GeekSugar

Get Nutrition Facts to Your Phone With Diet.com

GeekSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:00:46 -0700

Since you're already getting nice and buff thanks to a handy workout program on your phone, why not complement your cell phone workouts with a calorie counter?

With Diet.com's on the go service, you can text certain food items to DIET1 (34381) and receive a text back with the nutritional values of your item. Their database already includes more than 36,000 foods from 1,700 restaurants in North America, so you'll always know whether that BLT sandwich is a go or a no-go for that bikini-ready diet!

Simple Cell Phone Tips, Part 1: Use Your Alarm

GeekSugar — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 11:00:15 -0700

As you've probably noticed, the pay phone booths of yesteryear have been replaced with free WiFi and cell phone charging stations. According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, in 2007, 81 percent of the U.S. population owned a cell phone, a 20 percent increase compared to 2002.

While we all use our beloved mobiles for phone calls, texting and even dating, we often overlook our phone's most simple functions and features. I've detailed some of my favorite cell phone tips in the past, but I decided to share a handful of easy ways to use your celly. For the first part in my new series, read more

You've probably decked out your bedroom with a trendy iPod compatible alarm clock, but you can still use your cell phone's alarm for plenty of things.

Set your phone alarm at night: Consider setting your cell phone alarm clock at night and plugging it in a couple feet away from your bed. It will make you get up out of bed to turn it off instead of snoozing. Hey, you might even be inspired to get up and work out.
Set your alarm for break reminders: Almost 75 million Americans spend their working hours in front of the computer, and according to Northwestern Health more than 50 percent of office workers report some form of eye strain. What's my advice? Take breaks from the computer! My eye doctor suggested I look up from the computer ever 15 minutes if possible and look around the room. While I probably won't do that, I've been setting my phone and computer to remind me to take breaks.
Motivation: If you're sick and tired of working on a certain project move on to something else for a couple of hours and set an alarm to remind you to go back to the project later. You'll feel refreshed and motivated when the alarm rings.

Simple Cell Tips, Part 3: Protect Your Phone From Damage

GeekSugar — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:00:39 -0700

A recent study by the Pew Research Center, claims that in 2007, 81 percent of the U.S. population owned a cell phone, which is a 20 percent increase compared to 2002. With that in mind I've started a series of Simple, No Brainer Cell Tips that will help you better use your celly and keep it working for longer.

The only thing worse than getting scratches all over your shiny new cell phone is actually breaking it or drowning it to the point of no repair. It can be a pain searching for the right cover, but mom was right: It's better to be safe than sorry. Protect your phone from rain, scratches and toilet water by putting a case, sleeve or protective skin on it.

I like colorful and fun cases, but I use BodyGuardz's clear film for my iPhone. After spending $600 on the device, the BodyGuardz is certainly worth the $24.95 and is slim enough that I can barely tell it's on the phone.

For a selection of my favorite cases of the moment, scroll through the widget below.

Silicon Skin Smoke for Motorola Razr V3, V3c, V3i	Nicole Miller Leather Universal Cell Phone Carry Case
Turtle case for Motorola RAZR	Nicole Miller white leather handheld case
Rivet Cell Phone Holders	LRG's iPhone Case	Breast Cancer Awareness Cell Phone Case

Use Your Cell Phone's Camera to Make Your Life Easier

GeekSugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:35:38 -0800

Having a cell phone with a camera isn't just a fun feature - it can make your life easier and help you remember little things you'd otherwise forget. From remembering where you parked to what products you use, check out my slideshow of the best cell phone camera tips.

View Slideshow ›

Cell Phone Camera Tip: Remember Where You Parked

GeekSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:30:27 -0800

Your cell phone camera is not just for making sure you get proof of celebrity sightings; you can exploit this feature of your cell phone for simple, everyday things, like using it to capture appointment cards.

Today's tip is simple but lifesaving: When you park in a large parking structure, like at the airport, take a photo of the lot's place marker (like where it says "A2", for example).

If there isn't anything like that to mark your spot, then take a pic of any nearby landmarks. Never feel like the idiot who lost her car again!

Source

Geek Tip: Unfreezing A Cell Phone

GeekSugar — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:30:42 -0700

In the last few weeks, I've had several questions about gadgets freezing, particularly iPods and cell phones. If you missed it, here is a simple tip to help you unfreeze your iPod. It's easy as pie, but good to know for future reference.

And for those of you who get frustrated when your cell phone freezes and disables key use, give this tip a try. When Gigglesugar had an unresponsive BlackBerry Pearl yesterday, the only thing that got her phone back-up and running again was taking the battery out for thirty seconds, then putting it back in and letting the phone restart. Hopefully this doesn't happen to you regularly. If it does, delete email or text messages since your memory might be full. It's often that easy.

Cell Phone Camera Tip: Snap Your Suitcase Contents Pre-Flight

GeekSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:30:30 -0800

Even the most forgetful can benefit from the camera on their cell phone; you can use it to remember where you parked, or, some new prospect you met last night when your memory was a little clouded.

My next tip is one that's great for traveling, especially if - like me - your suitcase rarely ends up meeting you at your final destination. When you're frazzled and filling out those lost baggage forms, sometimes you forget things you packed, especially things you packed that would be right on top and identifiable. Which, if you've been in the situation, you know you need to fill out.

Save yourself the hand-wringing and take a shot with your camera phone of your packed bag, just before zipping it up. Whether this will get your bag back to you sooner, who knows, but the less stress incurred while flying, the better.

Source

Do More With Your Cellphone With These Tricks and Apps

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:05:08 -0700

My phone is attached to my hip, and if I ever happen to lose it (knock on wood), I would be lost! Especially since I use my cell to do so many more than just make calls and send texts!

I use it to remember shopping lists, find out where I'm going, and wake my butt up after a late-night bender. It's amazing what our phones can do these days. Just to show you that the possibilities are endless, I've compiled my favorite uses for my cell phone - when I'm not using it as a phone of course.

Keeping my del.icio.us bookmarks handy is a definite perk to using Mobilicio.us. I can check them out on my phone's web browser!
Since I'm addicted to Netflix, and am constantly updating my queue, the iFlix app for my iPhone became a fast favorite. Log in, update, and browse the top 100 rentals right from your iPhone.

To see other handy ways to use you cell phone, just read more.

After learning that snatching up every new gadget that hits the shelves isn't so kind to my piggy bank, I've incorporated Dime Tracker into my daily life. Not only can you keep track of what you are spending, but Dime Tracker alerts you of your budget to keep you in check.

And speaking of iPhone, you can compare prices for your must-have items with PrixTag. An iPhone app that lets you check online retail prices while you're standing in Best Buy about to fork over your cash, just to make sure you're getting the best deal.
Wasting a lot of time answering repeat wrong-number calls? Check out this easy way to make sure it stops.
Worried about handing out your number to hot guys you meet at the bar, cause you aren't sure if they are good catches? Set up a Grand Central number that allows you to screen the calls before you answer, even on your cell. Plus you can add on as many new numbers as you want to your current phone line, so he never has to have your real phone number. A girls gotta be safe, right?
All that partying over Spring Break left you with a little more extra baggage than you bargained for - and I'm not talking about the souvenirs. Get nutrition facts sent to your cell with Diet.com's on-the-go service. Just text what you're eating to DIET1, wait for the reply text, and decide whether or not you should step away from the Italian Sub.
I love using the white board during meetings, so when I have important info I want to remember from my sketches, I take a pic on my cell and send it to Qipit. It then gets magically transformed into a PDF that I can store online or print out. Oh, and it's free! How convenient.
If you're a takeout sort of gal, you'll get a lot of use out of CityMint. Using your smartphone, you can order takeout from your cell and have it delivered to your door in just 30 minutes. Ahh, technology never smelled so good.

Source

Cell Phone Camera Tip: Remember Restaurant Menus

GeekSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:05:19 -0700

I have a habit my boyfriend hates, but it's really hard to stop. Every time I pass a restaurant on the street, I have to stop and read the menu. I can't help it. I've learned to do a really quick glance for the most important things - type of food, prices, all while keeping pace with my impatient boyfriend.

Then it struck me the other day when a menu caught my eye, doy, I'll just take a pic of it (my cell phone's camera never stops being useful). I get to satisfy my street menu urge, and even better, when I plug my iPhone into my computer, iPhoto '09 and Picasa geotag it, so I know exactly where I saw it.

P.S. Menu type too small? Snap a pic of the restaurant's sign and look it up on Yelp later.

Cell Phone Camera Tip: Remember the Wine For Later

GeekSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:00:03 -0800

This is a great use of your cell phone's camera for the holiday season, since many people go out to dinner, parties, and drink wine while out. There have been many times where I tasted a new bottle of wine, decided I loved it, and tried to remember what it was called so I could purchase it later.

I never remember. I blame my bad short-term memory and the actual wine drunk.

So now I have taken to snapping a shot of the wine's label with my iPhone or BlackBerry. Now I never forget my new favorites!