Last Week’s 10 Biggest Posts

You wanted tax advice, Android launchers, home servers and Apple’s explanation for eliminating major roads in the centre of Melbourne. Kick off your Monday by checking out the ten most popular posts from Lifehacker Australia last week:

  1. Whose Tax Returns Is The ATO Double-Checking This Year?
    Each year, the Australian Taxation Office singles out specific careers where expenses claims and refund amounts will be more closely scrutinised. The targets this year? IT professionals, plumbers and non-commissioned defence force officers. Plus: all the current ATO guides for deductions in specific jobs.
  2. Five Best Android Launchers
    Whether you’re tired of your stock home screen or just want to try something new, there’s bound to be an Android launcher that’s just right for you. This week we’re going to check out our top five Android launchers for customisation, speed, design and features.
  3. Best Ways To Get Free Wi-Fi Everywhere
    Whether you’re travelling or just trying to get out of the house a bit more, there’s one thing that plagues us everywhere we go: Wi-Fi. We may not have that cloud of Wi-Fi covering the planet yet, but you can find free Wi-Fi almost anywhere, if you know how to look. Here’s what you need to know.
  4. What’s New For Your 2011-2012 Tax Return
    The end of the financial year is almost upon us, so you’ll soon be submitting your annual tax return. Here are the big changes from last year to be aware of.
  5. Turn An Old Computer Into A Networked Backup Or Streaming Machine
    You’ve heard the word “server” thrown around a lot, but it’s usually in the context of websites or big companies that have a lot of data to store. In reality, a server can be just as useful in your home. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to create your own server at home that you can put in the closet and leave on 24/7, ready to stream, download or back up at a moment’s notice.
  6. Build The Mac Pro You Wish Apple Had Released
    Last week, Apple updated its Mac Pros with old processors from 2010, even older graphics cards and all the USB 2.0 ports you’ll ever need. With a proper update unlikely until 2013, we thought we’d bridge the gap with “hackintoshes” — the faster, cheaper Mac desktops you can build yourself with standard PC hardware. By making your own “Hack Pro” you’ll get the up-to-date machine Apple won’t provide, and you’ll also save a lot of money in the process.
  7. How To Fix Movies That Are Really Quiet, Then REALLY LOUD
    Have you ever watched a movie where the dialogue was almost inaudible, but then all of a sudden an action scene comes in and shakes your house with noise? Here’s how to fix that problem in VLC.
  8. Dear Apple, Where Did You Put Swanston St?
    One of the major new features in iOS 6 is the inclusion of Apple’s own mapping technology. Building a map isn’t easy, and the first screenshots from the beta version suggest that even for well-covered locations such as the Melbourne CBD, Apple has a lot of work to do.
  9. Ask LH: Can I Salary Sacrifice A Laptop, An iPad And Some Software?
    Dear Lifehacker, I am about to enter negotiations for a new work contract and will be putting forward my ideas for some real perks. I want to salary sacrifice to purchase a MacBook Pro with software, and possibly an iPad.
  10. Ask LH: Should I Pay Off My HELP Debt?
    Dear Lifehacker, I’m free from debt on all accounts except for a student HELP debt. I have sufficient savings to pay out this debt, however given the low interest rate applied to HELP debt is my money better off invested somewhere else, such as in a high interest savings account? I know some people say you can avoid student debts entirely if you move overseas, and I want to consider my options carefully.

Picture by Pen Waggener


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