Jake Peterson

United States

Senior Technology Editor at Lifehacker

A muppet of a man. Senior Technology Editor, @lifehacker.

Articles

How to Join the Beta for the USPS ‘Informed Delivery’ App

5 days ago | lifehacker.com | Jake Peterson

I'm a big fan of the USPS' "Informed Delivery" option. When you enroll, the USPS will send you daily emails that show all mail and packages you're set to receive that day. (The mail scans arrive in grayscale, address-side only.) If you like to be surprised every time you open your mailbox, it's not the service for you. But for the rest of us, it's a helpful way to keep an eye on the day's incoming mail. Now, the USPS is expanding the feature, working on a dedicated Informed Delivery app.
Google Messages Will Soon Let You Delete Messages for Everyone

5 days ago | lifehacker.com | Jake Peterson

Not that long ago, sending a message was final. It didn't matter if you had an embarrassing typo, or you sent a message to the wrong person: Once you tapped that "send" button, you were locked in, and whoever that message was sent to would have it as long as they wanted. These days, however, we have the technology to save ourselves from such embarrassment.
Google Messages Will Soon Let You Delete Messages for Everyone

5 days ago | au.lifehacker.com | Jake Peterson

Not that long ago, sending a message was final. It didn't matter if you had an embarrassing typo, or you sent a message to the wrong person: Once you tapped that "send" button, you were locked in, and whoever that message was sent to would have it as long as they wanted. These days, however, we have the technology to save ourselves from such embarrassment.
This Little-Known iPhone Gesture Makes for a Great AirDrop Alternative

6 days ago | au.lifehacker.com | Jake Peterson

If you've had your Apple devices for a while, you probably think you know them pretty well. You have your various routines, habits, and hacks and you do what you need to do. But over the years, Apple has added a lot of features to its flagship productsâ€”including plenty of hidden gestures you might not know about.
How to Get Your 'Animal Crossing - New Horizons' Photos on Your Phone

1 week ago | smartphones.gadgethacks.com | Jake Peterson

We might not be able to hang out with friends in-person during a mandatory lockdown or self-quarantine, but we sure can in "Animal Crossing: New Horizons." Snapping pictures with the new NookPhone feels almost as personal as taking selfies in real life, so, naturally, we want those memories to live on our real phones as well. In pure Nintendo form, however, it's not easy. The first thing to understand here is that the photos you take with your NookPhone aren't really "photos," they're screenshots.
The US Government's Signal Situation Just Got Worse

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Jake Peterson

If you're looking to send personal messages securely, Signal is a great option. If you're a government official discussing classified information? Not so much. So is the case with Trump administration officials: Last month, we learned that highly sensitive war plans were being discussed in Signal group chats, after Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally added to the conversation by then-U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
You Can Update Your TV’s Firmware With a USB Drive

1 week ago | lifehacker.com | Jake Peterson

You likely update devices like your smartphone or laptop fairly frequently. (Perhaps you've put the latest one off a little longer than you should.) But how often are you updating other types of devices, like your TV? Despite how routine and simple your TV use may be, it can be important to keep the tube, like other devices, updated to the latest software and firmware version. And while many smart TVs routinely check for the latest updates, it's possible yours doesn't.
You Can Update Your TV’s Firmware With a USB Drive

1 week ago | au.lifehacker.com | Jake Peterson

You likely update devices like your smartphone or laptop fairly frequently. (Perhaps you've put the latest one off a little longer than you should.) But how often are you updating other types of devices, like your TV? Despite how routine and simple your TV use may be, it can be important to keep the tube, like other devices, updated to the latest software and firmware version. And while many smart TVs routinely check for the latest updates, it's possible yours doesn't.
Instacart Is Rolling Out a New Party App for Ordering Alcoholic Drinks and Snacks

1 week ago | lifehacker.com | Jake Peterson

Instacart is rolling out a new app, but it's not for ordering groceries—at least, not the essentials. Instead, Instacart sees "Fizz" as a party delivery app, designed for ordering snacks and alcoholic drinks. Fizz isn't the first to offer alcohol delivery, of course. Instacart itself supports alcohol delivery wherever it's legal, as does DoorDash.
Instacart Is Rolling Out a New Party App for Ordering Alcoholic Drinks and Snacks

1 week ago | au.lifehacker.com | Jake Peterson

Instacart is rolling out a new app, but it's not for ordering groceries—at least, not the essentials. Instead, Instacart sees "Fizz" as a party delivery app, designed for ordering snacks and alcoholic drinks. Fizz isn't the first to offer alcohol delivery, of course. Instacart itself supports alcohol delivery wherever it's legal, as does DoorDash.