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Android: The search bar in Android can do a lot of things, but not everything that, say, Chrome’s OmniBar can do. The free Searchify app not only gives you keyword search powers, but also some other neat search shortcut tricks.

After installing Searchify and “training” Android’s universal search—accessible from the home screen widget or the magnifying glass button on most phones—to bring up its results more often, you’ll be able to use your search bar to quickly convert units, search and add Google Calendar entries, translate text, pull off basic math, and a few other neat shortcuts. Where Searchify really becomes useful, though, is its keyword search add-in. It works just like Chrome’s keyword bookmarks: set a keyword, like “lh” for Lifehacker, then paste in a search URL, replacing your search term with %s. From then on, you’ll be able to quickly pull up those searches right from your home screen, or at the push of a button.

Searchify is a free download for Android phones, available in the Market. Figured out a handy use for Searchify in your Android search bar? You better believe we’re interested in hearing about it.

If you hate waste and it seems a shame to throw away a jar of spicy or exotic mustard without getting the last bit of flavor out of it, this clever trick will turn that left over mustard into salad dressing.

At MarthaStewart.com they’re big fans of lists and galleries of clever and trendy things you can do around the house. In this week’s “40 Good Things” list they share a great tip for using the mustard left after the last sandwich is made, to create home made dressing:

Have a tiny bit of mustard left in the jar? Toss in a few ingredients, and shake a tangy Dijon vinaigrette right in the container. A crushed garlic clove, some chopped fresh herbs and minced shallot will add the right flavor. Pour in balsamic vinegar, season with salt and pepper, then close the lid and shake. Add olive oil; shake again to emulsify the dressing, and then drizzle over your favorite salad. With a tightly sealed lid, it will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Sounds delicious and a perfect “after life” for the jar of Dijon mustard I’ve just about polished off. Check out the link below to browse through some of the other clever tips in their roundup. Have a frugal tip of your own to share? Let’s hear about it in the comments.

Windows: National Geographic’s web site has some stunning photography, and a lot of it makes for good rotating desktop backgrounds. The NatGeo Wallpaper Downloader we’ve previously enjoyed has updated with interface improvments, bug fixes, and access to thousands more images.

The app’s developer writes that while his first release of the app made it convenient to grab a few hundred of National Geographic’s photography contest images, this 2.0 version broadens your access to more than 5,000 images. Future versions should expand the range even further. It’s a Windows-only app, but Linux and Mac users with some command line savvy can still get in on the NatGeo action.

NatGeo Wallpaper Downloader is a free download for Window systems.

Microsoft has announced a scripting vulnerability affecting Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003 users using Internet Explorer. A dialog pop-up that convinces the user to hit F1, the commonly known “Help” button, could then run code on the machine, which would lead to, well, all kinds of unfortunate things. A patch will arrive, but in the meantime, let no web site direct you to call for help. Original image via Tom’s Guide. [Microsoft TechNet via Gizmodo]

We thought we’d heard of just about every alternate use of coffee grounds, but here’s one you’re probably already benefiting without knowing it: grounds make for a decent drain deodorizer.

Photo by How can I recycle this.

Update: Many, many commenters—some with stories, some who say they know plumbers—called out the de-clogging aspect of coffee grounds, especially without the addition of very hot water. Thinking more on it, I can’t say I disagree. Coffee grounds are perhaps best used in small amounts to absorb bad-smelling, grease-based odors, but not as a clog clearing tool. My mistake, and apologies for putting out the wrong idea. I’ve updated the post headline and some of the text as a result.

That’s according to Baltimore’s WJZ television, which rounded up some tips on creative re-uses of used coffee. Some of them we’ve heard before—garden protector, exfoliant—but the drain cleaner de-odorizing and another tip were new to us:

Another great use for coffee grounds is as a drain cleaner. Mixed with hot water, coffee grounds can … help keep it smelling fresh. In the refrigerator it makes a great deodorizer because the grounds can absorb odors.

If you have a piece of scratched furniture, steep some grounds and apply a bit of the liquid with a Q-tip. It will cover the scratch.

Please take note of the mixed with hot water portion of that tip. A little Google-ing shows a good number of testimonials to the first idea, often in combination with very hot water, to both de-clog and improve the smell of your sink.

The second use was harder to vet, but it sounds like a nerdy challenge, trying to match your French Roast to your dark wood chair.

Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil seem to be in love again… or at least they’re settling back into their dysfunctional rut. The two were seen on a date night in Camden, London this week, and we’re wondering if they’ve gotten back together for real.

Keywords: Amy Winehouse, Blake Fielder-Civil, celebrity

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