GeekSugar

Jeff Han Demonstrates The Power Of Touch Screens

GeekSugar — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 00:53:40 -0800

One of the amazing new features of the iPhone is it's revolutionary multi-touch display that lets you control everything by without buttons. You can glide through albums with Cover Flow, flip through photos and email them with a touch, or zoom in and out on a section of a web page. Check out this video of Jeff Han as he demonstrates how touch driven computer screens will change the way we work and play. By the way, the background tunes are pretty cool so turn up that volume!

Check out Jeff Han Multi-Touch Interaction Research for more info and videos.

Craft Geek: LED Embroidery

GeekSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:30:57 -0700

With Project Runway back in action, and Spoonflower finally available to fulfill my textile design fantasies, it's high time I pulled out my sewing machine. Geeky sewing crafts perk me up, and when you can fuse tech and textile, I'm fascinated. Check out this video from Hack a Day, which demonstrates a machine-embroidered LED matrix.

Sewing with conductive thread! What will they think of next?

Hands On With the Canon T1i (Now With More Photo Tips!)

GeekSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:45:23 -0700

I finally got some time over the weekend to play around with the Canon T1i and the verdict stands: it's amazing! Not only are the pictures crisp and clear, but overall, the camera is a joy to use. I bought an inexpensive camera bag from Best Buy last week to protect it while en route to various places in the city, and quickly realized how light the T1i really is - a few times I panicked because I wasn't sure the camera was actually in the bag! Needless to say, my heart got a few good workouts in.

I even tagged along with PetSugar to the Ugliest Dog Contest to put the T1i through some trials, and I'd have to say the pictures turned out really well, even if the dogs were really ugly! While out and about over the weekend, I also remembered a few tips that I forgot since getting my first DSLR. Find out what they are and check out the rest of the photos from my weekend with the T1i when you read more.

Read the manual: Although I'm familiar with SLR settings, it's always good to really get to know your camera from the inside out. That way, you'll never miss an opportunity to use a cool feature.
Pick up a UV filter: You're going to be spending a lot of money on your camera, and even more when you start buying extra lenses. Pick up a UV filter to protect your lens from sun damage. Think of it as sunscreen for your expensive camera parts!
Brace yourself: This rule doesn't only apply to SLR photography - use your arms and brace them up against your body for steadier shots. Don't point your elbows out to the sides (as demonstrated in this photo), as this may create movement and thus blurry photos if you aren't super steady on your own.
Assume the position: When you're done snapping your photo and are carrying your camera over your shoulder, make sure you always point your lens inward and toward your body. This protects the lens from bumping into any objects and saves you tons of money in repairs or replacement lenses.

View 10 Photos ›

Apple Uses 30 Rock to Show Off Find My iPhone

GeekSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:05:51 -0700

Yesterday's WWDC event was an exciting place to be, especially since it was my first time at the annual conference. For those not as into tech, though, I admit that a developer's conference doesn't exactly sound scintillating, but Apple always does what it can to make their keynotes entertaining, like with musical guests. This year, my favorite pop culture reference was when they used a 30 Rock clip to demonstrate the need for the new Find My iPhone feature, with Liz Lemon being on the compromising end of a stolen iPhone and "adult photo." We knew 30 Rock loved Apple and now we have conformation that the feeling is mutual.

So without further ado, here's the clip Apple showed yesterday at WWDC!

To see another clip from the same episode, read more.

Vintage Geek Satire: Facebook Manners

GeekSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:04:15 -0700

Put our Tech Dating 101 series back about 50 years and you get this crackly black-and-white etiquette video of Alice and Timmy demonstrating Facebook relationship rules. Oh, and from now on, my laptop is my "computing machine" and FB is "the electric friendship generator."

Daily Tech: See a US Gadget Recycling Plant In Action

GeekSugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:40:06 -0700

Sims Recycling Solutions has 15 locations across the United States and recycles everything from cameras, printers, to computers. - Wired
Stroke patients are using video games to help their debilitated vision and the results have been phenomenal with some patients' receiving 90 percent of their vision back. - Switched
Check out some amazing gadget deals of the day including a refurbished HP Mini for $275. - Gizmodo
This video demonstration show you some great ways to help relieve carpal tunnel syndrome. - Boing Boing
According to environmental activists, Earth Hour proved to be a big success, with more than 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries participating. - Forecast Earth

The Pink Lomo: A Pink Gadget Even I Can Love

GeekSugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:33:01 -0700

I know I'm totally all over the place about my stance on pink gadgets. On the one hand, I hate that it's a go-to color weakly used to market gadgets to women.

On the other hand, when a gadget is merely offered in pink additionally, and not just in a "It's pink! For girls!" way, I can be into it. Especially if it's hot pink. This The Mr. Pink Diana Lomo Camera ($105) in hot, hot pink demonstrates my point.

The fact that its name references an awesome (if pretty masculine) movie also gets it on my good side. Oh Lomo, you can't really do any wrong.

The Department of Energy's Geek Tip Is a Hilarious Commercial

GeekSugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 06:01:40 -0800

In an effort to educate people about energy-saving tips, the Department of Energy has a new website (Lose Your Excuse) and a couple of new, cute commercials with kids demonstrating the facts, like this one, where the young April gets caught in the old "I don't have a cell phone" lie. Oh, and hopefully you already knew the tip - that keeping your cell phone charger plugged in, even not charging, is using energy.

Björk, On How TVs Work

GeekSugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:00:12 -0800

Though not as hilarious as Audrina learning about the Large Hadron Collider, but adorable for a different reason, this video of Björk demonstrating what goes on inside the guts of a television is my new favorite YouTube video.

Listen to her (I could listen to her explain just about anything in that Icelandic accent) tell you what she learned from her Danish television book, and of course, the lies she endured from poets. Trust me: it makes sense after you watch the video.

E-Voting Machines Are a Disaster Waiting to Happen

GeekSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:01:26 -0700

I'm all about saving paper and time, and that's why I think e-voting machines for next week's presidential election are the way to go. But, wait? What happens if they malfunction and thousands of votes get lost, or worse yet, they don't enter the system correctly? The following video is intended to show how e-voting machines work, with a local county clerk in West Virginia providing a demonstration. But instead, the the clerk encounters some problems with the machine as it doesn't select the proper candidate when entered. He blames it on the machine being out of calibration, and shrugs it off. Scary, scary indeed.