GeekSugar

High-Tech EasyBloom Helps Your Geeky Garden Grow

GeekSugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:00:55 -0800

Remember how I was saying that I couldn't seem to keep plants alive? I'm ashamed to admit it, but I just found out it may not just be my negligence after all! It might be that I'm picking the wrong plants for the environment they would be growing in. If you are a fellow plant-killer, there is rehab available out there - and it's called the EasyBloom. EasyBloom ($60) will help you determine what kind of plant you should have on your desk (or anywhere else you would want to grow a plant) based on the sunlight, humidity, and average air temperature that surrounds it.

Just plug in your USB enabled EasyBloom to your computer, switch it to "Recommend" mode, then place EasyBloom where you want your plant to live. After 24 hours, the smart gadget will give you a list of recommended plants that will thrive in that location. Awesome, right?

View 4 Photos ›

To see what other cool things the EasyBloom can do for your (soon to be developed) green thumb, just read more.

What's more, EasyBloom can also act as an on-call doctor to your dying buds, alerting you to what you need to do to bring them back to life in "Monitor" mode. I can't think of a better gift for the would-be green thumbs out there that are too afraid to take the plunge into full-on gardening cause they can't even keep a houseplant alive, or just don't have the time to research their growing conditions. You know, someone like me! The EasyBloom is available now for PC users, and Mac-heads will can get their own early next year.

Grobal Self-Watering Pots Try to Save Innocent Lives

GeekSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:00:39 -0700

I avowed to use technology last week to help me keep plants alive - a daunting feat if you know me - but Botanicalls, though impressive and aggressively geeky, is just a little too involved for me. Enter Grobal pots, which, though low tech, are exactly the kind of gadget I need.

Grobal's sophisticated reservoir knows when the plant needs water and nutrients and gives it up, unlike, well, me. Extra points for the drop-dead gorgeous colors, courtesy of designer Karim Rashid!

How to Not Kill Your Plants (with Technology)

GeekSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:00:49 -0700

Since I like to be kind to plants, I have a general policy of not owning them. Unless they are cut flowers or plants I will be ingesting later that evening, the only way I "take care" of plants is the way the mafia "takes care" of their enemies.

But since I'm trying to fight my black thumb, I'm going to give plant care and feeding another shot, and I'll do it with the help of Botanicalls. Botanicalls provides plants that through a sensor-microconnector situation that makes this geek's brain hurt (just read the description), eventually call you to tell you that it needs watering.

The very best part? The plants have awesome voices and messages you can listen to here. Even if you're not interested in buying one of their plants, just give it a listen for a giggle.

Finally, My Plants Can Tell Me What They Need Before I Kill Them

GeekSugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 10:16:59 -0700

It's a known fact that I spend more time online than almost anything else (other than sleeping I suppose), so it's only natural that my feeble attempts at keeping houseplants alive rarely succeed, and they die within a month. The only plant I've been able to keep alive for longer is my iGrobot, and that's because it sits on my desk at work, reminding me to water it! Sad, right?

There's nothing I love more than adding a touch of tech to everything, so there's no wonder I'm in love with this Pet Plant that I saw on Yanko Design yesterday. Designed by Junyi Heo, this planter is a dream come true for those of us who want some greenery in our midst, but just can't seem to get it together and care for them. To learn how it works, read more.

The outer pot works as an interface to tell you if the plant is content, too hot, too cold, or just plain dissatisfied with your care. Hooking up the outer pot to a USB will not only give you this info through installed software, but charge the pot so it can keep giving you serious feedback like soil conditions, humidity, and water levels. Plus, if you've gone and over watered your precious plant, a smart inner pot will drain the excess into a vessel for later use. Check out more photos of the smart Pet Plant below!

View 3 Photos ›

Source

Some Shine Charger Juices Up Gadgets, Decorates Your Home

GeekSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:45:30 -0700

Unlike some other solar chargers that require special adapters to charge your gadgets, and, you know, the availability of the sun, the Some Shine Solar Charger allows you to juice up your gadgets at any time via a USB connector. How can you solar charge your phone without the sun you ask? Well, I'll tell ya.

The Some Shine collects the solar energy from the daylight hours through a special (and stylish) solar curtain, then stores it in a charging base for later use. You can then charge your phone, your iPod, your laptop at night, or whenever you want since you basically have your own solar energy plant at your fingertips. I'm a little bummed cause this product is still a concept, but I'd be first in line to get my hands on one!

View 4 Photos ›

Tetris Ceramic Pots

GeekSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:57:45 -0700

View Slideshow ›

Daily Tech: Go Paperless With T-Mobile to Plant a Tree

GeekSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:53:07 -0700

Sign up for paperless billing with T-Mobile from now until April 25, and the carrier will plant a tree in your honor! - CrunchGear
Take part in the Give Your Computer a Rest challenge today to help reduce CO2 emissions. - Popgadget
Why do you love the world? Check out this beautiful video, brought to you by The Discovery Channel.- Neatorama
Dell wastefully packages a tiny USB flash drive in a ginormous empty box. - Treehugger
Learn some easy ways to go green with your computer! - Lifehacker

Website of the Day: Chegg

GeekSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:05:48 -0700

I may talk a lot of game about refreshing your gadgets and accessories before you head back to school, but let's face it - things can get pretty expensive. Between a new Fall wardrobe, books, and tech, you may blow your budget before the school year even starts.

But good news! I found one way to save you some serious cash during your school year - rent your textbooks from Chegg instead of buying. Chegg is an online textbook rental service that lets you use your book, as you need it - with super fast shipping and returns - instead of dropping a load of dough on a book you'll only need for a semester. The process of book renting and reusing is eco-friendly in its own right, but Chegg will also plant a tree for every book you rent. So now, good for the environment also means more green in your wallet.

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.

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!

Office Space: Take a Deep Breath With the Breathing Partition

GeekSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:05:29 -0700

At times, I feel the need to take my laptop and head down to the park to work in the grass. You know, be a little closer to nature in this high-tech world. But with deadlines looming, I can't always make the trek and leave without a power source. But this genius Breathing Partition I saw on Yanko, could bring my two worlds together after all.

Thick slots in the attractive cube dividers make for a green home for your plants and grass, to turn your office from dull to alive. A self-watering system ensures that grass will never be greener on the other side of the office (cause you neglected to do your gardening duties), and I'm especially in love with the patch of grass that acts as a foot rest - how cool is that?

View 4 Photos ›

Daily Tech: See a US Gadget Recycling Plant In Action

GeekSugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:40:06 -0700

Sims Recycling Solutions has 15 locations across the United States and recycles everything from cameras, printers, to computers. - Wired
Stroke patients are using video games to help their debilitated vision and the results have been phenomenal with some patients' receiving 90 percent of their vision back. - Switched
Check out some amazing gadget deals of the day including a refurbished HP Mini for $275. - Gizmodo
This video demonstration show you some great ways to help relieve carpal tunnel syndrome. - Boing Boing
According to environmental activists, Earth Hour proved to be a big success, with more than 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries participating. - Forecast Earth