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Use A Rubber Band As a Paintbrush Scraper

by Shep McAllister

After dipping a brush into paint can, it's natural to scrape off some of the excess paint on the inside edge of the can. This works in the short term, but all that paint will splatter once you pound the lid back into place. Instead, stretch a thick rubber band across the length of the can, and use it to wipe down your dripping brush. Once you're done, just throw out the rubber band, or rinse it off to use again. It's a simple hack to avoid a big headache.

#Clever Uses #macgyver tips #Rubber Bands #Home Improvement #Home #Painting #Cleaning #Paint #Can

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Auto Speaker Is An Intelligent Speakerphone For Android

by Shep McAllister

Once the app is installed, it will use your proximity sensor to automatically toggle the speakerphone when you move the phone to or from your ear. An on-screen button will also allow you to disable the app for individual calls, and you can customize your speaker's time delay so it doesn't trigger if you're only moving your phone from one ear to another.

This is a great idea if you take a lot of calls while driving, since you won't need to take your eyes off the road to find the speakerphone button. Unfortunately, it won't automatically start a call in speakerphone mode if the phone isn't near your face; it will only kick in after you take it away from your ear the first time. Still, it's a handy utility, and free in the Google Play Store.

Auto Speaker | Google Play Store via Android Authority

#Downloads #Android Downloads #Speakerphone #Automation #Apps #Android Apps #Auto Speaker #Driving

[lifehacker]

Invert Your Phone's Colors For Easier Night Reading

by Shep McAllister

We've previously shared how to invert colors your desktop browser, and the trick is just as helpful for phones. If you're on an Android device, open your browser, go to Settings > Accessibility, and find the "Inverted Rendering" option at the bottom of the menu. Checking the box will invert the colors of webpages, turning white background black and making them much easier on the eyes. Depending on your ROM, you may be able to invert colors across the entire OS through the settings menu, but any ICS or above phone should at least be able to use this trick in the browser.

On iOS, inverted mode is even easier to enable. Navigate to Settings > General > Accessibility, then set your Triple-click option at the bottom to invert colors. Now, you can triple tap the home button at any point to invert your screen's colors. iOS's advantage is that this feature always works with any app, instead of just the browser.

You should still be wary of staring at any backlit screen for extended periods before bed, but eliminating blinding white backgrounds should help ease eye strain late at night.

iOS: Via Interview With David Smith| The B&B Podcast

Android: Android ICS: Inverted Mode | Tech-Recipes

#Sleep #Mind Hacks #iPhone Tips #Android Tips #Screens #LCD Backlights #Sleep Pattern #Sleep Schedule #Health

[lifehacker]

Check The Weather Is A Fast, Beautiful Weather App

by Shep McAllister

Once you open the app, it will instantly determine your location and load a simple dashboard with the current temperature, a graph of the expected temperature for the rest of the day, a three day forecast, and the sunrise and sunset times. A quick swipe to the right will load a more detailed hourly forecast, and a swipe to the left will reveal an extended forecast. A swipe upwards from the bottom will load a short term rain forecast and radar, provided by Dark Sky's fantastic API.

Check The Weather doesn't overload you with data or get bogged down with loading screens-- it simply loads the most important weather information on launch, and presents it in a clean, beautiful interface. The app is $1.99 in the iOS App Store.

Check The Weather | iOS App Store via The Brooks Review

#Downloads #iPhone Downloads #iOS Downloads #Weather Apps #Check the weather #Dark Sky #Rain #Precipitation #Forecast

[lifehacker]

Mix Your Own Bleach With Household Ingredients

by Shep McAllister

Household weblog One Good Thing By Jillee shares a custom recipe for homemade bleach, utilizing only water, lemon juice, and hydrogen peroxide. The advantage of Jillee's recipe over other homemade bleach mixtures is that it doesn't require you to combine vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, the combination of which forms Peracetic Acid. This is a fine disinfectant, but can cause serious eye and skin irritation, so it shouldn't be used on sheets or clothes.

Jillee's simple solution compared favorably to commercial bleach, both as a detergent and as a kitchen disinfectant. Be sure to check out the source link for the complete recipe.

A Natural Bleach Alternative | One Good Thing By Jillee

#Clever Uses #Cleaning #Macgyver Tips #Organization #Saving Money #Bleach #Disinfecting #Recipes #Home

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Five Best Desktop Computer Speakers

by Alan Henry

We asked you earlier in the week to send in your nominations for the best computer speakers to buy. You definitely came through with a ton of great suggestions, way more than we could highlight here, but here’s a look at the five most popular of your nominations. 

Klipsch Promedia 2.1 ($150)

The Klipsch Promedia 2.1 set features two desktop speakers and a subwoofer, and earned your wide praise for its affordability and superior sound quality. Our own Whitson Gordon swears by this set, and notes that it fits perfectly in that mid-range between simple desktop computer speakers and great audio quality you would expect from stereo gear. The desktop speakers are small but powerful, and the subwoofer fits comfortably under a desk where it offers amazing bass response and deep lows. Best of all, your money isn’t spent on a system that only connects to a PC--you can connect this speaker set to your TV, game console, or another audio source.

Audioengine 5+ ($400)

The Audioengine 5+ speaker series is well known and loved by audiophiles, music lovers, music producers, and at-home creators and DJs alike. They’re pricey, around $400, but a number of reviews point out that they offer the kind of high quality sound you would normally expect from a speaker set twice or three times the price. If you have the cash to burn, you won’t be disappointed by them. Don’t let their simple looks deceive you--they pack a lot of power, enough that you won’t need a separate subwoofer or additional speakers in the setup. If you want, there is a variable output you can plug a sub into. Since they’re powered on their own, you won’t even need an external amp for them. The 5+ system sports USB for your mobile device and dual inputs for music players, computers, and other devices.

M-Audio AV-40 ($140)

M-Audio is pretty well known for providing superior sound quality in budget-friendly audio products, and the AV-40 2-speaker set is no exception. Another bookshelf-style dual speaker model, the AV-40s feature RCA and TRS inputs on the rear for connections to your computer, game console, TV, mixer or even an amplifier, and a headphone and aux-in jack on the front for other devices. The speakers have a built-in amp, or they connect beautifully to one you may already have, or any other device for that matter. The AV-40s are geared towards people who love bass in their music, especially DJs and electronic or hip-hop enthusiasts, but you don’t have to stick with those genres to appreciate this budget-friendly audio powerhouse.

Bose Companion 2 Series II ($100)

It’s not common for Bose to be on the budget end of a roundup, but this case is special. The Companion 2 Series II are aimed more at desktop users listening to music for entertainment--not so much for audio professionals or people who plan to use their speakers to connect to multiple inputs or sources. The set is a space-saving pair of desktop speakers that are small enough to fit into a small space on a crowded office desk, but turn them up and you can pump out some serious volume when no one’s around. Volume controls and a headphone jack on the front are easily accessible when you need them, and dual inputs on the rear let you connect your computer and another audio device, like a smartphone or music player, at the same time and toggle between them.

Logitech Z2300/Logitech Z623 ($150)

This one’s tough, since many of you nominated the Logitech Z2300, and for good reason--they’re a killer 2.1 stereo speaker set, but they’re no longer available, having been succeeded by the Logitech Z623. The Z623s are also a great 2.1 stereo set, but it doesn’t take much looking to uncover questions and detailed analyses about how the Z623, while capable, may be a step down. Those of you who praised the Z2300s noted its clean design, space-saving desktop speakers, and control pod that offered power control, a headphone jack, volume control, and independent subwoofer control. Speaking of the subwoofer, many of you noted that the Z2300s subwoofer is one of the most powerful you’ve seen in a desktop set. The set also came with an adapter so you could quickly connect game consoles and other devices to the aux in jack.

The Z623 that followed the Z2300s did away with the control pod in favor of on-speaker controls, but still sports an array of RCA and stereo connectors on the back that make it perfect for desktop computing or a space-saving home entertainment system. Plus, for the price, the Z623s power and audio quality make it a great bargain.

Now that you’ve seen the best, it’s time to put them to an all-out vote to decide the winner!

[ Vote in our poll at PollDaddy here! ] 

The Hive Five is based on reader nominations. As with most Hive Five posts, if your favorite was left out, it's not because we hate it--it's because it didn't get the nominations required in the call for contenders post to make the top five. We understand it's a bit of a popularity contest, but if you have a favorite, we want to hear about it. Have a suggestion for the Hive Five? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Photo by William Hook.

[lifehacker]

Valpak Fleshes Out Your iPhone's Passbook

by Shep McAllister

Valpak has been gathering and distributing coupons to users for years, and their recent iPhone app update lets you send any deal straight to Passbook. In most cities, there should be no shortage of coupons for restaurants and stores, and clicking the standard "share" button on any coupon in the app gives you the option to send it to Passbook.

In theory, Passbook should send a push notification when you're near a coupon's location, but I've found this to be pretty hit and miss. Even so, it's a convenient way to keep track of some great deals.

Valpak Local Savings | iOS App Store Via TUAW

#Downloads #iPhone Downloads #iOS #Passbook #Saving Money #Valpak #iOS 6 #Coupons #Deals #Finances

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CallFlakes Automates Follow-Ups on Your Android Phone

by Shep McAllister

Android: Many calls and texts require further action at a later date, and CallFlakes makes it much easier to remember these followups.

Once the app is installed, you'll see a toolbar every time you complete a call or receive a text message. From this bar, you can automatically initiate followup actions like sending an email to the caller, scheduling a meeting, or setting a reminder. If you're like me and frequently forget these kinds of things after hanging up on a call, the app could be incredibly useful.

CallFlakes also integrates with Facebook, and will augment your Caller ID with the caller's profile photo and recent wall posts. This particular feature isn't quite as fleshed out as Current Caller ID's similar offering, but it's a nice toss-in for an otherwise extremely useful app.

CallFlakes is free on Google Play.

CallFlakes | Google Play Store via AddictiveTips

#Downloads #Android Apps #Android Downloads #CallFlakes #Followups #reminders #Calendar Appointments

[lifehacker]

Wrap A Rubber Band Around Your Thumb For Easy Paper Sorting

by Shep McAllister

Though we live in an increasingly paperless society, many of us still spend part of our day flipping through memos, magazines, contracts, or other of stacks of paper. For those times, a simple rubber band can really come in handy.

If you've ever used a rubber thimble, you know that the extra grip on your finger makes it much easier to separate sheets of paper quickly. Of course, hardly anybody owns a rubber thimble, let alone keeps one with them at all times. As a quick and easy replacement, just wrap a wide rubber band around the end of your finger. It probably won't be comfortable for an extended period, but it will get the job done in the short term.

#Clever Uses #Macgyver tips #rubber bands #paper #sorting #rubber thimble #efficiency

[lifehacker]

Use Microsoft Word for Emergency Image Editing

by Shep McAllister

Say you need to make some quick edits to a photo or screenshot, but you're on a public or work computer with no image editors installed. Where can you turn?

Saikat Basu at MakeUseOf has a great list of different image editing projects you can tackle within Microsoft Word. You can give photos soft edges, cut out backgrounds, and even work with rudimentary layers. Obvoiously, it's not the most efficient way to edit a photo, and you won't have the flexibility or power of Photoshop, but it can be surprisingly powerful in a pinch.

Saikat's tutorials are based on Office 2010 for Windows, but you should be able to find at least basic tools in any version. Be sure to check out his post for even more ideas and walkthroughs.

Who Needs Photoshop? Amazing Image Editing Feats You Can Do With MS Word | MakeUseOf

#Clever Uses #Microsoft Word #Microsoft Office #Image Editing #Design #Emergency Computing #Photoshop

[lifehacker]

Overcome Your Fear of Judgement To Reach New Heights

by Shep McAllister

It's hard to really put ourselves out there if we feel like everyone's judging us. Recognizing this fear, and overcoming it, is essential to reach our potential and learn new skills.

Lori Eschene at Tiny Buddha recounted feeling this way as she performed a song for her singing instructor.

"...he looked right at me while I sang On My Own from Les Miserables—a vastly different experience than singing in the shower, or at a karaoke bar after a couple of drinks—and he even took notes, since his hands were free.

I felt like my vocal cords were gripped in a vice. The experience of singing, while sitting alone, with someone I just met staring at me, made me feel far more vulnerable than I ever feel when I press publish here."

But then, Lori convinced herself that her coach was on her side, and was then able to let loose and improve as a singer. Sometimes it's easy to feel like our friends and coworkers are judging us, especially when we're trying something new. Hard as it can be, Lori encourages her readers to train themselves to assume that most people around them are supportive, rather than judgmental or vitriolic. Believing that everyone is on our side it makes it much easier to step outside our comfort zone and learn something new.

Photo by krystleblair

Tiny Steps To Overcome The Fear Of Judgement | Tiny Buddha

#Mind hacks #social skills #public speaking #tiny buddha #judgement #fears #overcoming fears

[lifehacker]

Tab Scissors Divides Your Chrome Tabs

by Shep McAllister

Google Chrome: If you ever want to divide your open Chrome tabs into multiple browser windows, nothing makes it easier than Tab Scissors.

The extension couldn't be simpler. All you have to do is select a tab in Chrome, click the extension icon, and your browser window will instantly split in two. Any tabs that were to the left of your active tab will be transferred to the left window, and the rest will be on the right.

While you might not need to use it often, it's great if you want to bookmark a handful of tabs at once without closing the rest, or for splitting your browser into distinct windows for fun distractions and work-related web pages.

Tab Scissors | Chrome Web Store via MakeUseOf

#Downloads #Chrome Extensions #Browser Extensions #Chrome Downloads #tabs #tab management #browser hacks #google chrome

[lifehacker]

Use a Hot Glue Gun to Create No-Slip Clothes Hangers

by Shep McAllister

All you need to do is apply a zig-zag pattern of hot glue onto a standard plastic coat hanger. Once it dries, the glue will create a slightly rubbery grip that keeps clothes from falling off. Obviously, most clothes hangers have hooks or divots to keep clothes in place, but this is an easy way to upgrade simpler hangers so you don't need to buy new ones.

No-Slip Hangers - 3 Different Solutions! | One Good Thing By Jillee

#clever uses #macgyver tips #clothes #home #organization #glue #cleaning #hot glue gun #clothes hanger

[lifehacker]

Top 10 Things We Can Learn From Hurricane Sandy

10. In a Disaster, Old Technology Is King

One of the first things Sandy took out as it tore through the East was cellphones, power, and internet--and even when cellphones came back online, they were pretty jammed. If you have a landline in your house, you'll have a much better chance of staying in contact with the outside world, and even pay phones can become useful again. If all you have is a cellphone, though, texting is better than calling. Be sure to save any important web pages for offline access, so you can reach the even if your internet's down too. Photo by Clemson.

9. Prepare Your Home Ahead of Time

You can never guarantee your house won't be damaged when the next disaster comes to town, but you can do a lot to prepare ahead of time. Use impact-resistant windows to keep them intact during a windstorm, secure your doors with a sizeable deadbolt and at least three hinges, and make sure your roof is able to resist high winds. Put your entire home through these paces well before hurricane season and you'll have a much better chance of keeping everything intact (and avoiding serious injury). Photo by Seth Anderson.

8. Your Car Might Be Salvageable

If you're in a flood zone, there's a good chance your car became a submarine once that storm hit. In most cases, your insurance agent will pay to scrap it, but if you really want it back, you can salvage it--particularly if it's an older car. It probably won't do much to help you get around in the aftermath, of course, since gas may be in a serious shortage (in fact, electric cars are surprisingly more useful in a blackout). If you have gas but don't need to drive, you can siphon the gas from your car for a generator, too, which can at least give you power in your home.

7. Avoid Looters, Scams, and Other Ne'er-Do-Wells

There will always be those who try to exploit a disaster like this, both in the heart of the disaster zone and elsewhere in the country. If you own any kind of commercial outlet, make sure you have the necessary insurance to protect against looters. If your house or business is damaged, take extra care to avoid crooked contractors. And, no matter where you are, avoid scams when donating to the relief effort--always donate to a reputable organization like the Red Cross or the Salvation Army (in fact, you can donate to them with simple text message).

6. Social Networks Are Not a Reliable News Source

Networks like Twitter have been praised for their ability to get news out fast, but you can believe everything you follow. Twitter was incredibly useful if you were following Con Edison, the New York Mayor's Office, and others--but it can also be a dangerous lie generator. As with avoiding scams, make sure you're getting your "news" from a reputable source, especially if it's on Twitter--and while you're on it, don't fall for those fake pictures either.

5. Prepare for Long-Term Power Outages

A week may not seem like a long time, but when you run out of power, it's an eternity. Having the right tools can keep you powered up even during a blackout, so make sure you have them in your home. A gas generator is a huge boon, and a portable battery pack can at least help keep your phone charged. You can also grab power from your car, emergency lighting, and a lot more. Check out Gizmodo's full list of unexpected charging locations so you're ready when the lights go out. Photo by Edenpictures.

4. Get Ready to Wait In Line

If you need to go anywhere in the aftermath of a disaster, you aren't going to get there very fast. The Friday after Hurricane Sandy saw lines that stretched blocks for things like the Brooklyn-Manhattan Shuttle or the East River Ferry. If you need gas in your car, you'll be waiting a lot longer--as in, at least two and a half hours. The takeaway? Fill up your cars and generators before the storm hits, and ask your boss if you can work from home while things get back up and running. Or, if those aren't possible, at least bring a game of Tetris with you. Photo via AP.

3. Know What Is and Isn't Safe to Eat

When you've lost power, your fridge becomes a ticking time bomb of spoiled food--and if your house has been flooded, you're even worse off. Don't eat anything that's touched flood waters, and make sure you know what water is safe to drink or bathe in. See these rules about what's safe to eat, and if you're running low on food, Gawker's got a good go-to list of hurricane eats. You can also make the best out of what you have and improvise a meal out of your pantry's remains. Photo by Olesia Bilkei (Shutterstock).

2. Back Up Your Data

It may seem silly to worry about your computer during a disaster, but once everything else is accounted for, you don't want to return home only to find that all of your important documents, finance information, and other data is lost forever. Start backing up your data now. It isn't that hard, and it's one less thing you'll have to worry about when the next disaster hits.

1. Always Have an Emergency Kit Ready to Go

Last and definitely not least: Always, always, always have an emergency kit in your home. Make sure you're prepared for at least 72 hours, and check out our list of must-haves for your first aid and emergency disaster kit. These gadgets might give you an extra edge as well, and when it comes time to clean up, a few simple hand tools can go a long way. Especially if you live in an area plagued by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, or anything else, there's no excuse for not having an emergency kit on hand ahead of time--you'll be really happy when the worst happens.

[lifehacker]

QuickLock Is A Better Way To Lock Your Mac

By Shep McAllister

Mac users hoping to lock their systems have long-needed to use a workaround that involved putting the display to sleep and immediately requiring a password, but QuickLock is much more intuitive. Once installed, you can lock your system by clicking a menubar icon or keying in a custom keyboard shortcut, and you can unlock it with the password of your choosing. One delightful touch is that you don't have to hit enter after keying in your password; your Mac just unlocks instantly.

The app ships with a few bonuses too. You can customize the lock icon to your liking, add a custom background, and even see what song is currently playing in iTunes. QuickLock is a free beta available from the developer's website.

QuickLock Beta | Inertiactive

#downloads #OS X #Mac OS X #Mac Downloads #Screen locking #quicklock #beta

[lifehacker]

Craft the Perfect Keychain This Weekend

by Adam Dachis

Stop Stressing When You Need to Swap Your Keys

Changing up the keys on your keychain is often one of the most frustrating task you'll encounter, but there are a few tools that don't cost much and can remove a lot of the frustration.  One clever option is Keybrid, which is a key and ring in one.  You can use the actual ring integrated into Keybrid to hold other keys, or you can more easily hook your keys onto a separate ring because Keybrid provides so much more space.

To remove the stress of getting your keys on and off the ring, just get a FREEKey.  It looks like a standard key ring, but when you push on a certain part of the ring it lifts it open so you can easily add a new key or remove an existing one.  Alternatively, you can forego the split keyring style entirely and get a key cable instead.

Minimize the Number of Keys You Have to Carry

Bulk is the other main problem most keychain owners face.  It isn't fun carrying around a lot of keys, so you want to remove as much as you possibly can.  If you do need to carry a lot of keys, consider a modular keychain that allows you to easily remove items when you don't need them.  You also may have a lot of keys you don't need to carry around with you.  Mail keys, for example, can be kept by the door so you can just grab them on your way out to check the mail.  Alternatively, they're small so they'll fit well inside your wallet, too.  Several keys may be better off in your wallet if they'll fit without bothering you.  This way you don't have to remember a keychain and a wallet--just one.

Make Your Keychain Actually Useful

Most keychains hold keys and stop there, but so many useful items fit on the ring as well. You don't want to remove all your keys just to add more bloat to your keychain with other items, but one or two useful tools are nice to have near by when you need them.  For example, you can hook on a flash drive, multi-purpose tool, money holder, miniature iPod sync cable, pen, or bottle opener.  If it's reasonably small, someone likely makes a version for your keychain.  Pick one or two of the most useful items and hook 'em on.

Got a weekend project you want us to cover?  Let us know at [email protected].  Happy Friday!

#weekendhacker #keychains #keychain #organization #convenience #cleaning #weekend projects

[lifehacker]

Thanks for Sticking With Us

To all our loyal readers: Thanks for working through the issues and continuing to read while the site's been down. And many thanks to Tumblr for having us! We'll be posting throughout the weekend as usual, but the regular site should come back up on Monday, and everything will return to normal. See you then!