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Most Popular Stories
  1. What's the Best Mouse You've Ever Used? (11,493 views, 292 comments)
  2. Find Out Where a Username is Already Registered (9,948 views, 25 comments)
  3. How to Stay Awake at Work (9,739 views, 27 comments)
  4. Rockbox 3.0 Supercharges Your MP3 Player (44 comments, 8,659 views)
  5. Digsby Improves Performance, Supports LinkedIn (26 comments, 1,384 views)

4:53 PM on Wed Sep 24 2008

Hive Five Call for Contenders

Best Sites to Stream TV?

Television has made an unprecedented move to the internet this fall season, meaning you can now catch tons of your favorite shows on-demand from the comfort of your browser. We all want to keep up with our stories the best way possible, so this week's Hive Five sets its sights on the best web sites for streaming TV to your desktop. Keep reading for more details and to nominate your favorite TV-streaming site. More »

Feature

4:00 PM on Wed Sep 24 2008
By Adam Pash
13,385 views, 122 comments

Latest by JayEff: Vote: Hulu for mainstream content Vote: blip.tv for independent stuff more »

Credit Cards

How to Safely Build Your Credit History

The Simple Dollar personal finance weblog offers a five-step checklist for safely and responsibly building your credit history so you can secure good loans and insurance rates in the future. College students have returned to campus, which means the credit card signup vultures are out in full force handing out cards to anyone with a backpack. The Simple Dollar post examines how FICO scores are calculated and what you can do as a new credit card carrier to stay debt-free while building your credit score. A simple suggestion for newcomers: Just make sure you don't charge more than you can pay off without carrying over any balance from month to month. If you're a credit history pro, share your advice in the comments. On the other hand, if you've got a card you just want to get rid of, check out how and when you should cancel a credit card. Photo by szlea.
How to Safely Build Your Credit History [The Simple Dollar]

3:00 PM on Wed Sep 24 2008
By Adam Pash
7,311 views, 16 comments

Latest by sandwichismymiddlename: A question for anyone who knows. How about trying to get the credit card companies to up your monthly limit? Does more »

Featured Windows Download

Digsby Improves Performance, Supports LinkedIn

Windows only: Up-and-coming instant messaging application Digsby has released a new update with significant performance improvements and added support for business-oriented social networking site LinkedIn. Performance improvements include optimized RAM usage (the fruits of the last test release), a snappier interface, better connectivity with IM networks, and bug fixes galore. Beyond that, the IM application that made its name by integrating with social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter continues to improve by adding social network LinkedIn to the fold. Digsby has quickly established itself as a killer tool for managing and staying up to date with IM, email, and social networking, and right now the biggest question is: When will we see the promised Mac and Linux flavors? Digsby is a free download, Windows only.
Digsby
Build 32 - Better than Ever! [Digsby Blog]

2:00 PM on Wed Sep 24 2008
By Adam Pash
2,399 views, 47 comments

Latest by StlHakusho: I was getting 110MB usage from it before & it's at 37MB now. The only problem I've ever really had more »

Featured Windows Download

Iron Is Google Chrome for the Tinfoil Hat Crowd

Windows only: Free application Iron is a slightly modified version of the Chromium source of Google Chrome that removes components of Chrome that report your usage habits to Google. In practice, that means it removes your unique user ID, doesn't send user-specific info to Google, skips crash reporting, and doesn't check with Google for updates. Some features—like crash reporting and update checks—are built into most browsers anyway, but if you're already squeamish with the amount of your information Google already has on its servers, the extra layer of privacy Iron offers might be up your alley. The download site and installer are in German (here's a translation), but the app runs in English.
Iron [via Download Squad]

1:00 PM on Wed Sep 24 2008
By Adam Pash
5,182 views, 37 comments

Latest by Niscrome: Preach on brotha!!! more »

Ebooks

The Ultimate Small Business Owner's Resource Guide Available as Free PDF

When your brother's starting up a new business and keeps asking you for the best places to do things online like send faxes, get legal help, or find a virtual assistant, send him a copy of The Ultimate Small Business Owner's Resource Guide. The book normally costs $35 for a print version, but it's available as a free PDF download here today. The 102-page volume is a compendium of webapps, engines, indices, software, and online tools for small biz owners looking to get things done cheaply and easily. You can find most of these recommendations online with some creative Googling, but the book offers a quick look-up with a well-organized table of contents. Aside from a few odd mistakes (like calling Google Calendar "Gmail Calendar"), this book's recommendations align with many you've seen here at Lifehacker. Download The Ultimate Small Business Owner's Resource Guide PDF here.
The Ultimate Small Business Owner's Resource Guide Book Site

12:00 PM on Wed Sep 24 2008
By Gina Trapani
5,825 views, 24 comments

Latest by Cordfucious v 2.0.1: wasted electronic uselessness Failure is not the only punishment for laziness; there is also the success of others. --Cordfucious more »

Google Contacts Has a Standalone Site Whether you prefer managing your contacts outside Gmail or you don't use Gmail but still want to use Google Contacts to manage your Reader or Docs contacts, try the standalone Google Contacts page. The URL isn't type-in friendly, but it deserves a bookmark if you need to do contact management outside of Gmail. [via]

27 comments

Featured Download

Rockbox 3.0 Supercharges Your MP3 Player

Windows/Mac/Linux: Open-source MP3 firmware Rockbox has released its first major update in three years, adding support and stability for more MP3 players and playback of more file types. Rockbox has long been the best tool to breath new life into an aging MP3 player, from first through 5.5 generation iPods to iRiver, Sandisk, and Archos players (see all the supported players here). Rockbox features include Last.fm support, album art, games, video playback, and tons more. Better yet, the new release comes with a streamlined installation tool called RockboxUtility that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux and makes installation simple. With the latest release, Rockbox easily earns its spot as one of the 20 best iPod utilities. If you're a Rockbox user, share your favorite features in the comments.
Rockbox [via OStatic]

11:00 AM on Wed Sep 24 2008
By Adam Pash
11,671 views, 57 comments

Latest by xxdesmus: ...I lied, I enabled disk use and it worked fine :) Very cool app indeed! more »

Featured Windows Mobile Download

Skyfire Mobile Browser Adds Flash to Windows Mobile

Windows Mobile only: Skyfire, a browser for Windows Mobile that supports Flash, Ajax, and many media formats, has been released for public beta downloads with an upgraded 0.8 version. The biggest interface change is a Chrome-like universal address bar, which acts as search input when non-URL text is entered, but Skyfire also added one-click SMS sharing, which auto-shrinks URLs for text message space. Our sibling site Gizmodo points out that Skyfire out-races Safari and Opera's mobile versions on the web, but mostly because Skyfire's servers are pre-optimizing common pages. Skyfire is a free download for Windows Mobile phones only.
Skyfire [via TechCrunch]

10:00 AM on Wed Sep 24 2008
By Kevin Purdy
2,968 views, 27 comments

Latest by element119: i'm tempted but i dont want to give them my #. opera mini sync'ing with my opera desktop will be hard more »

Bookmarks

Foxmarks Takes Your Bookmarks Mobile

Bookmark-syncing application Foxmarks has updated their site to support easy access to your bookmarks from your iPhone, iPod touch, or other mobile device. Last week we highlighted O-Marks, an native iPhone application that syncs bookmarks to your iPhone. O-Marks requires you to access those bookmarks outside your browser, though, which isn't ideal, and it seems like a bit of an overkill for something as simple as bookmarks. With the Foxmarks update, just point your mobile browser to my.foxmarks.com, and it'll serve up the mobile interface of your bookmarks complete with search. It's fast and easy to use, but I'd throw in a vote for opening links in new windows so you can switch back to it more easily. A direct bookmark sync with mobile Safari would be ideal, but the mobile version of Foxmarks is a close second. Don't have an iPhone? The Foxmarks update includes a similar small screen interface for your mobile device, too.
My Foxmarks

9:00 AM on Wed Sep 24 2008
By Adam Pash
2,361 views, 16 comments

Latest by phoenix: Very very cool - I was hoping for a way to get my bookmarks on my iPod Touch without essentially more »

How to Stay Awake at Work Funny how insomnia works—when it's time to go to bed, you're wide awake, but at work the next day, you can barely keep your eyes open. If you're in sleep debt but need to keep alert at the office, wikiHow offers a few clever ways to help stay awake at work, like using bright light, stimulating smells, acupressure, a power nap, and high-energy music. See also our top 10 ways to sleep smarter and better.

32 comments

RSS

Rososo is a Clean, Minimalist Feed Checker

Rososo, a free feed reader, takes a backwards track from the majority of RSS-checking tools. The layout is ultra-minimal (and quick-loading), and you add sites by merely typing in their URL or feed address. If they've updated, they show up on your Rososo page—if they haven't since last you checked, they don't. There's no content or even post stubs, just links to check out the sites themselves. Rososo might find use among those advanced users with slow connections or checking on sites only occasionally updated, but it could serve as a "My First Feed Reader" for anyone you're trying to introduce to RSS. Rososo is free to test; saving bookmarks requries a free sign-up.
Rososo [via Zen Habits]

8:00 AM on Wed Sep 24 2008
By Kevin Purdy
2,365 views, 2 comments

Latest by Naka: This is just what I've been looking for. Easy to use and no excessive crap. more »

Ask the Readers

What's the Best Mouse You've Ever Used?

Writer Mike Gunderloy sings the praises of the Evoluent VerticalMouse, a model of mouse designed to keep your arm in a neutral position and help you avoid RSI. Not being much of a gadget gal myself—and never dealing with RSI issues—I've always used a straight-up two-button wheel mouse to get my pointing and clicking done, but surely there are better options. What's the most comfortable and easiest-to-use model of mouse you've ever had on a pad on your desk? Let us know in the comments (include a link if you can!), and we'll round up the best of the best later on this week.
VerticalMouse: Surprisingly Comfortable [WebWorkerDaily]

7:43 AM on Wed Sep 24 2008
By Gina Trapani
14,258 views, 390 comments

Latest by Zachary Lewis: I've been using a Logitech G15, but I recently upgraded to a Razer DeathAdder. Coupled with a low-friction mousepad, it's more »

Nodevice Hordes Missing Drivers, Manuals If you're stumped trying to find a Windows driver for your hardware (and you didn't back it up when it last worked), try Nodevice has a database of more than 30,000 drivers, and roughly 20,000 each of manual files and DLL files. Looking for something Vista-specific? Check out previously mentioned RadarSync. [via]

8 comments

Museum Day Means Free Admissions Looking for something cheap and kid-friendly this weekend? Saturday is Museum Day, a Smithsonian-sponsored chance to get into lots of museums at no cost. Check the Museum Day map for a list of venues near you offering up free admission. [via]

10 comments

Clever Uses

Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal with Cooking Strainer


Parabolic surfaces are perfect for collecting errant wireless signals and focusing them, and the food strainer in your kitchen cabinet is a parabola waiting to do something other than hold pasta. Instructables user Dan Folkes describes how to turn a $10 Asian cooking strainer and an equally cheap USB Wi-Fi dongle into a signal-boosting dish. Dan boost his signal enough to detect an additional 20 Wi-Fi hotspots using NetStumbler to sniff them out. If you'd like to modify your wireless router instead, check out how to boost your Wi-Fi antenna for less than a dollar with an antenna replacement and how to boost your wireless signal with tinfoil "sails" on your router antenna.
Wi-Fi Signal Strainer (WokFi) Long Distance [Instructables]

6:30 AM on Wed Sep 24 2008
By Jason Fitzpatrick
7,367 views, 26 comments

Latest by mindjudo: i'm wondering if there is a way to insulate your home so that only YOUR wi-fi signal can be heard? more »

Featured Windows Download

JDVoiceMail Creates Ultra-Compressed Recordings for Email

Windows only: Free record-and-compress utility JDVoiceMail might make you think twice about taking the time to send your parents a voice message, or make it easier to explain something in your own voice to a co-worker. Set JDVoiceMail to a high-compression codec like TrueSpeech, GSM, or MP3, and hit the red button to start recording. You'll see on-screen just how much time and space you're using. Set up email access, and your files get auto-attached to an email with its subject already set. You can also use JDVoiceMail to simply save a small voice file for your web site or other uses. JDVoiceMail is a free download for Windows systems only.
JDVoiceMail [via Online Tech Tips]

6:00 AM on Wed Sep 24 2008
By Kevin Purdy
1,511 views, 2 comments

Latest by mcv2: I assume people already know this but in the GTalk gadget/client (not the one that runs inside GMail) you can more »

How To

Create an Encrypted Private Directory in Ubuntu

Ubuntu 8.10, the release of the popular Linux distribution due out Oct. 30 (and code-named Intrepid Ibex), will give every user an encrypted private directory by default, one that mounts with you at login and protects your data from any command prompt trickery. In the meantime, the Tombuntu blog explains how to set up an encrypted folder in current versions of Ubuntu, using the same eCryptfs tools as 8.10. The tutorial requires a bit of terminal work, but nothing too complicated, and by the end you'll have simple shortcuts for mounting and unmounting your private drive (with a password, of course). Got a better or easier solution for simple, single-folder encryption in Linux? Tell us in the comments.
Create an Encrypted Private Directory with eCryptfs [Tombuntu]

5:30 AM on Wed Sep 24 2008
By Kevin Purdy
2,272 views, 13 comments

Latest by RobDLG: I'm somewhat surprised by this, since my impression is that eCryptfs is not yet stable. It was touted as more »

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