From The Tips Box: Passwords, Google, Torrent Shortcuts

Readers offer their best tips for retrieving passwords in Mac OS X, searching Google quickly, and quickly navigating through Torrentz.eu.About the Tips Box: Every day we receive boatloads of great reader tips in our inbox, but for various reasons — maybe they’re a bit too niche, maybe we couldn’t find a good way to present it, or maybe we just couldn’t fit it in — the tip didn’t make the front page. From the Tips Box is where we round up some of our favourites for your buffet-style consumption. Got a tip of your own? Email it to tips at lifehacker.com.au.

Retrieve Mac Password Through Keychain Access

Raj Nagra shows us how to retrieve passwords that you didn’t write down:

The tech guy at my work let me use my MacBook on the Wi-Fi there after I sweet talked him for a little while. He entered the WPA key himself so he didn’t have to divulge it and I didn’t get to see it (makes sense for security purposes). Then I thought, what if I want to connect my iPad or other devices too?

I did some digging and found out that all the network keys you’ve ever used are stored conveniently at Utilities/Keychain Access/Passwords. Just find the SSID, double-click on it, and check “Show Password.” Enter your password for your account and all will be revealed.

This is also especially useful for when your grandma forgets her network’s password. Just open up the entry in Keychain Access and you’ve got it. It’s obvious if you use something like 1Password or LastPass, but less obvious if you don’t, since the Keychain will usually save stuff without you even knowing.

Drag Text to Chrome’s Tab Bar to Search on Google

JBambrick shares an alternative way to search for text from a page:

This may have been mentioned before but a simple way to search phrases on a webpage on Chrome is to highlight the phrase and then drag and drop it into the tabs bar.

You can also right click on the text and choose “Search in Google”, but dragging and dropping might be more comfortable for some.

Make Torrentz.eu Easier to Use with a Userscript

BayXSonic created a userscript for easier torrent searching:

For those who use Torrentz.eu, here’s a gift to you: Torrentz.eu for Your Mom.

The script adds direct links to .torrent files on torrage.com, torcache.com and zoink.it and magnet link to all elements.

Create a Makeshift Standing Desk to Avoid Overhauling Your Workspace

Mrjeremiahross shares his temporary standing desk solution:

Lifehacker has been trying to convince me that standing is a superior work method than sitting, and gave me an amusing excuse for why I am gaining weight (my wife blames pie…how unscientific).

Since my desk is built into the wall (and most of us don’t have the ability to change the furniture configuration in the office) there is a solution.

  1. Get a girly oversized storage box from your local discount store (I chose paisley black and purple)
  2. Keep at your feet as an aesthetically pleasing “storage box”
  3. Use it to make your desk convertible. Place the box on your desk, place keyboard/laptop and mouse on top of box, and enjoy your standing desk.

You may wish to use a measuring tape before selecting the box, to make sure that you are working at a comfortable height. You may also wish to elevate your monitor so that you are not straining your neck.

It isn’t adjustable like some other solutions, but if you make sure to measure before you go grab a box, it’ll probably work OK.


The Cheapest NBN 50 Plans

Here are the cheapest plans available for Australia’s most popular NBN speed tier.

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