The Best How-To Geek Articles for July 2012

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Last month we covered topics such as how to make Google Chrome fast again, build a $35 media center with Raspbmc and Raspberry Pi, why using your monitor’s native resolution is important, and more. Join us as we look back at the best articles for July.

The Best Articles of July

Note: Articles are listed as #10 through #1.

VPN vs. SSH Tunnel: Which Is More Secure?

VPNs and SSH tunnels can both securely “tunnel” network traffic over an encrypted connection. They’re similar in some ways, but different in others – if you’re trying to decide which to use, it helps to understand how each works.

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The Best Websites for Finding, Downloading, Borrowing, Renting, and Purchasing eBooks

So, you’ve got yourself an eBook reader, smartphone, tablet, or other portable device and you want to put some eBooks on it to take with you. There are many options for obtaining free eBooks as well as purchasing, borrowing, or even renting eBooks.

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The Best Websites for Watching Free Documentaries

If you’re a fan of documentaries, there are many sites where you can watch them for free. The following is a list of sites we found, some of which allow you add comments about the films and even allow you to download the films.

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How to Play Classic Arcade Games On Your PC

New games with their fancy textures, 3D modeling, and immersive environments have their charm, sure, but what if you crave some old-school arcade gaming? Read on to see how you can turn your computer into an virtual arcade cabinet.

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HTG Explains: Why Using Your Monitor’s Native Resolution Is Important

You’ve probably heard that it’s important to use your display’s native resolution – assuming you’re using an LCD flat-panel monitor instead of an ancient CRT monitor. With a LCD, using a lower resolution will result in inferior image quality.

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How to Use an Xbox 360 Controller On Your Windows PC

The keyboard and mouse might be a good fit for many native computer games, but it feels downright weird to play emulated games that way. Whether you want to play Super Mario with a proper gamepad or try out a new PC title like Diablo III in comfort, we’ve got you covered.

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5 Windows Command Prompt Tricks You Probably Don’t Know

We tend to use the command prompt quite a lot here at How-To Geek, so we decided to show you 5 tricks we use in the command prompt that you might not know–read on to find out what they are.

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Browser Slow? How to Make Google Chrome Fast Again

Have you noticed your usually speedy Google Chrome browser slowing down, or even crashing on you? Unnecessary plugins, extensions, and even browsing data can slow your browser down to a crawl, or make it crash. Here’s how to fix it.

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HTG Explains: Do You Really Need to Safely Remove USB Sticks?

You’ve probably heard that you always need to use the Safely Remove Hardware icon before unplugging a USB device. However, there’s also a good chance that you’ve unplugged a USB device without using this option and everything worked fine.

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Build a $35 Media Center with Raspbmc and Raspberry Pi

If you’ve been holding off on setting up a media center computer because they’re loud, expensive, don’t fit in your media rack, or all of the above, read on to see how you can build a $35 XBMC-based media center with plug-and-play ease.

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More stories

What Is IPv6, and Why Does It Matter?

IPv4 addresses on the public Internet are running low. Microsoft paid $7.5 million for Nortel’s 666,624 IP addresses when Nortel went bankrupt in 2011 – that’s over $8 an IP address. IPv4 has technical problems, and IPv6 is the solution.

The Best Websites for Downloading, Renting, and Purchasing Audiobooks

We recently published a list of websites where you can download free eBooks, or purchase, borrow, or rent eBooks. However, if you would rather listen to your favorite books, here are some websites offering audiobooks you can download, rent, or purchase, some free, some not.

Desktop Fun: Abstract Textures Wallpaper Collection Series 2

Two years ago we shared a wonderful collection of Abstract Texture wallpapers with you and today we are back with more. Add unique textures, patterns, and more to your desktop with the second in our series of Abstract Textures Wallpaper collections.

What You Said: Your Favorite Geek Movies

Earlier this week we asked you to share your favorite geek movie; now we’re back to highlight the top ten HTG reader picks. Read on the check out the list of movies that range from funny to serious Sci-Fi and everything in between.

Friday Fun: Waterfalls 3 – Level Pack

In this week’s game you need to redirect the flow of colored liquids into the appropriate circles and shapes, but it is not as simple as it appears to be. Do you have the patience and skills needed to succeed or will you scream in frustration?

What Is a Browser Cookie?

We’ve recently been hearing about tracking cookies and laws in the European Union forcing websites to explain their use of cookies to their visitors. If you’re wondering what cookies are and what all the fuss is about, you’re not alone.