GeekSugar

Did You File Online?

GeekSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:30:14 -0700

With the dreaded tax day over and done with, you can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that your return is signed, sealed, and waiting to be delivered. Now all you have to do is kick back and wait for that sweet return to arrive so you can take that trip, buy that gadget, or invest (which is a very savvy thing to do, indeed!).

Since it's so simple these days, I filed my taxes online instead of dragging my butt down to a tax professional and letting them figure it out for me. And just to prove that more Americans are doing the same, this year, 38 million people filed their taxes online in the first few months of the year, up five percent from 2007! So if you've already spent your return, or if you just barely got your taxes in by midnight last night, were you one of the millions that filed online?

Source

Taxes, Ugh. . .Taxes Online, Not So Ugh

GeekSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:45:05 -0800

Yep, it may be that beautiful time of year when the sun finally starts peeking its head out and the days get longer (sorry, East Coasters), but it's also that really crappy time of year when your heart starts to beat because you haven't filed your taxes yet. Beat no longer little hearts, and get it done online! Online tax services are usually free (or go up to around $15 or so, depending on your situation) and are fast and easy.

Turbo Tax is a tried and true online staple, but it can be a little confusing. H&R Block's site is a touch simpler and more user-friendly, but tends to cost slightly more than Turbo. After years of either paying over $100 to have my taxes done for me, or before that, doing them for free myself, by hand, I think online taxes are my happy medium. Trust me, get it done, get your refund, and breathe a giant sigh of relief.

Anyone else used an online tax service that they like?

Source

Will You Spend Your Tax Rebate on Gadgets?

GeekSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 04:30:39 -0700

I know that I'm lucky that I don't need a car and have to pay for gas - just last night, I sailed by a station in a taxi and my jaw dropped at the $4+ gas prices! I feel horrible for those of you receiving your tax rebates and having to spend it on gas. But if you're trying to drive less or like me, not driving at all, what are you going to spend your rebate on?

My shopping lists are usually filled with gadgets and their accessories anyway, so I've got my eye on some fun economic-boosters for when my check comes in. Things like new games or maybe a ridiculously-priced laptop bag. . . I don't know, but my rebate will probably get me closer to some tech-related stuff. What about you - new cell phone, TV, or maybe that Wii you really wanted?

Source

GeekSugar’s Submit Your Cool Captures to Win a CanvasPop Print Contest

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:23:17 -0800

GeekSugar’s Submit Your Cool Captures to Win a CanvasPop Print Contest

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. MAKING A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. The GeekSugar’s Submit Your Cool Captures to Win a CanvasPop Print Contest (the “Contest”) is sponsored by Sugar Publishing, Inc. (owner and operator of geeksugar.com), having an address of 111 Sutter Street, 15th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104 (“Sponsor”).

ELIGIBILITY:
Open only to permanent legal U.S. residents physically residing in the fifty (50) United States of America and the District of Columbia. Employees of Sponsor and its respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and advertising and promotion agencies and any other entity involved in the development or administration of this Contest, and their immediate family members or household members are not eligible to participate in or win the Contest. All prizes won by minors will be awarded to their parents or legal guardians on their behalf. Winners may be required to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and complete relevant tax forms as a condition to the delivery of the applicable prize. Void where prohibited by law. All applicable federal, state and local laws apply.

HOW TO ENTER:
No purchase is necessary to participate in the Contest. To enter, you must log into your profile at geeksugar.com or any PopSugar Network site (or register for a profile at http://www.onsugar.com/user/register), then join the Cool Capture group and share your image, the model of camera used to take the photo, and a short description about the image (see also detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups ) between 12:00am PDT on Monday, November 23, 2009 and 11:59pm PST on Sunday, December 6, 2009 (the “Entry Period”). Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means are void. Normal time, toll, connection and usage rates, if any, charged by your Internet service provider will apply. All entries become the property of the Sponsor.
By registering and entering your photo(s), you will be agreeing that your registration and any other information collected in connection with the Contest may be used by Sponsor in accordance with Sugar Publishing, Inc.’s Privacy Policy and may be shared with Sponsor’s affiliated business entities, and that you automatically opt-in to receive email, text messages or other communications from Sponsor. You may subsequently opt-out of the receipt of such email or communications by following the directions in the email, communications or by contacting Sponsor directly.
All registrations must include entrant's valid email address. The email address provided by online entrants will be the identity of the entrant and, if selected for a prize, the identity of the winner. We expressly reserve the right to disqualify any entries that we believe in good faith are generated by an automated program or via scripts. By participating, all entrants agree to abide by these Official Contest Rules.
SELECTION:
GeekSugar editors will select their top ten (10) entries from the photos submitted to the Cool Capture group as described on the entry page between between 12:00am PDT on Monday, November 23, 2009 and 11:59pm PST on Sunday, December 6, 2009 (the “Entry Period”). The top ten (10) entries will then be posted for PopSugar community members to vote on their favorite photo. The photo with the most votes during the voting period will be the winner. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting the entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the person in whose name the e-mail account is registered. The Contest will be conducted under the supervision of the Sponsor. The decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest. The winners will be notified by email and/or by private message through the winner’s PopSugar community account; Sponsor reserves the right to determine the method of notification. Winners must claim their prize within three (3) business days after the date of notification of such prize. A Contest winner's failure to respond to the prize notification within the specified three (3) business days will be considered such Contest winner's forfeiture of the prize and an alternate winner may be selected from the pool of eligible entries. If an entrant is found to be ineligible, an alternate winner may also be selected from the pool of eligible entries. Sponsor reserves the right to ship prizes directly to the email and/or mailing address provided by winners during their entry to the Contest. Each entry submitted in response to the Contest and in accordance with the rules will constitute an official entry. All entrants agree to abide by these Official Contest Rules. All entries become the property of the Sponsor.

PRIZES:
At the end of the Entry Period, there will be one (1) Grand Prize winner who will be awarded the grand prize of up to one (1) CanvasPop print of their choice, including all prints less then or equal in value to the 36x54,1.5” gallery wrap print (retail value: $329). Decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding with respect to all matters related to the Contest. All prizes will be awarded. In no event shall the Sponsor be obligated to award more prizes than the number of prizes stated in these Official Contest Rules. All prizes won by minors will be awarded to their parents or legal guardians on their behalf. Winners shall be responsible and liable for all federal, state and local taxes on the value of their prize. To receive a complete list of winners or a copy of the Official Contest Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Prize Fulfillment, Sugar Inc., 111 Sutter Street, 15th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104. Specify winner's list or rules on your request.
Please allow 6-8 weeks for prize delivery.

SELECTION:
The winning entry will be determjned by user voting after a selection of 10 final entries is made by our editors. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting the entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the person in whose name the e-mail account is registered. The Contest will be conducted under the supervision of the Sponsor. The decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest. The winners will be notified by email and/or by private message through the winner’s teamsugar.com account; Sponsor reserves the right to determine the method of notification. Winners must claim their prize within three (3) business days after the date of notification of such prize. A Contest winner's failure to respond to the prize notification within the specified three (3) business days will be considered such Contest winner's forfeiture of the prize and an alternate winner may be selected based on the final user vote ranking. If an entrant is found to be ineligible, an alternate winner may also be selected based on the final user vote ranking. Sponsor reserves the right to ship prizes directly to the email and/or mailing address provided by winners during their entry to the Contest. Each entry submitted in response to the Contest and in accordance with the rules will constitute an official entry. One entry per person. Duplicate entries will be void. All entrants agree to abide by these Official Contest Rules. All entries become the property of the Sponsor.

GENERAL CONDITIONS AND RELEASES:
An entrant or winner may be disqualified from the Contest if he or she fails to comply with each provision of these Official Contest Rules, as determined in the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Participation in the Contest is at entrant’s own risk. Sponsor shall not be liable for 1) failed, returned or misdirected notifications based on inaccurate information provided by the winner on the contest entry form, 2) entries and responses to winner notifications which are lost, late, incomplete, illegible, unintelligible, postage-due, misdirected, damaged or otherwise not received by the intended recipient in whole or in part or for computer or technical error of any kind, 3) any electronic miscommunications or failures, technical hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit an entrant's ability to participate in the Contest, 4) any technical malfunctions of the telephone network, computer on-line system, computer equipment, software, program malfunctions or other failures, delayed computer transactions or network connections that are human, mechanical or technical in nature, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from downloading any part of this Contest or 5) any warranty of fitness or merchantability of any prize or the function or operation thereof, which shall be the sole responsibility of the manufacturer of the prize. Sponsor does not make any, and hereby disclaim any and all, representations or warranties of any kind regarding any prize. Unless prohibited by applicable law, your entry constitutes your permission to use your name, photograph, likeness, voice, address (city and state) and testimonials in all media, in perpetuity, in any manner Sponsor deems appropriate for publicity purposes without any further compensation to such entrant. By entering or accepting a prize in the Contest, winners agree to be bound by these Official Contest Rules and to conform to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. When applicable, the winner (or, if the winner is a minor, the winner's parent or legal guardian) may be required to execute and return to Sponsor within ten (10) business days an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Liability and Publicity Release to be eligible for the prize or an alternate winner will be selected. Winner may be required to furnish proof of identity, address and birth date in order to receive a prize.
By entering, an entrant agrees to release and hold harmless Sponsor and its respective parents, subsidiaries and affiliated entities, directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents, and representatives from any damage, injury, death, loss, claim, action, demand, or other liability (collectively, “Claims”) that may arise from their acceptance, possession and/or use of any prize or their participation in this promotion, or from any misuse or malfunction of any prize awarded, regardless of whether such Claims, or knowledge of the facts constituting such Claims, exist at the time of entry or arise at any time thereafter. Any person attempting to defraud or in any way tamper with this Contest will be ineligible for prizes and may be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Sponsor reserves the right to modify these Official Contest Rules in any way or at any time. Sponsor reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel or suspend this Contest should viruses, bugs or other causes beyond their control corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the Contest. In the event of cancellation or suspension, Sugar shall promptly post a notice on the Contest entry page to such effect. This Contest shall be governed by California law. By participating in this contest, entrants agree that California courts shall have jurisdiction over any dispute or litigation arising from or relating to this Contest and that venue shall be only in San Francisco, California.

Daily Tech: Samsung's New Blue Earth Cell Is Eco-Friendly Inside and Out

GeekSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:00:42 -0800

Expected to come out later this year is Samsung's new eco-chic cell phone called Blue Earth. With a built-in solar panel for charging, an actual "eco" mode, and an encasing made from recycled water bottles, this is one device that seems to be truly green. - Engadget
Garmin and Asus have just announced their second GPS Nuviphone, the Nuvifonem20, which runs on Windows Mobile and will offer a 2.7-inch touchscreen, WiFi, push email, and Bluetooth. - Wired
Another LEGO-branded device has been spotted in the wild, a prototype kid-friendly video camera. - Switched
Have you filed your taxes yet? Here's some useful info - file your taxes online and you'll get your refund in less than two weeks. - USA Today
Here's an app that may come in handy for some single fellas tomorrow. The Perfect Girl App only costs $1, and she'll whisper sweet nothings into your ear all day long. - Gizmodo

Ostrich, Huh? Get a Load of the $1,000 Ostrich Laptop Sleeve

GeekSugar — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:00:01 -0700

Holy smokes, folks: a laptop bag for $998 before tax (and I thought that $800 Burberry bag was excessive). I don't know if I have ever even seen $998 before tax. But whoever has, I suppose, is in the unique position of being able to purchase one of these delightfully colored ostrich-skin Bodhi Ostrich Laptop Sleeves from Nordstrom (to reiterate, they each cost $998).

Curiously, these sleeves bear a striking resemblance to the $150 Rebbecca Minkoff Virginia Laptop Bag - and I don't know about you, but I'd go Minkoff any day of the week.

Holy Retro, Batman: Geeky Retro Tech Placemats

GeekSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:00:40 -0700

Everyone needs to eat, so why not cover up that vintage hand-me-down table you have shoved in your dining room with some geeky placemats like the ones I found on Holy Cool?

For about $16 dollars for a pack of six (plus tax and shipping of course), you can get your own set of record player, cassette, or old-school ghetto blaster placemats and stay totally entertained during dinner. Unfortunately, they don't actually function as working gadgets, so you'll just have to pretend and break your mom's rule of no singing at the table.

Binary Button-Down Has Me Doing the Math For Shipping + Tax

GeekSugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:40:53 -0700

Yesterday I introduced you to the geeky clothing line Rhombus, and because I was so caught up in the presentation of nerd courtship, I didn't get to highlight any of the individual pieces. Something I couldn't resist showing you was something truly geeky, but in such an undercover way that it's not like wearing a message T and bashing people over the head with it: The James dress shirt in binary (it's in Flash, so just navigate to the women's section in the online store).

Other binary apparel can be sort of geek in the unglamorous way, what with t-shirts that make you wear your hobbies on your sleeve, literally. I love a good button-down, and for one in subtle binary code, it's already got me sold. The only thing I'd be worried about is fellow male geeks staring - they've got the perfect excuse: "I'm trying to read your shirt." Sure you are, buddy.

Do You Pay All Your Bills Online?

GeekSugar — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 13:15:42 -0700

It must be tax season, because I'm in a money mood; combine that with the recession, and it's one of the main things on my mind lately.

One thing I've tried to do is streamline the way I manage my money, and I accomplish that with technology; in addition to some great websites and services for managing money, I've tried to move all of my bill-paying online. If the place I need to pay has an online service to pay my bill, I use that, and if they don't, I simply set it up with my bank. In addition to being green, I have an electronic record of things I did pay or didn't.

Of course, I still have a bill I have to pay the old-fashioned way: my rent. Other than that, I have almost no use for my checkbook anymore.

What about you? Have you moved toward paying all your bills online?

Source

Henrik Vibskov Laptop Sleeves Are Rad, Not Priced Relevantly

GeekSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:00:39 -0800

If the economy has still not affected you, then you are the prime candidate for these laptop sleeves by Henrik Vibskov, $144 each.

The quilted carriers, available in black and blue, are too expensive as a basic case, but man are they lovely. The unique pattern sewn into the shiny lining alone provides ample tech eye candy.

But hey, maybe you got a great tax return back already and feel that you deserve a splurge. Anyone else taking this whole budget thing seriously can just ogle them.