GeekSugar

Brad Pitt Graces the Cover of Wired, Talks a Ton of Tech

GeekSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:15:16 PDT

Coming to newsstands on July 21, the latest issue of Wired magazine heats things up this Summer with heartthrob Brad Pitt on the cover. While Angelina Jolie has admitted her lack of tech-expertise by saying she doesn't even know how to turn on a computer, Brad proves he's an Internet whiz when asked about Twitter and online dating.

When questioned about the taboo topic of talking on the phone in the loo he says:

No, you can't talk on the phone! Do you want the guy next to you to hear your entire conversation? That's why you should only text in the bathroom. Just be sure you don't hit the wrong button and end up putting a photo of your junk on Twitter. Trust me, you don't want those followers.

Considering he's one of the faces of Softbank cell phones, it's good to know he's a phone-etiquette pro. And although he doesn't have an active Twitter account as of yet, his knowledge of tech trends keeps us very hopeful!

Now that you've seen fellow hottie David Beckham sporting the Bluetooth earpiece, it's time for you to decide who looks hotter with their Bluetooth earpieces, Brad or David?

J.J. Abrams Brings Possibly the Coolest Issue of Wired Yet

GeekSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:00:34 PDT

This newest issue of Wired Magazine (which I read faithfully), brings together some of my favorite things inside its pages: puzzles, magic, and J.J. Abrams.

Not only is J.J. Abrams responsible for some of the most geek-worthy shows on TV like Lost, Fringe, and Alias, but he produced soon-to-be Spring blockbuster Star Trek (which I have my IMAX tickets for already). So when I heard that he would be helping to whip up the May issue of Wired into something totally fitting of his work, I couldn't wait to get my copy.

Packed with puzzles, mysteries, and science, this issue of Wired should take longer than the average issue to get through - there is something on every page to solve, decode, decipher, and discover. Nothing is an accident.

Check out some behind the scenes footage of J.J. working with the Wired staff, and what you can expect in the next issue when you

Wired Calls Out the Most Annoying Habits of Geeky Spouses

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:05:09 PDT

Hmmm. . . am I the annoying one, or the annoyed one? Wired has a list of the most annoying habits of geeky spouses, and the very familiar list has me shaking my head in recognition. A lot of recognition.

We're both guilty of #2, using "frak" in place of real curse words, #4, dissecting movies (him being an ace at Final Cut Pro), #6, requiring extra room in the house for geeky things in gadgets (which forces me to recall the afternoon we each had a meltdown over the TiVo and the cable box not fitting inside our new credenza), and #9, needing to watch certain shows ASAP to avoid spoilers (and avoiding Twitter when those shows are on).

The one that's hands-down the most annoying, which we both do - and I know for a fact annoys our friends - but the ultimate geek habit: #8, looking up information while an argument is in progress. I mean, I paid good money for my iPhone, why shouldn't I use it to prove that River Phoenix was in fact, in Stand By Me? Some things cannot be helped.

Anything you can think of that didn't make the list?

Photo courtesy of CBS

Geeky Proposals: Awesome or Kinda Lame?

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:00:09 PST

What girl wouldn't want a memorable marriage proposal? But popping the question on a Jumbotron or hiding the ring in a dessert is so 10 years ago. In these days of love 2.0, you gotta be more creative and a lot more tech savvy. Take for example the guy who proposed by sending his now bride-to-be on a romantic scavenger hunt programmed into her iPhone! Or perhaps you could take a cue from the game-loving dude that hacked a video game to surprise his girl, or the Google employee that used Google Street View to propose to his geeky gal.

What do you think about geeky proposals? Are they totally awesome, or do you prefer something a little more subdued?

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Björk Gets Wired With Wanderlust in 3-D

GeekSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:10:00 PDT

Wired got the 3-D premiere of Björk's new video for "Wanderlust," directed by geek impresarios Encyclopedia Pictura. I love that this premiere is a Wired.com event rather than say, an MTV.com event. Seeing the video, you'll understand why - those 3D glasses are necessary! Well, they're an enhancement, at least (and Wired provides a handy tutorial on DIY 3-D glasses).

If you know and love Björk then you know what to expect - meaning you have no idea what to expect. For the 3-D version, click here. To see the 2-D version of the video (no glasses required), click here.

Wired's Geekster Handbook: Which Kind of Geek Are You?

GeekSugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:45:27 PDT

This month's Wired brings you their take on the geek hierarchy - remember when we surmised that there were many different types of geekdom? Well, Wired agrees, and they've offered up six types of geek: The Fanboy (classic Star Wars/Simpsons lover and defender), the Music Geek (think Rob Gordon from High Fidelity), the Gamer (your thumbs are always sore), The Gadget Guy (3G + iPhone = drool), the Hacker (fears the sun), and the Otaku (all Manga, all the time).

Do you fall into any of the categories, or are you a different kind - or a hybrid geek?

Get the March 2008 of Wired for Free!

GeekSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:31:44 PST

Hurry, get over to Wired and fill out a form to get the March 2008 issue of Wired for free. They only have 10,000 to giveaway so act fast!

Thanks TeamSugar user GirlC for this awesome tid-bit! Geeks everywhere are going crazy right now!

Sarah Silverman Tells Wired What Sucks

GeekSugar — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:02:33 PST

Wired Magazine used February cover girl Sarah Silverman to detail the things in this world that suck- Like spam filters, credit cards, and traffic, but she also tells Wired what she thinks does not suck. Here are some highlights from the article:

I love technology. I'm all for it. I watch my common-law stepdaughter iChatting with her boyfriend every night, and it's the future happening now. It's amazing.

When pressed, she admits somewhat optimistically that "I would say the only things that truly suck are those things you cannot control," and finally spills what she hates: Jerks in her audience who film her and later post the video footage on YouTube.

"I make a joke explaining why I'm asking them to stop, and then guess what," she says. "They keep shooting - usually with s***-eating grins on their faces, waiting for me to get mad or do something embarrassing. Those people suck. They suck b****."

You Make the Call: Is This a Green Home?

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 07:00:52 PST

Whether or not it's really green, it certainly is beautiful. WIRED magazine has teamed up with LivingHomes, a company that builds green, prefabricated homes, to create WIRED Home, a house in LA that showcases green, sustainable technology.

The home was manufactured in the factory, reducing cost and construction waste. When the home was brought to the site, the installation took only two and a half days. The home is fully automated, with the latest in gadgets, gear and appliances, yet still keeps kilowatt usage low.

To find out more about this home, as well as to see some gorgeous photos, just

read more This is no drop-in-the-bucket cheap and green home, though. In fact, this modernist palace costs $4 million and is housed in an exclusive enclave of Los Angeles. And while I believe that small is beautiful (and green), the house measures in at 4,057 square feet-almost 2000 square feet bigger than the average US home! However, it is designed to attain at least a Gold rating from the USGBC LEED for Homes Program, which is nothing to sniff at. The home’s anticipated energy use is 36% more efficient than a conventional residence of a similar size (but again, if the house were smaller, it would be even greener). The home will also feature a forced hot air radiant heating and cooling system; recycled glass bathroom countertops; Heath ceramic tile; low-maintenance high-design ecological kitchen cabinetry; an environmentally friendly washer/dryer system that uses less water and energy; windows and doors constructed with recycled glass and aluminum; reclaimed redwood milled from old military barracks; FSC-certified exterior siding; tankless water heaters; and LED lights that consume less energy than conventional light bulbs. What do you think? Is this really a green home, or is it just an example of trying to put a coat of green paint on something that's too big, too expensive, and too unsustainable?

View 14 Photos ›

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Lisa Katayama of Tokyomango: Geeky Girl We Love

GeekSugar — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:00:23 PDT

If you're into gadgets you've probably realized some of the coolest, strangest and geekiest gadgets and gizmos come from Japan. If you're a real webmeister, you've probably noticed the hottest Japanese items are often premiered to the US (and the rest of the world) via Tokyomango, a site started by Lisa Katayama nearly a year ago.

Lisa, who grew up in Tokyo and now lives in San Francisco, has been sharing her insight into Japanese culture and gadgets (as well as her general knowledge of techie things) with Wired Magazine for two years and is also the associate editor at PLANETº Magazine. She has a book coming out in Spring 08 about secret Japanese tips and tricks and has quickly gained a reputation for her witty, hilarious and insightful pieces. Think golden poop. Think cell phone straps. Think beer for dogs. Think anything you ever wanted to know about Japan's "Beauty Adviser" Nintendo DS games. Think where does Lisa find all this goofy stuff?

When she's not writing, she's game for any team sport or activity (like speeding down hills on skis or a bike), crafting, eating, watching chick flicks, playing video games and traveling all over the world. I managed to snag an interview with her and asked her a couple questions about her site and well, overall coolness. Click here to

read more Geeksugar: You seem to have an endless supply of amazing gizmos and off beat news, without revealing your secrets and sources, please tell us about your experience and how you came to love Japanese culture and gadgets so much. Lisa: I was born and raised in Tokyo, so Japanese culture and gadgets are just a part of my existence. It was only when I started working at Wired that I realized that people considered things like Tokyo street trends and novelty gadgets to be newsworthy. I started Tokyomango as a dumping ground for stories that wouldn't get published in the magazine, and also for a place to debunk common myths and sensationalized conceptions of Japanese pop culture and lifestyle. A lot of people write about Japan, but most of them aren't Japanese. Geeksugar: Do you use a PC or Mac? Lisa: I use my 15" MacBookPro at home. Geeksugar: How many hours are you online everyday? Lisa: 8-10. On weekends, I try to stay completely offline. Geeksugar: Your first computer was a ... Lisa: Sony Vaio.
Geeksugar: How many gadgets do you carry in your purse? What are they? Lisa: My cell phone (Nokia 5300) and if I remember to bring it, my iPod video. I don't like carrying too many things around, it gets confusing. Geeksugar: What’s your favorite item or news story you’ve ever written about? Lisa: A couple months ago, I walked around my neighborhood investigating the life and death of a homeless man I was good friends with. That was really meaningful and fascinating in a much more human kind of way than the tech/culture stories I usually do. I also put some galleries together for Wired.com showcasing adult toys, cell phone straps, and doggie gadgets from Tokyomango. Geeksugar: How many blog feeds are in your RSS reader? Lisa: 112. Geeksugar: Who do you think are the top 3 sexiest male geeks in the world? Lisa:

Astro Boy -I want to sweep him off his rocket-jet-fuelled feet and get intimate with his nuclear reactor heart.
Brendan Fraser in Blast From the Past - Why can't hot, courteous guys emerge from nuclear holocaust fallout shelters more often?
That dude with the iPhone-Have you seen how those fingers roll smoothly across the touchscreen? Hot!

Geeksugar: How do you feel about being called a "geek” or “techie”? Lisa: Am I a geek? I think you're the first person to call me that. But I'll take it as a compliment. Geeksugar: What are a couple tech/gadget trends you adore? Lisa: love that video game music has taken on a following of its own. Have you seen the Mario Piano Guy or the dude who plays the Zelda track on two guitars? Pretty cool. Other than that, I'm not so into tech trends. I follow them, sure-but only in an objective, journalistic way. My day-to-day life is pretty analog. Geeksugar: What is one item you’ve featured that you had to purchase? Lisa: The golden poop cell phone strap. I actually bought these in bulk and had a contest where I gave a bunch of them out to people who best answered the question: Why do Japanese people love poop so much? We really, really love poop. I just Googled my blog for the word "poop" got 156 hits. That means I've written about poop every other day since I started Tokyomango. Geeksugar: What’s the most useless thing you’ve featured? Lisa: I don't know where to start! When looked at a certain way, everything on my blog is utterly useless; but take into consideration the odd, quirky ways in which the esoteric few will find these products pleasurable or convenient, and anything has the potential to be surprisingly useful. Take the portable heated wooden toilet bowl, for example. Why would anybody want to carry around such an expensive, awkward toilet contraption? But maybe some people would really appreciate the butt shower. Aside from that, this CD crusher is probably the stupidest thing ever.