GeekSugar

Website of the Day: The Filter

GeekSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:04:36 -0700

My ongoing struggle with Netflix is that it can never really recommend the right movies for me. It tells me that it thinks I'll like flicks I've seen and flicks I know I'll hate, so I usually just ignore that they even try. As for music, I get my recs from word-of-mouth, by friends whose taste I completely trust. The problem with both of those things is that I want constant recommendations for things - I always want to hear about a new band or see a movie I've never heard of.

Newly released, The Filter wants to fill that void. So far, it's been way more adept in telling me things I might like, and the format is ultraappealing - it's clear and simple.

Good for culture vultures, it also lists news and reviews about newly-released movies and music. Now I just need the time to go see these movies and hear this music! One thing at a time.

Daily Tech: Use Google Maps to Find H1N1 Vaccine Locations

GeekSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:40:58 -0800

Google already has data for locations of H1N1 flu vaccine programs from 20 states and counting - Gizmodo
Apple beefs up their HD movie selection in the iTunes store - TechCrunch
Cute! UK designer Kyle Bean has created this Russian Babushka doll style cell phone set - Popgadget
Staples shows off its extensive Black Friday ad - CrunchGear
Google has developed a new feature called SafeSearch, so you can easily filter out sexually explicit sites from your search results - The Google Blog
Blockbuster plans to start renting movies on SD cards - Gadgetell

Facebook Enhances Privacy by Adding Group Filters in Chat

GeekSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 01:45:19 -0700

Have you noticed anything different about Facebook? Yesterday when I was checking out my profile, a new chat pop up appeared showing me all of my groups of friends. I didn't think much of it and then I realized - new filter functionality in chat - yippee! Facebook has already improved friend organization with their Friends list feature, and now you can control which groups of friends see you online.

Now you can check off certain lists you want to include in the chat pane so you can be online and chat with close friends, and your work colleagues won't know you're available to chat. You can also create new lists by selecting the "Friend Lists" menu on the Chat pane, then enter the name, and drag whoever you want to be included in that list. And if you don't want to appear online to anyone, you can turn off the green switch beside a particular Friend list (they will not be able to see if you are online), or just choose Options and go offline altogether.

Geek Tip: Playing With Your Gmail Account

GeekSugar — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:05:42 -0800

Did you know the periods in your gmail address don't mean a thing? That's right, if you signed up as geek.sugar@gmail.com, you'd still get emails sent to geeksugar@gmail.com. You'll even get emails sent to g.e.e.k.s.u.g.a.r@gmail.com, for the wiseacres in your family. Ooh, and anything sent to "googlemail" instead of "gmail." Honestly, it's the little things that blow my mind (and btw, none of the above email addresses belong to us!).

More usefully, you can add a plus sign to the end of your address, and then you can set up folders in your email that coordinate with that. For instance, say you open an online account with WellsFargo. When you sign up, give your email address as "geeksugar+banking@gmail.com", then in Settings, set up a filter. In the From box, add in WellsFargo or your chosen bank, in the To box, put in your newly-created geeksugar+banking@gmail.com address, and the set the filter to put in a folder titled "banking." You can also use this technique when you sign up for something and send their emails to you directly to the trash!

Will You Use the New Photoshop App?

GeekSugar — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:16:08 -0700

There's no shortage of photo editing software programs or cool iPhone camera apps, but Photoshop is arguably one of the best around. The free (yes, free!) app lets you perform basic photo editing tasks: crop and rotate, adjust colors, add tint or switch to black and white, and add filters or effects like vignette blur and warm vintage. Creating an account on photoshop.com and store up to 2G of photos that you can access anytime straight from your phone.

You can download the Photoshop app from the App Store.

Geek Tip: Age Your Photos Instantly Without Photoshop

GeekSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:30:50 -0700

There are a ton of things you can do with your digital photos and a photo editor besides just adjusting light and focus. You can make them into movie stills, or turn them into Lomo works of art. I happen to like the aged look, and it's always fun to turn them into Polaroids, but if you aren't using Poladroid, this can take forever to make the effect yourself.

But whether you use effects in Photoshop, filters in iPhoto, or mess around with levels in Lightroom, there's no faster way to age your pics than with this website. It's a Japanese site that lets you upload your digital pics, and in seconds spits out a 100-year-old identical. It's fun, fast, and gives you some cool digital pics to show off to your photo-loving pals.

Cool Capture: Beautiful Berries Taken With a Nikon D40

GeekSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:20:55 -0700

Checking out the new entries in our Cool Capture group has become a highlight of my day! I'm loving the variety and learning about which camera and photo tricks you used to take the photo. Here's our latest stunning entry from reader tarajeans, who used her Nikon D40 DSLR camera with a 18-55mm lens and a 4x macro filter ring to take this pic. She says:

I don't know what these tiny berries are (maybe 1/8 inch each) but I loved the color when I found them in the back yard!

Do you have a photo or photo collection you absolutely love? Join our Cool Capture group and share your image, the model of camera used to take the photo, and a little about the image or moment you captured and it could be featured on GeekSugar. Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Facebook For the BlackBerry Gets Some New Features

GeekSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:43:21 -0700

Talk about keeping up with the Joneses! Before I've even had the chance to download the new Facebook iPhone app, RIM has been putting the finishing touches on their latest Facebook update for the BlackBerry, which is said to be making its release in the upcoming weeks.

If I am going to visit FB on my phone, I prefer to use my iPhone, so I haven't even tested out the goodies from the last BB update. Features for this 1.7 update are said to include faster page loading, a new profile view option, and the ability to filter news feeds.

Hands On With the Canon T1i (Now With More Photo Tips!)

GeekSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:45:23 -0700

I finally got some time over the weekend to play around with the Canon T1i and the verdict stands: it's amazing! Not only are the pictures crisp and clear, but overall, the camera is a joy to use. I bought an inexpensive camera bag from Best Buy last week to protect it while en route to various places in the city, and quickly realized how light the T1i really is - a few times I panicked because I wasn't sure the camera was actually in the bag! Needless to say, my heart got a few good workouts in.

I even tagged along with PetSugar to the Ugliest Dog Contest to put the T1i through some trials, and I'd have to say the pictures turned out really well, even if the dogs were really ugly! While out and about over the weekend, I also remembered a few tips that I forgot since getting my first DSLR. Find out what they are and check out the rest of the photos from my weekend with the T1i when you read more.

Read the manual: Although I'm familiar with SLR settings, it's always good to really get to know your camera from the inside out. That way, you'll never miss an opportunity to use a cool feature.
Pick up a UV filter: You're going to be spending a lot of money on your camera, and even more when you start buying extra lenses. Pick up a UV filter to protect your lens from sun damage. Think of it as sunscreen for your expensive camera parts!
Brace yourself: This rule doesn't only apply to SLR photography - use your arms and brace them up against your body for steadier shots. Don't point your elbows out to the sides (as demonstrated in this photo), as this may create movement and thus blurry photos if you aren't super steady on your own.
Assume the position: When you're done snapping your photo and are carrying your camera over your shoulder, make sure you always point your lens inward and toward your body. This protects the lens from bumping into any objects and saves you tons of money in repairs or replacement lenses.

View 10 Photos ›

Daily Tech: PlayStation 3 Is Down to $349

GeekSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:25:00 -0700

Sony's 80GB PlayStation 3 is on sale for $350 on Amazon today. - CrunchGear
Apple's new MacBook Pros get unboxed. - Engadget
The iPhone 3G S will go on sale at 8 a.m. at Apple stores and 7 a.m. at AT&T stores on June 19. - CNET
HP's Power to Change widget helps you reduce energy consumption and save money. - Chip Chick
Find out some of the funniest people Twittering today. - Switched
Samsung's gorgeous 12.2-megapixel HD camera arrives next week. - Gizmodo
China addresses its new mandatory Internet filtering software. - USA Today