I kind of wish "life hacks" as we know them today could be replaced with a simple set of tricks, such as "melt a pen cap to remove weird screws" or "blanch onions to make peeling them easier". A blending of classic tricks (like the onions) and modern tricks (pen cap).
99% chance you don't need a cell phone turned on 24x7
Agreed, my phone automatically powers off at 11PM and on at 7:30AM, and I barely ever notice. I do notice the improved battery life though.
99% chance you don't need a stupid GPS guiding what you do, where you drive
While true, the cost of a GPS unit is so low it is easy to throw one in the glove box for that 1% when you do need it.
I realize this question is entirely contrary to the OP's point, but I really must know: how do you get your phone to automatically turn off and on? It must be a hardware feature, and not an app, right?
Heh, this is a $20 dumbphone from AT&T (Huawei U2800A). It is probably a hardware feature, PC RTC wakeup style. Not sure if the various appphones can wake up at a time, though there ought to be apps or settings to shut down at a time.
I do nearly the same thing, just with flight-mode from 1am to 7am. N900 event editor.
However, I agree with the parent to some extent; I could live just fine without tech for as long as required, but on the other hand the information super-firehose is fun and stimulating in ways a walk in the park just isn't. Keyword: moderation.
Hey! Getting my app to do something of questionable utility in a completely stereotypical but pretty-looking way featured on Lifehacker is the keystone of my marketing plan!
I personally find a GPS unit (or, now, a GPS app on my phone) to be way more convenient than a map. Safer, too, since I can pay more attention to the actual driving.
"Need" is a difficult word to work with, here. Do you "need" electricity? Your ancestors got by fine without it. Beyond air, water, and food, you don't really need anything.
I have several in my car, and I make use of them. I find they are great for navigating freeways, but GPS is better in-town, particularly for locating an arbitrary house address or a business by name.
99% chance you don't need a cell phone turned on 24x7
Agreed, my phone automatically powers off at 11PM and on at 7:30AM, and I barely ever notice. I do notice the improved battery life though.
99% chance you don't need a stupid GPS guiding what you do, where you drive
While true, the cost of a GPS unit is so low it is easy to throw one in the glove box for that 1% when you do need it.