GeekSugar

Helio Ocean Now Available

GeekSugar — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 10:00:15 PDT

As a thank you for their sponsorship I would like to take the opportunity to explain that there is a reason behind the Helio "Don't call us a phone company" ads. The devices aren't just phones, they actually are mobile, talking and messaging machines. Case in point: The Helio Ocean device released earlier this month is a dual-slider with both a numeric keyboard and a separate QWERTY keyboard.

The device merges instant messaging, text messaging, picture messages and e-mails with over-the-air music downloads, video-on-demand, a camera, HTML browser, GPS-enabled Google Maps, photo caller ID and audio with stereo bluetooth. It also features Myspace for Helio and Helio Music. If the device's features weren't enough to convince you, check out the Helio Ocean Cake one of our readers made as an ode to hers.

The Ocean is available for $295 at Helio Stories or Helio Online.

Edible Geek: Helio Ocean Cake

GeekSugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 09:04:58 PDT

I must admit, I had a little warning that LilPeaPod was planning on making her boyfriend a special Helio Ocean Cake so it was all I could think about this weekend. It turned out a bajillion times more beautiful than I dreamed and certainly outdoes the Rubik's Cube cake, matching his and her TiVo cakes and even an assortment of geeky wedding cakes. "I wanted to do something really special for the BBQ we were having in his honor," said LilPeaPod. "After tossing around ideas of gifts, I came up empty handed. He has everything that he wants! What could top his Helio Ocean?! That's right my friends, A Helio Ocean CAKE!!! My Mom helped me with the details, walked me through frosting the cake, how to use fondant, painting the pieces with food coloring and four point five hours later we had this masterpiece."

To check out more pictures of the Helio Cake,

View 16 Photos ›

"Needless to say my boyfriend was blown away and I got kudos from all his tech loving pals," added LilLeaPod. "And food coloring stains on my new Yumsugar apron. Finally broke it in."

Up Close Look At Helio Ocean

GeekSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 08:00:44 PDT

The wait for the Helio Ocean ended last week and while it took a few days to get our hands on the hot device, our hardcore Helio fan LilPeaPod swooped hers up and shared her review of the device on TeamSugar.

As I have told you before, the device is being marketed as the "world's first dual slider that has it all." The "all" includes: full keyboard, separate numeric keypad, idle screen search, video, camera, e-mail, text messaging, AIM and audio with stereo bluetooth. Of course, it also supports Helio Music, GPS-enabled services and applications and photo caller ID.

LilPeaPod says the dual slider is everything she ever wanted out of her SKII and didn't get. "I can surf the web faster than I could with my SK, Pearl or SDA," says LilPeaPod. "Yes, I've had a lot of phones. But this is by far the easiest surfing experience yet. The speakers on the back are killer. Really great sound." As for things she thinks need improvement, she said she wishes there were Alt Keys on both sides to make switching between numbers, letters and symbols a little easier - there is only one on the left on this model. She also wishes there was a wider space bar (I can attest, it's tiny!)

To check out a full gallery of the Helio Ocean and for more review,

View 10 Photos ›

While the device was released more than a month in advance of the iPhone, some people are saying it will give the Apple phone a run for its money. What are your thoughts? Have you checked out the device yet?

Check out LilPeaPod's full review of the Helio Ocean.

Do you want to share information about your favorite gadgets with me? Follow the steps below and submit your reviews to the My Favorite Gadgets group.

I know that this long list looks scary, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it'll be a snap the second time around.

First of all, join the My Favorite Gadgets group
Click "Create and Share!" on the left hand side
Choose "Blog"
Give your photo a Title
Leave the category as "general"
Change the channel to "technology and gadgets"
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "My Favorite Gadgets")
Click on the "Add Image" link below the "body" box
A popup window will happen - click on "Browse" to find your image on your computer
Once you have the image chosen, click "Submit"
The popup will show you your image, choose size: "normal" - if you want, you can give it a title (which will show up as a caption)
Click "Insert" and the popup will go away
Your "body" box will now have some text in it. Leave it as is. If you want to add some text before the picture, do it before the code that has appeared.
Click Submit

So join the My Favorite Gadgets group and start posting your great photos! Yours just might end up on the geeksugar homepage!