GeekSugar

Website of the Day: Flavor Tunes

GeekSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:04:46 -0700

I love a good party, but for me, what truly makes a memorable bash is the selection of tunes blasting from the stereo. I know, most of us feel helpless when we go to a party or event and the music gets increasingly painful with every song. . . but there's hope! I've already told you about iTunes DJ, which allows you to select playlist songs from your iPhone, and now there's a site called Flavor Tunes, which makes it easy to collaborate with others on a party playlist! All you have to do is create a free online account and send out online invites to those who you want to help build your online streaming jukebox. Your friends can then help you create the most amazing playlist ever. From wedding songs to girls-night-out songs to Summer songs, there's already some on the site to choose from!

Have a great website you want to share with geeksugar readers? Share it when you read more.

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 Website of the Day group.
Click the pink "Share" menu on the top left side of the page.
Choose "Blog" and "Regular Post."
Give your story a "Title."
Fill in the "Body" with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Click "Next."
Choose the audience for your story to "Website of the Day" in the dropdown menu.
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "Website of the Day").
Change channel to "Technology and Gadgets."
Fill in tag field with relevant tags.
Click "I’m done" to submit content.

So join the Website of the Day group and share information about all your favorite sites! Yours just might end up on the geeksugar homepage!

Online Services to Help You Plan Your Wedding Shower

GeekSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:02:58 -0700

Wedding season continues on the Sugar network with parties, showers and everything in between. And now that I've provided you with some ways to geek out at your wedding reception, here are some useful sites and services that will help you get the ball rollin' on your wedding shower parties.

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Geek Tip: 3 Ways to Make Your Friends the Party DJ

GeekSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:40:16 -0700

Every good host knows you can't throw a party without good music, starting with crafting a great playlist. Once you have that, though, people still might have song requests, so let them be the DJ without having to keep getting on your playlist to change the song. Here are some fun ways to create a jukebox using the gadgets you may already have:

Download the free Fluid Tunes (pictured above) for the easiest and most fun iTunes DJ - it uses your computer's camera so that all your guests need to do is gesture - literally, wave their hands - to change the song.

For two more fun jukebox options, just read more.

If your friends have iPhones, have them download the Remote App, which lets them connect to your iTunes via your network.
Got an Apple TV? It's a great party tool; play music from it and leave the remote on the table so everyone can pick their favorite songs.

Bringing the Party With the Apple TV

GeekSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:05:41 -0800

When I first told you how much I was enjoying the Apple TV, I mentioned that I thought the device was best suited for party people. And I am party people. No, not in a frat-boy Brody Jenner way, but in that I love hosting people at my house.

The most basic hostessing rule is making sure people are entertained, and the Apple TV brings that in a couple key ways. My absolute favorite thing about the Apple TV - and I am aware of its many talents - is its slideshow feature. That's because my boyfriend and I take a ton of photos, and the people in the photos are usually the attendees of our parties, so they get to reminisce about other events while enjoying a new one.

To see why the Apple TV's slideshow is different than others, read more.

Though it's true that other devices can display photo slideshows on your TV - I have used most, but they all have limitations: The PS3 requires you plugging in a thumb drive, an iPod has to be plugged in as well, a burned DVD demands much prep, and you usually end up with the same kind of visual effect; that is, one photo cycling at a time. The Apple TV's visual is much more dynamic, showcasing several photos at a time, so your guests don't experience awkward lulls of you and your lover gazing into each other eyes on last year's vacation. And you get to see all the photos on your hard drive, because Apple TV connects to your home network.

Likewise, because of that connection, you have access to your entire iTunes library with the Apple TV, thereby giving you the other thing every party needs: music. Don't hook up a stereo, don't futz with trying to figure out how to play music and the slideshow from the TV - the Apple TV manages it with ease, and your guests will love using the remote to treat it like a jukebox.

Plus, these days it seems that people spend more money on speakers for their TV rather than a traditional stereo system, so it makes sense to use your TV as your home music player.

Plus, the Apple TV can save a party - when things get dull, suggest movie night and start downloading a film right away.

Music, photos, entertainment - the Apple TV won't pop your popcorn or mix cocktails, but it will free you to do those very important things!

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Party On! Summer Party Tech Essentials

GeekSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:00:13 -0700

Something about a warm day receding into a balmy night makes you want to get your friends together for a party, even if you live in a city where the nights never quite make it to "balmy." Wherever you are, the need to throw a bash during the long days of Summer is undeniable, and what do you need besides ample food and drink? Gadgets! Check out my slideshow for all the tech you need to throw a Summer soirée!

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An Exclusive Look at Aliph's Latest Jawbone Headset!

GeekSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 06:30:08 -0700

Sleek and chic was the name of the game at last night's Jawbone party here in San Francisco. Me and my geeksugar partner in crime were out in full force, checking out Jawbone's latest and greatest second generation bluetooth headset, which is now available for $130. Not only did we get to examine this fashionable device, which features stellar noise-blocking technology and is fifty percent smaller than the original model, but we ran into one of our favorite tech savvy gals - Gina Hughes of Yahoo! Tech and Techie Diva!

For a full gallery from the event, check out all the pics below. And if you're wondering how to get your hands on the gold and silver designs, they'll be available soon. Finally, a bluetooth device with extraordinary sound quality that is comfortable to wear and is absolutely stylish!

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Website of the Day: My Open Bar

GeekSugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:04:05 -0700

Sometimes the best things in life are free, right? Well if you ever find yourself thirsty and short on cash, I advise heading on over to My Open Bar, a site dedicated to listing venues that offer free food and/or booze. Each listing is submitted by readers and offers a short description plus a rating, so you know exactly what you're getting yourself into before you go. My Open Bar currently only provides listings in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, and Chicago . . . but be sure to stay tuned for future additions!

To learn how to post your favorite websites to our Website of the Day group, read more.

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 Website of the Day group.
Click the pink "Share" menu on the top left side of the page.
Choose "Blog" and “Regular Post.”
Give your story a “Title.”
Fill in the “Body” with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Click “Next."
Choose the audience for your story to “Website of the Day” in the drop-down menu
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "Website of the Day").
Change channel to “Technology and Gadgets.”
Fill in tag field with relevant tags.
Click “I’m done” to submit content.

So join the Website of the Day group and share information about all your favorite sites! Yours just might end up on the geeksugar homepage!
Source

The BlackJack II by Samsung Debuts Style

GeekSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:57:22 -0800

Last night I put on my party dress and attended the star-studded BlackJack II by Samsung launch party in LA. Held at the hot new Mexican restaurant Beso (which officially opens mid-December) and hosted by self-confessed gadget girl Eva Longoria, my partner in crime Molly and I rocked out to a special performance by Mark Ronson and the Version Players and, best of all, got to check out the BlackJack II.

The AT&T exclusive Samsung BlackJack is a lot sleeker then I envisioned, and I was thoroughly impressed with the large 2.2-inch color display screen. This new Windows Mobile 5.0 PDA is powered by AT&T's 3G-enabled Broadband Connect network, includes an easy-to-use navigation click wheel, and comes with a 1.3-megapixel camera, which we all know is a must have! The BlackJack II boasts a full QWERTY keyboard for fast typing and Bluetooth connectivity and is available in slick black or red wine color options. After examining the BlackJack II, I was able to chat with CrunchGear's Peter Ha about cell phones and his love for his heavy 3-year-old Sidekick, which was totally adorable.

The party really got started when I kicked off my shoes and joined LC and Audrina for a dance session as we belted out Rihanna's "Umbrella." When we sat down to catch our breaths, the ladies pulled out their BlackBerrys for what else - texting! Call me a deer in the headlights, but after all our Hills tech quizzes, I didn't know if I should take a picture or start talking in text acronyms - what's a girl to do? So I joined in. But instead of using my BlackBerry Pearl, I pulled out my iPhone, hoping to score a few cool points, which I don't think happened. All in all, a very memorable evening indeed!

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GelaSkins Brings Tim Burton to Your iPhones, Laptops

GeekSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:43:47 -0800

Even if you didn't get to party with Tim Burton himself on Tuesday night for the unveiling of his career-spanning collection of art in NYC, you can still go check out the goods at the MoMA, and now can don your iPhone or laptop in his work as well. GelaSkins is known for their huge selection of artist-inspired gadget skins, and have plucked the artwork right out of Burton's "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories" and handed it to us in a collection called Tragic Toys for Girls and Boys.

The iPhone skins will set you back $15, and the Laptop skins start at $30, but seems like a deal if you're a Burton fangirl, or just adore his creepy-cute art, like I do.

Lindsay Lohan Is a Fan of Apple but Not Its Warranty

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:45:29 -0800

Although Lindsay Lohan has run the gauntlet of cell phones, she's become a BlackBerry convert and sticks with Apple for her computer needs. Lindsay recently lamented on Twitter about how her MacBook took a beating during her recent travels and ended up with a cracked screen. I know how expensive replacing screens can be, and unfortunately the star had to learn the hard way that accidental breakage isn't covered on Apple's warranty or by their protection plans.

Besides Lindsay's cracked screen, what else isn't covered through warranty or an APP? Find out when you read more.

Even if you have paid extra for an AppleCare Protection Plan, these items are excluded from your coverage:

Installation of noncovered equipment or software
Damage caused by accident, abuse, neglect, misuse, unauthorized modification, extreme environment (like temps and humidity), extreme physical or electrical stress, fluctuation or surges, lightning, static electricity, fire, and even . . . acts of God
Problems caused by a third-party or non Apple-branded device
Lost or stolen equipment
Cosmetic damage to your device, including scratches, dents, and broken plastic on ports
Batteries, except in respect to battery coverage under APP for iPod, or unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials and workmanship
Preventative maintenance
Defects caused by normal wear and tear