GeekSugar

Website of the Day: Multicolr Search Lab

GeekSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:03:34 -0700

I've been getting an urge to repaint my kitchen a bright color since Summer hit, but I'm having a hard time deciding on what colors to use. Casa suggested that I start browsing through photos to help me decide on a color palette, but I quickly found out how time consuming that can be. Thankfully, I found the Multicolr Search Lab by Indee, Inc., and in one search, I had decided on my colors, and got to see some really interesting photographs that I may not have seen otherwise.

Similar to ColourLovers but with photos, Multicolr Search sifts through over three million "interesting" Flickr photos, and zeroes in on up to 10 colors of your choice. You want to see photos with purple and brown? Then select those colors from the Multicolr palette, and the Search Lab will bring you 30 photos at a time to drool over. Now all I have to do is carve out some time to actually paint my kitchen!

Geek Tip: Search For Event Photos Using Flickr

GeekSugar — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:47:52 -0800

This useful tip comes courtesy of the Flickr blog, which just displayed a gorgeous variety of photos from California's recent Maverick Surf Competition. The competition was held several miles south of my home city of San Francisco, but I missed the excitement this year. Luckily, there was no shortage of beautiful photographs taken during the event, and after using Flickr's advanced search page, I was able to find hundreds.

Simply searching for "Maverick surfing" yields results tagged as such for all years of the contest. But setting the date to limit the search to photos taken after February 12 (the contest was on the 13), returns results from only this year's contest. This handy search tip works well for any event with a specific date - you can even narrow the range to include photos taken on one date only.

Source: Flickr User jurvetson

Use Photos to Search With Google Goggles For Android Phones

GeekSugar — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:00:49 -0800

Rarely does a new app blow me away the way that Google Goggles has. Billed as a new way to search for Android phones, the application allows you to search using a photo instead of words. Just take a photo with your phone and upload it to the app. After analyzing the photo with a rather dramatic-looking scanner, Google returns appropriate search results. You can scan just about anything for results - a piece of art, a food label, a logo, the outside of your favorite restaurant.

The app also tells you what's around you. You can stand on the sidewalk with your phone pointed at a restaurant or business and Google Goggles uses location-based searching to show what other businesses or landmarks are nearby. Spin in a circle and they'll change as you point your phone in any direction. Or, take a photo of a business card you'd like to add to your contacts and the app will scan it and add it in for you. I'm only getting started with this app, but so far it's quite impressive. To download, go to the Android Market on your phone and search for "Google Goggles," and check out Google Goggles' site for more details and a how-to video.

Have you found a cool download-worthy treasure you'd like to share with the rest of us? Create a PopSugar account or log in to your account. Then join the Download of the Day group where you can submit your favorite downloads and widgets. And you never know, it could be featured on GeekSugar! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Google Shopper Android App Makes Shopping Easy

GeekSugar — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:00:06 -0800

I told you about Snaptell last year, an iPhone app that lets you read reviews and comparison shop by snapping a pic of a book, DVD, CD, or video game cover. It works great, but a new Google Android app is taking things a step farther. Called Google Shopper, you can take a quick photo of barcodes, DVD cases, video games, and the like or just say what you're looking for to activate a voice search in case there's no barcode available. You'll instantly get reviews and prices so you can make a wise shopping decision.

See something you like? Save it for later in your shopping list so you can buy online or head to the nearest store that has it in stock! And in true Google form, there's a demo video to go along with their newest release. Check it out when you read more.

Google Introduces Google Buzz to the World

GeekSugar — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:43 -0800

During a press conference held today in Mountain View, CA, Google announced its latest innovation: Google Buzz. Google Buzz allows you to share and communicate inside Gmail like a social network. Taking on other social networks like Facebook and Twitter, Google Buzz and your Google Profile can bring you content from people you email and chat with most, as well as from people worldwide. Google Buzz has a few key features:

Auto-following: Buzz automatically follows the people you email and chat with the most.
Rich, fast sharing experience: Media, videos, photos, and links to websites are brought to you quickly. Kinda looks like Google Reader. A custom photo viewer shows you pics in a large window, and you can easily switch back and forth between your viewer and social stream. Sending links allows you to grab headlines and photos before sending. Also, keyboard shortcuts in Gmail also work in Buzz.
Public and private sharing: Publish your thoughts to the world (sharing via your Google Profile and indexed in Google Search) or share just between family, friends, and custom groups.
Inbox integration: Bringing social updates to your inbox - any "shared item" can become a conversation. Comments appear on your items in real time. Also integrates @ replies for items.
Good stuff: Buzz sends you recommended items and learns over time what you like (by "liking" or "unliking" items) so you can get great content from people you don't know. Google ranks posts based on what's most interesting to you but also by your location.

To find out more about Google Buzz, and some other announcements and enhancements, just read more.

You can add content to Google Buzz on your iPhone or Android with a new web app that allows you to add geo-tagged posts and post via voice to Place pages. Point your mobile browser to buzz.google.com or click the Buzz link in Gmail.
New Google Maps: Layers allow you to post to Buzz while in Google Maps and easily geo-tag your posts with your most visited places.
Security features: You can block followers and share privately, using security controls to your advantage.
Connectivity: Google Buzz can connect to Flickr, Picasa, Twitter, and Blogger so your posts and photos can be easily integrated to Buzz.

Google Buzz will be rolling out over the next few days, so be sure to keep checking your Gmail for the new feature!

Daily Tech: Your Choice of Search Engine Says a Lot

GeekSugar — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:15:07 -0800

Your choice of search engine says a lot about you - Switched
Was Apple considering a 3D virtual Apple Store? - Gizmodo
Aperture 3 released with some iPhoto integration - Dvice
Check out this totally cute TicToc mini MP3 player - Oh Gizmo!
Tuesday DIY: swap a two-prong for a three-prong outlet - Unplggd

Website of the Day: Awkward Stock Photos

GeekSugar — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:30:59 -0800

One of the most fun parts of writing and posting interesting tech stories all day long is selecting a photo to accompany each story. For some, stock photos are the way to go. If you're not familiar with the concept, stock photography websites have thousands of images to choose from, perfect for illustrating stories. But anyone who's searched a site will tell you they've likely stumbled across some particularly hilarious, interesting, and downright strange photography.

A new blog, Awkward Stock Photos illustrates just how ridiculously funny some stock photography can be. It's a simple site, similar to My Parents Were Awesome and We Have Lasers, but definitely laughable.

Do you have an interesting website you want to share? Create a PopSugar Account or log in to your account. Then join the Website of the Day group where you can post your favorite website! And you never know, it could be featured on GeekSugar! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Find Out What the Web Says About You With WebMii

GeekSugar — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:30:04 -0800

If you have several social networking accounts, a Flickr profile, and who knows how many blogs that you've started (and let go by the wayside), then you'll want to check this out. Called WebMii, it's a simple search that gives you a rundown of how much of your content is accessible to the masses on the web right now.

Got some Facebook photos you didn't mark as private? Those will show up, along with social networking accounts and anything else you've signed up for that isn't labeled for your eyes only. WebMii is great for those of you who want to monitor and reduce your online presence by limiting what strangers have access to online, but if you're looking to become an Internet superstar, WebMii will also give you a PeopleRank score to show how visible you are online.

Website of the Day: Foodspotting

GeekSugar — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 03:47:45 -0800

Warning: Do not look at this site if you're hungry! Foodspotting is a site dedicated to pictures of amazing restaurant food, and looks absolutely delicious. Sign up for the site to upload photos of your favorite restaurant dishes, and tag them with the restaurant name, dish name, location, and more. You can also "nom" your favorite dishes (cute, right?) to give them extra attention. The site is fairly new, but is building a database of delicious images fast.

Other features include being able to save dishes spotted by others that you'd like to try, and the ability to follow your friends' sightings. Planning a trip? You can also search for dishes by location, or just browse through a ton of mouthwatering photos.

Do you have an interesting website you want to share? Create a PopSugar account or log in to your account. Then join the Website of the Day group where you can post your favorite website! And you never know, it could be featured on GeekSugar! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Best of 2009: Oh, Let Me Twitter That!

GeekSugar — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:47:56 -0800

Looking back at the very Best of 2009 also means revisiting our best tips and helpful lists to help you usher in the New Year just a little bit geekier.

Twitter might not have won the title of your favorite social networking site of the year, but it certainly made the list of the greatest tech trends and was one of the most popular words of '09. Still hot for Twitter? Here are some of our most popular guides to the tweet life.

Twitter Management Systems: Guide to the Tweet Life - Twitter's aim is to keep us connected in real time, but once you dive in it becomes apparent that keeping up in real time is harder than it seems. Staying on top of the action is possible with a little help from these simple downloads and specially designed search tools.
Five Handy Sites For Uploading Pics to Twitter - A picture is worth a thousand words, so if you can't sum it up in 140 characters, might as well snap a pic instead. Photo-tweeting is extremely easy thanks to these five sites that will have your photos up on Twitter (and other social networking sites you choose) just seconds after you say cheese.
7 Common Twitter Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes - Whether you're a Twitter n00b or an old pro, you start to get annoyed by missteps that new users make (old pros can be guilty as well). I think most of us have made some of the following common mistakes in the time we've been on Twitter.

For oodles of other twitterrific guides and tips, read more.

Ways to Immortalize Your Twitter Life - Since the nature of the short status messages is ephemeral at best, there are a few ways - from wearables to art - that you can remember your best Twitter musings and identity.
Twitter: Live, Breathe, Wear - Some of us can't go an hour without giving the world a 140-character long update. If that's you, then maybe you need more than just enough space to report your activities with flair: maybe you should wear your love for Twitter on your back.
Test Your Twitter Knowledge - You already know I love Twitter and update my feed constantly. But, how much do you know about Twitter history? (Twistory?).
The Cutest Twitter Gear - There is something so addictive about those 140-character bites of content. Embrace your "twaddiction" and check out this adorable assortment of Twitter-themed goodies from around the web.