GeekSugar

Oscar Worthy Gadgets: Benjamin Button's Behind the Scenes Tech

GeekSugar — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:35:29 -0800

The main themes of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button involve love, life, and death, but behind the scenes, it was all about the technology. From the first scene, Benjamin Button was shot digitally, going from camera's hard drive, to director David Fincher's Mac Pro, and uploaded straight to Final Cut Pro for editing.

Using a Thompson Viper Digital camera, nearly all of Button was captured digitally, with only a few scenes filmed with traditional film. Fincher found that using digital technology was the way to go for getting lifelike effects, but still maintaining realism:

It’s not a special effects movie, but spanning that kind of time, there were a lot of difficulties. First, aesthetically, will you believe it’s Brad? Because he has to start out old, the audience has to see him as wizened and grizzled as we could make him and still be able to recognize him and see his performance in it.

How great is it that you have access to the same tools that an Oscar-nominated director does? This is exactly why I love being a geek!

Geek Tip: Turn Your Digital Photos Into Wall Art

GeekSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:00:30 -0700

So you can change your photos to look like mini models, or fool people into thinking you took your pics on a plastic Lomo camera, but what if you love the turnout so much, you want to make it into a work of art? "No problemo," says Shutterfly!

Shutterfly offers some pretty easy ways for your photos to get the attention they deserve. One of the ways is turning your digital pics into canvas art. Just upload your chosen photo to Shutterfly, chose your size, and in a few days, your stretched canvas artwork will arrive at your doorstep. It's not the cheapest service they offer - with prices ranging from $90-150 - but this would make an awesome gift for someone special, or to just give yourself a reward for all that hard work in Photoshop!

Website of the Day: Splashup

GeekSugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:05:23 -0700

If you can't afford the high-as-the-sky price tag for Photoshop CS3, or even the less-but-still-crazy price for Photoshop Elements or Express, you are definitely not alone. Thankfully, there's an alternative that just may make Photoshop a faint memory - like an old crush from freshman year.

To see why I love this website, just read more!

Although I've mentioned this site before, I thought it was worthy of it's own Website of the Day title! Easy to use and totally free, Splashup is an online photo editor that allows you to apply all kinds of cool effects to your photos, and even lets you upload pics right from your Flickr, Photobucket, Picassa, and Facebook accounts. Plus, you can edit multiple images at the same time, and add layers to your hearts desire. Splashup is like the new kid in class that knows where all the cool hangouts are, and his house just happens to be one of them.

Website of the Day: Inkubook

GeekSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:45:25 -0700

Even though all those photo-hosting sites make it really easy for me to upload and share my photos with friends and family, it really doesn't help me stave off complaints from my grandparents. Since they still subscribe to the old-school photo album ways of the past (which is totally appropriate - they are in their 80s!), I can't help but feel guilty that they can't hop online and check out the pics from my latest cross-country adventure.

So instead of printing out photo after photo (and wasting money on photo paper, ink, or printing fees), why not take the best of your photos and make them into a glossy, hardbound, and professional-looking photo book? Mac users can always use iPhoto's quick and easy printing service, but for the rest of us there's Inkubook.

How does Inkubook work? To find out, just read more.

All you have to do to make an awesome picture book with Inkubook is sign up for a free account, upload your photos (sort of like uploading to Flickr or Photobucket), then drag and drop your photos where you want them in your book. Prices start at just $14 plus shipping. It's fast and easy, plus you can even invite your friends and family to add photos to your book with the pics they have! Christmas is coming up, so I know exactly what will be under the tree for my Grandparents this year!

Geek Tip: Lomo-fy Your Digital Photos

GeekSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:01:58 -0700

After all the fun I had making my photos look like tiny models with the Tilt-Shift effect, I had to look for something new to add to my effects arsenal. I love my Lomo camera and the effect it produces, but to be honest, I don't always have the cash to throw down for film or development. It can get pretty darn expensive!

So if you're in the same boat, we can save some cash together by playing around with our digital photos in Photoshop with the Lomo Effect. It makes your pics look like they were expertly shot and developed using the plastic cameras with just a few simple steps. Check out the great tutorial here, and afterwards share with us your Lomo-fied pics by uploading them to your TeamSugar account!

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Make Your Photos Look Like Mini Models in Photoshop

GeekSugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:01:56 -0700

Is this a picture of a miniaturized London street? Nope, it's the real deal, just made to look like a tiny version of itself! The effect is called Tilt-Shift and it's totally awesome. You can make virtually any picture look like a scaled down version of the real thing with a few easy adjustments in Photoshop. Assuredly, once you bust out your own completed works, there will be plenty of praise from pals who are amazed with your digital skillz. Yes, that's skills with a z, 'cause you're just that good.

Check out this easy-to-follow tutorial to get you on your way. One quick tip though - make sure your photos of choice are taken from a higher angle, as miniature scale models are usually shot from above. I've already done several of my own landscape shots, so be warned, it's kind of addicting!

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'Talking' Mini Cooper - My Geeky Valentine

GeekSugar — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:32:56 -0800

A few days ago I asked you guys to help me find great Valentine's Day gifts for my geeky valentine, and while Brian's pick may be a little more extravagant than you are ready for, there is no reason a geeky girl or guy can't dream.

For those of you that missed it, last week the makers of Mini Coopers launched a new ad campaign with special billboards displaying personalized messages for mini drivers as they go by. How does it work? Mini Cooper drivers in trial cities filled out questionnaires with information like birth dates and special interests - for example "I love my girlfriend," "I need to work out after work" and "I love my boyfriend." The drivers were then given a chip with Radio Frequency Identification technology inside and the magic of technology takes over. Can you imagine getting your significant other a new Mini Cooper and then sending over a cute love-y dovey message? Too cute! What are you getting for your geeky Valentine? To learn how to post something to the My Geeky Valentine Group, read more

And I know that this long list looks scary, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it'll be a snap the second time around.

First of all, join the My Geeky Valentine Group
Click "Participate!" on the left hand side
Choose "Blog"
Give your photo a Title
Leave the category as "general"
Change the channel to "food and entertaining"
Add keywords (for example mine for this photo were "My Geeky Valentine, boxers, geek gifts")
Click on the "Add Image" link below the "body" box
A popup window will happen - click on "Browse" to find your image on your computer
Once you have the image chosen, click "Submit"
The popup will show you your image, choose size: "normal" - if you want, you can give it a title (which will show up as a caption)
Click "Insert" and the popup will go away
Your "body" box will now have some text in it. Leave it as is. If you want to add some text before the picture, do it before the code that has appeared.
Click Submit

So join the My Geeky Valentine Group and start posting your great finds!

Coolest Portable Digital Video Player In the World?

GeekSugar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 15:01:38 -0800

I know people often expect the "best" gadget in a category to be universal, however it seems each country's portable player tastes are as unique as their native cuisine.

This month's WWD Magazine featured a fun insert with a list of the coolest portable digital players from around the world. Italians pick the Zen Vision M by Creative as the coolest portable player.

The Zen Vision, $374, has long played second or third string to the iPod and other portables in the US, but apparently, Italians love the player's 2.5-inch high res LCD screen and the freedom to download videos and music in various formats.

Japan picked the Phillips PET725/44, Australia goes ga-ga for the fifth generation iPod, Brazil likes the Philips PET725/44, Japan loves the Sony DVP-FX810 and the US apparently adores the Panasonic DVD LS 91. To each his own, right?

View 4 Photos ›

Digital Picture Frame Extravaganza

GeekSugar — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 00:15:22 -0800

Digital Picture Frames seem to have made every techie's holiday wish list this year, but not all frames are alike. Here's a selection of frames that pass the genuine geeksugar test.

Philips 7" Digital Photo Frame
The Philips 7", $199.99 is perhaps the most sleek digital picture frame on the market. It can display up to 50 digital photos and boasts a high pixel resolution, which means you get great image quality. No setup or computer required.

For two more options, just read more

Ceiva Digital Photo Frame

The CEIVA frame connects to your existing phone line or internet connection and automatically makes a silent "call" in the middle of the night (without any interruption or charge to your phone service) to pick up all the photos that were sent to you by family and friends. Sizes and prices range from $150-600.

Pandigital 8" Digital Photo Frame
The Pandigital comes in two interchangeable frames: black wood and black acrylic with a remote control that offers slide shows, speed, video and inputs. Get the Pandigital frame from the Discovery store for $179.95.

Website of the Day: CanvasPop

GeekSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:32:45 -0700

So you know all those amazing digital photos that you've accumulated over the years (achieved with the help of my handy photography tips perhaps?) that are sitting in your online photo bins, just waiting to be put to good use? Yeah, those.

Here's something really cool you can do with them: turn your best digital photos into canvas works of art easily over at CanvasPop. Just upload the photo you want to use, choose your size and style, then enter your payment info (prices start at just $30 for a rolled poster and $49 for a wood-framed eight-by-10 canvas), and your order arrives on your doorstep in a jiffy. What's more, you can even upload pics straight from Facebook or Flickr if you are so inclined, and if you're giving as a gift? Well, they'll even gift wrap it for you.

Have an interesting website you want to share? To learn how to post your favorite websites to our Website of the Day group, read more.

First of all, join the Website of the Day group.
Click "New Post" under the website of the day tab at the top of the page.
Give your story a "Title."
Fill in the "Body" with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Type "Technology and Gadgets" in the Categories box
Add keyword(s) in the tag field with relevant tags (for example mine for this story was "Website of the Day").
Choose whether you want the post to be private or public.
Click "Create Post" to submit content.