11 Crazy Useful Things You Can Do with a Candle
Yesterday 9:16 AM — Originally made using whale fat, candles first appeared over 2,200 years ago as a means of illumination. From the 1st century up until the 19th century, candles were primarily made using beeswax or tallow, and aside from providing light, were used as a method of keeping time. Today, candles are made primarily of paraffin wax and are used more ubiquitously, marking your ...more
How to Hack Your Morning Pancakes for a Less Sticky & More Delicious Breakfast
Yesterday 3:28 PM — Over 56 million Americans decided to skip breakfast this morning. That's 18 percent of the population. You're probably sick of hearing that the first meal of the day is the most important, but it's true—studies have shown that those who skip it consume more calories and fewer ...more
How to Silence Your Obnoxiously Squeaky Bed with 4 Easy MacGyver Style Fixes
Yesterday 2:43 PM — Any living creature will die if deprived of sleep for long enough. The longest documented occurrence of a person not fully sleeping and surviving is only 11 days. There is a rare disease where deep sleep is never achieved, affecting roughly 100 people worldwide. Patients usual ...more
How to Revert Back to a More Traditional Sense-Style Home Screen on Your HTC One
Yesterday 12:16 PM — The newer HTC One is arguably the best smartphone yet in terms of hardware, but its software moves considerably farther away from the stock Android experience. Even more so from HTC's own Sense. The biggest change from Sense 4+ to the newest Sense 5 is Blinkfeed, a scrollable ...more
How to Karate Chop a Paint Stick with Help from Air Pressure and a Plastic Bag
Sun 12:44 PM — How heavy is a plastic bag? Not very heavy at all, but in order to use a plastic bag to help me karate chop a thin wooden stick, I don't need weight—I need air pressure. Below, the "Quick Clip" demonstrates the power of air pressure via the vacuum created between a plastic bag ...more
How to Improve Note-Taking on Your Nexus 7 Tablet by Adding Handwriting Recognition
Sun 12:31 PM — Writing longhand may boost learning and goal achievement, but that doesn't mean squat if you don't have pen and paper on you. For me, I'm usually on the go when I have a note or idea to jot down, and I don't always have writing materials in my pocket. Who does? But what I do ...more
How to Get Ambient Weather Readings Instantly Using Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2's Built-In Sensors
Sat 8:00 AM — The new Samsung Galaxy S4 may be the only phone to include temperature and humidity sensors, but your Galaxy Note 2 has a few weather-detecting features of its own. Firstly, it has a barometer, which measure atmospheric pressure that can help alert you to a possible nearby ra ...more
How to Customize iOS App Icons Without Jailbreaking Your iPhone
Sun 8:47 AM — Apple sells more iPhones than there are babies born in the world. In fact, they've done so in at least four financial quarters over the last 18 months. Last year alone, they sold over 125 million iPhones, just under the 135 million estimate of child births globally. While extremely popular, the one major drawback of an iPhone is its heavily guarded OS and lack of custo ...more
9 Ingenious Uses for Your Spare Contact Lens Cases
Sat 8:00 AM — There are over 38 million people who wear contact lenses in the United States, but nearly a quarter of those never replace their contact lens case. If you're one of those folks, you proba ...more
How to Make a Miniature Bow and Arrow from Household Items
Sat 7:59 AM — Here's a step-by-step tutorial guide for how to make a miniature bow and arrow out of household objects. Plus, flaming arrows! Step 1: What You Need Popsicle stick Dental floss Cotton swab Q-tip Step 2: How to Make It! Watch the video for the directions. Video: .
How to Stop Android Lag in Its Tracks on Your Nexus 7 for a Super Smooth Tablet
Fri 1:37 PM — Lag has been a serious issue on Android devices since the very beginning. Even the Nexus 7's quad-core processor can't stop it from happening. That's because the pauses and long responses are coming straight from the Android OS itself, not the hardware. In part articles, I've ...more
How to Flash a Custom ROM onto Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Enhance Your Android Experience
Fri 10:47 AM — The new Samsung Galaxy S4 just received an update to Android 4.2.2, so why is it that my Galaxy Note 2 is still running an older version of Jelly Bean? It felt like yesterday that my device was finally updated to 4.1.2, but why even bother since 4.2 has been around since last ...more
How to Turn Your Samsung Galaxy S4 into a Personal Ambient Weather Station
Fri 8:06 AM — The new Samsung Galaxy S4 has something no other phone has ever had before—weather sensors. Older devices like the Galaxy Nexus, S3, Note, and Note 2 do have a atmospheric pressure sensor, aka a barometer. However, they do not have a thermometer or hygrometer like the GS4 does ...more
Hack Like a Pro: Getting Started with BackTrack, Your New Hacking System
Fri 8:55 AM — Welcome back, my fledgling hackers! In one of my recent articles, I showed you how to install BackTrack as a dual boot system on a Windows computer. In this tutorial, I will walk you through BackTrack, giving you a tour of the most salient features for the hacker-to-be. As you can see in the screenshot above, I've installed the most recent version of BackTrack, version ...more
How to Root Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Using ODIN for Windows (So Easy Your Grandma Can Do It)
Thu 2:14 PM — Just like the recently rediscovered Star Wars ruins in the Tunisian desert, there are tons of hidden treasures in your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 just waiting to be unearthed. Rooting enables you to install custom ROMs, exclusive features from other devices, add Wi-Fi tethering, ov ...more
How to Totally Maximize the Battery Life of Your Samsung Galaxy S4
Thu 9:42 AM — The battery in the Samsung Galaxy S4 may pack 500 more milliamps per hour than the old S3 battery, but that doesn't necessarily mean more battery life. High-powered devices need lots of juice, and the S4 is definitely more powerful than its predecessor. The new battery can han ...more
How to Hack Your Resume to Fool Keyword-Hunting Robots & Land Yourself More Interviews (The Evil Way)
Thu 11:18 AM — If you thought humans were reading your résumé, think again. Robots do, and their one solitary objective is to systematically crush the hopes and dreams of those who don't make the cut. Instead of paying a few humans to read thousands of résumés over a couple weeks, many companies use computer programs that can do the job in less than an hour. In fact, at least 90 perce ...more
How to Set Exotic Photo Spheres as Panoramic Live Wallpapers on Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2
Wed 9:22 AM — "We all want to escape our circumstances, don't we?" Benedict Cumberbatch may have been talking about acting, but the sentiment rings true for all of us at some point or another. Whether it's work, school, or just boredom at home—we all wish for an escape sometimes. If only. ...more
How to Turn a Plastic Garbage Bag into a High-Flying DIY Kite
Wed 9:22 AM — Where one sees plastic garbage bags, I see living creatures soaring high in the windy skies—and you can too. The choice is completely yours. But, wouldn't it be nice to spare one trash bag the indignity of holding waste? With a little dental floss, string, some wooden dowels, ...more
How to Remove Pandora's Evil—Skip Restrictions & Ads—On Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2
5/14 1:56 PM — I couldn't help but notice the parallels between the evils of Pandora's Box and the annoying parts of Pandora Radio. While the Pandora from Greek mythology was devilishly curious and musically talented (the reason Pandora was named after her), her box was filled with all the e ...more
Forget Remembering! Schedule Recurring Texts, Emails, Tweets, & Facebook Posts on Your Samsung Galaxy S3
5/13 4:31 PM — I'm sorry your mom hates you now, but it's pretty hard to forgive someone who forgets to say "Happy Mother's Day." Your poor ole ma could've spent anywhere from 10 to 20 hours popping you out, so the least you could do is set aside two minutes every year to say thanks. If you ...more
How to Make Water Freeze into Ice Instantaneously
5/14 10:23 AM — Have you ever seen water freeze instantly? This "Quick Clip" shows some of my personal experiences with making instant ice using a bottle of water supercooled in a freezer. Video: . To get this "instant ice" effect, I put unopened bottles of water in the freezer for anywhere between 90 to 115 minutes. The water gets supercooled (below freezing), but does not actually fr ...more
Hack Like a Pro: How to Grab & Crack Encrypted Windows Passwords
5/14 8:46 AM — Welcome back, my neophyte hackers! Several of you have written me asking how to crack passwords. The answer, in part, depends upon whether you have physical access to the computer, what operating system you are running, and how strong the passwords are. In this first installment on password cracking, we'll assume the simplest arrangement; you're running Windows, attac ...more
How to Completely Back Up Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Using Kies, Helium, or the Note 2 Toolkit
5/13 1:17 PM — An average of 140,000 hard drives crash in the United States each week, according to online backup service Mozy. Additionally, 70 percent of Americans have lost a laptop, smartphone, or tablet, and the average person now loses 1.24 devices each year—less than half of which are ...more
How to Play Almost Any Retro Video Game on Your Nexus 7 Tablet
5/12 12:18 PM — Arcades, Nintendo, Sega, and 16-bit graphics ushered in a new level of gaming that was leaps and bounds ahead of the early Pong days. I remember loading quarters into the machines and playing 2D fighting games until all my money ran out. When I wasn’t in school, you could usua ...more
12 Painting Hacks for Your Next Home Painting Project
5/13 9:06 AM — Raw onions are commonly associated with bad breath, but when it comes to wet paint, instead of creating toxic smells they help remove them. If you just painted inside your home, slice a few raw onions in half and place them alongside the walls to absorb noxious fumes. Just make sure to discard onions afterwards, as they would be poisonous. And onions aren't the only ki ...more
How to Get Rid of Plant-Eating Pests Using 100% Natural Solutions from Your Home and Garden
5/11 10:38 AM — Navigating through row after row of plants, my tiny fingers would reach into the leaves to pluck all the vile little creatures from their homes and deposit them into a can of gasoline. Potato bug duty, my least favorite gardening chore. Growing up, my family had a small garden ...more
How to Make Perfectly-Sized, Uniform Patties for Sliders & Mini Burgers Without Getting Your Hands Dirty
5/11 9:37 AM — There is no such thing as a pulled pork slider. In fact, there is no such thing as a pork slider. Or a chicken slider. Or turkey or fish. The term "slider" actually means a lot more than just a hot miniature sandwich, and if it's not beef, it automatically missed the first cut ...more
10 Broken or Worn Out Things That Can Be Made into Something Useful
5/11 9:51 AM — Despite the tremendous increase in recycling programs across the states, 136 million tons of municipal solid waste still ends up in landfills. So, the next time you throw away something, conjure up your DIY spirit and ask that trash, "Are you really trash, or just the beginning of my next ingenious project?" If your favorite umbrella gets broken beyond repair, salvage ...more
Divide & Conquer: How to Keep Apples, Bananas, Tomatoes, & Other Fruits Fresher Longer
5/10 1:31 PM — Ethylene is an invisible, odorless, naturally occurring gas that aids in the ripening process of fruit. As a fruit produces more ethylene, it begins to create enzymes which help break dow ...more
How to Root Your HTC EVO 4G LTE Using TWRP & SuperSU
5/10 12:24 PM — Your HTC EVO 4G LTE has been lying to you. It will tell you when you're connected to a 4G network, but it will say 3G even if you're connected on 1X, which is a 2G CDMA network! This issue is just one of the many things you can fix after rooting, which allows you to take full ...more
How to Get Google's Latest Play Store Redesign on Your Nexus 7 Tablet Right Now
5/10 8:19 AM — What's the most installed Android app in the world? Facebook? Gmail? Maps? While those all have well over 100 million installs, the one that takes the cake—and always will—is Google Play. I’ve been an Android user ever since the G1, when Android was unpolished, buggy, and the ...more
The Real Story Behind Rooting the Samsung Galaxy S4—And Its New Secured Kernel
5/10 9:13 AM — Rooting a mobile device may not be a big deal these days, but not being able to root definitely is. Even the Library of Congress, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and White House can agree on that. Since the release of the Samsung Galaxy S3, the international electronics giant has been seen as a friend to the SoftModder community. One reason ...more
How to Make Your Car Read Texts Out Loud the Moment They Arrive on Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2
5/9 3:35 PM — Last month, Alexander Heit drifted into oncoming traffic after being distracted from the road. His sudden correction forced his vehicle to roll and flip over. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly thereafter. All because of a freaking text message. He was only 22 ...more
How to Make the Scariac (A Poor Man's Variable Power Controller)
5/9 12:31 PM — Mixing water and electricity is extremely risky and potentially lethal, yet that's exactly what I did with the Scariac. In its simplest form, the Scariac is just a glorified version of two wires in a bucket of water, but it's actually one of the cheapest power controllers you ...more
The Easiest Way to Unlock the Bootloader on Your HTC EVO 4G LTE or Other HTC Smartphone
5/9 9:56 AM — Nearly two years ago, Peter Chou, CEO of HTC, confirmed that the company would no longer be locking bootloaders. Whether or not they've actually lived up to this claim is debatable. Any phone bought from a wireless carrier comes locked. Only the new HTC One Developer Edition s ...more
How to Hack Your Old Phone Line into an Emergency Power Supply for Your Cell Phone
5/8 11:25 AM — "Ahoy-hoy." If telephone titan Alexander Graham Bell had his way, we'd all be answering phones like Mr. Burns. Thankfully, frienemy Thomas Edison had enough sense to realize we weren't always on the briny. He preferred "hello" as our standard telephone greeting, which he is c ...more
Hack Like a Pro: How to Install BackTrack 5 (with Metasploit) as a Dual Boot Hacking System
5/9 8:55 AM — Welcome back, my hacker novitiates! Many of you have written me that you're having difficulty installing and running Metasploit on a variety of platforms. No matter if you're using Mac, Linux, or Windows, I strongly recommend you install BackTrack as your secondary OS, a virtaulization system, or on an external drive. This particular Linux distribution has many hacking ...more
How to Make Your Mom Flowers Using Q-Tips or Cupcake Liners, Just in Time for Mother's Day
5/8 9:30 AM — Why is it that Mother's Day is the second biggest commercialized holiday when there are so many different DIY projects out there? In preschool, children make their moms clay handprint mo ...more
How to Transfer iPhone Contacts Over to Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 or Other Android Device
5/7 11:46 AM — Why is transferring contacts from an old smartphone to a new one still insanely difficult? I can check my bank account, upload a picture to Instagram, email someone across the globe, and check the weather forecast on my phone—all in under five minutes. So why does transferrin ...more
How to Squeeze Blazing Fast Speeds Out of Your Samsung Galaxy S4
5/7 11:10 AM — We've already covered how to remove the Home button lag on the Samsung Galaxy S4, now let's take a look at how to speed up a few more key areas on your new device. This GS4 is already blazing fast, but let's squeeze every ounce of speed we can from it by making a few basic twe ...more
Money Origami, Flower Edition: 10 Different Ways to Fold a Dollar Bill into a Blossoming Bloom
5/7 9:36 AM — The very first banknotes were used by the Chinese in the 7th century, during the Tang Dynasty. Before it was used as a true currency, paper money was used as part of a deposit system in which merchants would leave large amounts of coins with a trusted associate and receive a paper receipt for the transaction. The reason was simple—the copper coins used as currency at th ...more
How to Fix the Home Button Lag on Your Samsung Galaxy S4
5/6 4:38 PM — Your new Samsung Galaxy S4 is fast, but it can definitely be faster. One issue that carried over from the Samsung Galaxy S3 is Home button lag. Instead of it being an instantaneous response, it takes a split second for the action to take place—and a split second is enough to i ...more
How to Deflate and Reinflate Balloons Using Liquid Nitrogen
5/6 3:07 PM — In this "Quick Clip," I tried dunking inflated balloons into a container filled with liquid nitrogen until they were completely flattened and seemingly destroyed. Once out of the liquid nitrogen, the balloons come back to life and reinflate on their own—without even touching t ...more
Community
Trending
-
How to Improve Note-Taking on Your Nexus 7 Tablet by Adding Handwriting Recognition
-
How to Get Ambient Weather Readings Instantly Using Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2's Built-In Sensors
-
How to Make Water Freeze into Ice Instantaneously
-
11 Crazy Useful Things You Can Do with a Candle
-
How to Flash a Custom ROM onto Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Enhance Your Android Experience
-
How to Stop Android Lag in Its Tracks on Your Nexus 7 for a Super Smooth Tablet
-
How to Totally Maximize the Battery Life of Your Samsung Galaxy S4
-
Hack Like a Pro: Getting Started with BackTrack, Your New Hacking System
-
How to Root Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Using ODIN for Windows (So Easy Your Grandma Can Do It)
-
How to Turn Your Samsung Galaxy S4 into a Personal Ambient Weather Station
-
How to Crack Wi-Fi Passwords—For Beginners!
-
How to Silence Your Obnoxiously Squeaky Bed with 4 Easy MacGyver Style Fixes
-
How to Karate Chop a Paint Stick with Help from Air Pressure and a Plastic Bag
-
How to Customize iOS App Icons Without Jailbreaking Your iPhone
-
How to Hack Your Morning Pancakes for a Less Sticky & More Delicious Breakfast
-
How to Fix the Battery Draining Issue on Your iPhone After Updating to iOS 6.1.3
-
How to Remove Pandora's Evil—Skip Restrictions & Ads—On Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2
-
How to Set Exotic Photo Spheres as Panoramic Live Wallpapers on Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2
-
9 Ingenious Uses for Your Spare Contact Lens Cases
-
How to Make a Miniature Bow and Arrow from Household Items
