GeekSugar

Not Using Paperless Billing? T-Mobile Will Charge You $1.50

GeekSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:45:24 -0700

I've already told you how I've tried to move all of my bill-paying online because it's not only easier, but the greener option as well. How would you feel if a company started charging you for not paying a bill online?

On Sept. 12, T-Mobile will start charging a $1.50 mandatory fee to customers who still use paper billing. I'm all about doing what's best for the environment, but this imposed $1.50 charge for each account per month is a dirty way to go about it.

Just think of all of the people who don't have access to computers - or who don't know how to use a computer or the Internet, for that matter - and are stuck with this fee unless they opt into paperless billing through their T-Mobile accounts. In my opinion, they should reward those who pay their bills online with something like more monthly minutes, not tack on a fee for those who are helpless and don't have a say.

Do You Pay All Your Bills Online?

GeekSugar — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 13:15:42 -0700

It must be tax season, because I'm in a money mood; combine that with the recession, and it's one of the main things on my mind lately.

One thing I've tried to do is streamline the way I manage my money, and I accomplish that with technology; in addition to some great websites and services for managing money, I've tried to move all of my bill-paying online. If the place I need to pay has an online service to pay my bill, I use that, and if they don't, I simply set it up with my bank. In addition to being green, I have an electronic record of things I did pay or didn't.

Of course, I still have a bill I have to pay the old-fashioned way: my rent. Other than that, I have almost no use for my checkbook anymore.

What about you? Have you moved toward paying all your bills online?

Source

Over Half of Internet Users Pay Some Bills Online - Do You?

GeekSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:05:38 -0700

I love being able to do my banking online, in the comfort of my home and mainly away from long line-ups at the bank. Unless I absolutely have to, you're rarely ever going to see me stepping into a bank.

A new study shows that 51 percent of Internet users in Canada and the US are now paying at least one monthly bill online. Unlike back in 2004 when only 33 percent were doing so. I guess more people are stepping up with the times, saving trees and putting their good ol' Internets to work!

What about you? Do you pay your bills online?

Source

Website of the Day: Watch My Cell

GeekSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:35:21 -0800

Since most of you are paying hefty cell phone bills each month, I thought I'd post this website which offers a useful app that will prevent you from going over your total amount of free monthly minutes. Watch My Cell periodically checks your cell phone account (every three hours) and sends you a text message or email alert when you're close to going over, so you don't have to learn the hard way with an outrageous bill. Once downloaded, you will need to configure this free application with your cell phone provider, how many minutes you get for free, and when you want to receive a notification. This app currently only works with PCs and Cingular/AT&T, Sprint/Nextel, T-Mobile, and Verizon phone networks.
To learn how to post your favorite websites to our Website of the Day group,
read more

I know that this long list looks scary, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it'll be a snap the second time around.

First of all, join the Website of the Day group.
Click the pink "Share" menu on the top left side of the page.
Choose "Blog" and “Regular Post.”
Give your story a “Title.”
Fill in the “Body” with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Click “Next."
Choose the audience for your story to “Website of the Day” in the drop-down menu
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "Website of the Day").
Change channel to “Technology and Gadgets.”
Fill in tag field with relevant tags.
Click “I’m done” 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!

Would You Pay $35k For a Tour of Bill Gates's Home?

GeekSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:15:00 -0800

As part of Microsoft's charitable giving campaign, founder Bill Gates is again auctioning off a tour of his Medina, WA, home. Last year the tour sold for $8,600, but this year the bidding has already reached $35,000. You have to be a Microsoft employee to bid in the auction (which reportedly also includes "the world's best bologna sandwich," selling for $500), with all the proceeds benefiting charity.

When you're Bill Gates, the sky is the limit when it comes to designing your home. See if you can guess the answers to a few questions about his pricey pad.

Take the quiz

Daily Tech: Bill Gates Sr. Talks About Raising a Tech Mogul

GeekSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:01:43 -0700

Bill Gates Sr., who acts as cochair of the the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, sat down to chat with the Wall Street Journal about his life and discusses the trials and tribulations of raising Microsoft's cofounder Bill Gates Jr.. - The Wall Street Journal
Firefox 3.5 beta is now available for download and offers better performance and stability as well as improved private data tools like Private Browsing Mode. - Gizmodo
These simple yet effective keyboard shortcuts are guaranteed to save you so much time. - Switched
Get to know MySpace's new CEO Owen van Natta, who will replace former CEO, Chris DeWolfe. - The Silicon Alley Insider
Belkin's new CushDesk for your laptop may not be worth the $30. - Engadget

Source

Bill Gates Gets Overwhelmed by Facebook

GeekSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:45:25 -0700

Well wouldn't you know. . . On Saturday, Microsoft's co-founder Bill Gates told an audience in New Delhi that he became bombarded with friend requests on Facebook and was having trouble figuring out if he really knew them. He said:

"It was just way too much trouble so I gave it up."

So just how many friends were trying to befriend one of the kings of tech? Approximately 10,000, which became unmanageable for Gates. During the event in India which was honoring his charity work, he also revealed that he's not that into text messaging and isn't a 24-hour-a-day tech person.

Two things I take from this: Gotta love the guy for admitting that he not only maintained his FB page himself (rather than having a lackey do it) and I also love his honesty about his tech habits. He may be a geek, but who says he needs to be updating his FB profile 24/7 or that he must become a Twitter member? It's OK Bill, we understand.

AT&T Puts A Halt To 300-Page Phone Bills

GeekSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 08:00:34 -0700

This week everyone's been talking about the woman (it was actually lifecaster Justine!), who received a 300-page iPhone bill from AT&T in a box. The enormous bill was due in part to the fact that AT&T had a policy of recording every single text message, data transaction, and every phone call their customer's make and printing each on a separate line of their bill. For people using the iPhone's many applications, that means a book-sized report if you don't opt for web billing.

In an effort to save trees and avoid ridicule, AT&T will now default customers to a "summary" bill, according to USA Today. If you still haven't watched the video of Justine showing off her bill (she claims she sends 35,000 text messages a month!), read more

Raw interview with Justine about the making of the "300-Page iPhone Bill video" and her texting habits.

Vintage Geeks: Young Steve vs. Young Bill

GeekSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:00:14 -0700

Get a load of these vintage magazine covers of a young Bill Gates (LOLZ-worthy title: "Computer Software: The Magic Inside the Machine") and an equally young Steve Jobs (LOLZ-worthy title: "The Fall of Steve Jobs")!

Although the stylistic choices vary for both (Steve has a passion for fashion, whereas inside Bill beats the heart of a bang stylist), I have a soft spot for both, especially in their more youthful and arguably handsomer days. Seeing them like this reminds me of the idealistic young whippersnappers they must have been and how exciting things were at that time.

Now that our Bill has retired and Steve keeps landing on unflattering lists, it's refreshing to reflect on the halcyon days of young tech and young them. So, based on these covers, whom do you prefer?

Source

Saying Goodbye to Bill Gates: A Legacy of Innovation and Bad Hairstyles

GeekSugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:03:20 -0700

To fete Bill Gates stepping down from Microsoft, I thought I'd give him a little send-off, celebrating not his technological accomplishments, like every other tech site is doing, but by looking at the one thing that we as a public have judged Bill Gates on for years. Yes, I'm referring to his bangs. Join me, friends, on a journey, a hirsute journey of wacky hairdos worn by the Grand Poo-bah of the PC, Bill Gates. Check out my slideshow for the hair-raising highlights!

View Slideshow ›