OS X El Capitan is here, and while you’re waiting for that download to complete, you might as well get an overview of its new features. Let’s take a look at all the new stuff and a few of the things that’ve changed since OS X Yosemite.

Full Screen Mode, Split View, and Split View Adjustments

El Capitan features a revamped full screen mode for apps. This makes it a lot more viable to use for most of us. Alongside the new full screen mode comes split view, which allows you to run two apps side-by-side in full screen. You can easily change how much screen real estate each app takes up clicking and pulling the divider in the middle.

Mission Control Is Simplified

Mission Control gets a slight overall to make it easier to use. Now, when you launch Mission Control, your windows are organized and not grouped together in the cluttered mess they were in Yosemite.

Notes Can Now Make Checklists, Add Content from Other Apps, and More

Like iOS 9, the Notes app gets a big overhaul in El Capitan. You get much richer notes, including the ability to make checklists, and instantly add in attachments, or share info from other apps.

Spotlight Search Now Uses Natural Language

Spotlight gets a nice update in El Capitan. First off, you can now resize and move the Spotlight window just as you can with any app. More importantly, Spotlight’s search has been expanded. As in iOS 9, you can now search for context sensitive stuff using natural language. You can search for things like sports scores, rosters, or schedules. Beyond that, you can search your own system like this, skipping the complicated keywords needed before. For example, you can search from “pictures from September,” “emails from Whitson,” or “files created yesterday.”

Disk Utility Gets a New Look

Disk Utility hasn’t changed much since OS X Panther, but El Capitan finally brings along some stuff. You get more information about your disc, including encryption info and whether the new System Integrity Protection feature is enabled. SIP protects certain system processes from being tampered with even if someone has root access, which should help prevent problems with malware and other potential exploits.

Wiggle to Enlarge the Cursor

As dumb as this sounds, one of the features Apple actually talked about in the keynote with El Capitan is the new find your mouse wiggle. Wiggle your mouse and you’ll see the cursor enlarge. Silly, but handy for people with massive screens.

Music by Podington Bear.

from Lifehacker http://ift.tt/1JCZ9bs

Here are the best of today’s deals. Get every great deal every day on Kinja Deals, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to never miss a deal, join us on Kinja Gear to read about great products, and on Kinja Co-Op to help us find the best.

---

More Deals

Today’s Best Gaming Deals​

http://ift.tt/1HvGi7I...

Today’s Best Media Deals

http://ift.tt/1eY4qni...

Today’s Best App Deals

http://ift.tt/1eY4qnc...

This Week’s Best Apparel Deals

http://ift.tt/1SBHsns...

---

Top Deals

---

Today only, Amazon’s taking 45% off select athletic shoes and clothing from New Balance. There are options available for men, women, and even kids, so click through to see the full collection. [Get 45% Off Select New Balance Shoes and Clothing at Amazon]

---

Cards Against Humanity is the most popular game we’ve ever posted, and it never goes on sale. Hell, on Black Friday last year, they actually raised the game’s price by $5. Today only though, Amazon is taking 20% off the base game and all of its expansion packs, while supplies last.

http://ift.tt/1Qyn2Gy...

If you’re somehow unfamiliar, Cards Against Humanity is basically an R-rated version of Apples to Apples, and I highly recommend you play it with your parents. I’ll be shocked if this isn’t sold out by lunchtime. [Cards Against Humanity Gold Box]

---

The Phantom 3 Standard is DJI’s new “beginner” drone, but still boasts a 2.7K camera, easy flight controls, and a class-leading 25 minutes of battery life.

http://ift.tt/1LZzr5i...

If you’ve been waiting on a good deal to take to the skies, you can grab yours for $610 today. That’s $90 off its usual selling price, and the best deal we’ve seen. As someone who spent $1,000 on a technically inferior Phantom 2 Vision+ earlier this year, I’m a little salty about this, but I recommend it wholeheartedly. [DJI Phantom 3 Standard, $610]

---

Air purifiers with True HEPA filters aren’t cheap, but this AeraMax 200 is one of the best deals you’ll see. Amazon’s selling the freestanding purifier for $120 today, an all-time low, and well below its usual $200 price tag.

The AeraMax 200 automatically detects particles in the air, and cycles itself on and off accordingly. It’s also certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, so if fall is a particularly awful allergy season for you, this could certainly help. [AeraMax 200 Air Purifier for Allergies and Odors with True HEPA Filter and 4-Stage Purification, $120]

http://ift.tt/1mc1Zyg...

---

Intocircuit’s Power Castle USB battery packs are some of the most popular on the market, and you can save big on a pair of high capacity models today.

Intocircuit 13000 mAh 4.8A Dual USB Power Castle Portable External Battery Charger ($15) | Amazon | Promo code 1NEWDEAL

http://ift.tt/14XOGe2

Intocircuit 15000 mAh 4.8A Dual USB Power Castle Portable External Battery Charger ($18) | Amazon | Promo code 2NEWDEAL

http://ift.tt/14XOHP4

---

It’s nearly June, which means it’s time to stock up on beach gear, and I can’t endorse the Sport-Brella Beach Umbrella highly enough. I bought this thing for about $55 last summer, but today only, Woot’s selling them for just $35 shipped, the lowest price we’ve ever seen.

Unlike a traditional umbrella, this model digs into the sand with a series of stakes to provide a full canopy shelter that’s big enough for two chairs and a cooler. Once you figure out how to set it up, it only takes about 5-10 minutes, and you’ll feel like beach royalty for the rest of the day in your private oasis of shade. [Sport-Brella, $35]

http://ift.tt/1KLxKbk...

---

Aukey’s newest Bluetooth speaker is tire-shaped, water resistant, and only $20 today. That’s a good price for any Bluetooth speaker, let alone one that you can take into the shower with you. [Aukey Wireless Bluetooth Waterproof Speaker, $20 with code 9ODRXK4L]

http://ift.tt/1Gh3BfV

---

We see deals on wine accessories every so often, but this $11 kit includes four of them. Even if you don’t need it for yourself, it would make a great gift. Here’s what you get:

• Decanter
  
• Vacuum Sealer
• Drip Ring
• Corkscrew

Bevan Wine Accessories 4-Pack ($11) | Amazon | Use code JIG9ZA3U

http://ift.tt/1Gh3DEH

---

Amazon Instant Video is currently offering every episode from the first four seasons of Game of Thrones for just $.67 each. Unfortunately, the deal is only available on standard definition downloads, but if you bought all 40 episodes, your grand total would come out to under $27. That’s less than the cost of a single season on Blu-ray, so you won’t need to take out a loan from the Iron Bank. [Game of Thrones Digital Episodes are Just $0.67 Each at Amazon]

---

We see a lot of cheap gaming mice around here, but this is the first sub-$20 option I can remember with adjustable weights. [Sentey Nebulus 3200DPI Gaming Mouse w/ Weight Tuning, Programability, $16]

http://ift.tt/1FEoDKL...

---

After a surprisingly long absence, the best recurring deal on a new Wii U Deluxe bundle is back in stock. No tax for most. [Wii U Deluxe with Two Games, $260]

http://ift.tt/1Ghekaf...

---

Whether you spend a lot of time outdoors, or you just want to be prepared for an emergency, this 14W Anker solar panel can charge two USB gadgets at once using the power of the sun. $40 is the lowest price we’ve ever seen by $10, and its 4.4 star review average is stellar for a product in this category. [Anker 14W Dual-Port Solar Charger with PowerIQ Technology, $40]

http://ift.tt/1PMabQY...

---

The Dyson DC65 was voted your favorite vacuum cleaner, though the biggest knock against it was its price. Well, $220 for a refurb still isn’t cheap, but it’s about $200 off the usual selling price for a new one, and a bargain for an appliance you’ll be using for years to come. [Refurb Dyson DC65, $220]

http://ift.tt/1FGcvsA...

http://ift.tt/1VpwL3q...

---

We don’t frequently highlight individual articles of clothing, but this deal is too good to pass up. Tumi’s T-Tech Softshell jacket is simple, practical, and has great reviews around the web. Most stores sell it for $80 or more, but you can get one on eBay today in a few different colors for just $33 shipped. Considering it’s nearly October, this deal seems to have arrived just in time. [T-Tech by Tumi Softshell Jacket, $33]

http://ift.tt/1RehjXt...

---

We’re only about a month away from Halloween, and you can save an extra 20% on your costume today from Amazon. Just be sure to use the promo code at checkout to get the deal. [Extra 20% off Halloween Costumes with code TRICKTREAT]

Let us know what you bought in the comments!

---

I don’t think this will last long, but this is an insane deal if you can snag it. I use my SodaStream on an almost daily basis. [SodaStream Fountain Jet Soda Maker Starter Kit, $45]

http://ift.tt/1h7Loei...

---

Tech

---

Power

• Amcrest Connect Energy-Saving WiFi Smart Plug ($20) | Amazon
• Coocheer Qi Wireless Charger Charging Pad ($15) | Amazon | Use code P4U6LCWD
• Intocircuit 13000 mAh 4.8A Dual USB Power Castle Portable External Battery Charger ($15) | Amazon | Promo code 1NEWDEAL
• Intocircuit 15000 mAh 4.8A Dual USB Power Castle Portable External Battery Charger ($18) | Amazon | Promo code 2NEWDEAL

Audio

• Aukey Wireless Bluetooth Waterproof Speaker ($20) | Amazon | Use code 9ODRXK4L

Home Theater

• Sharp 48-Inch 1080p 60Hz Smart LED TV (2015 Model) ($400) | Amazon
• Samsung 40 Inch LED Smart TV w/ $125 Gift Card ($378) | Dell
• Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter ($40) | Best Buy
• Klipsch Reference Soundbar with 8” Wireless Subwoofer ($350) | Best Buy
• Plixio Adjustable TV FLush Tilt Wall Mount Bracket for 32”-60 Inch Flat Sceen ($14) | Amazon

Computers & Accessories

• SCEPTRE E248W-1920 Black 24” 5ms HDMI Widescreen LED Backlight LCD Monitor w/ Built-in Speakers ($120) | Newegg
• HP x3000 Wireless Optical Mouse ($8) | Best Buy

PC Parts

• 1TB 2.5” Seagate Hybrid Drive + Assassin’s Creed Rogue ($70) | Newegg
• 2-Pack of OCZ ARC 100 2.5” 240GB SATA III MLC SSDs ($120) | Newegg | After $40 Rebate
• OCZ Storage Solutions Trion 100 Series 240GB SATA III 2.5” SSD ($68) | Amazon
• ASUS Radeon R9 380 STRIX-R9380-DC2OC-4GD5-GAMING 4GB 256-Bit GDDR5 Video Card ($210) | Newegg
• CORSAIR Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2400 (PC3 19200) Desktop Memory ($80) | Newegg
• Cooler Master V750 - Compact 750W 80 PLUS Gold Modular PSU ($73) | Amazon | After $25 Rebate
• Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 Power Supply ($16) | Newegg | After $20 rebate

Photography

• Eyefi Mobi 8GB Wi-Fi SDHC Card - 2 Pack ($45) | Woot

---

Home

---

• AeraMax 200 Air Purifier for Allergies and Odors with True HEPA Filter and 4-Stage Purification ($120) | Amazon
• Lasko Ceramic Fireplace Heater ($48) | eBay
• Refurb. Dyson DC41 Multifloor Bagless Upright Vacuum ($230) | Staples
• Select Home Storage and Organization is On Sale Today at Home Depot
• Ohana 3-Piece Deep Seating Balcony Set with Armless Chairs ($799) | Sears
• Stack-On Quick Access Drawer Safe with Spring Loaded Drawer ($27) | Walmart

Kitchen

• 12-Pack: Luminarc Seeded Stemless Wine Glasses ($13) | meh
• Mr. Coffee Precision Coffee Grinder ($14) | Amazon
• Grazia Silicone Muffin Pan, Red, 24-Cup ($8) | Amazon
• Excelsteel Cook Pro Inc Salad Spinner, 4-1/2-Quart ($15) | Amazon
• Bevan Wine Accessories 4-Pack ($11) | Amazon | Use code JIG9ZA3U
• Etekcity 15lb/7kg Digital Kitchen Food Scale ($10) | Amazon | Use code UAMF6BB5
• Attmu Best Nut Milk Bag ($7) | Amazon | Promo code YAQAXXF2

Camping & Outdoors

• Sport-Brella Super Brella Express ($35) | Woot
• Allen Sports 1W Aluminum Bike Light Set ($9) | Amazon
• SE EB122OR Emergency Sleeping Bag with Drawstring Carrying Bag ($6) | Amazon

Tools & Auto

• Etekcity Layout-Smart 164ft./50meter Distance Measurer Meter Kit ($48) | Amazon | Use code DISTANC1
• Curve MX5 HD Dashcam ($60) | Newegg
• Mueller Adjustable Lumbar Back Brace ($15) | Amazon

---

Commerce Content is independent of Editorial and Advertising, and if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale. Click here to learn more. We want your feedback.

Send deal submissions to Deals@Gawker and all other inquiries to Shane@Gawker

from Lifehacker http://ift.tt/1WxTMng

from Schneier on Security http://ift.tt/1OGut0V

Google engineer Chade-Meng Tan is on a mission to make the world more peaceful and people happier. The secret to happiness, he says, is in doing three things every day.

CNN Health and Wellness editorial director David G. Allan discusses these steps after attending Meng’s panel, “Make Yourself the Happiest Person on Earth,” at SXSW in 2014.

Step one is to “calm your mind” by pausing during the day and paying attention to your breath. Meditation and mindfulness have been shown to offer numerous benefits.

Step two is to “log moments of joy.” All too often we focus on the negative and ignore or overlook the positive moments. Acknowledge more of the good things to counterbalance the negatives.

Step three is to “wish other people to be happy.” Being altruistic can turn around a bad mood and empathy is a very valuable skill. Remind y ourself to wish for others’ happiness could, in turn, boost yours.

The video above is Meng talking about some of these concepts at Google’s “Search Inside Yourself” course. Although these three simple steps might not work for everyone, it’s worth a try if it means experiencing more joy.

Google’s algorithm for happiness | CNN

from Lifehacker http://ift.tt/1KRVpol

There are a lot of roadblocks when it comes to applying for a mortgage. For example, if your income isn’t high enough, your debt-to-income ratio could keep lenders from approving you. However, new rules make it a little easier for potential homeowners to get approved, even if their income isn’t stellar.

Fannie Mae’s new HomeReady mortgage rules make it easier for new borrowers to apply for a mortgage by stretching the qualifications a bit. With the new rules, if your own income isn’t enough to qualify for a mortgage, you could potentially count the income of family members. In a press release, Fannie Mae explains:

For the first time, income from a non-borrower household member can be considered to determine an applicable debt-to-income ratio for the loan, helping multi-generational and extended households qualify for an affordable mortgage. Fannie Mae’s research indicates that these extended households tend to have incomes that are as stable or more stable than other households at similar income levels, positioning them well for homeownership. Other HomeReady flexibilities include allowing income from non-occupant borrowers, such as parents, and rental payments, such as from a basement apartment, to augment the borrower’s qualifying income.

The press release does suggest the change is aimed at multi-income households, which makes sense. However, there’s the elephant in the room: buying a home you can’t necessarily afford. Just because you can get a loan doesn’t mean it’s a smart financial move.

http://ift.tt/1S8i03m...

Everyone’s situation is different, but post housing crisis, this is an issue we’re all too familiar with. Fannie Mae plans to address it with a mandatory home-buying course called “FrameWork.” According to the press release, it’s an online education course that’s supposed to provide “post-purchase support for sustainable homeownership.”

An even better idea? Do your own research about home buying and make sure you buy a home you can actually afford.

http://ift.tt/1LkeCot...

You can read more about the new rules at the link below.

Fannie Mae Announces Improved Affordable Lending Product | Fannie Mae via Money Talks News

Photo by PublicDomainPictures.

from Lifehacker http://ift.tt/1P5Gjkl

Edward Snowden signs up for Twitter, promises cat pics and asks about border control on Mars.
from Naked Security http://ift.tt/1KRJxTs

It’s officially fall, which means it’s time to clean out the fireplace and inspect the chimney. It’s also the ideal time to setup your firewood pile. Here’s how to pick and prepare the best burning firewood.

http://ift.tt/1FIaM64...

The Drier the Better

A rule of thumb for firewood: The drier, the better. Wood consists of small tubes that deliver water from the roots into the trunk and branches of the tree. These tubes can retain water for months after wood has been cut. Moist and water-laden wood will not burn properly. Energy from the fire will have to dry the wood first which is wasteful, and the smoke and fumes from green (freshly cut wood) is a stronger pollutant.

Seasoned firewood is dry and cut into pieces that will be easier to carry and build a fire with.

How to Select Firewood

If you buy firewood from a retail store, follow these tips to ensure you are picking the best wood:

• Make certain the area where the firewood is stored is a dry and well-ventilated location. It can be outdoors as long as it’s covered and not in an area that can get flooded.
• Look for dark to gray colored wood, which will signify older and drier wood.
• Bang a few logs together. If they sound hollow, that’s a good thing.
• The wood should be light, which signifies little to no water.
• Look for wood with cracked ends, which means it’s dry.
• Pick the pieces with the bark missing or pulling off. Bark needs moisture to adhere to the wood.
• Don’t choose the newest wood from the top of the pile. Dig a bit and pull the oldest looking wood you can find.

The best burning firewood is not only dry but dense. Nut bearing trees like oak and hickory are hardwood and very desirable as firewood as they burn cleaner and longer. Softer woods like pine and aspen will burn through faster.

Firewood sold from distributors are sold by volume as a measurement called a cord, which is 128 cubic feet of wood (8 feet long, 4 feet tall, 4 feet deep). Depending on how much firewood you use in the winter, this can get most people through a season. If you need less wood you can buy it as a “face cord” or “rick” which is 8 feet long, 4 feet high, and as deep as the length of the wood.

A seasoned cord of firewood can cost $200-$350 depending on the supply and demand in your area. Green cords are also sold at a lower price. Buy in the Spring and Summer to get a discount, too.

http://ift.tt/1LDoyc5...

How to Forage for Firewood

It can be a fun excursion to forage for your own firewood. Start the process in the Spring or Summer so the wood has plenty of time to dry out before you use it in the winter. Check your local and state laws before heading into the forest, too.

The best wood is pulled from low hanging branches that snap off easily which means the branch is dead. Dead wood found on the ground can be a great score, but can also be full of water.

Identify the hardwood and nut-bearing trees in your area and focus on wood from those trees. Grab a few softwood pieces, as they ignite easier and are best for kindling.

If you plan on cutting fallen trees (log bucking) and chopping your own firewood, you should be very familiar with how to use a chainsaw, wedge, sledgehammer, and splitting maul. This article from the Natural Handyman will take you through the basic steps of cutting your wood.

http://ift.tt/1Ghbx0M...

How to Stack and Store Firewood

Once you’ve acquired the best wood you can find, you need to stack it and store it the proper way.

Wood should preferably be stored inside a shed that is protected from the weather. If kept outside, make sure the wood is covered by a tarp and raised a bit off the ground.

Firewood should be stacked in a crisscross pattern at each end of a pile then laid lengthwise across each other (see above). This creates a stable and well-ventilated wood pile that you can easily pull from during the winter. You can find some other effective techniques here.

When it comes time to build that fire, we have tips for you there, too.

http://ift.tt/1Ghbx0Q...

Photos by Tom Brandt, Rob, mwms1916, and Travis.

---

Workshop is a new blog from Lifehacker all about DIY tips, techniques, and projects. Follow us on Twitter here.

from Lifehacker http://ift.tt/1GhaHRC