GeekSugar

How to Make Vintage-Looking Photos With a Scanner

GeekSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:32:34 PST

It's like the better our cameras get, the bigger our urge to make pictures look old and vintage-y.

First there was Poladroid to make your photos look like now-defunct Polaroids, and now I've found a tutorial from Make that teaches you to turn an old flatbed scanner into a scanner camera that produces noir-ish black and whites, like in this dog picture.

Are you into making your photos look rad and old? What's the fascination, do you think?

Portable Scanner DocuPen Brings Out Inner Bond

GeekSugar — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 07:00:59 PDT

One of my favorite parts of spy movies, aside from hotties like Daniel Craig, are the fabulous gadgets that aid the spy in hunting down the bad guys and uncovering deep dark secrets. When they're not saved in encrypted files, those secrets are often hidden on manuscripts and if the spy is lucky, he'll have a nifty scanner ring, camera or locket to record his findings.

I'm no 007, but the prospect of using a Docupen portable scanner was pretty alluring. The actual pen is much smaller than I expected: It's obviously as wide as a piece of paper and as thick as about three Bic pens. After loading the software onto my computer, I whipped out my copy of this month's Technology Review, selected a color page (it's actually a color scanner!) and whipped out the pen.

To read my review and check out the scan,read more

View 10 Photos ›

It took me a few tries to actually scan a document - mostly because I am impatient and was sliding the pen down the page much too fast - but the final result was a clear, colorful scan . There was some text that looks slightly italic in the scan but I assume that's due to my shaky hands because the main image looks as clear as a scan from the stationery office scanner. From what I've read, the scanner can store up to 200 scanned documents, which makes it ideal for a paralegal, lawyer, writer, teacher or anyone who has to deal with a mess of documents everyday. It has controls for black and white, 24 bit color, 12 bit color, high resolution, standard resolution (I used standard resolution) and of course battery level and power. It costs $299.99, which is to par to a regular scanner, but clearly, a regular scanner cannot fit in your purse or hidden jacket pocket.

11 Things You Need to Throw Away

Emily Co — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:05:07 PST

The first step to taking care of yourself and de-stressing is to make sure that your environment is in order. Seeing your house full of clutter can affect your mood negatively and make your personal space seem like a place you want to escape from, rather than something to look forward to coming home to. Organize a "throwing out" day every month to make sure that you don't have clutter building up. Here are some things you should consider purging from your home:

Old magazines. Get rid of old magazines you have lying around because chances are, you aren't going to read them again. Find places where you can donate your magazines to such as child care centers, doctor's offices, nail salons, nursing homes, and libraries. If there's an article that really speaks to you, scan a digital image of it and keep it in your computer. Or keep a folder of magazine clippings if you like saving magazine articles.
Receipts, bills, and documents. Throw away receipts for items that you aren't planning on returning, and ones that you won't need to use come tax time. If you're wary of throwing away receipts, you can make a digital copy of them with a basic scanner, a pricey specialized receipt scanner ($174), or a smartphone app ($2). See here for a full list of documents you should keep forever or temporarily.
Clothes. Use the two-year-rule for clothes - get rid of apparel that you haven't worn in two years. Sell them to a thrift store (find a thrift store at thethriftshopper.com) or donate them to the needy.
Books. Go through your bookshelf and gather together books you haven't touched in months and ones that you aren't planning on rereading. Be realistic and make sure you're ruthless. If you haven't touched it in a year, you're most likely not going to read it again. Sell the books on Amazon, Craigslist, or eBay. You can even trade them for something else on swap.com. You can always donate them as well!
Medicine and vitamins. Take a look at your medicine closet and clear out drugs that have expired, medicine that has sat on your shelf for too long, or ones that you no longer use. First, check to see what the proper disposal methods are for the medication, and if you can't find any, check to see if your community has a drug take-back program. If there isn't a program near you, then the FDA advises mixing medicine with "used coffee grounds or kitty litter" in a container or sealable bag before throwing it away to make the drugs less appealing.

For more things to throw away, read on.

Fresh Start Resolution: Get Rid of the Stuff You Don't Need

Emily Co — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:00:22 PST

It's a new year and a new you! We're highlighting 12 helpful tips to start off the year right, from quitting your caffeine addiction to mastering time management. Here's another way to start afresh in 2012.
Starting a new year means clearing out the old. It's a good idea to get items you don't use out of the way because they will fill up valuable space in your home. Get ready to sell your stuff with these tips:

Electronics. If you're thinking about selling your electronics, consider Gazelle.com, buymytronics.com, and nextworth.com. These sites are great because they'll quote you a price for the item you wish to sell. You can always consider selling it back to the original retailer itself if you're wary about third-party sellers. For instance, Apple has a great recycling program.
Receipts and documents. Nip your pack rat tendencies in the bud and start sorting out documents to trash or stash. Throw away receipts for items that you aren't planning on returning, and ones that you won't need to use come tax time. If you're wary of throwing away receipts, you can make a digital copy of them with a basic scanner, a pricey specialized receipt scanner ($174), or a smartphone app ($2). See here for a full list of documents you should keep forever or temporarily.
Books and things. If you have some books or other miscellaneous items you want to get rid of, sell them on Amazon, Craigslist, or eBay. You can even trade them for something else on swap.com.
Clothes and accessories. Sell these goods at a consignment store, but make sure they are in good condition. Repair clothes before selling and make sure you wash them carefully, or even launder them. Find a thrift store at thethriftshopper.com. Other options include selling them to family and friends, online at sites like eBay, and at flea markets.

Read on for more.

5 Carry-On Packing Tips You Should Know

GeekSugar — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 06:01:43 PST

If you're heading back home from a long holiday vacay, you've probably already given airport security some thought. If the thought of long TSA lines triggers a migraine, these tips from the TSA will teach you how to properly pack your gadgets, accessories, and chargers and help you speed through the X-ray line.

Pack in layers. Layer clothes, electronics, then clothes again inside a carry-on so the TSA agent can quickly see what's in there. This strategy also works better than the cram-everything-in-your-bag strategy once you unpack at your destination.

Check out the rest of the tips, including how to wrap your cords, and what kinds of bags are TSA-friendly after the break.

Texas Wants to Ban Groping as a Prerequisite For Air Travel

Annie Scudder — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:03:01 PDT

Ever since full-body scans became the norm at most US airports last Fall, I've opted for the extensive pat down instead. The thought of someone seeing under my clothes doesn't bother me as much as the potential radiation risks amplified by regular exposure to the scanners. And while the pat down is intrusive and slightly embarrassing, especially when they go inside the top of your pants, I guess I feel relieved that I have an option to avoid the scanner.

The Texas House of Representatives doesn't think we should have to pick between two intrusive evils. Last month it approved a bill that would ban any pat down that "touches the anus, sexual organ, buttocks, or breast of another person including through the clothing, or touches the other person in a manner that would be offensive to a reasonable person." There's also a parallel bill that would ban scanners that allow people to be seen naked. The bill has stalled in the state senate after federal officials threatened to shut down any flights out of Texas due to security concerns.

Today the Republican sponsor of the bill David Simpson defended it in the New York Times. Find out what he said when you keep reading.

Travel Tips For the Upcoming Holiday Weekend

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:45:22 PST

Traveling this holiday? Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday this year, which makes one big mess at the airport. If you can't take a car or a train, be sure to check out these packing and travel tips to make your life easier while booking flights, getting through security checkpoints, and beyond.

Booking Flights

TripIt - Once signed up for the free service, forward travel confirmation emails to TripIt, which will automatically create a master itinerary of an upcoming trip accessible through the web or a mobile device. The itineraries even include the tidbits we seem to forget like weather updates, local maps, and directions.
Google Flight Search - Book that plane ticket before prices rise any further! Google's flight search engine incorporates travel basics like price point, maximum number of connections, and preferred airline with an easy-to-use interface.
Hotel Tonight - If there are too many relatives in one house, scan the last-minute hotel deals at Hotel Tonight for a chic getaway at a discounted price. Every day three hotels in a city reveal their discounted rates starting at noon, and you then have until 2 a.m. to book the deal and take advantage of a peaceful room.
My TSA - Can homemade fruit cakes go through security? How early should you show up to the airport for a flight on the eve of Thanksgiving? Answer the pressing travel questions that could otherwise cause delays or stress by adding the TSA's free iOS app to your device. The app's airport security line estimator may become the most crucial feature on your phone when planning your airport arrival.
HearPlanet ($3) - Take the time to discover the cultural side of your holiday destination. This interactive app highlights attractions in over 300,000 locations and uses geolocation features so that you don't miss any of the nearby fun, plus it's a great excuse to get out of the house and move around in fresh air.
GasBuddy - Hitting the open road instead of the air? Use the free GasBuddy app to locate the cheapest fuel on the interstate. Show your fellow travelers some love and share the low-price gas station you discover within the app.

Gadget Essentials

iPad or Tablet - If you have the luxury of spending upwards of $500 on a tablet, it's probably the only gadget you'll need to tote during travel season since it can hold your ebooks, surf the Internet, and keep you connected.
eReader - If you're sans tablet, pack up your favorite ereader. Whether it's the latest Kindle or the new Nook Simple Touch, you can read the entire Game of Thrones series without all the paper weight.
Compact laptop - Though the MacBook Air is arguably the most popular lightweight laptop out there, there's plenty of compact PCs and ultrabooks to choose from as well.
Chargers - If you're toting all these gadgets, you're going to (obviously) need some chargers to keep things juiced. Thankfully, many airlines are offering charging stations in the terminal and even seat-side outlets on board, so you can stay 100 percent charged throughout your trip.
Headphones - Keep the roar of 35,000 feet at bay with some nice sound-isolating headphones. If you're going over-the-ear, consider Skullcandy Aviators ($149), which offer great sound and deep bass and are even comfy for those geeks who wear glasses.

Get more tips on how to pack your bag and save some dough after the break.

5 Carry-On Packing Tips You Need to Know For Thanksgiving Holiday Travel

GeekSugar — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:26:54 PST

If you're heading out on a jet plane for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, you've probably already given airport security some thought. If the thought of long TSA lines triggers a migraine, these tips from the TSA will teach you how to properly pack your gadgets, accessories, and chargers and help you speed through the X-ray line.

Pack in layers. Layer clothes, electronics, then clothes again inside a carry-on so the TSA agent can quickly see what's in there. This strategy also works better than the cram-everything-in-your-bag strategy once you unpack at your destination.

Check out the rest of the tips, including how to wrap your cords, and what kinds of bags are TSA-friendly after the break.

Why You Shouldn't Take Your Kindle Fire Out of Your Bag at TSA Checkpoints

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:45:40 PST

The Kindle Fire (and Nook Tablet, for that matter) are perfect travel companions. They store your books, movies, music, and apps, and run on the plane's WiFi so you could even browse the web at 30,000 feet. But a few users are reporting that their new Kindle Fires are being damaged after going through X-ray machines at airport TSA checkpoints. While the X-ray machine isn't exactly to blame, according to an expert, it can be a factor.

Professor Daping Chu, Chairman of the University of Cambridge centre for Advanced Photonics, says that static electricity is likely the culprit . He says:

"I don’t think the radiation used in an airport scanner would ever be strong enough to damage an electronic ink display. . . . But you can get a buildup of static inside these machines, caused by the rubber belt rubbing. If that charge were to pass through a Kindle, it’s conceivable that it could damage the screen. . . . A static charge from an airport scanner could be 100 volts or more. That could permanently stick the particles to the screen.”

Kindles, tablets, laptops, cameras, and thousands of other devices pass through airport X-ray machines every day, but one way to be totally sure your new Kindle Fire won't be damaged due to static electricity is to leave it in your bag when going through TSA checkpoints. Any electronic items smaller than a 13-inch laptop doesn't need to be removed from your bag when going through the X-ray machine anyway, so this should make your trip move that much smoother.

5 Easy Steps to Life Without Paper

LearnVest — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:15:26 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Paper, paper everywhere, and not a spot to think.

At least, that’s how it feels when the tyranny of paperwork invades your desk, your home (and your mind): bills, receipts, notes, memos, brochures, statements, claim forms, post-its with mysterious scribbled numbers, all seeming to breed and multiply before your very eyes like parchment Gremlins. And just when you clear through a pile, another seems to march in the door.

Managing our leafy mountains is not only time-intensive, but - let’s face it - not fun. Which is why more often than not, when faced with a disheartening leafy mountain, we turn toward more fulfilling activities - like procrastinating, or watching New Girl.

No more. Paper, you have met your match.

And that match is LearnVest’s guerilla guide to Going Paper-Free - ranging from free apps to pricier (but well worth it) scanner products. Everything here will help you get enviably organized, and all your paper masterfully under your control. Getting into a new de-papering system may take a period of adjustment, but once you’re there, trust us: You’ll never look back.

Say hello to well-saved time, money, sanity, trees - and goodbye to paper cuts.

1. Stop the Catalogs

The first step is to stem the tide of paper that flows into your life via your mailbox. These days, everything from filling out a warranty card to purchasing a product puts your name and address on a catalog mailing list; your information is then sold to countless other organizations. Ebb your mail flow by heading to either DMAChoice.org or CatalogChoice.org, both of which allow you to either opt out of all catalogs, or select certain ones to stop.

Read on for more tips to a paper-free life.