When I first started using NotebookLM, I thought I had it all figured out. I imported every document I could find, highlighted every interesting phrase, and asked it relevant questions. However, I quickly realized that without a strategy, this powerful tool was just another place for my notes to get lost. So, I took a step back, learned from my mistakes, and discovered how to truly harness NotebookLM’s potential.

Most people are familiar with sharing files over a network using something like SMB or NFS. These protocols work well, but they're designed for transferring files, not for treating storage on another machine as if it were directly attached to your own. That's where protocols like iSCSI and more modern adaptations like NVMe-over-TCP come in.

Many people have an older GPU lying around, likely taken from an older PC or retired following an upgrade to a newer, shinier GPU. However, that old GPU doesn't just have to sit idle, and there are ways to make it work for you. What that looks like depends on your needs and the services you use, but these are some of the ways you can use an older GPU and make it an invaluable part of your computing life again, and can be done on any old GPU.

If you’re looking for a fun, budget-friendly way to spend your weekend, your Raspberry Pi has you covered. Even with just a few dollars and basic components, you can build projects that are surprisingly useful, educational, or just plain cool. These ideas are great if you're new to the platform or simply want a quick win without a big investment. All of them can be done with items you probably already have or can find for under $5.

I have what you might call a browser commitment issue. I keep hopping from one browser to another, partly because you can’t be in this profession without trying new things. I am currently using Dia, and previously, I used Arc, having previously ditched Brave. And while all of these browsers are great, I have come to realize that ditching Brave was a huge mistake. The ad-blocking features alone make it superior to most other options, and additional features like Shield, Tor private browsing, and link cleaner make it worth sticking to.

By now, I've realized there's no escaping AI. The only way forward is to embrace it and begin incorporating it into your workflow. Though AI chatbots and different productivity tools have been around for quite a bit now, something we're only now seeing is AI-powered assistants being baked directly into browsers.

We've all played our fair share of fighting games, and while this genre could do with a bit of additional love than it gets right now, at least it isn't on the ventilator. Flashy combos and colorful battles are the lay of the land when it comes to fighting games, but there have always been exceptions that have made our palms sweat, painted the screen red, and made our friends wince while watching.

I initially used the Raspberry Pi OS 32-bit on my first Pi Zero 2W, but that experience wasn't good. The OS wasn't bad, but the hardware wasn't the most responsive, given the visually heavy nature of the OS. I switched to DietPi a few weeks later, and it was a perfect distro with the latest 64-bit Debian version. It has a blend of CLI and Whiptail menus that doesn't feel too technical. DietPi packs additional tools that make the regular jobs much less painstaking for an average Joe like me.

For the past few years, my world of AI was limited to the big names like ChatGPT and Gemini. But when my colleagues at XDA started sharing their experiences with self-hosted LLMs, my curiosity was piqued. The idea of running a powerful AI on my own machine, completely under my control, was incredibly appealing to me. So, I decided to give it a try.

Unlike VirtualBox, VMware Workstation Pro, and other Type-2 hypervisors, you’ll typically set up virtualization platforms on a bare-metal system and use web UIs to access them from another device over a local network. Modern virtualization platforms like Proxmox have surprisingly robust web interfaces, to the point where you can essentially deploy all your server projects from their menu-driven UIs without ever using the terminal or an SSH connection to execute commands.

Home Assistant is a powerful software suite that can automate just about everything inside your home. Since making the switch to Home Assistant (HA), I have been able to replace a few smart home devices and services. From Amazon Alexa to Spotify, here's everything I have been able to use Home Assistant for, saving money and numerous headaches. The best part about building out a smart home is being able to pick and choose which routes to take.

From the time I picked up a 3D printer, I've tried printing several functional objects and accessories that can be used regularly. This includes everything from shelves that go around the house to upgrades for my mouse to extremely useful laptop accessories that I carry wherever I go. I've also printed a bunch of stuff for my home office — especially for better ergonomics. More recently, I even printed some cheap PC parts for better cable management and cooling. After cleaning up the cable mess inside my PC case, I figured that my desk was also quite messy and needed a desperate clean-up. Well, 3D printing to the rescue!