Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:00:00 PST

From the Tips Box: Application Shortcuts, Dry-Erase Planners, and Odor-Free Garbage [From The Tips Box]

Readers offer their best tips for making global application shortcuts in OS X, making easy, dry-erase weekly planners, and eliminating odor from your garbage can. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:00:00 PST

Remains of the Day: The Best Jobs in America Edition [For What It's Worth]

Step inside for lessons from the life of Albert Einstein, more snazzy HTML5 demos, and an infographic look at the best jobs in America. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:00:00 PST

Deep Water Bath Fills Your Tub to the Brim [Stuff We Like]

A luxurious soak in the bathtub is that much better when you can sink all the way up to your chin. Use Deep Water Bath to override the overflow valve and get extra inches of water in the tub. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:00:00 PST

Twice-Monthly Half Mortgage Payments Might Save You Money [Personal Finance]

Some financial planners advise making two half payments on your mortgage each month instead of one full sum. The idea is that homeowners will save thousands of dollars over the years in interest payments. Does this idea hold water? More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:20:00 PST

Google Reader Play: Fullscreen Playback of Popular/Recommended Reader Items [Google Reader]

Google Reader Play is a new Reader feature that plays a slideshow of cool items from around the web based on the stories you star. It's like a 10-foot viewing experience for your newsreader. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:00:00 PST

How to Skip Commercials in Windows 7 Media Center [Windows Media Center]

If you use Windows 7 Media Center to record TV, you'd probably prefer skipping commercials. After all, a big reason you record programs is to avoid commercials, right? Here's a fairly simple and free way to start skipping commercials in no time. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:00 PST

Set Google Calendar Alerts to Gentle Reminder Mode for Less Intrusive Reminders [Google Calendar]

If you like calendar reminders but you'd like them a little less in-your-face, you can enable gentle reminders in Google Calendar to replace the reminder pop up. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:30:00 PST

Kiwi Monitors Your Running Apps, Performs Actions Based on Their Status [Downloads]

Windows: Kiwi is a free utility that monitors any application and springs into action when that application meets any user-defined criteria within a set of basic rules—like restarting an application or email you when it's memory use exceeds a pre-defined level. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:00:00 PST

Keep Your Daily Momentum Going With a 10/15 Split [Work]

One of the toughest aspects of staying productive is overcoming the ups and downs of motivation. Spending 10 minutes getting organized in the morning, then 15 minutes again in the evening, can help even out your daily go-get-'em energy. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:40:00 PST

HTML5 vs. Flash: HTML5 Isn't Always Better [Flash]

Flash has taken quite a beating lately by everyone from Apple (no Flash on iPad or iPhones) to YouTube (transitioning to HTML5 video) to users sick of security exploits and sluggish browsers. Everyone's looking the silver bullet that kills Flash, but is HTML5 it? More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:00:00 PST

Headmagnet Generates Intelligent Flash Cards [Flashcards]

If you've been underwhelmed by the flash card and study aid sites you've found online, you'll definitely want to check out Headmagnet. Headmagnet records what you remember and quizzes you in the most efficient way. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:00:00 PST

Get the Most from Your Point-and-Shoot Camera [Photography]

Just because you've got a relatively inexpensive point-and-shoot camera and not a $1500+ DSLR rig doesn't mean you can't take awesome photos. Here's a look at how you can elevate your regular old point-and-shoot shots to greatness. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:30:00 PST

Use the Stock Theory of Decluttering to Clean Your House [Clutter]

We become invested in our junk, through the price we paid when we bought it and brought it home, and we're loathe to look at that as wasted money. Use the "Stock Theory of Decluttering" to help purge your junk. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:00:00 PST

Google Maps Adds Bike-Friendly Directions and Trails [Google Maps]

It's long been one of Google Map's most requested features, and now it's here. Recreational cyclists and bike commuters alike can plot cycle-friendly routes, find trails, and avoid snarling traffic with Google Maps' Bicycle layer. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:30:00 PST

Completely Erase Storage Drives for Security [Security]

No matter how you're getting rid of a computer or external drive, you want all your data removed from it, because identity thieves love laziness. MaximumPC details the best ways to wipe down a hard drive, SSD, or USB drive. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:30:00 PST

Turn a Hoodie into an Improvised Laptop Bag [Clever Uses]

If you like getting the most use out of your possessions as possible, this guide will help you turn a hooded sweatshirt into a laptop bag, baby carrier, and more. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:00:00 PST

Delicious Extension Synchronizes Bookmarks with Google Chrome [Downloads]

Chrome: If you've got a good stash of bookmarks tucked away in Delicious, you can keep on saving and tagging them, and even synchronize them with your browser bookmarks, using a new, beta Chrome extension. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:30:00 PST

Run Windows Live Writer from a Thumb Drive [Portable Apps]

Windows Live Writer, pretty much our favorite Windows Live application, can be run from a thumb drive, and it can even incorporate all the settings and sites you've already set up on your existing Live Writer setup. More »

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:30:00 PST

Harmony Attaches and Opens Google Docs from Outlook [Downloads]

Windows with Outlook: Sharing a Google Docs file for group collaboration can be a lot more useful than emailing individual copies to an entire team. Harmony makes opening, sharing, and managing Google Docs from inside Outlook a natural fit. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:34:42 PST

Google Apps Marketplace Integrates Third-Party Cloud Apps with Google Apps [Google Apps]

Google just launched a new Google Apps Marketplace where users can discover and deploy third-party cloud applications that integrate with their existing Google Apps accounts. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:00:00 PST

Can I Play HTML5 YouTube Videos in Firefox Right Now? [Ask Lifehacker]

Dear Lifehacker,
I've read about how HTML5 will change the way I use the web, but it seems like the biggest example of HTML5 in action is on sites like YouTube—which don't support my favorite browser, Firefox. What's the deal? More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:59:00 PST

Lifehacker's Looking for a New Writer [Announcements]

Think you've got what it takes to join Team Lifehacker? That's good, because we're on the hunt for a new writer to join the crew. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:00:00 PST

Remains of the Day: Google on Your TV Edition [For What It's Worth]

Google dips its toe into TV programming searches, netbooks' market share is growing, Twitter and Facebook gear up for geolocation, and researchers make the case for fat as a sixth taste sense. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:00:00 PST

SecondBar Puts a Menu Bar on All Your Mac's Monitors [Downloads]

Mac only: Multiple monitors do great things for your desktop space, but your menu bar sticks to one screen. If you're looking for more menu access, free utility SecondBar puts one at the top of each monitor. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:30:00 PST

Best VPN Tool: OpenVPN [Hive Five Followup]

Last week we asked you to share your favorite VPN tool, then we rounded up the top five contenders for a vote. Now we're back with the results. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:00:00 PST

Improve Meeting Efficiency with a 22-Minute Limit [Meetings]

Meetings don't have to be the bane of the workday existence. Try scheduling them in 22-minute blocks to get more out of them and spend less time hating them. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:30:00 PST

Windows 7 Taskbar Thumbnail Customizer Tweaks, Enlarges Your Superbar Thumbnails [Downloads]

Windows 7: Hailing from the camp of "software that does exactly what its name implies", Windows 7 Taskbar Thumbnail Customizer fine-tunes the size, spacing, and margins of your Windows 7 Superbar previews. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:15:00 PST

FCC Considers Dedicating Portion of U.S. Wireless Spectrum to Free Wi-Fi [Wi-Fi]

The FCC is considering dedicating a portion of the wireless spectrum to "free or a very low cost wireless broadband service," according to Reuters. They didn't offer much in terms of details, and you can file this one under the believe-it-when-we-see-it category, but it's a nice thought. [Reuters via Gizmodo] More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:00 PST

Make an Appointment with Yourself for Distraction-Free Time Blocks [Distractions]

Workplace distractions are nothing new, but if you can't seem to find time to do some serious distraction-free work for any significant chunk of time, consider time blocking an appointment with yourself. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:30:00 PST

Red and Black: An Office Makeover [Featured Workspace]

If bold colors, a big desk, and plenty of well lit storage sounds like your kind of office, you'll definitely want to check out today's featured workspace. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:00 PST

Lifehacker RSS Feeds Do a Little Dance [Announcements]

Hey there Lifehacker RSS readers! Starting today, as passed down from above, Lifehacker's default RSS feed is switching from a full-item feed to an excerpt-only feed. Don't panic! You can still get the full feed back. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:30:00 PST

"Work Expands to the Time Allowed" [Quotables]

Math professor, programmer, and blogger John Cook discusses how work expands to fill the time allowed for it, and why the more trivial something is, the more time we waste discussing it. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:00:00 PST

TypeWith.me Makes Real-Time Text Collaboration Dead Simple, Resurrects EtherPad [Collaboration Tools]

If you like Google Wave's real-time collaboration but not the interface or registration, check out TypeWith.me. It's a solid, simple, as-you-type document collaboration webapp with no sign-up required. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:30:00 PST

Staying Motivated at Work with a Status Board [Workflow]

Panic is a software company that makes useful tools like my personal favorite, Transmit for the Mac. They've also made a beautiful project status display that keeps their team on top of what they're working on and keeps everyone motivated. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:00:00 PST

Gadget and Gear Deals of the Day [Dealhacker]

Discounted laptops, HDTVs with built-in internet, and portable devices galore await you in today's Dealhacker roundup. Come for the window shopping, stay for the free games and music. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:00:00 PST

The Common Sense Guide to "Organic" and Other Food Labels [Food]

Everywhere you look, food is trying to impress you with how natural it is, but the message is vague and often misleading. What does "organic" actually mean? What separates "grass-fed" from "free range"? We're separating real, meaningful labels from eco-hype. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:30:00 PST

Schedule Reply Windows to Minimize Interruptions [Distractions]

If you find your productive periods of work ever shrinking because of email, phone, and other interruptions, it's time to adopt a policy of scheduled replies. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:00:00 PST

Thinking Space Maps Your Mind on Android [Downloads]

Android: Your best thoughts can come to you when you're nowhere near your work space. If you're carrying an Android phone, Thinking Space is an elegant and convenient way to map out where your mind goes on the go. More »

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:00:00 PST

Firefox's Next JavaScript Engine Will Borrow from WebKit [Firefox]

Mozilla's home-brewed JavaScript engine for its Firefox browsers, TraceMonkey, has impressed us before, but in the raw benchmark game, it's starting to fall behind its competitors. To up its game, Firefox's developers are building a new engine, dubbed JägerMonkey. Ars Technica writes that the new compiler uses some open-source WebKit code to get the job done, including parts of Apple's just-in-time compiler. Promising news—though it's worth noting that, at the moment, Opera seems to hold the crown on JavaScript execution. [David Mandelin, Ars Technica] More »