GeekSugar

Geek Tip: Make and Share Lists Online

GeekSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:56 -0800

Now is the perfect time for me to introduce you to Listography - it's going to become so helpful when you're shopping for holiday gifts. The question "What do you want for Christmas?" is so five years ago when you have a network of family on Listography, since it lets you create your own wish lists and share with your friends online. No more tracking down that toy robot for your cousin Nate; since he's got an online list, he can share what he wants, and where to buy it.

But even after the holidays, Listography can be helpful when planning vacations, moves, or tackling that bucket list, which you can access from anywhere online.

Find the Distance Between Two Points With a Google Mashup

GeekSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:05:26 -0800

When you use Google Maps, the distance you're getting from point A to B is in driving, walking, or public transportation terms. But, if you just need to find the distance between two points on a map, then check out this cool Google Map mashup: Distance From To. It works just like Google Maps where you put in your starting and ending point, and gives you exact distance in kilometers and miles, but leaves out all that messy info like turn-by-turn directions and traffic. Besides, who needs traffic anyway?

Geek Tip: Take a Self Portrait With Your iPhone

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:50:24 -0800

One of my favorite iPhone features is its camera. It's of impressive quality for a cell phone camera, and has gotten successively better with each generation of iPhone released. Add the plethora of accessories meant to enhance the iPhone's camera and applications to enhance your photos, and my iPhone can produce better photos than my camera. But even with all of the additional bells and whistles, there was one thing I thought my iPhone camera couldn't do: take self-portraits. In fact, I thought the only real way to take a self-portrait was with a mirror, with the back of the iPhone in full view.

Sure, we joke about the famous self-portrait photos that show up all too often as Facebook profile pictures, the telltale extended arm in the photo holding the camera above eye level. But taking a self-portrait with an iPhone seemed nearly impossible; holding the phone in one hand, trying to tap the right place on the screen where the camera button is located, nearly dropping the phone on the ground. (Not that I've, um, tried this or anything).

But the iPhone self-portrait is possible! To find out how, read more.

The iPhone camera doesn't take the photo when you press the camera button, it snaps the image when you release it. So, in order to take a self portrait, open the camera function and place your finger on the camera button, but don't release. Then, you can turn the phone around, extend your arm, and take the shot. No more blurry photos or iPhone-in-the-mirror shots. Even more helpful? Make sure your phone is out of silent mode, so you'll hear the "click" of the shutter's release. Smile!

Do you have a helpful iPhone tip you'd love to share? Join our iPhone Tips group where you can share your tip and tell us why you love it so much. And your handy tip or trick could be featured on GeekSugar! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

DirecTV Customers: Set Your DVR With Your iPhone

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:30:29 -0800

I'm not sure how I lived without a DVR - though I've only had it for a few years, it's a convenience that I don't think I can live without! I've already told you how to program your TiVo online, and now DirecTV subscribers can set their DVRs on the go. The DirecTV iPhone App for iPhone allows you to access and edit your account and recording schedule.

Sign into the free application using your DirecTV account to access and change your preset recordings and schedule new recordings from your phone. You can also customize the application to include only channels you receive within its listed shows. Even if you're not a DirecTV customer, you can use the app to search current shows by channel, title, or date and time, plus read episode information and summaries.

Similar to TiVo's disclaimer that the service isn't guaranteed to be error-free, the app does include a warning that "in rare instances, scheduled recordings may not be recognized," so if you're recording something super important, it's best to program that from home.

Geek Tip: Make Your TiVo's Progress Disappear Faster

GeekSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:40:59 -0800

Although I think you should get a TiVo for more than just to watch the tube, there are some minor things I wish I could change about the player. For example, the status bar on the bottom of the screen - it takes forever to disappear! Now some of you may think I'm being overly dramatic, but really, it takes a while, no?

So when you can't take it anymore, just enter this sequence on your remote: Select, Play, Select, Pause, Select, which should take care of your lagging status bar for good.

10 More Blackberry Tips and Tricks!

GeekSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:50:21 -0800

I had you at Blackberry, didn't I? Although I'm addicted to my iPhone, there's a special place in my heart for my Crackberry. We've had a lot of fun times together, so I must pay homage to the newer phones that have hit the market and show you even more cool tips and tricks you may not know about. New to the BlackBerry game? Check out my first tip installment from last year, and then click on, my Blackberry comrades.

View Slideshow ›

Geek Tip: Control Your iPod While Your iPhone Is Locked

GeekSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:05:20 -0800

It's time for another iPhone tip I wish I'd known about much sooner. Today's revelation: you are able to control the iPod on your iPhone even while the phone is locked.

If your phone is locked but you'd like to listen to music, double click the home button. It pulls up simple iPod controls: play, skip forward, and skip backwards. (The double click also works to bring up these same simple controls if your phone isn't locked.)

You can also use the headphones to control your iPod. Honestly, I didn't realize the small microphone included on the headphones is also a button, but it's extremely convenient to use if your phone is in your bag or pocket. When listening to your iPod, clicking the button on the headphones once plays or pauses the current song. Pressing twice skips to the next track. The headphones included with the new 3GS phones also have volume controls, but these headphone shortcuts work with both 3G and 3GS headphones.

Yes, You Can Take Screenshots on Your BlackBerry

GeekSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:05:33 -0800

You already know that you can easily take screenshots on your iPhone with just a few clicks, but taking a screenshot on your BlackBerry may prove to be a little more difficult . . . without an app that is. With Screenshot (pretty easy to remember, right?) you can take screenshots on your BlackBerry to back up messages, phone numbers, texts, or whatever you may need.

Screenshot is simple to use since you can assign a key to act as your own personal shutter switch to capture whatever is on your screen. Although the iPhone screenshot tip was free and came as a built in feature for the iPhone, the app is not as wallet friendly as free: it comes in at $3.

iPhone Tip: More Keyboard Shortcuts

GeekSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:02:31 -0800

Thanks to reader T S for commenting on my latest iPhone tips post. Turns out, holding your finger down on different keys on the keyboard opens up quite a few options while you're typing. She writes:

You can also type letters with accents by holding your finger on the letter, so if you put your finger on "e" and hold you'll get the option of é, è, ë, etc.

I just spent the last hour holding down various keys to see what would happen, and found more shortcuts! To see my list, read more.

Holding down the period button when entering someone's email address gives an option of adding a ".com," ".net," ".edu," or ".org" suffix (I love this one!)
Holding down the period button gives the option of ellipses.
Holding down the "0" key gives the option for the º symbol. (I've never had to use it, but nice to have the option!)
Holding down the "-" key gives the option of an em dash (-).

I also knew that touching any image in Safari gives you the option to download it to your phone - am I missing anything else?

Geek Tip: Another iPhone Typing Shortcut

GeekSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:30:48 -0800

I'm starting to think Apple might be reading my mind - every time I find something I don't like about my iPhone, I realize they've already thought of a solution. Similar to learning how to quickly scroll to the top of the screen on my iPhone, I wish I would have known about this quick shortcut months ago.

If you're typing a URL into Safari on your phone, there's a convenient ".com" button on the keyboard - great when the suffix to the site you're trying to visit is .com. Not so great when it's a .net or .org site and you have to type it out - or so I thought! Turns out, you just have to touch and hold the ".com" button for a few seconds and a pop-up window appears, displaying .edu, .net, and .org suffix options. Brilliant!

I love learning new tricks for my iPhone, so if you have any to share, please tell me in the comments below.