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Daily Tech: The Giorgio Armani Phone Is Back. . . and Better Than Ever

GeekSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:10:22 -0700

The new Armani smartphone, which was built by Samsung, comes with Windows 6.5 OS and includes a touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard - Engadget
MapQuest has just announced its new iPhone navigation application for the iPhone - AppleInsider
A new survey reveals that 4.1 billion SMS messages are sent each day, with 740 billion being sent in the US during the first half of 2009 - Mashable
A Barnes & Noble rep confirms that its new color-screened ebook reading device will be available next Spring - Gizmodo
Check out 17 hilarious niche dating sites for people who are looking for love online - Switched
It's giveaway and game time on GeekSugar! Be sure to log in and play our Best Video Game Ever bracket! - GeekSugar

Tech Dating 101: Decoding Post-Date Texts and IMs

GeekSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:10:40 -0700

The men of Swingers championed a rule that fundamentally changed how fellas of the '90s plotted post-date communication. They said a man should wait three days after a date to call a woman so she would want them more. Preposterous, right? Today the possibilities for contact are so varied - email, work email, IM, gChat, Facebook, Twitter, text and so on - that it can be harder to gauge interest or commitment based on the time frame and way someone reaches out. In this installment of my Tech Dating 101 series I will address how technology and texting have changed the moments and days after a good first date. To see what I think (spoiler alert: it's complicated), read more.

The same day text: Most women I have talked to say they like it when a guy follows up a first date with a short text. It doesn't have to be sexy, or even offer the promise of a second date, but texting is a simple, quick and sweet way to say thanks, without an immediate call. If you had a great time and want him to know, text him yourself. It is one of the most relaxed forms of communication (no login required!) and will keep both of you from getting too wordy.
The three-day text: Consensus among friends is that the day three text could be a cop-out (as in, he isn't ready to commit to a phone call and he's using the antiquated Swingers mentality to make you want him more), but it does count as contact and an effort.
The instant reach out: If a guy initiates communication via instant messaging in any form (iChat, Yahoo Messenger, gChat, Facebook chat etc.) less than two hours after a date he can come off as eager to get the party started. Do with that what you will. I do; however, think it is polite for him to acknowledge he sees you online if you pop online right after your date or in the days following. It's ridiculous to pretend you don't see one another online. That being said, instant messages are not a phone call. If he really wants to talk to you he should still call you up, or at the very least send an email to plan your next get-together.

Got a burning dating and technology question you need answered? Join our Tech Dating 101 group and share your conundrums and advice there with other GeekSugar lovers. Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Do You Think Teens Sext More Than Adults?

GeekSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:50:58 -0700

On this week's "To Sext or Not to Sext" episode of 90210 Naomi considers acting out her residual prom night frustration on Annie by blasting out an explicit MMS message of Annie as payback. (To be fair, Naomi thinks Annie slept with her boo). It's a dramatic and entertaining plotline, but further reinforced the overwhelming stats and tales of teens sexting at schools.

More than 61 percent of GeekSugar readers have admitted to sexting in the past, which leads me to believe grown-ups are doing it too. Do you think teens sext more, or do you think we just hear about it from the media because of their age?

Photo courtesy of The CW

Kelly Ripa Kicks Off a Text-a-Thon For Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

GeekSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:36:38 -0700

It only makes sense that daytime talk-show host Kelly Ripa - a self-proclaimed iPhone addict - is teaming up with the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund to help raise awareness during Ovarian Cancer Month with a text-a-thon!

Throughout the rest of the month, Kelly will be encouraging people to help fund research for a cure by donating money by either texting "Kelly" to 85944 or by visiting Kelly Confidential.

I'm sure Kelly will keep us posted on the text-a-thon progress via her new favorite microblogging site - Twitter!

Daily Tech: Casio's Latest Cam Costs $180 and Records in 720p

GeekSugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:05:28 -0700

Casio has just unveiled some new inexpensive point-and-shoot Exilim cameras, which come packed with features - Gizmodo
If you buy a credenza for your TV with frosted glass doors, a remote should still work when the doors are closed - Unplggd
Here's 10 pretty sweet free social apps for the Mac - Mashable
A new Canadian commercial for the Palm Pre is pretty cute - CrunchGear
The US Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on prerecorded telemarketing solicitation phone calls - Popgadget
Here are 10 useful tech tactics to utilize when traveling - Lifehacker
In Utah, if you get caught texting behind the wheel, you could face up to 15 years in prison - The New York Times

Daily Tech: New Facebook App Coming Later Today?

GeekSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:15:05 -0700

The new Facebook app has been submitted to the iTunes app store and might be available later today - Gizmodo
Hunky heartthrob Antonio Sabato Jr. is all about his iPhone, Facebook, and surprisingly, AOL - Switched
Here are five of the best websites and tools for apartment searching - Lifehacker
This graphic new video is being used to educate teens about the dangers of texting while driving - BBC News
The Palm Pre girl, Tamara Hope, isn't nearly as ghostly looking in person - Palm Pre
This neat graph represents what Twitter would look like if it had 100 members - Mashable

Have You Ever Had to Tell Someone to Stop Texting You?

GeekSugar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 05:46:15 -0700

Stars! They have dating issues just like us. The latest on the Jessica Simpson-Tony Romo breakup is that there was a cell phone skirmish involved; supposedly ex John Mayer's texts may have come between the two (you'd think Mayer would have learned his lesson about technology's role in a breakup).

I've seen more than a few couples have issues over an ex still texting someone, and last week, I saw it on TV as well, when Cole on NYC Prep suggested that his on-again girlfriend Taylor tell her in-between Lothario Sebastian to stop texting her.

Most people stop calling each other after a breakup, but the low-pro status of texting sometimes remains a tempting way to stay in touch. But have you had to tell anyone - ex or otherwise - to stop sending you text messages?

Photo courtesy of Bravo

Daily Tech: Man Claims to Have Sent Longest Tweet Ever

GeekSugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:00:43 -0700

Forget the 140-character limit! Man claims to have written the longest tweet ever (247 characters) - Switched
The rumor mill says an Apple Touchscreen Netbook might launch in October for $800 - Mac Rumors
Office 2010's free web versions take on Google Docs - PC Magazine
Girl falls into a manhole while texting and her parents sue - Wired
You can buy pro camera gear on a student budget - Lifehacker
Closer look at the LG HDTVs that instantly stream Netflix - Unplggd

Definition: TL; DR

GeekSugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:38:20 -0700

The abbreviated version of "Too Long; Didn't Read."

Used to reply to someone when they have sent you a text, article, blog post, or email rant whose length makes your eyes cross and click away from it.

Not a problem on Twitter.

Tech Dating 101: He Texts, But Won't Call - Am I Being Played?

GeekSugar — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:30:32 -0700

Welcome back to my Tech Dating 101 series, where I help guide you through the rocky terrain where tech and love collide. It's a wired world out there, and if this next story is any proof, it's hard to tell the difference between a geek and a player. A friend of mine offered up this situation that she recently went through in hopes to gain some insight from me, as well as from you.

She met a guy through a friend who was a total charmer and seemed to be right up her alley in the looks and personality department. After a few weeks of arranging meet-ups via text and email, she realized she couldn't get him on the phone. He somehow got out of every telephone conversation, and ended up conversing online or through a series of texts. She wants to know: "Am I getting played?"

Find out my answer to this question and hear my advice to her about this phone call challenged dude when you read more.

My first instinct is to tell her to drop this guy like a hot potato - anyone who can't converse with you over the phone has got to be hiding something, right? Maybe he's sending you texts because he's too busy with his bevvy of other babes to risk speaking to you when you call. It seems kinda shady.

But on the other hand, maybe this guy isn't wise to the rules of dating, or perhaps he's just text obsessed. In any case, someone has to lay down the law about proper texting etiquette, and it looks like it may be you. If you can't carry on a normal phone conversation with your prospective beau (and that type of thing is important to you), you may want to move on. However, if everything seems normal in person (with great conversation to boot), he may just be one of those guys that doesn't like to chit-chat over the phone.

Either way, my only real advice here is to follow your gut! If the situation seems fishy to you, and you can't shake the uneasiness about this phone call road block, then swim on. There are plenty of other guppies in the sea, my friend, and there's no need to spend this much time worrying about a guy you just met.

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