Questions tagged [technology]
Hacks related to using technology -- such as computers, phones, televisions, etc. -- safely and effectively.
253 questions
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How should I keep track of money lent? [closed]
Does anyone have a system for keeping track of when someone owes you a small amount of money? It comes up when you split something with someone, but only one of you pays and the other doesn't have ...
- 1,411
-2
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1
answer
994
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How do you safely charge your laptop in your car? [closed]
Charging your laptop in the car is a great need when you live stray and knowing that really cool looking and cheap adapters are sold somewhere in the world is exciting.
But you wouldn't want to burn ...
- 97
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2
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300
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What can I use to keep a smartphone cool while recording 4k video?
My smartphone (Sony Xperia Z5) gets very hot while recording 4k video (around the CPU area). Is there anything I can use to keep it cool?
I don't want to put anything on directly on the phone, but ...
- 143
2
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2
answers
163
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How to fix earphone ear plug which has rough edges?
I have one earphone which had a rubber surrounding over the edges of ear plug of that. Recently by my mistake I have lost that rubber surrounding due to which only the rough surface is present (you ...
- 949
6
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5
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2k
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How to extend the lifetime of a rechargeable battery?
Telephones sometimes don't have a replaceable battery, so how do you extend the life and ability to hold a charge of a rechargeable battery in one?
- 170
3
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1
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14k
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How can I remove a stuck ethernet cable?
So, I was helping someone with their router, and needed to access it via ethernet connection. I got the connection up and going, but now the cable is jammed and I can't get it out of my laptop.
I ...
user196
3
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5
answers
350
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How to make my keyboard not sticky?
I have a 2 year old keyboard here and the problem is it is now becoming sticky, by sticky what I mean is it is becoming hard to press, hard pressing will work but I find it hard, I cleaned it already, ...
- 1,945
3
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3
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745
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achieving a stable video-call experience with an infant or toddler
My wife and I make one important exception to the no-screen-time rule for our baby boy: video calls with Grandma (or with us, when we're forced to be apart). The problem is that a baby or toddler ...
- 607
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1
answer
119
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Smartphone data usage when travelling in US [closed]
I'm planning a trip to the US in an area I don't know well. It would be really helpful if I have my smartphone with me for things like google maps and staying in touch with people. Sadly, my provider ...
- 1,411
10
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1
answer
37k
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How to straighten out an electrical cord without damaging it? [closed]
Brand new cords straight out of the package are quite annoying, because they usually come folded up with a twist tie holding it all together. My setup kind of depends on a straight cord so that the ...
- 209
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2
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422
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Cheap way to get a clear plastic coffee table? For lying underneath it and using a windows 8.1 tablet on top [closed]
**I put this in lifehack stack exchange because I think also an alternative to the below could be built out of easy household obnjects that I just not have thought of
I'm going to use a windows 8.1 ...
- 277
4
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2
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20k
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Remove dust bubble from glass screen protector?
So I just got a glass screen protector for my iPad & while applying it, a speck of dust got trapped and caused a bubble. Now the bubble is on the edge of the device and not on the screen itself, ...
- 141
2
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2
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2k
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Fixing a micro usb socket.
I think I've damaged the USB power socket on my Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
I've tried it on a couple of different cables, and for both of them I have difficulty getting the phone to charge unless it's in ...
- 791
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1
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317
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What's the best way to get a Stack Exchange question on the Hot Network Questions list? [closed]
I would like to be able to regularly get questions that I ask on various Stack Exchange sites to appear on the HNQ list. What are some tips for getting and staying on the list? Please include tips for ...
- 93
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4
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5k
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Make monitor higher on desk [closed]
I used to have textbooks beneath my computer monitor, but I sold them to get some money back. Now my monitor's several inches too low. Instead of paying $40 for a new stand, is there a way I can make ...
- 1,411
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7
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55k
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How can I open an iPhone's SIM card slot without the included pin?
When purchased, iPhones come with this pin that you use to open the slot on the side to insert your SIM card. Now it's way beyond me how it's happened but out of the 3 iPhones I have I only have the ...
- 732
2
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1
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242
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Getting a human on an automated helpdesk [closed]
We've all encountered it; an automated helpdesk, usually pretending to be a human, which persistently misinterprets your requests.
The only time I ever succeeded with one was by typing what I hoped ...
- 294
0
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4
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287
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Earbud wiring setup to avoid yanking laptop / tablet when fall asleep
I listen to audio before bed. I'm going to use a earplugs/earbud hybrid like this to listen to audio: http://www.amazon.com/Plugfones-Contractor-Improved-Headphones-Protection/dp/B00RC301N4/ref=...
- 277
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4
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2k
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How could you get a chair with very high arm rests with large surface area parallel to ground?
Imagine this:
- Sit upright in a chair
- Stick arms out to the side so your upper body forms a T
- Using your biceps, bend your elbow 90 degrees so your fists are pointing in front of you
That's ...
- 277
2
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1
answer
1k
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Creating a stylus holder that attaches to tablet via full sized USB
This is basically what I want for my windows tablet to hold my wacom stylus:
https://i.sstatic.net/Yco2f.png
My tablet is maybe 2-3 mm thicker than the height of a USB port so the above pic won't ...
- 277
3
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2
answers
1k
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How can I remove scratches/ coating from my LG mobile camera lens
I recently bought a used LG G2 (T-mobile) from market and later on noticed that it does not takes the photos with expected quality.
I feel that the issue could be possibly because of scratches on ...
- 133
9
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2
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15k
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How to avoid paper sticking together in a printer?
A problem I've often had when loading paper into a printer is when two or more sheets get stuck together. This is unnoticeable when you put a big stack of paper into the printing tray, but becomes a ...
- 1,420
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7
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5k
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How to turn on the motion sensor controlled light when you're in the toilet?
It might have happened that when you are in a public or work toilet the light turns off because of the motion sensor, and as much as you wave your hands you cannot make it on again.
Is there an easy ...
- 171
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4
answers
35k
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Remove Ink That's Scribbled on top of Printed Text?
I have a piece of paper that has a ton of text printed from a computer.
One of the words on the paper has been scribbled through horizontally with an ink pen. I've tried holding it over the iPhone ...
- 31
19
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3
answers
38k
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Remove and restore stickers from back of laptop
I have a dozen stickers from hackathons on my laptop that I want to save. I am switching laptops and want to save them and put them on my new laptop. Anyone know a way I can do this? Even removing ...
- 376
26
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11
answers
44k
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How to avoid background reflection Computer display
At work I am sitting in front of a conference room which has lots of glass wall. It is always very bright and it makes my computer display look like a mirror. I tried playing with my display setting ...
- 363
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1
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2k
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Is it possible to use aluminium foil as heatsink? [closed]
We all know that aluminium foil is far cheaper than heatsink. In some cases aluminium foil works like a heatsink. So I want to use aluminium foil instead of heatsinks
131
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30
answers
21k
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Best (law-abiding) ways to inconvenience cold callers?
Like many people, I don't wish to receive unsolicited phone calls/texts/emails from people who are trying to sell me something or scam me.
I am aware of passive ways of dealing with the problem but I ...
- 1,744
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1
answer
1k
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How can I improve my wireless keyboard & mouse reception?
So I have a logitech wireless keyboard/mouse combo that I love the layout of. It's very ergonomic and I would prefer to keep using it. The problem is is that it only comes in wireless, and my pc is ...
- 1,348
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2
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1k
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Best Way To Sort Trading Cards
I have over 10,000 hockey cards that I am trying to sort and somehow put them on the computer. Is there any programs or scanners that can do this? If not what would be a fast way to enter them into ...
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213
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14
answers
40k
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How can I keep my cat off my keyboard?
This is a common scenario when typing:
When the family assembled for Sunday dinner,
With their minds made up that they wouldn't get thinner
On Argentine joint, potato^DR&FTGYB`...
- 7,492
8
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2
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2k
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How to get a stronger radio signal?
I have a headphone and a cellphone that has built-in FM radio, and the headphone acts as the radio antenna. but my problem is the radio stations I listen to are very far from my place, good thing ...
- 81
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1
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103
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Is there a human version of event data recorder? [closed]
For avoidance of false accusation, this would be a nice tool. Even if there will be some extra privacy issues which were not applied to drive recorder but applied to the human version of it, I think ...
4
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2
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181
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Makeshift stand for large tablet
I'm on a small holiday in a camping trailer, and amongst loads of other stuff I brought my iPad and a keyboard. But I didn't bring a stand for my iPad.
Do you have a suggestion for a makeshift stand ...
- 7,004
17
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6
answers
24k
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Cleaning MicroUSB socket on mobile phone
I have a Motorola Nexus 6, and recently I noticed the charging cable wasn't staying in place as well as it did when the phone was bought - my phone is charging, but if I picked it up whilst plugged in,...
- 272
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4
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18k
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How to keep laptop on your lap and still be safe?
I have been reading a lot of about how using laptop on one's lap is not safe for health (skin disease, fertility etc.)
I am in a situation where I need to be working from a living room sofa, and I ...
- 183
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3
answers
353
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Removing glare from monitor edges
That's my monitor:
The seller website boasts:
Antiglare coating: Ensures a clear view in brightly lit conditions.
This is true: the antiglare coating works well. But as the images proudly shows, ...
9
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11
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86k
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How to clean dirty white earphones
I've found a good-condition earphones in an old bag, and I've managed to clean the earphone cords with a rag and alcohol, I've also found this video which suggests to clean them with Window Cleaner ...
- 201
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3
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16k
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How to fix loose wire in headphone?
How would you fix the issue that you get with headphones where you have to have the wire at a specific angle so that the audio does not sound like it is underwater, or even so the audio plays at all? ...
- 21
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5
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558
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How can I get a head-phone plug out of the jack?
I just broke my headphone plug/jack. So it is now stuck inside my computer. How can I get it out?
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1
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1k
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How to safely wash my computer with garden hose? [closed]
Theoretically, the only problem of water with electricity is with electricity. So, if I wash my motherboard, RAM, CPU and everything else, it should boot fine if I make sure that there are no traces ...
- 111
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1
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361
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Is there a way to unstick 'tacky' buttons?
In my case, someone spilt a sugary drink on my computer's mouse - after cleaning the mouse it works fine except for the liquid that got under the edge of the keys and now leaves me with 'tacky' mouse ...
- 447
3
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1
answer
743
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How to protect micro switches?
The power button on my smartphone (Samsung Galaxy Note) stopped responding after carelessly using the phone outside on many rainy days. It would not come back so over time I got used to alternative ...
- 133
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6
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3k
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How to clean the inside of a desktop computer without a vacuum
Say I open a desktop computer case and it's very dusty -- not an uncommon situation. However, Oh no! I forgot my vacuum! What else can I use to thoroughly clean the inside of the computer?
I ...
- 11.6k
1
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1
answer
208
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Scanning several pages in a book
I have several notebooks with writing them I'd like to scan. The books have soft covers, but the pages can't be taken out. Is there any easy way to scan them without manually flipping through all the ...
- 1,411
4
votes
5
answers
11k
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How can I fortify micro USB connectors
Perhaps I'm heavy-handed but I've accidentally broken many micro usb cables by bending the connector on the cable and pulling it out of it's housing. I've tried a premium cable but even that broke the ...
- 1,749
20
votes
15
answers
11k
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Stop keyboard wobble due to uneven desk
I've just acquired and finished setting up a new wooden plank computer desk. Upon finishing the new setup I naturally went to use my keyboard and noticed that the wooden planks aren't exactly flush ...
- 319
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4
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8k
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How to Avert / Deflect refrigerator heat in room?
I am living in a tropical country right now, it gets pretty hot (~45 °C) in here.
Now, I have single room home which has my desktop & a refrigerator. As obvious, in order to make ice in high ...
- 181
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1
answer
4k
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How do I clean the inside of a keyboard that I spilled a drink into?
My keyboard works fine but some of the keys hesitate to press. This makes typing really difficult.
I have not figured out how to take it apart since there are no screws at all on the front or back.
- 1,287
49
votes
10
answers
242k
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How can I remove ants from my laptop keyboard?
There are ants in my laptop keyboard again. It's happened before and ended up killing my productivity occasionally as the little critters suddenly show up from within the gaps of the keyboard. I had ...
- 1,060