Review Geek - What Is Plex and How Does It Work?

August 8, 2023

Upgrading your home to a smart home isn’t all about fancy lights and camera doorbells—you also need to think about the toilet. Don’t click away! A smart toilet can be much more exciting than you might first suspect.

As we prepare to transform into the new How-To Geek Reviews newsletter, we’re using this week to revisit some of our biggest stories. Today, we’re looking back at our explainer on the benefits of Japanese smart toilets—and how you can get one yourself!

Other Highlights:

• Ryobi power tools are cheap, but are they still worth buying?
• Get free replacements if you lose any of your LEGO bricks.
• Find out if you really need a streaming stick alongside a games console.
• … and more!

-Dan

P.S. Don’t forget to add “newsletter@howtogeek.com” to your contact list or address book, so you don’t miss the next iteration of this newsletter when it arrives.

The days of cheap streaming are long gone. Services like Netflix are prohibitively expensive and offer much smaller libraries than they did just a few years ago. A personal collection of DVDs and Blu-Ray discs can alleviate this problem, but if you want to stream the media you own, you need a service like Plex. Read More »

Microsoft’s newest cloud-based operating system allows you to access your PC from any device. This free eBook teaches you the ins and outs of this game-changing OS. This is the perfect Dummies guide for anyone moving to Windows 365 who needs to learn just what makes a cloud PC so unique and how to take advantage of all it has to offer. Download your copy today to get started.

So, you’re almost done with that big LEGO set you bought. It’s really coming together until you realize that one of the pieces is missing. Not just missing, but was never included in the box. You’re going to need a replacement, and thankfully, LEGO is happy to help. The best part? It will be completely free most of the time. Read More »

There’s nothing worse than enjoying a weekend camping or a day at the beach only to realize your cooler isn’t cold enough. If you want a cooler that actually stays cold, doesn’t need any ice, yet can make ice cubes on command, you’ll love the EcoFlow Glacier electric cooler and portable fridge. Read More »

Power tool brands have a slew of fanboys and loyalists, just like automotive manufacturers. Debating which is best is an argument worth avoiding. But when homeowners need a new tool for that big DIY job, many wonder if Ryobi Tools are worth buying. Read More »

You upgrade your phone every few years, install smart devices throughout your home, and are counting down the days until a true self-driving car hits the market. So why are you still using a toilet based on a 400-year-old design? Read More »

Nothing’s more disappointing than not having a fresh cup of coffee or espresso while traveling, camping, or enjoying an outdoor adventure. Treat yourself to a wonderful shot of espresso or a cup of Joe with this portable, manually operated device from WACACO.

The Nanopresso is a staple in my camping gear, which can easily make a delicious cup of coffee in under 30 seconds as long as you have hot water. The entire device is a little bigger than a skinny Red Bull can, and you can swap the coffee grinds for mini (NS) coffee pods to make things even easier while you’re out and about. I use the NS adapter, a Jetboil to get hot water in 60 seconds, and the 18-bar pressure of the Nanopresso easily creates a tasty drink with some much-needed energy. Give one a try today!

Lenovo’s diverse Yoga laptop lineup has a new entrant. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8 is one of the company’s latest premium options. After about a month of use, I can conclude it’s one of the best new laptops I’ve used this year, and it’s an easy product to recommend. Read More »

It’s no secret that LEGO isn’t cheap. If you want to indulge your brick-building habit, you might think you need to take on a second job or start a special LEGO savings account. However, you can support your love of LEGO while keeping money in the bank, thanks to these ways to get LEGO for free. Read More »

Cheap streaming sticks like the Roku Premiere or the Chromecast with Google TV provide instant access to Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and all of your other favorite platforms. But if you own an Xbox or PlayStation, is there any reason to buy a dedicated streaming stick? Here’s what you’re missing out on if you stream everything through a game console. Read More »

Wordle was just too easy, wasn’t it? You probably left that behind and moved on to Quordle, the true “hard mode” of the word-guessing game format. But now you’re stuck and so close to failing. Don’t worry, we’re here to help with a hint—and if you really need it, today’s Quordle Answers. Read More »

Are you a huge fan of Wordle and absolutely stuck today? Let me guess; you’re hanging out on guess four or five and feeling the pressure. We get it entirely: nothing feels worse than losing your streak. If you’re not ready to outright cheat, we have you covered with hints and today’s Wordle answer. Read More »