Lifehacker readers offer their best tips for fixing blurry shots from your Android camera, turning off annoying Windows 8 gestures, and tricking your kids with Jedi mind techniques.
Every day we receive boatloads 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 the contact tab on the right.
Hold Android’s Camera Button to Avoid Blurry Shots
Adam figures out a confusing Android feature:
I love my Nexus phone, but its camera has been driving me crazy ever since I got it. Every time I take a photo it appears to be autofocusing, but then it takes a blurry photo. I usually have to try it two or three times before I get a good one.
Well, today one of my friends showed me how he does it: instead of tapping the camera button, press and hold it down. Then release when you want to take the picture. It’ll autofocus while you’re holding it, then take a clear shot when you release.
I don’t know if this is the way the Jelly Bean camera was designed to be used, but if so, Google didn’t do a great job of telling us.
Disable Annoying Gestures on Windows 8 Laptops
Jerry solves a Windows 8 annoyance:
Some people, myself included, have had trouble with a laptop running windows 8 with the charms bar jumping out, metro springing up, etc. while using the touchpad to move the cursor. If you go into the touchpad software (like Synaptics) you should find under settings an option to enable or disable “side swipes”. Disabling this makes the problem go away.
Every laptop is going to be a little different, but it’s handy to know that this may not be in Windows’ regular Control Panel or Mouse settings — try your manufacturer’s settings program.
Embrace Your Child’s Inner Contrarian with Reverse Psychology
Lltcritter70 pulls a little Jedi mind trick on his daughter:
When my daughter went through a strong contrarian stage, we got in the habit of pulling out three outfits. One went on the floor, and I’d hold up the other two and ask, “Do you want this one or this one?”
9 times out of 10, she went for the one on the floor.
Picture: Pascal/Flickr
Get Desktop Notifications for Outlook.com with GmailNotifierPro
MsCassLopez discovers a better way to get Outlook notifications:
Anyone who bemoans the lack of desktop notifications for Outlook.com can use GmailNotifierPro. The program itself makes a passable but not perfect desktop client for Outlook.com but it can be configured to show popup &/or tray notifcations for your unread or new Outlook.com mail. You can continue to use your regular method for reading/sending Outlook mail and just use this app as a notifier. It is limited by MS’s restrictions and lack of IMAP but if you just want a notifier then this is it. Just add your outlook address to the list and configure your notifications.
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