GeekSugar

Play the Cell Phone Text Messaging Game

GeekSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:05:36 -0800

When I opened my mail the other day, I was totally bummed to find that I had been summoned to jury duty. Not that I don't what to perform my civic requirements and what not, but knowing I can't bring a laptop (or even a book) into the waiting area of the courthouse, I know I will be bored with a capital B.

So when I came across this Interactive Text Messaging Game, I thought it might be just the thing I need. I mean, I've got tons of people around me that are just as bored, and plenty of friends "on the outside" to play, that I just might make it through the day with my patience in tact. Oh, and the fact that it's on sale for $1.99 makes it super easy to add to my cart. Case closed.

7 Things Apple Didn't Include in the iPhone 3G S

GeekSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:45:02 -0700

Who doesn't love a new iPhone?! Although the iPhone 3G S is nearly identical to the iPhone 3G on the outside, it certainly has a few more (desperately needed) bells and whistles on the inside. But after all the excitement from the WWDC liveblogging action, I got a second to catch my breath, and tally all of the things the new iPhone 3G S is missing. Yes, there are a few things missing, and the first one is kinda obvious:

More Carrier Options: I think if Apple allowed more carriers to offer the iPhone, it would totally take over the market. I can't tell you how many people I've talked to that want the iPhone, but won't take the plunge because they either dislike AT&T, or just don't want to change providers.

To see the remaining six things Apple could add to the iPhone to make it just that much better, just read more.

Lower Upgrade Prices: And I quote directly from Apple's product page: "For non-qualified customers, including existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone 3G, the price with a new two-year agreement is $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB)." Now that's highway robbery.
Camera Flash: It's great that Apple is giving us a great new 3 megapixel camera with auto focus, auto macro, and auto white balance, but what about a flash for those super low light situations? I was hoping . . .
Push Email: The iPhone would be my all-in-one business and pleasure phone if I didn't have to obsessively have to check my inbox. Nuff said.
Ability to Run More Than One App at Once: It's a pain in my rear when I am knee deep in a sweet Tetris game and receive a text message. I then have to exit Tetris, and enter the messaging app. Is there a way to pause one app while you open another? Well, is there!?
Colors: Remember when the first iPod was just plain white, and then all of the sudden a rainbow of iPod Mini's, iPod Nano's and iPod Shuffles washed over us? Yeah, that would be awesome now too.
Flash support: With the majority of websites using flash embedded videos, and some of the funnest games out there being flash, it would make sense to have this added feature. I mean, if you want us to surf the web on this little gadget, not to mention that some websites are all Flash, let us do what you made this phone to do - play games, surf the web, and you know, make some calls here or there.

Is there anything you wish the iPhone 3G S had on board?

Daily Tech: Technology in the Year 1994

GeekSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:42:44 -0700

"It's very hip to be on the Internet right now," said Bill Gates back in '94. - CrunchGear
The Amazon Kindle 2 could be better with these improvements. - CNET Crave
AT&T will offer MMS at no extra cost to customers who get a text messaging bundle. - PC World
Virgin Media has just launched a music download subscription service in the UK. - USA Today
Check out Switched's list of gadget gear for dads.- Switched
iPhone 3G S preorders have started shipping. - Engadget
President Obama lists video games as health concern in a speech to the American Medical Association. - Kotaku

iPhone OS 3.0 Details

GeekSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:34:46 -0700

To say that the iPhone is the most popular smartphone on the market is kind of an understatement - after just two generations, Apple has sold more than 40 million iPhones, and users have downloaded one billion-plus apps from the App Store. And the newest iteration is going to be even better, with more than 100 new features, including the expected cut/copy/paste and MMS support, tethering (which connects your iPhone to your computer via wireless and Bluetooth), and even more that you may not have expected.

Like the one called Find My iPhone. Available for Mobile Me customers, this feature helps you (duh) find your phone on a map by logging into Mobile Me. You can also activate a locator signal (even if your phone is in silent mode) so someone in that area can find it and return it. Plus, if your phone really is lost or stolen, you can wipe the data clean so no one gets your personal data.

There's plenty of other features coming with iPhone 3.0. To check them out, just read more.

Landscape for all standard applications like text messaging
Spotlight
Download movies, TV, and audio books in iTunes
Parental controls that let you limit your kid's activity in iTunes, App Store, and Safari
A "shake to undo" feature
30 languages now available
Form autofill in Safari
Peer-to-peer support for games and music
Push notifications

Geek Out: How Long Do You Wait to Text Someone New?

GeekSugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:03:18 -0700

On this week's How I Met Your Mother, Ted's legendary overzealousness with love blew up in his face in a text-messaging epic prank (but that's another post). However, what made him a victim was the fact that his friends knew he would violate the "three day rule" that says you must wait three days before calling or texting someone you just met (I guess the Swingers two-day rule is passé now, huh?).

So aside from Ted's uber-dorky use of the term "texty-text," what we really need to discuss is this rule. Not for calling, but specifically, texting.

Since texting is decidedly more casual than a phone call, what are the rules for contacting someone for the first time this way? How long should you wait? Or are such rules totally lame?

I can't tackle this in Tech Dating 101, because I'm an old coupled-up lady and am sooo out of the flirty-texting game.

So, what are the rules?

Tech Dating 101: How Can I Tell If He's Into Me Online?

GeekSugar — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:02:55 -0700

Trying to navigate the the online dating scene and feel like you're swimming upstream? Get your digital dating questions answered in geeksugar's Tech Dating 101 series, where I share my take on topics like gadgets in the boudoir and texting during a date. Today I'm tackling how to tell if someone is using the Internet to flirt with you, or just playing the friend game.

Unfortunately, it's often easier to figure out that he's just not that into you than it is to establish his intentions are of the Don Juan variety. If he doesn't IM you back after an hour and you know he's online, he doesn't see you as a priority. If you've had the "relationship talk" and he hasn't changed his relationship status, he's hesitant to announce he's off the market. But, just like happy hour flirtation, it's important to look at the whole picture if you think he wants to get fresh: Is he single? Is he dropping flirtatious hints and innuendos? Is he singling you out specifically or playing the field? And most importantly, is his aim true?

If you suspect a certain someone is trying to bust a virtual move, play PI and track his online interactions, both with you and others. If he's hitting up your Facebook wall weekly, sends you personal emails and links, shares items with you via his reader because he "thought you'd like this!" and Tweets back, chances are high he's interested in you on some level. He wants to know what you think about things. If he's spamming every girl he knows, he's just fishing around and looking for someone to take the bait. For a list of questions you should ask yourself when trying to categorize his intentions as romantic or purely platonic, read more.

Does he comment on all your status updates, blogs, or Flickr photos? If he doesn't comment (or "like") everything, does he comment more than other friends or potential lovas? Weigh his interactions with you against your BFF and a casual acquaintance for perspective.
Does he comment on obscure things? If he's dropping links, hints, and comments on random social network sites you've signed up for, or random pics you uploaded a year and a half ago then he's intentionally seeking you out.
Does he tweet back more than once or twice a week? Most people don't tweet back unless they truly appreciate a Tweet, or want to engage with you.
Is he following and friending you everywhere? If he's suddenly taken an interest in all your online activity and started following you everywhere, he's trying to get to know you and wants to monitor your activity. Use your commonsense based on his attitude in person to measure what this means.
Does he use a flirty tone and sexy humor? Come hither phrases and sexy talk are innuendo, whether online or not. If it sounds like flirtation when you read it out loud, it's flirtation. Men don't use words like "baby," "cute," "hot," and "sexy" unless they mean it. Well, they do, but they always mean it on some level.
Does he send you special private messages, notes, or links? Maybe he's not interacting with you on Facebook because he doesn't want your friends in common, his ex, or (yikes!) his current girlfriend to know he's singling you out, but if he's instant messaging or sending you links and private messages daily, and even weekly, stop and consider his intentions. You may just be online buddies, but his tone and the content he sends you will speak volumes.
Does he retweet, reblog, or reuse your "material"? This can be the ultimate compliment, but also a telltale sign of his intentions. If uses your material, but gives you credit (say by calling out your name) he's OK with letting people know he watches you. If he uses it without crediting you he's clearly figured out how awesome you are, but is timid about calling out his discovery. Beware the man who hides his online interaction with you. He may be running a messy game.

Source

iPhone OS 3.0: Copy and Paste! MMS, Plus More Revealed

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:45:49 -0700

Hold onto your hats, and try to think of complaints you've had about the iPhone in the past, because Apple has done their darnedest to correct all of them. Gizmodo's live coverage in Cupertino, CA, this morning revealed the features of the iPhone's 3.0 OS update, which include:

Copy/Paste: Finally! You'll be able to double-tap text to get the option of cutting, copying, and pasting (which also applies to images).
Multimedia messaging (MMS): You'll be able to text and receive texts with images and sound (also, finally).

Landscape Messaging: You can use the keyboard in landscape mode for the eMail and Notes apps.
Spotlight: One of my favorite features of Macs, the iPhone will have Spotlight for you to search all the information stored on your iPhone.

To hear about other new features, and to find out when 3.0 will be released, just read more.

The other big features revealed today include support for other calendar types, a voice memo app by Apple, and the ability to send and receive files. In addition, Apple is adding APIs so that third-party developers can shoot for the stars with new apps, including the ability for your iPhone to do peer-to-peer WiFi connectivity with another iPhone and turn-by-turn directions.

Also being beefed up is the App store, which will feature subscriptions to apps, and the ability to purchase new levels for games and additional content for apps you already own.

So when is all this available? Apple says the update is coming sometime this Summer, and it'll be free for iPhone 3G owners, $10 for Touch owners, and free for first generation iPhone users, who'll get most but not all the features.

Oh, and if you're still upset about the high price of the iPhone service: Word on the street is that that may also drop, due to competition with the Palm Pre.

If You Had To: What Technology Would You Give Up For Lent?

GeekSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:43:27 -0800

You don't have to be Catholic to celebrate Mardi Gras today, and you definitely don't need the excuse of Lent to give up a habit. CNET suggests giving up Facebook, and even has some guidelines for how to do it.

I don't know that I'd give up Facebook, as I'm not painfully addicted, and I certainly would not give up my Twitter, since I feel like I'm just getting started. What I could give up is using my cell phone in places it might not be appropriate, and trying not to have meaningful conversations over text messages.

What I definitely am too addicted to give up are my TiVo, whipping out my iPhone to solve all my problems, and playing video games to unwind. Some things are just non-negotiable.

So tell me, if you had to (or are going to), what technology would you/could you give up? What could you definitely not?

Source

Daily Tech: The Phones With the Best Internet Browsers

GeekSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:02:35 -0800

Gizmodo has whipped up a really helpful chart which rates 3G web browsing on a number of cell phones. - Gizmodo
Starting in the new year, Philips will be turning its DVD business over to Funai who will manufacture the discs under the Philips name for the US market. - The New York Times
The Peek email device can now open JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP images, and send text messages. Just enter your contacts 10-digit phone number into the TO:field of the email message and it will be sent as a text! - CrunchGear
Starting Dec. 28, the iPhone 3G will be available for purchase at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. - The Boy Genius Report
It's giveaway time! Be sure to log in for your chances to win a Nintendo DS Lite and fitness games! - geeksugar

Daily Tech: The Hottest iPhone Apps of 2008

GeekSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:00:08 -0800

What are 30 iPhone Apps that every iPhone owner should have? Take a look at Gizmodo's full list to find out. - Gizmodo
Did you know that your phone carrier is ripping you off when you send text messages? - Switched
You can pick up an iPhone 3G for $99 these days. It'll just be refurbished and from AT&T. - Engadget
The latest firmware download for the BlackBerry Storm has been leaked, and it actually fixes some bugs. - CrunchGear
On Christmas day alone, Apple's App Store saw a tripling of sales, with game developers cashing in. - MacRumors