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1. Use your keyboard to scroll on webpages
This trick might be well-known, but we thought it was still worth including: Use the space bar to scroll down on any webpage.You can even hold the shift key and the space bar at the same time to scroll up.
2. Your headphones double as a mic
Need a microphone but don't want to spend money on one? Easy. Grab
any pair of headphones lying around, then plug them into the microphone
jack, and start talking. This isn’t exactly secret knowledge, but if
you don't know about it, we think it'll blow your mind. Of course, the
quality isn't amazing, but you can't have it all.
3. Spelling, grammar and definition help
If you'd like a little extra help when writing online, then we'd highly recommend Grammarly. This tool gives you tips and suggestions for grammar, spelling and general sentence construction whatever you're doing on the web.You can even double-click a word to highlight it and get suggested other words to use instead.
4. Use emoji on desktops
If you thought emoji were limited to mobile devices, think again. You can use them on desktop, too. For Mac: Press control+command+spacebar to get the emoji menu. For
PC: The latest version of Chrome has an emoji menu. Simply right-click
anywhere you can type and click "Emoji" in the menu to access all the
available emojis.
5. Quickly re-open a closed tab
If you just accidentally closed an important tab in your browser, you can easily re-open it by pressing command+shift+t on a Mac or control+shift+t on Windows PC. This can be used multiple times too, so keep pressing to open all the tabs you've closed recently.6. Find the cheapest place to stream a movie from
For those of you who are cable-cutters, you'll love this site: CanIStream.It tells you where any movie is available to stream - and at the lowest price too.
7. No internet? Play a game
When
your internet connection goes out and the Google Chrome browser gives
you an error page, press the spacebar to start a T-Rex game. At least
you won't be bored while you wait to get online again. If you find your
internet returns and ruins your game, no need to worry, you can carry on online here.
8. Hide people on Twitter without blocking them
Twitter's mute button is a little-known trick that is severely understated. It allows you to keep following an account but hides its tweets and retweets from your timeline. It's a simple way to rid a person from your Twitter without unfollowing them and thus offending them.
9. Remotely log out of Facebook
Privacy
tips are always worth a mention, especially when it comes to Facebook,
considering everyone and their mother uses the social network. Have you
ever checked Facebook on a strange device and then realised you forgot
to log out? Never fear - you can log out still,
remotely. Go to the "settings" drop-down menu on your Facebook, then
select "security", and navigate to "when you’re logged in".
10. Improve your WiFi signal
If
you're finding your home WiFi is a bit flakey, then it might be because
you're getting some interference from your neighbour's WiFi overlapping
with yours. The Wifi Analyzer app
may be the answer to your woes. This app scans frequencies and makes
recommendations on the optimal channels to use on your network to avoid
overlap. The result is faster WiFi with far less hassle.
11. Find direct download links to music
To find a direct download link for music, search "[album or song name] -inurl:(htm|html|php|pls|txt) intitle:index.of "last modified" (mp3|wma|aac|flac)". It tells Google to show webpages that offer direct download links to the music you're trying to find. Here's an example for the album Straight Outta Compton: Google search this phrase: straight outta compton -inurl:(htm|html|php|pls|txt) intitle:index.of "last modified" (mkv|mp4|avi)
12. DIY cord protector
Here's a nifty hack for preventing your Apple charging cables and other cords from fraying: Grab the spring out of a ballpoint pen, then stretch it and wrap it around the part of the cord that tends to bend, and it'll keep it straight forever, thus stopping it from wearing down over years.
13. Use Spotlight search as a calculator
You'll never have to use a calculator again with this trick - so long as you own a Mac: Use command (⌘) + space to perform quick calculations in Spotlight search.
14. Quickly dial back your last caller
Want
to call back the last number you dialled or received a call from? The
quickest way is to hit the call button on your phone. It'll dial back
their number. There's no need to access your contacts or call lists.
15. Never hit the full stop key again
Who
knew you never actually have tap the full stop key on a smartphone? All
you have to do is hit the space bar twice for a full stop, and the next
letter will be automatically capitalised too. If you're using a custom
keyboard like Swiftkey, then you can program it to do other clever things like predicting your sentence too.
16. DIY cord/cable holder
LEGO mini-figs are perfectly shaped to hold your Apple lightning cords and other cables. Just stick a LEGO brick on your work desk, then attach a mini-fig, and run your cords through its hands. Yeah, you can thank us later.
17. Shortcut for pausing a YouTube video
We think little tricks are fun, too. For instance, when you press K or spacebar while watching a video on YouTube, it will pause or play the video. How neat is that? And it works regardless of where you clicked last on the page.
18. Search YouTube without going to YouTube
Searching
YouTube has never been easier than it is with this trick: when using
the Google Chrome browser, you can type YouTube.com into your address
bar, then hit tab, and search YouTube directly from your address bar.
Gone are the days of actually going to YouTube to find something.
19. Know the best time to pee during a movie
This one is just plain funny... Download the RunPee app to your iOS, Android, or Windows device, and it'll tell you the best time to go to the bathroom while watching any movie so you won't miss an amazing scene or plot twist.
20. Convert Wiki pages into books
You can render any Wikipedia page electronically in PDF, ZIM or OpenDocument format, or ordered as a printed book. This page shows you how to create a book from Wikipedia articles in four steps.
21. Use Google to find your Android
Google offers an Android device manager that lets you find a lost or stolen device, but you can also Google "find my phone" to locate your Android device. Just remember you must be logged into the Google account associated with your Android.
22. Google can help you study
Whenever you need to study for an important exam in college or high school, just google "site:edu [subject] exam", and then you'll get links to tonnes of sample exams with solutions and everything.
23. Get coupon codes with Honey
Download the Honey add-on extension to your Chrome browser to instantly begin saving money. It automatically applies coupon codes during checkout at any online retailer. Woohoo!
24. See if your email is involved in a data breach
Again, we love privacy tips. We're sure you do too. There's a brilliant website known as HaveIBeenPwned.com. This site simply monitors your email address to alert you if and when it is compromised in a data breach. This works retrospectively too.
25. Easily close any online account
It's
sometimes super annoying to close online accounts, as services will
bury the option under settings and help menus. Well, say hello to a
website called AccountKiller.com. It gives step-by-step guides on how to delete online accounts from popular websites with ease.
26. Turn an old phone into a dashcam
If you've got an old phone just lying around gathering dust, then you could put it to better use by using it as a dashcam. With a good charging cable, screen mount and a dedicated dashcam app you can create a brilliant dashcam device for very little money.27. TP roll cable organiser
Every
tech enthusiast has a draw, box or bag full of cables somewhere in the
house. But how often do these cables just get tanged up and become an
unbearable mess? Instructables has a guide on using empty toilet rolls to hold your cables and keep them separate.
28. Keyboard cleaning with Post-its
If
your keyboard is a tad filthy, full of dust and fluff, then a few
Post-it notes should sort you right out. Rub the sticky end through the
gaps to give it a quick and easy clean.
29. Microwaving more than one thing
Cooking
dinner for two but haven't got enough room in the microwave? You can
use this trick to cook two meals at once. You will have to leave them in
for longer though as the instructions will only be intended for one
meal and they wouldn't be cooked through properly otherwise but at least
both meals will be ready at the same time.