but now that name applies to a range of products. A case in point is the Creative Sound Blaster X1, a portable digital-to-analog converter and amplifier meant to help you get the most out of your favorite headphones. Read More »

Google Meet is the platform of choice for many companies to engage in remote meetings, and it also lets you spruce up things with filters and backgrounds to make meetings more fun. These new filters, though, blur the line between fun and creepy. Read More »

Google Pixel phones may not have as many features as Samsung Galaxy phones, but they’re not without cool things to do. We’ll show you some things you can do with a Pixel phone that you may not know about. Read More »

With the age of online purchases, if you’re a parent, you’re probably keeping your credit card closely guarded against your children. Now, Google Play will let kids ask their parents for app purchases. Read More »

Now that Christmas is practically here, the largest return season of the year is also right around the corner. Get a jumpstart on replacing the gifts you’re likely to take back with fantastic savings on powerful AirPods, convenient robot vacuums, and more. Read More »