Microsoft Loop does a lot right, and is one of the only near-perfect note apps that I’ve consistently reached for throughout my work and note-taking processes. It’s super minimal, sleek, fast, and has everything I need for frictionless writing and project planning. That said, it’s tied to a big corp, partially paywalled, and is also not open-source, which many prefer for privacy and customization.

When I first upgraded to my RX 9070 XT last year, I wasn't necessarily underwhelmed by the performance uplift, but I did want just a little bit more from my card. Coming from an RTX 3080, I saw a pretty significant increase, but once I applied an undervolt to my new card, it finally felt like a true generational leap. Temperatures were lower, frametimes were more consistent, and everything was pretty much just as stable as it was before.

The "RAMpocalypse" of 2026 needs no introduction. A quick scroll through hardware news reveals the desperate ways consumers are coping. From users salvaging laptop modules to create DIY kits, to the rise of RAM theft—the story of consumer memory is now equal parts ingenuity and equal parts desperation. Upgrade plans have been shattered, data centers have hoarded every available gigabyte, and retail prices have skyrocketed by over 150%.

I love 3D printing and the possibilities it affords, both for interesting in-place gadgets that would be difficult to manufacture any other way and for practical improvements to my home and workspace. I've got four 3D printers right now, but that's just the ones I kept after passing older models to friends. I've got them set up on a standing desk because that makes it easier to get things to the correct height for maintenance, but it left me with a tricky situation: keeping the chaos of tools and other tech on my desk in check. The problem was also the solution in this case, and after a lot of trial and error with various organizational systems, I've found the ones that work best for me.

Running your home network can be as simple as a router and a few wireless clients or as complex as a multi-node configuration with VLANs, switches, access points, and a custom router and firewall. Regardless of how you manage your local area network (LAN), it's important to consider some free tools that can transform how you interact with everything connected to the router. From IoT gadgets to home servers, growing your network can introduce unwanted complexity that makes such tools almost a necessity.

I never thought an AI tool would help me understand my own week better, but this setup felt like having a personal editor. NotebookLM, Google's experimental AI note-taking tool, isn't marketed as a newsletter generator, but that's exactly what I've turned it into.

It's no secret that ESP32 devices, an e-ink display, and a weather API make for a perfect pairing. In fact, we've covered ESP32 weather forecasting setpieces plenty of times in the past. But what if you wanted something more than just a simple temperature measurement and a general weather forecast? What if you want something a lot cuter instead?

As much as I love using Linux over Windows, I will admit that you do have to make a few sacrifices when making the switch over to the world of FOSS. For instance, some apps don't have a Linux version, neither official nor a third-party workaround, and you have to find an alternate app that does something similar, albeit not perfectly.

For the longest time, Synology NAS has been the go-to NAS. One would suggest it to everyone, from entry-level beginners to experts and enterprise users. It has always lived up to its promise of offering a friendly interface that is powerful too, and meets the needs of everyone. That is how a NAS should be: one that you can trust without having to tinker with it all that often.

There are times when my single research session turns into a 50-tab monster, my laptop fan kicks in, and Chrome’s tab strip shrinks so small I can’t even see the favicons anymore. I had accepted this tab situation as the price of productivity. But then I found Zen browser.

I know, I know. You read the title, likely rolled your eyes, and have already formed an opinion. Fair enough. I probably would’ve done the same if I were you. Just know I didn’t see it coming either, and I’m still processing it too. It’s 2026, the economy is clearly struggling right now, and everything already costs more than it should.

Moving from one workspace to another can be a massive chore. There are all the new features you need to get accustomed to, the brand new workflow you need to adjust to, and worst of all, a schism between all the information you had stored on the old service versus the new data you're getting in the new one. You have to go back and forth for the first few weeks just to make sure everything has been carried over to its new home.