Lifehacker

I don’t think it’s possible to cheat in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Or, rather, I don’t feel any guilt whatsoever about taking advantage of the game’s quirks to outfit your single-player island however you want. From time-traveling to Turnip Exchanges, there are plenty of methods you can use to circumvent the…Read more...

Remember when this all started and you were going to write the next King Lear? Well, you haven’t. But it’s not too late to get started.Read more...

Kids on the screens a lot these days? Staying up later? Sleeping in more? Wearing pajamas all day and all night? Hello and welcome to Pandemic Parenting, the gameshow where everything’s made up and the points don’t matter.Read more...

These days of all teleconferencing, all the time have prompted many a post filled with different techniques you can use to turn an old Android smartphone or iPhone into a webcam. Far be it from me to crap on a good hack, but, well, I don’t think most people need to fuss with a special app in order to webcam-ify a…Read more...

4-Pack: Dancing Flame Tiki Torches | $39 | MorningSaveRead more...

Mac users who like to multitask: there’s a keyboard shortcut to turn on text dictation so you can talk instead of type.Read more...

USB 4—or USB4, as it’s officially branded—is on the tech horizon, and like WiFi 6E or mobile 5G, you probably have plenty of questions about what the new USB standard means for your many devices. So, let’s take a quick look at everything we know about the upcoming USB4.Read more...

Frequent flyer programs offer a multitude of perks including priority boarding, upgrades, lounge access, and more. But even the most well-traveled sometimes don’t realize that the perks of these programs aren’t just for adults—children are also eligible to accrue frequent flyer points.Read more...

Among the perks of travel rewards credit cards are policies offering credits that can wipe out eligible charges from your statement. It’s like getting stuff for free! But right now, some credit cardholders are finding that their American Express credits are being taken back.

Burner emails are the best invention since Hotmail. And permanent burner emails—fake addresses you give out when signing up for services that forward to your actual email address—are even better, because they give you a little spigot for turning off a large chunk of spam and other marketing bullshit in your inbox.Read more...

Having “no plans” used to feel luxurious—hedonistic, even—but “things” have shifted, and the lack of structure in our days is starting (or continuing) to feel a little bit oppressive, or at least extremely dull. In short, it sort of feels like there is nothing to look forward to, and this can bleed into our…Read more...

As we reach the seventh or eighth or ninth week of whatever the hell this is we’re going through, we are all in much different places than where we started (even as we all stay forever in the same place). On the one hand, physical distancing has gotten a bit easier to practice with familiarity: Most of us are taking…Read more...

The “classic” COVID-19 symptoms—those first reported months ago, back when the average American was familiar with the disease only via a few scattered news reports—are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. Since then, we’ve learned more about COVID-19, and the CDC has expanded the list of official symptoms…Read more...

Congratulations, you’ve officially made it to another week!

Like everything else right now, Mother’s Day might not look quite the same way it usually does this year. There will be no get-togethers with extended family, no brunch at your favorite local restaurant, no relaxing massages or pedicures. There is likely more stress than usual, either from financial or work strain or,…Read more...

If you’ve gotten to the stage of quarantine where you’ve watched every episode and season of “Law and Order,” “CSI” and “NCIS,” you may be looking for your next courtroom drama fix. Well, look no further than the highest court in the land: Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, for the first time in history, U.S. Supreme…Read more...

The world now runs on video chat and telecommuting apps, but as we’ve come to discover over the last few weeks, they can be a security risk. Recent reports of “Zoombombing” and account stuffing have raised concerns over several difference video chat apps, but it’s not just hackers and trolls you have to worry about: Y…Read more...

Soon you’ll need to wear a face covering if you want to ride in an Uber.

In the event that your pet needs medical care, what do you do? As with so many other aspects of life during a pandemic, getting veterinary care for your pet is a rapidly changing situation, one for which vets across the country have adapted.Read more...

If you’ve been working from home during the shutdown, the past eight weeks have probably felt twice as busy and stressful as usual. After all, you’ve had the difficult task of staying productive while learning new tools, figuring out how to communicate with remote coworkers, trying to balance productivity and…Read more...

This week’s Eta Aquarid meteor shower is the last good one before July, according to the American Meteor Society, so try to catch it if you can.Read more...

If you have a frothing wand or—even better—an elaborate espresso machine that comes with a steam wand, you are probably already enjoying hot beverages topped with luxurious milky foam every morning. But if you are like me, and are used to getting fancy coffee beverages from your local coffee shops, you probably don’t…Read more...

When the coronavirus pandemic headed for the U.S., credit card issuers responded by promoting their customer assistance programs that can delay your payments or offer other adjustments during this confusing time.

Comedian and author Samantha Irby joins us this week on The Upgrade to talk about how to make yourself comfortable with self-quarantine. This includes finding the right TV shows to binge-watch (she has a recommendation or two), the right books to escape with, and the right foods to cook while you huddle up at home. Sam…Read more...

Google’s photo platform is superior to Facebook’s. Even though it’s just as free to use—with a few limitations—it’s infinitely better for organizing your photos and finding specific shots by name, time, date, or the people within them. Besides, decoupling your photos from your social media account allows you to take a…Read more...

NutriBullet 1200W Blender | $80 | AmazonRead more...

After last week’s influx of new content, this week is a light one when it comes to new Netflix content. That said, you will have a few new options this week.

If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, one perk you might not realize is that you can score free games each month from Twitch Prime.

Chances are good you don’t have any immediate plans right now to go on an international trip. However, if you were trying to enroll in Global Entry earlier this year, you’re going to have to wait until at least June to finish the process.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 was supposed to be in the middle of a live tour right now. Since the pandemic has postponed that, along with pretty much everything else, for the time being, the creators have decided to take things online.

While NASCAR, like all other sports, is on hold right now, Sunday you have the opportunity to watch a virtual race, where professional stock car racers hop into simulators rather than actual cars to compete.

If you want to watch movies online with your friends, the pandemic has brought us some options.

A great looking shawl, a deal on craft and hobby ebooks, a tortilla blanket, Twitch Prime rewards, and more lead the pack for Saturday’s best deals.

Today was the original date for the Kentucky Derby. While the actual event has been rescheduled for September, a number of Derby-related activities are happening this weekend including a mint julep course from the Master Distiller at Woodford Reserve, a virtual horse race broadcast on live TV, and now an Turtle Derby.

The idea of giving your phone permission to allow others to track your location is a little creepy, but there are plenty of scenarios where you might want a friend or family member to know exactly where you are at any given time.Read more...

There are lots of things that, unfortunately, we can’t do right now. Maybe you’re missing the gym, or being able to go out and spend a day in the park. Whatever itch you’re trying to scratch, cycling is a great way to spend time outdoors and get a good workout in. Plus, it’s a nice way to venture out and find spots…Read more...

As an inveterate traveler, I find it really hard right now to be stuck at home without any actual place to go or plans for travel in the near future. Still, I’m an adult who understands the reasons we’re not traveling; my son, he just wants to “go”—somewhere, anywhere. Kids who love to travel or are used to getting…Read more...

If you’ve abandoned your rewards credit card for your coronavirus-era purchases, reaching instead for a cash-back card, it may be time to reevaluate.Read more...

Given all of the economic worries, it would be tempting to stop paying your daycare provider, many of which are asking for partial tuition during the shutdown. If you can afford it, it’s a good idea to keep paying them, as you will want a daycare facility to return to once it is safe again.Read more...

One of the many challenges of being stuck at home during this pandemic is not knowing the best ways to help the local businesses we love and depend on. Take, well, takeout: We’ve been instructed to order takeout and delivery from our favorite restaurants—especially smaller, family-owned businesses—to ensure they are…Read more...

As one who is never very witty on Twitter, I have almost no concern that anything I type is going to get highlighted on a website or in a news story somewhere—not unless someone really cares about my thoughts on cats and Animal Crossing. However, there’s a quick and easy way to see for yourself if your Twitter wit has…Read more...

It’s Friday! If you’re looking for something to watch tonight and this weekend to congratulate yourself for making it through another week, we’ve found some options.

The first time I heard of the Seven Minute Workout, I thought it was a great idea. But then I did it, and couldn’t hang. On paper it looked too easy, and yet the side planks at the end were killer. I didn’t keep up with it, even though it was designed to give you a day’s exercise in just a few minutes, enabling…Read more...

Emotions, they are running high right now. We’re living in a time of fear and sadness and anger, grieving the loss of normalcy in our day-to-day lives as the pandemic has redefined normal. The circumstances are challenging for the calmest and most resilient among us, let alone for our kids, who are still learning how…Read more...

If you plan on getting on an airplane any time soon, you need to bring a mask along with you for the ride. While at this point that may seem like a pretty obvious statement, a flight last week from Miami to New York went viral, perhaps in more ways than one, because a pretty significant number of the passengers on the…Read more...

You’ve probably noticed the economy isn’t doing so hot. Consumer spending has tanked. Unemployment numbers continue to rise. But the stock market is... doing OK?Read more...

The entire world is anxiously awaiting a COVID-19 vaccine, clinging to the current estimates of 12 to 18 months. Some outlets are reporting we could have a vaccine even sooner than that—there’s even a website tracking all the vaccines and therapies in development. Many people seem to assume all we need to do is hunker…Read more...

3 Months Free | Amazon Music UnlimitedRead more...

The Sumida Aquarium in Japan is inviting people to have a short Facetime call with their tank of garden eels. This is no livestream; it’s a two-way call, and they specifically want the eels to see your face.Read more...

Now that I am out of Campari, gin, and all that wine I ordered, I have been forced to mix drinks with “what I have.” Luckily, as long as I have lemons and table sugar, I can whip almost any booze (e.g., rum, tequila, whiskey, gin) into a fluffy, refreshing sour (i.e., daiquiris, margaritas, whiskey sours, and…Read more...