← marclar.tech

Practical tech, explained like a friend

Notes to help technology work for you.

Useful ideas about AI, devices, and simple automations—without the jargon.

  1. What sandboxing actually means

    Sandboxing creates boundaries around software processes. Learn how isolation works using virtual machines and restricted network access to keep systems secure.

  2. Why the Dark Web Isn't Just for Crime

    The dark web isn't just for crime. Learn how Tor's layered encryption protects journalists and activists in repressive countries.

  3. Let the AI ask you questions

    Struggling to prompt AI? Flip the script. Let the AI ask you questions to gather context and draft the email or text you need.

  4. Roko's Basilisk: Why I'm Polite to My AI

    Explore Roko's Basilisk, a thought experiment about AI revenge. Why I choose politeness in my interactions with AI, and what it says about our future.

  5. Check suspicious files with VirusTotal before installing

    Not sure if a file is safe? Upload it to VirusTotal for free and let multiple scanners check it before you install anything.

  6. What is a VPN?

    Learn how a VPN encrypts your internet traffic to hide your activity from ISPs and advertisers. A simple guide to choosing a provider.

  7. There’s a live TV channel for old internet video

    Discover spelunkr.tv, a site that streams synchronized video from the Internet Archive across 29 channels, recreating the shared experience of old live TV.

  8. Stop emailing blurry photos of documents

    Stop emailing blurry photos of documents. Use your iPhone's Files app to scan documents into clean PDFs you can text or email instantly.

  9. Anatomy of a URL

    Learn to read URLs like a pro. Spot the difference between a real bank site and a phishing scam by understanding domains, subdomains, and TLDs.

  10. Cancel your iPhone subscription before deleting the app

    Stop accidental recurring charges by canceling your App Store subscription in Settings before you delete the app from your iPhone.

  11. Skip the Adobe Subscription with This Open Source Tool

    Tired of Adobe's dark patterns? Discover Art Craft, a free open-source alternative for casual photo editing. No subscription required.

  12. How to lock your phone to one app safely

    Stop handing over your whole phone to show a friend a video. Learn how to use iOS Guided Access to lock the device to one app and block specific buttons.

  13. Skip the network headache with Tailscale

    Struggling with home network barriers? Tailscale creates a secure virtual network so your devices can share files and communicate anywhere.

  14. Webhooks: The Simple Way to Automate Your Business

    Learn what webhooks are and how they automate tasks like CRM updates and welcome emails. A simple guide for non-technical users.

  15. Here's how to make AI draw your messy thoughts

    Stop getting walls of text. Learn three simple ways to ask AI for flowcharts, tables, and diagrams that actually make complex topics click.

  16. Stop paying for software you could build

    Explore canIvibecodeit.com to see if you can build your own version of paid software. A practical guide for developers who hate SaaS subscriptions.

  17. How Sign in with Google actually works

    A simple club analogy explains how Sign in with Google works without sharing your password, making the security model easy to grasp.

  18. Automate Google Workspace with Apps Script

    Learn how to automate Google Workspace tasks using Apps Script. Get the public code repository and tutorial by commenting "Google" in the video.

  19. Connect your AI agent to email safely

    I use AgentMail.to to connect my AI agent to email. It's free for a few inboxes and I set it to only accept trusted addresses to avoid rogue prompts.

  20. Google is killing Gmail's multi-account feature

    Google is removing Gmail's ability to manage multiple mailboxes in January. Here is how to move your domains to a cheaper provider and use a desktop client.

  21. Google Apps Script for Beginners: Copy a Drive Folder with One Button

    Learn Google Apps Script by copying one small Drive folder. Set up Clonable, press Copy to Cloned, and check what actually happened.

  22. Free AI Course for Non-Technical People

    Join the free November beta for 'Learning AI.' Five lessons and a live session for non-technical people. Comment BETA to get started.

  23. Search better with these five shortcuts

    Learn five practical Google & DuckDuckGo search operators to filter by exact phrases, exclude terms, target specific sites, and find specific file types.

  24. Turn iPhone Icon Clutter Into Folders

    Learn how to organize your iPhone home screen by dragging icons on top of each other to create custom folders for apps like messaging and photos.

  25. Skip the monthly fees for your new newsletter

    Stop paying for expensive newsletter tools before you need them. Learn how to use free, open-source alternatives like Listmonk to save money when starting out.

  26. Share presentations as a single HTML file

    Bento turns presentations into a single HTML file with a built-in editor. Share via email or Slack; recipients view and edit in any browser without installing.

  27. The Verification Ladder: How to Know When AI Is Actually Done

    A beginner-friendly way to tell the difference between an AI answer that looks finished and a result you have actually checked.

  28. What is LLM "context"?

    Learn how context windows work in LLMs like ChatGPT. Understand why your AI responses change based on past messages and how to manage token limits effectively.

  29. I'm building a course on learning AI

    I'm closing in on 10,000 followers and thinking about making a course on learning AI. If you're interested, leave the comment "Learn" and help shape the content

  30. Hidden iPhone Gestures for Digital Touch

    Discover hidden iPhone Digital Touch gestures. Learn how to create fireballs, beating hearts, and a dramatic heart break effect in Messages.

  31. Three hidden iOS 27 features you missed

    Discover three overlooked iOS 27 features: birthday call animations, a faster Control Center timer, and clean video frame saving without cropping.

  32. Automate Google Workspace tasks with Apps Script

    Learn how to use Google Apps Script to automate repetitive tasks in Drive, Docs, and Sheets. See a real-world example of simplifying file duplication.

  33. How to set up Google's digital legacy

    Learn how to configure Google's digital legacy settings to control who accesses your account after a period of inactivity.

  34. Make your phone boring with one setting

    Stop doom scrolling by making your phone less visually stimulating. Learn how to enable grayscale mode in your settings to break the habit loop and reclaim your

  35. Turn on iPhone Lockdown Mode for extra security

    Learn how iPhone Lockdown Mode blocks suspicious links and restricts FaceTime calls to boost your security against deepfakes and scams.

  36. A Safer Way to Create a Memorable Master Password

    Create a long, random, unique master passphrase using current CISA and NIST guidance, with practical recovery and MFA safeguards.

  37. Correction: How to Create a Strong Master Password

    A correction to my earlier master-password advice, with current guidance for creating a long, random, unique passphrase.

  38. Open-source file sync

    Discover Syncthing, a free open-source tool that keeps folders synchronized across different computers. A practical solution for file syncing.

  39. How to Turn Off Apple's Liquid Glass

    Apple's new Liquid Glass design can be visually intense. Learn how to turn off the translucent UI effects if you prefer a simpler, standard interface.

  40. How to Undo Text Deletion on iPhone

    Deleted text on your iPhone? Learn the simple three-finger swipe gesture to instantly undo your mistake and restore your writing.

  41. What is an AI "agent"?

    A plain-English guide to AI agents: how models use tools, remember state, repeat steps toward a goal, and stop for limits or human review.

  42. What are git & GitHub?

    Learn how Git and GitHub prevent conflicting code changes, using branches, pull requests, and automated tests to keep software stable and deployable.

  43. Clean Up Your iPhone Control Center

    Customize your iPhone Control Center by removing clutter and adding useful controls like Reduce White Point and Orientation Lock for a smoother experience.

  44. Fix your iPhone's annoying 'duck' autocorrect

    Stop letting your iPhone suggest 'duck' when you mean something else. Learn this quick setting change to fix annoying autocorrect suggestions.

  45. Make your Mac keyboard sound like a typewriter

    Turn your silent Mac keyboard into a satisfying mechanical one. Haptyk adds realistic sounds that match your keystroke intensity. Try it free for three days.

  46. Turn your static Gmail avatar into an animated GIF

    Learn how to create an animated GIF for your Gmail profile picture using Canva. A simple step-by-step guide to make your inbox avatar stand out.

  47. How Setapp saves money on Mac utilities

    Discover how Setapp bundles useful Mac and iOS apps into one affordable subscription. Learn about the perks and how to get a free month.

  48. Why I Swapped Chrome for Arc

    I ditched standard Chrome for Arc. Here’s how the sidebar, workspaces, and peek windows change the way you browse the web.

  49. Ditch the mouse with this Chrome extension

    Vimium is a Chrome extension that lets you browse with keyboard shortcuts. Press F to click any link, J/K to scroll, and G to jump to page ends. Fast, simple, a

  50. Turn annoying HEIC files into JPEGs & PNGs automatically

    Learn how I used AI to build a simple tool that automatically converts annoying HEIC files to JPEGs or PNGs on your computer.

  51. Fix family computer problems for free with RustDesk

    Stop paying for TeamViewer. Learn how to use RustDesk, a free remote desktop tool, to fix family computer issues easily from anywhere.

  52. Master iPhone Gestures in 30 Seconds

    Learn the three essential iPhone gestures for notifications, settings, and app management. A quick guide for new users to navigate with ease.

  53. Unlock iPhone Burst Mode with a Left Swipe

    Discover a hidden iPhone camera gesture: swipe left on the shutter to activate burst mode. Learn how to capture rapid-fire photos and select the best frame.

  54. Fix Eye Strain: Force Dark Mode on Any Website

    Stop eye strain from bright websites. Learn how to force dark mode on any site, including Amazon and Craigslist, with one extension.

  55. Hidden Volume Button Tricks

    Discover how to use your iPhone's volume buttons to take photos and videos. A quick, handy shortcut for capturing moments without touching the screen.

  56. The Gmail Trick for Quick Unsubscribes

    Stop clicking 'unsubscribe' on every email. Change #Inbox to '#sub' in Gmail to quickly show all unsubscribe buttons and streamline your cleanup.

  57. Make a Custom iPhone Ringtone from YouTube

    Learn how to turn a YouTube clip into a custom iPhone ringtone. Step-by-step guide to renaming files and assigning unique sounds to contacts.

  58. Kinopio: The Visual Notes App That Feels Like Play

    Discover Kinopio, a visual notes app that combines a corkboard and mind map. Perfect for brainstorming, planning, and creative collaboration.

  59. Your Mac has been doing this wrong the whole time!

    Make macOS automatically move zip files to the trash after expanding them. This simple Archive Utility setting saves you from manual cleanup.

  60. Stop Clicking Menus: 3 Google Workspace Shortcuts

    Skip the menu clicks. Learn how to instantly create new Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides using simple browser shortcuts like docs.new.

  61. Why Syncing Isn't a Backup: The 3-2-1 Strategy

    Learn why syncing files isn't a true backup and how the 3-2-1 strategy with automated tools like Backblaze keeps your data safe.

  62. Stop Retyping: How to Auto-Fill Text with Espanso

    Tired of typing the same email address repeatedly? Learn how to use the free tool Espanso to auto-fill your text with simple shortcuts.

  63. Stop Using Alt-Tab: The Hyperkey Trick

    Stop fighting with Alt-Tab. Learn how the free Hyper Key app lets you launch any app with a single key combo for a faster, smoother workflow.

  64. Stop Typing: How Free AI Dictation Makes Computers Easier

    Use the free, open-source Handy app for local speech-to-text on Mac, Windows, or Linux, with clear setup, permission, and privacy notes.

  65. iPhone Pro Tip: Move Text Between Apps Instantly

    Discover a hidden iPhone trick: hold the spacebar and tap the keyboard to select and drag text blocks directly into other apps like Reminders.