Ask A Geek Girl

I've mentioned before that I've left a few old email addresses open after switching to a new mail program, and most of you admitted to doing the same. Well, here's one reason you (and I) might want to reconsider that stance. An old email address I left open and checked once a week or so was hacked, and for three days sent spammy messages to all of the contacts in my address book.

Since I hadn't given that address out in years, I hadn't talked to many of the spam recipients for quite a while. Finally yesterday, a friend sent me a message on Facebook to let me know about the spam. I was mortified! Find out what I did next, and learn what steps you should take if your email address gets hacked after the break.

This Ask a Geek Girl question comes to us from our Community Assistant, who needs your help to initiate a tech intervention!

My brother needs an intervention—a tech one! I'm not kidding; he is so addicted to technology and it is causing him to lose money and friends. He always has to have the latest iPhone, iPad, computer, camera etc. even if he can't afford and/or his gadgets work perfectly. He even bought the white iPhone off Ebay for $600 (when he already had an iPhone 4). All he talks about is Steve Jobs, the newest Apple gadget, and what he recently read on "MacRumors" or other tech sites. Actually now that I think about it, he needs an Apple intervention. I am tired of him wasting his money on unnecessary tech items. Do you know anyone like this? What should I do?

Help a girl out — leave your suggestions and comments below!

Source: Flickr user bfishadows

This question was shared by reader Happsmjc in our Ask a Geek Girl group.

Dear Geeksugerers,

I am looking for the perfect app. I want one that will sync my iCal To-Dos (from the right side bar) to an app in my phone. I know there are countless to-do apps and list apps, but I cannot seem to find the perfect one. I use my notes app to jot stuff down. I have awesome notes as another to do app, but I would prefer iCal to be my main task manager with a second for my to-dos imported from iCal and that's it.  I liked the idea of automatic syncing with my computer, not going through a third party, etc.

I saw in the comments that todo (the app) supposedly had this feature. But I tried it out and had trouble syncing it and it seems a bit complicated. I didn't try hard before giving up, but I just want a simple list (like Simplist), but one that syncs. And to-do is a whole huge program and calendar that I don't need.

Does anyone know of any out there? I feel I am writing the same to do list in iCal, on my laptop post its, in notes, in my other apps. It's not productive! Thanks!

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This question was shared by reader Colbie in our Ask a Geek Girl group.

I love my iPhone, does anyone know how to send multiple photos from your Photos App via email? I have tried everything and just can't seem to figure out a way. Does anyone know how or is it not even possible?

Share your tips in comments and ask your questions in the Ask a Geek Girl group.

Help a fellow member out! This post comes to us from elle619, who needs some advice on how to keep her Droid X battery running strong:

I'm still having fun with my Droid X. In fact, I may be having too much fun playing with it because my battery gets drained quickly. I installed a Task Master to kill unused apps so hopefully that helps. Anyone else out there have any battery saving tips?

Suggestions? Advice? Share your ideas in the comments below!

Time to help a reader out! Bethinabox needs help deciding which games to purchase for a new PS3. She posted the following question in our Ask a Geek Girl group:

I'm thinking of getting a PS3 in the next couple of months. Partly because I want a shiny new gaming system, partly for the Blu-Ray capabilities without buying a dedicated Blu-Ray player. But I don't know what games are good. I know I want to get LittleBigPlanet and Mini Ninjas, but what else is good? Something with a good storyline is a must, because I get bored really easily.

Suggestions? Advice? Games you're currently lusting after? Share your picks!

Recently, a GeekSugar reader asked us via Twitter: "What's the difference between Skype and Google Voice?" Excellent question! I'm a fan of both services for many reasons, but mostly because they provide an easy and inexpensive way to communicate with those around you — by talking! Take a look at my rundown of Skype and Google Voice below.

Skype
Skype allows you to do two things: 1. Make and receive free voice and video calls to other Skype members, and 2. Make and receive calls from land lines and mobile phones to/from non-Skype members at super low rates (usually one to two cents a minute). You can use Skype in many different ways — on your laptop, on your Internet-ready TV, and on your mobile via a Skype app— as long as you have an Internet connection. Skype is especially helpful when traveling abroad — just hook up your laptop to your hotel's Internet, and make a voice or video call to the folks back home. A Skype paid subscription even lets you have voicemail to corral all your missed calls. But listen up — for the next month, Skype is offering free, unlimited calls to and from certain countries!

To hear more about Google Voice, just read more.

This question comes from GeekSugar reader MarleneM in our Ask a Geek Girl group. Do you have advice for her? Share it!

So I've been hesitant to merge all my business contacts with my personal on my BB so that I don't have hundreds of phone numbers. But I know that I can also "filter" my contacts to only display "personal" or "business" numbers. My question is, is there a shortcut way to do this? I would hate to have to individually assign a 'personal' category to hundreds of phone numbers and then to sync with Gmail and have to do it all over again for my business contacts. Is there a shortcut? Select all? Or an easy way to do using Desktop Manager? Thanks.

Even the geekiest of us have technical breakdowns and questions. Join our Ask a Geek Girl group and share yours.

When I was a kid my dad always kept his batteries stored in the top door shelf of the fridge — a habit I thought everyone subscribed to until I went away to college and realized most people don't keep batteries, butter, and Diet Coke together. A reader recently posed the question whether storing batteries in the fridge really helps them last longer, and I decided it was high time I investigate.

Find out what I learned about the practice after the jump!

Reader kirikiri recently asked this question in the GeekSugar Community:

"I just got a new MacBook Pro - do I really need to buy a plastic protective case for the shell?"

While I love these colorful SeeThru cases by Speck ($50), they aren't essential for protecting your new MacBook. However, they may offer some limited protection against spills, scrapes, and scratches, and they come in a variety of bright colors.

If you travel with your computer often, a shell may be a good idea for quickly sliding it in and out of your bag, but many laptop sleeves offer similar protection. Alternatively, you can carry your computer in a laptop bag that offers enough protection to keep it safe.

Do you have a quick question you want a fast answer to? We've got a solution! Check out the Ask the Community feature, which allows you to literally ask us geeks anything in 128 characters. Check it out, and ask away!