Lifehacker

Upgrade and Speed Up Your Computer This Weekend [Weekendhacker]

Whitson Gordon — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:00:00 PST

It's a sad fact of life that over time, all of our computers get a little bit slower. Before you start shelling out for a new machine, take some time this weekend to perform some maintenance tasks, upgrade a single piece of hardware, or even overclock your machine for a little speed boost. More »

Remains of the Day: Poland Stands up to ACTA [For What It's Worth]

Dusty Wright — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:00:00 PST

Poland thinks twice about passing ACTA, Google will no longer use CDMA devices as developer units, and a new study begs the question, "Do iOS apps crash more frequently than Android apps?" More »

Practice Multiple Skills at a Time Instead of Focusing on One for Greater Results [Learning]

Adam Pash — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:45:00 PST

Wired's Garth Sundem sat down with the Robert Bjork, director of UCLA's Learning and Forgetting Lab, to discuss how you can best "[pack] things in your brain in a way that keeps them from leaking out". What he learned? A lot of our basic assumptions are wrong. More »

The iPad's Split Keyboard Has a Few Hidden Buttons that Make Typing Easier [Ios Tips]

Whitson Gordon — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:30:00 PST

You've no doubt seen the split keyboard that iOS 5 brought to the iPad, but it turns out it has a few hidden buttons on the edges. Here's how they work. More »

How to Install Carrier-Blocked Market Apps on Any Android Phone [How To]

Whitson Gordon — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:00:00 PST

Many carriers these days are blocking apps from the Market, like Google Wallet or Wireless Tether. Droid Life shows us a super easy way to install them on your unrooted phone. More »

Daily App Deals: Get Baby ESP for Android for 60% Off in Today's App Deals [Deals]

Doug Shipley — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:30:00 PST

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 »

Skype for Windows Can Now Video Chat with Facebook, Adds Group Screen Sharing and Push to Talk [Video]

Whitson Gordon — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:00:00 PST

The newest version of Skype lets you initiate IMs and video chat sessions with Facebook users, even if they aren't running Skype. It also includes group screen sharing, a push to talk feature, and HD video for certain webcams. More »

This Week’s Most Popular Posts: January 28 - February 3 [Highlights]

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:30:00 PST

This week we snagged a few more gigabytes of free Dropbox space, skipped out on unnecessary fees, made better use of our personal domains, and more. Here's a look back.

The UNDFIND One Bag Transforms Into Whatever Kind of Messenger Bag You Need [Video]

Adam Dachis — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:30:00 PST

The UNDFND One Bag looks like a designer messenger bag, but is far more dynamic and modular than you'd expect. The majority of the bag is modifiable, allowing you to transform it into the bag you need right now, rather than switching your gear in and out of a variety of different containers. More »

Google Cloud Print: It's Actually Awesome, and Here's How to Set It Up [How To]

Adam Dachis — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:00:00 PST

Google Cloud Print is an under-appreciated service that can send print jobs from virtually anywhere to a connected printer in any other location. Normally that involves tedious configuration on your network, but Cloud Print can do it in just a few minutes. It's really easy to set up, and there are a few things you can do to extend its support beyond the browser to make all your printing tasks a lot easier. Here's a look at what it can do, how you can set it up, and how to make it even better. More »

Ask and Answer Questions About Upgrading Your Eating Habits [Help Yourself]

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:30:00 PST

Every day we're on the lookout for ways to make your work easier and your life better, but Lifehacker readers are smart, insightful folks with all kinds of expertise to share, and we want to give everyone regular access to that exceptional hive mind. Help Yourself is a daily thread where readers can ask and answer questions about tech, productivity, life hacks, and whatever else you need help with. More »

Build a Mail Rack or Charging Station from IKEA Magazine Holders [Ikea Hacks]

Alan Henry — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:00:00 PST

If you're the type who prefer to open mail as soon as you get in the house—hopefully over a recycling bin so the junk mail goes right inside, this DIY mail shelf can give you a space in your foyer or entryway to stash the important stuff while reading, or leave your gadgets to charge before you leave the house. All you'll need is a small piece of wood and some magazine holders, courtesy of IKEA. More »

The Best Calendar App for Linux [Linux App Directory]

Whitson Gordon — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:30:00 PST

Linux users have a few calendar programs to choose from, but none of them are particularly spectacular—in fact, most of them aren't very good at all. As such, we're bending the rules of the App Directory and recommending that you use the awesome Google Calendar webapp for all your scheduling needs. More »

What Are Some Tasty, Healthy Alternatives to Soda? [Ask Lifehacker]

Thorin Klosowski — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 PST

I've decided it's finally time to get rid of my twice-a-day soda habit, but the problem is, I really like soda. What are the healthy alternatives that can still match my cravings? More »

These Are the Five Repeating Home Maintenance Tasks You Probably Forget To Do [Household]

Thorin Klosowski — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:30:00 PST

Whether you're renting or you own a home, it's easy to let repeated tasks of home maintenance slip your mind. Over on Apartment Therapy they've outlined the five repeating home maintenance tasks most people forget and a simple way to remind yourself to do them. More »

Dropbox for Android Gets Automatic Photo Syncing, Drops File Size Limits [Dropbox]

Whitson Gordon — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:00:00 PST

Android: Dropbox updated its desktop clients yesterday with new photo features, including one that can give you up to 5GB of space, and today the Android app has followed suit with a new beta that automatically uploads photos after you take them. More »

Everybody Takes a Smoke Break in This Week's Open Thread [Open Thread]

Adam Pash — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:30:00 PST

It's Friday. It's the open thread. You know what to do. More »

How to Get Better Battery Life and Performance on Your Android Phone with a New Kernel [Android]

Whitson Gordon — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00:00 PST

You may have heard about how flashing a new ROM can improve your Android experience, but flashing a new kernel is one of the best ways to improve your phone's performance, battery life, and even add some saucy new features. Whether you know anything about either, here's what you need to know to make it happen. More »

Keep Clothes from Falling Off the Hanger with a Rubber Band [Clever Uses]

Whitson Gordon — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:30:00 PST

If you have a particularly stubborn shirt that just doesn't want to stay on its hanger, weblog Real Simple shows us how to keep it stationary with just a few rubber bands. More »

FreshBatch for Mac Renames Parts of Files and Converts Basic File Types in Bulk [Mac Downloads]

Thorin Klosowski — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:00:00 PST

Mac: If you've ever imported a couple hundred photos from your camera, you know the most common file names a camera uses are essentially meaningless. If you want a quick and easy way to find and replace specific parts of a file name, FreshBatch is a lightweight tool that does just that. More »

Read the Manual Before Making Big Purchases [Shopping]

Thorin Klosowski — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:30:00 PST

Have you ever purchased a big appliance only to realize it's not compatible with your home, or you can't perform repairs on it without calling in an expert? Gadget blog Cool Tools has a simple solution: read the manual before you make the purchase. More »

Avid Studio Is a Feature Rich Video Editor for iPad [Video]

Thorin Klosowski — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:00:00 PST

iPad: If you're looking for a video editor for iPad that offers a little more flexibility than iMovie and runs on a first generation device, Avid Studio has more options and control than other iPad offerings. More »

Bake an Egg in an Avocado for a Fast and Healthy Breakfast Treat [Food Hacks]

Alan Henry — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:30:00 PST

Avocados are amazing things—they're delicious on their own, but they also have a lot of healthy fats, dietary fibers, and vitamins, and despite their high caloric value, they're remarkably easy to prepare. If you have an avocado that's too firm to use for something else, or you're just in the mood for something new and healthy for breakfast, slice it in half, remove the pit, and carve out a little space in the center. Crack an egg where the pit was, and bake. In a few minutes, you'll have a delicious, protein and vitamin-packed breakfast treat that's rich enough to keep you going all morning. More »

Use Flour and Peroxide to Clean Stains in Stone Countertops, Tile, and Concrete Floors [Household]

Alan Henry — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 PST

Stains in stone countertops can be a pain to get out. Ideally, you'll have stone sealed regularly so nothing gets through the seal, but if you're in between cycles or haven't had your sealing done recently, a stray spill can turn your countertop an unwanted color. Thankfully, the fix is probably already in your kitchen, according to the folks at This Old House. More »

CheapAir Lists Flights with Wi-Fi, Personal TV, and Other Luxury Perks [Travel]

Alan Henry — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:30:00 PST

Flying these days is an uncomfortable, difficult process, but if you're lucky enough to snag a flight with on-board Wi-Fi, or individual monitors in the back of every seat so you can watch TV or listen to music while you're in the air, it can be a bit easier. Flight search and booking site CheapAir updated its search engine this morning to help you find flights that offer those kinds of perks so you don't have to guess before you book. More »

Dashlane Securely Manages Passwords, Form info, and Even Purchases For You (and We’ve Got Invites) [Video]

Alan Henry — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:00:00 PST

Windows/Mac: There are plenty of services that promise to keep your passwords safe, secure, and synchronized across devices behind a single master password that you can remember, but Dashlane is a new service that does that, audits those passwords for strength, saves your form information for quick entry on new web sites, and even keeps track of the purchases you make with that information so you can see it all in one view—one that's only available to you, not even DashLane employees. More »

Best Way to Stream Live Television? [Video]

Alan Henry — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:00:00 PST

The Super Bowl is this weekend, but not all of us have the privilege of making some snacks and sitting in front of the couch all evening to make sure we catch the game (assuming you want to see the matchup, or the commercials, even.) Thankfully there are a number of products and web services that make it easy to stream live television to a computer or mobile device when you're away from home. This week, we'd like to hear your picks for the best services to help you watch the game, even when you're away from your TV. More »

How Actively Watching Movies Helped Me Learn Spanish [Learning]

John Smith — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:30:00 PST

For the last year and a half I've been learning Spanish. I grew up around Spanish and took some in high school and although I would say I've had an advantage in that regard, I really only started learning it functionally a year and a half ago (and I could have worked a lot faster than I did). As far as my proficiency, I'd say by now I officially "speak Spanish" and can carry on a conversation pretty comfortably. I definitely have a lot more to learn, some of the more obscure tenses and vocabulary that will come through more use of the language, as well as making my delivery more smooth and less broken. More »

Remains of the Day: Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 is Leaked [For What It's Worth]

Dusty Wright — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:00:00 PST

The leaking of Microsoft's Windows phone 8, The Android Marketplace now has a bouncer, and Mint has a flashy new app for Android tablets More »

Mac OS X Bug Causing All Apps to Crash in 10.7.3; Here's the Somewhat Complicated Fix [Troubleshooting]

Whitson Gordon — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:15:00 PST

Apple updated OS X to version 10.7.3 today, which fixed a number of minor issues—but caused many big ones with some users. If you're finding that apps are crashing as soon as you launch them, here's how to fix it. More »

Dexim Visible Green Charger Lights Up so You Can See Your Phone's Battery Status from Afar, Saves Energy [Video]

Whitson Gordon — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:00:00 PST

Most cellphone chargers keep sucking power even after your phone is fully charged. The Dexim Visible Green Charger shuts off as soon as your device reaches 100%, and the cable lights up to let you know when the device is charging—no need to turn it on and see. More »

Daily App Deals: Get KeyChord for Android for Only 99¢ in Today's App Deals [Deals]

Doug Shipley — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:30:00 PST

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 »

Quickly Convert Your Cups to Teaspoons to Milliliters (and More) with this Handy Chart [Infographics]

Adam Dachis — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:00:00 PST

When you're cooking or baking in the kitchen, recipes measure liquids in varying ways. Sometimes you'll get a milliliter, sometimes you'll get a cup, and maybe you'll just get teaspoons or tablespoons. Your means of measuring may not coincide with the recipe, and that's where this handy conversion chart, by design Erik Spiekermann, comes in. Just print it out and post it in your kitchen for some quick liquid conversion reference. It'll be particularly useful when your hands are messy and you don't want to get food on your keyboard when trying to perform the conversion on your computer. More »

Answer: Where Are You? [Search Research]

Daniel M. Russell — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:30:00 PST

Googler Daniel Russell knows how to find the answers to questions you can't get to with a simple Google query. In his weekly Search Research column, Russell issues a search challenge, then follows up later in the week with his solution—using whatever search technology and methodology fits the bill. This week's challenge: Where are you? More »

How Do I Butter Popcorn Without Making It Soggy? [Crowdhacker]

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:00:00 PST

You've run into this problem at the movie theater (that butter spigot doesn't drizzle, it spurts). And you've experienced it at home... especially if your significant other buys the healthy stuff. So what to do? We pull the question and several answers from the crowd at Q&A site Stack Exchange. More »

Glassdoor Mines Your Facebook Connections to Help You Find a Job [Video]

Melanie Pinola — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:30:00 PST

Finding a job, we're often told, is more about who you know rather than what you know. Glassdoor, the site that gives you an insider look into companies' interview questions and salaries, now wants to add personal insider connections to give you an edge in your job search—via your Facebook friends. More »

How to Be the Bearer of Bad News [Social Gps]

Adam Dachis — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:00 PST

Nobody likes bad news, and delivering it is an uncomfortable job that comes with the very real possibility of ruining someone else's day. Unfortunately, it's often necessary. We have a tendency to be a little selfish and prolong the inevitable when offering up unfavorable tidings, but that's the wrong way to do it. Here's a better way. More »

Apple Updates Mac OS X Lion to 10.7.3, Resolves a Few Minor Compatibility Issues [Mac OS X Lion]

Adam Dachis — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:45:00 PST

Today Apple released version 10.7.3 of Mac OS X, fixing a few minor compatibility and stability issues in the operating system. If you've been having address issues when using smart cards, authenticating with directory services, or running into Windows file sharing problems, this update is for you. Mac OS X Lion version 10.7.3 also adds language support for Catalan, Croatian, Greek, Hebrew, Romanian, Slovak, Thai, and Ukrainian. There's nothing terribly exciting this time around, but you can update now by running Software Update on your Mac. More »

Ask and Answer Questions About Using Caffeine Effectively [Help Yourself]

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:30:00 PST

Verbling Pairs You with Native Speakers So You Can Practice Speaking New Languages [Languages]

Melanie Pinola — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:00:00 PST

The best way to learn a new language fast is to start applying it right away, but a big barrier for new learners is not having anyone to practice with. Verbling solves that problem by connecting you in timed video chats with other language learners. More »