GeekSugar

Ikea's Affordable Cable Storing and Gadget Charging Solutions

GeekSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:43:17 -0800

In a world of expensive charging stations, it's a relief that a geek on a budget can head to Ikea to pick up a simple $3 charging dock that will do the job it was meant to preform: hold your gadgets while they're juicing up. Additionally, for all you cable-hiding freaks out there (yours truly, included) Ikea also offers simple and cheap solutions for any cable management nightmare. All of these products are $10 or less, so I know you can scrounge up the scrilla to get organized. Check them out here!

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Blinded by the Light: Have You Been Fooled by a Commercial?

GeekSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:05:28 -0700

I was stoked after seeing a commercial for the Powermat, a wireless gadget charger that claims to charge any of your electronic toys without wires, cords, or trouble just by placing your device on the Powermat - finally a solution to my cord-management problems! A few days later I saw the Powermat at my local Best Buy and considered forking over the $100 listed on the price tag for convenience alone. But then reality (and an explanation from the sales rep) set in: $100 is not the bottom line on this super charger.

The Powermat does exactly what it says it does: charges your cell phones, PSP's, smart phones and other gadgets, but it does so with the help of dedicated cases that have a receiver attached to the back. Bye-bye custom iPhone and Blackberry cases - you'll be rocking the Powermat case and battery pack (which sticks out on the back) from now on. What's more, each gadget case starts at $30, and you'll need one for each device you want to charge! For me, this meant spending over $200 just to have all of my daily accessories covered. I walked away a little disappointed, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who's been fooled by a gadget commercial before. Share your gadget commercial rants, or about the time you bought a gadget and it wasn't what you expected below!

The Name Says It All: Bluelounge's Refresh Charging Station

GeekSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:41:00 -0700

In case you haven't noticed, I have a thing for charging stations. I just can't get enough of 'em. Call it my OCD for cable management, or the fact that between my boyfriend and I combined, we have more gadgets than a small country, but I love a nice and neat desk where my gadgets can refresh and recharge. This is why I love Bluelounge's Refresh charging station. Coming in three colors (black, white and pink), the Refresh boasts mini and micro USB cables, and has room for five of your most coveted gadgets: iPod, BlackBerry, iPhone, camera, or whatever you need juiced up.

Although I have much love for this simple and stylish charging station, I do have a gripe: the $90 price tag. Whoa? Whoa is right. Sure, this baby keeps all your cords out of sight and managed, but how much are you willing to pay for a sleek pink plastic box? Ponder that, my friends.

The Latest in Cord and Cable Organizers

GeekSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:46:26 -0700

Unless you're extremely high tech and all your gadgets are wireless, you're probably plagued like the rest of us tech toy lovers with cords and cables galore.

I've already exposed you to some clever and creative ways to manage cord clutter if you don't want to take the traditional organization route, but what basics are available for diminishing those unsightly cables?

I've found some simple little accessories that will clean up the messiest of cords!

Cable Ties $3.99	XL Cable Organizer $14.99
Cord Control Kit $3.99 - $14.99	Wire Stay	Cordclip $5.99

Handmade Cable Identifiers Are Fun and Functional

GeekSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:30:09 -0700

In the ongoing battle of human versus cord, there are many ways to manage cables.

I have possibly just found the cutest: Etsy seller bearduck has crafted these Cable Identifiers (8 bucks for a set of six) to keep each of your gadgets' cords separate.

The multicolored identifiers are made of a polymer clay, and sport little icons of what they belong to, so if you need to do anything with the plugs, your confusion is totally zapped.

If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em: CableDrop Cable Organizers

GeekSugar — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:08:47 -0700

If all of your desktop cords refuse to magically become invisible as you secretly wish they would, then you can at least put them in their place with these cable holders from Bluelounge. The adhesive Cabledrop organizers ($10) are just the thing to keep your power, Ethernet, firewire, and usb cords all in one place - and not fall behind your desk - while you stay mobile on your laptop, or keep your desk neat while you work on your trusty desktop.

Coming in a pack of six, the CableDrops aren't just limited to your peripherals - you can use them to wrangle your electric cords, pens, and even secure your headphones to your monitor so you don't lose them to the depths of your desk drawer.

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Geek Tip: Work With What You Have For Cable Management

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:03:01 -0700

Although I've scoured and searched for the best cord management system possible, the reality is, you just gotta work with what you got. Take this Wolverine Mighty Mugg my boyfriend has sitting on his desk at work. Every other day, it's just been a simple toy taking up space, but today, it turned into a genius way to manage his iPod cable when not in use.

And really, for 15 bucks (or so), you won't find anything that satisfies your inner child, cable management OCD, and urge to help the planet at the same time - according to Hasbro, these babies are made from 100 percent recycled awesome. Nuff said.

Geek Tip: Use an Old Tube Sock to Round Up Your Cords

GeekSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:04:14 -0700

I never thought of this super simple solution for an old sock, and I thought I'd heard all the cord organizing tricks out there! Courtesy of this month's issue of Real Simple, the editors suggest using an old trouser sock to wrap around cords to keep them together.

Just snip off the toe part so you have a little tube, unplug from the power strip, insert the cords, and then plug them back in.

They say trouser sock, but I keep envisioning a cute striped retro tube sock! Their tip also has them gathered from a power strip, but I could also see using them to keep cords wrapped tightly around one another when they're put away.

Cordwrap: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:05:37 -0700

The downside to all these gadgets I love is that my apartment looks like a tourism ad for Cord Country. Solutions abound, but they're usually an endeavor in which you have to unplug and reorganize, which stresses me out to even think about (not to mention not wanting to disconnect certain electronics).

Here's something totally different: Cordwrap ($29)! Don't hide it, just wrap it! I've thought about DIYing something like this for a long time, but again, thinking = stress. I'm actually disappointed that the picture only shows the beige check pattern, because there are a number of bold and neutral colors available in cotton and silk.

But are these brilliant, or just another mask of a problem that needs to be hidden?

We've Finally Found Each Other, Revolving Power Strip

GeekSugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:00:50 -0700

Charming but old Victorian apartments have their drawbacks - besides having plaster walls that are hostile to mounting flat screen TVs, they also have very, very few outlets. And that is bad news for a geek.

With power strips and squids adorning my every available outlet, it's a pretty cord-crowded existence. It's partly messy because strips are in yes, a strip form, which is not the most efficient thing for lamps, chargers and other gadgets that take up different places in my apartment. The Revolve Power Strip, however, looks to be efficiency incarnate, wrapped up in a clean, pretty white package (you know how I love white gadgets).

The Revolve is one of those things you wonder why it took so long to make - outlets that spin! Of course! It doesn't look to be available for sale just yet, but I'll be on that waiting list with my credit card in one hand and a pile of cords in the other.