GeekSugar

Website of the Day: Deadline

GeekSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:00:02 -0800

I'm not as obsessive about my online calendars all the time as I wish I were - I would never forget about the occasional appointment or date I made on the fly. Even though I use calendars, sometimes you just need really straightforward reminders - which is what Deadline is great for.

For instance, I have a doctor appointment on my calendar, but what I really need is an alert a half hour before I need to leave for that appointment. I just need to add a deadline from the home screen, set the time and date, and make sure I set when I want to be notified by email so that I can get to my appointment on time (I set it to go off a half hour before). No more sheepish calls about why I'm not where I was supposed to be!

College Claims Facebook Reduces Dropouts

GeekSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:30:44 -0700

In general, people seem to agree that Facebook can be a big time-waster... even causing some students lower grades than their less-frequent Facebook-using friends. Now, the BBC is reporting on a Gloucestershire College claim that Facebook is actually cutting down on student dropout rates. They claim that the social aspects of Facebook - allowing students to bond with each other and with professors and faculty members - is helping to create a closer-knit community at the school.

Media-focused classes use closed Facebook groups to get assignments and seek help from fellow students or teachers. The benefit: the school is using an accessible and familiar platform to connect students instead of requiring them to learn a new program. Mobile technology also means that students are able to stay connected even when they're away from their computers, encouraging even more participation.

Another college in England says that Facebook is a useful tool in reminding students of deadlines and due dates. I wish my college professors had done the same! I'm fairly certain that I would have paid more attention to a Facebook notification informing me that my English paper was due the next day than the note scrawled onto the dry-erase board hanging beside my desk.

No Way! Congress Delays the Digital Conversion Deadline

GeekSugar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:03:21 -0800

I swear I wasn't lying when I told you last week that the bill for the delay of the digital television transition didn't pass in the House of Representatives. But yesterday, in a re-vote (264-158), the House of Representatives approved the bill to push the transition from the original Feb. 17 date until Jun. 12.

What happens now? The bill will get sent on to President Obama for his final approval. And television owners, who aren't ready for the analog TV shutdown, now have four additional months to get a converter box.

Let's hope this is the last we hear about this topic for a while!

Source

Office Space: Take a Deep Breath With the Breathing Partition

GeekSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:05:29 -0700

At times, I feel the need to take my laptop and head down to the park to work in the grass. You know, be a little closer to nature in this high-tech world. But with deadlines looming, I can't always make the trek and leave without a power source. But this genius Breathing Partition I saw on Yanko, could bring my two worlds together after all.

Thick slots in the attractive cube dividers make for a green home for your plants and grass, to turn your office from dull to alive. A self-watering system ensures that grass will never be greener on the other side of the office (cause you neglected to do your gardening duties), and I'm especially in love with the patch of grass that acts as a foot rest - how cool is that?

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Target Hands Out Digital Conversion Boxes For Free

GeekSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:35:36 -0700

With the digital television transition deadline fast approaching (you've got until next Friday, June the 12), there are probably some last minute TV buffs who are still in need of converter boxes. For those who participated in the government's converter-box subsidy program, you can take your coupon into Target this week and pick up a box for free - even if the price tag is over $40. So if your grandma wants to be ready for next week's analog TV shutdown, make sure you take a trip to Target so that she'll be all set up and ready to go when the changes take effect.

Are You Ready For Windows 7?

GeekSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:00:25 -0800

Microsoft publicly suggested it is planning to finish Windows 7 in time to run on PCs that ship for next year's holiday season, last week.

Apparently, Microsoft has been working overtime to not publicly commit on the time frame for shipping Windows 7 because it doesn't want to miss another deadline. Their official statement is that Windows will ship within three years of the January 2007 consumer release of Windows Vista.

Last time I checked 27 percent of geeksugar readers said they've given up on Vista, whereas 32 percent said they still hadn't tried it. Where do you stand now?

New Office Slang: A-C

GeekSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 16:00:23 -0700

If you've ever had a conversation with a tragically hip person and walked away wondering what the heck half the things they said mean, you understand how frustrating it is not knowing the coolest slang and lingo. It makes you feel old, unworldly, and out of the loop. How can you stay on top of your game? I am a fan of initiating jargon into conversations and using it until the people around me catch up. If you're interested in gaining some new office slang consider using geeky computer terms in casual conversation.

For example if you meet a cute associate at an office function and your co-worker asks if you are going to call them you can always be elusive and say you are going to "bookmark" that person for later. Not everyone wants to commit to speed dial after one meet and greet, right?

For a list of Office Slang you should know,read more

Here are a few more words to test out:

404 - Someone who is clueless. From the Web error message, “404 Not Found,” which means the document requested couldn’t be located. “Don’t bother asking Britney. She’s totally 404 and can't help it.”

Alpha Geek - The most knowledgeable, technically proficient person in an office or work group. “I dunno, ask geeksugar. She's the alpha geek around here.”

Blamestorming - A group discussion of why a deadline was missed or a project failed and who was responsible. "I don't want to Blamestorm or anything, but can we talk about what Fergie's stylist should have been thinking."

Chip Jewelry - Old computers destined to be scrapped or turned into decoration. “That piece of junk would function better as a statue."

Chips and Salsa - Chips = hardware, salsa = software. “First we gotta figure out if the problem’s in your chips or your salsa.”

Cube Farm - An office filled with cubicles. "I have to get out of this Cube Farm and take a walk around the block."

Source: Office Slang

Greenpeace Releases Electronics Guide

GeekSugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 14:00:07 -0700

Eco-friendly, green gadgets are quickly becoming a staple in the gadget world. No one wants a car, computer, MP3 player or even lightbulb that runs on last century's "green technologies." In fact, many energy conscious consumers have started tracking their energy use with gadgets like the Wattson, a sleek and chic tracking device that enables you to learn about your own personal energy use through interactive play. And designers are even creating gadgets made from their own packaging. Amid the growth of eco products, Greenpeace has released the third edition of its Electronics Guide, which looks at electronics manufacturers' policies and practices and their impact on the environment.

It doesn't include any specific consumer tips, but it does help consumers gain some insight into what companies have in store and how they address green gadgetry. For a look at which companies showed improvement, read more

"Our Green Electronics Guide ranks leading mobile and PC manufacturers on their global policies and practice on eliminating harmful chemicals and on taking responsibility for their products once they are discarded by consumers," says Greenpeace. "Companies are ranked on information that is publicly available and communications/clarifications with the companies." Leo is gonna be so proud!

Greenpeace's Top Rankers

Lenovo - The most improved: from last place to first. Progress on all criteria but loses points for not having products free of the worst chemicals on the market yet.
Nokia - Good on all criteria, but needs clear timeline for PVC phase out for all applications. Needs to better report on how many discarded mobiles it recycles.
Sony Ericsson - The first to set 2008 as its deadline to put on the market products free of the worst chemicals. Some products are already greener, but needs better takeback reporting.
Dell - Still among the top but loses points for not having models free of the worst chemicals. Strong support for takeback. Samsung - Moving up the rank and gaining points for takeback policies. But its take back system is not yet global and needs improvement.
Motorola - Loses points for not providing clear timelines for phase out of worst chemicals.

Geenpeace's Low Rankers
Sony - Some models without the worst chemicals, but loses a penalty point for inconsistent takeback policies.
LGE - In free-fall: it loses a penalty point for inconsistent takeback policies. But scores points for providing a mobile free of the worst chemicals.
Panasonic - Slipping down for failing to keep up with the movement of all the other companies. No commitment to eliminate the worst chemicals, and poor on takeback.
Apple - Holding firmly in last place: low scores on almost all criteria and no progress.

Check out the complete list here
Source