How-To Geek - 7 of the Weirdest iPhone Adapters

January 25, 2023

Did You Know?

They might look fluffy and ethereal, but clouds are quite heavy. The average cumulus cloud (the big white cotton-candy-like ones you see on nice days) weighs 1.1 million pounds (500,000,000 grams).

Happy Wednesday! There’s now an even better way to enjoy the Mastodon social network on iPhone and iPad — the developers behind Tweetbot released a Mastodon app yesterday called Ivory.

In the PC world, Microsoft is reportedly working on major changes to the File Explorer on Windows 11, and Steam Deck “Verified” games won’t stop breaking.

– Corbin

In the iPhone‘s long history, it’s only had two different connectors—30-pin and Lightning. The latter has been in use since 2012, and there have been countless adapters made for the iPhone’s Lightning port in that time. Let’s look at some weird ones. Read More »

Windows makes the world go round, so why not master everything it has to offer? Windows 11 For Dummies will teach you everything you need to know, from how to get around the newly updated Windows 11 interface, to how to troubleshoot when things go wrong, and so much more!
Download your free copy today to get started.

The Pocket app by Mozilla is incredibly useful, allowing you to quickly save web articles for late. Now it’s getting much better and more comfortable to use, with the addition of two big features. Read More »

If you spend a lot of time doing things like splitting PDFs, converting images, or creating ZIP files, there’s a way to speed up each process. Using Automator on Mac, you can set up automations that save you time. Read More »

One thing you should never skimp on is good protection for your electronics, especially when surge protectors are readily available and not expensive. If you lack space for a strip, you can get a wall wart charger to get extra outlets while keeping your tech safe.

The LVETEK Wall Charger is our favorite wall surge protector for a good reason—it provides five wall outlets, three USB-A outlets, and one USB-C outlet, so you can plug everything you need. Coming in at only $13 right now, if you need a surge protector you can’t argue against this one.

Microsoft is promoting improved efficiency with its AMD-powered Surface Laptop 4, available until January 29 for only $749.99 ($150 off). The discounted laptop runs on AMD’s Ryzen 5 chip, giving you more time with each charge than its Intel counterpart without sacrificing functionality. Read More »

You might assume that smart blinds are all battery-powered, but there are more than a few ways to power the automagic of a smart blind assembly. Read More »

Microsoft mostly the File Explorer alone throughout Windows 8 and Windows 10, but more recently, we’ve started to see some much-needed improvements finally arrive. Even more changes might be on the way. Read More »

The Steam Deck was a smash hit when it started shipping in 2022, providing one of the best ways to play PC games in a handheld console form factor. However, the Steam Deck has a problem that is getting worse: games that are verified to work don’t actually work. Read More »

If you’re going to torrent, you’re going to need a VPN to protect yourself while doing so. How do you pick a good VPN for torrenting, though, is there something a good torrenting VPN has that others don’t? Or is it more about what a VPN doesn’t do that makes it good for torrenting? Read More »

Cloud storage lets you keep all of your files in one place, and makes them accessible no matter what device you’re on without the need for a physical external hard drive. Here are our picks for the best services today. Read More »

Gaming laptops are the perfect combination of power and portability, allowing gamers to enjoy their favorite titles anywhere. If you’re looking to take gaming on the road or don’t want a computer tower taking up space, there are many great and powerful laptops for various budgets. Read More »

If you’re a fan of Plex, you might have wondered if you really need Plex Pass, the premium upgrade to the popular free home media server platform. Let’s take a look at the major and minor benefits that come with upgrading. Read More »

Samsung will reveal the Galaxy S23 series on February 1. You can already reserve them today, and they will almost certainly be some of the best smartphones once they are available. This year, we’re hoping the regular and Plus models won’t be yet another iterative improvement. Read More »

If you’ve played games on a 4K TV and thought, “this doesn’t look that much better,” you’re not alone. On paper, 4K offers a massive leap in detail compared to 1080p, but does that paper specification translate to real-world differences? Read More »

When it comes to pumping gas, most of us are fixated on the steadily increasing cost on the screen as we pump. To take your mind off that, you might have scrolled through your phone at the gas pump. But is that dangerous? Read More »

On most home design or real estate television shows, potential buyers and renovators cringe at the sight of a popcorn ceiling. But if nearly everyone hates it, why was it ever popular? Read More »

Houseplants are not only beautiful to look at, but they also have a great impact on our mental and physical well-being. They can help to purify the air, reduce stress, and even improve concentration. But keeping houseplants healthy and thriving can be a challenge, even for the most plant-savvy. Fortunately, there are some unexpected hacks that can help you take care of your plants with little effort. Read More »

Wi-Fi 6E is still relatively new, but the hardware you need to upgrade your network is becoming more common. Linksys seems to have gone all out with its Atlas Max 6E series of routers, and the price tag matches those ambitions. So are the routers worth the money? Read More »

Whether you’re battling allergies or simply want to enjoy fresh air in your home or office, the VCK Dual Filter Air Purifier puts in a quality performance at an affordable price. It doesn’t feel cheap or poorly constructed in any way, and it’s a solid option for smaller rooms. Read More »

Sure, you probably already know how to run a dishwasher. You’ve likely got your own method for loading and unloading, too. But there’s one hack that could make your washing more efficient. Read More »

You use your refrigerator a lot, so why not put some extra care into it? From organizational tools to stylish accessories, here are a few easy ways to upgrade your refrigerator experience and get the most from this appliance. Read More »

Windscribe is a famously independent VPN service with a fiery and snarky social media presence. It’s not personality alone that has brought it fans, though: its users also extol its speeds, ability to access Netflix, and, of course, its wonderful free plan. Read More »

The M2 Pro and M2 Max chips aren’t the only upgrades in Apple’s new MacBook Pro laptops. The new machines are also coming with faster, supercharged SSDs with higher write speeds. Read More »

The Mastodon social media platform has exponentially risen in popularity over the past few months, following Elon Musk’s botched acquisition of Twitter. Several new third-party Mastodon apps have popped up since then, and the latest is from a company you might recognize. Read More »

Even the humble base-model M1 Macbook Air packs more punch than the previous generation of consoles, yet it may still come as a surprise to realize that the M1 and M2 Apple computers can play some intense games. 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 extremely practical. Read More »