Lifehacker

Best Tablet Drawing App? [Hive Five Call For Contenders]

Alan Henry — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:00:00 PDT

Whether you have an iPad or an Android tablet, you've probably been tempted to doodle a bit on it, or open up an app to make sketches or take down a few freehand notes with your finger or a stylus. Maybe you just love to draw, and you found the perfect drawing app to express your creativity. This week we want to know which app you turn to when you want to do a little drawing on your tablet screen. More »

What to Do When "Doing What You Love" Isn't an Option [Careers]

Whitson Gordon — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:30:00 PDT

We've always said that you should do what you love—so much that if you wouldn't do your job for free, you should quit. When that isn't an option, though, writer Patty Azzarello recommends a slight change in philosophy. More »

Remains of the Day: Android Developers Can Now Offer In-App Subscriptions [For What It's Worth]

Dusty Wright — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:00:00 PDT

Android developers are now able to offer in-app subscriptions inside their apps, under the hood of Dell's Windows 8 tablet, and SayHi Translate hits 10-million translations. More »

Meta Widget Turns Nearly Any Web Page Into a Widget on Android [Video]

Whitson Gordon — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:30:00 PDT

Android: Widgets are awesome, but if you're keeping your eye on a service or web site that doesn't have a widget in the Play Store, you can make your own with Meta Widget. More »

Put Your Pants On Without Your Underwear Bunching Up [Clothing]

Whitson Gordon — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:00:00 PDT

It's a silly problem to lament, but it's very real: that moment when you pull up your pants, only to have your underwear bunch up around your waist. Redditor 04andrew22 shares his brilliant solution. More »

Daily App Deals: Get AppZilla 2 for iOS for Free in Today’s App Deals [App Deals]

Jeremy Hoag — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:30:00 PDT

The Daily App Deals post is a round-up of the best app discounts of the day, as well as some notable mentions for ones that are on sale. More »

Hipster Habit App Is a Pocketable, Printable Mini-Book Designed to Help You Create or Remove Habits in 30 Days [Printables]

Adam Dachis — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:00:00 PDT

Killing a bad habit is easier said than done, but the Hipster Habit App—which is less of an app and more of a miniature printable book for your wallet—can help you through the process. All you need to do is make a few choices, stick with the plan, and you'll have a well-formed habit in 30 days. More »

Be Lifehacker’s New Intern [Announcements]

Whitson Gordon — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:15:00 PDT

We're on the hunt for a new Lifehacker intern based in the US. Interested? Here's what you need to know. More »

Fill Out a One-Page Business Plan and Get Your Business Started Already [Entrepreneurship]

Melanie Pinola — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:00:00 PDT

If you've got a side business or other entrepreneurial endeavor in mind but haven't made a business plan for it yet, don't worry. You can create a simple, concise business plan by answering just ten questions on one page. More »

Sworkit Generates Random Workouts for Any Timeframe, Whether You've Got Five Minutes or an Hour [Downloads]

Adam Dachis — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:00:00 PDT

Web/Android/iOS: Recently we created a 20 minute, randomly-generated exercise routine for people who are too busy to exercise. If you liked that, you're really going to like Sworkit. Just like ours, it generates random workouts that focus on various parts of the body (or all of it), but it'll work for any timeframe, from five minutes to one hour. More »

Cordlets Shorten Cables and Attach Them to Your Desk for Seamless Organization [Stuff We Like]

Adam Dachis — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:00:00 PDT

It's one thing to attach cables to your desk for easy access and mild organization, but it's another to make sure they're the right length and stay where they're supposed to go. Cordlets solve both of these problems by providing an easy grip for your cables and a small neck that you can use to wrap them, keeping them as short or as long as you want. More »

Create a New Email Address Just for Warranty Registrations to Keep Spam at Bay [Email]

Alan Henry — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:30:00 PDT

When you buy a new TV or other appliance, it probably comes with a warranty registration card. Manufacturers want you to send it back, and it's actually in your interest to do so, but doing so opens you up to a world of marketing email and physical mail you probably don't want. The solution? Create an email address specifically for warranty registrations and keep that nonsense out of your primary inbox. More »

Facebook Camera Is Facebook's Official Instagram-y Photo-Sharing App [Video]

Melanie Pinola — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:28:00 PDT

iOS: Facebook Camera is a brand new app designed to easily view, edit, and share pictures. Think of it like Facebook's Instagram (and yes, Facebook bought Instagram). Besides offering a beautiful feed of all your Facebook friends' photos, you get Instagram-like editing and quick posting to the social network. More »

How Can I Avoid Getting Screwed Buying on Craigslist? [Ask Lifehacker]

Melanie Pinola — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:00:00 PDT

Dear Lifehacker, More »

Use Binder Clips as Photo Displays or Note Stands [Clever Uses]

Melanie Pinola — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:30:00 PDT

As you know, we love the humble binder clip for its endless versatility and plenty of clever uses. Here's one more simple way to put the clips to use: as holders for your photos or notes. More »

Hide Your Most Private Files in a Secret Encrypted Volume [Video]

Melanie Pinola — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:00:00 PDT

The best way to protect your sensitive data is to encrypt it, and we love free, open source TrueCrypt for that task. For the utmost in security, you can not only encrypt your files but hide them in a hidden volume within another encrypted volume. More »

CheatSheet Instantly Displays All the Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac Apps [Mac Shortcuts]

Melanie Pinola — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:30:00 PDT

Mac OS X: Learning keyboard shortcuts is one of the best ways to enhance your productivity, but there are tons to learn—especially when you count individual applications' own special shortcuts. CheatSheet is your Mac shortcuts friend: The free utility quickly summons a list of all keyboard shortcuts for the app you're using. More »

Focus Your Ambitions with the Lifehacker Hierarchy of Goals [Goals]

Thorin Klosowski — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 PDT

Setting goals is easy, but prioritizing them is hard. Humans suck at properly weighing what we need to achieve our goals. We take on too much, skip steps, and often, as a result, we give up. Once you commit to a framework to prioritize your goals and cut the junk, achieving your goals gets a lot more realistic. Here's one way to do it. More »

Do You Have Ice Cream Sandwich Yet? [Reader Poll]

Whitson Gordon — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:30:00 PDT

Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" was announced nearly seven months ago, but it still hasn't rolled out to most phones. HTC just published their most recent rollout plan, and it looks like the majority of their phones won't be getting it until the summer, if they get it at all. We're curious how many of you are running it on your phone already. More »

Bump Adds a Web Interface to Quickly Share Photos to Your Browser from Your Smartphone [Video]

Thorin Klosowski — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:00:00 PDT

iOS/Android: Bump is best known as an app that can quickly transfer contacts, photos, and other mobile content directly to another phone. The service launched a new feature today and updated its mobile apps to allow you to quickly transfer photos from your phone directly to your browser with a tap of the space bar. More »

Boost Your Credibility by Speaking with Expression [Mind Hacks]

Thorin Klosowski — Thu, 24 May 2012 06:30:00 PDT

The way you speak has a big impact on how others perceive you. If you talk too slow you might be seen as less truthful and if you talk high-pitched you may seem nervous. Psychology Today suggests one way to correct for your natural tone and come across as credible is to use expressive speech. More »

Break Through Your Strength Training Plateau by Mixing Up Rest Times in Your Routine [Fitness]

Thorin Klosowski — Thu, 24 May 2012 06:00:00 PDT

No matter how hard you're working out your body will naturally adapt after about six weeks. In order to continue growing the body needs new and different stimulus. Health blog Greatist suggests if you've reached a plateau in your strength training you start mixing up rest times in your routine. More »

Yahoo! Axis Is a Visual Search Browser Extension and iOS Browser [Downloads]

Thorin Klosowski — Thu, 24 May 2012 05:30:00 PDT

Yahoo! has released a new extension for Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari that provides visual previews of search results instead of the typical plain text. They've also launched a new app for iPhone and iPad that wraps the search style into a browser. More »

DIY Ikea Franken-Desk: Storage and Space in a Sharp-Looking Package [Ikea Hacks]

Alan Henry — Thu, 24 May 2012 05:00:00 PDT

Building your own desk doesn't have to be difficult, especially when a place like Ikea already has the parts you need to assemble a sharp and functional workspace. This Ikea hack combines four or five different Ikea products, including plenty of storage and a lifted desk surface to offer space to spread out on top and plenty of places for filing away papers and peripherals when you're finished with them. More »

The Red Ribbon Desktop [Featured Desktop]

Alan Henry — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:30:00 PDT

Flickr user eddybelluci labored over this desktop, making it just right for his needs, and perfectly suited to his widescreen display. The end result looks great—feeds, weather, and notifications on the left, time, date, music controls, and quick access to apps on the right, and work in the center. We like. More »

How to Find a Food Co-Op in Your Area and Score Some High-Quality, Super-Cheap Eats [Food]

Alan Henry — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 PDT

Want all of the benefits of organic, local produce, meat, and dairy with the convenience of a grocery store? A food co-op might be what you're looking for. They're pretty easy to find and in many cases, you can walk out with bags full of groceries for a fraction of what you'd pay at a traditional supermarket. Here's how to find and get involved with one near you. More »

Sports Commentary, Extra Dropbox Space, and Distortion-Free Equalizers [From The Tips Box]

Whitson Gordon — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:00:00 PDT

Readers offer their best tips for silencing annoying sports commentators, keeping things stored in Dropbox when you're out of space, and equalizing your music without incurring distortion. More »

Use a Magnet to Hang Opened Packets In the Fridge, Save Shelf Space [Clever Uses]

Whitson Gordon — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:30:00 PDT

Every once in a while, you come upon food that doesn't come in resealable packets. To avoid spilling it all over your fridge (and to save yourself a bit of shelf space), Redditor dewder recommends hanging it inside your fridge with a magnet. More »

Remains of the Day: There's a New FBI Unit Watching the Net [For What It's Worth]

Dusty Wright — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:00:00 PDT

The FBI creates a secret surveillance unit aimed at inventing technology that would make eavesdropping easier than ever, Google warns 500,000 users that they are infected with malware, and the FCC is reconsidering the very definition of what it means to be a "channel." More »

Reveal Makes iOS Notifications Scrollable and Easier to Read [Video]

Whitson Gordon — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:30:00 PDT

iOS (Jailbroken): Have you ever gotten a notification on your iPhone and wished you could just see the last few words of the message instead of having to open up the app? Reveal will make your lock screen and banner notifications scrollable and expandable, so you you can read the whole thing at a glance. More »

Mind Wandering Can Boost Your Creativity—But Only After More Intense Brainstorming [Creativity]

Whitson Gordon — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:00:00 PDT

We've all had a few genius ideas strike at random times, like when you're in the shower or making lunch. A new study from the University of California explains why this happens, and how you can make it happen more often. More »

Daily App Deals: Get BeWeather & Widgets Pro for Android for 99¢ in Today’s App Deals [App Deals]

Jeremy Hoag — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:30:00 PDT

The Daily App Deals post is a round-up of the best app discounts of the day, as well as some notable mentions for ones that are on sale. More »

Make Any Room in Your Home Feel Bigger with a Little Paint, Some Mirrors, and Clear Objects [Infographics]

Adam Dachis — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:00:00 PDT

Big spaces can look cramped and small spaces can look enormous. This is often due to simple methods of decoration and arrangement. How-to illustrator Yumi Sakugawa offers up several suggestions to help make the most of your space. More »

Challenge: Who's the Artist? [Search Research]

Daniel M. Russell — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:30:00 PDT

Daniel Russell knows how to find the answers to questions you can't get to with a simple Google query. In his weekly Search Research column, Russell issues a search challenge, then follows up later in the week with his solution—using whatever search technology and methodology fits the bill. This week's challenge: Who's the artist? More »

Keep Cords and Gadgets Organized in a Hanging Toiletries Bag [Clever Uses]

Melanie Pinola — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:00:00 PDT

Hanging travel bags—used for storing cosmetics, toiletries, or jewelry—make great organizers for all those chargers and cables you travel with. Just grab one and roll it up when you need to go. More »

Stake Is a Grilling Tool that Combines Tongs, a Spatula, and a Fork in One [Video]

Adam Dachis — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:30:00 PDT

Memorial Day weekend is coming up and it's time to break out the grill. Stake is a clever multi-tool that can help you get a perfect hot dog, burger, or whatever single-handedly. It looks like a standard spatula that you can use for flipping, but it's also capable of grabbing anything on the grill like tongs or piercing it like a fork. More »

How to Be Clever, and Not Annoying, When Asking for a Favor [Social Gps]

Adam Dachis — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:00:00 PDT

Asking for a favor can be scary because, in many cases, you're asking to be rejected. If someone can't (or doesn't want to) help you, there isn't much you can do about it. You can improve your chances by inspiring genuine emotion. Here are a few ways to do that. More »

Relive Your Childhood with These Nostalgic Wallpapers from Your Youth [Wallpaper Wednesday]

Adam Dachis — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:00:00 PDT

You may be working all day long, but that doesn't mean you can't reminisce about the fun things from your childhood. Here are a few wallpapers to take you back to your salad days. More »

Want to Stop Procrastinating? Just Forgive Yourself [Mind Hacks]

Adam Dachis — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:30:00 PDT

We've all struggled with procrastination from time to time, and we usually beat ourselves up over it. Apparently the cure to the problem is exactly the opposite: forgiveness. More »