GeekSugar

Have You Ever Been Scammed When Buying a Gadget?

GeekSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:42:17 -0700

A brick in a box is hardly my dream gadget unboxing scenario, but that's exactly what happened to Consumerist reader Ryan, who bought a MacBook Pro at his local Best Buy, and took it home to open up the sealed box - and found this brick.

So far Best Buy hasn't refunded his money, insisting that he take it up with Apple, but some wily brick-seller in the loop is to blame somewhere. I have my eyes wide open when shopping for gadgets - especially used ones on Craigslist or eBay - but you wouldn't expect to be the victim of a scam going through a big chain like Best Buy.

It's scary how many people have been scammed or swindled when trying to buy a new gadget, so tell me - have you ever been victimized, or almost victimized when you were gadget shopping?

Daily Tech: Is the Kindle 2 Coming Feb. 9?

GeekSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:00:14 -0800

It's rumored that Amazon's new and improved Kindle will be officially announced on Feb. 9 in NYC. - Gizmodo
The US Patent Office has granted Apple the multitouch patent and because the new Palm Pre features multitouch support, this might not go over well with Palm. - The Boy Genius Report
Senate has pushed back the date for the digital TV transition until June 12. - Switched
Now with a handy app and hardware device, you can turn your BlackBerry into a remote. - Unplggd
Nigerian scammers are making their way from Craigslist to social networking sites like Facebook. Here's the latest example. - Silicon Alley Insider
Nintendo Japan has just announced a new Wii Check-Up channel that will act as a liaison between Wii users and health professionals. - Engadget

Geek Tip: Don't Send Money to Nigeria

GeekSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:02:14 -0800

Do you really have to read gadget blogs every day like I do to recognize that sending money to someone in Nigeria via sites like Craigslist is a terrible idea?

Because you could knock me over with a feather every time I hear another story about someone falling for a Nigerian scam, and this new one, about a women who lost $400,000 to a Nigerian racket, is a real doozie. I mean, she was promised over $20 million dollars if she just helped this stranger in Africa . . . what could go wrong?

Seriously people, you don't have to be up on the latest technology in computers, cell phones, or televisions, but listen to me here: Never send money to a stranger in another country. Never send money to a stranger who contacts you via email, period. If someone is responding to a Craigslist ad you've posted, only deal locally and in person.

You're probably savvy enough as you're reading this blog, so do your less-aware family members a favor and forward this along.

Source

Daily Tech: Google Voice Permits Voicemail With Any Number

GeekSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:05:35 -0700

You can now keep your phone number while using Google Voice's fantastic features - Lifehacker
Here's how you can recycle your own gadgets - Engadget
It's rumored that a new, bigger, Nintendo DSi with a 4-inch screen will be coming out in Japan this year - Kotaku
Facebook now has a way to memorialize friends who have passed away - Boing Boing
10 ways to spot an email scam - Switched
It's giveaway time on GeekSugar! Log in for your chances to win one of these AT&T Smartphones - GeekSugar

Have You Ever Purchased Tech From Craigslist?

GeekSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:23:41 -0700

Although the entries are few at the moment, I'm expecting to see a boatload of PS3s for sale on Craigslist soon. With the Sept. 1 launch of the PS3 Slim, you can bet that gamer geeks who like to stay on top of the console movement will be unloading their old models to make room (or should it be make less room?) for the newest edition.

I'm always a little wary of buying electronics on Craigslist, not because I only want new products, but because of scams and misleading descriptions. Not to mention the danger of meeting someone you don't know. Always bring a friend or meet in a public area! Since you guys are such fans of the public site, I have to ask - have you ever purchased tech from Craigslist? If so, what did you buy?

Website of the Day: Who Calls Me ?

GeekSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:06:47 -0700

Do you ever get calls from an unknown name and wonder, who the _______ is calling me? Yeah, me too, except most of the time I know who is on the other end - it's those factory warranty spam recordings.

If you are getting repeat offenders calling you, I highly suggest checking out Who Calls Me?, a site I came across on makeuseof. Who Calls Me? allows people to leave comments on a particular number, so if it's a telemarketer, scam artist, political surveyor, or any other strange caller, you can enter the number to see if anyone else has reported comments on that particular number. So maybe they'll keep calling, but at least you'll know what their deal is and can enter "Do Not Answer" in your contact list.

To learn how to post your favorite websites to our Website of the Day group, 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 dropdown 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.

So join the Website of the Day group and share information about all your favorite sites! Yours just might end up on the geeksugar homepage!

Do Security Assurances Make Online Shopping Feel Safer?

GeekSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:30:39 -0700

I thought everyone was up on what to avoid on the Internet in order to not get scammed, but after an intelligent friend told me she'd fallen for a Nigerian email scam, I didn't balk when I received an email from Neiman Marcus, with the message below.

As a geek, I know not to ever send sensitive personal information requested in an email, but I appreciate that Neiman's is doing this, that is, specifically seeking out their online customers to reassure them that their info is safe and that they will never request this info in an email.

I will continue to be savvy, but I admit that this does make me feel better about online shopping, in the sense that the stores are aware of scams that could involve them. What about you?

Daily Tech: $600 Commodore Banks on Smaller Being Better

GeekSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:02:58 -0700

Bigger isn't always better: the $600 Netbook joins the fast-growing new category of small, cheap laptops. - Crave
Even though Dell saw a decline in profits during the second quarter, the company's laptops are selling great.-CrunchGear
In 2005 alone, consumers lost nearly $14 million dollars to Internet scams. Check out the 10 worst email scams right now. - Switched
Looking to try something new for your DS? How about turning it into a translation dictionary? - Lifehacker
It's time to display all those images you take with your fancy digital camera! Here's how to create a digital memory wall. - Unplggd

Daily Tech: Paul Frank Comes Out With Cases For the iPhone

GeekSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0700

For only $34.95, you can pick up one of these Paul Frank Folio Cases for the iPhone. - Crave
Have you ever fallen for an email scam? Switched has compiled a list of the top 5 email scams and what you can do to avoid them. - Switched
Mickey DeLorenzo not only lost weight during his Wii Sports workout routine, but when he put the Wii Fit to the test he was able to lose 15 pounds after 45 days! I tell ya, it works! - Engadget
I've mentioned Yapta before, the browser add-on that helps you track flight fares. Well they've now launched a full website where you can track fares from 23 different airlines, and they'll alert you when prices drop. - TechCrunch
ABC is starting to warm up to the fact that the web is where it's at. They've finally struck a deal with Veoh to stream free, ad-supported shows on its website. - The New York Times

Daily Tech: The Android 1.0 SDK Is Now Available For Download

GeekSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:50:45 -0700

Starting today, the Android 1.0 SDK software is now available to download, so developers can get busy creating applications. - Gizmodo
You know the economy is bad when Google cuts back on its generous all you can eat, three meals a day plan. - Valleywag
There's always a ton of email scams trying to infiltrate your inbox, but what specific kinds of emails should you be watching out for? Switched gives you the full run down! - Switched
Is "tech in the bathroom" on the rise? With more and more humidity-proof and splash-proof electronics coming out, we may see more televisions in the loo than ever before. - Unplggd
Wow. There are now 1GB Hello Kitty MP3 Players that only cost $40, and I have to admit, would be the perfect give for girls ages 7 to 14. - Chip Chick