GeekSugar

Geek Tip: Store Your Go-to Cords in One Place

GeekSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:10:12 -0700

Saying I have a lot of cords, chargers, and headphones is like saying Fab has a lot of shoes or Bella has a lot of moisturizers. Naturally, I collect gadgetry and along with it, miles upon miles of wirey goodness. There are plenty of innovative devices and tips for controlling cord clutter, but at the end of the day, the most basic wins in my book.

I purchased a set of pretty craft boxes from West Elm a while back and have devised a fool-proof system: I only keep the items I use weekly in this box. That way, I know my camera cord and charger, extra computer power cord, shuffle cord, iPhone cord, travel BlackBerry charger, and an extra USB cord are in the same place when I'm running out of the house. It has saved my sanity more than a few times.

Ugly Cable Making You Nuts? Cover Your Cords in Beads

GeekSugar — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 10:03:33 -0700

Beads make everything better! Check out these radical wooden bead-covered extension cords, found on a French blog.

Their French nature means they won't work in US outlets, sadly, but I'm thinking DIY. With snap-on beads, maybe? I'm looking into it.

Contactbox: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:45:35 -0700

This past year, clean contactboxes popped up all over the place - from fancy wall-mounted boxes to simpler smart tech desk boxes from Pottery Barn.

This Contactbox ($92) by designer Anna Falkenmark keeps cords nice, neat, and out of the way, but it does stand out as a unit.

Would you use one around your home and office, or do you prefer old-fashioned cord organizing methods?

Multiplug USB Helps Keep Cords All Wrapped Up

GeekSugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:00:21 -0700

It's not easy to keep USB cords in order, but the 88 percent of you who like creative organizers will probably agree this USB multiplug ($16) looks like it could help.

The device was designed by Theo Williams and features three sockets and four LED lights to denote connectivity. I like that it airs on the subtle side of cord management and doesn't involve a complicated wall mount or cartoon-like coverage. I also like that it looks a wee bit like the cord base that came with my old iBook.

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?

Apple's Defective MagSafe Adapters Get Replaced For Free!

GeekSugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:39:30 -0700

Wow, Apple is really trying to get on the good side of its customers - first it offers two months free of the buggy Mobile Me and now it will replace your defective MagSafe adapter for free! I've probably had the white insulation go on about two of my magnetic power cords, so I know how expensive it can get to purchase a new one.

Once the wires get exposed, it usually renders your power cord unusable so this is indeed a nice gesture from Apple. If this has happened to you, Apple advises taking it to your local Apple Retail Store for evaluation and it will replace the cord for free if there aren't any signs of abuse.
Source

Creative Cord Organizers: Love or Leave?

GeekSugar — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:00:53 -0700

I'm all about ingenious ways to hide my cords, but I don't know if I'd be willing to put up a white-picket fence in order to do so. Here are two creative ways to keep those pesky cables hidden- a Wall Cleat and a Picket Fence. Featured on Gearfuse, the white, simplistic Wall Cleat lets you wrap loose, unplugged cables around it, therefore keeping your dangling cables neatly stowed. And with the indoor Picket Fence which I spotted on OhGizmo!, will create a wall to hide all your wires around a room - much nicer looking than using duct tape, that is for sure! What do you think about both of these methods? Leave your comments below!

POP: The Simple Yet Sophisticated Cord Winder

GeekSugar — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:30:40 -0700

Brought to you by the same makers of the sleek Cableyoyo, the POP Cord Winder is another ingenious invention for people who like to keep their earphone cords neatly wrapped. The POP suctions onto the back of your iPod to wrap your cords around so you don't have to deal with annoying knots and tangles. By snap fitting your ear buds into place, your cords will stay nice and secure-even while jogging. You can also use the provided gloss plate to suction the POP or the included belt clip, so that the cord winder will remain independent from your iPod. Priced at $10.

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Hand-Knit Laptop Cord Covers Do Exist!

GeekSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:14:05 -0700

Who ever thought you could take your laptop power cord from drab to fab with a cord cover? So maybe you aren't feeling the power blue/lime green/yellow combo, don't fret, Etsy user pingo can whip up whatever color you'd like. These $15 hand-knit power cord covers are designed to fit MacBook's with 70-inch cords, although the artist can create a customized cord cover in any length that you want! And what exactly are their function? To protect, personalize, and add some pizazz to your cord, naturally! I can honestly see myself getting one in white/pink/gray - hmm, I wonder where I got that idea from?!

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Super-Simple (and Cheap!) Earbud-Cord Storage

GeekSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:22:12 -0700

Sometimes even the most high-tech gadgets can be improved with the simplest of projects. Case in point: these earbud clips ($10 for a package of four) by PKOH. The colorful plastic clips slide secure your earbuds after wrapping them around your iPod.

I love this simple solution! No matter how carefully I try to store my iPod headphones, they're usually a tangled mess by the time I take them out of my bag - so I'm a huge supporter of cord management.