4 things I do on a new Windows PC to tighten my security
…Windows 11 already includes most of the protections you need, but some important settings depend on hardware, edition, or setup choices, so they're worth checking. So I take a few minutes…
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I turned my dusty Chromecast into a $250 smart home hub replacement
…is obsolete — find out how it can still power your smart home setup. Chromecast Smart Home Hardware Software Hacks 01 / 8 Hardware Which operating system is typically installed on an old Chromecast…
I disabled these Windows 11 features with Group Policy, and my PC finally felt like mine
…And Group Policy turned out to be the easiest fix without running a debloat script or random registry hacks copied from tech forums. After going through a handful of those policies, Windows…
I've been running Vaultwarden on my Proxmox home server for two years, and I don't miss LastPass
…For example, I don't plan to run Email servers locally anytime soon, as their overly complicated setup process and constant maintenance issues make them worse than cloud-based email providers. Likewise…
Zelda: Ocarina of Time can wait — Majora’s Mask should be Nintendo’s next remake
…My 2ship2harkinian setup is pretty straightforward The PC port isn't quite as stable as Ocarina of Time's To revisit the N64 classic, I played Majora's Mask on my ROG…
I turned my old phone into a Bluetooth proxy for Home Assistant with this free app
…It is a relief that the app doesn’t require any add-ons or integrations, such as HACS or MQTT , to work with Home Assistant. This app is a fantastic way to…
I integrated Google Drive into Claude and my productivity tripled in no time
…I asked Claude to go over my Europe Trip document and give me specific clothing tips and travel hacks for a toddler. Because it had access to our itinerary, it knew exactly…
The ESP32 project I'm most proud of has no cloud, no app, and no gimmicks
…This setup time and minimal effort surprised me since I had spent several days reading about Bluetooth proxies. I fretted over the right ESP32 board and mentally prepared to spend hours troubleshooting…
Home Assistant finally replaced Google Home when I stopped trusting the cloud with my smart home
…I installed Zigbee2MQTT integration, followed by a Mosquitto server , and HACS to access more community-developed integrations. ESPHome integration lets me build and flash custom firmware on ESP32-based sensors directly in…
The ESP32 quietly became the most important chip in my smart home
…Basically, no one needs to pry open those devices to solder any extra components to hack them. You can flash a custom firmware, like from ESPHome, to make them compatible with the…