Lifehacker

The Best Ways to De-Stink Your Stuff [Cleaning]

Thorin Klosowski — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:00:00 PDT

It doesn't matter how clean you think you are you're stuff is bound to get a little stinky once and a while. That means your clothes, shoes, carpets, couches, and who knows what else. So, what's the best way to handle the stench? Let's take a look. More »

Cosmos Is an All-In-One Optimization Tool for Your Android Phone [Video]

Alan Henry — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:30:00 PDT

We've discussed how to speed up and refresh your Android phone before, but at the end of the day there's only so much you can do at one time to give your device a boost. Cosmos, a new app from the team at Support.com, aims to change that. Cosmos rolls privacy protection, battery management, and junk file removal all into one easy to use tool that promises to keep your phone safe, snappy, and responsive. More »

Hack a Carabiner with Heat Shrink Tubing to Build the Ultimate Keychain [DIY]

Alan Henry — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:00:00 PDT

A good carabiner or s-biner makes a great keychain—it can clip to your belt or your bag so you never lose it, and you can keep more than one ring of keys on it if you have to. Plus, it hangs up nicely on hooks or magnetic holders with no fuss. Evem so, Instructables user elplatt lost a keyfob from one because the carabiner latch came open one day. Committed to never let that happen again, he grabbed some heat shrink tubing, a heat gun, and went to work. More »

Follow Lifehacker and Our Writers on Twitter for All The Best Tips, Our Writers for Added Conversation [Announcements]

Alan Henry — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:30:00 PDT

Twitter moves fast, but it's a great way to stay on top of the news of the day, not to mention what everyone's watching on TV. If you hang out on Twitter during the day, why not follow the official @Lifehacker account to bring some tips, tricks, and downloads to your stream, all posted right after our articles go up. If you want a more personal touch, follow your favorite Lifehacker writer (or writers), we all use our accounts differently—whether it's tips we wouldn't dare publish, our favorite webcomics, or calls for your help with upcoming features. More »

Make Your Own Pancake Syrup and Skip the Overpriced Stuff at the Grocery Store [Cooking]

Alan Henry — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 PDT

Syrup for pancakes and waffles at the grocery store can get pretty expensive by the bottle for something that's caramel color, corn syrup, and a few stabilizers and additives. There's no reason to buy it, even if you like the flavor—making your own at home is easy, gets you more syrup for the cost of your ingredients, and with this recipe, you can even doctor it up a bit to make a delicious breakfast treat. More »

In Memoriam: Our Favorite Apps and Services That Have Gone Belly Up (and Their Replacements) [Video]

Whitson Gordon — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:00:00 PDT

If the life of a power user teaches you anything, it's that some of the best apps and tools don't always stand the test of time. Let's pour one out for some of those dearly departed. More »

Remains of the Day: Wikipedia Alerts Users, If You See Ads It's Malware [For What It's Worth]

Jeremy Hoag — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:00:00 PDT

Ads on Wikipedia may be a sign of a hijacked browser, Google adds embedded search tools to Docs, and Flickr gets a redesign. More »

When You've Got Low Self-Esteem, Fix Your Problems With Others Rather Than With Yourself [Mind Hacks]

Adam Dachis — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:30:00 PDT

If you're suffering from a moment or a long period of low self-esteem, chances are the problem isn't internal. As Psychology Today points out, the problem is more likely caused by issues you have with people other than yourself: More »

Tie a Tie in 5 Seconds Flat [Video]

Whitson Gordon — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:00:00 PDT

We've shown you four different ways to tie a tie, but if you're really looking to step up your game, this method delivers a sharp-looking tie with serious speed. More »

Get Starting a Business With Venture Capital for iOS for Free in Today’s App Deals [App Deals]

Dusty Wright — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:30:00 PDT

The Daily App Deals post is a round-up of the best app discounts of the day, as well as some notable mentions for ones that are on sale. More »

Most Popular Online Custom Clothing Store: Indochino [Hive Five Followup]

Alan Henry — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:15:00 PDT

You're a busy person, and taking time out to shop in a brick and mortar store for clothes is a hassle. Why bother when you can buy great-looking clothes online, custom tailored to your exact measurements, at prices better than you'll find off the rack? Last week we asked you which online clothing shops you trusted for quality clothing, great prices, and a perfect fit. We rounded up your nominations and then took a look at the top five online custom clothing stores and put them to a vote. Now we're back to highlight the winner—and how the contest played out. More »

Improve Your Handwriting by Writing With Your Shoulders, Not with Your Fingers [Handwriting]

Adam Dachis — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 PDT

You might think that the best penmanship would involve excellent finger control over the pen, but your fingers actually don't help you write better—they can make your handwriting worse. Dyas A. Lawson, creator of pen, paper, and writing site PaperPenalia, explains the difference between writing with your fingers and using your shoulders, and why using your shoulders is better: More »

Twitter Is Now Sending You Weekly Email Digests; Here's How to Turn Them Off [Twitter]

Whitson Gordon — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:30:00 PDT

Twitter just added a new feature that sends you a weekly email with the most popular tweets and links from people you follow. If you'd rather not get more spam in your inbox, here's how to nip this in the bud before it starts. More »

Make Your Resume and Other Word Documents More Presentable by Making Them Read-Only [Resumes]

Melanie Pinola — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:00:00 PDT

Microsoft Word's red and green squiggles suggesting spelling and grammar corrections don't look great on a resume. Even if you click "ignore" to get rid of those lines, they'll still show up when others open the doc. Prevent this from happening with Word's document protection. More »

How to Get Reduced Prices and Save Money When Shopping on Amazon [Shopping Online]

Adam Dachis — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:30:00 PDT

Amazon is often our go-to place for buying things online, but the best deals aren't always obvious. There are several ways you can save quite a bit of money when shopping on Amazon, but only if you utilize the right programs and strategies. Here's how. More »

How Do You Adjust and Perfect the EQ on Your Music? [Ask The Readers]

Adam Dachis — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:00:00 PDT

Whether a song is mixed well or not, the speakers you own may not represent that mix perfectly. To fix that problem, many of us use the equalizer (EQ) in our music players to automatically adjust base, treble, and everything in between. How do you adjust your EQ to get the best sound? More »

For the Most Flavorful Steaks, Check for Marbling (and Other Steak Grilling Tips) [Cooking]

Melanie Pinola — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:00:00 PDT

If you want the juiciest, most flavorful steak you can cook, look for plenty of fat throughout the meat. Serious Eats' guide to grilling steak says marbling is a more important quality to look for than just the grade of the beef (Prime, Choice, or Select). More »

The Newest Firefox Beta for Android is Faster, Prettier, and Finally Worthwhile [Firefox]

Whitson Gordon — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:30:00 PDT

Android: Firefox has been available on Android for awhile, but apart from Firefox-specific features like Firefox Sync, it was never a phenomenal browser, mostly because it was slower than molasses. The newest beta, however, brings a completely new interface, much better performance, and more to Android users everywhere. More »

What Awesome Things Still Require a Wire? Does Plugging In Even Matter Anymore? [Ask Lifehacker]

Adam Dachis — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:00:00 PDT

Dear Lifehacker,
Everything is going wireless nowadays. Optical drives are being removed from computers in favor of getting content from the internet, cellular data is becoming fast enough to replace wired connections for the average person, and there are few peripherals I really use anymore. Am I missing out by ignoring the wired world? What's still worth plugging in? More »

Chrome Now Syncs Open Tabs Across Your Devices [Video]

Melanie Pinola — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:30:00 PDT

Google Chrome now keeps all of your opened tabs in sync across your desktop, laptop, and Android device (if it's running Ice Cream Sandwich and has Chrome for Android installed). You never have to worry now about leaving a web page behind. More »

Get Started Investing with Very Little Money [Personal Finance]

Melanie Pinola — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:00:00 PDT

With many mutual funds requiring initial investments of thousands of dollars, it might seem like you have to be rich to start investing. If you know where to look, though, you can get started building wealth with just $50 to $200. More »

Convert a Bread Box into a Charging Station [Repurposing]

Melanie Pinola — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:30:00 PDT

This DIY project proves a bread box can be useful not just for hiding bread. Conceal messy cords and the ugly power strip in this unusual charging station for all your gadgets. More »

Chrome Likely Heading to iPhone and iPad [Chrome]

Thorin Klosowski — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:15:00 PDT

According to a note published by Macquarie Equities Research, Google is working on an iPhone and iPad version of its Chrome browser, slated for launch sometime this year. More »

From Saucy Pics to Passwords: How to Share Sensitive Information Over the Internet [Security]

Whitson Gordon — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:00:00 PDT

Raise your hand if you've shared a username and password with someone over IM? Ever share a document with your SSN or other extremely sensitive information without protecting it? How about if you've sent, erm...scandalous pics to your significant other? Thanks to the internet, we share more than ever, and so quickly and easily that we do it without a second thought. That's great, but it may be time you learn a little about how to do that sharing in a more secure fashion. More »

Avoid Pain from an Injection by Looking Away [Health]

Thorin Klosowski — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:30:00 PDT

If you've ever received an injection of any kind you might have heard the advice of the doctor to look away so it won't hurt. As it turns out, new research published in the journal Pain provides evidence that looking away actually does decrease the amount of pain you feel. More »

Cut Cherry Tomatoes in Half the Time by Slicing Through Two Lids [Food]

Thorin Klosowski — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:00:00 PDT

Cutting up a bunch of cherry tomatoes doesn't take that long, but if you want to speed up the process food blog Well Done Chef recommends placing them between two lids and then slicing through them to cut all the tomatoes at once. More »

Remember the Milk for iPhone Updates with a New Interface, Multiple Task Editing, and More [Video]

Thorin Klosowski — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:30:00 PDT

iPhone: Organization tool and to-do manager Remember the Milk received a big update that completely overhauls the interface of the iPhone app that mimics the iPad version. This means a new stacked view, sidebar, and a few new features. More »

Am I Oversharing? [Social Networks]

Thorin Klosowski — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:00:00 PDT

Dear Friends, More »

Build a Backyard Tandoor Oven On the Cheap [Video]

Alan Henry — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:30:00 PDT

Naan, kulcha, and other oven-baked flatbreads are delicious, but to get them you usually have to go out or order delivery from a spot with a nice tandoor oven. Well, if you have even a little backyard or patio space, head to the hardware store: you can make your own with a bucket, some terra cotta pots, some charcoal, and a little elbow grease. You'll have the inside of your backyard tandoor oven covered in baking bread in no time. More »

Fry Perfect, Crispy Bacon Every Time By Adding Water [Video]

Alan Henry — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:00:00 PDT

Bacon is delicious, and it's really not difficult to cook, but it is easy to screw up if you don't cook it long enough or leave it on the heat so long it's a mess of desiccated carbon. The folks at America's Test Kitchen have a method for frying bacon that results in perfectly crispy strips every single time. The secret ingredient? Water. More »

Build Your Own Stylish, Super-Portable USB Flash Drive Bracelet [DIY]

Alan Henry — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:30:00 PDT

Whether you just really like easy access to your data on the go, or you like the idea of an flash drive loaded with emergency information somewhere on your person when you go out, this DIY project is up your alley. You'll need a few things to get started, but it's easy enough to do in a weekend. Grab your duct tape, let's get started. More »

Checkbox Syndrome: Why We Spend Money on Things We Don't Need (and How to Avoid It) [Saving Money]

Alan Henry — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:00:00 PDT

Ever been overwhelmed by the temptation to buy the latest shiny thing because it's got another checkbox in the features column? We call this "checkbox syndrome," or jumping at a new gadget or product just because it's an upgrade from the last one, not because it's better. Before you fall for a list of tech specs designed to impress an audience at a big flashy announcement, stop and think about whether it's really an upgrade for you. More »

Slow Chrome Extensions, Wall-Mounted Routers, and Saving Facebook Articles [Video]

Whitson Gordon — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:00:00 PDT

Readers offer their best tips for speeding up Google Chrome, mounting your router on the wall, and saving articles from Facebook for later reading. More »

Remains of the Day: Has Best Buy Payment Info Been Hacked? [For What It's Worth]

Jeremy Hoag — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:00:00 PDT

Best Buy online shoppers are seeing some odd things on their bills, the Senate is looking for anti-competitive behavior in Windows 8, and U.S. wireless companies are losing contract customers. More »

Make a Pair of Safety Goggles Out of a Soda Bottle [DIY]

Adam Dachis — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:30:00 PDT

Need a pair of safety goggles for your next DIY project? Make has a simple way to create some out of a used soda bottle and an elastic band. Here's what you'll need: More »

Improve the Look of Your Home by Moving Wall Art and Rearranging Your Furniture [Home]

Adam Dachis — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:00:00 PDT

You spend quite a bit of time in your home, so you probably want it to look nice and feel like a welcoming environment for guests. Putting together a great space can get expensive, but if you can't spend the cash on upgrades, personal finance blog Wisebread points to a few simple changes you can make to dramatically improve your home. More »

Daily App Deals: Get Spyglass for iOS for 99¢ in Today’s App Deals [App Deals]

Dusty Wright — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:30:00 PDT

The Daily App Deals post is a round-up of the best app discounts of the day, as well as some notable mentions for ones that are on sale. More »

Nootes Is a Great Upgrade from Your Mac's Built-in Sticky Notes App [Mac Downloads]

Adam Dachis — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 PDT

OS X: Back in the days before OS X, Apple created a notes app called Stickies to let you post little colored notes all over your screen. Despite a lack of updates for years, it's still widely used and a favorite among many. Nootes is an app that works similarly to Stickies but provides a number of additional features. If you've wished for a Stickies upgrade, you'll want to check this out. More »

30 Minutes a Day [Projects]

Derrick Schwabe — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:30:00 PDT

Do you have a dream project sitting in the back of your mind, like a mountain you're not sure you can climb? Developer Derrick Schwabe has one, and he's also got a plan to take it from dream to reality, starting out at 30 minutes a day. Here's how it works. More »