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.

I followed these six practices for years to keep my PC clean.

The first time I got malware on my laptop, I was still in school, used USB tethering to connect to the internet, and was intrigued by the idea of "free software." I made up a "my dog ate my homework" story to explain to my parents why my laptop was acting weird. They obviously didn't buy it (took my laptop for two weeks), but fixed it with a clean Windows 7 install.

This Android 16 feature has so much potential.

Google rolled out a stable Android 16 update back in June 2025. Since then, we have seen so much hype about its various features, such as Material Expressive 3, desktop windowing, and Live notifications. But to my surprise, there's one feature that no one is talking about, which is one of the most essential features of Android 16.

Sparklines helped me create mini charts in Google Sheets.

Do you know that you can fit an entire chart inside a single cell in Google Sheets? It’s called a Sparkline, and it can reveal patterns in your data at a glance. It might not sound or look like much, but once you start using it, you’ll realize how powerful it is for spotting trends and making sense of data quickly.

Watch every screenshot instantly jump into its perfect folder.

If you're anything like me, screenshots pile up faster than you can name them. One tap of Win + PrtSc here, a quick snip there, and before you know it, the Screenshots folder has turned into digital chaos. But what if every screenshot automatically filed itself into the right folder with zero effort on your part? With Microsoft Power Automate, that's exactly what happens.

Tricks and tips to transform your reading experience on the eReader.

When I bought my first Kindle Paperwhite, I thought it was just a minimalist eReader for buying and reading books. I used it daily but never looked past the basics. With each update, I started uncovering "hidden" features that made using the e-ink display feel more personal. For instance, features that made my library easier to manage, my reading more immersive, and the Kindle infinitely more useful beyond reading only books.

It was hard to say goodbye to the Google apps.

Google has always been one of the boldest tech companies when it comes to experimenting. It launches services in nearly every corner of our digital lives, from social networking and messaging to music, gaming, and productivity. Yet, just as quickly as it creates new tools, it has a long history of quietly shutting them down. Sometimes the reasoning is clear, whether it is low adoption, stronger alternatives, or a change in strategy. Other times, it feels as though Google pulls the plug on apps that were genuinely loved and still useful.

I taught my PC to clean up after itself.

My Windows desktop used to look like a digital junk drawer. Random screenshots, app shortcuts, and PDFs piled up so much that by the end of the week, I could barely see the live wallpaper I had carefully chosen. No matter how many times I promised myself I'd tidy it up, it always turned into a chore I dreaded.

This app provides a good selection of programs without all the ads.

Watching high-quality TV doesn't necessarily require a costly subscription to a cable or streaming service. Several iPhone apps offer live and on-demand content for free, supported by advertisements. Of these, I have found one in particular that does a great job. Until a few months ago, I had never heard of this app. Perhaps you haven’t either. After all, it's not even currently on our list of the best free streaming TV services.

Google Sheets tables are easy to create and organize your data.

When Google finally rolled out tables in Sheets back in mid-2024, there wasn’t so much buzz. Maybe it was because the feature felt long overdue, or because Excel has long dominated the conversation around serious data handling. Either way, the update slipped largely under the radar, leaving many people convinced that Sheets still can’t hold its own against Excel when it comes to tables.

This Microsoft tool is handy for any Windows toolkit.

Whenever I turn on my Windows PC for the first time or set it up after a reset, I remove a few apps instantly. Keeping them on my PC doesn't make sense since there are better alternatives, or they serve no purpose for me. And this is the case with most of us.