GeekSugar

Let Your Cables Stand Out: The NUD Cable Collection

GeekSugar — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:30:10 PDT

If you're obsessed with going wireless because of a few unattractive power cables, then maybe these will help you ease up on your cord management obsession. The NUD Collection of cables and lights is an eye-catching group of textile-wrapped cables which come in different (read: fashionable) colors and textures, meant to draw attention rather than blend in.

Currently available only for geeks living in Europe (lucky dogs, you!), the NUD cables come with porcelain lightbulb holders (so you can hang your lights in style), in power brick form with multiple outlets, and as extension cords, keeping your behind-the-TV outlets looking fresh. All the NUD cables come in varying lengths from one to 10 meters (that's three to 32 feet for the rest of you), so you can style your room around your power from now on, instead of the other way around.

Check out a few more images of these oh-so-stylish power cables when you

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Nicole Kidman Crowned New DS Spokeswoman

GeekSugar — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:45:00 PDT

Who says Oscar winning actresses can't be gamers? Nintendo has picked Nicole Kidman to lead a print and television ad campaign for "More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain?" The game launches across Europe on the Nintendo DS on June 29, which just happens to be the iPhone release date in the US. According to Nintendo, Kidman was chosen by Nintendo because of her universal appeal to mainstream audiences of all ages and backgrounds, as well as her reputation for being intelligent, entertaining and genuine. As you can see from the video, Nicole's "brain" seems to be much older than her real age.

Kidman is quoted as saying: "I love the concept that Nintendo is reaching out to new audiences with their self improvement products like Brain Training. Most importantly, I’ve quickly found that training my brain is a great way to keep my mind feeling young." What does Nintendo have to say about the move?

Here's more:

Nintendo feel that working with the award winning actress as the personality of this campaign reflects a long-term pioneering philosophy from Nintendo. The aim of this philosophy is to broaden the gaming audience with software that isn’t just fun but also enriches your life, whether training your brain or practicing language skills. The software is relevant and accessible for everyone from the age of 9 to 99.

More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain? is the latest in a series of titles from Nintendo DS called Touch! Generations. Touch! Generations is a unique range of software designed to be enjoyed by everybody, even if they’ve never played a game before. These titles, like that played by Nicole Kidman, are disrupting the video games world and changing the perceptions of millions worldwide who previously thought gaming was just for 16-24 year old males.

I would have guessed Nintendo would pick someone like Haden Panettiere or Mandy Moore for this campaign, but it's a fun move nonetheless.

Source

Why Are Phones From Other Countries So Chic?

GeekSugar — Mon, 28 May 2007 09:00:48 PDT

I am constantly in awe of technology, specifically cell phones from Asia and Europe. Perhaps I've just grown up thinking of Asia and Europe as fashion epicenters and far more trendy than the US, or maybe I'm just jealous I can't get an 18-Carat Gold Nokia 8800 Sirocco phone, which is available only in Europe, or a LG Candybar Shine, which is only available in Russia. It seems my desire for unattainable cell phones is pretty common.

MSNBC brought up the fact that it's all too easy to feel a little green about non-American cell phones, because they often seem inferior to more glitzy, technologically advanced phones from overseas. One reader even told MSNBC: "The U.S. cellular phone system is ridiculous. …It is an embarrassment to compare your new phone with [those of] your friends from Europe or Asia." Here's more:

So what gives? Why are things in the States so different? Unfortunately it's not an easy question to answer, and if I had the time and the column space I could write a thesis detailing the many reasons. But I have to go for brevity here, so I've simplified it into three main points: competing network, carrier control, and cultural differences. Each of these factors plays a big role in explaining why U.S. users remain a bit behind our overseas friends.

What do you think? Does the technology and appearance of iPhone, BlackBerry (yeah, it's made in Canada, but close enough!) and Helio make up the difference?

18-Carat Gold Nokia 8800 Sirocco

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 09:08:40 PDT

Nokia has unveiled the Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold phone and let's just say it's the perfect match to the dashing Vertu Ferrari 1947 cellphone.

Encased in an 18-carat gold plating, the Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold has the look of a luxurious Faberge egg that's been melted onto a sleek slider phone. It's available in select markets - as in not in the US - with an estimated retail price of EUR $1,000 (or $1,351.80 USD).

It boasts a high-resolution camera (2 Megapixel) an "intuitive and ergonomic keypad," color screen (up to 262K colors) and a wide array of messaging functionalities. The elegance of the Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold is also complemented by a coordinating desk stand and color-matching Bluetooth headset. Now if only I could get a room at Le Petit Trianon and my own royal jeweler.

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LG Shows Off 'Candybar' Shine Phone

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 03:04:51 PDT

LG has introduced a 'candybar incarnation' of its Shine slider phone, reports Reg Hardware and like the glamorous ISSE Monaco Phones from Nokia, it will only be available in Russia for a while.

It's unclear when the Shine Bar - as the non-slider is known - will make it to the rest of Europe and beyond, says Reg Hardware.

Expect it to pack in a 262,144-color, 240 x 320 display; a two megapixel camera with auto-focus; Bluetooth; 50MB of user-accessible memory; and a Micro SD slot for up to 2GB of add-in storage space.

For an up close look at the phone,

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Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria Christens Baby Estelle

Tara Block — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:25:00 PDT

Queen Elizabeth II isn't the only female monarch in Europe celebrating milestones this year. Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria and her husband of two years - her former personal trainer Daniel Westling - welcomed a baby girl in February, and today she and the rest of the Swedish royal family attended baby Princess Estelle's christening at the royal chapel in Stockholm.

Princess Estelle is second in line to the Swedish throne after her mother, thanks to the succession law that was changed in 1980 to allow the eldest heir to inherit the throne, even if the firstborn is a woman. Currently, Princess Victoria is the world's only female heir apparent, but if Prince William and Kate Middleton have a daughter, she may follow in Princess Victoria's footsteps. The UK's rules of royal inheritance are in the process of changing to allow firstborn girls to reign even if they have younger brothers. All 16 Commonwealth realms must come together to put the law into action - and until they do, Will and Kate's firstborn, if it's a girl, may or may not be in line for the throne. Some speculate that the uncertainty is the reason Will and Kate have been postponing having children, something that traditionally happens right after the marriage.

While we wait to find out how female royalty will fare in the UK, check out more photos of Sweden's little Princess Estelle during her christening ceremony now!

You're Fired! 20 Signs That a Pink Slip Is Coming

Wise Bread — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:54:53 PDT

If something feels off at the office, you may want to brace yourself for the worst. Wise Bread shares signs to look for when a pink slip is coming.

There are two types of employees. One has a good idea of what they do, who they are, and what position they play in the company. They are savvy. They know the score. They are under no delusions, and will no doubt leave for another job long before they are ever considered as cannon-fodder.

And then there's the other kind. The guy who could get Gandhi to hate him. The woman who spends most of her day chatting on the phone to friends or doing online shopping. Or the nice chap in sales who is completely oblivious that the recent merger means his job is now obsolete. They all have Ostrich Syndrome. They couldn't see a pink slip coming if it was 8ft tall and glowing in the dark, screaming "you're fired!"

You want to avoid being in that second category at all costs. So I've compiled a handy list. If you can answer yes to THREE or more of these questions, you may want to think about sprucing up your résumé and dry-cleaning your best interview attire.

1. Are you no longer in the loop about, well, anything?

This is a huge telltale sign. Suddenly you're finding out about company news from the cleaning lady or the new girl in accounting. If you were formally in the know about all things business related, but now suffer from "the company's doing what??!" disease, the writing is probably on the wall.

2. Did you recently screw up big-time?

We're not talking a minor faux pas here. Did you lose money on an account that was previously bulletproof? Oh dear. Were you caught having sex on the boss's desk with the boss's spouse? That's probably not a career-enhancing move. Unless you're a real dope, you know if you have screwed up. And if you know, HR knows. It may not be the final nail in your coffin, but it's a nail in the coffin nonetheless.

3. Are people avoiding you at all costs?

Eye contact is difficult to make with someone if you know his or her head's on the chopping block. Small talk is just as tough. It's best just to avoid that person altogether. So if people are no longer doing that fun "stop 'n' chat" in the hall, or the coffee room empties when you arrive, then guess what . . . you may be a marked man or woman.

Read on for more.

8 Ways to Make Your Own Career Luck

LearnVest — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:15:52 PDT

People often say that you make your own luck, but how do you make your own career luck and get the job of your dreams? LearnVest shares how you can do so.

You sit next to someone on an airplane who later helps you land your dream job.

Your dentist’s daughter is a book editor, and wouldn’t you know it, she’d just love to publish your memoir.

You have a role model in your industry, and your roommate’s fiancé just so happens to be her best friend.

OK, chance doesn’t always work out as we might wish . . . but a few travel apps, a weak economy, and plenty of gumption got us thinking.

Cajoling Lady Luck may be easier than ever, with new services like Planely, a Danish start-up, and Satisfly, a Hong Kong-based start-up. Both apps connect passengers before their flights, so they can see the Facebook profiles of fellow travelers and choose seats by people they’d like to meet. Airlines like Dutch carrier KLM and Malaysia Airlines are getting in on the act with similar services of their own. Sharing and viewing this social media info is, of course, optional all around.

Read on for more.

How Women Should Save at Every Life Stage

Wise Bread — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:15:50 PDT

We all face different money issues at every life stage, so figure out what you need to save for with this helpful Wise Bread guide.

The recession has pushed almost all of us, regardless of age, a decade behind in building personal wealth. Don’t beat yourself up if you’re in your 20s and haven’t paid off student loans, or in your late 30s or early 40s and still paying off debt or saving up for a down payment. If your retirement account isn’t where you’d like it to be in your 50s, do the best you can to build it up. What matters is doing the best you can to make sound financial decisions so you can enjoy the important things in life without worrying too much about money. Here are few tips for women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s on saving and building wealth.

In Your 20s

I can’t stress this enough - start saving early. Even if you think you’re broke, give up lattes twice a week and put the $25 a month you save into a retirement account. The hilarious truth of the matter is that the earlier you start saving, when you can least afford it, the harder that money works for you to earn interest. Investing just five percent of a $40,000 salary annually from age 25 to 65 can pay off big in the long run. Assuming a six percent rate of return, at age 65, you’d have $479,241 in your 401(k), thanks to the magic of compound interest. Invest 10 percent of a $40,000 salary, and that number grows to $830,678 by age 65.

On to credit card debt, especially important in your 20s. I know about this one first hand. I thought I had a great handle on my credit card spending in my early 20s. So great, in fact, that over the next several years I didn’t bat an eyelash at charging multiple plane tickets to Europe, rounds of drinks with friends, and several pairs of new shoes.

Several years later, I was still paying it off. The only way I dug myself out of debt was to get a second job in addition to my full-time job while I was finishing school. That meant a 60-plus-hour workweek, no social life, no excess spending, little sleep, and a lot of headaches for over a year. Trust me, you do not want to put yourself through the stress that excess debt causes. Before you whip out the credit card to travel or go out or buy a new gadget, ask yourself if you really need it. Force yourself to spend responsibly. If you want to travel, set aside 10 percent of your earnings and take one great trip a year.

Read on to find out more.

Financial Time Line For 20-Somethings

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:15:14 PDT

While we'd like to blame the economy, Generation Y - often called the Boomerang Generation of Americans born in the '80s and '90s - have earned that snide title for their inability to land jobs after college and for commonly moving back in with the folks several years after graduation. In an effort to move away from this common trend, here's a list of goals and a realistic time line to help you move toward an independent, adult life.

Last Year of School and Graduation

While some college students apply for jobs or graduate programs during their last semester of school, you might feel overloaded if you start the search while you have a full schedule of classes, an internship, and even a part-time job. Rather than trying to juggle all of those tasks at once, focus on completing your degree. Do make use of your college career services, so you have websites and resources at hand when you are ready to seriously start the hunt.

If you have savings or financial support from your parents, go to Europe or take that dream vacation you've always wanted. It's important to take a break after graduation to decompress before jumping into a job search or a new job. Even if it's just a road trip with your friends, take the opportunity to celebrate your graduation.

Click here to read what to do during your first and second year after graduation.