Lifehacker

Use Your Phone's Camera for Smooth Traveling, Extra Rental Car Insurance [Travel]

Melanie Pinola — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:00:00 PST

Your cell phone camera is a great timesaver when you're traveling. Instead of having to write down anything you might need for future reference, just snap a photo. For example: take pics to remember your parking spot, rental car, and hotel room number. More »

What You Should Do if You Suspect a Car Is Following You [Security]

Adam Dachis — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:30:00 PST

It's unlikely that most of us will be followed by a car, but chances are you've had a sneaking suspicion before that you'd like to put to rest. To regain your peace of mind, security and investigations expert Brandon Gregg offers up a few tricks to both detect if you're being followed and what you can do about it. More »

Google Docs for Android Adds Collaborative Editing [Video]

Adam Dachis — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:10:00 PST

The latest update to the Android version of Google Docs adds what might be the best feature of all: collaborative editing. While you've always been able to edit a document along with many other people in the web app, now Android users can join in via the native app on their phones or tablets. Additionally, this update brings rich text formatting so you can add things like ordered and bulleted lists, color variations, and standard text styles like bold and italic. Check out the video above for a quick look at these new features, or just download the app to try them out for yourself. More »

How to Make Your Personal or Professional Landing Page Stand Out [Personal Landing Pages]

Adam Dachis — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:00:00 PST

Earlier this week we asked you how you make your personal landing page stand out when there are so out there that mostly look alike and you wrote in with great ideas and examples. Here are some of the best and the processes behind them. More »

How to (Cleverly) Secure Your Home Against Intruders. [Crowdhacker]

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:35:00 PST

You don't have to dig a moat around your home and install missiles on your rooftop to keep the bad guys away. In fact, the missiles might suggest you've got something very, very valuable inside. The DIY experts at Q&A site Stack Exchange chime in on a few ways to keep burglars from invading your personal space. More »

Ask and Answer Questions About Self-Employment [Help Yourself]

Wed, 22 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 »

Set Your Smartphone and Tablet Wallpapers to These Imaginative and Gravity-Defying Photographs [Wallpaper Wednesday]

Adam Dachis — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:00:00 PST

Wallpaper Wednesday is generally a showcase of traditional desktop wallpapers, but today we're giving the spotlight to both our mobile devices and a talented photographer named Cole Rise. Come take a look at his work, which sits in a place between reality and imagination, and makes for a wonderful view on your mobile device. More »

The Best Speed Dialer for iPhone [Iphone App Directory]

Adam Dachis — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:30:00 PST

There are a handful of speed dialers for iPhone that have very little to differentiate them, but Tacts rises up amongst the bunch thanks to its superior interface and numerous contact management features. More »

Where Can I Get Discounts on Expensive Software? [Ask Lifehacker]

Whitson Gordon — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:00:00 PST

Dear Lifehacker, More »

Create Your Own Bokeh Camera Kit [Photography]

Melanie Pinola — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:30:00 PST

Bokeh refers to blurry effects in photographs—purposely out of focus shapes that are creamy and wonderfully fuzzy. You can make your own bokeh with just some inexpensive black cardstock. More »

How to Remove Your Google Web History Before The New Privacy Policy Change [Google]

Melanie Pinola — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:00:00 PST

Google recently announced it was unifying its privacy policies and would be sharing the data it collects about users between all of its products, starting March 1st. That means your web searches and sites you visit will be combined with other Google products like Google Plus and YouTube. If you'd rather avoid that, the Electronic Frontier Foundation reminds us you can remove your Google search history and stop it from being recorded. More »

The Designer's Dream Workspace [Featured Workspace]

Melanie Pinola — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:30:00 PST

Today's featured workspace belongs to a designer in Paris. Although he has a lot of drool-worthy hardware on his large, beautiful desk, there's still room for art toys to add some personalization and style without cluttering up his workspace. More »

Everyone's Trying to Track What You Do on the Web: Here's How to Stop Them [Privacy]

Alan Henry — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:00:00 PST

It's no secret that there's big money to be made in violating your privacy. Companies will pay big bucks to learn more about you, and service providers on the web are eager to get their hands on as much information about you as possible. More »

PushTone Sets Custom Notification Alert Tones by App [Jailbreak]

Thorin Klosowski — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:30:00 PST

iOS (Jailbroken): All notifications make the same sound on iPhones and it's impossible to distinguish between your alerts. PushTone is a jailbreak tweak that adds the ability to set up custom tones for each app. More »

Remove Clothing Wrinkles with a Damp Towel [Clothes]

Thorin Klosowski — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 PST

Ever rushed out the door and arrived at work only to realize your shirt is a wrinkled mess? DIY blog Stylelist Home suggests you can fix those wrinkles no matter where you are by wiping down the shirt with a damp towel. More »

Factor in the Convenience Fee Before Charging Income Taxes to Your Credit Card [Taxes]

Thorin Klosowski — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:30:00 PST

With tax season in full swing, a number of you might be coming to the conclusion you owe the government a bit of money. If you're considering charging it on your credit card, Smart Money suggests factoring in the often overlooked convenience fee before you pay up. More »

How to Block Annoying Tech Rumors and Movie Spoilers on Your Browser [Annoyances]

Thorin Klosowski — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:00:00 PST

With the iPad 3 (supposedly) launching soon, movie spoilers hitting the internet before a trailer is released, and the general overabundance of news online, it can be difficult to avoid learning things you don't want (or care) to. Here's how to set up automatic blocks both globally and on specific websites so you can avoid any type of news you want. More »

Use Plastic Shower Caps in the Kitchen to Cover Large Bowls and Leftovers [Clever Uses]

Alan Henry — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:30:00 PST

Everyone has plastic wrap in their kitchen, but if you have a large bowl you want to get in and out of frequently, or you'd like a bowl cover for a pot-luck or picnic, the answer may be as simple as a plastic shower cap with an elastic band. The elastic makes it perfect for all types of containers, especially large ones, they're reusable, and they're available in packs at your local dollar store (or are complimentary in just about every hotel room.) More »

Twitter for iOS and Android Updates, Restores Swipe Gestures and Optimizes for Android Tablets [Updates]

Alan Henry — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:15:00 PST

iOS/Android: Twitter updated its mobile apps for iOS and Android this week, restoring a number of features that users had complained were removed from the previous version, including the ability to copy and paste a tweet instead of strictly retweeting it, and swipe shortcut to view, favorite, and retweet. Twitter also took the wraps off of a new Android version optimized for tablets, and added a pop-up alert explaining why they need access to your address book. More »

Mingly Maintains Your Personal and Professional Connections [Video]

Alan Henry — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:00:00 PST

If you find you have trouble keeping in touch with coworkers that you used to work with or an old manager you'd love to use as a reference, Mingly is a new webapp that makes it easy for you to stay in touch and up to date with your personal and professional network as major events take place in their lives. It doesn't replace your social networks, but it does help you use them more efficiently. More »

Follow Lifehacker and Our Writers on Twitter to See Our Stories as Soon as They’re Posted [Announcements]

Alan Henry — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:30:00 PST

One of the best things about Twitter is that it's a real-time network—news breaks quickly, and if you're reading Twitter, you hear about it before word really manages to travel. If you're a Twitter junkie and love reading articles as soon as they're available, consider following the official @lifehacker account to be the first to hear when a new story is live on the site. More »

Use Office File Folder Racks to Keep Cutting Boards Organized and Easy to Reach [Organization]

Alan Henry — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:00:00 PST

There's no reason to keep your cutting boards all stacked up together under the sink, constantly falling over when you move the bottle that's propping them up. Head to your local office supply store (or supply cabinet at work) and snag a file folder rack. They're usually wide enough to keep your cutting boards organized without scratching them, and small enough to fit on the countertop or under the sink. More »

The Tabbed Home Screen [Featured Home Screen]

Whitson Gordon — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:00 PST

Reader Dandylion took a very different approach to organizing his home screen, using the Sweeterhome Launcher to give it a tabbed organization. Here's how. More »

Notifications Are Evil [Information Overload]

Clay Johnson — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:30:00 PST

What's your maximum NPH? How many notifications are you exposed to every hour? Let's take a second to think critically about these constant requests for your attention: What do they mean? Who is making them? Why are they there? Before I wrote the Information Diet, I audited myself and found I was receiving upwards of 10 notifications per hour: one every six minutes. More »

Remains of the Day: Ubuntu for Android is on the Way [For What It's Worth]

Jeremy Hoag — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:00:00 PST

Canonical announces Ubuntu for Android, Google isn't the only company dodging IE's privacy controls, and Sony's Google TVs get rooted. More »

How to Run Windows (and All Your Favorite Windows Programs) on Killer Mac Hardware [Emailable Tech Support]

Whitson Gordon — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:30:00 PST

Windows is a great operating system, but PC laptops often leave a lot to be desired. If you're a Mac owner (or you're just in love with Mac hardware), you can install Windows natively on your computer in just a few steps. Here's how. More »

Attain Hotel Elite Status Without Spending Half Your Life Away from Home [Travel]

Adam Dachis — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:00:00 PST

You probably have a friend who travels more days than he or she spends at home and, as a result, has more incredible perks with airlines and hotels than you could ever dream up. While you're not going to earn the highest level of elite status at a hotel chain without a serious commitment, you a very small one can do the trick. As New York Times writer Michelle Higgins points out, you may only need to stay with the same hotel chain for as few as four nights. Alternatively, certain credit cards can reduce your minimums and help you earn your privileges and rewards a bit faster: More »

Daily App Deals: Get Procreate for iPad for only 99¢ in Today's App Deals [Deals]

Dusty Wright — Tue, 21 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 »

Most Popular Professional Nameplate Site: About.me [Video]

Alan Henry — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:15:00 PST

Whether you want a website you can add to your email signature and be proud of or you're setting up a web-based business card for friends, family, and potential employers to use as a landing page to learn more about you, nameplate sites come in all shapes and sizes, both personal and professional. Earlier in the week we asked you which services you used for your nameplate on the web. Then we took a look at the top five based on your nominations and put them to a vote. Now it's time to feature the winner. More »

Make a Super Thin, Portable, and Cheap Boombox for Your Smartphone or Music Player [DIY]

Adam Dachis — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:00:00 PST

Need a portable boombox for your smartphone or music player? Industrial design student and Instructables user MTriest has a great, minimalist design that's easy to carry around. It was designed for the iPhone, but you should be able to adapt it to accommodate any similarly-shaped device with a headphone jack. If you want to give it a try, here's what you'll need: More »

Find the Equivalent Wattage of CFL, LED, and Halogen Bulbs with This Cheat Sheet [Household]

Whitson Gordon — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:30:00 PST

CFL bulbs can help you cut quite a bit of energy usage in your home, but you can't measure brightness by looking at wattage levels, like you can with incandescent bulbs. This chart will help you figure out the brightness of those newfangled bulbs. More »

Right Inbox Schedules Emails for Later in Gmail [Video]

Melanie Pinola — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:00:00 PST

Firefox/Chrome: Right Inbox is an extension for Chrome and Firefox that works with your Gmail account to schedule emails for sending later, much like previously mentioned Boomerang, but free and simpler. More »

Order Off the Secret Menu at Starbucks (and Other Coffee Shops) for Better, Cheaper, or More Powerful Drinks [Coffee Hacks]

Adam Dachis — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:30:00 PST

If you're bored with the usual offerings at your local coffee shop or Starbucks chain and want something new—or at least with a bigger caffeine punch—it's time to start ordering off the secret menu. As personal finance blog SmartMoney points out, you have quite a few options: More »

Brainwashing Techniques You Encounter Every Day (and How to Avoid Them) [Mind Hacks]

Adam Dachis — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00:00 PST

While it's pretty unlikely that you're a target of deliberate brainwashing, it is likely that you're subject to some of the common techniques associated with the less-than-ethical practice. Here are a few common methods you encounter on a regular basis and what you can do to avoid them. More »

Ask and Answer Questions About Making the Most Out of Downtime [Help Yourself]

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:30:00 PST

Do Not Track Plus Stops Ad Companies and Others from Tracking You Online [Video]

Melanie Pinola — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:00:00 PST

Chrome/Firefox/Safari/IE: Whenever you visit a website, data about your visit is likely sent to advertisers, social networks, and other companies. Free browser add-on Do Not Track Plus not only tells you what data is being collected, it also blocks those attempts to share your information. More »

The Best Global Hotkey Manager for Windows [Windows App Directory]

Whitson Gordon — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:30:00 PST

You can put together custom hotkeys in a number of different places, but nothing beats the flexibility of our favorite global hotkey manager, AutoHotkey. More »

What Can I Do with a Dead or Broken Laptop? [Ask Lifehacker]

Adam Dachis — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:00:00 PST

Dear Lifehacker,
My laptop—my enduring partner and long-lived friend—has finally succumbed to the ephemeral nature of its existence. I've spent a few days crying tears of love and loss, finally reaching the conclusion that the most logical course of action is to resurrect the poor, fallen computer I cannot live without. But what are my options? What can I do with a laptop whose lifeline has run short? More »

Apple's Start Developing iOS Apps Today Guide Is a Roadmap for Creating Your First App [Programming]

Melanie Pinola — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:30:00 PST

If you've ever wanted to create an app for the iPhone or iPad but didn't know where to start, this new, basic guide from Apple might help. It's a step-by-step overview and introduction of the tools you need and how to submit an app to the App Store. More »

The Best Times to Purchase Cruise Tickets, Train Fare, and All Other Travel for the Best Deals [Travel]

Melanie Pinola — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:00:00 PST

Getting the best deals on travel is mostly about timing, with rates on airfare and other travel fluctuating somewhat predictably. Travel site Away.com offers up advice on all types of transportation, lodging, and activities so you can plan your next trip wisely. More »