GeekSugar

Steve Jobs Unveils Mac OS X Lion, Coming Next Summer

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:15:09 PDT

Steve Jobs introduced Mac OS X Lion this morning, which will be bringing iOS features to the Mac.

Key features include:

Multitouch gestures - Used with new Magic mouse, trackpad, and tablets, not by touchscreens on computers.
App Store - Seven billion apps have been downloaded from the App store, so now Apple will bring a store to the Mac. One-click downloads, free and paid apps, auto installs to your computer, auto app updates, licensed for use on all personal macs, and developers get 70 percent of the profits for their apps.
App home screens - Called the launch pad (which looks a lot like the widgets launcher), this icon allows you to get to all of your apps with a click. Just like iOS, you can create folders and organize your launch pad for easy access.
Full-screen apps - All of your apps can be opened up to full screen, and switching between apps, home screens, and documents can be done by "flicking" your trackpad.

Learn about Apple's new Mission Control feature, when you can expect Lion, and a few more screenshots, when you read more.

Geek Tip: Empty Your Trash For Good

GeekSugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:00:14 PDT

Spring cleaning your gadgets isn't confined to just their surfaces - your desktop and hard drive need to be spruced up as well (the better to keep you running, my dear).

And what does everyone do? We throw files into the trash, and then conscientiously empty the trash.

Even after you've emptied the virtual can, though, your deleted files still exist.

Want to get rid of them for good? Then use this feature (for Mac OS X Leopard only): Secure Empty Trash.

Just select Secure Empty Trash from the Finder menu, and when the pop-up asks you to confirm that you want the items in the trash permanently erased, click OK. Poof, they're gone.

Source

Geek Tip: Take Cleaner Screenshots

GeekSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:32:18 PST

Being able to take screenshots is useful for many reasons, but no matter how practical your reasons, your shots can still be clean and aesthetically pleasing.

If you're a Mac OS X Leopard or Tiger user, you probably know to take screenshots with Shift + Command + 4, which gives you a little cross hair icon to select the area to take a screenshot of. Take that further and press that combo, and then hit the space bar. Instead of a cross hair icon, you'll get a little camera icon.

This enables you to take a perfect shot of one single application (even if it's buried under layers of windows). The resulting screenshot, like the one pictured here, gives you perfect edges, that cool shadow effect, and zero messiness.

Geek Tip: Work Together With Screen Sharing

GeekSugar — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:05:53 PDT

The first time I used iChat's Screen Sharing feature was to help my mom figure out how to attach a photo in an email. Apparently, this whole technology thing still keeps my parents entertained, 'cause they told all of their friends what went down the next day. Since then, I've used screen share to collaborate on stories, photos, and of course, help my parents figure out how to spin up their www, aka, check their emails.

A sweet little feature from OS X Leopard, is screen-sharing capabilities, which are just a click away in your system preferences (under sharing). They'll allow you and the other user to share a screen, while letting you both participate. In the past, if someone "shared" your screen, you wouldn't be able to click around on your own. But Screen Sharing not only lets you iChat, but share ideas at the same time.

It comes in pretty handy on those times when you and a co-worker need to flesh out a design, approve photos, or even troubleshoot, but aren't in the same office. I know I get good use out of it with my family alone! Just call me Geek, IT Specialist!

Geek Tip: Smart Folders In Mac OS X

GeekSugar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 11:03:52 PST

Yes it's true, your Mac is even more brilliant than you ever imagined! Smart Folders contain items which are based on search criteria that you set in the preferences of that particular folder! In real time, these folders automatically add or remove your documents from your Mac, unlike traditional folders where you would manually need to put documents in certain folders.
Want some more clarification? Check out this official definition from the Mac OS X website:

"Smart Folders contain documents grouped together based on search criteria that you define instead of their physical location. Computer file systems are rigid: a file can only be in one folder inside a hierarchy of other folders on your disk. Smart Folders fundamentally change the way you organize your stuff because now a file can literally be in two folders (or many) at once without duplicating or moving the underlying file."

Travel Tips For the Upcoming Holiday Weekend

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:45:22 PST

Traveling this holiday? Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday this year, which makes one big mess at the airport. If you can't take a car or a train, be sure to check out these packing and travel tips to make your life easier while booking flights, getting through security checkpoints, and beyond.

Booking Flights

TripIt - Once signed up for the free service, forward travel confirmation emails to TripIt, which will automatically create a master itinerary of an upcoming trip accessible through the web or a mobile device. The itineraries even include the tidbits we seem to forget like weather updates, local maps, and directions.
Google Flight Search - Book that plane ticket before prices rise any further! Google's flight search engine incorporates travel basics like price point, maximum number of connections, and preferred airline with an easy-to-use interface.
Hotel Tonight - If there are too many relatives in one house, scan the last-minute hotel deals at Hotel Tonight for a chic getaway at a discounted price. Every day three hotels in a city reveal their discounted rates starting at noon, and you then have until 2 a.m. to book the deal and take advantage of a peaceful room.
My TSA - Can homemade fruit cakes go through security? How early should you show up to the airport for a flight on the eve of Thanksgiving? Answer the pressing travel questions that could otherwise cause delays or stress by adding the TSA's free iOS app to your device. The app's airport security line estimator may become the most crucial feature on your phone when planning your airport arrival.
HearPlanet ($3) - Take the time to discover the cultural side of your holiday destination. This interactive app highlights attractions in over 300,000 locations and uses geolocation features so that you don't miss any of the nearby fun, plus it's a great excuse to get out of the house and move around in fresh air.
GasBuddy - Hitting the open road instead of the air? Use the free GasBuddy app to locate the cheapest fuel on the interstate. Show your fellow travelers some love and share the low-price gas station you discover within the app.

Gadget Essentials

iPad or Tablet - If you have the luxury of spending upwards of $500 on a tablet, it's probably the only gadget you'll need to tote during travel season since it can hold your ebooks, surf the Internet, and keep you connected.
eReader - If you're sans tablet, pack up your favorite ereader. Whether it's the latest Kindle or the new Nook Simple Touch, you can read the entire Game of Thrones series without all the paper weight.
Compact laptop - Though the MacBook Air is arguably the most popular lightweight laptop out there, there's plenty of compact PCs and ultrabooks to choose from as well.
Chargers - If you're toting all these gadgets, you're going to (obviously) need some chargers to keep things juiced. Thankfully, many airlines are offering charging stations in the terminal and even seat-side outlets on board, so you can stay 100 percent charged throughout your trip.
Headphones - Keep the roar of 35,000 feet at bay with some nice sound-isolating headphones. If you're going over-the-ear, consider Skullcandy Aviators ($149), which offer great sound and deep bass and are even comfy for those geeks who wear glasses.

Get more tips on how to pack your bag and save some dough after the break.

Download iOS 5 Today!

GeekSugar — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:30:06 PDT

Friday marks the day for the iPhone 4S, but you can download the latest operating system, iOS 5, today! First, download iTunes 10.5 to get your system ready for update. Be sure to back up all your iPhone data - contacts, apps, and music - while you're at it. Once iOS 5 goes live, sync your phone and away you go!

Wondering what all the fuss is about? ICYMI, here are some of the awesome features coming with iOS 5:

iMessage - Integration of a messaging service in iOS 5 gives all users text message capabilities via WiFi or 3G. Whether you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, you can now send unlimited text messages to other devices using iOS 5. It includes group messaging and automated syncing across all your iOS devices. Hopefully this will be the end of pricey texting plans.
Notification Center - Android users are already familiar with a similar Notification Center feature, which sends all push notifications into one central location on your device. Any new notification appears as an animation at the top of the screen and can be swiped down for more details. Notification Center even shows up on the lock screen so you're always in the know.

Four more cool features of iOS 5 after the break.

6 New and Nifty Features of iOS 5

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:43:27 PDT

Alongside Apple's Tuesday unveiling of the iPhone 4S, the new mobile operating system iOS 5 was revealed, which adds 200 new features to compatible Apple devices. Many of the new additions will look familiar to Android users (like the Notification center) or could have been a download from the App Store. Apple's inclusion of the embedded features creates what it considers to be the "world's most advanced mobile operating system." The iOS 5 software will be available on Oct. 12 as a free software update for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

What's so great about this new operating system? Here are six cool features that will make the upgrade worth your while.

iMessage - Integration of a messaging service in iOS 5 gives all users text message capabilities via WiFi or 3G. Whether you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, you can now send unlimited text messages to other devices using iOS 5. It includes group messaging and automated synching across all your iOS devices. Hopefully this will be the end of pricey texting plans.
Notification Center - Android users are already familiar with a similar Notification Center feature, which sends all push notifications into one central location on your device. Any new notification appears as an animation at the top of the screen and can be swiped down for more details. Notification Center even shows up on the lock screen so you're always in the know.

Four more cool features of iOS 5 after the break.

9 Tips to Make Your Computer Last and Run Fast

LearnVest — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:15:00 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Cute bathing suit vs. medical co-pay. Yummy organic blueberries vs. credit card late fees. Beachside mojitos vs. laptop repair.

When it comes to certain expenses, it’s clear which we’d prefer. So, as a public service to help you fund all of your summer cocktails, we recommend taking a look at your Old Faithful–your computer, that is.

It’s your buddy, your confidant, and it brings you all the great info out there (like, ahem, this article). And at a grand or more apiece, it’s worth your while to make sure this expensive electronic goes the distance–if only to keep your summer funds going where they should be.

From dusting your USB ports to coddling that battery, we bring you nine tips to make sure that your machine does your bidding for ages to come:

1. Protect Yourself

If your computer were to get a virus, a diagnostic and fix at a place like Best Buy could cost as much as $200. So, protect yourself in advance. Make sure you have an antivirus and that all of your definitions are up to date. If you don’t pay for an antivirus, get a free one like AVG or Avast.

2. Watch Your Water

We can tell you from firsthand experience that one of the easiest ways to ruin a laptop is to reach for a glass of water on your desk late at night. This may sound basic, but prevent spilling on your expensive electronics by investing in a closed lip water bottle to use near your computer. If you’re on the market for a stylish new bottle that will keep your laptop-and the environment-safe, check out our picks.

Read on for more great tips.

HP Veer 4G Review

OnSugar Blog — Wed, 25 May 2011 03:15:09 PDT

This review of the HP Veer 4G comes from our own areitz, who tells us all about the latest webOS device on his blog, Andy's brain OnSugar:

If you're in the market for a smartphone that isn't an iPhone, and you don't think that you're ever going to want to listen to music on said phone, the Veer 4G ($100) might be worth a look. However, due to the poor experience with the headphone jack, and high price (compared to the iPhone 3GS), I really can't recommend this phone.

According to HP, the small size of the Veer shouldn't translate to a lack of functionality. The phone has a 2.6-inch 320x400 multitouch display, an 800Mhz CPU, 512Mb of RAM, and 8GB of flash storage. But it's the size of the Veer that is easily its most impressive feature. It's hard to describe how small it is - you just have to hold it in your hand to see. It's so small that I was frequently worrying about losing it. I don't think it's possible to make a phone much smaller (maybe you could do this size, but thinner). I did like carrying it around, and as I have shifted more of my non-Mac time to the iPad, I could see having a smaller, less powerful phone that is something of a "tablet companion." That being said, I think that for all-around use, the 3.5-inch display in the iPhone is probably the sweet spot, in terms of still being pocketable, yet providing a good size for use. Yet there might be a killer product in the space - I could see how people might prefer a smaller phone, like the Veer.

See more from areitz's review after the break.