Category: How Tech Works | Page 2

Explainers on how certain gadgets, features, or scientific concepts work in the context of everyday tech.

How Tech Works

Why Your Laptop Webcam Is Still a Piece of Junk – OneZero

July 7, 2020

by Taylor Dixon

How Tech Works

What All Those Letters Mean on Your Thermostat’s Wiring

Note: This post was originally published on June 27, 2019. We’re republishing it now as part of a home-focused week at iFixit, and because more people are searching for this…

June 15, 2020

by Craig Lloyd - iFixit

How Tech Works

[OneZero] Unraveling the Secret Supply Chain Behind an AmazonBasics Battery

October 30, 2019

by Kevin Purdy

How Tech Works

How Apple’s Newest Watch Achieves an Always-On Display (Probably)

While announcing the Apple Watch Series 5, Apple did a very Apple thing: they touted a new feature, hinted at some of the technology behind it, and left some of…

September 18, 2019

by Kevin Purdy

How Tech Works

How the Plumbing in Your House Works

The water flowing out of your faucets comes from somewhere, and the water going down the drain must have some destination. The journey that water takes through your house is…

July 24, 2019

by Craig Lloyd - iFixit

How Tech Works

How Refrigerators Work

Refrigerators crap out all the time—one of our most-popular forum posts is about a refrigerator not working properly, if that tells you anything. Here’s how a refrigerator works, so you’ll…

July 15, 2019

by Craig Lloyd - iFixit

Tech News

Your Phone Is Not Waterproof, No Matter What The Maker Says

Samsung is being sued by an Australian watchdog group because, the consumer advocates claim, the phone maker is trying to have it both ways. Samsung advertisements and social media posts…

July 9, 2019

by Kevin Purdy

How Tech Works

What All Those Dashboard Lights on Your Car Actually Mean

Ever notice your car’s instrument cluster lighting up like a Christmas tree when you start it up? All those lights and symbols tell you what your car is up to…

June 18, 2019

by Craig Lloyd - iFixit

How Tech Works

Rice Is for Dinner, Not Repair

Rice can transform an economy, save a boring meal, and stop winter drafts. One thing it absolutely, positively cannot do is save a wet cell phone. In fact, submerging your…

June 17, 2019

by Kevin Purdy

How Tech Works

How Humidifiers Work

If you’re suffering through dry weather, a humidifier can quench your arid home by adding some moisture into the air. Here’s how these devices work. There are several different types…

June 13, 2019

by Craig Lloyd - iFixit