MakeUseOf

534 articles in the Truth Foundry index. Each links out to the original.

• Linux mergerfs allows combining drives without data migration or formatting · Linux mergerfs pools existing drives instantly without formatting or file migration, unlike Windows Storage Spaces.
• Plex Recommended Over Jellyfin and Kodi for Media Server Ease and Features · Plex offers the best balance of convenience, device compatibility, and refined interface among media servers Plex, Jellyfin, and Kodi according to the author.
• Browser RAM Usage Test Shows Chrome No Longer Tops Memory Consumption · Gregory Gibson's benchmark found that the long-standing meme about Chrome's RAM hunger is outdated.
• Amazon Photos Beats Google Photos for Prime Members With Unlimited Storage · Amazon Photos offers unlimited uncompressed photo storage for Prime members along with Family Vault and nested folders that Google Photos lacks.
• Gemini AI Integration with Gmail and Calendar Streamlines Daily Work and Deadlines · User connects Gemini to Google Workspace apps to manage emails, schedules, and university deadlines from a single interface.
• Duplicati Automates Encrypted Backups to External Drives and OneDrive in Under an Hour · Duplicati is a free open-source tool that automates encrypted backups of important files to local drives and cloud services like OneDrive.
• Personal Speed Test Server Exposes Ookla's ISP-Biased Optimistic Results · Author's own LibreSpeed server on Vultr showed roughly half the download speeds of Ookla tests against ISP-hosted servers.
• E-Reader Showdown: Kindle, Kobo, and Boox Compared by Tech Journalist · Mahnoor Faisal tested Kindle, Kobo, and Boox e-readers and found only one worth keeping long-term.
• Google Owns Waze and Maps for Strategic Reasons · Google maintains ownership of both Waze and Google Maps as a deliberate business strategy.
• Android App Archiving Shrinks Apps by 50-75% While Preserving Data · Android's app archiving feature reduces app size by up to 75% by removing bulk files while keeping user data intact.
• Critics Reveal Why Prime Video's Forgotten Spy Comedy Patriot Deserves a Second Life · A unique, underappreciated spy drama on Prime Video blends comedy and tragedy in a way modern streaming ignores.
• Invisible HDMI Cables Behind Drywall Cause Nightmare Repairs · Hidden in-wall HDMI cables are impossible to verify or replace without costly drywall repairs.
• Anthropic's Prompt Caching Cuts API Costs by Up to 90 Percent · Prompt caching can reduce Claude API input costs by 90% when reusing static content across requests.
• Samsung Language Core App Uses 3GB Storage and Drains Battery on Galaxy Phones · Samsung Language Core powers on-device AI language features but consumes up to 3GB of storage and can drain battery on Galaxy devices.
• 8 Underused Google Maps Features to Simplify Your Navigation · Danny reveals eight overlooked Google Maps features including favorites, indoor navigation, and location sharing.
• Tech Journalist Verdict on a Year of Exclusive Wireless Charging · A tech journalist reports that iPhone Air wireless charging was seamless, while Galaxy S25 Edge was frustratingly slow.
• Essential Free Tools to Customize and Optimize New Windows PCs · Pankil recommends installing Winhance, Windhawk, and PowerToys on new Windows computers to remove bloatware and customize the interface.
• Google Pixel Adaptive Sound Feature Improves Audio But Disabled by Default · Google Pixel phones include Adaptive Sound, an on-device automatic EQ that enhances speaker quality based on environment, yet it ships disabled.
• Developer Automates Newsletter Archive in NotebookLM to Recover Lost Insights · A developer built a Zapier pipeline to pipe newsletters into NotebookLM for searchable pattern recognition.
• Turning Off 4 Phone Camera Features Eliminates Blurry Photos · Disabling auto-focus, scene optimizer, auto HDR, and night mode stops motion blur and lag.
• Wi-Fi Extenders Often Halve Speeds and Increase Interference in Home Networks · Wi-Fi extenders halve bandwidth, struggle with channel interference, and fail to support seamless device roaming in many setups.
• Man Fixes Netflix Buffering by Manually Changing Wi-Fi Channels · A tech writer resolved persistent streaming and gaming lag by manually switching his router to less congested Wi-Fi channels.
• Open Book Touch E-Reader Offers DRM-Free, Open-Source Alternative to Kindle · Open Book Touch is a crowdfunding e-reader with no accounts, DRM, or tracking.
• Changing Windows 11 Sleep Settings Halves Laptop Battery Drain · Switching to hibernate and disabling Wi-Fi wake resolves severe idle battery drain on Windows laptops.
• Smart Home Setup: Prioritize Matter-Enabled Devices for Versatility · Adopting Matter-enabled devices and hubs streamlines smart home ecosystems and avoids vendor lock-in.
• Smartphone IP68 and IP69 Water-Resistance Ratings Are Not Permanent · Smartphone water-resistance ratings degrade over time due to wear on seals and gaskets.
• Fixing Slow Internet by Manually Changing Router Wi-Fi Channels · A civil engineer turned writer fixed slow internet by manually selecting less congested Wi-Fi channels in his router settings.
• Pixel 10a Camera Fixes Reduce Editing Time and Improve Reliability · A Pixel 10a user praises recent camera updates for fixing crashes and freezing, reducing post-processing needs.
• Arch Linux Users Can Easily Add SteamOS Gaming Mode with arch-deckify Script · A new script allows Arch Linux users to install a SteamOS-like Game Mode interface on their desktops.
• Why Bitwarden Beats 1Password and LastPass for Data Privacy · Tech expert Afam argues Bitwarden's open-source model and zero-knowledge encryption make it superior to 1Password and LastPass.