GeekSugar

Love It or Leave It? Ultra Stylish USB Bag

GeekSugar — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:01:10 PDT

Here's a USB flash drive that I surprisingly haven't seen before. Russian designer Dima Komissarov has created these fashionable USB sticks that can store all your pictures and documents - while taking the shape of a teeny handbag at the same time. What's unique about these bags is the fact that they will slowly inflate as you add more data, so you know just how much memory is left. Another one of those "see it to believe it" inventions. What are your thoughts? Is this just another unusual and wacky USB design or is it something you could really use?

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Buzz Gift Guide: Music Snob Suggestions

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:00:00 PST

The holidays are a great time to show someone that you appreciate their fine taste for certain things, like what's hot in music. Even if you're afraid they're hard to please, I've got a few gift ideas that will be music to their ears. Hand them this Recycle Your RECords tote bag ($15) from Joseph Gordon-Levitt's music website, or give them Keith Richards's autobiography, Life ($17) so they can study up on rock royalty.

Show them you've been paying attention to their Spotify account with M83's new album Hurry Up, We're Dreaming on vinyl ($24), or if they play guitar, give them a Guitar Pick hole punch ($30). If they'd rather listen to someone else play, hook them up with a stylish pair of WeSC Bongo Headphones ($53). And if they're ready to learn how to become a rock star themselves, get them this USB Discover Guitar Learning Pack by Ion Audio.

World's Smallest Camera Is at Your Fingertips

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:03:00 PDT

If that digital SLR camera is weighing down your bag or the childhood dream of being a part-time spy is still alive, check out the official world's smallest digital camera from Hammacher Schlemmer ($100). Measuring at just over an inch in each dimension and weighing a half an ounce, the camera fits nestled on a fingertip.

The tiny lens actually turns to manually focus on an image and takes 2 MP pictures at 1600 x 1200 resolution. Record AVI video at 30 frames per second at 640 x 480 resolution. A 2 GB micro SD card is included in the camera along with a USB cord to charge the camera's battery, which can function for up to 30 minutes on a one-hour charge. Finding a camera bag small enough to not lose this gadget is your next mission.

What Not to Keep in Your Wallet

SavvySugar — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:15:00 PDT

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

We love the motto “be prepared.”

But when it comes to the average American’s wallet, there’s such a thing as over-prepared. From the looks of our bulging billfolds, we must be heading out each day to open a new line of credit, fill out a W-2, shop at several department stores, use a few gift cards, return an item or two, and grab a fro-yo at our favorite punch card spot on the way home.

1,000 wallets and purses are stolen every two minutes in America (44% of LearnVest readers have had their wallets lost or stolen once, while 8% have had theirs stolen twice or more). While it’s smart to be concerned with online security (check out our article on creating the perfect password here), 76% of identity thefts result from the theft of something physical, like a wallet. Additionally, it costs an average of $8,000 to recover from identity theft.

Most police who receive reports of stolen wallets lament the same thing: people carry way too much stuff in their wallets, handing their entire lives over to identity thieves.

So before you leave the house, read our list of what NOT to keep in your wallet, so you can pare down to just the essentials - and protect your finances and identity.

Social Security Card

This is the number one thing to NOT keep in your wallet. If a thief gets ahold of your Social Security card, he can open credit cards, take out loans or even buy a car - it makes you very vulnerable to identity theft. There is no need to carry this around as an extra form of ID, and even the U.S. government's website recommends leaving your card at home in a safe place. Your Social Security number is only nine digits - just memorize it.

(Learn how to safely store your important information; read this.)

Read on for more items you shouldn't keep in your wallet.

USB Bag Charm Keeps Important Docs Close at Hand

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:15:23 PDT

There's a few reasons I love this Studded USB Bag Charm ($45): One, you can stuff 2GB worth of documents, music, and photo files for easy transportation. Two, you wouldn't know it was a flash drive even if you studied it, which makes it great for toting sensitive documents on the go.

Sensitive documents you say? Here's an example: clip this on your leather messenger bag or keychain when you're traveling abroad, and keep a copy of your passport, itinerary, hotel information, credit cards, and emergency contacts on you at all times - just in case you lose your luggage (or worse, it gets stolen). The clip blends in well enough not to stand out, and you won't forget it in your hotel room if it's attached to your day bag. And let's face it - this is probably one of the most stylish, portable flash drives you've ever seen, so you should grab it either way.

9 Tips to Make Your Computer Last and Run Fast

LearnVest — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:15:00 PDT

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

Cute bathing suit vs. medical co-pay. Yummy organic blueberries vs. credit card late fees. Beachside mojitos vs. laptop repair.

When it comes to certain expenses, it’s clear which we’d prefer. So, as a public service to help you fund all of your summer cocktails, we recommend taking a look at your Old Faithful–your computer, that is.

It’s your buddy, your confidant, and it brings you all the great info out there (like, ahem, this article). And at a grand or more apiece, it’s worth your while to make sure this expensive electronic goes the distance–if only to keep your summer funds going where they should be.

From dusting your USB ports to coddling that battery, we bring you nine tips to make sure that your machine does your bidding for ages to come:

1. Protect Yourself

If your computer were to get a virus, a diagnostic and fix at a place like Best Buy could cost as much as $200. So, protect yourself in advance. Make sure you have an antivirus and that all of your definitions are up to date. If you don’t pay for an antivirus, get a free one like AVG or Avast.

2. Watch Your Water

We can tell you from firsthand experience that one of the easiest ways to ruin a laptop is to reach for a glass of water on your desk late at night. This may sound basic, but prevent spilling on your expensive electronics by investing in a closed lip water bottle to use near your computer. If you’re on the market for a stylish new bottle that will keep your laptop-and the environment-safe, check out our picks.

Read on for more great tips.

Lady Gaga's Gray Label Polaroid Printer Now Available For Preorder

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:04:58 PDT

January's CES brought Lady Gaga's Grey Label to fruition, as she announced a number of Polaroid products that would be available for purchase this year. First up is the Polaroid GL 10 portable printer, which is now up for preorder on the Polaroid site for $170.

Hitting virtual shelves in June, this Bluetooth-compatible printer will print pics wirelessly from most mobile phones, and connects to PCs and digital cameras via USB. The good news is, the printer is small (weighing 15 ounces), and spits out Polaroid-like, 3-x-4-inch photos in about 45 seconds. Mother Monster says that you'll take this with you wherever you go, but I'm not so sure photo geeks will want to tote yet another gadget in their bags. I'm more likely to use it for house parties, a la the Instaprint.