Readers offer their best tips for building a bouncer/diffuser for compact cameras, deleting sensitive files and better microwave results.
Every day we receive stacks of great reader tips. From the Tips Box is where we round up some of our favourites. Got a tip of your own to share? Add it in the comments or send it using our [contact text=”contact form”].
Build a Bouncer/Diffuser for Compact Cameras
Benny shares his build for a bouncer/diffuser for compact cameras:
I put together this build for a flash bouncer and diffuser for compact cameras. It helps you get more out of your built-in flash and it’s cheap to make.
Encrypt Sensitive Files Before Deleting for Better Security
Chris shares a tip for making sure deleted files stay deleted:
After a freak accident in which I deleted all of my family photos, I had to delve into the world of data recovery. While recovering my data, I inadvertently recovered a bunch of data from other people whose content had temporarily been on my hard drive. After I saw that, I tried to figure out how I could delete files and keep them from showing up in a data recovery scenario. My solution is to package them in an encrypted disk image before deleting. In my subsequent scans, the deleted image was never picked up (where the individual files always were).
Microwave Then Bake Frozen Foods for Great Taste in Less Time
Terry shares a food hack with us:
For the many snack foods that offer microwave and oven instructions, I find the baking method is normally better (crisper, tastier). But what takes 2 minutes in the microwave takes 25 minutes in the oven. While I am a fan of almost instant gratification, I’ve found that you can cut the baking time by more than half by microwaving for three quarters of the recommended microwave time first. For example, if you have a frozen burrito that takes 4 minutes in the microwave or 20 minutes in the oven, cook it for 3 minutes in the microwave and about 8 or 9 minutes in the oven.
I know a few foods have these combination instructions on them, but I’ve found that it works with almost everything that has both oven and microwave directions.
Photo by Doug Waldron.
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