Dipity
Desktop image editors are great, but we're not always at our home workstations. Thankfully there are quite a few capable and feature-rich image editors to be found online. Let's hear it for web-bas...
Most air travelers can't afford the comforts that come with a first class or business ticket, but just because you fly coach doesn't mean you can't maximize your flying enjoyment. Travel site Condé...
Firefox 3.5 downloads skyrocket, Bing captures an impressive share of search in its first month, and your browser history may be less private than you thought. Web2.0collage You may be surprised t...
Sure you could hide your maps on the edge of your notebooks, but if you want access to full maps but don't want to look like the tourist wrestling with an unwieldy map, then you need to learn some ...
When we highlighted our favorite alternate uses for binder clips, it not only brought out the office supply lovers in the crowd, but neat new ideas as well. Reader lina_zav wrote in to tell us how ...
iPhone/iPod Touch only: Remember previously mentioned RunPee.com, the ingenious website that tells you when to head for a bathroom break during a movie so you don't miss any good parts? The site ha...
The new Firefox 3.5 release brought a lot of great features, but one annoyance sent reader Mark looking for a solution: When you close the last tab, the browser closes instead of opening a blank ta...
Most closets are just the right size to stash a workstation away in and offer one very enticing feature: the ability to shutter your desk away at a moments notice. Lifehacker reader splitlog wanted...
We recently asked you to choose between popular note-taking applications Evernote and OneNote, and when the dust settled and smoke cleared, the free, cross-platform Evernote emerged victorious. Its...
Reader Kevin used his ubergeeky AutoHotkey scripting skills to create a hotkey that opens a command prompt window at the same location as the folder you are browsing in Windows Explorer. To use the...
Windows only: Free application g2Peer shares files with friends by using your Gmail account as a virtual "IP address." Once installed, you need to log into g2Peer with your Gmail account informatio...
Laptops, wide screen monitors, cheap web cams, and camcorders are just some of the deals you'll find in today's deal roundup. No need for techie gear? Fine. You can have the free coffee and music. ...
If you upload videos to YouTube and feel restricted by the 1GB limit, YouTube now offers 2GB of wiggle room as well as the ability to directly link to and embed high definition video. To share a li...
The Tweaking with Vishal web site writes up a quick registry hack that adds Recycle Bin, Network Connections, Admin Tools, or even Search to your My Computer window. The process works by adding a s...
Windows only: Firefox lovers have no doubt already updated to the recently released Firefox 3.5 for its amazing new features, but if you're more the portable type, Firefox 3.5 Portable Edition is o...
Good news for users of Google Chrome, Picasa, and other Google desktop apps on Windows systems: Google Update, previously a background new version checker that was mighty hard to kill off, runs as ...
Online office suite Zoho enters the project management realm with a few attention-getting features. One is import support for Microsoft Project files, and another is a consolidate, real-time view o...
Whether you've got a fancy new espresso machine at home or you just want to get a better idea of how drinks are prepared at your local coffee shop, this handy chart can help. Designer Lokesh Dhakar...
Bookmaplet does a really simple thing well. Power browser users (Ubiquity fans, for example) can quickly copy, paste, and map an address, but a simple bookmarklet allows you to highlight an address...
Because it needs to be approved, customized, and otherwise vetted by the maintainers of Ubuntu Linux's repositories, the just-released Firefox 3.5 isn't officially available on that system. With on...
New data-geeky gadget site gdgt (pronounced either G-D-G-T or just "gadget") doesn't deliver giant pictures with the latest news on brand-new devices. It tracks what gadgets you had, have, and want...
You've read about the features, you saw the invites going out, but you might be wondering what, exactly, Google Voice could do for you. Here's our guide for the curious and uninvited on whether you...
Daytime photo tricks don't always translate when you're trying to capture the perfect night shot. The Photography Bay web site outlines tips for taking a stellar post-sunset shot without relying on...
We shy away from workplace touching, watch as the Firefox downloads roll in, and learn how to shoot better, or at least more professional, news videos. Is Touching Colleagues Ever Appropriate? Sho...
Joining Gmail, Yahoo, and other mail services, Windows Live Hotmail launches incoming POP3 access for the U.S., Canada, and Brazil, meaning Hotmail users can aggregate all their other email account...
When it comes to creating a perfect copy of a system disk for future restoration, Lifehacker readers love the open source and versatile Clonezilla. It can't do real-time mirroring like the second a...
As wireless users know all too well, not all 3G networks are created equal. PC World recently put Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T to a multi-city test to determine which best delivers speed and reliabili...
Reader Stephen writes in with an excellent, time-saving Windows 7 tip: you can create Outlook templates for boilerplate emails and pin them to the Windows taskbar for easy access. This technique is...
Wire baskets can stash cables under a desk, but they don't make it easy to yank out certain wires for laptops or other needs. A chain sinnet might just do the trick. What is this mysterious and loo...
You don't want to play DIY plumber or call one just yet, but you can't stand the harsh chemicals in most drain cleaners. Solution? Make your own eco-friendly drain cleaner. We've covered a similar ...
Everybody already knows that middle-clicking or Control-clicking in Firefox opens a link in a new background tab, but reader Raghav points out that you can also open a link in a new foreground tab ...
Discounted HDTVs, widescreen monitors, and exotic looking mice are just a few of the deals you'll find in today's pile of gadget-centric bargains. Computer Gear! 17" HP G70t Core 2 Duo Laptop wit...
The New York Times' Gadgetwise blog asked its readers to call a Google Voice number and leave voicemails to test and stretch the service's transcription prowess. They responded with glee, reading p...
Windows only: Application launcher 7stacks adds the Stacks functionality of Mac's OS X to Windows 7, including Aero transparency effects that blend into your taskbar perfectly. To create your own s...
Windows/Mac/Linux: The final version of the Firefox is starting to show up on Mozilla's web site, and some readers are reporting update notices. Here are a few links and how-tos you should check ou...
You don't need to install a deep fat fryer in your kitchen or apprentice at a burger stand to get homemade French fries worthy of great praise. The key is soaking your sliced potatoes and using the...
Windows only: Last year we shared TubeMaster Plus with you, an extremely handy program for downloading videos and music from streaming sites. TubeMaster++ has been released and comes with a slew of...
Toodledo, a web-based task manager that's friendly to Getting Things Done adherents or anyone looking for a serious but customizable reminder setup, adds a Gmail gadget to its arsenal of tools that...
From the News That Sounds Like a Prank Dept.: The Pirate Bay, BitTorrent-powered scourge of media conglomerates and copyright enforcers everywhere, announced that it "may get acquired by Global Gam...
Windows: Free Office 2003 & 2007 plug-in OffiSync lets desktop users open documents from, and save to, Google Docs' online servers, but that's nothing amazingly new. A newer Google Search option do...
Today's featured workspace comes from the Mac modder behind the iTab, an awesome fusion of a Wacom tablet and a MacBook. His workspace displays a similar obsession with adaptive implementation of O...
Greenhouses are invaluable to gardeners. You can start seedlings earlier, grow plants later, and otherwise extend the window of warmth that Mother Nature gives you. Best of all, you can build one w...
I'm a recent Facebook adopter. What do I need to know? What free web-hosting service would you recommend for someone messing around with a small project?What language and tools would you recommend ...
The realm of dress tie knots is dominated by a handful of traditional tie knots. Check out this rather unique tie knot and be the first on your block to sport it. If you're a very sharp-eyed fan of...
If you're just searching for some upcoming concert tickets and a place to buy them, there are plenty of online vendors. What about concert history and memorabilia? That's where Songkick comes in. S...
If you tried out the technique we shared earlier this week for easy homemade bread and want to bolster your baking chops, you'll definitely want to check out this detailed guide to homemade sourdou...
Backing up data is a great way to minimize losses after a computing catastrophe. But what about restoring your actual system right away? Here are the five most popular options for our readers. Phot...
Perhaps not practical for everyday use, garnished ice cubes can still add flavor and flair to drinks at your next summertime party. What exactly are garnished ice cubes? They're ice cubes enhanced ...
Next time you're packing for a camping or other outdoor excursion, don't feel obligated to lug along backpack-hogging cooking pots. Instead, make a portable boiling pot using beer cans. The key too...
We gaze forward to the next Firefox's features, talk traffic ticket facts and myths, and suggest a few ways to use all those analog sets sidelined by DTV. Top 10 Firefox 3.5 Features Firefox 3.5 is...
Many of us wouldn't mind shedding a few excess pounds, which is why the health industry makes a killing selling diets, exercise gear, and weight-loss plans. But a new study finds that being overwei...
Binder clips are the underdog of the office supply world. Everyone can rave about alternate uses for paper clips, but what about the trusty old binder clip? We've got a few ways we can recommend pu...
Reader Matt liked the look of the Minimalist OS X desktop, so he ported the whole thing over to Windows using Rainmeter. Now he's sharing the configuration for everybody to enjoy. The very simple d...
Despite the proliferation of digital communication, your handwriting is still a measure by which people judge your character. What does your handwriting say about you? Photo by kevinzim. Although t...
With Windows 7 pre-orders on sale today, CNET is reporting that Microsoft is considering selling Windows 7 on flash drives to help make installation on netbooks easier, and it's reportedly one of s...
If you spend a large part of your day dealing with boring, TPS-like reports, you've probably noticed that Excel 2007 won't let you put spreadsheets side-by-side on your multi-monitor desktop. Lucki...
New York Times tech reviewer/columnist David Pogue was inspired by "one of those 'What's in your bag?' photo features" (Hey! We did one of those!) to detail what he keeps packed in a Timbuk2 messen...
What do you do with a rug that is stained but otherwise usable? With a simple and cheap dye job, you can give it a new lease on life. The rug pictured here was stained, and no amount of professiona...
Shortened URLs aren't going anywhere soon. Creating and sharing them is easy, but previewing where they're leading you usually requires add-ons or software. Enter webapp Untiny with quick copy-past...
Windows only: System monitoring application Real Temp monitors your Intel CPU temperature from the system tray—so you'll know when it's hot enough to cook eggs. Using the application is simple enou...
Want to let certain frantic email senders know that you'll be getting back to them during your next batch email period? Webapp Kukoo provides an auto-responding email address that gently reinforces...
A usability research firm, the Catalyst Group, performed one of those amazingly geeky (and neat) eyeball tracking studies on 12 people conducting searches. The results, combined with a survey, sugg...
If a particular treat at your favorite restaurant keeps you spending money on dining out, try finding a clone recipe for home cooking and significant savings. Photo by yomi955. We previously explai...
The Tomboy notes app built into many Linux distributions can synchronize across platforms through WebDAV or SSH, but it's easier to set up your notes to be automatically synchronized through a Drop...
Lifehacker reader Eric wanted to get in on the limited Microsoft Morro download, so he grabbed it at work and tried to email himself. Gmail killed the sending due to virus concerns, but Eric could ...
Android phones: Qik, a free mobile app new on the Android Market, promises live streaming of video off your phone and direct to Qik's web player. For the most part, it delivers on that promise, wit...
Sure, Windows has a tool for restoring your system back to a previous state, but it isn't a comprehensive solution. This week we want to hear how you restore your computers back from the brink. Pho...
iPod touch owners shirk a $10 upgrade, laptop keyboards get re-imagined, and "Driving While Texting" gets an eye-opening road test. Road test shows texting slows reaction time Car & Driver runs a r...
A poor night's sleep is almost guaranteed to negatively impact your day, but you don't have to get all your winks in one shot. Consider the "siesta" sleep method and other schedules to get in more ...
For many people, the Internet's countless web sites, viral videos, and other distractions just can't be overlooked, despite important goals to meet. To that end, WebWorkerDaily outlines some tips f...
Reader Dan writes in with a small but interesting tip: You don't have to right-click on the taskbar buttons to activate Windows 7's Jumplists—you can hold the left mouse button and drag upwards. At...
Today is National Handshake Day, so take a moment to brush up on your shaking etiquette and learn how to send subtle and not-so-subtle messages with your hand-to-hand style. Photo by mark i geo. Wh...
Not one to be outdone by Microsoft's Bing travel site or the myriad other net travel guides, Google today rolls out City Tours for planning and navigating itineraries. Currently a Google Labs proje...
Every modern browser implements the Ctrl+L shortcut key for easy access to the location bar—and now you can use the same shortcut in Internet Explorer as well. Reader Joe used his ubergeeky AutoHot...
Whether you head 30 or 3000 miles away, you'll want to bring back great photos of your vacation. The New York Times posts questions and answers on how to achieve great vacation photos. Photo by muh...
If you'd like to get hands-on and make your own bread, but need a little more guidance than a recipe, this simple bread recipe with step-by-step photos is a good place to start out. If you'd shied ...
Google just added an SMS option to its account recovery system, letting anyone who forgets their passwords, or finds it suspiciously locked, set up a mobile phone number to have a recovery password...
Windows 7 only: Tiny utility Jumplist Launcher does application launching using Windows 7's new Jumplists feature. It's simple, lightweight, and doesn't waste memory. When you start Jumplist Launch...
If you're looking to buy a new Windows system starting today or plan to upgrade immediately, you're in luck: Windows 7 will be a free upgrade for new Vista buyers, and upgrades are going for half-p...
If you get lectures, talk shows, or other conversation-focused podcasts over iTunes or RSS, PodShift offers a clever little feed hack that delivers those same shows, only faster—like 1.2, 1.6, or e...
newVideoPlayer("/googlevoice_today_lifehacker.flv", 506, 423,"");The Today Show takes a look at Google Voice this morning (as we did three months ago), with correspondent Janet Shamlian offering a ...
If you're a tie-wearer it's pretty likely you learned how to tie one kind of knot, that knot seemed to work just fine, and you never strayed from it. Expand your dress tie repertoire here. Photo by...
When the dish you ordered arrives beautifully arranged and absolutely glistening with flavor, it can be hard not to turn into a restaurant shutterbug. Chow.com's Table Manners column suggests pract...
Mozilla continues to (benevolently) toy with Firefox fans, making a third Firefox 3.5 Release Candidate available for direct download or updating through the Help->Check for Updates path, while shy...
Money magazine posts a cost of living web calculator that covers a whole lot of U.S. cities with fairly up-to-date data, giving you the lowdown on how far your salary would go in your dream city. M...
Anyone who's put off by the bloat, here's a link to the alternate installer, which is standalone. It requires zero extra downloading, has no "add-in" BS, and can be installed onto a portable hard d...
Apple TV today released its 2.4 software update, featuring flick gesture support for controlling your Apple TV via the iPhone/iPod touch Remote application and other newly added features. Screensho...
Google wants to make the web faster (how controversial!), Apple keeps secrets, and Outlook 2010 causes a minor outrage among web developers. Let's make the web fasterYeah, let's! [Official Google B...
iPhone only: When we toured iPhone 3.0's best features, we mentioned we hadn't yet seen many applications that supported push notifications. Now one of the big ones—AIM—does, delivering instant bac...
Summer weather makes going outside fun, but too much heat can be hazardous to your body and bank account. Fortunately Gizmodo has laid out some tips for how to keep cool without going broke. Photo ...
We're talking Gmail ninja skills, swipe-to-archive on the iPhone, streamlined tethering for the iPhone, and the quickly approaching end of the Windows 7 Beta. The Iterative Web App: Swipe-to-Archiv...
In a surprise upset last week, the top vote earner for best clipboard manager was actually the "Other" category. You'll have to comb through the comments of the Call for Contenders and the Hive Fiv...
Everyone's looking for ways to squeeze more time into the day. Web site Alice aims to give you an hour or two back by automating household shopping. The idea is pretty simple. Create a free account...
We tend to apply ergonomics as it relates to our waking activities. But utilizing the right sleep posture is just as important as having the right PC posture, especially if you want to enjoy a pain...
Windows only: Tiny, portable utility Folder Menu adds quick access to your favorite applications and folders through a popup navigation menu—and it even works in those irritating File Open dialogs....
Not every workplace makeover needs to involve a spending spree at Ikea and more LEDs than a flight control panel. Today's featured workspace just needed a little tidying and cable control. It doesn...
Warranted or not, "honest" and "trustworthy" aren't generally adjectives used to describe car dealers. If you're in the market for a vehicle and want to score a good deal, you may want to familiari...
What's a Woot-Off you say? If you've never experienced the majesty of the Woot-Off, it's a straight forward affair. During a Woot-Off, the deal website Woot! switches from their one-deal-per-day fo...
Reader Paul writes in with a useful tip: You can use the previously mentioned FileTypesMan utility to hide certain file types from showing up in the Recent Documents folder. Once you've opened up t...
Microsoft's new, free antivirus application Microsoft Security Essentials was released in a limited beta this morning, and now that we've got our hands on it, let's take a look at how MSE stacks up...
Discounted computers, monitors, mice and more are but a few of the deals you'll find today. Free coffee and cheap cameras, anyone? Computer Gear! 15.4" Dell Studio 15 Core 2 Duo Laptop with 4GB R...
These days, alarms are ubiquitous, found on virtually any gadget you own. It makes sense; if it's portable and can make noise, adding an alarm isn't all that difficult. So with all this choice, wha...
Firefox only (Win/Mac/Linux): Firefox extension SmarterFox adds a bunch of new options for searching and finding information quickly. Once installed, the extension adds a ton of new functionality—e...
Windows only: We've been keeping you up to date on Morro, Microsoft's free anti-malware now officially known as Microsoft Security Essentials, since it first hit the rumor-mill. If you're eager to ...
The Readability bookmarklet strips down and reformats text for focused reading. Note organizer Evernote offers its own bookmarklet to grab text from any page. Marry the two with JavaScript, and you...
Windows: StrokeIt, a background application that converts mouse gestures into software actions, has updated with support for Windows Vista and 7, a portable edition, and built-in gestures for Googl...
Balancing work, family life, personal time, and other obligations gets way more complicated than simply managing your time and tasks in the workplace. Use this handy worksheet to carve out some lif...
Adobe stated during a recent earnings announcement that a beta of Flash Mobile 10 will be released in October, optimized for Android, Symbian, Palm Web OS, and Windows Mobile phones. Despite one co...
For getting your laptop off the table and up at eye level, a $3 CD rack from IKEA cut and filed down in a few spots does the job admirably well, and even grants a little extra storage space. As cle...
Mac OS X only: If you're running a 2G or 3G iPhone with the 3.0 firmware, your (unofficial) carrier options just opened up a bit, as the Dev Team has delivered Ultrasn0w 3.0 for full unlocking. Dow...
If our top 10 magnet hacks didn't tip you off, we appreciate clever magnet tricks. To that end, weblog Circuit Gizmos details how to reclaim much-needed desk space for your analog work with the hel...
Google buys up one million phone numbers to add to Google Voice, Firefox 3.5 handily beats other browsers in memory usage, and the Dunkin' Donuts iPhone app streamlines your morning indulgence. Goo...
Whenever we mention desktop note-taking applications, two apps always stand out among the competition: Microsoft OneNote and Evernote. One is a commercial Windows app; the other is a free applicati...
Read over our coverage of XBMC, but not quite sure if you're ready to take the plunge? XBMC Installer Deluxe makes tinkering with your freshly modded Xbox a breeze. We've shown you the complete pro...
Reviewing where you are and where you're going is a critical but oft-overlooked part of personal development. Here's how to get in the habit of giving yourself a weekly review. You may not have eve...
I don't like dogs jumping on me, sniffing me, etc. What can I do to deter that behavior?I like carabiners for attaching things, is there a similar object that opens when you apply enough tension wi...
Windows only: Snowbird is a tiny, portable file explorer packed with features that fits nicely into a flash drive toolkit. In our testing, Snowbird was quite responsive and, compared to Windows Exp...
Google Maps is a fantastic tool for getting directions and finding destinations. With its most recent update, it's a lot better at answering the question "What is here?" around any given point. Cli...
Adobe Air: Bookmash is an Adobe Air application combining over a dozen search tools covering video, music, photos, news, and social networks you can search at once for new media material. Bookmash ...
Basic cut and paste gets the job done, but if you're going for speed and efficiency, you'll need a clipboard manger to keep your copy-fu strong. Let's take a closer look at five of the most popular...
Why spend way too much money on fertilizer? You can brew your own cheap and potent liquid fertilizer right at home with some compost and a bucket. Photo by Randy Son of Robert. Many gardeners tend ...
Firefox 3.5 is a pretty substantial update to the popular open-source browser, and it's just around the corner. See what features, fixes, and clever new tools are worth getting excited about in the...
We highlight our favorite free, everyday-use Mac apps, round up some killer Firefox add-on packs, optimize our HDTVs, and take a first-hand look at the best features in the new iPhone 3.0 software ...
While multitasking is invariably useful, excessive multitasking can make it difficult to get things done (as we've
Mac OS X only: The iPhone Dev Team has already released the iPhone 3.0-jailbreaking Pwnage Tool for Mac OS X (just two days after the iPhone 3.0 release), with QuickPwn for Windows and OS X soon to...
When it comes to problem solving, some prefer the act fast, go-with-your-gut approach. But a new BusinessWeek report says that this leap-into-action model should be avoided for issues outside your ...
Windows/Mac/Linux: The early adopters at weblog gHacks note that Firefox 3.5 Release Candidate 2 has already been distributed to Mozilla's mirror servers and is available for download from third-pa...
Reader rykennedyan's desktop is an impressive recreation of a first-person view from the popular Halo FPS shooter—with system stats and information completely blended into the desktop. The desktop ...
Many of us subscribe to the inbox zero philosophy of a productive inbox, but if inbox zero has never jelled for you, NYT tech guru David Pogue suggests treating your inbox as a to-do list instead. ...
Paint isn't cheap. Avoid being stuck with nearly full paint buckets with a calculator that figures just how much paint you need. Photo by ellievanhoutte. Having a little left over paint is handy an...
If the new Geo-locating features in the upcoming Firefox 3.5 release just don't jive with your privacy-conscious self, you can disable them easily with a simple tweak. Over at the How-To Geek site ...
Internet Explorer 8 is by far the best browser Microsoft's ever released, but most of our readers are happily using a better alternative like Firefox or Chrome. Microsoft's not happy about this, so...
LoopApps is a one-stop shop for your PDF manipulation needs. From one site, you can convert, combine, and electronically sign documents. We've covered some excellent web-based PDF tools before, inc...
Grab your towel, frisbee, sunscreen, and burning questions—the weekend's almost here, and it's time to step inside the open thread for a chat. Photo by josephsardin. The open comment thread is your...
Firefox only (Windows): Firefox theme Daum Blue is not just clean and simple—it also looks great and blends in well with your Windows 7 or Vista desktop. The theme works well across the board, and ...
Windows only: If you're looking for a lightweight notepad replacement but still yearn for some extra features, look no further than TED Notepad. The barebones TED Notepad is toolbar, sidebar and ga...
Google Docs Download, a Greasemonkey script previously featured here for creating a Google Docs bulk download feature that should already be there, is now available as a (beta-level) Python script....
Virginia traffic attorney Andrew Flusche can't explain everything you need to do to get out of any traffic ticket, but he does want to shoot down some myths your lead-footed friends might try and c...
Windows: You have a bunch of sub-directories that you'd like to consolidate into one but don't want to do the mouse work or write a batch script. Suction will help you condense your directories. Th...
Firefox: YouTube is a video site, but it's got one of the best music selections on the net. Use that to your advantage with FoxyTunes' latest update, which can play YouTube videos and playlists lik...
If you lack for a piece of paper, a ring, or just don't want to risk bursting another bottle, Wired explains the time-honored tradition of popping the top with a Bic-type lighter. The hands picture...
Windows/Mac/Linux: Songbird is a powerful, clever music manager, but iPod/iPhone integration is its Achilles' heel. The latest version aims to halfway heal that weakness by integrating tightly with...
Your computer's clipboard is an invisible workhorse, carting your text clippings to and fro. This week we want to hear how you enhance the clipboard's functionality beyond the basic cut and paste. ...
Odds are that right now, at least one spider is sharing your home with you. And while we appreciate their insect reduction skills, we'd still prefer they stay outdoors. The DIY spider catcher can h...
Mozilla settles on a new Firefox icon, Wikipedia makes for an enormous book in hardback, your laptop battery rating is completely unrealistic, and XP soldiers on with an even longer lifespan. The ...
Google today introduced seven new features to Google Books, including improved search capabilities, a snazzy new page-turning button, and a thumbnail view that makes quick work of navigating scanne...
Windows/Mac OS X: Free application BPM Analyzer determines the beats per minute (BPM) of any MP3 on your computer, then automatically updates the ID3 tags with the BPM info—perfect for finding work...
Former cubicle jockey Jonathon Wilson now works from home, but it's almost exactly as if he's at his desk at the office. In the comments of my recent article on working remotely, Jonathon explains...
Are you getting the most out of your bank? Web site FindABetterBank lets you select the features you want in a bank, then gives you a list of banks that most closely fill your needs. When using the...
The iPhone 3.0 software update hit servers a few hours ago, and we spent our afternoon playing with every new feature we could find. Step inside for a look at our favorite new iPhone 3.0 features. ...
Jonathan Coulton makes the transition from suit-and-tie Visual Basic programmer to geek hero/songwriter seem entirely natural. We asked the writer of Portal's theme song, Re: Your Brains, and other...
We get a closer look at Microsoft Security Essentials (the pre-beta anti-malware app), Quicken cuts a deal with jilted Microsoft Money users, and iPod touch users will have to pry their wallets ope...
We've profiled image editors like previously mentioned Picnik and Phoenix, and while none have stolen industry leader Adobe Photoshop's thunder, it's still nice to have options. Today we're adding ...
Good news, keyboard-shortcut lovers! Windows 7 finally includes the ability to add new folders from the keyboard with a shortcut key combination. To create a new folder, simply press Ctrl+Shift+N w...
Millions of Americans go without healthcare because of the associated expenses. But the dismal economic climate has also made it increasingly difficult for even the insured to pay up. Fortunately, ...
Windows only: Freeware backup software FBackup includes special plugins for most popular applications—so you don't have to worry about which files to backup anymore, it's all handled for you. FBack...
Ever needed to take a quick look at a subway map but don't want to out yourself as a tourist who doesn't know his way around? This brilliant Moleskine map hack demonstrates how to check your map bu...
It's easy to avoid losing steam and wasting time getting back into your workflow. Taking just a bit of time to prep next tasks before a calming break makes it so. Photo by Brittany Culver. Never ta...
Whether you purchase expensive workout equipment or opt for the more economical no-equipment route, the fact remains that you still have to exercise to get in shape. Productivity weblog Zen Habits ...
Windows only: We've already shown you how you can browse through files from the Stacks widget in the upcoming Snow Leopard release—but you can get that feature right now on your Windows PC. We've m...
Plug in your iPhone and smash the Update button in iTunes to grab yourself the latest and greatest update to iPhone 3.0, complete with copy-and-paste, MMS, search, push notifications, and more. AT&...
Windows only: HeatMapper is a really novel way to map out the signal strength of your wireless network. Armed with a wireless laptop, you can get specifics on signal strength, security issues, and ...
The upgrade to Mac OS X Snow Leopard will cost $29 for current Leopard users and won't include many new features—so will it be worth the trouble? We got our hot little hands on the developer previe...
If you find yourself on the occasional jog wishing your earbuds fastened a little more securely to your ears, reader Yasmeen writes in with her clever solution for making your own quick-and-dirty e...
Linux: Ubuntu 9.04 introduced a set of upper-corner notifications similar to Growl, but they lack for customization in both appearance and usability. Mumbles aims to bring a true Growl-like experie...
It already made its way into Google's stand-alone Contacts tool, but now Gmail supports a few extra fields that apps like Outlook and Apple Mail try to bring over (like birthdays and web sites), an...
Windows only: A little sloppy file keeping can lead to a lot of duplicate and space-hogging files. Dig up all your dupes with the speedy Fast Duplicate File Finder. You can scan local, external, fl...
If you lack for foodie friends, you might not have heard all about sriracha, a pan-Asian chili sauce that's potent but not too spicy. One blogger suggests a quick tweak that makes it more mellow an...
If you're already running the latest build of Firefox's 3.5 beta, you'll be able to upgrade sometime today to a release candidate version Mozilla considers "stable for daily browsing." Direct downl...
Windows/Mac/Linux/iPhone: TweetDeck, the Twitter client that helps cut through social noise, has unleashed a clever version of its popular multi-column app for iPhones, as well as made it easy to s...
We've featured countless apps or all sorts over the years, but if you just want a quick look at the best free downloads for your Mac, this post's for you. This is the 2009 Lifehacker Pack for Mac O...
We get a sneak peek at Microsoft's free anti-malware app, Morro, a new mobile phone app aims to augment reality with a cameraphone-based HUD, and Facebook outgrows MySpace. Exclusive: Microsoft's n...
Last week's Hive Five demonstrates that no matter how packed with technology our homes and lives become, some things are best done the traditional way. Edging out all of its digital competitors by...
Wallets made with duct tape are a dime-a-dozen (we've covered them once or twice before). But since times are tough, and they also make for functional alternatives to traditional wallets, this late...
If you're lucky enough that—even occasionally—you can telecommute to your job (though web commute seems more accurate these days), you've no doubt learned that working away from the office comes wi...
Whether you've recently received a promotion or—given the economic climate—your employer has asked you to assume more responsibilities, chances are someone was doing the work before you. Smooth the...
Windows only: Free application WinStep Nexus Dock boasts just about every feature you'd expect from a dock, including widgets, mouse-over effects, skins, drag-and-drop, and even support for Vista A...
Ever wonder what day of the week your 40th birthday will land, even if it's some 12 years out? Turns out Windows 7 and Vista's handy system tray calendar makes navigating future and past dates a br...
Pare your office down to the essentials, make the most of the surfaces you have, and pair it all with a sweeping city view. That's how one Lifehacker reader rolls in their home office. Rephlektiv h...
Yesterday's simple guide to turning old CDs into an iPod dock inspired reader longbourne to write in with his own DIY phone/iPod dock and charging station, and we're impressed. All you need to pull...
Linux only: If you've ever wondered what is thrashing your hard drive but can't figure out which process it is, you can use the iotop utility to help. The iotop utility works the same as the top co...
We've previously covered services like TextPayMe (since bought by Amazon) and PayPalMobile that let you make purchases using your cell phone. Today we see another called Boku, a mobile payment ser...
Your finer clothing's tags may tell you otherwise, but you could be saving money by cleaning certain items at home. A veteran dry cleaner helpfully explain what does and doesn't need the plastic ba...
It used to be a pain to hunt down your favorite extensions every time you reinstall Firefox. Mozilla's recently launched Collections make it easy, so we've assembled a few easy-to-install collectio...
Whether it's the iPhone 3GS or the latest browser download, new products claiming to Change Everything are a dime a dozen. So should you become an early adopter or wait on the next shinier version ...
Apple announces $9 Snow Leopard updates for some, YouTube lets you choose what Hulu-like ads it plays, and a Mozilla employee sets the record straight over what browsers are actually gaining ground...
Windows only: Popular iTunes-alternative MediaMonkey updates to version 3.1 today, bringing a giant list of fixes and improvements that include friendlier full-text search, iPod Shuffle 3G support,...
Beta web application Netalyzr is a free tool that analyzes your network for possible problems—large and small—helping you determine your overall network health. As soon as you start the test (and a...
We've seen our fair share of DIY solar-powered chargers and even some leg-powered ones, but if you're not big into doing-it-yourself, Brando's USB Solar Charging 4-Port Hub might be up your alley. ...
Rafael Rivera, the same expert Windows hacker that figured out how to customize your Windows 7 logon background, finds another hack that changes the UI to look better with darker background images....
We recently offered tips on finding happiness in your work as well as how to find the environment where you thrive. New reports also suggest that happiness is related to your intrinsic versus extri...
Windows only: First Impression is free and minimal image viewer with a focus on maximizing the space used for viewing your images by doing away with command bars and buttons. Photo by freemind, bac...
We've highlighted two different tools designed to help you decipher those kids' crazy SMS lingo, but reader David writes in suggesting N11 numbers work great as simple SMS timesavers. Photo by Pixe...
Got a pile of old, scratched-up coasters that you don't really need anymore? You can repurpose them into a dock for your iPod, iPhone, or other audio player. The Geeky Gadgets blog walks you throug...
Next time you're fired up over getting your space organized don't rush out to buy all the bins, boxes, and tools you think you'll need. Attack the mess first to save money and time. Photo by Gilgon...
Ever tried outfitting your keyring or your heavy-duty carabiner with an unfriendly-sized object but just couldn't find a good way to make it happen? Reader Jeremie writes in with a simple solution....
Windows only: Have you ever told a little white lie about when you started working on a project, hoping nobody would notice that the file timestamps disagree? SKTimeStamp helps you lie more effecti...
Windows/Mac/Linux: Navigating through your hard drive contents can be slow and tedious at times, requiring double-click after double-click as your drill through your filesystem. Hawkscope addresses...
TechCrunch's Michael Arrington writes that a "very small number of people" are testing out phone number porting to Google's semi-new phone management system, Google Voice (which we toured in its cl...
Media center Boxee lets you access a lot of web video sources, but what about that clip your friend emailed you earlier today? Boxqueue is a bookmarklet/webapp combo that feeds bookmarked clips int...
Buying from a thrift store or resale shop doesn't have to be moth-ball-scented trip down the horrible fashions of yesteryear. Maximize your dollar by choosing the right shop and the right time. Pho...
By random luck, or with a little Firefox tweak, Google Calendar users might find a few useful "Gadgets" on the right side of their calendar pages, offering coutdown timers, time zone tracking, and ...
Linux: Mac4Lin, a package of skins, wallpapers, icons, and interface refinements that brings a completist Mac look to Linux with an automated installation, has reached the 1.0 stage with an impress...
"It depends" can be a frustrating answer when you're looking for solid, dependable answers. Decision engine Hunch, however, tries to make your personality count and offer relevant choices for shopp...
Food Week is coming to a close, and what a culinary adventure it's been. We laughed, we cried (cutting onions!), and after testing the best and worst, this Lifehacker editor swore off fast food for...
Windows only: If you haven't made the leap to Windows 7 but you're envious of its awesome window docking and resizing features, grab PowerResizer to bring them to your current version of Windows. P...
I'm struggling with breakfast. What would you recommend for some protein-rich meals to start my day?How do you deal with tagging your media when it falls in multiple genres?Whenever I build a compu...
Furoshiki is the traditional Japanese art of folding cloth to serve a variety of functions. If some of our previous coverage of Furoshiki left you scratching your head, this video might just get yo...
Whether you purchased your HDTV yesterday or last year, there's a big chance you just plugged it in and fired it up. Tweak your HDTV for better viewing quality. Photo by blakespot. While HDTV has a...
Keeping a low profile is smart when you're carrying trendy or expensive gadgets. Place mats, for example, can be fitted into a snug and inconspicuous cover for your netbook. Jimmy, an IKEAhacker re...
Many a photography enthusiast has assumed the equipment necessary is far too expensive for quality high speed photography captures. A high speed capture studio on the cheap can be had with this han...
Even in a neat and organized home, expansive counters, desks, and dressers beg for things to be placed on them. Tame your counter clutter with these tricks. Photo by lesliepear. Productivity/minima...
Lifehacker - Safari 4 Leaves Beta, Calls Itself "World's Fastest Browser" - Safari 4 (Windows/Mac)Apple's Safari 4 web browser left beta today, boasting itself as "the world's fastest web browser."...
The cardboard tube inside rolls of Saran Wrap and aluminum foil is particularly sturdy and well-suited for craft projects. Turn one of those sturdy tubes into attractive napkin holders with this tu...
Free community web site Neighborhood Fruit helps green thumbs swap the excess food from their garden with other locals in their community. Neighborhood Fruit was founded to cut down on wasted produ...
Windows only: WinCDEmu makes it easy to quickly mount and access the contents of CD and DVD image files you've extracted or downloaded. Once installed, WinCDEmu adds an entry to your right-click co...
Cooking isn't a skill you can pick up through reading alone. Watch chefs, enthusiastic home cooks, and even a surprise celebrity guest demonstrate cooking skills everyone can use in this roundup of...
If you're looking for an ultra-minimalist table lamp that requires no more effort than just screwing the bulb in, this ingenious little lamp is for you. Sean Regan crafted quite a creative lamp fro...
Our favorite recipes, like our favorite software, save you time, offer tons of customization, pull off professional-level performance at home, and produce brag-worthy results. Here's a convenient c...
After whinging loudly about not having access to the Google Wave preview, Santa GOOG dropped me an invite. Last night I held a Wave Q&A on Twitter; here are the results, complete with screenshots. ...
The future of technology blows our minds, we outfit our kitchens with the essentials, browsers battle it out for speed supremacy, and we highlight our favorite Google Wave features. Upcoming Tech ...
Many factors impact your quality of life. According to actor and comedian Patton Oswalt, knowing your ideal environment type—city, desert, mountains, plains, or beach—is an important part of findin...
Earlier this week we suggested you could save money with no-equipment exercises, but that's not the only way to workout without burning a hole through your pocketbook. Common household items such a...
When we showed your our five must-have kitchen tools and asked for yours, the classic cast-iron skillet ranked high on your list. The catch to cast iron: You've got to know how to properly season i...
Reader rykennedyan's desktop combines a beautiful wallpaper with a full set of launchers and tools integrated into a taskbar at the bottom of the screen. The customization comes in two flavors—one ...
Zagat's Fast Food Survey for 2009 has been published. If you're looking for taste above all else, skip right over our Best/Worst health-centric reviews of McDonald's and Wendy's and jump right into...
Ideally all of your digital photos would turn out crisp and clear every time; unfortunately that's not always the case. For those times they don't, this beginner's guide to sharpening your images i...
If you have to deal with boring spreadsheets on a daily basis, every tiny little trick that saves you time is worth it—and the Pointy Haired Dilbert blog runs down a whole list of useful tricks. Th...
Earlier this week, we showed you how to purée your fruit for a quick berry lemonade. If you want to save your fruit for the long-haul, weblog TipNut's extensive guide to preparing 19 various fruits...
If you're looking for a feature-rich project management tool, WizeHive offers a broad range of tools to make planning, managing, and sharing your projects easier. WizeHive makes it easy to organize...
You've been forced to enjoy nature's beauty from a sliver of that window you can just see from your cubicle all week, but the weekend's almost here. Before you head to the great outdoors, step insi...
Windows only: If you've been holding out for the official release of Windows 7 but want to get your hands on that superbar, ViGlance is the one-step answer. Once installed and running, your taskbar...
Got an spare closet and an affinity for good wine? An industrious user at DIY web site Instructables details how he turned his extra closet into a mini wine cellar. Before I started sketching out w...
Windows/Linux: Elisa, the clean, straightforward media center we previously toured, has grown into something else—namely Moovida, a similar but more advanced and TV-focused media center. Take a loo...
It's entirely likely that a modern geek would bring an emergency cellphone on a camping trip, but forget matches or a lighter. If there's some steel wool handy, that cellphone's battery can start a...
Feet have been dragged and dates have been changed, but the death knell is finally ringing for analog television. If you've dragged your feet too, check out the crash course inside. Photo by Future...
Chrome's in 2.0 on Windows and available on Mac and Linux; Apple's beaming with pride over Safari 4; Opera's still innovating with Opera 10; and we're all eagerly awaiting Firefox 3.5. With all the...
We recently rounded up our five must-have tools for any kitchen, but if you're short on space and want a minimalist take, weblog Unclutterer offers up their own key kitchen utensils. Photo by la fa...
We've already shown you how to use a Greasemonkey script to prevent the Google Search Wiki buttons from cluttering up your search results—but now Google has finally added an option to the search pr...
We're fairly certain that such high tech offerings have never been housed in such a soothingly rustic alcove. Multiple monitors, lots of computing power, and a flexible ergonomic desk make for quit...
Can you spare five minutes each day? That's all you'll need to make fresh-baked bread with this recipe and method. We've shown you that homemade bread can be cheap, delicious, and easy to make, esp...
Firefox only (Win/Mac/Linux): Firefox extension Yip adds notification support for web applications, even adding native Growl support for Mac users. Adding the notifications to your browser is easy ...
Mozilla has released Firefox 3.0.11 to servers, adding your run-of-the-mill security and stability fixes and fixing up a bug that had prevented some extensions from working properly. If you prefer ...
Effectively communicating your medical condition to your doctor is of paramount importance when it comes to getting properly diagnosed and treated. The New York Times offers several tips for improv...
Cheap computers, HDTVs, and deeply discounted bluetooth headsets: Today's deal roundup has a dash of everything electronic. Computer Gear! Asus EEE Top Intel Atom All-in-One Desktop w/ 15.6in Tou...
Noting that Snow Leopard will support Intel Macs only—leaving out PowerPC computers built just over three years ago—PC World got curious about how their old hardware might stand up to Windows 7. To...
Have you ever wanted to quickly switch from High Performance to Power Saver mode to save some battery life? With a quick command line in a shortcut, you can do it with a keystroke. Over at the How-...
Many people plan their meals just enough ahead that they don't have time to season their meat until right before it hits the skillet. Many pros swear that for the best results, you season a day ahe...
Picasa Web Albums, Google's image sharing service, has added advanced options for searching, making it easier to find just the size and orientation of photo you want, as well as opening the doors t...
Grilled hamburgers turn out better when they're shaped by hand, but it's no small feat to turn pounds of ground meat into semi-consistent patties. Slashfood recommends reaching for a few of these c...
If you read over our guide on turning spare thumb drives into feature packed giveaway drives and you wished there was a huge pack of portable software you could just download, this is it. While we ...
If you switch between systems frequently, or just have a lousy memory for special character codes, CopyPasteCharacter.com is an ingenious little page that automatically copies special characters yo...
Safari, Chrome, and Internet Explorer all reached new final versions of recently, while Firefox and Opera pushed their own web browsers into almost-there betas. We pulled out the digital stopwatch ...
Earlier this week we shared the healthiest and unhealthiest food at McDonald's with you. Our team of fast food testers has recovered, and now it's time to focus our lens on Wendy's—our readers' fav...
iPhones are expensive, Firefox 3.5 has some really cool video tricks up its sleeve, and you spend more money when you don't see the dollar sign. Total Cost of Ownership: iPhone 3G S versus Palm Pre...
The right flash can make or break your shot. Unfortunately, not all built-in flashes are created equal. DIY web site Instructables demonstrates how to create a worthy on-the-spot flash diffuser usi...
Farmer's Markets are a terrific weekend activity. Many shoppers rush to get there early in an attempt to score the best finds, but the best deals may come to those who sleep in. Photo by alltrain43...
We've shown you how to mount a camera on your bike and construct a DIY camera mount for your car, but Flickr's Heather Champ details her own dead-simple-but-effective method for mounting a camera i...
Have you ever been busy getting work done when a random Dock icon starts bouncing up and down, begging for your attention? The Switching To Mac blog writes up how to completely disable the often di...
The Official Google Mobile Blog has announced a couple of small but cool updates to the Gmail Mobile webapp for iPhone and Android users, namely faster address auto-complete and keyboard shortcut s...
Packing your lunch is more economical and almost always healthier than eating out. Overcome the brown bag blahs with this guide to making your packed lunch more appealing. Photo by chanchan22. Dit...
Windows only: The bigger your iTunes library, the more difficult it is to locate and fix problems that arise, whether you're faced with ratings gone awry, missing or duplicate tracks, or missing al...
If you've got a ton of plastic shopping bags laying around and the inclination to roll up your sleeves you can turn them into a DIY carrying case for your laptop. The wikiHow guide walks through cr...
We haven't been invited to try out Google Wave (yet? pretty please Mister Google?), but based on the 80-minute demonstration video, we're jazzed about it. Don't have 80 minutes? These eight 30-60 s...
Snooth is a search engine and social network for wine lovers covering everything from wine reviews and rankings to vineyard and varietal information. If you're at all interested in wine, beyond jus...
Major announcements from Google, Microsoft, and Apple in the last few weeks have techies flipping out about the awesomeness coming to our browsers, pockets, and desktops in the very near future. S...
Mac OS X only: Google's Quick Search Box—brought to us by the developer of the much beloved Quicksilver—has officially left beta, meaning the search-and-launch tool is ready for full public consump...
The good news: One intrepid blogger offers up a massive cut-and-paste Gmail filter operator that corrals and archives non-English messages. The bad news: It only works when spammers are semi-honest...
Wouldn't it be nice if you could click one link and have all your favorite add-ons automatically installed on a new copy of Firefox? Mozilla makes it so with Collections, the newest feature of a re...
Thanks to its easy shell integration and a set of features and user interface that are just complicated enough to get the job done without becoming a dashboard of options and toggles, TeraCopy swep...
If you're a die-hard tinkerer, you know that often what you need more than any fancy tool is a good light source to aid you when you're performing a delicate operation. These DIY forearm lights aim...
Firefox only (Win/Mac/Linux): Firefox extension Text Area Resizer & Mover does just what the name implies—but with a powerful set of options to tweak the controls however you would like. Once insta...
The popular Linux distribution Fedora (you know, the one that isn't Ubuntu) has just released a new major version, Fedora 11, around six-and-a-half months after the release of Fedora 10. The change...
If there is a recurring theme among our featured workspaces, it's that something done right is usually done yourself. Today's featured workspace joins the long line of custom office work we've high...
Windows/Mac OS X: Parts Flickr and Wikipedia, photo site and desktop application Fotopedia lets users create and upload topic-driven collaborative web albums complete with Google Maps information, ...
Windows only: Nomad.NET is a powerful alternative file manager complete with breadcrumbs, thumbnails, integration with explorer plugins—and even support for multiple tabs. Using Nomad.NET requires ...
We recently took a first look at Wolfram Alpha's "computational knowledge engine." Now Wolfram has announced its first series of updates aiming to improve the already impressive search engine's cap...
Discounted HDTVs, cheap monitors, and even MacBooks with fire-sale pricing, are the order of the day. Consider your pocketbook forewarned. Geek Gear! Apple MacBook Air with 64GB Solid State Drive...
Mac owners can get Snow Leopard this fall for a modest $29, a full $100 less than previous OS X updates. Why is that? Well, while Snow Leopard's under-the-hood enhancements are plentiful, there are...
It's all too easy to get seriously excited about expanding your kitchen repertoire—and seriously in debt buying for that kitchen. Here are five kitchen-related things you really need and how to use...
Many people use the "I don't search for warez or porn" defense when it comes to avoiding malicious software and links online. It turns out that the most dangerous search terms are often much more b...
You really don't care which Arrested Development character or classic car your friends and other Facebook acquaintaces come up with, or how well they did in five-question quizzes, but the "Hide" fu...
Android/Windows: PdaNet makes the software that makes iPhone-to-laptop tethering kind of easy. They've now released an Android app that's even easier to install, hook up, and use to get a net conne...
One of the barriers to adopting a new tool in your workflow is ease of use. Futz lets you add tasks, reminders, and more right from your browser's address bar. After you sign up for a an account wi...
Career writer Marci Alboher added a "slash" title (as in "writer/speaker/writing coach") to business cards and email signature, and saw new coaching work gradually roll in. She suggests other ways ...
The flat kind is good for a sour stomach, but freshly made ginger ale is a tasty, warm-weather, mixed-drink-ready treat. Here's how to brew your own. Actually, you aren't "brewing" anything in the ...
You can't grab it directly, but Mozilla is releasing a "Preview" of its long-awaited Firefox 3.5 release. Download Firefox 3.5 Beta 4 and hit the Help->Check for Updates menu, and you'll move up to...
No matter how well you plan, every day can't be an ultra-healthy, bring-your-own-lunch-to-work day. But just because you're eating at a fast food place doesn't mean all bets are off. Get to know yo...
Today was a busy one for Apple in San Francisco. In addition to releasing Safari 4 and announcing the release date and upgrade price of Snow Leopard, we saw a new iPhone, new hardware, and all kind...
If there's an over-abundance of fresh fruit in your area, you can always stock up and freeze it for later—but if you purée it before freezing you can use it for a quick berry lemonade. Photo by Web...
If you've gone on more than one job interview, you know you can count on hearing many of the same questions at each. Make sure you've got these 10 answers down pat before you head out the door to y...
The New York Times wrote recently about new GS1 DataBars that are making their way to supermarkets and stores near you. According to the article, the bar codes will offer shoppers a better way to s...
Windows/Mac OS X: Apple's Safari 4 web browser left beta today, boasting itself as "the world's fastest web browser." Not much has changed from Safari 4 since we took you on a hands on look at Safa...
If you're looking for a simple way to take, store, and share notes in the cloud, 3Banana makes organizing your notes easy with notes based on in-text hashtags. You can sign up for an account at 3Ba...
If you've ever wondered whether a bottle of salad dressing or a jar of mayonnaise is still good, the Table of Condiments might be able to help. I don't know about you, but every other week we go th...
Earlier today we covered rumored pricing for Windows 7 upgrades; now, live from Apple's WWDC event, it looks like we've got an official upgrade price and rough release date for Snow Leopard, Apple'...
Keeping tabs on when your favorite bands will go on tour can be time intensive, especially if you're fond of many groups. Music site Livekick will do the legwork for you. After you sign up (just en...
The basements of American home are veritable graveyards for exercise equipment. Avoid post-purchase elliptical machine guilt with more minimalist exercise routines. Photo by Lulu. Many people use e...
Interested in what's coming out of Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference today (like a new iPhone and other yet-to-be-confirmed possibilities)? Head over to Gizmodo's liveblog of the event for t...
According to an internal memo from computer super-store Best Buy (found by tech blog Engadget), consumers who purchase a new computer after June 26th will qualify for a free upgrade to Windows 7 wh...
There's been plenty of buzz about Windows 7's great new Aero Snap feature—and reader John makes it better with a tip to maximize windows vertically with nothing more than a double-click. We've alre...
Mac OS X/Linux only: The popular BitTorrent application Transmission updated to version 1.70 a couple of days ago, then quickly released 1.71 today. The 1.70 release introduced several small but wo...
Dictionaries and their online counterparts can give you the straight-up meaning, and maybe sentence context, of a word you're fuzzy on. The Wordnik site wants to show you all the conversations, pic...
From cookies to Parmesan cheese, a wealth of store-brand alternatives are available at your grocery store. How can you tell when reaching down one shelf might be worth it? Check the ingredients and...
Windows only: NasBackup is an easy to use interface for the powerful rsync backup utility. You can use NasBackup right out of the box and easily schedule backups from your machine to another machin...
As with the iPhone, the just-released Palm Pre can sync up with a Gmail account, but doesn't offer a native Archive button. With a familiar settings work-around, your Pre can start thinking like a ...
Windows Mobile: Opera's released an early, partially-featured beta of its Mobile browser that brings the server-side browsing speed-ups of Opera Turbo to touchscreen phones. Our phone-happy compatr...
Summer's upon us, and while for many of us that's an invitation to abandon the stove for the grill, we suggest making this summer a renaissance for your full range of culinary chops. Welcome to Foo...
If you do any serious file copying on a Windows system, you'll quickly discover that there are substantial limitations to the default file copier. Ease your file copying frustrations with these fiv...
Windows only: When you need to access your desktop, it's just a quick WIN+D away, right? Sure, if you don't mind stuffing everything back into the taskbar. Desk Topmost pulls up your desktop for qu...
Lifehacker - Lifehacker Pack 2009: Our List of Essential Free Windows Downloads - Lifehacker Pack 2009 (Windows)We feature downloads of all kinds every day at Lifehacker. Today, however, we're bund...
Last week we shared a great hack to let you back up and play your Wii games from an external hard drive. That hack has been made easier by eliminating the need for a Wii downgrade. Why would you wa...
You may not be able to fit a hammer in this Altoids tin turned toolbox, but for loose ends around the workshop it's the perfect lilliputian size. Brenda, writing for mom-centric blog AlphaMom, comb...
When the camera comes out, a lot of people instinctively declare that they look awful in pictures. Learn how to be more photogenic and put your best face forward. Photo by D Sharon Pruitt. Not ever...
Block parties are a summertime staple in many neighborhoods. Host one without breaking the bank by following these money saving tips. Photo by kweezy mcG. Block parties are a great way to take a br...
If you have a photo that could stand for a little artistic flair, Psykopaint is a feature-rich, web-based virtual painting tool. Source image by freebird. Psykopaint is definitely not a traditional...
A good wallpaper provides a pleasant backdrop to productivity. A great wallpaper changes your whole computer experience. See some of the best image sources, software, and usability tweaks we've com...
Windows/Mac/Linux: Streaming your iTunes collection doesn't sound like an easy task, but PulpTunes makes putting your music library on the web a two-click affair. When we first showed you how to st...
Boxee opens its alpha release to all Windows users later this month, Bing may have already ousted Yahoo for the number two search spot, and the classic time-waster Tetris turns 25. Boxee for Windo...
Jiffle is a scheduling tool which seeks to put an end to the back and forth deliberations that proceed a properly scheduled meeting. Plug in your availability and let people request a slot. Jiffle ...
Reader нawk's desktop is a blend of a simple wallpaper and nicely placed system stats—yielding a clean, minimalist look that gives you the information you want without a lot of clutter. The desktop...
Unlike the Windows system tray, the Mac menu bar provides few options for customizing it to your liking. Here's how to hide your menu bar to free up an extra 20 pixels of precious space and create ...
Earlier today we asked if you'll be taking a summer vacation. If the answer is yes and your destination of choice requires some air travel, consider booking with a low-fare carrier to get the most ...
If you've submitted more resumes to more places than you can possibly remember, it's time to start keeping a log of where and when you've applied to each job. Keeping a log is simple enough—you can...
We've mentioned web site iFixit's detailed step-by-step tutorials for performing various DIY repairs on your Mac and iPod. Now iFixit has launched a helpful reference tool for your gadget hacks and...
A thousand crunches a day is the path to washboard abs right? More like the path to debilitating back pain. Photo by Army.mil. Regarded by most people as the secret to a sleek midsection, tradition...
It's time for our weekly open comment thread, so step inside to engage in discussion with some the best commenters on the 'net. Photo by trieu88. If you've never participated before, the open threa...
Windows 7 only: Reader Jay wanted the Windows 7 taskbar to work more efficiently—so he rolled up his sleeves and figured out how to enable middle-clicking to close applications. Normally when you m...
June 5th—the first Friday in June—is National Doughnut Day. Participating doughnut shops across the country are giving away free doughnuts to mark the occasion. Krispy Kreme is giving away a free d...
U.S. workers are notorious for not taking all their vacation days in a year—especially considering how few we get compared to other countries. Now that summer's nearly upon us, we're curious if you...
Mint.com, the free budgeting and financial tracking web application, just made it easier to skim your monetary health every morning by offering widgets for My Yahoo start pages. That's pretty uniqu...
Inspired by our roundup of 10 great magnet hacks, one vertical-thinking Lifehacker reader combined 10 seriously strong neodymium magnets and two Altoids tins to tack his desk-cluttering accessories...
Take the work out of finding sites related to the one you're browsing. SimilarSites is a user-ranked search engine designed to return a list of the most similar web sites. Plug in a web site at Sim...
iPhone/iPod touch: TextPlus isn't the only free SMS app in the App Store, but it is unique for having landscape typing, group messaging with chat-room-style threading, and, most notably, being free...
Compared to finding the perfect business name, a business plan can almost seem easy. How do you pin down a name that sticks in minds, doesn't tread in copycat realms, and yet sounds respectable? Re...
Mac/Linux: We've already seen unofficial Mac and Linux builds of the Google Chrome browser's open-source base, but now the Chromium team is throwing them out for real—even if they're also saying "D...
Let's be candid. The default file copier in Windows is so bad, one can only assume it was actually built to be so horribly inadequate and frustrating. Luckily, better alternatives are out there. Th...
New iPod clickwheels may feature multi-touch controls, America.gov sends out live SMS updates of Obama speeches, and Consumer Reports makes for a best buy of a grocery list. Welcome to the Preside...
As many users of Google Street View can attest, repeatedly clicking the forward and backward arrows makes for a less-than-smooth navigation experience. Today Google addressed this issue by introd...
Mac OS X only: Free application PicoPlay is a barebones music player for OS X that plugs into your iTunes library and playlists for quick access to your tunes with low resource requirements. That's...
Facebook's new terms of service brought to light the serious privacy concerns that changes to user agreements can bring about. Web site TOSBack monitors 44 web sites, including YouTube, Facebook, a...
Windows 7 includes flashy, high-resolution icons for almost everything—even the specific devices you have attached. Blogger Long Zheng figured out where those icons are stored, so you can use them ...
Being well versed in knots beyond the simple granny knot is extremely handy, but if you don't use your knowledge of knot craft with regularity it's easy to forget. This handy card will help. At Pro...
Windows 7 comes bundled with tons of beautiful and free themes, but if you'd like to make your own custom themes beyond the defaults—and even share them with friends—Windows 7's got you covered. Mi...
Windows only: iSwitchw filters through a list of open windows as you type—with a semi-transparent dialog accessible by simply pressing the Caps Lock key. To install the script, you'll need to creat...
Web site DailyFinance reports that Hulu may some day soon begin charging for their popular video-streaming service—but will anyone pay for it? After interviewing News Corp's chief digital officer J...
What goes good with discounted laptops and wide screen monitors? Free donuts! Geek Gear! Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 15.6" LED Backlit Laptop with Dual Core Processor for $449 + Free Shipping (Regular Pr...
On the heels of launching search engine Bing and its accompanying mobile site, Microsoft today rolled out its latest vertical: Bing Travel. The site combines elements from Microsoft-owned travel si...
Firefox only (Win/Mac/Linux): Love the visual tabs in the new Opera 10 Beta but can't leave your beloved Firefox? The Killer Tech Tips blog points out that there's already a Firefox add-on for that...
Server crashes, site maintenance, and traffic surges are among the reasons why your favorite site may be down. Regardless of origin, all you're left with is a broken link. Notify Mee can help. Whil...
Finding yourself only occasionally inspired to write things down and get your word work done? One writer, by way of a Hemingway quote, found that stopping mid-sentence left her mental engine primed...
CC:Betty, the email and attachment organizer we previously suggested as a kinda-sorta Sandy replacement, has made a host of organizational changes. There's now integrated search and attachment view...
Windows only: MouseZoom is a tiny portable tool that functions both as a screen magnifier and a color picker. Whether you've been looking for a detailed color picker or you're just looking for a wa...
Like gutter cleaning or coin rolling, Roth IRAs are one of those things we should be learning about and using, but feels like a chore. Robert Brokamp persuades us that IRA investments are easier an...
Certain foods just go together, like red meats and rosemary, garlic and fish, and oatmeal and orange juice. Men's Health suggests those pairings and others exist for a reason—your body wants more o...
The year's almost half over, and many of our New Year's resolutions have already fallen by the wayside. If you have a difficult time sticking to your goals, weblog Web Worker Daily suggests success...
If you're short a proper citrus juicer but have a large water bottle handy, you can use the bottom of the water bottle as a simple juicer. Larger water bottles have a more pronounced punt—the cone ...
Popular desktop competitors like Internet Explorer and Firefox hardly make a dent in the mobile browsing market. Instead, Opera and Safari are the mobile browsers vying neck-and-neck for the top sp...
After we showed you how to disable the Caps Lock key, reader Philipp wrote in with his unbelievably geeky use for the otherwise pointless key—by using it to help navigate while editing text. Photo ...
It's a formal event; you've got your shoes shined, your pants and jacket pressed, and you're ready to wow the crowd with your dapper get-up. There's just one problem: You forgot the cuff links. Wha...
Moving can be quite a stressful affair. Stay on top of your next move with the free calendar, lists, and reminders at One Simple Move. You could replicate some of the features in One Simple Move yo...
Now that we know Windows 7 will go on sale October 22nd and the feature-complete release candidate is available as a free download, it's time to put it through its paces: as compared to the current...
Mac OS X only: We love dressing up our desktops with multi-monitor wallpapers, but if you're a Mac user, getting one image to span multiple desktops is a pain. Free application MultiScape makes it ...
You may not have heard of cubital tunnel syndrome, but you can probably imagine what causes "cell phone elbow." Doctors compare keeping your elbow bent for long periods of time on cell calls to "st...
Bing, Microsoft's re-launched search flagship, is now available in a mobile flavor, bringing location-specific results for movie showtimes, shopping, and other stuff to your phone screens. It also ...
Windows only: It's no secret that the default copy handler in Windows is miserably inadequate. KillCopy runs circles around the default handler with tons of customizable options including a secure ...
Want to load up to 100MB of video, audio, or pictures into a Boxee media center without any file copying or configuration? DropBoxee, a new Boxee app, grabs and plays just about any media from a dr...
The iPhone and iPod touch are meant to be, well, touched. But when you need acute accuracy for your next New Yorker cover, or if you just finished some nachos, a cheap, easy to build stylus might f...
Windows/Mac/Linux: A new beta of the speedy, innovative Opera web browser is available for download, bringing a visual, expandable tab bar and tab previews, server-side compression for slow connect...
Taking time out to evacuate your PC's dust bunnies is a must for keeping your computer running in tip-top shape. If you're not the desktop sort, DIY site Instructables details how to banish dust fr...
