GeekSugar

What Do You Think About Shared E-Mail Accounts?

GeekSugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:00:52 PDT

Last week my mother forwarded me a message from a woman who is a friend of our family and I realized she has a joint e-mail account with her husband. That is to say, her e-mail was her name, plus her husband's name, plus their last name. The address made me question their autonomy and wonder why two smart, independent people would create a joint e-mail account.

While I honestly don't have anything to hide, I can't ever imagine sharing an e-mail address with my husband. I mean, can't our friends just CC us? I tried to consider the fact that people send snail mail to couples all the time, but the fact that you have to sign in to get e-mail makes it seem more personal. What do you think, are shared e-mail accounts cute or strange?

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Have You Received a Text That Wasn't Meant For You?

GeekSugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:00:47 PDT

An Australian cricket champion's life just got a lot more complicated after he accidently sent a message intended for his mistress to his wife.

Apparently, the message read: "Hey beautiful, I'm just talking to my kids, the back door's open." When his wife received the text she sent him the message: "You loser, you sent the message to the wrong person."

While I've never gotten myself into such an incriminating (and sad!) predicament, I have gotten quite a few unsolicited texts from a booty grazer - a booty grazer is someone who sends one text message to the masses in hopes of hooking up with any of the responders for a, how shall I say it, booty call. Have you ever received a naughty or nice text message that wasn't meant for you?

Geek We Love: The MPMan With a Plan

Anna Monette Roberts — Fri, 18 May 2012 03:11:03 PDT

The MPMan was short-lived, but the first MP3 player mass-marketed in the US paved the way for the portable media player revolution. Now that we've gotten to know Kane Kramer, who developed the first MP3 player, and Nathan Schulhof, who created a precursor to iPod and iTunes, it's time to take a look at the history surrounding the MPMan.

Korean electronics company Saehan created and distributed the player in 1998. Michael Robertson, CEO of MP3.com, imported the MPMan into the US and sold it on the MP3.com website. Around the same time, Eiger Labs also imported the player and rebranded it (pictured).

The MPMan came in two versions: the MPMan F10 ($299), which held 32 megabytes, or 35 minutes of music; and the MPMan F20 ($459), which held 64 megabytes, or 90 minutes of music. The player was palm-sized and featured a small LED screen on the front, with the headphone jack and control buttons on top of the device.

Read more about the MPMan after the break.

The Latest Sony Alpha Cameras Boost Photos to Pro Levels

Kelly Schwarze — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:11:00 PDT

We may talk a lot about iPhoneography in these parts, but there's no substitute for an "old-fashioned" camera in all its double-digit megapixels, HD video, and interchangeable lens glory. The latest in Sony's camera offerings comes from the brand's Alpha line: the NEX-F3, suited for a more casual photographer, and the SLT-A37, a DSLR kit for those who want to get a little more serious with their hobby.

Available in June, the NEX-F3 ($600 with an 18-55mm zoom lens kit) packs 16.1 MP, 60i/24p HD video capture, and a full-size mirrorless APS-C image sensor into its pocket-sized frame, giving photos SLR-quality results without the intimidation of a bulky SLR body. Beyond its technical prowess, the NEX-F3 has sweet features that any level of camera enthusiast will love: the 180° tilt LCD screen shows a mirror image when flipped vertically, a must for framing self-portraits, and the new Auto Portrait Framing feature crops an image of a subject within perfect rule-of-thirds parameters.

For the photographer who needs extra power, the 16.1 MP SLT-A37 ($600 with an 18-55mm zoom lens kit; available in June) captures 7 frames per second with a 15-point auto focus system intended to keep fast-moving subjects crystal clear. The camera has an ISO range up to 16000, helping you the make most of a low-light scenario. What we may love most about the A37 is the little extras: it includes Auto Portrait Framing as well as an electronic viewfinder, ensuring that every bit of what you see in a frame is captured in the image.

Tour close-ups of the camera in our gallery, and share your favorite interchangeable-lens camera in the comments!

Justin and Jessica Get Loved Up at the Lakers Near Kim and Kanye

Allie Merriam — Sun, 13 May 2012 19:38:43 PDT

Love was in the air at the Lakers game in LA last night. Jessica Biel and her fiancé Justin Timberlake were cuddled up in the front row and even shared a few passionate kisses, with her big engagement ring on display from their courtside seats. JT and Jessica also kissed for the cameras last week at the Met Gala in NYC. While they were in the Big Apple, Justin found time to check in with his pals at SNL. He filmed a cameo for last night's special 100th digital short alongside stars like Natalie Portman and Jon Hamm. The Lakers ended up beating the visiting Denver Nuggets 96-87. Kanye West and Kim Kardashian showed some PDA of their own at the game, while Zac Efron cheered on the home team with a guy pal.

When Status Updates Cause Couplehood Chaos

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:32:02 PDT

As a social media-obsessed public, we love sharing the quirks of life that make every day fun; but when it comes to relationships, when does posting a harmless picture cause waves with a significant other?

A recent New York Times article documents the problems that arise when one partner shares a personal picture or random status that leaves the other reeling in embarrassment. As the author notes, "what is fair game for sharing with the world?" Let's face it, social network updates with outrageous, funny, and sarcastic takes on life, and the people included in that life, make for better online fodder.

Think that picture secretly snapped of your sweetie in a face mask during an at-home spa session is adorable enough to share and tag with a couple hundred of your mutual friends? Sweetie might not appreciate the ensuing digital LOLs. Likewise, sharing details on the expensive new car you and your significant other just bought or your personal views on the other's habits and family may steer a happy relationship in a tense direction.

As a result of hurt feelings and embarrassment, some couples have set agreed-upon limits on what can and can not be shared with the world online. What's your take?

John Derian's Decoupage Goes Digital

Angela Swinderman Elias — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:00:54 PDT

Famed decoupage artisan and shopkeeper John Derian is teaming up with Paperless Post for an exclusive collection of 65 customizable digital notecards, save-the-date cards, and invitations. The collaboration merges John Derian's keen eye for antique imagery with Paperless Post's extraordinary model for exchanging digital stationery in the modern age.

John Derian fans will be happy to see his signature themes like letters, ferns, marine life, butterflies, animals and vintage patterns expertly translated into brilliantly designed stationery. With so many charming styles, we can't decide on a favorite. Browse the entire John Derian collection for Paperless Post here, and let us know which design you love most!

Liv Tyler Blooms in Head-to-Toe Givenchy - Steal Her Style Now

Marisa Tom — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:59:17 PDT

Looking to reinvigorate this season's floral statement power? After spotting Liv Tyler in Paris, we've got to hand it to her; she's put an entirely new spin on Spring's bountiful bouquet trend. By pairing a striking digital flower iteration (in a lovely lapis-meets-purple hue, no less) with a sleek black skirt, structured blazer, and ankle-strap sandals, she's invigorated this ultrafeminine style with a darker brand of sophistication that translates easily from day to night. The key to its chic appeal? Letting the focal floral point speak for itself; the rest of the outfit should stick to its slick, monochromatic, but altogether form-flattering laurels. To top it off, she carried a Givenchy Antigona duffel tote and wore oversize round sunglasses. Are you digging this cool-girl take on pretty prints? Just shop our key pieces below to channel Liv's ensemble.

4 Details to Look Forward to in Pixar's Brave

Kelly Schwarze — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 15:16:16 PDT

The magic of Pixar's Oscar-winning films is in their ability to take seemingly ordinary story lines about childhood toys or a garbage-collecting robot and transform them into emotional narratives about love and life. The studio's upcoming Summer film Brave is its first foray into the familiar coming-of-age tale, this one as told through the experiences of a defiant teenage girl. Pixar's first female lead, Merida, is a princess with an affinity for archery in ancient Scotland who refuses to give up her freedom by submitting to an arranged marriage and sets off to change her fate.

Though the movie isn't due for release until June 22, 2012, we caught an unfinished preview of the first 30 minutes of Brave, and there's a lot to get excited about in this Pixar period piece. Here's why the film is worth the wait:

Pixar Technical Wizardry - Brave demonstrates the studio's technical prowess at its best. Merida's gorgeous curls (seen in the above picture) are no easy feat of animation. There's a reason so few of your favorite animated characters have big, curly hair - it's very difficult to create on the computer. Over 111,000 individual curls were hand-drawn for Merida's mane, which was then digitally rendered as 1.8 million strands. Pixar then had to create a physics simulator to mathematically control how the waves move in the wind and exist within gravity.
The Art - Without verging into awkward moments of uncanny valley, Brave has moments of startling realism amid its fantasy story line. The overcast skies and moss-covered landscape of Scotland have been painstakingly studied, drawn, and shaded to create a setting worthy of this new legend. By the time filming wrapped, 111,394 storyboard drawings were created, a number that far exceeds the preproduction that went into most other Pixar films.

Keep reading how the film's great for gingers and view the official trailer after the break.

Feeling Wronged as a Customer? Vent Online to These 6 Sites

Emily Co — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:36:11 PDT

One of the things I love about this digital age is that we have more power as consumers, because we now have a public online forum to voice our dissatisfaction. Sometimes you may feel like your complaints are going unheard. Perhaps the firm did not respond to your multiple calls and emails or maybe the customer service rep was just plain rude. As frustrating as it is, we know that the "customer is always right" adage is no longer true for many establishments. But don't worry, there are plenty of places to voice your unhappiness. Here are some of them:

Amazon: If you're unhappy with any product you have received, leave a review on Amazon.com to enlighten other customers. Amazon is the largest online retailer in the US so your review will definitely be seen by many pairs of eyes.
The Consumerist: A bulk of the posts on consumerist.com come from complaints and tips from readers. The blog also scours the news to find other examples of consumers being wronged. Some of the top posts include a customer getting banned from Best Buy after catching the store doing something illegal.
Yelp: Compelling Yelp reviews can really make a difference. I've gotten messages from shop owners thanking me for my positive review and some who requested me to take down a negative one. Remember, you're the one with the upper hand so don't be cowed by store owners who try to threaten you.

For more places to vent, read on.