GeekSugar

How Are Your Mobile Manners? Not Good, Says Intel

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:00:16 PST

Internet etiquette has been a hot topic around these parts for a while, but it seems that the majority of Americans' mobile manners are getting worse. Texting while sexing may be the most heinous mobile etiquette offender, but people are breaking manner rules left and right while out in public as well.

A new study by Intel reveals that keeping your phone handy while at the dinner table may not be the biggest pet peeve. According to the report, 73 percent of respondents say that using a mobile device while driving is not only dangerous (and illegal in some states), but it also happens to be the biggest annoyance.

Find out what other mobile habits make people cringe after the break.

Jawbone Releases the First Motion-Controlled Bluetooth Headset

Kristen Hawley — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 05:00:48 PST

Jawbone, manufacturers of Bluetooth Headsets and most recently the awesome Jambox Bluetooth-enabled speaker, has just released the first motion-controlled Bluetooth headset with HD audio. The Jawbone ERA features top-quality noise cancellation and volume control that automatically adjusts volume for both sides of the conversation.

Its MotionX technology uses a built-in accelerometer to give users control of the device; shake the ERA to connect to any Bluetooth-enabled device, tap to answer phone calls, and more. Pressing a button on the device gives users an audio update of how much battery life remains. It packs 5.5 hours of talk time or 10 hours of standby time.

Each of the ERA's four designs is available for $129 and is in Apple, AT&T, and Best Buy stores now.

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Do You Use a Bluetooth Headset?

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 05:47:49 PDT

I don't drive that often, so I don't really have a need for a Bluetooth headset. However these new Jawbone Icon headsets ($99) are really making me reconsider my situation. Coming in four new styles, the Icon is definitely a fashion statement that I'd have no problem making if I needed to. But it got me wondering how many of you actually use a Bluetooth headset today. Now that more vehicles are allowing you to connect your smartphone to built-in systems, it seems that Bluetooth headsets may be on their way out, at least when it comes to handsfree driving. Tell me - do you use a Bluetooth headset in the car, or while wandering the world on foot?

Daily Tech: Texting Ban in Effect For Bus Drivers and Truckers

GeekSugar — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:15:11 PST

ShoutOut Your Texts With a New iPhone App

GeekSugar — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:30:47 PST

You know that pesky hands-free law we were all stressed about last year in California? Well in 2009, the law has been cracking down on more than just phone calls. Text messaging while driving is a big no-no, so what is a girl to do when she just has to send a text from behind the wheel? Now there's an app for your iPhone that will help you do just that without being thrown in the slammer. Called ShoutOut, this app dictates your speech to a text message, then sends it along to your chosen recipient. Although I wish I could tell you that this useful app is free, it isn't.

ShoutOut costs only $1 to buy, but then charges you "voice credits" per dictated text. Prices aren't that bad though, with 50 voice-to-text messages costing $2, and 250 voice texts setting you back $5.

Rich, Famous, and Connected: Celebs Who Go Hands Free

GeekSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:07:48 PDT

Even though octomom Nadya Suleman was caught not abiding by California's hands free cell phone law - where you must use a hands-free device to talk on your cell phone while driving - there are plenty of Hollywood folk who do rock the Bluetooth earpieces and headsets to be good citizens. The question is, can they make even that look good? You'll have to decide for yourself.

Oops! Nadya Suleman Breaks the Hands Free Cell Phone Law

GeekSugar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:00:33 PDT

One would think, especially with so many children, Nadya Suleman would be a safety pro and abide by California law by using a Bluetooth device or a hands free cell phone earpiece while operating a motor vehicle.

Sadly, this wasn't the case when the famous mother of fourteen was caught yesterday gabbing on her cell phone while driving by police. The Hands Free Law - which kicked into effect last July - is intended to make drivers more aware while driving - and therefore decreasing traffic accidents. With fun iPhone apps and hands free earpiece devices like the one Eva Mendes uses, there really aren't any excuses.

Now onto something more entertaining, a recent funny clip from Desperate Housewives when Susan had a similar Nadya incident. To watch just

Source

Eva Mendes Keeps Her Headphones in and Her Hands Free

GeekSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:01:28 PDT

Eva Mendes is turning into quite the tech-aware star; not only did she shill the importance of recycling cell phones with Scarlett Johansson, she is also aware of California's Hands-Free Law, wearing her headset with a microphone before she even gets in the car. Snaps, Eva!

Her headset doesn't look like anything fancy - methinks it's a standard BlackBerry one that came with her Pearl. Very no-nonsense.

Looks like she sees benefits besides safety, too - with her hands not holding her phone to her ear, she can lug around magazines with her face on them!

Flynet

Ellen Pompeo: Black and White and Geek All Over

GeekSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:01:40 PDT

With the two-hour season premiere of Grey's Anatomy kicking off last week, Ellen Pompeo couldn't have looked more businesslike with her BlackBerry Curve smartphone (which was shielded in a black gel case), her black Motorola Bluetooth H375 headset ($50), and another black tiny cell phone in her left hand. I had no idea she was such a gadget girl! Now if only she had a big bag to hide all her high tech toys in. . . protect the gadget goods Ellen!

Flynet

Texting While Driving Gets Banned in California

GeekSugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:00:33 PDT

This past July, a new law came into effect that now requires millions of Californians to use hands-free technology like headsets and bluetooth-enabled devices while driving. Well on Wednesday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger began signing bills into law, one that includes banning text messaging while driving. According to SFGate, the bill SB28 will ban texting while driving and forces drivers to keep their "hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road," said Schwarzenegger in a written statement. Other states that have already adopted this law include Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Connecticut and Washington.

Source