GeekSugar

Urban Performer Unit: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:00:31 PST

I finally got my hands on the UrbanTool Urban Performer Unit that I've had my eye on yesterday at Macworld, and although it didn't disappoint -coming with a secure place to store my phone, an adapter so I can play my tunes as I'm on the move, a compartment for a wallet, lush leather, Swarovski crystals - it did come with sticker shock: $500! This clutch is great, but way out of my price range. After getting an in-person look, I'm still in love - it even has iPod controls on the outside so I don't have to open the clutch to switch tunes! - however, it's just not meant to be. What do you think about it?

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Daily Tech: LG Debuts Video Phone Watch at CES

GeekSugar — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:00:24 PST

Labeled as the "smallest wrist phone in existence", the LG GD910 is the first HSDPA wrist phone by LG and comes with a touchscreen, MP3 playback and high speed video conferencing. - Unplggd
Microsoft's free Windows 7 Beta is now available for everyone to download. - Gizmodo
Intel will soon be coming out with a new touchscreen tablet-style PC called the Classmate. - Switched
Urban Tool bags offer a hip and non-conventional way to tote around your gadgets. - CrunchGear
Dell has just announced its latest notebook - the Adamo. This thin, black notebook, is not a Netbook since it has a processor inside, but other than that, details are still limited. - CNET

Gift Guide: 10 Charitable Gifts For Architecture, Design, and Home Enthusiasts

Elka Karl — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:00:08 PST

If you're still searching for a passable gift for a friend or family member who seems to have everything she needs, put down that credit card for a moment and consider giving a charitable gift instead. There are amazing charities and non-profit organizations out there doing great work, which could definitely use your charitable gift this year.
For friends and family members who appreciate charitable gifts and have a deep love for causes related to design, architecture, and home, here are 10 gifts they'll be sure to cherish. (These gifts are tax-deductible, too, so you can feel good about your holiday giving and feel good about your taxes.) Of course, this is only a tiny fraction of the charities that need your support. If none of these seem to fit your gifting agenda, make sure to check out charities in your area, too!

Located in Boston, The Food Project turns abandoned urban lots into productive farms that make nutritious fresh produce available in former food deserts. Around 40 percent of the food grown is donated to hunger relief organizations and homeless shelters, or sold at below-market rates at farmers' markets.
The Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum is the United States' only museum completely dedicated to historic and contemporary design. With over 250,000 objects, the Museum holds the largest design collection in the country. Contribute with a gift amount or a membership.
Berkeley's Ecology Center is a public resource for reliable information, tools, hands-on training, referrals, strategies, infrastructure, and models for sustainable living.
Architecture For Humanity strives to create a more sustainable future through its network of more than 50,000 professionals who lend their time and expertise to help bring design, construction, and development services where they are most critically needed across the world.
The National Coalition For Homeless Veterans provides advice and assistance to policymakers, Congress and the federal agencies involved with homeless veteran issues and service providers with the goal of ending homelessness among veterans.
The National Housing Law Project is a law and advocacy center dedicated to housing justice for the poor. For over 40 years, NHLP has used the law to increase and preserve the supply of decent affordable housing, to improve existing housing conditions, including physical conditions and management practices, to expand and enforce low-income tenants' and homeowners' rights, and to increase opportunities for racial and ethnic minorities.
Habitat For Humanity helps to provide home ownership opportunities through the building of safe, energy efficient, and stable homes, in partnership with the potential home owners through its "sweat equity" program. Habitat For Humanity seeks to "eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action."
The American Folk Art Museum is devoted to the preservation, conservation, and interpretation of traditional folk art and creative expressions of contemporary self-taught artists from the United States and abroad.
West Oakland's City Slicker Farms has been working to create food justice and improve the environment in West Oakland since 2001 through a series of gardens, workshops, and related projects for the community.
The Good Shepherd Center in Los Angeles helps homeless women rebuild their lives so they and their children will experience a brighter future. Through housing, employment and other supportive services, we offer women hope and the opportunity to achieve independence.

Do you have a favorite cause or charity that you give to each year? Leave the name and link in the comments below.

7 Awesome Instagram Mashups

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:21:40 PDT

Without a doubt, Instagram is the breakout app of 2011. If you don't already have the artsy iPhone photography app, you're totally missing out on the fun, as well as these great mashups that use Instagram's API to produce some cool third-party apps and sites.

See why Instagram is worth a download, then browse these other ways you can incorporate the photo-sharing goodness into your life below.

Postagram - Send an Instagram postcard right from your phone with this app that lets you send one of your already-saved Instagram pics, or snap a new one. Then, write a message, insert shipping address, and your recipient will get a glossy postcard with removable (pop-out) image. So cool and so cheap - each Postgram costs just $1.
Extragram - A sleek web client for your Instagram feed, you can check out the day's popular photos, your feed, and search for people and tags without ever breaking out your phone.

See the rest after the break.