GeekSugar

Did You Place an Order For the Nook?

GeekSugar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:10:27 -0800

Well that was fast! According to the Barnes and Noble website, the Nook has sold out for 2009.

The message on the site reads, "The hottest holiday gift is out of stock. Order nook today to be first in line for the new year." None of the new devices have shipped yet, and there's still no word of when buyers can expect the Nook to arrive. I can't wait to get my hands on the new eReader, but I missed out in this round of orders. Did you manage to snag one?

AT&T vs. Verizon: Who Will Back Down First?

GeekSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:35:33 -0800

AT&T and Verizon clearly don't get along - after several commercials and one lawsuit, the feud doesn't look like it's ending anytime soon. Today in AT&T vs. Verizon drama: a new AT&T commercial features a checklist of reasons AT&T is better than Verizon, and why you, too, should believe that AT&T is the best wireless network in America.

Verizon's response:

"AT&T did not file this lawsuit because Verizon's 'There’s a map for that' advertisements are untrue; AT&T sued because Verizon’s ads are true, and the truth hurts."

I'm curious if Verizon will launch another counterattack, but at some point, one of these companies will have to give it a rest.

Password Notepad: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:10:11 -0800

Even though I prefer pen and paper to digital note-taking, there are some things that shouldn't be written down. Honestly, I find it a little ironic that there's a product called My Top-Secret Passwords Pad ($7). Top-secret? Sure, if it's locked in a drawer!

I'm obviously wary to write down my passwords in fear they could get lost, stolen, or somehow fall into the wrong hands. Unfortunately, my reluctance to record them creates another problem: I am now probably registered with 30 websites requiring a username and password. I try to use the same or similar passwords for sites like blogs I'm registered with or other sites that don't contain important or private information, but there's always the rogue site that requires you come up with an intricate combination of letters, numbers, and special characters during their registration process.

In those cases, I suppose keeping my passwords written down in a central location wouldn't be that terrible - and this notepad is pretty cute. With space for the site name, user name, password, email used, and security questions it certainly covers all the bases.

Are You Disappointed the President Doesn't Write His Tweets?

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:33:41 -0800

While traveling in China, President Obama spoke to a group of students in Shanghai, where one of the students asked if he believed people in China should have access to Twitter. (The service has been blocked in China since July). He responded,

"I have never used Twitter but I'm an advocate of technology and not restricting internet access."

With over 2.5 million followers and counting, President Obama is one of the most popular users. New tweets are posted nearly every day, with multiple posts added during important events like House votes or special initiatives. Although the President admitted he doesn't write the tweets himself, he presumably has someone on his staff updating his feed with regularity. With a major to-do list and one of the most high-profile jobs in the world, I'm not surprised the president isn't using Twitter on his own (though I'm sure he could add a Twitter app to his much-loved BlackBerry). What about you?

Do You Use Social Media to Contact Companies?

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:44:18 -0800

I just finished reading an article about a US couple who, because of visa problems, nearly missed their Russian honeymoon. They thought they'd done their research; online travel agency Expedia assured the couple that they didn't need visas to travel to St. Petersburg. It turned out, though, they did. After sharing their experience and anger in real time via Twitter and their blog, Expedia reached out to the couple, reimbursing the cost of their trip, the additional expenses they incurred, and offering a huge credit toward their next trip.

More companies are using social media to respond immediately to problems and interact closely with customers. In fact, some of Sugar staffers used the service to get in touch with JetBlue during a severely delayed flight.

While I agree it's a great way to interact with a company, I can't decide if this will increase their responses or just create a new forum for more people to complain. What do you think?

Do You Delete Old Email Addresses?

GeekSugar — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:14:21 -0800

I have finally gotten used to the weekly, "Did you get my email?" phone calls from my mother. Predictably, every Sunday around late afternoon, she calls to tell me about something cute my nieces have done, or fill me in on the latest gossip about someone I went to high school with. "I wrote this in an email, didn't you read it?" she'd say. Of course, I had never received the email, and just assumed my less-than-tech-savvy mother was doing something wrong. This time though, I asked a question that I don't normally ask: "What email address are you sending it to?" She rattled off an address I hadn't even thought about for at least a year. Oops.

I logged into the old account and, lo and behold, amid a ton of spam in my inbox were a bunch of emails from Mom.

Most of you leave old social networking profiles online even if you don't use them, but what about old email addresses? Do you close old accounts when you open a new one?

Arcade Fingerless Gloves: Totally Geeky or Geek Chic?

GeekSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:44:57 -0800

This is one pair of gloves I wouldn't call practical - but they're kind of cute. Though they won't keep your fingers warm in the Winter chill, the Snow Day Arcade Fingerless Gloves ($16) will keep your fingers free for texting and, presumably, video-game playing.

The gloves (hmm. . . can I call them gloves if they don't have fingers?) feature vintage video-game designs, like this Space Invaders-themed pair. They're cute, but are they cute enough to make up for cold fingers? What do you think?

Is It Fair to Sue Wikipedia For Removal of Information?

GeekSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:33:32 -0800

I just came across an article about a German convicted murderer who is suing Wikipedia to have his name removed from the entry of the actor he is accused of killing. Because of its community edits and contributions, Wikipedia is a fascinating place. Because it's a US company, facts on Wikipedia are protected by the First Amendment right to free speech. In Germany, however, a privacy law seeks to protect the name of a person from unwanted publicity.

I'm inclined to say if it's fact, it's fair game on Wikipedia. What do you think? Should people be able to sue for the removal of information on Wikipedia?

Woven Polycarbonate iPhone Case: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:44:17 -0800

Even the most diligent gals have had a gadget slip out of their hand, or vibrate right off of the table as it rings - myself included! The Chilewich iPhone Case ($40) is made from sturdy woven polycarbonate.

The covers are from designer Sandy Chilewich, known for her signature basket-weave design. And, the case is designed so you don't have to remove it to connect it to a dock or charger.

An attractive and impact-resistant iPhone case? Sold.

Has Google Latitude Gone Too Far?

GeekSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:06:15 -0800

I have mixed feelings about location-based services like Google Latitude, which pinpoints and shares your location in real time, or Foursquare, the application allowing you to "check in" and share your location with friends. Granted, there are privacy settings, but the whole tracking-in-real-time thing creeps me out a bit.

Now it seems Latitude got a little bit creepier. According to a Google blog post, your location history will now be saved to access it later. Useful for remembering where you were last weekend, or for finding that cool restaurant whose name you forgot to jot down; scary for anyone worried about potential stalkers.

I'm not a big user of these services, so I can't decide how I feel about the new feature. What do you think? Is Latitude saving too much information, or is it just another enhancement to their service?