Lifehacker readers offer their best tips for keeping Dyson dryers running longer, text-expanding commonly typed URLs, and learning all about pocket knives.
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.
Keep Dyson Dryers Running by Alternating Hands
Ed shares some insight on using Dyson Airblade hand dryers:
During that awkward silence when everyone has a bladder full of soda and are patiently waiting in the men’s room, I heard a couple of young teens express how much they hate the Dyson hand dryers. “It cuts off before your entire hand gets dry!”, they exclaimed.
Since they are motion sensitive, I would have thought the solution was obvious. I explained that they should alternate hands, ensuring one hand is going in as the other is coming out. I pass this tip on to you in the hopes that we can educate movie goers around the globe.
Expand URLs with Custom Search Engines
Stephen shares a useful tip for saving some keystrokes when visiting websites:
Use a custom search engine for text expansion to make getting to commonly-visited sites easier.
Sure, bookmarks are great but sometimes you don’t want to use your mouse or remember some custom keystroke. Typing a two or three letter phrase is just easier. For example, instead of typing out calendar.google.com, I made a custom search engine with the keyword cal and the search address http://calendar.google.com. Now, I can just type cal + enter to go right to Google Calendar.
There’s also a whole lot more you can do with custom search engines. Be sure to check out all the cool stuff you could be doing with them!
Everything You Need to Know about Buying Pocket Knives
Tim shares a really nice guide to all things pocket knife:
The pocket knife may seem like a simple tool, but there are lots of different components, blade styles, and other things. I found a pretty great pocket knife buying guide over at Knife Depot that covers pretty much everything you might want to know about them.
Copy/Paste in Linux with the Middle Mouse Button
Nathan shares the quick way to copy/paste in Linux:
I just wanted to let you know that in Linux, the middle mouse button is great for copying and pasting:
- Select some text and then middle-click somewhere else to paste whatever you selected.
- Select some text and then middle-click New Tab button in Chrome to perform a Google search on the selected text.
It’s not absolutely universal. Some text fields don’t support it at 100%, but most do.
Photo by mtellin.
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