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Life Hacks

How to Find a Lost Phone

by Scarlett on April 20, 2011 · 0 comments

in: Life Hacks, Web Apps & Add-Ons

Once in a while, I come across a web application that’s so genius in its usefulness and simplicity, I have to take a momentary time out, facepalm myself, and say “why didn’t I think of that?” Such was the case when I found ICantFindMyPhone.com, which takes the stress right out of finding a lost phone.

Just plug in your digits, and this stylishly simple lost phone locator will ring you within seconds – a perfect solution for helping you locate a phone that’s momentary gone missing. And it even has a blacklist option, so you can prevent your devious friends (or jealous ex-lovers) from bugging you by means of the app’s software. Ingenuity!

Now there are a few caveats; personally, I have my phone set to ring silently when it receives an incoming call from an unknown number. I blame this necessity on a snafu with my credit card companies – clearly not my fault, since I was dead at the time (not true) – but generally it serves me well. Not so if I were on the lookout for a missing mobile; you can get around this by adding 208-953-1569 (the service’s ringback number) to your phone book.

Another thing to keep in mind is that tracking a lost cell phone with this method will only really work if you have a general idea of where the bugger might be hiding. At your home, workplace, or a friend’s abode? Aces! But if your phone wandered off randomly – perhaps on a bus, or in some kind of public place – this app won’t help much, as its only function is to call your phone, not to provide the person who answers a way to return it to you. (In a situation like that, utilizing your service provider’s GPS locator would be your best bet – provided that it’s part of your phone plan.)

And yes, some may say that if you have nearby internet access, you could always contact a friend and ask them to ring your phone. (Or use a landline, but those are for old people and Luddites!) So what if it’s 3am, you’re itching to make a booty call, but all your friends and their pansy early-bird asses are asleep? How are you going to find your phone then? … I mean, that scenario could present itself sometime, right? Not that I would know.

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DIY Cable and Computer Cord Manager

by Scarlett on March 25, 2010 · 0 comments

in: Life Hacks

Put this squarely in the “dammit, why didn’t I think of that first?” file …

If you’re like me, you’ve got random cords n’ cables stashed (and likely tangled) all over and around your computer desk. Charger cables for your cell phone and mp3 player; headphone and mic cables; game controller cords; basically anything that can be plugged into an outlet or a PC jack could probably use a little organizational lovin’. That’s why I was thrilled to find this ridiculously simple, yet utterly awesome DIY computer cord manager hack. All you need is a handful of inexpensive binder clips (easily found at any office supplies store, or even a Target or Walmart). Attach the binder clip to the edge of your desk and slip the cord connector through the widest part of the clip arm. Just be sure to measure the lip on your desk to ensure that the clip can accommodate the correct width – though in most cases, buying the medium or large clips should be fine. Genius! [Via The UberReview]

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