This week marks Lifehacker's 8th birthday, and to celebrate we put the call out to you to help us determine what some of our best tips, tricks, and guides from the past eight years have been. A lot has changed since 2005, but one thing that hasn't changed is the dose of quick and simple tips and hacks combined with longer guides and how-tos that we work hard to bring you every day. Here's are five of those tips that you, our readers, told us stand out in your mind the most.
Speaking as someone who remembers reading the site launch back in 2005, stuck around as a commenter, and eventually wound up writing for his favorite time-wasting-yet-productivity-boosting blog so many years later, if you'd asked me to pick just one guide to nominate, I'd have a fit. Many of you did too, and offered up a number of your favorites.
We know that no matter which five we highlight here, we could ask any of you to pick a Lifehacker tip that helps you get things done and get a ton of different answers, so let us know in the discussions which ones you think were killer articles, whether they're old or recently posted!
Fill Dresser Drawers from Front to Back Instead of Top to Bottom
Also known as the "store shirts in your dresser on their side" trick, many of you noted this article was one of our hacks that not just changed the way you regularly do things, but it's stuck with you for the long haul. I can vouch for this one personally: after we posted this one, I started storing my t-shirts on their side as well, and it's a much better method for being able to tell exactly what's on the shirt you want to wear before you pull it out of the dresser. Plus, while it may not technically save space, it's definitely a bit more organized, and looks better in your dresser to boot.
Save Bundles of Cash by Buying Eyeglasses Online
This tip was so popular that we actually mentioned it a couple of times in those Lifehacker early years?once in 2006, once in 2007, and the longer guide above in 2009. Still, many of you pointed out that at least one of these posts were the ones that swore you off of eyeglass stores and their crazy markup on frames and labor. Many of the tips in that 2009 article still hold today, and while prices at many eyeglass shops have come down since then, it's still a great idea to browse frames online if you already have your prescription, order your glasses online, and then take them to a local shop for tweaking and adjustments if you need them. Photo by Kessiye.
Tie Your Shoes Faster with the Ian Knot
Some of you called this out as one of those life-changing hacks that, while not exactly technologically advanced or super-intricate, made enough of a difference in your lives that you remember it and practice it to this day. In fact, this is another one of those posts that we loved so much that the link above is only the most recent time we've featured it (thanks DustinLuck!), we also highlighted it in 2005, 2006, and shared a (now gone) video in 2010 before the above post in 2011. It's proof that sometimes the best hacks are the ones we post every now and then so new readers and long-time members of the community alike can remember. By the by, it's not the only shoelace hack we've shared over the years.
Fold a T-Shirt in Two Seconds
This one is one of my all-time favorite Lifehacker posts as well. We posted this Japanese video initially in 2006, but then posted an English version in 2007 if you prefer. It's one of those tips you have to see to really understand, but once you understand it, you'll find yourself doing it all the time before you put your shirts away. Preferably in a drawer, organized from front to back.
Build a Silent, Stand-Alone XBMC Media Center on the Cheap
Many of you mentioned our complete guide to building a computer, our regularly updating PC build guides, and even the time our founding editor Gina Trapani came back to share her experiences building her first PC from scratch, but one post many of you called out specifically was Adam Pash's guide to building an super-silent but also powerful XBMC media center affordably. This is still a solid tip, although the PC at the core of the build is no longer available. You could always substitute another similarly powerful-yet-tiny nettop, or grab a Raspberry Pi and build your media center for even less money.
Now that you've seen the top five, it's time to vote for the one you all think is the best of the group!
Old tips are great, but many of you showed a lot of love for our new articles too! A couple of honorable mentions: Our 2012 guide to cracking WPA with Reaver and how easy it is to sniff out passwords and cookies (and how to protect yourself) were a few.
How to create an instant snack bowl from any snack bag, which is still one of my personal favorites, and our guide on using your webcam for home surveillance were also among your favorites. Many of you also praised our Always Up-To-Date Guides for staying relevant after all these years.
Still, we're sure you have some others to share. Let us know which tip, hack, DIY project, how-to guide, detailed walkthrough, or myth-busting explainer really stands out in your mind in the discussions below. Thanks for everything, and here's to eight great years!
The Hive Five is based on reader nominations. As with most Hive Five posts, if your favorite was left out, it's not because we hate it?it's because it didn't get the nominations required in the call for contenders post to make the top five. We understand it's a bit of a popularity contest, but if you have a favorite, we want to hear about it. Have a suggestion for the Hive Five? Send us an email at tips+hivefive@lifehacker.com!
Title image made using Ambient Ideas (Shutterstock).
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