GeekSugar

Widower Calls Deceased Wife's Voice Mail Just to Hear Her Voice

GeekSugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 07:00:43 -0700

File this under Sigh: An 80-year-old man whose wife died in 2005 has been calling her number every day since, just to hear her say her name on his voice mail recording. I'm in a virtual puddle over here.

Anyway, after a while, the carrier, Verizon, upgraded the service and it was lost - but don't worry, they got wind of it and restored the message for the man. He says, very simply, “I’m glad they rescued it. . . I’m very happy.”

So if you're feeling a little worn-out and overwhelmed by all our wedding coverage on IDoSugar and details, details, details - take a break and read this story and remember what it's supposed to be all about.

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Oscar Worthy Gadgets: Little Miss Sunshine's Answering Machine

GeekSugar — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:00:14 -0800

There are a few reasons why I love Little Miss Sunshine. No. 1: Steve Carell. No. 2: The Script. No. 3: The scene where little Olive (played by Abigail Breslin) unleashes a scream more intense than a stampede of hundreds of people getting their hands on a Wii when she finds out she was accepted to the "Little Miss Sunshine" beauty and talent competition. Olive: "I won, I won, I won, I won, I won!"

Not only is Breslin the new Dakota Fanning in my book, but her answering machine gets my pick for being an Oscar-worthy gadget by osmosis. Who uses old school answering machines anymore? The cutest 11-year-old ever, that's who. Want to see more Little Miss Sunshine gadgets? read more

View 4 Photos ›

Have you filled out your Oscar ballot? The winner will score a fabulous Prada bag, runners-up will get $50 to $500 gift cards Neiman Marcus, Sephora and The Apple Store. Get your votes in! Good luck! For official rules click here.

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Tech Dating 101: Taking Phone Calls at Dinner

GeekSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:12:36 -0700

Welcome to Tech Dating 101, where I help disperse a double whammy of tech and relationship advice. I've covered how to interpret Internet signals before you're even dating, and how to unwire your ex from your life once you're not dating anymore, and now I'm tackling a question that hits right smack dab in a relationship. So you're happy, together, serious - and so comfortable that certain habits become problematic. The problem? When your partner answers his cell phone when you're having dinner. I don't mean a date scenario, where answering calls and texting is always considered rude, but the run of the mill, one on one dinners at home or out between a seasoned couple. To hear what I think, just read more.

So when I was growing up, my parents would be irate if telemarketers called during dinner. In fact if the phone rang, we always let it go to the answering machine - they drilled in me that dinnertime was never, ever phone time.

That's carried over into my adult life, even though I consider my iPhone my lifeblood. So I get pretty irritated when my boyfriend (or anyone else I'm with) answers a call at any dinner, casual though it may be. Hey, even though we're at home and not out on date trying to woo each other, it's still a sacred time to me.

My advice to anyone who has this problem is to decide what offends you - is it the attention being paid to the phone and not your time together, that he's answering the phone at all, or the amount of time spent on the phone once it's answered - like, is he saying "I'm having dinner, let me call you back," or is he having long chats while you stew - and eat your stew? Once you figure that out, gently let your boyfriend know how you feel and propose that no one looks at their phone during dinner, or the phone can be looked at if someone calls, but only answered if it's presumed an emergency. Let him know that you're not trying to be demanding, you just want to have real quality time with him.

What Electronics Can Be Recycled?

GeekSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:01:16 -0700

You can't escape the grocery, electronics or movie rental store without seeing a small cell recycling drop box, but how can you dispose of larger, more ecologically dangerous gadgets? Electronics companies have - or been forced to! - put considerable resources into making their products recyclable. A handful of states have even passed laws that require companies to take back their goods (Apple, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Sony all do so at no charge), but you can always be green by selling or gifting the item, or giving it to a reuse effort.

To get the scoop on electronics that can be recycled, read more.

Accepted AT All Locations	Accepted AT Most Locations	Rarely Accepted
Computer Monitors CPU's (Central Processing Units) Televisions with Cathode Ray Tubes and Flat Panel Displays Printers Laptops Cables Keyboards Mouses	Answering Machines Camcorders Compact Disc Players Copiers Duplicators Electric Typewriters Fax Machines Hard Drives Mobile Phones Modems Pagers Printed Circuit Boards Radios Remote Controls Stereos Tape Players Telephones Telephone Equipment VCRs Word Processors Batteries PDAs Games (Video)	Microwaves Smoke Detectors Large Household Appliances (Refrigerators, Washing Machines, and Air Conditioners) Toasters Fans Vacuum Cleaners Lamps Specialty Cookers

This list is based on data from the EPA. Check out the EPA's guide to where you can donate or recycle your electronics.

Ask a Geek Girl: How Do I Sync My iPod to Three Computers?

GeekSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:45:01 -0700

Dear geeksugar,
I use three computers. I have a desktop with all my old data, a laptop for home use and a work computer. Over the last couple of years my music library has spread across all three machines. How do I sync my iPod up with them all without losing my playlists and having to start all over?
Thanks,
Overwhelmed by All This Machinery

To see my guide to syncing your iPod to multiple computers, read more.

Dear Overwhelmed by All This Machinery,
Fear not! This is a very common situation, but the answer is straightforward. I suggest you start by reading Apple's guide to using your iPod with multiple computers.

By default iPods are automatically set to sync with one iTunes library, or one computer. Luckily, you can manually manage files on your iPod across multiple devices by displaying iPod preferences in iTunes and opting to manually manage music. Then you can move files from your iTunes account to the iPod. Remember you can only authorize five computers at once to play songs purchased from the iTunes Music Store.

Un-Networked Computers:
Syncing two computers that are not connected via network (say your home and office computers) is relatively simple because iTunes is set by default to autosync with iPods. You must, however, be sure to switch to manual mode to avoid losing files.

Senuti allows you to unlock your iPod or iTunes and copy single songs, songs grouped by artist or album, or entire playlists from an iPod into iTunes. You can purchase the application for $18 or try a free 30-day trial. You might also check out MP3tunes, which provides syncing tools and unlimited online storage space for all your music files for $40 a year.

Networked Computers:
Synchronizing iTunes manually between computers can be a laborious task. SyncOtunes can ease the chore. It's designed to sync libraries and settings, provided that the computers involved can communicate directly over a network.

Desktop Wallpaper You Need: The Costanza

GeekSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:40:17 -0700

The appeal of changing your desktop wallpaper is obvious - it's free, it's easy, and you get a mental refresher every time you look at your computer screen, which is something most of us have to do all day. Sometimes we stick to ones we like for a long time, and sometimes you're in the mood to switch it up, as I am now. Usually I go for a fun design, but today? I am all Costanza.

Sure, you can get any of the Seinfeld characters for your desktop, but do you need anyone besides George Costanza, he of the Greatest Answering Machine Message Ever? I think not.

Everex Cloudbook: Your MacBook Air Alternative

GeekSugar — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 08:03:49 -0800

It seems like you guys are torn about the MacBook Air - from the comments on the Air posts, a lot of you love it but wouldn't or couldn't spend over $1800 on it. If that's the case, the Everex CloudBook may be the answer for those of you who like the size and convenience of the Air, but not the price. Everex's machine measures nine inches and weighs two pounds, has 30GB of space and a battery that lasts up to five hours. And it only costs $400! It's supposed to be available by February 15th, at Walmart.com and ZaReason.com.

No, I admit, it is not quite sexy enough to warrant a 3-girls-on-one-machine throwdown, but you can toss that baby into your purse.

Geeks We Love: Adam Frucci of Gizmodo

GeekSugar — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:21:27 -0800

For the last installment of the Geeks We Love V-Day series, I would like to introduce you to the multi-talented, fascinating Adam Frucci. Adam's home base is in Brooklyn and he currently works as a contributing editor for Gizmodo. Why do we love Adam you ask? Well he doesn't exactly fit the "guy in the tech industry" average mold. Adam doesn't own an iPhone, would be the first to admit that digital photo frames are tacky pieces of garbage, and actually discusses the environmental impact of packaging from crappy gadget knock-offs and useless accessories-We're in love! And that's just the beginning (trust me). . . Keep reading to check out the full interview with Adam below and be sure to stay tuned tomorrow for a round-up of all our Geeks We Love interviews!

GS: You write for various websites and do improv comedy performances. How do you manage to squeeze so many things into your busy schedule and what other "hidden talents" can you share with us?
AF: Since I work from home, it's really important for me to get out of the house most nights, otherwise I'd go completely crazy. Improv is great because it keeps me busy two to five nights a week and lets me be creative in a way that's completely different than my writing, which is important to me. As for other talents, I'm not sure. I really love writing fiction, but it's tough to sit down and write for pleasure after writing nine hours for work, so I haven't dedicated as much time to that lately as I would like. It's something I always tell myself I'm going to get back into, but haven't yet found the time or energy to dive full-on into it as I'd like.

GS: What are some gadgets you can't seem to live without and why?
AF: I'm actually not a huge collector of gadgets. Since I deal with them all day for work they don't give me a huge rush in my free time - I think I'm the only Gizmodo editor without an iPhone and I don't have cable. But I would go completely crazy on the subway without my iPod and obviously no one can survive without a cell phone these days. So that's my really boring and predictable answer: My iPod and my cell phone.

To learn more about the infamous Mr.Frucci, read more

GS: Your personal blog is very eclectic (we're already addicted). . . What's your criteria for deciding what makes the final cut?
AF: I don't even know if I'd consider it a blog. I just started it as a way to share things I find while surfing blogs all day with my friends. Basically, if I think it's entertaining and it won't work on a site I write for, I'll throw it up there. I'd like to start actually writing things on it rather than just posting silly pictures and links, so hopefully I'll get motivated enough to start doing that soon.

GS: What would you say is your all time, favorite story that you've ever written on Gizmodo? Why is this so?
AF: I think my favorite story that I've written so far is "10 Reasons We're Doomed: CES Edition." I wrote it while covering CES, the huge and terrible trade show, in Las Vegas this January. Press events always feel really contrived and gross to me, and CES is pretty much the granddaddy of all press events. My editors suggested that I do this top ten list, and I think initially they were thinking it would just be ten lousy products, but I kind of used it as an excuse to rant about how much I hated CES. I really tried to sum up how I knew most journalists (and PR people) working at the show felt about it. So much of the coverage of events like CES is just regurgitating press releases or just dutifully reporting on the news, but no one really talked about how soul-crushing the show itself is. It got a really strong response, especially from fellow CES-goers, so that made me feel really good. Also, it was an excuse to swear a lot and really go over-the-top, so that was a fun plus.

GS: With Valentine's Day only a short day away, we'd love to know what you would describe as the ultimate geeky dream date with your significant other?!
AF: Oh boy, I don't know, that's a hard one. I'd like to say watching Battlestar Galactica DVD's and eating take-out, if that counts as being geeky enough. But now that I think about it, that might be more pathetic than geeky. If it's really my dream date, how about flying to Tokyo on a whim, riding in the Odaiba Ferris Wheel, eating dinner purchased from a machine and then staying in a love hotel? Either one of those would be pretty fun, I think.

Guess The Tech Talker

GeekSugar — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:00:26 -0700

Guess which funnyman said, "I see you have learned to work the Google on the internet machine." Scroll down and click on "take the quiz" to leave your answer!

Take the quiz

Do You Defrag Your Computer?

GeekSugar — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:00:34 -0700

A recent study showed that 42 percent of PC users neglect to defragment their computers. Vizu, the company that administered the poll, reminds us that failure to conduct routine computer maintenance can adversely affect system performance for both home and enterprise users, slowing operations such as bootup, file retrieval, Web browsing, backups, and anti-virus and spyware scans as well as contributing to system crashes. What worries me, is the fact that nearly 16 percent of those who answered the poll said they had "no idea" what disk defragmentation is, while more than 26 precent said they never defrag their machines.

For the record, defragmentation is a process that reduces the amount of fragmentation in file systems. Your Windows computer comes with a program that will defragment your hard disk and reunites all the broken data into large blocks. Gathering all the free space on the hard disk into one block makes data retrieval faster and easier for the computer. For help defragging your computer check out the Microsoft guide.
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