GeekSugar

Kwiry Adds More Features, Including a TiVo Texting Shortcut

GeekSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:00:07 -0800

OK, if you have not jumped on the Kwiry train yet, you must! I've already told you how you can send a text to (K-W-I-R-Y) 59479 to remember books, movies, or to-do items and how you can even add products to your Amazon wishlist and update your Netflix queue, well there's more. Kwiry just announced that you can now send a text saying "tivo Gossip Girl" and it will schedule a recording of the next episode to your TiVo.

Additionally, you can text Kwiry for things like Yelp information, including reviews, contact info, etc. And if you really want to go bananas with Kwiry, you can text "contact geekyjill@gmail.com" to email contact info and vCard attachment while on the go, or text "status going to Cindys" and kwiry will update your Facebook and/or Twitter accounts - no word of a lie people. And you thought Google's 411 service was impressive.

Five Ways to Keep Yourself Organized This Year

GeekSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:00:46 -0800

Although I'm organized all the time (yeah right), I can appreciate a little bit of help from my gadgets to keep me on track. Between work, play, and home life, there are a ton of appointments and meetings that can slip through the cracks with a busy schedule. So if you are a teensy bit unorganized yourself, I've come up with five ways for you to utilize your flashy (and not-so flashy) essentials to keep you in line and check one New Year's resolution off your list. Check out what I came up with in this highly organized slideshow. Source

View Slideshow ›

Website of the Day: Remindr

GeekSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:00:29 -0800

I try to stay as virtually organized as I possibly can with my Google Calendar and many other great reminder tools I've found on the Internet. But a girl gets busy, real busy, especially at this time of the year with work, parties, shopping, and traveling. There are times when I remember that I need to do something, but don't have time to add it to my calendar, and that's when a site called Remindr becomes my savior. With the self-explanatory Remindr, you just enter the goods, and it works its magic and does the rest. That wine you were supposed to pick up for the Christmas party tonight? Remindr will give you a handy reminder to stop by the grocery store after work.

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 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!

Website of the Day: Deadline

GeekSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:00:02 -0800

I'm not as obsessive about my online calendars all the time as I wish I were - I would never forget about the occasional appointment or date I made on the fly. Even though I use calendars, sometimes you just need really straightforward reminders - which is what Deadline is great for.

For instance, I have a doctor appointment on my calendar, but what I really need is an alert a half hour before I need to leave for that appointment. I just need to add a deadline from the home screen, set the time and date, and make sure I set when I want to be notified by email so that I can get to my appointment on time (I set it to go off a half hour before). No more sheepish calls about why I'm not where I was supposed to be!

Website of the Day: Alerts

GeekSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:05:50 -0700

I get all sorts of reminders and alerts sent to my email inbox and my cell phone. The problem? It's hard to keep them all updated and organized. The wonderful Remember the Milk will send you reminders that you create in a variety of formats, but what if you want notifications like weather forecasts automatically sent to you - without having to set the notification up yourself?! There's a new site called Alerts! (I'll try to contain my excitement).

Once you set up a free account, Alerts acts as your personal manager, sending things like birthday notifications, price changes on products, traffic alerts, wakeup calls, and daily horoscopes. You get to choose how you want your notification delivered - be it via email, text message, instant messaging, or even voice. . . helping you manage your mismanaged life!

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!

Geek Tip: Get Friendly Reminders Via Twitter

GeekSugar — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:00:14 -0700

I love my online to-do lists and receiving text message reminders on my cell phone with Oh Don't Forget, so when I learned that Twitter has a new reminder service, I jumped right on board. With Twitter timer you can get a direct message sent to you at anytime to remind you to do something. Featured on Lifehacker, all Twitter users can get regular "tweet" reminders sent to their inbox or cell phone. I no longer have excuses for working through meetings and coffee dates.

Password Reminder Book Kinda Makes Me Nervous

GeekSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:30:45 -0700

I came across this Open Sesame Password Reminder Book on Outblush yesterday, and at first I was like, "That's kinda cute," but then after more consideration, I realized it probably isn't a good idea. Here's why: Security! Remember how I was telling you about how important it is to have complex passwords, or possibly run the risk of someone ruining your personal record, or worse, stealing your identity? All that is out the window if someone gets a hold of your password reminder book. Unless I kept it under strict lock and key, I would be a nervous wreck thinking about what would happen if I lost it.

But, of course, if I lost the key, I'd be totally screwed.Maybe it's a better idea to keep your passwords in a protected file in your computer, or better yet, a secure password storage device!

Would Text Message Reminders Help You Save Money?

GeekSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:33:36 -0800

In tough economic times, saving money is on everyone's mind, and maybe soon. . . on our phones? A group of economists recently conducted a study in Peru, Bolivia, and the Philippines that involved sending text messages to people encouraging them to save money in a savings account. Occasionally, participants would get a text message reminding them to save toward a specific goal.

Researchers sent a variety of messages over the course of the study, both positive and negative:

"'If you don't frequently deposit into the Gihandom Savings account, your dream will not come true,' warned one message in the Philippines."

Well, when you put it like that - who can resist saving?

Researchers claim that although the study was conducted in third world countries, they would expect the results to translate similarly to the US. I think this sounds like a great idea and could be the perfect small reminder to keep my mind on my savings account. What do you think?

Facebook Status Message Proves Teen's Innocence

GeekSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:43:52 -0800

While some may consider frivolous Facebook status updates annoying, there's definitely one New York City teen who probably doesn't agree. He was recently arrested and charged with robbery, but charges were dropped once he was able to prove his alibi - via a Facebook status message. The teen claimed he was miles from the scene of the crime as it happened, but no one could corroborate the story. . .until his lawyer mentioned the Facebook status update, posted at the time of the robbery.

The district attorney subpoenaed Facebook to verify the computer's location at the time of the status update. When his IP address was revealed proving he was indeed miles away, the charges were dropped. With the increasing popularity of sharing (and oversharing) on social networking sites, I imagine we'll be hearing more and more stories like this. According to the article:

"'This is the first case that I’m aware of in which a Facebook update has been used as alibi evidence,' said John G. Browning, a lawyer in Dallas who studies social networking and the law. 'We are going to see more of that because of how prevalent social networking has become.'"

To keep reading my thoughts about this story, just read more.

So, add "proof of innocence" to the list of things Facebook can do for you. Though I can't help but be reminded of this story from a few months ago, when a Facebook poke landed a woman in jail. And how many times have we heard of a cheating spouse or partner getting busted via Facebook? It's about time someone's Facebook use proves their innocence!

Hugh Jackman Has a Cell Phone Rant - Did You?

GeekSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:47:32 -0800

Last weekend I decided to go to the movies alone. Just me, a small bag of popcorn, and a movie I've been dying to see. A movie that was then interrupted by a ringing cell phone. Seriously? I haven't been to a movie in the past year (at least!) that hasn't featured a "Please silence your cell phones" PSA before it starts. I was in honest disbelief that the phone rang so loudly, and grew angrier when the phone's owner didn't attempt to silence it. Thirty seconds after the ringing stopped and as I tried to re-engage in the movie: "Ding!" a voice mail notification. The audience groaned audibly.

The experience reminded me of a TMZ video I'd seen a few months ago. It features the actors Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig in the middle of a performance of their play, A Steady Rain as the show is interrupted by a ringing phone. Hugh (understandably!) went off on a rant, while somehow keeping his composure enough to remain in character. (You can also check out his rant in the second half of this episode of PopSugar Rush).

Do you have a cell phone rant of your own? We have all been there, and the best thing to do when you have a rant is to share it. Join the Cell Phone Rant group and give me your best, most annoying tales of the rude cell phone users in your world - your story 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.