Lifestyle

MUO is your guide to modern tech. Learn how to make use of the tech and gadgets around you, and discover cool stuff on the internet.

Another one of those crazy 4 AM ideas.

I do all of my work on an M2 MacBook Air, which has a 13-inch screen, and I'm always running out of space. Unlike a lot of my colleagues who have multi-monitor setups (some with up to four monitors!), a multi-monitor setup is expensive, and it's more of a want than a need. Beyond the price, I seldom work from a single place. I usually bounce between working from home and campus, so a multi-monitor setup doesn't really fit my life.

Mastering essential commands turns Linux from intimidating into a fully controllable system.

Linux is often regarded as a complex operating system. In fact, even though it’s free, some experts argue that there’s a DIY tax involved. A lot of this reputation comes from the terminal: that dark screen where everything looks like code. The terminal is where Linux shows its real power and flexibility, and it’s not scary once you understand it.

It's easier than you think, and actually, I quite liked it.

Customization is one of the best reasons to keep using Android. The ability to change your smartphone from its stock configuration into almost anything you want is unmatched, especially when you consider how limited and locked down everything in iOS is.

Your monitor’s USB ports aren’t broken — you’re just using them wrong.

Once you've set up your monitor, you'll rarely look at the ports on the back again. But aside from the display and power connections you've already used, most monitors also include a USB port.

It's an unfathomably large number.

Ever wonder why scammers, false advertising, and fake listings run rampant across Meta's platforms?

Microsoft forced this app on me, and I liked it.

Microsoft silently installed Copilot AI on my Windows 11 PC a while back with an update. My first thought was to uninstall it immediately, as I've uninstalled other useless built-in Microsoft apps. However, for some reason, I tried it before doing so.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners has dethroned Altered Carbon for me as the best cyberpunk story on streaming.

When the first season of Altered Carbon dropped on Netflix back in 2018, it quickly became one of my favorite cyberpunk offerings out there, especially for a television series. You just do not get a lot of options for cyberpunk television shows, despite the genre's popularity in mediums like video games and literature. Still, the first season of Altered Carbon is a great watch, with a fun noir vibe, an intriguing mystery at its center, and all the morally questionable tech you could ask for.

My car is basically a studio apartment now.

Remember when your car's cigarette lighter was actually used for lighting cigarettes? Those days feel ancient now. That 12-volt port has turned into the ultimate multitasker of modern cars, powering everything from useful add-ons to downright absurd inventions.

This offers true privacy on Linux without the complexity of typical anonymity tools.

Privacy is so important that some people go to great lengths to delete themselves from the internet. Others rely on certain tools to stay anonymous online. Some of these tools—VPNs, browsers, incognito mode—talk about hiding you, but can still leave traces behind the scenes. I've spent years going through a lot of them, and more often than I’d like, I end up with a familiar feeling: I was just redirected, not anonymous.

Does your device need a TF card or a microSD? What's the difference, anyway?

I have been lucky enough not to need to buy a new memory card for quite some time. I bought a 128GB Samsung microSD card a few years ago, and it's lasted me and my now aging Nikon D5600 well.