GeekSugar

6 Places You Should Fight the Urge to Use Your Cell

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:34:33 PST

A new survey says that 75 percent of Americans use their smartphone while on the toilet. No wonder 16 percent of cell phones have poop on them. Gross. Not only is talking, texting, or web surfing on the John a disgusting habit that encourages the spreading of germs and bacteria, but it can also cause awkward moments for others around you. But the loo isn't the only place you should consider a tech-free zone. Check out the list below for five other locations you should keep your phone under wraps and on silent.

At the movies - We all paid to get into the theater, so please keep your cell phone on silent and don't answer it if it rings; you'll be ruining the experience for the rest of us!
At the gym - Talking on your cell at the gym is a no-no according to FitSugar, and I'd have to agree. Getting distracted and walking away from equipment slows the rest of the gym-goers down, and no one really needs to hear you go into detail about last night's date, your annoying coworker, or your mother-in-law's upcoming visit while we're trying to run.
At the dinner table - If you've gone out of your way to meet with friends, family, or heck, even a date over dinner, the least you can do is keep your cell phone off the table. Placing your phone next to your plate just makes it seem like you're waiting for someone to call, or worse, looking for something better to do.
Behind the wheel - This one seems obvious, but 56 percent of people have seen someone use their mobile phone behind the wheel. Even scarier? Almost 25 percent of Americans have seen someone using a laptop behind the wheel.
In the bedroom - This is a no-brainer, right? Maybe not. A 2010 study showed that 10 percent of people would check texts during sex. Are we so preoccupied with staying connected that we can't even enjoy a little unplugged "business time"!?

Geek Tip: Winter-Proof Your Cell Phone

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:41:01 PST

Now that it's gearing up to unleash a wicked load of 4G phones (and soon, an iPhone), Verizon is dishing out the Winter cell phone tips to keep you texting, emailing, and chatting, and at just the perfect time. Although we've been hanging out in the middle of the desert at CES in Las Vegas, it gets pretty nippy out there, and according to Verizon, cold weather sucks down your battery faster than it would in warm temps. Not only that, but your phone's display is more sensitive in chilly Winter weather, which makes it easier to break. Talk about a double downer.

How can you keep your phone working at full speed, and get through Winter in one piece? Find out after the break.

How-To: Safely Clean Your Cell Phone

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:10:22 PST

Think about how many surfaces you touch throughout the day - door handles, hand rails, elevator buttons, ATM screens - and then consider how many times you touch your cell phone before washing your hands. Gross, right? So it should come as no surprise (or maybe it will) that a recent study shows 16 percent of cell phones have poop on them. Not only that, but our keyboards are home to 60 times more germs than a toilet seat, which is 150 times over the acceptable limit for bacteria. Dis-gus-ting.

If that doesn't make you want to immediately clean your entire workstation, I don't know what will. While using some disinfectant wipes on your keyboard and desk often will do the trick for keeping your space grime-free, the same cannot be said for cell phones. Get the lowdown on how to clean your sensitive smartphones here.

What's on Your Cell Phone? Maybe Fecal Matter

Emily Co — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:47:17 PDT

New research from some London scientists is causing a stink about the truth of cell phone hygiene, reports Time. Scientists from the University of London swabbed 390 cell phones and found that one in six phones has E. coli, a bacteria that has poop origins. The cause of this is attributed to people not washing their hands after they use the bathroom.

Although 95 percent of people surveyed claim they wash their hands after going to the restroom, the co-author of the study, Dr. Ron Cutler, says "science shows otherwise." Here are some quick ways to be bacteria-free:

Wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom.
Don't touch anything in the restroom directly if you can help it. For example, use a tissue to push the handle when you're trying to flush the toilet.
Wipe your device down with disinfecting wipes occasionally but make sure you squeeze all of the moisture out before doing so.
There are also antibacterial covers available for your smartphone if you want extra protection.

California Governor Allows Warrantless Searching of Cell Phones

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:18:32 PDT

Here's another reason to password-protect your mobile phone: California's governor just recently vetoed a bill that requires a court-ordered warrant in order to search mobile phones upon arrest. This means that if you get arrested in the state of California, the arresting officer can search your smartphone - which gives him access to emails, call logs, texts, location data, banking apps, and more - without needing a warrant.

Governor Jerry Brown says the issue is too complicated for him to make a decision about and has upheld the supreme court's recent decision on warrentless searches that include mobile phones.

Password-protecting your smartphone isn't just a good idea in everyday practice, but it will also require an arresting officer to obtain a warrant in order for you to hand over the password.

Savvy Tip: Leave a Text Instead

SavvySugar — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 05:00:00 PDT

I recently heard a unique voicemail message I thought was a great idea. Her voicemail said the best way to reach her is to "leave a text instead of a voicemail message" because she barely checks her voicemail messages. For those of you who are super texters, this is a great way to keep track of missed calls.

Another awesome alternative is the function on Google Voice that gives you transcripts of the voicemail messages.

5 Savvy Ways to Use Your Phone's Calculator

SavvySugar — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 03:05:31 PDT

Your fancy phone probably has features that are way cooler than the calculator, but don't let this old school tool go unnoticed. That hidden calculator is good for more than simple addition and subtraction. Let these ideas for using your cell phone's calculator inspire you to use it more often - a few new habits could help you keep your finances on track and make your life easier on a daily basis.

Wacky Accessories For Your Cell Phone

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 06:23:25 PDT

Classy and chic smartphone accessories aren't in short supply, and wacky, strange, and just plain crazy accessories aren't either. Check out these cases and mobile add-ons that might make you go "hmmmm."

5 Fun Android Camera Apps

Kristy Korcz — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 07:12:12 PDT

Earlier this week I told you about six fun and essential camera apps to download to your iPhone, and today we're tackling the Android platform. Each of these apps are popular, but functional, and all of them are easy on the wallet. Check them out here!

Cell Phones to Be "Possibly Carcinogenic," Experts Say

Heather Dale — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:17:13 PDT

As someone who is regularly glued to her cell phone, this isn't the greatest news of the day: the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) warns that cell phones may increase the risk of cancer. Panel chairman Jonathan Samet, MD, chair of preventive medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine says:

"After reviewing all the evidence available, the IARC working group classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans . . . We reached this conclusion based on a review of human evidence showing increased risk of glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, in association with wireless phone use."

Scary stuff. The cell phone industry responded to these findings by saying that it "does not mean cell phones cause cancer." While this study doesn't prove that the radiation from cell phones cause cancer, it does show that there is certainly a correlation, but that more studies need to be conducted to further prove or disprove these conclusions. In the meantime, here are some ways to minimize exposure to cell phone radiation.