GeekSugar

Is This Geeky Fact Real or Fake?

GeekSugar — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:00:01 PDT

When geeks make millions of dollars from a genius invention, brilliant company idea, or other successful venture, one of the perks is that they can spend their millions on an awesome arsenal of items. And that's what Segway inventor Dean Kamen did, buying his own island in the Long Island Sound off the shore of Connecticut.

North Dumpling Island lies just 0.3 miles north of South Dumpling Island and is considered a part of New York state. After he was originally unable to build his own wind turbine on the island, Kamen joked about seceding from the US; he even created North Dumpling's own constitution, flag, national anthem, and navy (consisting of only one vessel).

So, what do you think? Is Kamen's Kingdom of North Dumpling real, or is the island an object of my imagination?

Take the Quiz

Segway Inc. Owner Dies Driving Off Cliff on Segway

SavvySugar — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:30:37 PDT

What a horrible, horrible tragedy. Millionaire James Heselden, 62, died yesterday when he drove off the cliff on a Segway and fell more than 30 feet into the River Wharfe in West Yorkshire. Heselden's family said in an emailed statement “there is absolutely nothing to suggest it was anything other than a tragic accident.”

The battery-powered two-wheeled vehicle faced negative press in the past when 23,500 Segways had to be recalled four years ago because of some reversal problems. In 2003, former President George Bush was also seen jumping off a Segway after losing control of it.

I'm a huge fan of company executives using their own products, but a scenario like this makes me a bit hesitant about riding Segways. What about you - has this bit of news turned you off the scooters?

Daily Tech: GM and Segway Making Cars For Dorks

GeekSugar — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:15:40 PDT

GM and Segway are teaming up to make a few geeky cars - Dvice
The crazy things cities will do for Google Fiber - Urlesque
This season's must-have LEGO sets - Gizmodo
LiveNation battling ticket scalpers with digital wristbands - Switched
Take a look at Sony's sleek projection alarm clock - Unplggd
This cup grows a sleeve when you fill it with a hot beverage - Oh Gizmo!
Is this jewelry or an MP3 player? - Ubergizmo

Watch 10 MPH, the Segway Road Trip Across the US, For Free!

GeekSugar — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:00:10 PDT

Remember when the documentary about the two friends who decide to travel from Seattle to Boston at 10 MPH by using a segway? Well fast forward a year and a half later, and the movie 10 mph is not only complete, but it's available for your viewing pleasure, for free, on YouTube. Not only is it entertaining to watch a guy with a stand-up scooter go across the country, but the best part is watching the craziness that ensues along the way.

Not Advised: Showboating on a Segway

GiggleSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:00:00 PDT

Can you think of anything cooler than grabbing your three best girlfriends and parading around the convention center on a gang of Segways? Me neither. But one of these divas gets a little too confident, speeds up, and kills the cool for the rest of the ladies. Dammit! Now they all just look stupid.

Cross Country On A Segway - 10 MPH

GeekSugar — Tue, 22 May 2007 10:00:26 PDT

Fresh off of hearing that the New York City Police Department has purchased ten new segways to patrol popular tourist areas like Central Park and Coney Island I learn that two men recently quit their suit and tie jobs to take a trip across the United States on a segway. At a max-speed of 10 mph, the duo documented the trip with a camera and will release their movie in a few months. I cannot explain my excitement.

Source

New York City Goes High Tech

GeekSugar — Mon, 21 May 2007 04:04:03 PDT

If you happen to live in NYC or plan to visit soon, keep your eyes peeled for some new city upgrades - techie upgrades that is. The New York City Police Department has reportedly purchased ten new segways to patrol popular tourist areas like Central Park and Coney Island. These two-wheeled human transporters are said to be great additions to the NYPD because of their visibility, mobility and speed, which is said to be 12.5mph.

The New York Daily News reports that 25 cops have been trained to use these new vehicles which cost about $5000 to $6000 and carry about 260 pounds each. Perfect for patrolling pathways and boardwalks, expect to see them in many city parks and beaches.

Another great technological advancement to the big apple is the addition of touch-screen monitors in city cabs. MSNBC has announced that "NYC's Taxi and Limousine Commission approved a plan to install these monitors in all 13,000 city cabs over the objections of some drivers who consider the technology too expensive and intrusive." Already in 200 cabs, these touch-screen monitors will be handy for customers to pay by credit card, check out news stories or restaurant views, and see their cabby route via an electronic map..definitely lots of fun time wasters while you sit in traffic!

Would You Go On A Segway Tour?

GeekSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 13:00:54 PDT

You may have been on a bike tour, or a boat tour but have you ever been on a Segway tour? Now you can explore some of the world's greatest cities on the Segway Human Transporter. With Segway tour sites like scenic segways and human on a stick, you can book guided sightseeing Segway tours. This may be considered the lazy person's way of traveling, but hey at least you get to smell the fresh air right? Does this entice you? Leave your comments below!

50 Geeky Date Ideas For Valentine's Day (and Beyond)

GeekSugar — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:30:10 PST

Coming up short for Valentine's Day date ideas? If you and your sweetheart are more of the geeky persuasion, simply hitting up an overpriced restaurant just won't cut it. We brainstormed 50 date ideas that incorporate science, tech, and video games, for a special Valentine's eve. But don't limit yourself - tackle these date ideas all year!

Bundle up, pack a dinner picnic, and head to the park for some stargazing.
Watch Contact (for the millionth time).
Go to a science museum.
Hit the natural history museum and check out your favorite dino bones.
Go retro - grab a roll of quarters, a slice or two, and hit the pizza parlor arcade.
Build your own planetarium with glow-in-the-dark stickers.
Catch up with the Doctor Who craze by watching the series from the beginning.
Throw a Star Wars party for two.
Whip up a batch of Cloud 9 mojitos (complete with mason jar glasses) and have a Battlestar Galactica marathon.
Visit Nerdy Day Trips and find geeky stuff to do near you.
Go to the planetarium.
Take a dream vacay to the Hobbit Hotel in New Zealand.
Spend a few romantic nights in the Hobbit House of Montana.
Visit the actual Lord of the Rings movie set.
Travel to the Chott el Djerid salt lakes in Tunisia, which were transformed into Luke Skywalker's home on Tatooine.

See the rest of the list after the break!

10 Gadgets You Should Skip

Bundle — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:15:29 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Bundle story here on Savvy!

Gadgets are supposed to make our lives easier. Take smartphones, for example, which have given us countless applications and the ability to do just about anything on the go. And then there are the gadgets that are either pointless, or on its way to becoming obsolete. Here are 10. First up:

Expensive Headphones

You don't need studio-quality headphones unless you're a record producer, and online reviews of expensive headphones have shown that a lot of people can't tell a lot of difference between a $50 pair and a $200 pair. I own a pair of headphones that I use at work that cost less than $30, and have done an excellent job of blocking out noise when I'm trying to focus.

Popcorn maker

Why spend $30 or more on an electric popcorn maker when a microwavable bag does the trick? Unless you're pumping out popcorn like a movie theater, this kitchen gadget is just taking up space in your cupboard.

Digital Camera

Once upon a time, digital cameras were powerful enough to make Kodak film a thing of the past. Now, everyone has high quality camera options on their smartphones, and digital cameras are becoming obsolete. If you really want to take great photos, a digital SLR is the way to go, but for everyday photo-taking, your phone will do just fine.

High tech toys

Do you or your child really need a $450 robotic dinosaur walking around your house bumping into things? Didn't think so.

Read on for more gadgets you should skip.