I wired my home network once, and these are the 5 mistakes I wouldn't repeat
MakeUseOfby Jonathon Jachura28d ago
When we built our ranch in northern Indiana, I wired the basement myself and ran Cat6 to every drop I could reach.
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makeuseof.comadded August 2026
top 36%I thought my Windows PC was clean until WinHance found hidden bloatware
MakeUseOfby Oluwaseun Bamisile28d ago
Windows being filled with bloatware is like saying rain is wet: it's common knowledge. A lot of the programs that come preinstalled with Windows are things nobody asks for or even uses.
Smart thermostats aren't the money savers we've been sold
MakeUseOfby Jonathon Jachura28d ago
The sales pitch never changes. Mount a smart thermostat, let it study when you come and go, and watch your heating and cooling bill drop by double digits. I bought it completely.
Every file you download carries a hidden Windows tag you probably never noticed
MakeUseOfby Oluwademilade Afolabi28d ago
You download a normal-looking PDF, image, or software installer from the web. You open File Explorer, check its size and icon, and there's nothing obvious separating it from a file you created...
I stopped waiting for Microsoft to fix Windows and did it myself with 3 free apps
MakeUseOfby Tashreef Shareef28d ago
With every new update, Microsoft adds a new feature to its Windows operating system. While Windows has been getting better in a few ways, Microsoft doesn't seem interested in making its core...
Samsung hides a Wi-Fi analyzer inside One UI, and it found my worst Wi-Fi problem
MakeUseOfby Sagar Naresh29d ago
I've been told countless times that the best way to keep tabs on my home network is with an app, like Wi-Fi Analyzer.
I turned an old Android phone into a NAS instead of buying one
MakeUseOfby Yadullah Abidi29d ago
I've had a retired Android phone sitting in a drawer, doing absolutely nothing except slowly losing charge.
Wireless charging burns 36% more energy than wired, and your battery pays the price
MakeUseOfby Tashreef Shareef29d ago
Wireless charging has its perks. You can place your phone on a pad, as long as it's centered, and it starts charging without a cable.
Ryobi's two incompatible battery systems finally share one charger
MakeUseOfby Jonathon Jachura29d ago
My garage runs two Ryobi battery platforms at once. The 18V ONE+ packs power my drill, impact driver, and half a dozen bench tools, while the 40V batteries handle the string trimmer and leaf blower...
Ten taps for secret Android Auto developer menu unlocks sideloaded apps and the wireless toggle Google buried
MakeUseOfby Rob LeFebvre29d ago
Ten quick taps inside Android Auto’s About menu bypasses Google’s strict app restrictions and unlocks a buried dashboard designed specifically for developers.
This free and open-source tool made my USB drives way more useful
MakeUseOfby Tashreef Shareef29d ago
It's important to always keep a USB recovery media ready. It can help you troubleshoot Windows by booting it into WinPE or, worst case, reinstalling the operating system entirely.
7 unfinished sci-fi and fantasy series that are too good to wait for the ending
MakeUseOfby Dan Selcke29d ago
It's always nice to start a sci-fi or fantasy book series knowing that there's an ending waiting for you.
I changed one Android setting and stopped wasting battery on speeds I couldn't even notice
MakeUseOfby Pankil Shah29d ago
Battery life is one of those things that's a struggle for almost everyone, especially if you're rocking a compact phone like me.
This is why you should always keep your smart TV's camera covered
MakeUseOfby Oluwademilade Afolabi29d ago
Your smart TV hangs on the wall in your living room, pride of place. Most folks, myself included, don't really think about it beyond what I want to watch in the evening, once my hands are finally...
I’ve tried a ridiculous number of backup apps, but this is the one I’d trust with my entire PC
MakeUseOfby Oluwademilade Afolabi29d ago
Backup software asks for a weird amount of trust. You set everything up while your files are perfectly fine, then months later you’re supposed to believe the whole system will still make sense when...
A 443,000-drive study finally settles the Seagate vs. WD debate
MakeUseOfby Sara Heritage29d ago
A comprehensive peer-reviewed study has found significant differences in reliability among various storage manufacturers after examining 1.66 million drive-years from 443,156 hard drives.
Asus' new Zenbook 14 looks the part, but it has a couple of issues holding it back
MakeUseOfby Gavin Phillips29d ago
Asus' long-running Zenbook lineup moves from strength to strength, but the newest model, the Zenbook 14 UX3480QA, is lacking the same strong identity that keeps me coming back to these devices.
This harmless Android gesture was wasting battery every time I put my phone away
MakeUseOfby Brandon Miniman29d ago
There are certain features of your phone that, while convenient, are negatively impacting your battery life without you knowing.
Finally, I have great Wi-Fi throughout the entire house with zero disconnects
MakeUseOfby Amir Bohlooli29d ago
Your house should be the one place where you just don’t have to worry about internet, Wi-Fi, and whatever else. It should be stable and just... seamless. It wasn’t the case with mine.
These 6 power tools absolutely do not need Milwaukee money
MakeUseOfby Jonathon Jachura29d ago
Ask a tool forum what to buy and the answer comes back in red almost every time: Milwaukee M18 FUEL, whatever the category. The tools are excellent, and the prices say so.