Lifehacker

Bake Homemade Cheese Crackers (Fishy Smiles Not Included) [Cooking]

Whitson Gordon — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:00:00 PDT

Everyone loves Goldfish crackers, it's just a fact of life—but if you'd like to look like you did more than just go to the grocery store (but actually do little else), try this recipe for light, delicious cheddar crackers. More »

This Week's Top Downloads [Download Roundup]

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:00:00 PDT

StreamTransport Grabs Hulu Videos for Offline Viewing (Windows)
It may not stick around that long once the powers that be find out, so if downloading and watching Hulu videos offline could help you out, grab StreamTransport. The tricky little app provides full-quality captures of streaming shows and movies.
ExtensionFM Is a Very Cool Browser-Based Music Library, and We've Got Invites (Chrome)
Chrome extension ExtensionFM automatically collects MP3s from sites you visit and adds them to a browser-based library within the extension, allowing you to find all sorts of cool, new music without cluttering up your local library until you buy them.
NetBalancer Prioritizes Network Traffic by Application (Windows)
Ever wish you could guarantee your BitTorrent download didn't choke your streaming YouTube video-or vice versa-but don't feel like setting up Quality of Service rules on your super-router ? NetBalancer shapes bandwidth allocations for different apps on your PC.
Gnome Gmail Tightly Integrates Gmail into Linux Desktops (GNOME-based Linux)
There are work-arounds to set Gmail as a default mail app in Linux, but they don't cover right-click file sending and complex mail links. Gnome Gmail does a much better job of integrating Gmail.
Remote Potato Streams Windows 7 Media Center Video to Your Browser, Adds Remote Control (Windows 7)
Remote Potato is a free application that integrates with Windows 7 Media Center, allowing you to watch and schedule recorded video from the comfort of your browser, no matter where you are.
MusicBee is a Powerful, Easy-to-Use Music Manager (Windows)
Despite the many great media players out there, MusicBee earns itself a spot high on the list with super tagging, managing, browsing, ripping, syncing, and converting powers, all on top of an intuitive interface familiar to any iTunes user.
WeatherBar Integrates Weather Forecasts with the Windows 7 Superbar (Windows 7)
Like to keep the eye on the weather but never been too keen on sidebar gadgets or system tray apps? WeatherBar is a simple app that puts the weather in your Windows 7 taskbar, offering quick access to the forecast.
TestDrive Virtualizes Brand-New Ubuntu Builds for Easy Testing (Ubuntu)
Want to try out the latest build of the next Ubuntu release with almost no hassle at all? TestDrive is a one-shot tool that downloads, virtualizes, and keeps daily Ubuntu builds up to date.
Etacts Adds Contact Info, Social Networking, and Handy Statistics to Your Gmail Sidebar (Chrome/Firefox)
If you ever thought previously mentioned Xobni looked cool, but you prefer Gmail to Outlook, free Gmail plug-in Etacts adds many of the same features. You get social information, conversation history, and advanced sending preferences right in your Gmail sidebars.
LastHistory Graphically Visualizes your Last.fm History Through Time (Mac)
Just when you thought you couldn't possibly need more statistics on your music listening habits, free Mac app LastHistory comes along and graphically analyzes your Last.fm logs, over time, while also integrating with other Mac apps like iPhoto and iCal.

Build Your Own Camera Crane for Super Steady Video [Weekend Project]

Whitson Gordon — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:00:00 PDT

Even if you have steady hands, taking video from very high or low angles can often be a struggle. Luckily, with just about $25 worth of materials, you can make your own camera crane for steady shots at any altitude. More »

Bind Paper Into a Booklet With Just Some Clever Folds and Cuts [Crafts]

Whitson Gordon — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:00:00 PDT

Making little notebooks has an endless supply of uses, whether it be for multi-page greeting cards or small scrapbooks. Here's how to bind the pages together without the need for staples, clips, tape, or glue, courtesy of DIY weblog Instructables. More »

Make a Beach Stereo Out of a Cooler [How-to]

Whitson Gordon — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:00:00 PDT

It may still be rainy and cold, but summer will soon be upon us—be prepared by making your own waterproof stereo from a cooler, a car battery, and any car stereo or radio you can find. More »

Build a Vortex Cannon [Science]

Jason Fitzpatrick — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:00:00 PDT

If you've been sitting around all week wondering how you could combine smoke, speakers, and a love of novel physics experiments into an excuse to tinker in your workshop this weekend, building a smoke-shooting vortex cannon should cover everything nicely. More »

Easily Add Clouds to Any Picture in Photoshop [Photoshop]

Whitson Gordon — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:00:00 PDT

There's nothing like a clear blue sky in real life, but it doesn't create for the most interesting photos—Weblog MakeUseOf has a nice tutorial for easily creating clouds to spice up the skies. More »

Top 10 Remote Control and Streaming Tools [Lifehacker Top 10]

Kevin Purdy — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 09:00:00 PDT

Streaming recorded TV to your hotel room. Grabbing files off your home computer from work. Checking on the dog walker. Your computer can do amazing things while you're nowhere near it, and these 10 killer remote access apps help you do them. More »

Learn How To Fold Thousands of Origami Figures at Origami Club [Paper Craft]

Jason Fitzpatrick — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 PDT

If you've wanted to learn origami but never got around to checking out any library books on the topic, the massive collection of origami tutorials at Origami Club can help get you started. More »

From the Tips Box: Bookmarked Addresses, Touchpad Hotkeys, and Chrome Updates [From The Tips Box]

Whitson Gordon — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:00:00 PDT

Readers offer their best tips for remembering addresses with your browser, assigning a hotkey to turn on and off your touchpad, and discerning when Google Chrome updates itself. More »

This Week's Most Popular Posts [Highlights]

Adam Pash — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:00:00 PDT

This week we showed you how to make potato chips in the microwave, demystified the legality of recording phone conversations, and helped you add Mac-like gestures to your Windows laptop. More »

Use Transparent Shortcuts to Separate and Organize Your Windows 7 Taskbar Icons [Tweaks]

Jason Fitzpatrick — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:00:00 PDT

If you'd like to have empty space in between some of the icon sets on your Windows 7 taskbar to keep things organized and separated, this simple hack will get the job done. More »

Ban Distorting Chart Types, aka Why You Should Be Wary of Pyramid Charts [Data Visualization]

Adam Pash — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:30:00 PDT

Three-dimensional charts may be a little more eye-catching and dynamic than their 2-D counterparts (it's an Avatar world, baby), but data visualization blogger Stubborn Mule explains why you should consider junking 3-D charts, or at least why you shouldn't trust pyramid charts. More »

MiddleClick Adds Easy Middle Clicking to MacBook Touchpads and Magic Mouse [Downloads]

Whitson Gordon — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:00:00 PDT

Mac only: No longer must Mac users move to the keyboard to open links in a new tab—free, open-source app MiddleClick sits in your menu bar and allows you to use 3 fingers to middle click on Apple's multitouch devices. More »

Quicksilver Updates, Improves Performance and Stability (for Some Users) [Downloads]

Whitson Gordon — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:30:00 PDT

Mac OS X only: It looks like the folks carrying on Quicksilver's legacy aren't just messing around—they've released yet another update to the formerly abandoned app launcher. More »

Use Wood Glue to Clean and Restore Old LPs [Clever Uses]

Jason Fitzpatrick — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:00:00 PDT

Cleaning LPs with a bottle of wood glue is hardly an intuitive way to get more mileage out of that bottle of glue in your workshop or clean a beloved LP. The results, however, are quite impressive. More »

Speed Up Windows 7 Taskbar Navigation with a Registry Hack [Annoyances]

Richard Mordini — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:00:00 PDT

Windows 7's taskbar is undoubtedly a great addition to Windows, but if you've got more than one application window open, you've got to either click twice or patiently hover to navigate to an open window. Reader Richard details how he fixed this: More »

MusicBee is a Powerful, Easy-to-Use Music Manager [Downloads]

Whitson Gordon — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:00:00 PDT

Windows only: Despite the many great media players out there, MusicBee earns itself a spot high on the list with super tagging, managing, browsing, ripping, syncing, and converting powers, all on top of an intuitive interface familiar to any iTunes user. More »

Set Up Your Own Google-Style 20-Percent Time to Try New Projects [Motivation]

Adam Pash — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:00:00 PDT

Google lets its employees spend one day each work week focusing on their own projects, a practice that's delivered 50% of Google's offerings, including Gmail. Tech blog WebWorkerDaily suggests mixing up your work schedule by setting aside your own 20-percent time. More »

Enjoy a Little Fresh Air in the Open Thread [Open Thread]

Adam Pash — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 PDT

Daylight saving came and went and Spring's almost sprung, so crack open a window and enjoy a little fresh air in this week's open thread. More »

NetBalancer Prioritizes Network Traffic by Application [Downloads]

Adam Pash — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:00:00 PDT

Windows: Ever wish you could guarantee your BitTorrent download didn't choke your streaming YouTube video—or vice versa—but don't feel like setting up Quality of Service rules on your super-router ? NetBalancer shapes bandwidth allocations for different apps on your PC. More »

PageAddict Charts Your Web Surfing Habits [Downloads]

Jason Fitzpatrick — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:30:00 PDT

Firefox: Tracking habits—whether you're tracking your spending, amount of sleep, or other personal metrics—is an excellent way to get a big picture of what's going on in your life. PageAddict tracks and charts your web browsing for your review. More »

Windows XP Mode No Longer Requires Virtualization Hardware [Windows 7]

Kevin Purdy — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:00:00 PDT

Windows XP Mode is a pre-configured solution for Windows 7 users needing support for older software, and, until recently, it required AMD-V or VT processor hardware. An update released today should make XP Mode far more accessible to more Windows 7 users. More »

Dial Zero Connects to Customer Service Humans [Downloads]

Kevin Purdy — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:00:00 PDT

iPhone/Android/BlackBerry: When you're driving or traveling, that's when you don't want to wait on hold or talk to an automated phone system. The Dial Zero mobile app has a database of buttons and phrases that will cut to the chase. More »

Google Chrome Adds Support for Multi-Tab Aero Peek [Chrome]

Jason Fitzpatrick — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:30:00 PDT

Chrome: If you're in love with the Aero peek feature in Windows 7 and wish it could show you all your Chrome tabs at once, you're in luck. The feature is now active in the Chrome development channel. More »

How do I Keep Windows From Hibernating While I'm Downloading? [Ask Lifehacker]

Jason Fitzpatrick — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:00:00 PDT

Dear Lifehacker
I frequently download big files to my computer and walk away. How do I stop my computer from going into standby while downloading something from the internet? I'm using Firefox on Windows 7. More »

Plan for Interruptions to Minimize Their Impact [Interruption Management]

Jason Fitzpatrick — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:00:00 PDT

Interruptions are a natural part of any work flow in any work place. How big of a disturbance they create is often a consequence of how you handle them. Minimize the impact of interruptions with these tricks. More »

TestDrive Virtualizes Brand-New Ubuntu Builds for Easy Testing [Downloads]

Kevin Purdy — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:30:00 PDT

Ubuntu: Want to try out the latest build of the next Ubuntu release with almost no hassle at all? TestDrive is a one-shot tool that downloads, virtualizes, and keeps daily Ubuntu builds up to date. More »

Best Offline Backup Tool? [Hive Five Call For Contenders]

Jason Fitzpatrick — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:00:00 PDT

Online backup is great for keeping a copy of your data in a remote location, but it's expensive and you're limited by the speed of your internet connection. This week we're looking at offline backup solutions. More »

Remains of the Day: "Piracy" Sounds Too Sexy Edition [For What It's Worth]

Adam Pash — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:00:00 PDT

The people who originally branded file sharers as pirates get upset that the so-called pirates aren't more upset, Googler Matt Cutts offers a high level explanation of how search engines like Google work, and Internet Explorer 9 won't run on XP. More »

MagnoGrip Holds Extra Nails, Screws, and More to Your Wrist [Stuff We Like]

Adam Pash — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:00:00 PDT

Hey you—you with the nails sticking out of your mouth while you're pounding away with your hammer. The relatively inexpensive MagnoGrip magnetic wristband holds nails, pins, nuts, and other hardware so you can stop holding it in your mouth. More »

How to Launch the Recycle Bin from the Start Menu Search Box [Windows Tip]

The How-To Geek — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:00:00 PDT

If you've started using the Start Menu search box as your primary application launcher, you may have come across a weird annoyance: By default, you can't open the Recycle Bin from the search box. More »

Store Batteries in the Freezer to Retain Charge Longer [Batteries]

Jason Fitzpatrick — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:30:00 PDT

Storing batteries at freezing or near freezing temperatures will greatly extend the amount of time they hold a charge, but only for some kinds of batteries. Read on to see which batteries don't need the meat locker treatment and which benefit. More »

Google Calendar's New Smart Rescheduler Finds a Time that Works for Everyone [Scheduling]

Adam Pash — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:00:00 PDT

Google Calendar just launched a new feature into Google Calendar Labs called Smart Rescheduler that uses a scheduling algorithm to suggest "best candidate dates and times" for scheduling meetings. More »

How to Use Symlinks in Windows [Windows Tip]

Adam Pash — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:30:00 PDT

Technology blog Tested goes in depth to explain Windows symlinks (symbolic links that let you do all sorts of cool things like sync files and folders outside your Dropbox folder), detailing what they are and how to use them. More »

The Argyle Office [Featured Workspace]

Jason Fitzpatrick — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:00:00 PDT

If you're remodeling your office there's no need to limit yourself to basic colors and dull design, today's featured workspace has a whimsical streak with a giant band of argyle across the walls. More »

Free Up Space in Gmail by Backing Up Everything First [Email]

Adam Pash — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:00:00 PDT

We've offered several tips for freeing up space in Gmail, but what happens when you've deleted every possible file you can part with but you're still bumping up against the limits? The New York Times suggests a simple solution: More »

ExtensionFM Is a Very Cool Browser-Based Music Library, and We've Got Invites [Downloads]

Whitson Gordon — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:30:00 PDT

Chrome only: Chrome extension ExtensionFM automatically collects MP3s from sites you visit and adds them to a browser-based library within the extension, allowing you to find all sorts of cool, new music without cluttering up your local library until you buy them. More »

Gadget and Gear Deals of the Day [Dealhacker]

Jason Fitzpatrick — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:00:00 PDT

Cheap computers, discounted camcorders, and a free pile of tunes and games await you in today's Dealhacker roundup. Come for the half price camera, stay for the iPhone games. More »

WeatherBar Integrates Weather Forecasts with the Windows 7 Superbar [Downloads]

Adam Pash — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:00:00 PDT

Windows 7: Like to keep the eye on the weather but never been too keen on sidebar gadgets or system tray apps? WeatherBar is a simple app that puts the weather in your Windows 7 taskbar, offering quick access to the forecast. More »