GeekSugar

Facebook and Skype Partnering For Call/Texting Service

GeekSugar — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:15:52 PDT

Today rumors hit that Facebook and Skype will partner to create a communication platform that will integrate texting, voice calls, and Facebook Connect. This service will supposedly be available in a few weeks in the next version of Skype, 5.0, which is currently in beta.

The news at the moment is just rumblings on the web, but using Skype together with Facebook sounds like a great idea. With the new partnership you will be able to access Facebook friends in Skype to call and text, which seems not only a lot more convenient but also a natural progression as our online communication becomes more seamless (Facebook's response to Google Voice and Gmail?).

Both companies would benefit from the partnership, according to reports: Facebook would gain more popularity internationally through the European-based Skype's customer base, while Skype would gain access to Facebook's more than 500 million users. What do you think about the partnership? Will you be excited if this functionality is released?

Follow Twitter Users Without Creating Your Own Account

GeekSugar — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:30:26 PDT

Until now, if you wanted to "follow" a user on Twitter, but didn't have an account, you'd have to visit their Twitter user page directly, refreshing it to view new tweets. Now, a new SMS feature called Fast Follow from Twitter allows anyone in the US with a cell phone to "follow" certain users, receiving their Twitter updates as text messages in real time.

To use the service, text 40404 with the username you'd like to follow. For example, if you want to follow @geeksugar (recommended, of course!), text "follow geeksugar" to 40404. No need to include the @ symbol. This feature is only available to US customers, but Twitter is working to bring it to other countries.

This service is especially useful for following breaking news or local emergency news in your area; you don't have to check Twitter or rely on another news outlet for the information, it will come directly to your phone.

Website of the Day: You Archive It (For iPhone Users)

GeekSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:45:17 PDT

There's often times when my friends send me a SMS with really important info and I end up deleting it when I go on my SMS-deleting binges. Usually it's an address, phone number, or name of a store or restaurant that I wish I would have saved or at least emailed to myself. For iPhone owners, there's this fantastic site called You Archive It that will store all your SMS messages online, and for free! Their database is safe, encrypted (so no one can read your juicy SMSs), and you can access all your messages whenever from wherever. . . no more losing important texts!

Do you have a favorite website you want to share with us? Submit your faves to our Website of the Day group! To learn how, just

read more. 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 Website of the Day group.
Click the pink "Share" menu on the top left side of the page.
Choose "Blog" and “Regular Post.”
Give your story a “Title.”
Fill in the “Body” with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Click “Next."
Choose the audience for your story to “Website of the Day” in the drop-down menu
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "Website of the Day").
Change channel to “Technology and Gadgets.”
Fill in tag field with relevant tags.
Click “I’m done” to submit content.

Kwiry Can Now Send You Netflix and Amazon Updates

GeekSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:00:48 PDT

When we're out and about, my boyfriend is always telling me to remind him to add such and such movie to his Netflix queue or remember a product name to look up on Google later. Today I'm sending him a link to this article so I can retire from all my "remember this and that" duties. If you haven't heard of it already, Kwiry is the ultimate "free" service that will send you text messages of all the things you want to remember. Not only can you send yourself email reminders, add tasks to your calendar, add a feed to your RSS reader, but you can now add products to your Amazon wishlist and update your Netflix queue, all thanks to Kwiry.

Once you sign-up online, all you have to do is text a message to K-W-I-R-Y (59479) with the name of the service you want and then the name of the product, movie, etc., and Kwiry will do the rest of the work! The only thing I'm a tad skeptic about is providing a website with all of my passwords, but they swear everything is encrypted so I may just have to go with it.

4 Free Alternatives to Siri

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:13:34 PST

Didn't get an iPhone 4S this holiday? Don't worry - there are other voice-recognition apps on the market that can stand up to Siri's voice-controlled awesomeness on your devices. In fact, a few of these apps are available for Android and BlackBerry users as well. Check out some download-worthy and free Siri alternatives below.

Vlingo - Vlingo doesn't just take voice commands to make calls, SMS, emails, search the web, or get directions, it does something Siri can't - interfaces with your Twitter and Facebook accounts to let you update with your voice . . . and it really works, even without workarounds.
Dragon Go - Available for iPhone and iPod Touch owners running iOS 4.0 or later, this app works similarly to Siri in that it will interpret and take commands from your voice. You can ask for directions, to draft an email or SMS, and get show times to upcoming movies in your area by directing you to external websites.
Google - Google Mobile's voice abilities let you find information available on Search. For example, you can search with your voice for movie times, photos, websites, nearby restaurants, and more.
Voice Control - Your iPhone's included voice search isn't as powerful as Siri (or any of these other apps), but it does the trick when making calls, searching music on your phone, and getting the time. It's a good start, anyway.

Black Friday Shopping Tips

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:21:47 PST

Thanksgiving is next week, but is quickly followed by the biggest shopping day of the year: Black Friday. Whether you've got your eye on a big screen TV, a laptop, or a new smartphone, follow these tips that will help make your early morning shopping rush a breeze rather than a hailstorm of stress.

Make a list - Just because there's a sale doesn't mean you should buy. Make a list of the items you need and steer clear of those you don't. Black Friday may be great for a discount, but buying gadgets you don't need (or won't use) won't help your credit in the long run.
Plan it out - Before you set your alarm clock, scour all the ads to get an idea of what's on sale and compare prices. Once you've decided where to go for the best deals, map out all your stops for an efficient shopping route based on store hours. You can DIY, or use a site like FindTheBestRoute to cut down on planning time.
Check return policies - Many stores implement special holiday return policies on tech items and usually have year-round restocking fees for big-ticket items like TVs, DSLRs. Know and understand what you're getting into before you buy, so that if by chance you have to return it, you know what to expect.
Use one credit card - Designate one credit card for all of your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping. Alert your credit provider ahead of time to let them know you'll be shopping up a storm next week, so you don't end up denied at the register. Not only will this help you from overspending (especially if you have a low limit), but it will help keep your risk of fraudulent charges at a minimum since you'll know exactly which credit bill to pull up if there's any questionable activity. Leave your debit cards in your wallet, too; they aren't as safe to use online since they feed directly from your checking account. If there are any disputes (depending on the bank), you might not get your money back right away.
Utilize apps while shopping - If you happen to find an item you weren't planning on buying, use the Amazon Price Checker app or ShopSavvy to compare prices and confirm you're getting the best deal possible.
Keep in contact - If you're shopping in teams (this is a competitive sport, isn't it?), use free apps like iMessage, Facebook Messenger, Google Voice, or Twitter (why not make your own family shopping hashtag to follow?) to keep tabs on each other's whereabouts without racking up the SMS fees.

iPhone 4S Rumors: 4 Out of 5 Isn't Bad!

GeekSugar — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 09:15:42 PDT

Earlier this year, we took a guess as to which iPhone 4S rumors would come to pass. Though the phone ended up being called the iPhone 4S, we still got most of our predictions correct! Here's a recap of what we got right, and one we got wrong.

It will be announced on Oct. 4 - True that! The iPhone 4S announcement happened on Tuesday, Oct. 4, in Cupertino.
It could have voice control - Reports of an "Assistant" feature indicate voice activation that will allow users to make appointments, get directions, and set reminders as well as send SMS and iMessage texts just by speaking commands. Siri is that assistant!
It could be released on Oct. 15 - France Telecom's CEO announced to the press recently that he's been told the iPhone 5 will be released on Oct. 15. Though this was one day off (why would they launch it on a Saturday?), we thought the 14th was a more appropriate day.
It could be available on Sprint - Very true! The iPhone 4 and 4S are both available on Sprint.
It could come with a better camera - Indeed the iPhone 4S comes with an 8MP camera, just as expected.

And the one we got wrong:

It could be slimmer, wider - Several leaked cases (and case images) seemed to suggest that the iPhone 4S could come with a new form factor, similar to the iPad 2. Though this is not the phone that was announced earlier this year, we have a sneaking suspicion that these cases are indeed for the upcoming iPhone 5.

Sprint Offering Unlimited Data For iPhone 4S

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:01:53 PDT

You'll soon have more options when deciding which wireless carrier to choose from if you're grabbing up a new iPhone 4S. Sprint officially announced its iPhone pricing plans today, making it the third provider (alongside AT&T and Verizon) for Apple devices. You can preorder an iPhone 4 now and the iPhone 4S starting tomorrow, Oct. 7, and both phones will be available on Oct. 14 or 15, depending on availability. Preorders will only be taken online.

So what about pricing? Sprint is the only carrier of the three to offer unlimited data plans. In fact, for $79.99 a month, you'll get 450 minutes of talk time, unlimited data (including web browsing, email, apps, and GPS), messaging (including SMS, MMS, and video), plus free calls to any mobile in the US, no matter the carrier. If you want more voice minutes, you can upgrade to a 950-minute plan for $89.99 or a "Simply Everything" plan that gives you unlimited voice, messaging, and data for $109.99.

Are you switching to Sprint for an iPhone 4S?

5 Rumors About the iPhone 5 That Might Actually Be True

GeekSugar — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:21:10 PDT

There are endless iPhone 5 rumors floating around the Internet on a given day, but how do you know which ones are based in reality? We've scoured through some of the most prominent rumors and rounded up a few that we think might actually be true. Check them out below.

It will be announced on Oct. 4 - Earlier this week media received invitations to an event at Apple's Cupertino headquarters on Oct. 4 with the message "Let's talk iPhone." Tuesday can't come soon enough.
It could have voice control - Reports of an "Assistant" feature indicate voice activation that will allow users to make appointments, get directions, and set reminders as well as send SMS and iMessage texts just by speaking commands.
It could be released on Oct. 15 - France Telecom's CEO announced to the press recently that he's been told the iPhone 5 will be released on Oct. 15. This seems to fit the other release date rumors we've heard, which pinpoint the iPhone 5 launch to be "sometime in early October." Additionally, an Apple employee who remained nameless says we're "just weeks away" from an iPhone 5 announcement. We're not sure why Apple would launch the iPhone on a Saturday, so we're betting on the 14th instead.
It could be available on Sprint - There are several rumors saying that Sprint won't just get the iPhone 5, but that it will offer unlimited data packages with the device and will also get its own iPad 2.
It could be slimmer, wider - Several leaked cases (and case images) seem to suggest that the iPhone 5 could come with a new form factor, similar to the iPad 2. A slimmer, wider body, tapered back, and rounded edges.
It could come with a better camera - Though a next-gen iPhone is almost guaranteed to come with a better camera, a photo that popped up on Flickr recently suggests the camera could be 8MP. Someone from inside Apple's cafeteria at 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino, CA, snapped a pic of his sushi lunch and uncovered image data says it has an original size of 3264 x 2448 - approximately 8MP. Fishy, indeed.

T-Mobile Announces Windows Phone HTC Radar 4G

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:47:47 PDT

It's no secret that I'm a little bit smitten with the Windows Phone UI (and now Windows 8), so I'm excited to see T-Mobile's new Windows Phone offering, the HTC Radar 4G. Coming this holiday season, the Mango-running Radar 4G will be stocked with a 3.8-inch LCD touchscreen, 1Ghz processor, 5MP rear-facing camera with LED flash and a VGA forward-facing camera, along with a dedicated camera button on the aluminum white body so you can snap pics instantly without having to unlock your phone.

Windows Phone Mango has plenty of features to love as well, like Kinect support, SMS dictation, fast app resume, and threads, along with the sleek tiled interface. No pricing details have been released yet, so stay tuned for more info.