Lifehacker

What Advice Do You Wish You Could Give Your Younger Self? [Ask The Readers]

Adam Dachis — Thu, 31 May 2012 11:00:00 PDT

It's hard to live a life without a few regrets because we often make mistakes in our younger years and don't realize it until it's too late. If you could send a message back to your younger self, what advice would it contain? More »

Attach Measuring Cups to the Sides of Storage Containers for Perfect Portion Control, Every Time [Kitchen Hacks]

Alan Henry — Thu, 31 May 2012 10:30:00 PDT

Whether you're watching your own diet or you have kids and want to make sure they don't overfill their breakfast bowls, this simple trick puts the portion control right on the side of your cereal or snack container so they—and you—don't inadvertently serve yourself too much. A couple of removable adhesive hooks and a few measuring cups, and every bowl of cereal or handful of snacks is perfectly portioned. More »

Amazon Now Offers Gift Cards for Your Old, Unused Laptop [Amazon]

Melanie Pinola — Thu, 31 May 2012 10:15:00 PDT

Have an unused laptop or netbook lying around? Amazon would like to take that old beast and give you credit towards your next Amazon purchase. Part of their electronics trade-in program, this new inclusion of laptops means you don't have to bother trying to sell your old laptop yourself. More »

Where Can I Find Free or Cheap Things to Do This Summer? [Ask Lifehacker]

Melanie Pinola — Thu, 31 May 2012 10:00:00 PDT

Dear Lifehacker, More »

DIY Wall-Mounted, Folding Clothes Dryer Rack [DIY]

Melanie Pinola — Thu, 31 May 2012 09:30:00 PDT

Air drying is the way to go for cheap and delicate clothes drying, but clothes drying racks and even typical clotheslines don't handle a lot of clothes. This wall-mounted clothes dryer rack, made from baby playpen panels is not only space-efficient but lets you hang a ton of clothes. More »

Why We Still Haven't Found the Perfect Office Chair [Workstation]

Melanie Pinola — Thu, 31 May 2012 09:00:00 PDT

Along with mattresses and the perfect house, the office chair is one of the most difficult things to buy. We want so much out of our work chairs: to be comfy, fit right, and save us from the ill effects of sitting in them all day. Unfortunately, the perfect chair may not exist. More »

The Best Way to Grill Sausages: Poach Them Right on the Grill [Grilling]

Melanie Pinola — Thu, 31 May 2012 08:30:00 PDT

Sausages may seem like the one food you don't need instructions for grilling, but actually much can go wrong. Sausages burst, burn on the outside while staying raw in the center, or shrivel up. Serious Eats' meticulous experiments show how to cook the perfect sausage: by poaching and grilling at the same time. More »

The Accidental Asshole: Pinpoint How You're Annoying People and Do Something About It [Annoyances]

Thorin Klosowski — Thu, 31 May 2012 08:00:00 PDT

We all have our pet peeves. But have you ever wondered about the annoying things you do that your friends, family, and strangers are too polite to tell you about? I do, and I decided to do something about it. More »

Toastr Gives You Small, Unobtrusive Popup Reminders Every Time You Unlock Your Phone [Android]

Whitson Gordon — Thu, 31 May 2012 07:30:00 PDT

Android: If you've ever tied a string to your finger or left yourself a sticky note for all-day reminders, Toastr is a small app that will move those reminders to your phone. Just tell it what you want to remember, and it will give you a small, customizable popup every time you unlock it. More »

Repurpose a Rice Cooker as a Humidifier [Clever Uses]

Thorin Klosowski — Thu, 31 May 2012 07:00:00 PDT

Have the occasional need for a humidifier but don't feel like purchasing one? Redditor AgentBeryllium found that using a standard rice cooker filled with water and herbs works just as well. More »

Boost Your Creativity, Happiness, and Focus by Stepping Out Into Nature [Creativity]

Thorin Klosowski — Thu, 31 May 2012 06:30:00 PDT

If you live in the city then chances are you're more of an indoor person. It's probably not entirely by choice since getting out into a natural setting is tough when you're in the heart of a metropolis. However, according to Jonah Lehrer at the Wall Street Journal, a growing amount of evidence suggests hanging out in nature can increase your creativity, happiness, and focus. More »

DIY Duct Tape Dots Make for Awesome Portable Adhesives [Video]

Thorin Klosowski — Thu, 31 May 2012 06:00:00 PDT

Duct tape is one the best ways to stick things together, but keeping a roll with you all the time isn't easy. If you're looking to patch a few holes or you just want an emergency set in your wallet, Instructables user Mrballeng shows you how to create your own band-aid style dots. More »

Take Advantage of Your Clear Post-Vacation Mind To Tackle Big Projects [Mind Hacks]

Thorin Klosowski — Thu, 31 May 2012 05:30:00 PDT

When you return from a vacation it's easiest to sink slowly back to work by tackling small projects, but Psychology Today suggests a better option might be to take advantage of your clear mind and hit the ground running on big projects. More »

The Mercado Is a Reusable, Pocket-Packed Bag Built to Protect Your Produce [Video]

Alan Henry — Thu, 31 May 2012 05:00:00 PDT

I'm a bit of a farmer's market addict. Almost every week I head to my local market, but armed with traditional reusable cloth bags, I have to carefully pack and re-pack my purchases to make sure nothing gets squished while I'm walking around the market. Thankfully, the Mercado, a farmer's market bag invented by Peter Wachtel and sold by Quirky, has pockets and compartments to keep all of your produce safe and secure while you shop. More »

The Foggy Morning Desktop [Featured Desktop]

Alan Henry — Thu, 31 May 2012 04:30:00 PDT

Minimal desktops can be just as productive as the ones filled with widgets and tools, and this submission by Flickr user Tj Tantiangco proves the point. At first glance, it might look like little more than a login screen, but that's just because it's so clean and tidy. A great-looking wallpaper, a few well placed widgets, and moving everything else off-screen until it's needed makes all the difference. More »

Build Your Summer Manifesto [Video]

Alan Henry — Thu, 31 May 2012 04:00:00 PDT

The warm weather months offer a unique opportunity to get some special things done, whether it's spending some time outside, firing up the grill, taking the kids out to play, or taking a trip to the beach. Sure, it'd be easy to just sit in the air conditioning and play video games when you're not working, life—like summer—is all too short. What would you like to accomplish before the weather turns cold? More »

Tab Duplication, Collar Stays, and Cold Beverages [From The Tips Box]

Whitson Gordon — Wed, 30 May 2012 17:00:00 PDT

Readers offer their best tips for duplicating tabs in Chrome, putting together makeshift collar stays, and getting yourself a cold drink at the supermarket. More »

Remains of the Day: Evernote Hello, the Contacts in Context App, Hits Android [For What It's Worth]

Jeremy Hoag — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:00:00 PDT

Evernote adds Hello to its Android stable, Intel sweetens the pot for Ultrabooks, and Verizon FiOS makes other ISPs look like chumps. More »

"If You Wouldn't Wake Up Early to Do Something, You Probably Shouldn't Stay Up Late For It Either." [Quotables]

Whitson Gordon — Wed, 30 May 2012 15:30:00 PDT

This piece of advice comes straight from a Redditor with whom many of us share similar laments: sometimes we stay up way too late messing around on the internet or watching TV, when we should go to bed. This trick will help motivate you to get your rest for the coming day. More »

Six Awesome, Lesser-Known Features in Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" [Android]

Whitson Gordon — Wed, 30 May 2012 15:00:00 PDT

The new, highly polished version of Android is finally reaching the masses, and it's got some pretty great new features in tow—like facial recognition, Android Beam, data tracking. But what about the ones Google hasn't been talking about? Here are our six favorite features in Ice Cream Sandwich that are worth upgrading for. More »

Daily App Deals: Get ezPDF Reader for Android for $1.99 in Today’s App Deals [App Deals]

Dusty Wright — Wed, 30 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 »

Hacker Lifestyle: How I Feel Satisfied with Every Day [Productivity]

Rich Jones — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:00:00 PDT

I like to consider myself a very productive person. I do a lot of writing, I make a good living running my own business and I maintain many open source projects. And yet, by outward appearances, I don't seem to work particularly hard, but I still manage to get a lot done, and I go to bed feeling satisfied every night and every morning, I wake up eager to attack the day. I'd like to share with you how I do it. More »

Challenge: How Much Did the Book Cost? [Search Research]

Daniel M. Russell — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:30:00 PDT

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: How much did the book cost? More »

Make Your Own Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups with Tin Foil and a Mug [Food]

Melanie Pinola — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:00:00 PDT

Chocolate peanut butter cups are ridiculously delicious—and you can make your own fresh Reese's Peanut Butter Cups-like version with just some aluminum foil, hot water, and a mug. More »

Rbutr Helps You Follow Online Debates [Video]

Adam Pash — Wed, 30 May 2012 12:30:00 PDT

Chrome: Ever had trouble following a debate across the web? Rbutr is a Chrome extension that aggregates online debates across web sites to give you a fuller understandings of discussion, debates, and arguments online. The end goal: To break you out of your filter bubble. More »

Extreme Reading [Reading]

Michael Fogus — Wed, 30 May 2012 12:00:00 PDT

Why do people have trouble reading books? The primary answer you're likely to receive when asking this question is that reading is boring. And to this response I agree. Reading is boring—but it doesn't need to be. More »

Tonx Delivers Freshly Roasted Coffee Beans to Your Door Every Other Week [Coffee]

Adam Pash — Wed, 30 May 2012 11:30:00 PDT

You already know a lot about making better coffee at home, but even if you've got the best equipment, you still need to consider the most crucial, obvious, yet oft-overlooked ingredient: beans. Luckily, quality, fresh-roasted beans are really easy to come by if you know where to look. More »

Transform Any Desk into an Affordable, Flexible Standing Desk [Stuff We Like]

Adam Pash — Wed, 30 May 2012 10:30:00 PDT

Sitting all day is destroying your body, but you already knew that. If you're eager to try a standing desk but don't want to ditch your current desk entirely, you may want to take a look at the Kangaroo Pro series of standing desks. More »

How Can I Get More Into Cooking at Home? [Ask Lifehacker]

Alan Henry — Wed, 30 May 2012 10:00:00 PDT

Dear Lifehacker, More »

DIY Triple Monitor Stand [DIY]

Melanie Pinola — Wed, 30 May 2012 09:30:00 PDT

One stand, three monitors—and running off of one power cord. That's the impressive project that Overclock.net forum member eovnu87435ds has built so he can position the monitors at exactly the angles he wanted and also easily slide them into portait mode. More »

Know When Electronics Are "In Season" to Get The Best Deals [Saving Money]

Melanie Pinola — Wed, 30 May 2012 09:00:00 PDT

Many gadgets and electronics are seasonal devices, with peak times to buy if you're looking for new features or want to save the most money. For some, though, there's no reason to wait. This overview of product cycles can help you plan your purchase of a new TV, laptop, table, or smartphone. More »

The Built-in Workspace Made from Ikea Odds and Ends [Featured Workspace]

Melanie Pinola — Wed, 30 May 2012 08:30:00 PDT

Some of our favorite workspaces are those that make the best use of awkward spaces. Today's featured workspace is constructed out of Ikea bookshelves and parts from the "as-is" section of the store, yet it looks professionally built into this attic with a gable roof. More »

How to Put Your Money to Work for You, Beyond the Basics [Personal Finance]

Alan Henry — Wed, 30 May 2012 08:00:00 PDT

Some people have serious financial problems, but that's not you. You've got a savings account, have cleaned up your interest-bearing debt, are contributing to a 401(k), and all-around are in pretty good financial shape. So where do you go from here? What's the next step for those of us who know the basics but want to put our cash to better work? More »

Google+ Local Integrates Zagat and Google+ Friend Reviews Into Google Maps Search Results [Video]

Thorin Klosowski — Wed, 30 May 2012 07:30:00 PDT

Google has launched Google+ Local, a new means to share local information that integrates your Google+ friend's reviews directly into Google Maps search results and replaces Google Places. On top of Google+ integration you'll also see Zagat scores displayed alongside user reviews of restaurants. More »

Heat Up Tortillas Directly On the Stove for a Dish-Free Snack [Food Hacks]

Thorin Klosowski — Wed, 30 May 2012 07:00:00 PDT

You can heat up a tortilla in any number of ways: the microwave, the oven, or pan fry them in a skillet. If you're looking for an easy, mess-free way to do it, cooking blog The Kitchn shows off a simple way to heat up a tortilla right on the burners of stove—no dishes required. More »

NotiQuiet Disables Notifications When Selected Apps Are in Use [Jailbreak]

Thorin Klosowski — Wed, 30 May 2012 06:30:00 PDT

iOS (Jailbreak): When you're in the middle of doing something important on your iPhone or iPad there's nothing worse than getting a notification that takes you out of the moment. Worse still is when you get a notification right in your ear when you're on a phone call. NotiQuiet is a small tweak that lets you silence notifications based on which app you have open. More »

How to Get Over the "I Suck" Barrier When Learning a New Skill [Mind Hacks]

Thorin Klosowski — Wed, 30 May 2012 06:00:00 PDT

Over the weekend I tried my hand at carpentry and attempted to make a table to better store my music gear. Hours of cursing later I found myself stuck in the "I suck at this loop" of learning and it codified a really common problem when practicing a new skill: the breaking point where you want to walk away forever. Using my failure as an example, let's walk through some of the common roadblocks when developing a new skill and what you can do to push through those problems. More »

Use Nail Polish Remover to Remove Ink from Reusable Containers [Household]

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

Instead of tossing a perfectly good plastic bottle or container because you can't bear to look at a butter tub in the bathroom or a moisturizer bottle in the fridge, reach for a bottle of nail polish remover, or pure acetone if you can get it. Just soak a lintless cloth in it, wrap your container with the cloth, and let it sit. In a few minutes, the ink will start to come right off. More »

Make Your Own CD Wallet Toolkit for On the Go Tinkering [DIY]

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

Whether you just like tinkering in your basement, or you want a portable toolkit that can go wherever your projects go, this portable toolkit, made from a few affordable tools and a repurposed CD wallet, definitely does the trick. Cognitive robotics student Mário Saleiro needed just such a kit, and managed to get a set of pliers, a portable screwdriver, a utility knife, and more into this old CD wallet, complete with padding to keep it all safe, all for less than the equivalent of $30 USD. More »

Add Lifehacker and Our Writers to Your Circles at Google+, Prove It’s No Ghost Town [Announcements]

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

There's been lots of conversation lately about whether or not Google+ is a "ghost town." If you're wondering the same, let us prove it's no such thing: add the Lifehacker Google+ page to your circles to read our top stories as they go up over the course of the day, and enjoy the conversation that ensues. For a few bonus points, add your favorite Lifehacker writer as well! Here's where you can find us. More »