5 ms·

Ask HN:What’s the best product you discovered this year that improved your life?

40 points by yarapavan 7y ago

Inspired by Shane Parrish's tweet - https://twitter.com/ShaneAParrish/status/1207271914227609601

jppope 7y ago
https://tryspider.com/ https://tryspider.com/ => Amazing for ad hoc scraping projects https://www.fullhelp.com/en https://www.fullhelp.com/en => great issue tracker, which doubles for internal documentation
UrbanPiper 7y ago
Not a product but Intermittent Fasting (IF) Some products/services - Daywise app (https://getdaywise.com/ https://getdaywise.com/), to get phone notifications at set times - Brave browser (on all devices) + Pi-Hole in router. Adguard (all devices) - Bouncer app (Android) to control permissions requested by various apps. - Wireguard VPN self-hosted.
- dozcom 7y ago
  ADF - alternate day fasting is another variant. Besides getting the supposed benefits of a 24 h fast, you also get to save 15 d worth of money spent for groceries within 1 m. 1 m of ADF yields 15 d of fasting and 15 d of feasting. Example: 0 kcal on fasting days and for feasting days: your BMR + 500 kcal. if(male == True): bmr = 24 * your_weight_in_kg Tip for fasting days: consider supplementing with minerals such as calcium citrate, potassium citrate and magnesium citrate. Also DHA/EPA for your brain either algae based (vegan) or fish-based. Also consider taking a multivitamin as well. edit: For me: ADF + OMAD (one meal a day) - saves you time!
JohnFen 7y ago
Hmmm... I had to think long and hard about this, as the pickings are pretty lean. The two standouts for me, though, are Stitchfix (don't laugh! I'm aesthetically impaired, and they have seriously taught me how to dress better. I'd never been complimented on my clothes until I started using them.), and for this winter, a pair of electrically heated gloves.
- g8oz 7y ago
  What brand are the gloves?
  - JohnFen 7y ago
    Paxcess, although I've seen the same glove sold under other brands as well. They cost me about $70. They're fully waterproof, and are in the style of motorcycles gloves. They're as warm as heavy gloves should be without the heater being on at all, and when I need the heat, I usually use the low or medium settings. The heating elements cover the back side of your hand and fingers. They're powered by four 18650 lithium ion batteries (two in each glove). At full heat (which is very, very warm), the batteries last about 2 hours, on medium, about 4 hours, and on low about 6. The only actual complaint that I have is that it's very easy to accidentally hit the button that controls the heat settings (it's on the back of the wrist). Also, if you buy these, be aware that the sizing is smaller than American sizing. I have large hands and bought the largest size (XXL). I usually wear Large gloves. The gloves fit well enough to work, but I would really prefer a size larger. I wasn't sure about them at first, but they're one of my favorite things this year.
iSloth 7y ago
Zwift - Makes getting and staying fit enjoyable
rotterdamdev 7y ago
I have not seen a piece of tech all year that would have made my life better. I wanted to put it here just so that it's visible. I think I've reached the limit of usefulness in new technology. It's all just gadgets that people play with, as far as I'm concerned. Sure I could set up a wifi repeater on the far end of the house to have better reception on the balcony... But is that necessary? My phone is not even on the wifi. Home automation, smart devices, home solutions to problems we didn't really have (smart oven).. I think it's all just noise. I have a laptop that I work from (14inch 4yo thinkpad), a monitor, a good chair (now that's important!) and a nice ergonomic keyboard. I have all I need to earn a decent living and save for an early retirement or my own business plans. So yeah, there's that. For me, new tech became a bothersome abstraction.
0x70dd 7y ago
Bitwarden
paulMachi 7y ago
My HMA VPN is the best proeduct which I discovered in this year. I like that which I download from https://freeppsspp.info/ppsspp-games-download/ https://freeppsspp.info/ppsspp-games-download/
farseer 7y ago
Razor Pit keeps the Gillette blade sharpened enough for about 2 weeks of shaving. This has been a descent money saver.
- keiferski 7y ago
  I recommend looking into Safety Razors. You'll save money, help the environment, and (subjectively) look cooler while shaving.
unraveller 7y ago
Scroll Anywhere firefox browser add-on - it's way more ergonomic to hold right mouse to scroll a webpage MING SHI 2000S ADJUSTABLE SAFETY RAZOR - the Merkur Futur patent lapsed and now one of the best shavers on the market can bought legally for less than $10 posted.
pro_zac 7y ago
Libby (https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby/ https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby/) I have a long commute and I've gone through many audio books without paying a dime!
- shanecleveland 7y ago
  Yep. Our whole family uses it. We have to limit the amount of time our kids walk around the house with headphones on!
ElCapitanMarkla 7y ago
Robot Vacuum Cleaner - we have a dog and 2 cats and it’s amazing how much hair it picks up. It’s the Xiaomi brand, it was cheap at $300NZD but China does now have a map of my house and where everything in it is :)
- ArtWomb 7y ago
  Speaking of vacuums, while doing some home remodeling I needed a replacement Shop-Vac type wet / dry cleaner. The replacement I got for $99 at Home Depot was made with a metal drum instead of plastic. And the seal is so much more effective! I now use it everywhere, inside and out ;) I can't say the same for the $69 power washer I bought from Amazon...
  - giardini 7y ago
    Which model shop-vac did you buy? I have been warned against the metal drum units b/c they may rust easily unless dried after every wet use. Did not realize that they also had an advantage (better seal).
- photonios 7y ago
  I second this. I bought a Roomba a year ago or something. We have a cat and it's been amazing. It runs right before I come home and saves me a lot of manual cleaning.
erhserhdfd 7y ago
A remote start for my car. I live in a chilly part of the country and unfortunately have a long commute. Being able to get into a warm car is really comforting!
AwesomeFaic 7y ago
I got an Ender 3 3D printer for last Christmas and while making gadgets and toys and gifts has been fun, it's fundamentally reawakened my interests in being creative again. I've learned new skills with silicone and resin, gotten back into 3D modeling (and finally learned Blender), discovered a bunch of new visual artists, and found new online communities to inspire me after a long day looking at code.
shanecleveland 7y ago
So many ... Love these pants: https://huckberry.com/store/proof/category/p/54482-rover-pant https://huckberry.com/store/proof/category/p/54482-rover-pan... Loose-leaf tea from Upton Tea Imports and these steeping baskets: https://www.amazon.com/Infuser-Cooking-Threaded-Connection-Single/dp/B075K57B73/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=tea+steeping+basket&qid=1576776833&sr=8-5 https://www.amazon.com/Infuser-Cooking-Threaded-Connection-S... Web Dev Tools: Reincarnated VirtualHostX Pro and hosting at opalstack.com If you mix protein or nutritional/exercise drinks of any kind and you are not using a blender bottle, then you are doing it wrong. Daily Metamucil and probiotic. Set up an aquarium. It's a fun process that requires some patience and adds an interesting element to the house.
tboyd47 7y ago
Podcasts. Turns my commute from something I hate that stresses me out, into something I look forward to that puts me in the right mood.
niklasmtj 7y ago
https://www.headspace.com https://www.headspace.com - started half a year ago and meditated everyday since then.
Blakestr 7y ago
Sam Harris's Awaken App. I've used Headspace and other apps; they've all helped with stress. Sam's approach seems to be more procedural, more of a step by step (if such a thing as true mindfulness can have a step by step). I've meditated for the better part of a decade but after doing his 50 day course (on the app) I experienced that awakening that they talk about. While it's helped with staying focused and getting work done, I've connected more with my children and wife I have in years. I highly recommend it to anyone whose tried or thought about meditation but just can't seem to "get it." https://wakingup.com/ https://wakingup.com/

40 points by yarapavan 7y ago

Inspired by Shane Parrish's tweet - https://twitter.com/ShaneAParrish/status/1207271914227609601

https://tryspider.com/ https://tryspider.com/ => Amazing for ad hoc scraping projects https://www.fullhelp.com/en https://www.fullhelp.com/en => great issue tracker, which doubles for internal documentation

UrbanPiper 7y ago

Not a product but Intermittent Fasting (IF) Some products/services - Daywise app (https://getdaywise.com/ https://getdaywise.com/), to get phone notifications at set times - Brave browser (on all devices) + Pi-Hole in router. Adguard (all devices) - Bouncer app (Android) to control permissions requested by various apps. - Wireguard VPN self-hosted.

dozcom 7y ago
ADF - alternate day fasting is another variant. Besides getting the supposed benefits of a 24 h fast, you also get to save 15 d worth of money spent for groceries within 1 m. 1 m of ADF yields 15 d of fasting and 15 d of feasting. Example: 0 kcal on fasting days and for feasting days: your BMR + 500 kcal. if(male == True): bmr = 24 * your_weight_in_kg Tip for fasting days: consider supplementing with minerals such as calcium citrate, potassium citrate and magnesium citrate. Also DHA/EPA for your brain either algae based (vegan) or fish-based. Also consider taking a multivitamin as well. edit: For me: ADF + OMAD (one meal a day) - saves you time!

JohnFen 7y ago

Hmmm... I had to think long and hard about this, as the pickings are pretty lean. The two standouts for me, though, are Stitchfix (don't laugh! I'm aesthetically impaired, and they have seriously taught me how to dress better. I'd never been complimented on my clothes until I started using them.), and for this winter, a pair of electrically heated gloves.

g8oz 7y ago
What brand are the gloves?
- JohnFen 7y ago
  Paxcess, although I've seen the same glove sold under other brands as well. They cost me about $70. They're fully waterproof, and are in the style of motorcycles gloves. They're as warm as heavy gloves should be without the heater being on at all, and when I need the heat, I usually use the low or medium settings. The heating elements cover the back side of your hand and fingers. They're powered by four 18650 lithium ion batteries (two in each glove). At full heat (which is very, very warm), the batteries last about 2 hours, on medium, about 4 hours, and on low about 6. The only actual complaint that I have is that it's very easy to accidentally hit the button that controls the heat settings (it's on the back of the wrist). Also, if you buy these, be aware that the sizing is smaller than American sizing. I have large hands and bought the largest size (XXL). I usually wear Large gloves. The gloves fit well enough to work, but I would really prefer a size larger. I wasn't sure about them at first, but they're one of my favorite things this year.

iSloth 7y ago

Zwift - Makes getting and staying fit enjoyable

rotterdamdev 7y ago

I have not seen a piece of tech all year that would have made my life better. I wanted to put it here just so that it's visible. I think I've reached the limit of usefulness in new technology. It's all just gadgets that people play with, as far as I'm concerned. Sure I could set up a wifi repeater on the far end of the house to have better reception on the balcony... But is that necessary? My phone is not even on the wifi. Home automation, smart devices, home solutions to problems we didn't really have (smart oven).. I think it's all just noise. I have a laptop that I work from (14inch 4yo thinkpad), a monitor, a good chair (now that's important!) and a nice ergonomic keyboard. I have all I need to earn a decent living and save for an early retirement or my own business plans. So yeah, there's that. For me, new tech became a bothersome abstraction.

0x70dd 7y ago

Bitwarden

paulMachi 7y ago

My HMA VPN is the best proeduct which I discovered in this year. I like that which I download from https://freeppsspp.info/ppsspp-games-download/ https://freeppsspp.info/ppsspp-games-download/

farseer 7y ago

Razor Pit keeps the Gillette blade sharpened enough for about 2 weeks of shaving. This has been a descent money saver.

keiferski 7y ago
I recommend looking into Safety Razors. You'll save money, help the environment, and (subjectively) look cooler while shaving.

unraveller 7y ago

Scroll Anywhere firefox browser add-on - it's way more ergonomic to hold right mouse to scroll a webpage MING SHI 2000S ADJUSTABLE SAFETY RAZOR - the Merkur Futur patent lapsed and now one of the best shavers on the market can bought legally for less than $10 posted.

pro_zac 7y ago

Libby (https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby/ https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby/) I have a long commute and I've gone through many audio books without paying a dime!

shanecleveland 7y ago
Yep. Our whole family uses it. We have to limit the amount of time our kids walk around the house with headphones on!

ElCapitanMarkla 7y ago

Robot Vacuum Cleaner - we have a dog and 2 cats and it’s amazing how much hair it picks up. It’s the Xiaomi brand, it was cheap at $300NZD but China does now have a map of my house and where everything in it is :)

ArtWomb 7y ago
Speaking of vacuums, while doing some home remodeling I needed a replacement Shop-Vac type wet / dry cleaner. The replacement I got for $99 at Home Depot was made with a metal drum instead of plastic. And the seal is so much more effective! I now use it everywhere, inside and out ;) I can't say the same for the $69 power washer I bought from Amazon...
- giardini 7y ago
  Which model shop-vac did you buy? I have been warned against the metal drum units b/c they may rust easily unless dried after every wet use. Did not realize that they also had an advantage (better seal).
photonios 7y ago
I second this. I bought a Roomba a year ago or something. We have a cat and it's been amazing. It runs right before I come home and saves me a lot of manual cleaning.

erhserhdfd 7y ago

A remote start for my car. I live in a chilly part of the country and unfortunately have a long commute. Being able to get into a warm car is really comforting!

AwesomeFaic 7y ago

I got an Ender 3 3D printer for last Christmas and while making gadgets and toys and gifts has been fun, it's fundamentally reawakened my interests in being creative again. I've learned new skills with silicone and resin, gotten back into 3D modeling (and finally learned Blender), discovered a bunch of new visual artists, and found new online communities to inspire me after a long day looking at code.

shanecleveland 7y ago

So many ... Love these pants: https://huckberry.com/store/proof/category/p/54482-rover-pant https://huckberry.com/store/proof/category/p/54482-rover-pan... Loose-leaf tea from Upton Tea Imports and these steeping baskets: https://www.amazon.com/Infuser-Cooking-Threaded-Connection-Single/dp/B075K57B73/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=tea+steeping+basket&qid=1576776833&sr=8-5 https://www.amazon.com/Infuser-Cooking-Threaded-Connection-S... Web Dev Tools: Reincarnated VirtualHostX Pro and hosting at opalstack.com If you mix protein or nutritional/exercise drinks of any kind and you are not using a blender bottle, then you are doing it wrong. Daily Metamucil and probiotic. Set up an aquarium. It's a fun process that requires some patience and adds an interesting element to the house.

tboyd47 7y ago

Podcasts. Turns my commute from something I hate that stresses me out, into something I look forward to that puts me in the right mood.

niklasmtj 7y ago

https://www.headspace.com https://www.headspace.com - started half a year ago and meditated everyday since then.

Blakestr 7y ago

Sam Harris's Awaken App. I've used Headspace and other apps; they've all helped with stress. Sam's approach seems to be more procedural, more of a step by step (if such a thing as true mindfulness can have a step by step). I've meditated for the better part of a decade but after doing his 50 day course (on the app) I experienced that awakening that they talk about. While it's helped with staying focused and getting work done, I've connected more with my children and wife I have in years. I highly recommend it to anyone whose tried or thought about meditation but just can't seem to "get it." https://wakingup.com/ https://wakingup.com/