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Type of site | Blog |
|---|---|
| Available in | English, Japanese |
| Owner | Ziff Davis |
| Created by | Gina Trapani |
| Editor | Jordan Calhoun |
| URL | lifehacker |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional, through OpenWeb |
| Launched | 31 January 2005; 20 years ago (2005-01-31) |
Lifehacker is aweblog aboutlife hacks and software that launched on 31 January 2005. The site was originally launched byGawker Media and is owned byZiff Davis. The blog posts cover a wide range of topics includingMicrosoft Windows,Macintosh,Linux programs,iOS, andAndroid, as well as general life tips and tricks. The website is known for its fast-paced release schedule from its inception, with content being published every half hour all day long.[1]
Lifehacker has international editions:Lifehacker Australia (as of 2022[update] owned byPedestrian),Lifehacker Japan, andLifehacker UK, which feature most posts from the U.S. edition along with extra content specific to local readers.Lifehacker UK folded on 9 September 2020 when its British publisher decided not to renew its license.
Gina Trapani foundedLifehacker and was the site's sole blogger until September 2005, when two associate editors joined her, Erica Sadun and D. Keith Robinson. Other former associate editors include Wendy Boswell, Rick Broida, Jason Fitzpatrick, Kevin Purdy, and Jackson West. Former contributing editors include The How-To Geek and Tamar Weinberg.Lifehacker launched in January 2005 with an exclusive sponsorship bySony. The highly publicized ad campaign was rumored to have cost $75,000 for three months.[2] Lifehacker Australia launched in 2007, and Lifehacker Japan launched in 2008.[3][4]
Since its founding, a variety of tech-oriented advertisers have appeared on the site.Lifehacker's frequent guest posts have included articles by Joe Anderson,Eszter Hargittai,Matt Haughey,Meg Hourihan, andJeff Jarvis. On 16 January 2009, Trapani resigned asLifehacker's lead editor and Adam Pash assumed the position. On 7 February 2011,Lifehacker's website wasredesigned with a cleaner, yet polarizing layout that led to readership declines. On 15 April 2013,Lifehacker redesigned their site again to match the other newly redesigned Gawker sites likeKotaku. On 7 January 2013, Adam Pash leftLifehacker for a newstartup, and Whitson Gordon became the new editor-in-chief. On 1 January 2016, Whitson Gordon left Lifehacker for another popular technology website, How-To Geek, replacing editor-in-chief Lowell Heddings.[5]
In his January 2016 announcement, Gordon confirmed that Alan Henry would take over as the interim editor pending interviewing processes. Henry became the new editor-in-chief on 1 February 2016. On 3 February 2017, Henry left his position atLifehacker. He later wrote forThe New York Times. On 28 February 2017,Melissa Kirsch became the editor-in-chief.[6] Alice Bradley was named editor-in-chief in June 2020 but left in March 2021.[7] Former deputy editor Jordan Calhoun succeeded her as editor-in-chief.
Lifehacker was one of six websites that was purchased byUnivision Communications in its acquisition of Gawker Media in August 2016.[8] On 13 March 2023, it was announced thatLifehacker had been sold fromG/O Media toZiff Davis.[9][10] In November 2023, as part of a brand refocus after the acquisition,Lifehacker updated with a new logo, a new site layout, and migration away from the Kinja platform.[11]
In July 2024, it was reported that Lifehacker Australia would shut down amid a restructuring at third-party publisherPedestrian Group.[12]
Time namedLifehacker one of the "50 Coolest Web Sites" in 2005,[13] one of the "25 Sites We Can't Live Without" in 2006,[14] and one of the "25 Best Blogs" in 2009.[15]CNET namedLifehacker in their "Blog 100" in October 2005.[16]Wired presented Gina Trapani with a Rave Award in 2006 for Best Blog.[17] In the 2007Weblog Awards,Lifehacker was awarded Best Group Weblog.[18]PC Magazine namedLifehacker in "Our Favorite 100 Blogs" in October 2007.[19] USMensa namedLifehacker as one of their top 50 sites in 2010.[20]
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