Tech away: Lifehacks in your pocket

November 02, 2014 12:39 pm | Updated 12:39 pm IST

mp_techaway

mp_techaway

The Internet is a wondrous thing. While it can quite effectively run your life, it can ruin your life as well (a la Black Mirror ). However, as most of us try to harness the power of this great beast for good, here are some apps that can help you with any and every Do-It-Yourself project you are brave enough to attempt.

iFixit

As the name suggests, the app helps you with repairs in and around the house. It includes various step-by-step guides to tear down and fix a whole bunch of stuff; from smartphones to household appliances, from bikes to furniture. The interface is clean, easy to use and navigate. The app also lets you create and publish your own how-to manuals – take pictures, type in the instructions, et voila! You’ve made someone else’s life a little easier.

Houzz

Despite the cheesy name, Houzz is a great app – more of an architecture and interior design-based social network– popularly known as the “Wikipedia of Interior Design”. It contains a huge collection of DIY styles, ideas, articles, photographs, pointers, even contacts, that you can utilise to make your living space look and feel just the way you want it to.

wikiHow: the how to manual

Every single time you precede a question in your mind with a “How to…,” just open the app on your phone and type it out on the screen. With over 120,000 articles, there is a sure-shot guarantee that whatever it is you’re looking for, you will find it here. From tips on “How to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew” to “How to tie a tie” and even “How to save yourself from an attacking bear”, the app has all the solutions.

Craftgawker

The app is essentially a curated photo gallery, where you can browse for ideas and inspiration on handmade arts and crafts. You can then pick and choose what you like, get directed to the uploader’s site for detailed steps and descriptions, save photos as favourites and even share them on social media. You can also search for what you want by category, tags and popularity, and sync your favourite ideas between the app and craftgawker.com.

SAS Survival Guide

If you like living life on the wild side, this is the app for you. And if you’re a seasoned wilderness lover, you probably already have a copy of this book in your house. However, even if you’re a beginner just starting to pay heed to the seductive call of the wild, the app will provide you with a very in-depth take on wilderness survival. Available is the full text of the original book, videos of survival tips, survival checklists, a compass, a First Aid section, how to survive extreme climates and such like. Go for it, champ.

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