GeekSugar

I'd Take My "Looking Glass" With Me Everywhere

GeekSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:00:29 -0700

I have come to realize how handy it is to have an iPhone attached to my hip at all times. Because of its fast Internet and cool apps, I can find almost anything, anytime, anywhere. But realistically, as awesome as it is, my iPhone can't tell me absolutely everything. It certainly can't show me how to get to my three o'clock meeting via a 3D-floor plan, scan objects for fingerprints, and wirelessly transfer photos from my computer.

But if this picture into the future above is any indication, we might be able to learn things we never have before with something called a "Looking Glass" – similar to the "Magical Windows" discussed months ago – which seems to be a mobile computer complete with a camera, scanner, touch screen, WiFi accessibility, and photo analysis - all in one sleek device in a form we all know and (most of us) love.

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To see why I would be the first on my block to pick up my own "Looking Glass", read more.

Just imagine sitting down to lunch with the girls, and whipping out your "Looking Glass" to find out how many calories are in that basket of onion rings, or holding up the device to the stars, and having it tell you what constellations are in your sky. Amazing, right? I thought so, too. Here's to the future.

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Heal Your PC From Viruses With the Dr. Hard Drive Bag

GeekSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:02:09 -0700

I can give you multiple reasons why I love this concept piece I found on Coroflot. Not only is this hanging hard drive packed with virus-scanning software to help you track down any bugs that may have attacked your computer, but it can also recover any corrupted files, so it's actually a useful piece of equipment.

Plus, it's kinda cute in a totally out-of-left-field kind of way, and it flashes and glows in the dark while it's doing its thing. I'm hoping the concept artist releases these soon, cause I can really see myself picking one up, even if it's just for the fun of it!

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Is This Gadget Real or Fake?

GeekSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:50:32 -0800

This gadget is said to hold a few spare rechargeable batteries to juice up your computer, MP3 player, or phone when you need it most. But is it real, or just a concept design?

Take the quiz

The Screen Stache Saver Is Cracking Me Up

GeekSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:15:51 -0800

Just in time for Movember, a friend just sent me the link to one of the funniest screen savers I've seen, the Screen Stache Saver.

Created by branding firm 160over90, the concept is simple: affix a fake mustache of your choice to the bottom of your computer monitor, download a folder of the eight screen saver images, and set the preferences on your computer to run a screen saver using the folder of images.

The result is a hilarious screen saver that features changing old-school-style photographs of men perfectly positioned to rock your monitor's mustache. Check out more hilarious images when you read more.

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Do You Trust Checkpoint-Friendly Bags?

GeekSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:04:29 -0800

Ever since the concept of a checkpoint-friendly bag came onto the scene, I've been underwhelmed. So far, the bags produced haven't been so stylish, including these newly-released checkpoint-friendly bags by MobileEdge "for her."

The main reason I'm wary to purchase a new bag is that I just don't believe I'll get through the security line without having to remove my computer from one of these special bags. And I would not be about to argue with airport security either with a, "Oh no, you don't understand, this bag is checkpoint-friendly!"

Adding fuel to my theory is that the TSA approved some common styles of laptop bag for this purpose, but at no time on my recent flights has anyone assured me that I could leave my computer in its sleeve.

Therefore, I don't necessarily trust that I'd be able to breeze through airport security, laptop in laptop bag the whole time - not quite yet, anyway. Do you?

Say Ahh! Tongue Technology Lets You Lick to Control Gadgets

GeekSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:45:37 -0700

I have never actually licked my phone or any other gadget that I own (I love them, but there is a line. Tongue love crosses it), but scientists are developing technology that would utilize your tongue to control computers and home gadgets.

The technology, called the Tongue Drive System, is being made primarily for patients with disabilities, and the concept involves using your tongue as "a joystick" to control wheelchairs, home appliances, and computers.

This is especially beneficial for those who are paralyzed from the waist down, since the tongue is controlled by the brain and not affected by the spinal cord. Technology: licking another problem!

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Reader Profile: Global Geek tdamji Talks Tech

GeekSugar — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 09:00:52 -0700

What makes geeksugar readers so great? The fact that they span the globe. This week's reader profile allows you some insight into the world of tdamji, a certified Interior Decorator and Lighting Expert and visual artist currently getting a degree in Indigenous Art History and Anthropology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

When she's not commenting on geeksugar she can be found gaming on the wii (Zelda is her favorite game so far) and Nintendo DS (she's all about Pokemon Pearl), reading, writing letters to penpals, surfing the net, going for walks, and watching tons of movies. She's lived in four countries - the USA, Canada, India and her most recent home New Zealand. She racked up some serious geek cred with us by admitting the Lord of the Rings trilogy was "a big reason why I came to New Zealand on exchange this year."

To read the complete interview, read more

Geeksugar: How did you learn about the site and when did you start reading?
tdamji: I came across geeksugar quite a few times on other gadgety sites. I started reading regularly about 8 weeks ago and signed up at that point. At first I mainly looked at geeksugar and buzzsugar, but now I pretty much look at everything.

Geeksugar: Do you consider yourself to be a geek? If so, why?
tdamji: Absolutely! My brother has been calling me a geek every since I can remember - so there's no other way for me to be, really.

Geeksugar: How many hours are you online everyday?
tdamji:I am a multi-tasker, so I am not exclusively online for 8 or more hours a day, because I tend to do homework, read, write letters and sometimes eat in front of my computer.

Geeksugar: Name your top 5 favorite websites.
tdamji: Apart from the Sugar Network (I won't play favorites - although its easy to figure out which of the particular sections I most actively visit!), I most enjoy visiting CBC for great news coverage and an interesting arts/ entertainment section with well-written articles, Grist, and fborfw because I can't get enough of Lynn Johnston's comic characters. I've been reading For Better or For Worse for years now and I love seeing everyone grow up! Livejournal, which I use to keep my penpals updated on the goings on in my life (I also like to see what people on the UBC and Vancouver blogs have to say/complain about.

Geeksugar: Your first computer was a ...
tdamji: An Apple IIe, but I can't remember the date. It was maybe 20 years ago. I believe we had another computer at the same time at our house. The Apple was in the office of my mom's montessori. Luckily, I spent a lot of time there - playing California Games among other things.

Geeksugar: Top 3 gadgets you couldn't live without.
tdamji: MacBook, Nintendo ds, ipod (good for drowning out the noise on the walk or bus ride to school!)...unless my Nintendo wii counts as a gadget, and then it would be a hard choice!

Geeksugar: You knew you were a geek when...
tdamji: When I was in elementary school I often gave my homeroom teacher notes saying that I was interested in this or that and got permission to go to the library during homeroom for personal research... also, later on in Junior High I got caught skipping class to hit the stacks!

Geeksugar: How many blogs are in your RSS reader?
tdamji: I do it old-school and just go to the websites everyday - there are about 40 websites in my "dailies" folder. I love opening up at least 10 windows at once with lots of pictures on them and pushing the limits, seeing if Safari will quit on me.

Geeksugar: What are some non-geeky things you do in your spare time?
tdamji:I love to hike and travel, although being a geek helps with both - I am always well-prepared with all the information and gadgets I need! I also love checking out the vegan/vegetarian restaurants wherever I travel.

Geeksugar: Who do you think are the top 5 sexiest male geeks in the world?
tdamji: Greg my bestfriend of 10 years/roommate of 7 years, David Suzuki (Canadian environmentalist), Masi Oka (He not only plays a geek on Heroes, but is one in real life!), Jean-Luc Picard and John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness).

Geeksugar: Who do you think are the top 5 sexiest female geeks in the world?
tdamji: Anne Shirley(for being book-geeky as well as a feminist), Hermione Granger (for being very book-geeky), Frida Kahlo (for being politically active, and being an outsider in the art world among other things), Boomer/Athena/Lt. Valerii from BSG (how can you get geekier than being a toaster?) and Marie Curie.

Geeksugar: PC or Mac?
tdamji:Once you go Mac, you never go back. My best friend turned me on to the whole Mac as a personal computer concept almost 7 years ago. I had had one when I was young but it quickly became outdated and we always had a PC at home. I moved out and got my first very own Mac - a powerbook g4 in 2001.

Geeksugar: Did you already get or are you going to get an iPhone?
tdamji: Despite the fact that I have no use for a cell phone and I already have a music/video playing device in my ipod, I must admit that I really want one!

Geeksugar: Anything else you want to share?
tdamji: I recently started a group on Teamsugar: Minimal Harm - For the Love of the Planet, which I'm pretty excited about! Going along with my vegan lifestyle, I am passionate about environmental and social issues.

Geeky Girl We Love: Peggy of BuzzFeed

GeekSugar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:35:58 -0700

As much as I like to think I know what the buzz is on the net everyday, it's virtually impossible to always know what's hot and what's not. That's why I rely on BuzzFeed, a NY-based site that posts 10 "Buzz Detected" topics per day, so you don't get bombarded with content.

With a clean, fresh layout and categories ranging from science and celebrity to food and tech, you're guaranteed to find the most talked about stories on the net at any given moment. Have you read up on the Stephen Colbert Backlash, did you know James Lipton used to be a pimp and have you ever considered adding scrabble fashion to your wardrobe? Buzzfeed claims they use "technology and human editors to find the hottest buzz" on hot topics and they aren't kidding.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing one of the site's "professional trend detectors," senior editor Peggy Wang. Peggy has been working in the tech industry for the past five years is the total tech-savvy geek chic package so I had to put her on the spot and test out her geek cred. To check out the full interview, read more

Geeksugar: Tell us a bit about yourself...
Peggy: When I started working at BuzzFeed, it was almost a total 180 degree career change for me, moving from computer programming to creating content. Basically, I went from being a code monkey to a "tastemaker," which is awesome because now I get to incorporate my obsession with pop culture, music, fashion, etc. At BuzzFeed, I've always had the opportunity to delve back into the back end, but honestly, it's been a year and I haven't quite had the desire yet!

Geeksugar: With so much content on the Internet, how do you determine what is Buzzfeed worthy?
Peggy: Usually, I'll just spot something I think is interesting either in my RSS reader or in our trend detector, and then I do some research to see if the "buzz" is thought-provoking in some way, especially if bloggers seem to have vehement opinions or even just something clever or funny to say. Also, if I hear about some obscure movie or band or website that is getting some attention from respected resources (early adopters, if you will), then there's a good chance it could take off.

Geeksugar: What is your main goal for Buzzfeed? What are you hoping readers get when they visit?
Peggy: Well, I really love that the trends we choose to cover are a hodgepodge of interesting things that you might have a conversation about at a party. When I was a computer programmer, I didn't have time to read a lot of blogs or newspapers or magazines, and I always felt a little out of the loop and a step behind. So basically, I would hope that BuzzFeed helps our readers feel less awkward at parties. Also, we help make good things popular by giving bloggers ideas to write about. Truly "good" things don't need marketing dollars and huge advertising campaigns to gain steam - word of mouth is so much more powerful. If you've got a friend with great taste who recommends something to you, that means a lot more than seeing some flashy ad. That's why I think having human editors is so important. We use lots of technology to find features on BuzzFeed but in the end everything is written in a human voice by an editor with good taste.

Geeksugar: What are some popular tech and/or gadget trends on Buzzfeed?
Peggy: One of my favorite tech trends we did is The Mullet Strategy because it's a concept that we coined, and bloggers responded by writing about it and sending us their posts to link to. Some other popular ones were Hand-Drawn Video Games, Lifecasting, and Lolsecretz.

Geeksugar: Other than the iPhone, what gadget has created a lot of buzz on Buzzfeed?
Peggy: The Verizon Voyager is doing really well. And, um, stylish sex toys got lots of clicks.

Geeksugar: What websites do you love visiting and why?
Peggy: I love gossip sites that are clever and funny, like Best Week Ever and Jossip. The blogs for Wired and Vice Magazine always have really interesting posts. As far as personal blogs go, I love Momus' blog and this girl Jessica Hopper's blog (she's a writer for the Chicago Tribune, and I love her taste in music and writing style). I'm also addicted to eBay. And the Sugar sites are all interesting and really well designed.

Geeksugar: How many blog feeds are in your RSS reader?
Peggy: I have about 300 blog feeds that I read every day, but they get backed up pretty quickly. They are organized by category and I have a very methodical procedure for going through them. But sometimes if I'm feeling impractical, I'll spend a bunch of time going through my fashion feeds because I need an outfit idea for an event, or my food feeds because I want to make dinner that night. Two birds, one stone! Also, the BuzzFeed trend detector automatically "reads" and filters about 50,000 sites for me so I can see what is bubbling to the top. And I get dozens of tips and suggested links from BuzzFeed readers. All this information comes together in what we call the "BuzzFeed Terminal." It is like our own Bloomberg Terminal for web buzz and all the editors use it to find stuff and publish features.

Geeksugar: How many hours do you spend online a day?
Peggy: I'd say between 8 and 10. It's hard staying away from the internet before bed, but I try to keep an active social life to keep me away from the computer.

Geeksugar: Are you a PC or Mac user?
Peggy: I'm pretty exclusively a Mac user.

Geeksugar: Which do you prefer and why? BlackBerry, iPhone, neither.
Peggy: I was an iPhone pessimist at first, jaded by all the hype. Then, my friend Scott had one at this wedding I went to, and he was able to surf the internet during all the boring parts. Needless to say, I was jealous of his iPhone, even though he looked like kind of a tool. It's probably not the best etiquette to write an email while your friends are exchanging vows, but that's just the sort of power you've got in the palm of your hand with the iPhone. I personally use the LG enV, because I like having a QWERTY keypad for texting. Honestly, I don't really get enough email to justify having a BlackBerry. I wish I got more email. More people should write me.

Love 2.0: Peter Rojas and Jill Fehrenbacher

GeekSugar — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:00:47 -0800

As part of our Geeks We Love series, I caught up with a few couples that, through the beauty of the internet and technology have influenced both our lives and each other.

If there was an award for cutest hipster bloggers with actual street cred, Peter Rojas and Jill Fehrenbacher would take the cake. He is the cofounder and editor-in-chief of Engadget, a heavily trafficked tech blog about gadgets and consumer electronics, and the cofounder of Joystiq, which covers the world of video games. She is the founder of Inhabitat, a sensible and chic blog that looks at the future of design, tracking innovations in technology and practices and materials that are pushing architecture and home design toward a smarter future. Though they describe themselves as "art school geeks" rather than your "average geeks," the newly-engaged couple stands out in the Love 2.0 generation for using technology to spread their passion for life and their work. What do they love about their jobs and each other? read more

Geeksugar: How do you describe your profession?
Peter: I blog about gadgets, more or less.
Jill: I'm a designer, architecture student, publisher, blogger and all around green design evangelist.

Geeksugar: Bloggers often have the fortune/misfortune of having incredibly unorthodox schedules, what’s a typical day like for you?
Peter: I work from home, so a typical day for me involves getting up and going straight to my computer to deal with email and get a handle on what I have to do that day. I work a lot, but it's broken up by errands and meetings, with maybe an event in the evening. Then back to work before bed.
Jill: The beauty of being a blogger is that each day is different! That said, each day does involve a lot of time in front of the computer for sure.
Peter: It's funny that neither of us has a real job where we have to go an office every day. We both used to when we were younger, it's weird to have more freedom as you get older, I always thought it would be the other way around.

Geeksugar: And are you totally connected to technology all day or more focused on the concept/bigger picture of what you want on your sites?
Peter: We spend a lot of time at home on our computers, but my schedule varies a lot, so I'm often out and staying on top of things via my Treo.
Jill: We’re right next to each other but working. I work from home usually about half day, and usually spend the other half of the day online at my studio up at Columbia. And when I'm not in front of a computer, I am online with my Treo.

Geeksugar: And Peter - what's your "hours online" guess?
Peter: I suppose I'm always online in one way or another from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to bed. If I'm out I'm connected with my Treo and checking emails or monitoring things with that. Not that I can’t unplug if I need to, but I don’t see my work as this completely separate part of my life I need to escape from.

Geeksugar: To go a little bigger - what do you each think is your greatest contribution to your field? Don’t be modest.
Pete: Well, I've been blogging for a long time and I think I've had an effect on both blogging and technology journalism. How important or major that impact might be is for others to judge.
Jill: My goal is to bring the worlds of design and sustainability together, and I think I’ve been successful in this regard. I think people are finally starting to realize that sustainability is a design issue. You can see it in that most of the “green” organizations are focusing more on design and aesthetic presentation now, and most design and architecture magazines are focusing more on sustainability as well. Essentially, I'm an evangelist for thoughtful, sustainable design...
Peter: I just want Engadget to be a site that people want to read. That they feel like is a must-read.

Geeksugar: How did you two meet?
Peter: We met in San Francisco in late 1998 in the dot com boom, though neither of us worked in tech at the time. I was broke and had a job doing media planning at an ad agency. I was really bad at it - my boss thought I was incompetent. It turned out the job was lots of numbers and I was a poor fit for it.
Jill: I worked in a number of dot coms - doing things like HTML support, graphic design, and then I got a job as a web designer at a marketing agency.
Peter: I had a friend at the ad agency who was friends with someone I'd gone to high school with. We all went for drinks one day after work and my friend's friend had invited her friend Jill to come out with us.

Geeksugar: And clearly now you have found a perfect match…
Peter: You could say that!

Geeksugar: Would you describe yourselves as "geeks"?
Peter: Yes and no. In a lot of ways we're not typical geeks at all.
Jill: Yeah, I don't think we fall into the traditional definition.
Peter: I don't think "geek" is a pejorative term at all. Obviously I love gadgets and tech - I'm the kind of guy who likes to geek out by installing Ubuntu on old PCs - but we're also really into design and art and fashion and music. It’s just that we think tech is as important and as cool as all that other stuff, too.
Jill: I like being really nerdy about building materials!

Geeksugar: Why do you think the tech world is so important/interesting right now?
Peter: It seems like technology is driving a lot of cultural, social, and now even political change. It's hard to separate tech out from everything else. Some people are scared by that, but I think it's awesome how technology enables our lives – I know how cliché it sounds, but I know tons of people who are doing what they love now and that's because of the internet or because of some other technology. I thought I’d spend my life locked up in a cubicle somewhere doing a job I hated.

Geeksugar: And instead?
Peter: I more or less get to do what I want, in a sense. I have complete editorial freedom with Engadget, and because of the nature of the job I can work from wherever I want as long as I have broadband. Right now it's a good time to be creative - you can just follow your interests and build businesses around them.

Geeksugar: So for the fluffy part - tell me what you love about one another...
Peter: Jill is really driven and ambitious and smart. It'd be hard to for me date someone who wasn't always working on amazing projects.
Jill: Peter is witty and very funny - he is fabulous at making me crack up - even when I am in a foul mood. He is the only person in the world able to make me laugh when I am upset.

Geeksugar: So what are your Valentine's Day plans?
Jill: Peter? Do we have any?
Peter: Not yet... depends on how busy Jill is with school!
Jill: I'm sure Peter will come up with something fabulous, right Pete?
Peter: Perhaps I just want to lull you into thinking I have nothing planned. I did blow it out for your birthday, remember?
Jill: He did indeed - he's good like that. He rented one of those double decker tourist buses and gave all of my friends a tour of Manhattan - with vegan cupcakes. How’s that for geeky & sweet?

Geeksugar: This one is probably harder for Peter given the nature of his daily duties, but what are a few gadgets you both want right now?
Peter: I want a Vista Media Center with CableCARD support so I can throw out this awful Time Warner Cable DVR. Plus I'd like Palm to improve the Treo.
Jill: My stuff is all more blue sky. I want a sunlight transport device so I can brighten up my dim Manhattan apartment and an electric car!

Geeksugar: What about favorite websites other than your own, or each other's?
Peter: Fimoculous, PSFK, waxy, lifeiscarbon, BuzzFeed, TheSimpleMission, and Mashable.
Jill: I can never get enough of cute overload and Overheard in New York. Of course I read a lot of design websites everyday: archinect, bldgblog, core77, treehugger, mocoloco, etc..

Geeksugar: Who makes the final decisions about big ticket gadgets at home?
Jill: Peter because mostly - I just don't care except when it comes to lighting or home décor.
Peter: I did just buy a 37-inch TV and I think Jill found out when she saw it in the apartment.
Jill: Pete and I endlessly debate HDTV, because I don't really see the point of the technology.
Peter: Even HD isn't enough for me. I want Ultra HD
Jill: I care about the REAL WORLD, Peter, not TV.
Peter: Cool, you can just go for a walk while I watch Lost in HD.
Jill: Well, if we're talking about Lost, then I'll stay in and watch it with you - HD or no.

Daybed: Workstation Of The Future

GeekSugar — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:00:50 -0700

I was unable to attend ICFF 2007 last month, but my top secret spy was sweet enough to sneak a peek at the Humanscale Design Studio's prototype for its new chaise lounge workstation. It's geek, it's chic and sadly, we can't get our mittens on it yet.

The piece was designed to marry a modern lounge chair and ottoman with an ergonomically designed laptop computer support. The result, which is tentatively being called the "Daybed," is a sleek and simple workstation that's easy on the body and the eyes. It can be adjusted to suit any user - whether it's being used as a laptop desk, a full time work station or a coffee table.

According to the designers, Daybed’s high back curves around the user’s head to provide neck support and privacy, while built-in speakers positioned at ear height may be connected to a laptop computer or other peripheral device. While reclined, the backrest also supports the elbows, reducing stress in the arms and shoulders. For additional images, read more

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Daybed’s laptop tray is adjustable in both height and angle for a healthy, ergonomic work position. It has an integrated power strip, port replicator, and cable storage area, which are strategically positioned beneath a flip-up mousing surface on one side of the tray, while an extendable document tray may be slid out, as needed, from the other side. Essentially, the Daybed has more integrated power features than the Broberg and Ridderstrale's Electric Table and is about 9 bajillion times more chic than the iMedia chair. We already know that overheating laptops can cause fertility problems in men - not to mention the potential to burn your legs and cause damage to your computer- so I suspect more and more people will be in the market for ergonomic media tables that keep their laptops off their laps in the near future. Here's hoping this concept makes it onto the market.