GeekSugar

Microsoft "I'm a PC" Ads: Clever or Copycat?

GeekSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:03:38 -0700

With the news of the Jerry Seinfeld/Microsoft commercials being put aside for now (only 14 percent of you liked their ads more than Apple's "Get a Mac" ads), Microsoft has revealed that their next campaign will be a more direct hit at Apple (and thankfully, more direct in general).

Known as the "I'm a PC" ads, Microsoft will portray various non-dorky Microsoft users attesting to what they do and what they're like - ostensibly not nerds like John Hodgman's portrayal. In addition, they have a more direct anti-Apple attack with a John Hodgman clone who satirically declares he is a PC and has "been made into a stereotype."

On the one hand, it's kind of a "Touche" on Microsoft's part, but since these are so hot on the heels of the universally confounding Seinfeld ads, I can't help but feel like these were thrown together to try to salvage their image and just went for a cheap shot - and worse, lazily imitated a successful ad campaign.

What do you think? Is Microsoft right on, or just hanging on?

Are You More Tech Savvy Than Your Boss?

GeekSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:15:23 -0700

Have you found yourself in this situation? Your boss is either a bit of a technophobe or just doesn't understand how email/her BlackBerry/the office scanner works and asks for your help every time she turns on the device? One writer at Marie Claire confesses she has to help her boss with even the most mindless tech issues - and she's not alone. After swapping war stories, the writer and her friends doubled over with laughter from tales of bosses adding "www." to the front of email addresses, trying to use the computer's calculator function by tapping the numbers as if they were on an ATM screen, and the inability to silence a cell-phone ring.

It makes sense; many of our superiors rose through the ranks working in far less technical environments. (Can you imagine working without a computer!?) But it's still a strange feeling. As the writer says, "Aside from technology issues, I'm not used to teaching my boss something she doesn't know."

Have you had to deal with a similar situation? Do you have a funny story? Share it in the comments after taking the poll.

Website of the Day: TownMe

GeekSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:33:00 -0700

Just moved to a new city or town? Or perhaps you're taking a business trip to a place you've never visited and you're trying to locate some decent restaurants and shopping areas. A recently launched site called TownMe will help you get acquainted with your new surroundings by showing you the best restaurants, bars, and businesses thanks to the "What's Near Me" search tool. I met with the founders yesterday (who food for thought, are two former Google employees) and learned all about this site and its useful features.

Umm hello?! It even has a section under tools where you can check out birthday deals in your city (free food and more!). Aside from discovering where the sugar daddies are located in your city, checking out what other people are tweeting about in your community, or where the best yoga studio is in your neighborhood, TownMe allows you to create your own info page or edit someone else's so you can list out all of your local faves to share with the community as well.

Have an interesting website you want to share? To learn how to post your favorite websites to our Website of the Day group, read more.

First of all, join the Website of the Day group.
Click "New Post" under the website of the day tab at the top of the page.
Give your story a "Title."
Fill in the "Body" with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Type "Technology and Gadgets" in the Categories box
Add keyword(s) in the tag field with relevant tags (for example mine for this story was "Website of the Day").
Choose whether you want the post to be private or public.
Click "Create Post" to submit content.

So join the Website of the Day group and share information about all your favorite sites! Yours just might end up on the GeekSugar homepage!

Rumble Wheels For the Wii Are Now Available to Purchase

GeekSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:05:09 -0700

I'll admit it. Sometimes I feel silly when I'm playing Mario Kart on the Wii because I'm turning corners like a madwoman with this tiny plastic Wii wheel. Move aside Danica Patrick because now I'm really going to get my race-on with these rumble wheels for the Wii ($20) which just became available on Amazon today.

Unlike the standard plastic wheel, the rumble wheel is made with safe material and makes you feel like you're driving a real race car. Color options include pink, blue, white, and black. Probably best to get more than one if you play with a partner - don't think they'd want to get stuck with the plastic one when you're looking all pro.

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I Go Bananas: Rachel Zoe In Microsoft Bing Commercial

GeekSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:15:12 -0700

A woman of many (or not so many) words, fashionista Rachel Zoe is kind of a big deal around here. I'm already tracking all of her tech habits and imagining what fashion-forward gadget gear she should be adding to her collection. Did you happen to catch the season opener of The Rachel Zoe Project the other night? Aside from the many MacBook and BlackBerry appearances, RZ was featured in a commercial for Microsoft's newest search engine - Bing! Here's the clip of her and her hubby Roger trying to figure out where to go for dinner.

And to watch Rachel and Brad (I die!) in another Bing ad, just read more.

Back to School iPhone Apps For High Schoolers

GeekSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:33:54 -0700

Parents: if your teenager has been hounding you for a new iPhone, there may be some utility attached to their requests. Aside from all of the things you know are avoidable - like playing games, IMing, updating their Facebook profiles, sending tweets 24/7 - there are actually some handy apps that will not only get them ready for school, but help them stay organized and on track once class is in session!

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Ed From The Bachelorette Works at Which Tech Company?

GeekSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:05:00 -0700

Now that The Bachelorette's Jillian Harris has picked her prince, we can't help but ask - who is Ed Swiderski?!

Aside from knowing he's from Chicago, we also know that he is seriously committed to his job. The guy walked away from the show halfway through after receiving pressure from his boss. Upon his return (and especially now since he'll be walking down the aisle with Jillian) I had to find out if he was: a. still employed and b. what this big important job was.

Well I've got the answers, and it turns out the cute Chicagoan works for a well known tech company. Can you guess which one it is?

Take the quiz

Match.com Posts Fake Profiles, Man Sues For Humiliation

GeekSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:33:02 -0700

One of the reasons some people are wary of online dating is that people tend to stretch the truth when describing themselves. Perhaps you can build up a BS detector for embellishments of electronic personalities, but what if the dating prospects were not even real?

That's what happened to New Yorker Sean McGinn, who's suing dating site Match.com for keeping around profiles of former users so that it would look like the site had far more romantic prospects than it did. McGinn is suing over deception, because he sent out many emails to profiles that were essentially dead. Match.com caused him "humiliation and disappointment," and he wants to stop Match from hurting the feelings of singles "who feel rejected when their e-mails get no reply."

For some people, it's a big leap to start online dating, and knowing that you may be signing up for even more rejection (however genuine) is a total deterrent.

So aside from McGinn, I know plenty of people with horror stories about love and the laptop. What's your worst online dating story?

Catch Apple's WWDC Keynote Coverage Here!

GeekSugar — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:01:20 -0700

Tomorrow morning, team geek will be heading off to Apple's keynote address which kicks off this year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). You can catch all of the live action, right here at 10 a.m. PST. Naturally, we're very excited about the third generation iPhone announcement - which is rumored to be cheaper, will include a camera that can capture video and will come with a built-in magnetometer (basically a digital compass). There have also been rumblings that a new iPod Nano will be unveiled, and we could even see a new Apple tablet make an appearance. Aside from the iPhone, I can't wait to see if Mr. Steve Jobs is in attendance. See you tomorrow!

Source

The White House Is Filled With BlackBerrys, iPod Docks

GeekSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:12:48 -0700

This week, I watched NBC's fascinating two-part Inside the Obama White House special, where news correspondent Brian Williams took viewers on a candid tour of the West Wing - kinda like a day in the life of the Obama administration. Aside from learning about the abundance of freshly picked apples and bowls of candy in every room, Obama's favorite cell phone - the BlackBerry of course - was spotted in the hands of almost every administration employee. There are also many iPods and iPod docks, as employees are encouraged to listen to music while working. Out with the old and in with the new!