Last Week’s 10 Biggest Posts

You wanted new Usenet options, good mobile plans and a cleaner house. Kick off your Monday by checking out the ten most popular posts from Lifehacker Australia last week:

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1. Which Usenet Service Should I Use Now That NZBMatrix Has Closed?
   Dear Lifehacker, After reading some of your previous stories I made the switch to Usenet, and have been happily grabbing Linux distros and whatnot for the past year or so. NZBMatrix went under last night, and I was wondering if you would be able to provide a list of worthy alternatives?
2. Five Best Computer Monitors
   Upgrading your computer’s hardware isn’t the only way to get that new machine experience. A new monitor can go a long way towards making your computer more fun to use and more functional. Here are five of the best to choose from, based on reader nominations.
3. How Does Kogan’s Mobile Offering Stack Up?
   Kogan announced overnight a very cheap mobile prepaid deal using Telstra’s older 3G network. Is it actually good value?
4. Mobile Phone Plans You Should Avoid
   Lifehacker’s Planhacker tables can help you pick out the best contract plans for all sorts of circumstances. Everyone’s needs differ, but some plans represent bad value no matter where you’re coming from. Here are some of the worst-value options from every major carrier, plus the choices that make more sense.
5. Turn Your FreeNAS Box Into The Ultimate Anonymous Downloading Machine
   A low-powered home server is one of the best ways to download files using BitTorrent and Usenet, but if you want to minimise legal hassles you need to anonymise your traffic. Here’s how to turn your FreeNAS box into the ultimate downloading machine so you can download safely and monitor its activity from anywhere.
6. Top 8 Handy iOS Tweaks That Don’t Require Jailbreaking
   Jailbreaking your iPhone has a lot of benefits that give you actual control over your device — but it isn’t always possible. If you’re tired of waiting for the next version of iOS to be jailbroken, check out these tweaks and customisations you can make whether you’re jailbroken or not.
7. It’s Still Illegal For Restaurants To Quote A Sunday Surcharge
   The Christmas break is quickly approaching, there are a stack of public holidays during that time, and the odds are good that you’ll eat out more often than usual during that period. Remember this: it’s illegal for restaurants and cafes to display a message saying something like ‘10% surcharge on Sundays and public holidays’. They can charge more on given days, but they need to display the total price of each item on the menu.
8. How To Clean Your House In 15 Minutes Or Less
   Your guests are arriving in 15 minutes and your house is not exactly the epitome of cleanliness. Don’t panic! Here are a few tips and strategies for cleaning your house in 15 minutes — or at least giving the appearance of having a spotless domicile.
9. Are Surface RT Buyers Still Happy?
   It’s been more than a month since Microsoft started selling the Surface RT. That’s enough time for the initial shine to wear off, and time for it to start really mattering. But does it?
10. How Foxtel Is Changing Your Movies Package
    From January 1 2013, Foxtel will trim its range of movie packages down to one all-you-can-eat movies bundle (with a generous side serving of HBO content). What does that mean for existing subscribers? We’ve got the lowdown.