Lifehacker

Sticking to a budget can feel a lot like sticking to a diet. Both are a form of restriction, and you do need discipline (and often sacrifice) to see results. And like with yo-yo dieting when you try to eat healthier," it's easy to find yourself trapped in a cycle of unhealthy habits with money, too.Read more...

iOS 17 is a great update for your iPhone. It adds 20+ new ringtones and alert tones for this first time in a decade; lets you set up a full-screen Contact Poster that appears when you call other iPhones; and introduces video voice messages for FaceTime.

Apple cider syrup is the dirty martini of pancake syrups. Pure maple syrup may be the delicate, classic choice, but there's a certain kind of wayward satisfaction when you make a syrup out of something intended for drinking. This technique is dead simple, cheaper than real maple syrup, and gives you the concentrated...Read more...

Samsung's The Frame" smart TVs have come a long way since their 2017 release. Launched in order to appeal to the crowd that wants a big TV but doesn't want a TV to dominate their decor, the latest models in the line, released last year, introduced an anti-reflection matte display that took the framed artwork" aspect...Read more...

Buying games from an online marketplace like Steam has a lot of advantages over physical media. It's instant, there are frequent discounts, and the data is easy to manage. But it has one major downside: You can't lend your game to a friend, and you can't borrow a game from a family member. What you own is what you...Read more...

The public has had more than a week to come to its senses-but people are still wrong about Clara and Mauricio, the supposed aliens that ufologist Jaime Maussan shared with the world recently. Posts defending the obvious fraud are on the top of UFO subreddits, and some media sources continue to breathlessly report...Read more...

Smoked turkey is not uncommon. Mention it in conversation, and most people will respond positively. Oh, I love smoked turkey," they'll say. My dad/grandfather/brother-in-law/uncle smokes one every year." I have yet to hear someone praise their mother's, grandmother's, sister-in-law's, or aunt's smoked turkey, and I...Read more...

An eSIM is an affordable way to stay connected while you're abroad without having to worry about roaming charges, and this aloSIM deal gets you lifetime eSIM data access and a $50 credit to use on data plans on sale for $21.97 right now. Here's how it works:Read more...

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular as more models come to market and prices drop. Although let's face it-even with the price slashed by thousands of dollars, the cost of a Tesla is still prohibitively high for most drivers.

Open-ear conduction headphones work by sitting above the ears and sending audio directly to the inner ears; and since they don't cover your ears, you can still listen to whatever's going on around you. These open-ear conduction wireless headphones are IPX6 water-resistant and work with both iOS and Android devices,...Read more...

The Apple TV remote certainly has a sleek design, but that doesn't always work in its favor. Its design makes the remote susceptible to slipping in tiny nooks and crannies in your couch, and it's not easy to find once it's misplaced. Sometimes, it's easier to use your iPhone as your Apple TV remote than to tear apart...Read more...

iOS 17 is finally here, and I've spent a good deal of time with it over the past couple of weeks. Now that it's out for the wider public, more and more people will be downloading the update to see what it's all about. This time around, Apple focused more on making changes to already existing features, although some...Read more...

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is compelling Epic Games, the online video game and software developer and publisher, to pay a $520 million settlement over allegations that they tricked players into buying game items. This is the largest refund in a gaming-related case to date, according to the FTC.

DALLE 2 introduced many of us to powerful AI image generation. Once OpenAI lifted the waitlist restriction, anyone could type a prompt into a text box and see their ideas brought to life by artificial intelligence. Now, OpenAI is soon bringing DALLE 3 to the world, not only improving on DALLE 2's image generation,...Read more...

I love a garden-ripe tomato, but my gardening goals also include avoiding a run to the grocery store. I want to always be able to pull fresh herbs out of the garden, and I wouldn't turn my nose up at a radish or eggplant. Some of those herbs and tender annual vegetables cannot survive the winter, unlike their hardier...Read more...

The dumpling skirt, or dumpling lace, is one of my favorite dumpling embellishments, and you can stitch it on to any pan-fried dumpling. It's easy to make, and adds an extra layer of crunch to your tender dumplings. Here's how you can make it.

While they might seem intimidating to newcomers, sex parties can offer a unique opportunity for individuals and couples to explore their sexual desires and fantasies in a consensual, open environment. When all goes right, sex parties-also known as play parties"-can be an empowering and affirming experience-but it's...Read more...

AdGuard helps stop annoying pop-ups, banners, and video ads, and you can get a lifetime family plan subscription on sale for $30 right now or a personal subscription plan on sale for $20.

Even though I rarely drink at home, I still have a healthy bar cart, full of liquor bottles I acquired back when I imbibed. I do not, however, have wine lying around. This wouldn't be an issue, except I love deglazing my pans.Read more...

I love the Propella 7s. I've ridden more powerful e-bikes. I've ridden faster, more versatile e-bikes-rides that are three times as expensive with five times the features. But if I'm sticking to paved roads and just tooling around the neighborhood, the Propella 7S is my top choice.Read more...

Study groups abound in college, but they're not always the most efficient way to learn. They can easily devolve into pure social events-or weaker group members can hold everyone else back. This isn't to say, however, that there aren't ways to make them work. In the event you have to be in one (or choose to), here are...Read more...

Amazon has its fall product launch event today in which they unveil all of their new devices. At the same time, Woot, Amazon's discount site, released some discounted refurbished Amazon products that are going on sale until Sept. 30 (or until supplies last). You can find an Amazon Fire TV, Echo Show smart speakers,...Read more...

For a couple of years now, I have been pushing the idea that it is OK to eat nothing but snacks for supper, but I'd like to take it further: It's not just OK to eat snacks for supper, it's OK to eat a whole board of easy Thanksgiving appetizers as Thanksgiving dinner.Read more...

A low credit score is always going to affect your ability to qualify for loans at decent rates. But given the current state of interest rates, having a strong credit score is more important than ever.

A lifetime subscription to Babbel is on sale for $169.97 right now.Babbel is a language-learning program, and this offer gives lifetime access to all 14 languages, including Spanish, German, Italian, French, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, Dutch, Polish, Indonesian, Norwegian, Danish, Russian, and English. You can...Read more...

If there's one thing iPhone owners obsess over, it's battery life. We all want our iPhones to last as long as possible in between charges, but the more these batteries age, the less charge they can hold. That's why it's helpful to occasionally check your iPhone's battery health, and see where it stands in terms of...Read more...

OLED TVs are arguably the best way to watch TV shows and movies at home. Each pixel is able to turn itself off, which means dark scenes are truly dark. Combine this with excellent colors and brightness, and you have a brilliant viewing experience, especially when watching 4K HDR content.

It's been 25 years since we first took to Google to scour the internet for information and answers to any possible query-and to celebrate the milestone, Google has announced some deals on its staple products, including its Pixel phones, Pixel Buds, Pixel watches, and more. The deals run until Sept. 23; here are the...Read more...

One of the toughest parts of cooking Thanksgiving dinner for a crowd is making sure you have something for everyone. With so many different palates to please, not to mention sodium restrictions and spice tolerances, many home cooks find it easier to avoid culinary risk-taking.

If you've ever seen someone chalk up before a big deadlift, maybe clapping a big cloud of the stuff into the air, you might wonder if it's actually even doing anything. But chalk is a useful tool if you're lifting heavy, so let's dive in and talk about when you need it and how to use it.

You need to wash your AirPods Max headphones. I know this because I recently needed to wash mine after an incident during which my coffee spilled in my bag and damaged many of my personal possessions. For obvious and personal reasons, I will not be discontinuing the practice of carrying my coffee in my purse when...Read more...

A declining battery lifespan often forces people to consider upgrading their iPhones. To be clear, there's nothing anyone can do to stop battery aging entirely. However, over the years, Apple has been adding features that help reduce its impact. The latest to join this list of features is a charge limiter, which is...Read more...

I'll cut to the chase: The LG Gram 17-inch Ultralightweight Laptop is a great machine, and it's currently $800 off at Best Buy. The deal is only good for another 12 hours or so as of this writing, so you'll want to act quickly if you plan to take advantage of this insane deal.Read more...

Fall cleaning is a different beast than spring cleaning, mainly because of all the damn leaves and dust. To get your home and lawn in order, you need gadgets. Here are some cool ones.

I'm a huge fan of the indoor Blink Mini cameras; I use them less for surveillance and more to benefit my laziness. Even when I've thought about outdoor cameras, it's been for monitoring the progress of my garden remotely rather than security-but then the very day my Blink Outdoor 4 arrived, someone down the street had...Read more...

Fair foods like candy apples, cotton candy, and shaved ice all seem like magical unicorns-materializing out of thin air and only found in special places, like the 20-year-old, threadbare tent at the county fair. Funnel cake ranks as one of these fine dishes, but unlike cotton candy, you don't need any special...Read more...

The online budget travel agency Gate1 is offering an eight-day, six-night trip to Tuscany, Italy, with a round-trip flight, hotels, car rental, and daily breakfast all included for $699 per person. Here's what you need to know.

If you've been looking to add Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to your car, then you'll want to check out the LAMTTO Wireless CarPlay Display, which conveniently comes with a built-in dashcam and a second rear-view camera. The entire system is currently on sale for $200, plus an additional $50 coupon, meaning you can...Read more...

Gardeners approach spring with an excited air of hopeful optimism-and they often approach fall with an exhausted determination to just get it done already. For that reason, we tend to approach big projects like power washing in spring rather than the fall; but I've got a couple of reasons why that's a bad idea, and...Read more...

You shouldn't have to go into debt for your kids' extracurriculars. At the same time, no parent wants to deny their child's dream of pursuing soccer, hip-hop, karate-after all, who doesn't want an extra black belt around the house?Read more...

If you're looking for the Connections answer for Wednesday, September 20, 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 20, NYT Connections #101! Scroll to the end if you want some hints (and then the answer)...Read more...

If you're looking for a gaming monitor and money is no object, Samsung's 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 Series curved monitor deserves your consideration. If the extravagant $2,500 price tag doesn't deter you, this gaming monitor actually offers a lot of bang for all of those bucks-and you can get a $500 Amazon credit if you...Read more...

Two- and three-year subscriptions to SurfShark VPN are both on sale for an extra 20% off now through September 24, bringing the cost to $45.60 for a two-year plan and $67.20 for a three-year plan with promo code VPN20.Read more...

Scheduling appointments online remains one of the worst user experiences out there. Almost everyone needs a streamlined way to set up meeting times, whether it's to catch up with friends and family, or because you're an independent contractor who needs an easy way to set up work meetings. And while I, like many,...Read more...

This year, Apple upgraded the MacBook Pro with the M2 Pro chip, replacing the already impressive M1 Pro chip, making one of Apple's best MacBooks even better. And if you've been eyeing one of the 14-inch M2 MacBook Pros, right now you can get one for $200 off.

When it's working properly, the human body is an amazing feat of engineering. But when things go wrong, it suddenly transforms into a 20-year-old photocopier with a metastasizing paper jam. For example, eating is generally a pretty smooth experience-until you get a piece of food stuck in your throat that simply will...Read more...

Home ownership is a big part of most people's dreams for the future, but with home prices are still going up and higher interest rates making mortgages unaffordable, it can seem like an impossible one-even when you look at the cheapest areas to buy.

Today, Google announced Bard Extensions, a new feature that lets you connect Bard to your Google services. Think of them like ChatGPT plugins, if those plugins were proprietary and connected to OpenAI services. Bard Extensions allow you to connect Bard to services like Gmail, Drive, Docs, YouTube, and more, so you can...Read more...

There's never been a worse time to buy a car. List prices are still inflated well above pre-pandemic levels, and anyone who locks in a loan is locking in a high interest rate-leading to larger car payments and higher overall costs in the long run.

Last week I went on a little trip to tour the Mariani Family packing facilities. Even if you've never heard the name Mariani," you've encountered their products; they have an extensive line of dried fruit and related snacks, and they're also responsible for the raisins in Kellogg's Raisin Bran (and Raisin Bran...Read more...