If you're struggling to find a way to put all your DIY hardware to good use, you could do a lot worse than use it to make a Pomodoro timer. They're easy to make, and once you're done, you're left with a handy device that can help you be more productive with an automatic timer system. Sounds like a great idea to me.

Recently, I talked about how using your old Android phone as a security camera isn't the best approach for repurposing it, and discussed the possibility of using it as a smart home remote of sorts. But even though that's my preferred use for an old Android phone, there's actually quite a lot you can do with one, and another great option is turning it into a sound sensor.

Most people treat their browser as a mere window to the web, but for me, it’s become my most powerful operating system. I used to think that serious work required serious desktop software — until I realized how much time I was losing to bloated installations, constant ‘update available’ pop-ups, and system slowdowns.

Go Viking was designed to capture the most dangerous question in tabletop gaming: do you push your luck, or return home while you still can?

When it comes to virtualization tools and home lab utilities, you’ll probably assume the OS powering the host is some flavor of Linux. In some rare cases, you’d hear about FreeBSD serving as the underlying operating system for the server node. Windows, on the other hand, is often kept out of the conversation, and there are good reasons for that. Between its bloated nature, intrusive services, and larger attack surface, Windows 11 has plenty of drawbacks for FOSS lovers.

When I first downloaded Obsidian, I fell into the same trap as everyone else: I spent more time watching ‘perfect workflow’ videos and installing aesthetic plugins than actually writing. I treated my vault like a digital hoarder with over-complicated folders and tags in every single note until the system became a chore rather than a tool.

Every time you install Windows 11, you go through what's called an out-of-box experience (OOBE). If you've used a new Windows 11 install before, you've definitely already seen it; it's all the screens Microsoft shows you before you land on the desktop. The company claims that these screens are essential for the setup process, but personally, it feels more like advertising to me.

Machine learning has most certainly taken off, even if many are sick and tired of reading and hearing about artificial intelligence (AI). Just about everything sold today has AI slapped onto the device, including appliances, PCs, and even smart home hardware. Large language models (LLMs) are frequently used, with the most popular option being ChatGPT, but it's possible to self-host these impressive tools from home.

I used to run three apps simultaneously: Todoist for tasks, Obsidian for notes, and a journaling app for daily reflection. Each promised to be the definitive solution, yet I constantly shuffled between them, copy-pasting thoughts, duplicating tasks, and losing context in the transitions.

We've used a ton of Lunar Lake laptops here at XDA, and an even bigger number of HP EliteBooks, which run the gamut from okay to spectacular depending on the tier. The EliteBook 8 G1i 14 is on the disappointing end of that spectrum, with lackluster display options, daily performance that doesn't match the decent benchmark scores, and one of the most frustrating touchpads I've had the displeasure of using.

I like Microsoft 365, but I’m not too fond of paying for offline access, seeing lag on older laptops, and having to log in every time I use the online apps. LibreOffice fixes that for me since it’s a full desktop suite that’s free up front, you don’t need to create an account, and it runs well on older laptops. It’s a great Office-like alternative when I need to jot down my ideas, and Wi-Fi isn't working.

Having to change printers can be really annoying. Sometimes you find "the one" that doesn't jam, throw error messages, or fail to register with your OS, so you basically stick with it until it breaks. As such, there are lots of printers out there that have a few years on them, yet are still trucking on and doing what they do best.