Lifehacker

Smart" applianced allow you to develop automations to make your life more efficient, create accessibility for those who need it, and make pedestrian tasks like doing laundry kind of fun. But what happens when you want to automate something that isn't smart? For this, you need a simple smart plug-a small device you...Read more...

We live in an age where we can put computers in our pockets, pull up any movie we want to see on our TV, and drive a car that runs on electricity-we certainly should be able to make the job of parenting a little easier with technology or other gadgets. And with every passing year, more practical and time-saving...Read more...

Dell Outlet, Dell's online website for selling refurbished and overstock tech, is currently running a generous sale on select models of refurbished laptops. It's a chance to pick up a computer that fits your needs-from a budget-priced workhorse to a machine with a powerful processor-at a significant savings.

The 2023 college football season is in full swing, and it's the end of an era. Division I is in the midst of a historic realignment-the once-mighty Pac-12 is now down to only four teams, and there are currently 18 teams in the Big 10." All this shifting around will leave college football's 2024 season looking ...Read more...

Customization is cool, at least on TikTok. I'm old enough to remember a time when ordering In-N-Out fries animal style" was a fast food in-crowd signifier of sorts. But now TikTok has ushered in a new, entirely unhinged hack the menu" culture. Some of these hacks" are harmless, if not really hacks-like smashing...Read more...

You know I have a dim view of AI coaches. They don't understand the things a real coach understands, like how to plan for long-term progress. So I was skeptical of Whoop's new AI coach" feature-until I realized its secret strength is explaining the app and its metrics to you.Read more...

Managing your inbox is a never-ending task, which is why we should simplify it as much as possible: And one way to do that is to rely on the four Ds, or the 4D method. It's easy to remember and easy to implement, which makes it helpful for anyone who has a pile of emails to contend with every day. Here's how to follow...Read more...

If you're looking for the Connections answer for Thursday, September 28, 2023, read on-I'll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Beware, there are spoilers below for September 28, NYT Connections #109! Scroll to the end if you want some hints (and then the answer)...Read more...

Some podcasts have fans, and some podcasts have super fans. A show has to be really great to entice its listeners to join its Patreon and subreddit, buy its merch and attend its live events. These are fans who self-identify as members of the podcast's community, taking on names like Thought Leaders," Spoon Nation,"...Read more...

The latest version of macOS is now widely available, offering several small changes to the operating system you might miss if you don't know where to look. It really shouldn't be much of a surprise that Apple is once again playing things safe, offering what might seem like minor updates to its already solid operating...Read more...

We'll never say no to free coffee, and there's plenty to go around this week: National Coffee Day falls on Friday, Sept. 29, and International Coffee Day comes just two days later on Oct. 1. Here are a few deals to take advantage of.

While the headlining announcement of Meta Connect 2023 might be the Meta Quest 3, AI made its own significant splash. Like all other tech companies right now, Meta is pouring resources into artificial intelligence, and previewed a slew of new AI features coming to its apps and services over the next few months months.

Tulips are the flower world's most addictive drug-plant them once and you'll never stop. Seeing those pops of color come up at the beginning of spring provides a needed hit of dopamine after a long, gray winter. There's a reason tulip festivals are popular, and if you want to reproduce that look at home, you don't...Read more...

I consider myself a champion of processed cheese. Velveeta, Kraft Singles, and the like may not belong on a cheese board, but they have their places, usually in a Crockpot of queso dip, in a grilled cheese sandwich, or on a burger. They are engineered to melt and stay gooey and stretchy, something you don't get with a...Read more...

I know I think about Thanksgiving more than the average person, but it's never too early to start planning the big meal. If you're a true over-achiever, that can mean making and freezing a few dishes, to cut down on your day-of labor, and mashed potatoes are surprisingly freezer-friendly.Read more...

Plenty of people avoid the stock market out of fear, but learning how it works can help you make the right choices to mitigate your personal risk. If you're looking to learn the secrets" to investing before getting started, I'm sorry to report that there really aren't any. Investing your money is one of the best ways...Read more...

Anger is a big feeling, especially when a kid experiences it. Whether arguing over a toy with a sibling or not getting something they wanted, a furious child can spin out of control anywhere: at the park, on a Target run, or during playtime at school. And hearing that your son or daughter hit, pushed, or bit someone...Read more...

I grew up playing 90s computer games, and must admit my earliest memory of playing a video game of any kind is of the bloody, first-person shooter Wolfenstein 3D that my father had installed on his Windows 95 computer.

Those synthetic, packaged spider webs that are so often pulled across bushes and trees as decor for Halloween are certainly spooky-but they're also a hazard for birds and other wildlife. The stretchy material, often made from polyester, can trap bees, hummingbirds, and even bats by causing them to get tangled in the...Read more...

The Mini Dual Tube Night Vision Binoculars are on sale for $99.99 right now (reg. $159). It weighs less than a pound, has 10X optical magnification, allows you to save videos and photos, and its night vision feature lets you see up to 984 feet in complete darkness. Its 850nm infrared illuminator lets you see animals...Read more...

Right now, Southwest Airlines is offering 50% off certain flights when you book by Thursday, Sept. 28. The discount is for the base fare, meaning it will be applied before taxes and fees are applied to your total price. You need to book before midnight on Thursday and use the promo code WOW50". The flights must also...Read more...

The next time you're DJing a party, don't hand your phone to someone to let them add a song to the playlist. Spotify's new Jam feature allows you to add an entire group of people to a playlist so they can all add songs themselves, which could lead to spectacular or disastrous results.Read more...

Netflix's horror lineup for October includes The Fall of the House of Usher, a limited series based on the work of Edgar Allen Poe that tells the story of mysterious deaths among a wealthy family of pharmaceutical heirs (Oct. 12), as well as Veronica origin story Sister Death (Oct. 27), and Swedish slasher The...Read more...

If you focus too hard on your learning style," you run the risk of getting boxed in by it. Whether you prefer to learn visually, auditorily, by reading or writing, or kinesthetically, there are benefits to using methods that align with all four of the main styles-and times when you'll have to, whether you like it or...Read more...

Smartphone cameras changed the game forever. Sure, they still don't technically compete with a DSLR, but for most people, that doesn't matter: Their iPhone can snap a portrait shot with bokeh good enough to never pick up a dedicated camera ever again. Now, the tech has gotten so good you don't need to shoot in...Read more...

This five-year subscription to OysterVPN is on sale for $30 right now (reg. $149). It has over 154 servers globally and offers privacy across five devices with no data cap. Connecting to one of the OysterVPN servers hides your location for privacy, and also allows access to region-locked streaming apps like Netflix,...Read more...

Whether you live in a fire-prone area, have pets, or burn your food often, you could benefit from having a great air purifier. And it doesn't hurt to get one at a great price. Amazon is currently selling the Morento H13 Air Purifier for 71% off when you click the $20 clip coupon and use promo code JKYM65DE" at...Read more...

Our phones can shoot incredible video. But sometimes, things don't look right. Every now and then, you record a video, but all the lights appear to flicker. Maybe it's an outdoor shot at night, and the street lights are going nuts. Or maybe you're trying to record a screen, and it's flickering for seemingly no reason....Read more...

In the old days of mechanical telephones, a wiretap would require someone- usually a government agency-to literally change the circuitry of your lines to listen in. These days, smartphones make tapping much easier than that. With very little know-how, someone can install software that remotely monitors where you are...Read more...

Are you suddenly seeing delta-9 THC products on the shelves in bars, gas stations, or convenience stores near you? Since when has 7-11 been a dispensary, and is the product on display at all similar to what's sold in a licensed cannabis dispensary? The current confusion can be traced back to one key moment in the...Read more...

If you're looking for the Connections answer for Wednesday, September 27, 2023, read on-I'll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Beware, there are spoilers below for September 27, NYT Connections #108! Scroll to the end if you want some hints (and then the answer)...Read more...

The iPad Pro is one of the most powerful tablets you can get right now. It has Apple's M2 SoC inside, the same chip the company puts in its MacBooks. If you've been looking for a reason to pull the trigger on a purchase, you can save $100 on the sixth-gen 12.9-inch iPad Pro on Amazon right now (though that could...Read more...

The Apple Watch Ultra 2just launched, so it's unlikely we'll see any deep discounts on it in anytime soon. However, if you are planning to pick up Apple's newest rugged wearable, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is actually $20 off at Amazon-at least for right now.

Phillips Hue Lights rarely go on sale, and when they do, the deals usually are not substantial. But from now until Sept. 29,Woot has loads of refurbished Hue lights on sale that you can take advantage of (while supplies last, and prices are subject to change, of course).

While you might know that your emails are all worthy of a thorough read and should never be relegated to your recipient's spam folder, there's a good chance that some of them are ending up there anyway. And there are things you're doing without realizing it that increase the chances your message never reaches its...Read more...

Looks can be deceiving, especially when it comes to baked goods. I'm not talking about those cakes that look like suitcases and cheeseburgers or whatever; I'm talking about bagels, pretzels, and other breads that people try to hack" by making something that looks like a bagel or pretzel, but does not taste or feel...Read more...

I love having a microwave. I use mine to whip up mashed potatoes, roux for gumbo, even lemon curd. It's a versatile appliance, and I think everyone should have one. I'm not, however, in love with its defrost function. I prefer defrosting food using other methods, but you can defrost stuff in your microwave, you just...Read more...

It is officially fall, and the fall sales are in full swing. Walmart has kicked things off with its Fall for savings" sale, where you can find discounts on over 500 products for your home, including everything from bedding to furniture.Read more...

Want to add some kettlebell exercises to your routine, but aren't sure where to start? Here are 11 mostly beginner-friendly moves you can do with those kettlebells that are lurking in the corner of your gym, or with a bell you might have at home. We'll start with the more accessible stuff, and get into some useful but...Read more...

Even when the market isn't hurting prospective buyers, closing on a home is always tricky. When you're securing a home loan, there are a lot of decisions to make-and for a first-time homebuyer, paying points on a mortgage can be particularly confusing.Read more...

For the past few decades, common sense has dictated that if you wanted a good career and better opportunities to make a good living, you needed a college degree. These days, however, people are wondering if a college degree is really worth it. Even when you factor in research that indicates yes, a college degree is sti...Read more...

Apple's focus this year was undoubtedly on iOS 17, as the update launched alongside the iPhone 15 line. But even though macOS Sonoma isn't front and center for the company, it's still a great update for your Mac. With Sonoma, Apple has made meaningful changes to how you use the Mac-from the moment you wake it up, to...Read more...

There's a new COVID booster at pharmacies, and the simple thing to say about it is this: It's good, it's free, and you should get it. Unfortunately, the process of getting one of these shots isn't going smoothly for everyone, with some people being told they'll need to pay for it, and some having appointments canceled...Read more...

Are you scared to update your iPhone to iOS 17? You're not alone. There's a genuine fear out there that installing Apple's latest update will doom your older iPhone to a premature retirement, slowing it down and generally making it worse overall. The good news? It's not true.

The Cielo is a cutting-edge smart thermostat with a sleek, modern design. The auto-adjust feature adjusts the temperature based on your preferences when you're home and away, and the presets allow you to set temperatures for certain times. There's also a location-based app trigger that adjusts temps based on when...Read more...

Now that Apple's latest smartwatch-the Apple Watch Series 9-is out, it's time to get some good deals on the Apple Watch Series 8. If you can resist the siren song of the newest smartwatch on the market, the Series 8 is still a great choice. It's more affordable than the Series 9, comes with many similar features, and...Read more...

Since returning to in-person classes in the wake of the pandemic, schools have faced a less deadly but equally dire predicament: an ever worsening, nationwide shortage of school bus drivers. This had lead to longer commutes for students, and uncertainty for parents, who may not be sure how or when their children are...Read more...

Do you constantly worry about not having enough money? Are you afraid to spend on things you want or need? This feeling of lack or limitation is known as a scarcity mindset, and it can seriously sabotage your finances. The good news is you can cultivate an abundance mindset instead: This involves focusing on all that...Read more...

Prime Video doesn't have quite as extensive a horror lineup as other streamers this month, but those seeking a thrill can select Make Me Scream, a one-hour scare special pitting celebrity teams against one another in a contest to not scream (October 3), or slasher comedy Totally Killer, featuring time travel and a...Read more...

With the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the mute switch is officially dead. In its place, you now get an Action button, similar to the one on the Apple Watch Ultra. Thankfully, this button still works as a mute switch. If you press and hold the button, you'll switch between ringer and silent modes. iOS will...Read more...