Lifehacker

Sleep tracking is a great way to learn more about your unconscious nighttime habits. You can find out if you wake up throughout the night, what your heart rate is like hour-by-hour, and whether the quality of your sleep is up to snuff. Fitbit is now adding a new metric to its sleep tracking capabilities, giving you…Read more...

If you feel a mild surge of defeat every time you enter your closet—clothes on the floor, not enough space, unpacked boxes—we see you. In addition to the old standbys of installing shelves and putting out-of-season clothes in labeled bins until you need them again, behold these simple storage hacks that can instantly…Read more...

At some point, everyone who uses the web suffers from tab fatigue. You might try managing them using different windows, but that’s never been a great solution, and they don’t carry between all your devices. And while group tabs are the way to manage unorganized tabs, Safari users were out of luck. Until now, because…Read more...

When traveling abroad (remember that?), some streaming platforms limit what you can watch, and even whether you can access your account at all. Downloading movies and episodes of your favorite shows is an easy way to stay entertained on the road, or if you don’t have a wifi or data connection to stream to your device.

I’ve been through plenty of phases in my fitness journey, from a casual exerciser to a marathon runner, to a competitive (if mediocre) weightlifter. Along the way I took a lot of bad advice and failed to follow good advice. Here are some of the biggest mistakes I made, and how you can avoid making them yourself.

When we think of what a good life entails, we might imagine one that is filled with happiness or defined by a sense of purpose. Perhaps we imagine a life of contentment and stability, supported by a close-knit group of friends and family, or one in which we spend our years working toward a meaningful goal, with all…Read more...

With news of Delta charging unvaccinated employees $200 per month to stay on the company’s health plan, you might be wondering if your insurance rates will be affected by your vaccination status. It’s (unsurprisingly) complicated, but so far, employers and companies that provide health and life insurance are reluctant…Read more...

If you’re like me, you exhausted all the interesting mainstream movies on your streaming service about a month into the first lockdown. Luckily, there’s a metric crap-ton of incredible, under-seen flicks under the soil of your streaming service if you do a little digging. So check out these lesser-known movies once…Read more...

At the risk of being labeled a “Champagne socialist,” I’m going to advocate for a pairing that you have perhaps not considered, a pairing that—at first blush—seems silly, almost wasteful, but makes the concept of “pairings” really click. If you’ve never had a pairing that blew you away, this is an easy, surprisingly…Read more...

Selling or trading a used Android phone is a smart way to safely dispose of your old devices, and hopefully earn some extra cash you can put towards your next upgrade. But there are a few things to take care of before offloading your old phone—including backing up and deleting your data, cleaning it, and finding the…Read more...

We’ve talked a lot about the post-vax slutty summer and even about how to get back into dating after so many months of isolation last year, but for plenty of people, first dates have always been hard, whether coming out of a pandemic or not.

While so many devices ditched the headphone jack over the past four years, the Nintendo Switch went in the opposite direction; the company only supported wired headphones, with no option to easily connect Bluetooth headphones or earbuds like AirPods. You used to need expensive workarounds to get wireless audio on the…Read more...

When it comes to your garden, you may be thinking that raised beds will help create a defined, aesthetically-pleasing space to work in and some necessary separation of your garden from the rest of the grass, critters, and vermin in your yard. And you wouldn’t be wrong. But that’s not the whole picture.

Due to pandemic-related supply chain issues, you should expect fewer bargains and depleted inventory when you do your holiday shopping this year. But some retailers think it is going to be worse than that, and are already telling their customers “September is the new December” and that they should start shopping now,…Read more...

When you’re on video calls for hours a day, sitting squarely in front of the iPad’s screen can get tiring. But if you want to move around (say, you want to show something, or if you’re cooking), it’s essentially impossible unless you have someone to follow you around.

My favorite beans are lima beans, which means I’m no stranger to the overnight bean soak. You might be able to get away with skipping the soaking step with lesser beans, but the lima requires it. (If there is one thing that I hate feeling between my teeth, it is an undercooked, mealy lima bean.)

Apple officially revealed the iPhone 13 lineup Tuesday, Sept. 14. There are new and improved cameras, a smaller notch, and 120 Hz high-refresh displays (Pro models only), among some other awesome new features. If you want to be one of the first to get your hands on one of these brand new iPhones, you’ll need to know…Read more...

Delta-8 THC is a newly popular way to get high, since it’s legal in many places where regular cannabis isn’t. But just because it has slipped through a legal loophole doesn’t mean it’s perfectly safe, and recently the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned consumers and …Read more...

The tendency in movie runtimes seems to be trending toward length, and even if the data doesn’t really bear this out, recent, superlong installments in big box office franchises like Marvel and James Bond (the movies being watched the most, that is) at least mean the bloat feels real. For some reason these wildly…Read more...

Salt is an essential nutrient. Our body requires a small amount of sodium every day in order to maintain the proper fluid balance, as well as keep our nerves and muscles functioning properly. Over the course of human history, we’ve usually had a hard time getting enough salt, for which cravings have been helpful, as a…Read more...

iOS 15 has lots of excellent new features that we’ve covered in detail: When you update your iPhone, you’ll get cool additions like Focus Mode, Separation Alerts, and Background Sounds. However, iOS releases have a bunch of minor upgrades every year that aren’t as highlighted during Apple’s keynotes. These hidden…Read more...

Despite the ever-increasing number of states with recreational access laws, using cannabis is not just for funsies. In fact, we’ve only reached this partial state of legalization because of the plant’s legacy of providing relief to the suffering—if weed was all about good times and toking up, no way would it be…Read more...

The full moon that occurs nearest to the autumnal equinox, which is coming up on Sept. 22—is nearly upon us. Which means, for all you infinity scarf and pumpkin spice disciples—squee!—fall is almost officially here. Let’s delve into why this moon is so unique, and when to see it for yourself.

Last week, as the Caldor Fire swept through the area around Lake Tahoe, one viral story emerged as a beacon of hope: A cabin that appeared to be wrapped in aluminum foil withstood the blaze. But does that actually work?Read more...

If you’ve ever pined for a Netflix binge sesh when you’re stuck somewhere without wifi, it’s important for you to know: You don’t actually need an active internet connection to Netflix and chill. If you plan ahead, you can download some of the content Netflix has to offer on your phone, tablet, or Windows computer.…Read more...

Apple’s latest update, iOS 15, is set to come out on Monday, Sept. 20. It also comes standard on any new iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, or 13 Pro Max, all of which hit the shelves just four days later. If you’ve decided to pick up one of Apple’s latest iPhones, or you’re preparing to install the update on your current…Read more...

Taco Bell is appealing to taco fans everywhere by testing out a new subscription service called the Taco Lover’s Pass. But how much do you have to love tacos for it to actually be worth the cost? Unlike other fast food loyalty programs that offer occasional freebies, this would be the first prepaid subscription…Read more...

I haven’t done a formal study, but I would guess that I have written about eggs more than I have written about anything else (besides myself). Eggs are something of a miracle. They’re incredibly versatile, filling, and nourishing, and they respond to heat and chemical manipulation in a wide variety of exciting ways. I…Read more...

Can you sense the darkness creeping across the internet? That’s the new dark mode rolling out to the main Google Search website right this moment. That’s right, Google Search now has its own dedicated dark mode.Read more...

The most important thing that the COVID vaccines do is prevent deaths and severe illness from COVID-19. The next most important thing they do is prevent many cases of milder illness—a job they’re not perfect at, but it’s still far better to be vaccinated than not. But what about long COVID, the still-mysterious…Read more...

We all know the feeling: We’ve blazed through a productive morning, banged out a few important items on our to-do list, enjoyed the benefits of some post-lunchtime energy—and then boom. Sometime around three o’clock we begin to move with the speed and mental acuity of a tranquilized hippopotamus. Drooping eyelids,…Read more...

For younger millennials or Gen-Zers who want to live on their own for the first time, it’s not always easy to figure how much money you’ll need to live comfortably. There are all sorts of expenses to consider, and they often vary based on where you want to live. Fortunately, a new tool calculates these costs and…Read more...

We’re rapidly approaching the rumored release date for Android 12 (with all evidence pointing to the software dropping on Oct. 4), and as that date nears, Android smartphone manufacturers are preparing their devices for the new update. Samsung is no different: The company just dropped the first beta for One UI 4, and…Read more...

I love the smell of tomato leaves. I think they’re summery and seductive—so much so that I often douse myself in a tomato leaf-scented perfume (that I made myself at a “perfume college” in the South of France). For me, the smell of tomato leaves ranks almost as high as the taste of tomatoes, which is why I was…Read more...

If you see a flaming fireball streaking through the night sky on Wednesday, it’s not the Space Brotherhood invading Earth to steal our precious zinc. It’s the launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft, transporting the first-ever all-civilian crew into earth orbit. Here’s how you can watch the historic…Read more...

With the iOS 15 update, Siri has grown by leaps and bound. It’s fast. Like, Google Assistant-level fast. It now has on-device processing for general questions and personalized requests; and not just that—Siri also works offline.

When people (usually on the internet) start start fighting a new front in the iPhone versus Android wars, the latter seemingly always has a trump card in form of its ultra customizable Do Not Disturb mode—but no more. In iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, Apple has supercharged the iPhone’s own distraction-limiting capabilities in…Read more...

Summer is waning, which means it’s probably time to bring your hanging outdoor plants indoors. A little extra foliage inside can do a lot to brighten your interior—but indoor plants also take up a fair amount of space. Luckily, installing a reinforced double curtain rod will allow you to hang your plants and upgrade…Read more...

Security vulnerabilities are an inevitable part of digital life. Google recently discovered 11 for Chrome—two of which are in the wild and active—and promptly issued a fix. As such, you should update as soon as possible.

We know what you’re thinking. Jigsaw puzzles? What am I, 80? Well, hopefully you will be someday. So why not mentally prepare for it. Admittedly, jigsaw puzzles have a reputation as the domain of either the very old, the very young, or the incurably nerdy. To which we say: Yeah, so? Some started a podcast and made…Read more...

People are still attempting to prevent and treat COVID-19 with ivermectin, the medication that’s famously available in the form of “horse paste.” But the same groups of sketchy health experts who recommend this drug are also recommending entire “protocols” that contain other medications, including some with scary side…Read more...

If you find that your home internet is constantly going down, or if you often find yourself in an environment without reliable wifi, you may be tempted to invest in a personal hotspot. However, as long as you have a good data plan on your phone, you can connect to your computer for easy browsing. To find out more,…Read more...

You have probably heard that tomato season is almost over, though my own tomato plants do not seem to have gotten the memo. I have a lot green heirlooms still ripening on the vine, and my cherry tomato plant is thriving. I picked a pint of the things last Saturday, and I suspect I’ll get a couple more before the…Read more...

It’s easy to forget the password to an account like Apple ID. While it’s integral to your entire Apple ecosystem, it’s likely not an account you sign into every day. Unless you use a password manager, the password for your oh-so-important Apple account might tumble out of your head after a while. If that happens, g…Read more...

With an overheated real estate market, buyers are increasingly relying on so-called “love letters” to sway sellers on their bid. The problem? These letters are often very personal and include details that can lead to discrimination based on race, religion, or class. That’s why the National Association of Realtors …Read more...

All Apple users need to update their iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Mac PCs and laptops immediately to save themselves from a zero-click, zero-day vulnerability in the iMessage app that is actively being used to install the NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware.

Though Home Goods, coffee purveyors, and everyone who already has a “Harvest” sign on their doorstep would have you believe otherwise, it’s not fall yet, dammit. We’ve got no beef with fall itself. Apple-picking, pumpkin-carving, red-wine-and-scarf-wearing. We are here for all of it. Starting in October.

Recently, Apple has essentially released a new iPad multitasking system every two years or so. iPadOS 15 brings yet another overhauled multitasking system to the iPad and iPad Pro, but this time, Apple has actually made significant headway into making multitasking easier for new users.Read more...

Tagging is a feature that can separate a basic notes app from a powerful one. And when it comes to note-taking apps, you used to have to choose a third-party option (often one that cost money) to take advantage of this helpful feature—but no more.

One of the big downsides to cryptocurrency is the dizzying price swings that can decimate your investment, but there’s a silver lining to taking a big hit: tax loss harvesting. Due to a quirk in the way the IRS classifies crypto, you can strategically sell your crypto at a loss, repurchase it before the price…Read more...