GeekSugar

Daily Tech: Let Me Google That For You Is Search in Slow-Mo

GeekSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:55:09 -0800

The next time someone asks you a question that is "Googleable" a new funny site called Let Me Google That For You lets you do a Google Search and then copy the search link so you can send it to that friend. When the person clicks on the link, it will direct them to the actual search results page. Funny and harmless. - Lifehacker
Snoop Dogg recently appeared on The Martha Stewart Show (yes, random), and he told Martha about his texting habits and his love for his BlackBerry. - Switched
The reviews for the BlackBerry Storm are in, and so far it's not living up to all of the hype. - Gizmodo
Designer Mac Funamizu has created two glass phone concepts that offer multiple uses, but are certainly fingerprint prone. - Yanko Design
Last Day! It's giveaway time! Be sure to log in for your chances to win a Nintendo DS Lite and fitness games! - geeksugar

Modern Day Notecards Featuring Subtle Geeky One-Liners

GeekSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:33:41 -0700

Well color me geeky happy - who needs Tech Dating tips when cards like this exist?! Call me old-fashioned, but I just love cute geek-inspired cards.

Even if he didn't friend me on Facebook, waited longer than three days to call after our first date, or has a ton of female contacts, I'd still let one of these irritating tech-behaviors slide if he slipped one of these flirtatious letterpress cards ($7 for a set of six) in the mail. And if your eyes are as bad as mine, the pink one reads "Google Me" while the brown one reads "Why don't you tweet me sometime."

Would You Make Phone Calls Via Twitter?

GeekSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:33:28 -0700

I'm all over Google Voice, the freakishly awesome (and free) Google service that lets me take my own phone number anywhere (plus a ton of other great features). But just cause I use my email carrier to make phone calls, doesn't mean I'd do the same on Twitter. A new third party app from Jajah will allow users to voice chat over Twitter just by first sending a message to @call @"username." Of course you could chat with your mom just by sending her an @call @"your mom's Twitter username," or we could all attempt to chat with Ashton Kutcher, too. I wonder how well that would go over?

We can already post pictures and upload video to Twitter, so enabling voice chatting service seems like the next logical step. The question remains though, would you make phone calls or chat over Twitter?

Geek Tip: Use BlueRetriever to Get Your Lost Mobile Back

GeekSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:04:44 -0700

I was smitten by Apple's new Find My iPhone service when it was announced at this year's WWDC, but let's get real - not everyone wants (or can) subscribe to MobileMe. So for all of you who fall into this category, there's BlueRetriever.

BlueRetriver is like an insurance policy, which gives you a way to get back your lost cell without having to do much more than sign up for a free account and downloading the BlueRetriever wallpaper. Why wallpaper you ask? Well, BlueRetriever relies on good Samaritans - the wallpaper you download has a big and obvious "Return For Reward" message displayed on your home screen (a reward in which you set up beforehand), and a code to enter on BlueRetriever.com. Whoever finds your phone enters the code online, and alerts you via email that your precious mobile was found. Once your mobile is back in your hands, your good Samaritan receives an e-card for the predetermined reward amount.

Simple, easy, and way cheaper than a monthly MobileMe subscription. To see which phones are currently supported by BlueRetriever, just read more.

Apple:

iPhone
iPhone 3G / 3GS
iPod Touch

Blackberry:

Curve
Storm
Bold
Pearl

Palm:

Google:

Geek Tip: A Whole Slew of Google Reader Shortcuts

GeekSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:23:01 -0700

As a devoted Google Reader user, I relish any tips I can use to make it even more useful - so imagine my delight the other day when I let my laptop slip (I told you I was a klutz) and grabbed for it, panicked - and accidentally had hit a key combo that brought up a key of Google Reader keyboard shortcuts.

Don't worry, I replicated it - it's shift + ? - and you can also open it as a separate page.

All this time I've only known about J and K to go up and down through stories, but there's a whole world of keyboard shortcuts! Somehow these always end up being faster than using my mouse for me - not unlike my other new beloved shortcut to shut down my Mac!

Do You Like Locater Services Like Latitude and Loopt?

GeekSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 09:05:07 -0700

Google Latitude is cool - you can see where someone is at any given moment (as long as the phone running it is on, that is) but it also completely weirds me out.

I don't mind that my boyfriend knows where I am at all times with Latitude (which can be shared as the exact location or just the city), but it's weird. So weird that I'm cool with having it installed, but I refuse to check out where he is (unless there's an emergency). It makes me feel like a stalker. A connected stalker, but still.

The app Loopt sort of does the same thing - keeps location tabs on your friends and lets you know when they're nearby - awesome if you want to run into someone, awful if you're trying to avoid them.

The Google blog announced today that Latitude can also be shared with your non Latitude friends in a variety of ways, so yaaaay. . . or nay?

Can't Access Your Gmail? Don't Spaz Out (Like I Did)

GeekSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:45:40 -0700

This has only happened to me once (knock on wood it never happens again), but about eight months ago, I went to sign into Gmail as I normally would and it wouldn't let me in . . . just like that. As I entered my password over and over, double-checking CAPS LOCK for the umpteenth time as my heart started to race faster, I immediately started freaking out - yes I was at work, and yes I put my deodorant to work that day! Because all my pictures are on Picasa, docs on Google docs, and email (email!) couldn't be accessed, I feel like my entire life flashed before me.

To see what happened next, and to learn some useful tips if this ever happens to you, just read more.

After four hours of this, I realized that Google could lock me out of my account for a week (as I kept entering my password) so I did a bit of searching and realized I had a secondary email associated with the account - hallelujah old-school Hotmail to the rescue! Google was able to send me a link through my hotmail account so I could reset my password and therefore sign in again. To do this, sign in to Gmail, go to Settings, Accounts, and then Google Account Settings, Change Security Question and you should see an option to add a secondary email address. Well I guess a major freak-out wasn't necessary because the Official Google Blog has addressed this issue, providing some helpful tips and tricks if you can't access your Gmail - like not responding to messages that ask you for your login information or utilizing the account-recovery process.

Daily Tech: Wired Celebrates 40 Years of Mighty Mice

GeekSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:00:02 -0800

The mouse had a big birthday yesterday and Wired put together a beautiful and geeky retrospective of 40 years of mighty mice. - Wired
Power up with the sun! The Voltaic Generator solar bag is now shipping and capable of charging a laptop. - Boing Boing Gadgets
Need a little vintage geek pick-me-up? Check out old computer ads to make your machine look shiny and new. - Gizmodo
Google has added several magazines to its searchable book cache, complete with decades' worth of archives. - Switched
It's easy to let a salesperson convince you that you need to buy a $50 HDMI cable to make your new gear work. Save yourself some dough with a $10 version! - Crave
There's nothing better than getting a brand new functional and chic computer for the holidays, which is why we have teamed up with our friends at HP to give one lucky geeksugar reader a HP Mini! - geeksugar
Feeling crafty at the office? Binder clips make the perfect iPhone stand. - Unpluggd

How To Plan a Wedding Shower With Online Tools

GeekSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:00:35 -0700

Planning parties has become infinitely easier with the advent of the Internet. I've shown you online tools for planning your wedding and your registry, but there's also a ton of help on the Internet for planning a wedding shower!

Whether you're the one getting married or a friend of the bride and groom throwing the party, trust me - online planning is where it's at.

Online party planning site My Punch Bowl can help you plan your party, with ideas and advice for every step of the way.

To see the rest of the tips, just read more.

Since the wedding shower is not quite the big, formal event a wedding is, I think email invitations are perfectly acceptable (not to mention eco and ultra-convenient). My favorite, of course, is eVite. They have a few pages of wedding-themed invitations that would be great for a shower, and you can always design your own.
Whatever theme or color scheme you're going for, Pearl River Mart and Plum Party are my favorite online party retailers - they have a ton of awesome party favors and decorations, and supply products in bulk.
Don't let anyone get lost! If you're using eVite, Google Maps is already integrated, but if not, you can email the Map or get the embed code for the map and embed it in your invitation.
After the party, remind people how much fun they had and upload your photos to a free photo site like Picasa, where a free account gets you 1GB of storage.

And don't forget to write your toast! This is the one thing that shouldn't come from Google.

To see more of our wedding coverage, be sure to check out IDoSugar!

Source

Google Maps, Oh How I Love Thee

GeekSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:00:10 -0700

Sure, Google Maps is great for getting directions, travel times, and checking traffic conditions, but what else can you do with this freakishly easy-to-use site? Let me count the ways . . .

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