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DIY Worm Compost Bin [Video] -
Worms can compost kitchen scraps and shredded paper much faster than the aerobic compost process utilized in most commercial backyard compost bins. A vermicomposting (worm composting) bin can be built with a couple of stackable totes, a small piece of window screen, and a drill. More »
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Use Your Tax Refund to Build Your Future [Taxes] -
If you get a tax refund most years it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking of that refund as a windfall and blowing it on stuff you don't need. Instead use that money to kill a debt, bulk up your emergency fund, or invest in your future. More »
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"I'd really like to start developing games for Android, but I don't know a thing about coding. Any advice?" [Ask The Commenters Roundup] -
- I'd really like to start developing games for Android, but I don't know a thing about coding. I'm simply an artist/graphic designer who has some ideas. Do you know where or how I can get started?
- Is there a way to post something of Facebook, but not allow anybody to make comments?
- Should one always believe the Internet blindly? The Internet is huge and is filled with all sorts of information, So, is it always right? Can I, as a reader, rely on it?
- I'm thinking of using my shop vac to suck up small landscaping stones for reuse elsewhere; the stones aren't that heavy- my leafblower can move them. Would it survive this kind of use?
- Is it better to centralize all of my online accounts/aliases with a service like Google and then use something like a Chromebook for my work outside of the house, or to decentralize all of my online accounts/aliases across multiple service and use something else outside of the house?
- I've been getting into genealogy lately, and I'm trying to do it for free, so I am avoiding sites like ancestry.com at all costs. Any tips on free resources?
- While in the grocery store the other day, I noticed several varieties of cooking sprays claiming to be olive oil based. Are these sprays legitimate, or am I just better off smearing a dollop of olive oil in my pan or using a spray bottle loaded with plain olive oil?
- Can anyone recommend a good scanner to digitizing your own books? Short of chopping your books up and scanning the pages, all I've been able to find is some insanely priced archival equipment for libraries (in the $70,000 price range!). Surely there's something out there more practical for home use.
- I am interested in finding traditional music from Japan, Korea and China. I am not interested in pop or rock, but either traditional instrumental or traditional with vocals. Any suggestions?
- I can code just fine, but when it comes to creating images I suck. Besides hiring a graphics designer, I was wondering what most developer use to create image, such as icons, custom buttons, backgrounds for 2d games, etc?
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WanderPlayer Turns Your Smartphone Into a Controller for Flash Games [Video] -
Android/iPhone and Windows/Mac: Many Flash-based games would work better with a retro controller than a keyboard and mouse. The free app WanderPlayer turns your iPhone or Android phone into a controller that already works with 100 popular web games right now with more on the way. More »
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Add a Fleece Lining to Bandannas to Prevent Frostbite While Enjoying Snow Sports [Weekend Project] -
If you enjoy spending time in the outdoors skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, or enjoying other snow sports and don't like wearing a full ski-mask you can protect your face by sewing a fleece insert into a bandanna that you wear on your face. More »
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Frozen Garlic and Onion Purees Save Time and Money [Food Hacks] -
Some people end up buying and peeling an onion and a head of garlic when they only need a portion of that for their recipe and end up tossing the rest, only to need it again a few days later. Freezing a puree of garlic, onion, and olive oil means that not only do you avoid this wasteful routine, but you can prepare several months worth when the ingredients are on sale. More »
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Five Best Ways to Stream Live TV [Video] -
Whether you're looking for a way to catch the big game this weekend when you're away from your living room, or you just like to catch live television when you're trapped somewhere without either cable or a television, you have plenty of options to help you catch a broadcast on your mobile phone or your computer. Here's a look at five of the best ways to tune in when you're on the go. More »
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Throw Together a Last-Minute Super Bowl Party [Super Bowl] -
Perhaps you've realized that all your friends are busy and no one you know is throwing a party except that one guy from work you don't want to hang out with. Or just maybe you don't know a football from a volleyball and want to have an excuse for a party. Either way we've got you covered. More »
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This Week's Top Downloads [Download Roundup] -
- Radioactivity Counter Turns Your Android Phone into a Geiger Counter (Android) Getting one step closer to turning your phone into a tricorder, Android app Radioactivity Counter uses the CMOS camera sensor on your phone to record radiation levels.
- Use Colorblind Assistant to Identify Whatever Color Your Cursor is Pointing At (Windows) If you're colorblind or just need to constantly know what colors are on your screen the free program Colorblind Assistant might be for you. The program tells you whatever color is displayed at the current location of your mouse/trackpad pointer.
- CCleaner for Mac Comes Out of Beta, Adds New Browser and Disk Cleaning Features (Mac OS X) CCleaner for Mac has been in beta for awhile, but now Mac users can enjoy the final version of our favorite Windows utilities. If you're a little starved for disk space or just want to engage in some early Spring cleaning on your Mac, CCleaner is now finished, stable, and ready to help you out.
- Waze for Android Updates, Adds New Maps, Driver-Friendly UI, and More Social Features (Android) Waze, our pick for the best turn-by-turn navigation app for Android, updated today to include an entirely new UI that minimizes buttons and tools so they're all accessible under one spring-out on-screen menu, easier-to-navigate maps that you can now easily spin around and navigate with one hand, and new location-based information from services like Yelp and FourSquare.
- Belvedere Updates, Can Now Automate Your Folders and Automatically Send Files to iTunes (Windows) Belvedere, our automatic file management tool for Windows, has updated with a few new features, like the ability to move folders around and add tracks to iTunes.
- Simplify is an All-In-One Desktop Controller for iTunes, Spotify, and Rdio (Mac OS X) Mini-player apps like previously mentioned Bowtie or GeekTool are great, though they usually only support one or two media players-which isn't great for music junkies that might use multiple programs. Simplify is a simple desktop controller and shortcut customizer that controls iTunes, Spotify, and Rdio.
- PacApt Brings Arch Linux's Amazing Manager to Other Linux Distributions (Linux) It's no secret that we love Arch Linux, and one of Arch's best features is the simple, easy-to-use package manager, Pacman. Here's how to get Pacman's simple command structure in other Linux distributions.
- Cobook Powers Up Your Mac's Address Book with Social Networks, Mouseless Navigation (Mac OS X) Cobook is an Address Book app for Mac that sits in your menu bar, offers quick mouseless navigation, and lets you add a lot more to your contact cards, including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts.
- Syncly Automatically Uploads Every Photo You Take to Dropbox (Android) Syncly keeps watch over your Android's SD card, automatically uploading new photos to Dropbox as soon as you take them-so you don't need to do anything to keep everything synced to the cloud.
- Dashlane Securely Manages Passwords, Form info, and Even Purchases For You (and We'ev Got Invites) (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.
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Give Each Day a Dinner Theme to Help Plan Family Menus [Meal Planning] -
If you try to plan advance monthly or bi-weekly menus it can be difficult to balance variety with the staples that everyone enjoys. Parenting weblog Simple Mom recommends establishing a theme for each day of the week such as pizza day or crock pot meals day. That way you know what type of meal you need for all of your open slots and your family knows what to expect at most meals. More »
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Elpis is a Lightweight Desktop Client for Pandora [Windows Downloads] -
Windows: Sure the default web client for Pandora is nice, but some of us want to have a desktop version to not take up a tab and memory in our browser of choice. The open source desktop client Elpis does a good job of keeping the essential functions of Pandora active while not using as many resources. More »
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Use the 70/30 Rule to Keep Fish From Sticking to Your Grill [Video] -
Many grilling aficionados don't try grilling large fish such as salmon, tuna, or shark as they're afraid the fish will stick to the grill. Culinary site Chow.com recommends using the 70/30 rule when grilling fish: cook the flesh side down first for 70% of the total cooking time, then flip the fish over to the skin side for the last 30%. More »
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Protect Rubber Gloves from Sharp Fingernails with Cotton Balls [Clever Uses] -
If you use rubber gloves for washing dishes or cleaning and have sharp nails, you run a chance of your nails puncturing the gloves and causing leaks. Household simplicity site Real Simple recommends adding a cotton ball to each finger of your gloves to provide a cushion that should keep your nails from puncturing the gloves. More »
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Snow Leopard Revised Security Update Fixes Rosetta Problems [Snow Leopard] -
We noted yesterday that the new Snow Leopard Update Breaks Rosetta and that a group of high-schoolers had released a third-party fix. Fortunately, the wizards of Cupertino have either corrected this problem themselves or used the third-party fix—either way, the newest version of that update (Security Update 2012-001 v1.1) is now available on Apple's site or using the Software update function. More »
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Aviary Online Image Editor Releases Android Plugin [Android Downloads] -
Android: We've covered the free Aviary online image editor several times—it is robust enough to work for most people who want to tweak their photos but don't require a full version of Photoshop or GIMP. They've just released a plugin for Android that brings the same functions to your phone or tablet so now you don't have to transfer the image to your computer before editing. More »
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Top 10 Ways to Travel Smarter, Safer, and Cheaper [Lifehacker Top 10] -
A vacation can range anywhere from a dream to a nightmare. While some of that depends on circumstance, there's plenty you can do to make your travel easier, more efficient, and more fun. Here are our top 10 favorite tips, tricks, and hacks to help make your next trip really great. More »
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Replace a Wooden Knife Handle [Repairs] -
If you break the handle on your favorite kitchen knife you will probably either look forward to shopping for a new knife or wish you could give your trusty knife a new handle yourself. For those who'd rather fix what they have, you can remove the pieces of the old handle with a hacksaw and then you can cut and attach a new handle. More »
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Upgrade and Speed Up Your Computer This Weekend [Weekendhacker] -
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 »
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Remains of the Day: Poland Stands up to ACTA [For What It's Worth] -
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 »
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Practice Multiple Skills at a Time Instead of Focusing on One for Greater Results [Learning] -
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 »
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The iPad's Split Keyboard Has a Few Hidden Buttons that Make Typing Easier [Ios Tips] -
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 »
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How to Install Carrier-Blocked Market Apps on Any Android Phone [How To] -
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 »
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Daily App Deals: Get Baby ESP for Android for 60% Off in Today's App Deals [Deals] -
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 »
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Skype for Windows Can Now Video Chat with Facebook, Adds Group Screen Sharing and Push to Talk [Video] -
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 »
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This Week’s Most Popular Posts: January 28 - February 3 [Highlights] -
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. More »
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The UNDFIND One Bag Transforms Into Whatever Kind of Messenger Bag You Need [Video] -
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 »
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Google Cloud Print: It's Actually Awesome, and Here's How to Set It Up [How To] -
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 »
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Ask and Answer Questions About Upgrading Your Eating Habits [Help Yourself] -
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 »
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Build a Mail Rack or Charging Station from IKEA Magazine Holders [Ikea Hacks] -
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 »
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The Best Calendar App for Linux [Linux App Directory] -
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 »
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What Are Some Tasty, Healthy Alternatives to Soda? [Ask Lifehacker] -
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 »
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These Are the Five Repeating Home Maintenance Tasks You Probably Forget To Do [Household] -
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 »
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Dropbox for Android Gets Automatic Photo Syncing, Drops File Size Limits [Dropbox] -
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 »
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Everybody Takes a Smoke Break in This Week's Open Thread [Open Thread] -
It's Friday. It's the open thread. You know what to do. More »
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How to Get Better Battery Life and Performance on Your Android Phone with a New Kernel [Android] -
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 »
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Keep Clothes from Falling Off the Hanger with a Rubber Band [Clever Uses] -
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 »
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FreshBatch for Mac Renames Parts of Files and Converts Basic File Types in Bulk [Mac Downloads] -
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 »
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Read the Manual Before Making Big Purchases [Shopping] -
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 »
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Avid Studio Is a Feature Rich Video Editor for iPad [Video] -
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 »
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Bake an Egg in an Avocado for a Fast and Healthy Breakfast Treat [Food Hacks] -
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 »
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