Lifehacker

If your holiday haul included a VR rig, but your own gift-giving left you broke, do not despair. These ten free apps and games will provide many hours of virtual reality fun at no cost to you.

I’m a rules girl. I like structure everywhere but my bras. I like menus and time tables and responsibility charts, and if you give me a walkie-talkie to use I will never try hard drugs. I love rules because I know what works. I’ve thrown parties for five and soirees for 20,000 (in all kinds of absurd settings), and in…Read more...

One of the trickiest parts about houseplants is the fact that you’re trying to keep different plants alive inside a single climate (your home) that are native to a variety of climates. For example, you may have a fern native to the Amazon rainforest in the same room as a cactus found in Arizona. Succulents aside, even…Read more...

If you unwrapped Oculus VR gear this holiday season, I have no doubt you’ll end up like me: Fully committed to a virtual lifestyle. You’re also probably wondering what else you need to buy. Sure, you can play a Quest 2 naked (so to speak)—it’s complete and ready-to-go out of the box—but the device is designed to be…Read more...

Days are officially getting longer, but we still have a lot of the dark, winter season to go. And while there’s nothing we can do about the sun setting so early, we can maximize the amount of natural light our homes get when the sun is out during the day.Read more...

Rust may form on certain types of metal, but it can damage more than that. Its distinctive, deep reddish-brown color easily transfers to other materials, resulting in stains. Unfortunately, getting rust stains out of clothing, carpet, and off of surfaces like porcelain and ceramic requires some effort. Fortunately,…Read more...

On a cold winter’s night in 2017, a friend brought a 20-ounce walnut- and bacon-covered cheeseball to my Christmas party. It was my first holiday cheeseball experience and I instantly became enamored with the novelty of having access to a gigantic sphere of nearly endless dip. But when the next day dawned, I was faced…Read more...

The stockings were hung, the presents were wrapped and then unwrapped, and the gift-giving part of the holiday season has come to a close. But as you’re putting things away for the year, you notice that you have some leftover wrapping paper.Read more...

Between widespread shipping issues and dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic (again), the 2021 holiday shopping season wasn’t without its challenges. Online retailers once again made shopping safer and more convenient this year, but what happens once the gifts are given, and some need to be returned or exchanged? Here…Read more...

This year felt, in many ways, like a repeat of the one that came before it. Covid is still around, our healthcare system still sucks, and eating inside restaurants still feels like a dangerous and mildly irresponsible activity. Another (happier) thing that didn’t change all that much was the air fryer’s popularity.Read more...

All the excitement of opening presents, spending time with friends and family, and getting to eat special foods that might only be available once a year is a lot all at once. There are countless things around the house that could spill, drip, or smear this time of year, but even if a little mess turns into a big…Read more...

Traditionally in retail, the week or so after Christmas has been a time to get deep discounts on merchandise leftover from the holiday shopping season. Stores were looking to clear out their stock, and customers were looking for bargains. But the rise in the popularity of online shopping has changed the rules, and…Read more...

In a sketch on the most recent episode of “Saturday Night Live,” a pair of mature women (played by Aidy Bryant and Kate McKinnon) were filming a commercial for HomeGoods that required them to talk about what they want for Christmas.

So, you just unwrapped a brand new Apple Watch. Apple’s popular wearable is an awesome extension of your iPhone, and it comes packed with features that span health, fitness, communication, and entertainment. But before you dive into all of those fun and exciting options, there are eight things you should probably do …Read more...

Long before the start of the seemingly never-ending pandemic, it was hard to resist the convenience of online shopping. But while buying something directly from a reputable retailer—or straight from the manufacturer—tends to ensure that you know exactly what you’re getting, the rise in popularity of online…Read more...

The rapid spread of the Omicron variant may have put a damper on your holiday plans, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get the festive photos you want (of those in your household). And while it can be hard to feel jolly (again) this year, you may appreciate having a record of your second pandemic Christmas years down…Read more...

Have you ever wanted live subtitles during your FaceTime calls? Navi, a companion app for FaceTime, lets you add it on your iPhone, iPad, and your Mac, too. The app makes clever use of Apple’s SharePlay feature to show you live subtitles during your video calls with your friends, yet another good reason to use…Read more...

I don’t mean to brag, but one of the best things about being estranged from most of my family (aside from self-preservation) is that I don’t have to give a shit about the holidays if I don’t want to. And most years, I don’t. Most years, I coast and shimmy in my snow globe of cozy imperviousness, only peripherally…Read more...

The holiday season can be stressful, especially if you’re traveling, hosting guests, or in charge of all the Christmas shopping. On the one hand, there’s no time to exercise. On the other, if you skip your regular workouts, you may find yourself more stressed.

Festivus, sometimes called “The Seinfeld Holiday,” is an annual parody holiday celebrated on December 23 that was invented for “The Strike,” a 1997 episode of NBC’s sitcom Seinfeld.

Your iPhone’s built-in screenshot tool has several cool tricks up its sleeve. From turning your squiggly hand-drawn lines into perfectly symmetrical shapes to hiding sensitive information, there’s a lot more you can do than you might expect. Here’s how to make the most of your iPhone’s screenshot utility.

The holidays are upon us and we could all use a few ways to simplify the madness. A few hacks you’ve probably never thought of before—from gift wrap and ornament storage to making the roaringest fire and most effervescent New Year’s beverages—generated from easy-to-find household items? I’m glad you asked.

Different regions of the U.S. are prone to different types of natural disasters. While you may already have a basic emergency kit on hand with food, water, and a first aid kit, there are other tools you can—and should—invest in, depending on where you live and the type of natural disaster most likely to strike near…Read more...

LG announced a new, weird-looking monitor this week that could create a new segment of the monitor market. Or it could be a gimmicky relic that no one will ever use. Either way, the LG DualUp is unique: It’s double-high, offering a taller-than-it-is-wide aspect ratio of 16:18. You can use it like a couple of 21.5-inch…Read more...

Maybe you want to guide someone through an application, show your parents how to use a website, or capture a wild moment in a video call. Suffice it to say, there are many reasons why you might want to create a video of what’s on your Mac’s screen.

Saw Blades come in many different types, and knowing the difference will save you time and extra trips to the hardware store. Using the right blade will also make your cut easier and look better, so here are the most common types of blades you’ll be looking for, and when to use them.

Sure, everyone and their mother has an iPhone, but that doesn’t mean the entire experience is overrated. Quite the opposite, in fact; there are plenty of features on iOS that simply don’t get talked about enough in the public sphere. We all know how convenient iMessage and FaceTime are, or how good the photos and…Read more...

So, your long-awaited holiday trip to visit family or friends was cancelled—for the second year in a row. It has occurred to you that, yet again, the kids will be off from school and need to be kept occupied. For a brief moment, you consider telling them to go read a book or do a puzzle, or something that doesn’t…Read more...

Astronomers, scientists, and space-hobbyists all over the world are nervously chewing their nails this holiday season over the Christmas Day launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. If all goes according to plan, liftoff will take place on Dec. 25 at 7:20 a.m. ET. If you’re in French Guiana, you can watch the launch…Read more...

A jump rope is a simple, portable tool that lets you do a cardio workout in a small space. But if you find plain old jumping to be boring, consider treating jump rope as a skill, like dancing. We’ve put together a list of jump rope moves you can learn, with a tutorial video for each.

When talking about the ways to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission among the people in your own home, public health experts often mention the importance of keeping your home “properly ventilated.” But the instructions end there.Read more...

Let me start by saying, I have three kids—which feels like too many. I was raised by an old-school southern housewife who chaperoned every field trip and doled out sundaes at school events (and carry with me the internalized pressure to do the same). But I have a full-time job, a husband who just had COVID while I…Read more...

We don’t toss the phrase “depraved indifference” around too often, but when we do, it’s most likely in reference to a cat. Anyone who has been in contact with a house cat of any breed knows why they have a reputation as soulless manipulators: They stare at you with the blank-faced serenity of a serial killer, usually…Read more...

There are a lot of reasons to stay in bed these days. The temperature is getting lower, and COVID cases are once again rising. If you want to stay under the covers, but still want to fit in some kind of movement, we’ve rounded up some exercises you can without getting out of bed.

TikTok is an infinite, bottomless pit of addiction, with each video algorithmically curated to your particular tastes and interests. With so many relevant videos scrolling past your face, it’s impressive that losing just one of them is such a tragedy. But it is; there is no pain greater than thoroughly enjoying a…Read more...

Got an older iPhone? Suffering from battery drain on a newer iPhone but just can’t figure out why? We have some good news for you: It doesn’t matter what state your iPhone is in, there are a bunch of tricks you can use to extend its battery life so you don’t need to worry about running out of juice by lunchtime every…Read more...

“Turn on a light! You’ll ruin your eyes! ” I grew up with warnings like these, followed by the click of a light switches, almost every time my mother found me nose-deep in a book. She never listened to my arguments that I could see the pages just fine. The Mom Logic was straightforward and unyielding: If I didn’t turn…Read more...

Grief is a normal part of coping with a loss. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, coping with a major illness, or navigating the end of a relationship, grief looks and feels different for everyone. While many people find that talking about their grief can help them make sense of their loss, there are also times…Read more...

Board games have been persistently popular despite the invention of television, video games, and TikTok, and people of all ages still enjoy an evening spent moving plastic pieces around a no-tech board—in fact, board games seem more popular than ever despite the technological wonders at our fingertips. This means more…Read more...

PC gaming might offer cutting-edge graphics and gameplay, but most players do not own a high-end gaming rig. In fact, according to a recent survey by VPN Overview, the average Steam user only has an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card and older quad-core Intel CPUs. A setup like that can only play about 41 of the…Read more...

If you’re diving into DIY home repairs or building projects, the cost of tools can be prohibitive. That’s when a tool library can come in handy, especially if you’re looking to use a tool once for a specific project or if you’d like to test drive a type of tool before investing in your own. Rather than buying or…Read more...

The holiday season is that special time of year for kicking back, spending quality time with family, and...answering emails from your boss and scrolling through Slack notifications. Nope, not this year! If you’re taking a break this holiday season—a real break—that should also include breaking from work. Technology…Read more...

We’ve all dealt with our fair share of hurdles in 2021, but it’s gotten to the point that even your holiday menu requires some ingredient-gymnastics. If you haven’t heard: We’re experiencing a national cream cheese shortage. Prices have gone up, and in some places it’s hard (or impossible) to find. Even if you have…Read more...

“Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior,” a phrase coined by Facebook, is the use of multiple social media accounts or pages to mislead or influence people for political or financial ends. As part of the deception, these pages hide the identities and obscure the motives of the people behind them.

Ever wanted to browse the internet on your Apple Watch? There’s an app called µBrowser ($0.99) that lets you do just that, so that if your phone is dead or you’re at the gym without it, your Apple Watch can still help you find things on the web.

If you’ve ever been enlisted as tech support via phone for a parent or grandparent trying to work through a problem they’re having with technology, you know how frustrating it can be. You have to figure out how to solve their problem, yes, but you also have to figure out how to talk them through the fix—all without…Read more...

There’s plenty of sex on TV, though much of it is incidental window dressing—thoughtlessly tossed in as if by decree from ratings-hungry executives (looking at you, Game of Thrones).Read more...

Toxic positivity has earned a lot of backlash recently. Of course, we shouldn’t berate ourselves with negative self-talk, and there’s value in encouraging ourselves when fearful (I routinely utter, “I have all the skills I need” like a dime-store Stuart Smalley before doing anything nerve-wracking), but there’s also…Read more...

If you’re tackling even a small DIY project around the house, navigating the fastener aisle at the hardware store can be daunting. There are hundreds of different types of screws, nails, bolts, and staples on offer, and it can be tricky to know exactly which one you need to finish the job. But choosing the right type…Read more...

All of our minds wander once in a while. In fact, it’s estimated anywhere from a quarter to half of our waking hours are spent daydreaming, as our awareness drifts away from whatever we are currently doing or experiencing to focus on another topic entirely.