GeekSugar

Geek Tip: GOOG-411 Adds Free Telephone Directory Assistance

GeekSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:00:04 -0700

Google's 411 service is out of its experimental stage and is now a fully functioning service. Discussed on lifehacker, GOOG-411 is a fast and easy to use telephone directory assistance tool that you can use to connect you to local businesses for free. Looking for a restaurant? A specific store? Just dial 1-800-GOOG-411 and let Google take care of the rest. To learn more, check out the video below.

Geek Tip: Try Google's New 411 Service

GeekSugar — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 14:03:39 -0700

Out with the old and in with the new! Forget about paying high 411 assistance charges when you can try Google's new Voice Local Search for free! Goog-411 can be accessed by dialing 1-800-GOOG-411 from any phone. An entirely automated system, Goog-411 will provide you with business info when you tell it what city and state you are in. Results are spoken back or text messaged back to you (just by saying text message), and the number you requested is automatically given to you free of charge.

Still in its experimental stage, this new service is currently only available in English, in the US, for US businesses and it might not work for everyone at all times. Be patient folks, in due time all the glitches will be ironed out.

Simple Cell Tips, Part 4: Get Help on the Go!

GeekSugar — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:00:55 -0700

Now that you're addicted to using your cell phone for reminders and alarms and working on your text messaging know how you might as well start using your cell phone for information help on the go. There are a handful of great services that allow you access to informational databases and 411-type information without having to pick up the Yellowpages or struggle to use your phone's web browser.

Call GOOG-411: GOOG-411 recently added free Telephone Directory Assistance to its service. Looking for a restaurant? A specific store? Just dial 1-800-GOOG-411 and let Google take care of the rest. Check out a video to see how it works. If you're lost and need map help just say "map it" during your call and you'll get a text message with the details of your search plus a link to a map of your results right on your mobile phone.
Use Google Mobile SMS: Need help with an address or solving a fight but don't want to make a call? You can text message your search to 466453 ('GOOGLE') and Google will text message the results back.
Put your calendar on your phone: While most phones have built in calendars and task managers, they can be hard to organize. You can now access your Google calendar from your cell phone.

Kwiry Adds More Features, Including a TiVo Texting Shortcut

GeekSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:00:07 -0800

OK, if you have not jumped on the Kwiry train yet, you must! I've already told you how you can send a text to (K-W-I-R-Y) 59479 to remember books, movies, or to-do items and how you can even add products to your Amazon wishlist and update your Netflix queue, well there's more. Kwiry just announced that you can now send a text saying "tivo Gossip Girl" and it will schedule a recording of the next episode to your TiVo.

Additionally, you can text Kwiry for things like Yelp information, including reviews, contact info, etc. And if you really want to go bananas with Kwiry, you can text "contact geekyjill@gmail.com" to email contact info and vCard attachment while on the go, or text "status going to Cindys" and kwiry will update your Facebook and/or Twitter accounts - no word of a lie people. And you thought Google's 411 service was impressive.

Geek Tip: 1-800-GOOG-411 Now With Maps

GeekSugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 14:00:00 -0700

A few months back Google introduced its 1-800-GOOG-411 service, which provides users with free business info. You just call or text the number (1-800-466-4411) ask for help and your answer is spoken back or text messaged back to you (just by saying text message), and the number you requested is automatically given to you free of charge. It's less expensive than 411 (cause it's free!) and is just as easy as the old school service.

Apparently, the GOOG-411 experience just got better: during your call to GOOG-411, just say "map it," and you'll get a text message with the details of your search plus a link to a map of your results right on your mobile phone.

This Week on geeksugar: Headlines and Holidays

GeekSugar — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 10:30:41 -0800

What better way to get into the holiday spirit then by Elfing Yourself?! Similar to the website MagMyPic that puts you on the cover of a magazine of your choice, ElfYourself helps you put your head, your mom's head, your friend's head, your dog's head (okay, you catch my drift) on a dancing elf.
Now that you've got your USB Christmas Cake and USB twinkling Christmas tree, why not top it off with a USB Christmas wreath?!
Google rolled out its fair share of neat new services, apps, and features this year. From personalized homepages, Google's My Maps, Google Transit, Goog-411, Google Street View and Google Docs Mobile, which one would you say is your favorite?
This past year has definitely seen its fair share of big tech stories. It feels like yesterday we were lining up outside the Apple store for the highly anticipated iPhone launch! And who can forget the countdown to the ultra chic Leopard OS X operating system? What was the biggest tech news story of 2007?

If you had your hopes set on getting a Kindle this holiday season, I hate to break it to you but you may be outta luck. Not only because they are sold out till after Christmas, but because you may not get wireless connectivity where you live, making your Kindle virtually useless. You better check if the Kindle will work in your area.
With only a few weeks left till Christmas, you may be in need of some last minute gift ideas. If you've been keeping up with my holiday gift guides you'll know all the hottest gadgets this holiday season. Check out my guide to getting your girlfriends holiday gifts.
Well it's about time. Okay, I won't rip into Google for adding this new Gmail feature a little late, but I guess it's better late than never! Geek Tip: Gmail finally gets colored labels.

What Were Your Favorite New Google Features of 2007?

GeekSugar — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:00:40 -0800

Google certainly rolled out its fair share of neat new services, apps, and features this year including Google's personalized homepages, Google's My Maps, Google Transit, Goog-411, Google Street View and Google Docs Mobile. If you had to pick just one (I know it's hard), which one would you say is your favorite? Scroll down to leave your answer!

Are You Interested in Google's Cell Platform?

GeekSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:00:16 -0800

Yesterday Google quelled rumors of a Gphone and announced an Open Handset Alliance and Android, an open platform for cell phones that includes an operating system, user-interface and applications.

In a press release the company said it hopes "Android will be the foundation for many new phones and will create an entirely new mobile experience for users, with new applications and new capabilities we can’t imagine today."

Google developed Android with the Open Handset Alliance, which consists of more than 30 companies including Motorola, Samsung, LG Electronics, eBay, Sprint and T-Mobile.

As someone who is utterly addicted to Google's mobile features, such as Google Maps and Google 411, I can't wait to check out the new platform and see if it rivals the way the iPhone integrates Google applications. Are you eager to check it out, or were you expecting a Gphone?

The iPhone Gets Google Friendly

GeekSugar — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:00:01 -0800

If you've checked out Google.com on your iPhone recently, you've probably noticed that the entire site has gone iPhone friendly. Condensed into your tiny Google toolbar, you can now switch between Gmail, Calendar, Reader, Docs and more Google apps like Docs, SMS, GOOG 411 and photos. This new enhancement will make it that much easier to get to all your favorite Google sites and features that you frequently visit! Source