Summary I needed a lot of storage for home media, photos, videos, documents, and more. Instead of buying an extremely expensive Synology server, I went an entirely different route and built my own storage server for a fraction of the cost. Quick Links Buying a Large Capacity NAS Isn’t Cheap While there are some budget-friendly NAS setups out there, those wanting a larger capacity or number of drives are left spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on hardware alone....

Quick Links Summary You should set your thermostat to no less than 55°F to avoid cold weather damage to your home. Adjust upwards accordingly based on your climate and home insulation to ensure safe interior temperatures. Whether you’re headed on vacation and want to dial the thermostat back while you’re away, or you’re interested in saving on your energy bill all winter long, here’s what you need to know. The Difference Between Personal Comfort and Safety For this discussion, we’re not focused on optimal comfort....

Quick Links Summary Create two columns with your primary data series in the left column and the secondary data on the right. Then, click Insert > Chart and insert a Combo Chart. Google may suggest a Combo Chart, or you may have to select “Combo Chart” from the “Chart Type” box in the Chart Editor. Picking out the best chartfor effectively displaying related data isn’t always easy. Using a combo chart in Google Sheets, you can take advantage of two charts combined for the ideal visual....

Quick Links Summary Share Live Photos that have been looped or bounced directly to apps or construct a workflow using iOS Shortcuts to export a GIF. Alternatively, download a third-party app like GIPHY and shoot, convert, and dress-up GIFs ready for export. Looping animated GIFs became popular during the early days of the internet when slow connection speeds made streaming video prohibitive. The format never really went away, so it’s handy to know how to produce GIFs right on your iPhone....

Quick Links Summary I’ll admit that the Terminal was a bit intimidating at first. But over time, as you get the basics down, you’ll find that there are many things you’re able to do more easily and quickly through the terminal than by using a graphical program. Perhaps the best place to start is in browsing files. The Linux File System Unlike thedrive-letter formaton Windows, where files are organized under labels like C:\ or D:, Linux uses a single-rooted structure that branches out from a single root directory....

Quick Links Summary QR codes are two-dimensional barcodes that allow you to share website links, contact details, and other information. You typically access them with a smartphone. However, there may be situations when you don’t have your smartphone or when you’re looking at a QR code on your desktop. Fortunately, there are a couple of ways to scan QR codes using your Windows PC. 1. Scan QR Codes Using the Camera App The Windows Camera app is typically used to capture videos andtake photos on your Windows PC....

Quick Links Summary Whether you work from home, employ remote workers, or want to be able to remotely access your home or office network while out-and-about, Tailscale VPN is a configurable, secure, peer-to-peer VPN solution that can connect almost any device. Why Do You Need a VPN to Remotely Access Your Local Network? You’ll commonly encounter two types of networks: alocal area network (LAN)such as your home Wi-Fi or office network, and awide area network (WAN)such as the internet....

Quick Links Any app can help you be productive if you know how to use it wisely. One app that always makes its way into my productivity folder is YouTube. Here is how I use YouTube (and often, my Premium subscription) to boost my focus while I work. The main reason I pay my monthly dues to YouTube formy Premium membershipis that I cannot stand the ads that break my focus when I play videos for my focus sessions or simply irritate me when I open a random video while taking a break from work....

Quick Links It turns out that not having a gaming PC makes it difficult to make the most of a platform like Steam, even if you were there for the platform’s bitter beginning. In this respect, the Steam Deck represents an opportunity. It’s Just Been Released Locally To be fully transparent, the main reason I’m buying a Steam Deckright nowis because it’s just been released in Australia. Valve really dragged its heels in making the portable available down under, and the vastly inflated price and lack of warranty put me off opting for a gray import instead....

Quick Links Microsoft OneNote is often the forgotten tool in the Office toolkit. It’s not got the same name recognition that Word or Excel has, but as far as I’m concerned, OneNote is the perfect tool for brainstorming my ideas. In fact, I’ve turned OneNote into my own personal idea tracker, helping me to pull my thoughts together into something more useful. Here are some of the ways I use it effectively....

Summary TheNomad Stand One Maxis a perfect example of a beautiful, well-built 3-in-1 charging dock that seemingly got too close to the sun and let its functionality melt away. It might be a bad product in the end—I’ll let you decide—but mostly, it’s a disappointing one because it could have been great. Nomad Stand One Max Stand One Max harnesses the power of MagSafe and wireless charging to simultaneously power your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all in a single, timeless design....

Quick Links Summary Realistically, it’s not a stretch that you would own a tablet, e-reader, and laptop. Instead of carrying all three, Boox is trying to combine all of those into theTab Ultra C. The device uses a color e-paper display with a slab form factor and features a keyboard dock for productivity. Features of Boox Tab Ultra C Although Boox touts the Tab Ultra C (andTab Ultra) as a laptop-like product, it’s essentially a tablet with an e-paper display....

Summary Sony makes some of the most popular and acclaimed high-end consumer headphones, but less attention is directed toward its budget lines. This is a shame, as theSony WF-C510—the company’s entry-level earbuds—have great sound for their price, even if corners were cut to get there. Sony WF-C510 The Sony WF-C510 are earbuds that pair with Sony’s headphones app to create personalized equalizers. Price and Availability The Sony WF-C510 earbuds retail for $59....