GeekSugar

Get Into Spring With the Solar-Powered MZH-1200 iPhone Charger

GeekSugar — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:30:44 PDT

Even though the official date is a few days away, it's already Spring at Sugar HQ! I'm loving how sunny it is, especially since it means that all my solar-powered gadgets are gonna get their fill of all-natural juice.

Adding to the list of solar-powered gizmos is Muzatch's MZH-1200 iPhone Power Station ($50). At about half the size of an iPhone and weighing in at a mere 9.8 ounces, it's perfectly sized for travel. A drawback for some and a plus for others is that the MZH-1200 is powered entirely by solar energy. Not bad if you're trying to reduce your carbon footprint, but not good if you get stuck in the dark with it. Probably best to keep this baby in the sunlight whenever possible.

Find out how the MZH-1200 works when you

Volvo Adding Touchscreen "Infotainment" System to XC70

GeekSugar — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:00:35 PST

Volvo may make one of the safest cars on the road, but now one model in particular may just be the smartest. Announced earlier today at the Chicago Auto Show, Volvo is said to be showing off a new RSEi-500 "infotainment" system in its XC70 wagons, which boasts a full touchscreen PC running Windows XP, along with WiFi, a 500GB hard drive, and 3G connectivity - all accessible from the backseat of the car.

The RSEi-500 will be able to connect to the Internet via a WiFi signal or a 3G data card, so you can check your favorite websites, email, social networks, watch TV and movies, and even download your favorite tunes while hitting the road. Bonus features include USB ports, AV cables for portable gaming consoles and iPods, as well as data transfer abilities so you can bring along photos and music wherever you go. This system sounds like it would be a dream for geeky road trips, and you could essentially leave your laptop safely at home while you hit the road with your backseat PC.

Tech Travel Toys and Tips to Take With You This Weekend

GeekSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:25:00 PDT

Are you heading out of town for the long weekend? I've got my bags packed, but, before I jet off, I've got to make sure those travel websites are bookmarked, my phone is filled with handy apps, and I've brought along my travel-gadget gear. What are you missing? Here's my roundup to make sure you've got all the travel basics covered!

10 Travel Apps You Need Right Now	iPhone Apps to Have Handy During Road Trips With Kids	5 Geek Essentials For International Travel
Tech Travel Tips to Remember	How to Take Your Fave Shows on Your Travels	5 Helpful Airport Websites

Travel Digital Photo Display And Alarm Clock Combo

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 04:00:55 PDT

What's trendier than a sleek digital photo frame? Maybe a TravelFoto Desktop Digital Photo Display/Alarm Clock from Mustek?

The device has a 128x128-pixel display that is a tiny 1.5-inches, so it will really only be practical as a travel or temporary alarm clock (no one wants to strain their eyes that much everyday!). It can fit 70 photos in its flash memory so you can carry your favorite photos with you around the world.

It's not the sleekest thing ever, but it will only set you back $39.99. Mustek will start shipping the device in August.

Source

Sexiest Toothbrush Ever?

GeekSugar — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:30:13 PDT

They call it the "sexiest travel toothbrush on earth" (or at least Design kingpin, Josh Spear does) and despite not being sure what makes a toothbrush sexy, I'm pretty convinced. The OHSO was engineered to be the ultimate travel toothbrush, as in useful and durable. According to the company's CEO it's loved by "travelers, rock stars and road warriors."

It's self-dispensing so toothpaste is stored in the handle for safekeeping. The window shows you how much paste is in the chamber and when you turn the knob clockwise the paste is dispensed though the rubber nozzle on the bristle head. Sexy, right? Even sexier? It kinda resembles the OhMiBod.

I'm into it because it's refillable and works with any type of toothpaste. Also it was designed not to leak - except for the small nozzle tip, toothpaste is never exposed to the air. So it should never "gum up" in the chamber. For a video about how it works and a photo gallery,

View 4 Photos ›

Comes in chrome or clear for $19.95.

Geeks We Love: Susan Orlean Shares Her Tech Secrets

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:34:14 PST

As a New Yorker staff writer, author of nonfiction books on subjects ranging from Rin Tin Tin to orchids, and woman with an all-around awesome job, Susan Orlean spends a lot of time alone writing from home on her latest reporting venture. So when she wanted to find all the camaraderie of an office no matter where her travels took her, guess where she turned for comfort . . . Twitter.

In an event at this year's Macworld in San Francisco, Susan explained that Twitter changed the way she worked, thanks to conversations with strangers, and helped to solidify her place with the geeks. Here's more of what we learned from our favorite tech-obsessed writer, including how to work efficiently with technology and deal when a loved one won't convert to your favorite gadget brand.

Keep the analog - Though Susan was speaking from her perspective as a writer, her tip to always keep a little part of your work in the offline, analog world can apply to so many other fields. It's a reminder to rely on our wits in the face of fast information. Don't Google every question that pops up, go out into the real world and discover the answer for yourself.
Don't skip the human part - Twitter serves as a natural extension of friendships, but it certainly doesn't replace the subtle nuances that occur in face-to-face interaction. Keep your curiosity (and relationships!) intact by picking up the phone or meeting for a coffee chat.
Download Evernote! - When asked about her favorite app, Susan emphatically responded, "Evernote." Its functionality across desktop, browser, phone, and tablet platforms lets you stay productive from anywhere and never forget the digital content that matters.
A united tech household is key - As someone that's "hopelessly obsessed with new gadgets," Susan understandably is an Apple evangelist, a brand known for its enthusiastic early adopters. The new products and industrial design beauty only goes so far, though, when half of the house is living in a different world - a PC world. After coping with a home office filled with piles of cords and multiple printers for the different operating systems, Susan half-jokingly finally convinced her husband to switch to Apple products when she simply stopped packing the bulky cords for his PC. Now they live in OS harmony.

Are you someone like Susan who has found a way to make social networks help you develop relationships and achieve work goals, rather than let them distract?

Winter-Proof Your Gadgets: 6 Tips You Need to Know

Kristy Korcz — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:21:48 PST

Winter is in full effect, and I don't know about you, but it's getting pretty cold in my neck of the woods. While I do travel with my gadgets quite a bit, I've learned that cold weather is not always tech-friendly. You may not realize it, but freezing temps can be just as dangerous - if not more so - to gadgets than the Summer heat since there are hidden dangers you can't see. Check out these six Winter weather tips that will help ensure your gadgets see the light of Spring this year.

Keep them out of the trunk - Keep your laptops, cell phones, and tablets out of the trunk for extended periods during cold days to prevent damage to screens and to keep your hard drive from freezing.
If you must trunk it, keep it bundled up - If you absolutely must leave your gear in your car in freezing temps, wrap it up in layers - like a jacket or sweater - to keep it warm. You can also find laptop warmers (which are specifically made for laptops) to keep them from getting icy if you live in cold conditions.
Turn them off - Letting your laptop or tablet remain in sleep mode may keep it warmer (since it is still working), but it also increases your chances of damage if you're on the move. Be sure to power down all the way to keep your data safe.
Warm up before booting up - If your machine is on the cold side, let it warm up to room temps slowly before turning it on. This will keep condensation and dew at bay, which can ruin your computer's sensitive guts.
Carry a charger - Cold weather sucks the life out of your batteries, so be sure to carry extra chargers in your car for emergencies.
Watch out for sensitive screens - Cold weather makes a smartphone screen extra sensitive, so be sure to keep it close to your bod if you're out in the snow, or consider a warm accessory - like a smartphone wallet, sock, or sleeve - to keep it cozy.

A Cute Gadget Pouch to Keep Your Carry-On Neat and Tidy

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:21:20 PST

Fact: things can get a little messy in your carry-on when traveling with headphones, chargers, cables, and other tech accoutrements. Keep your bag tidy with the Anya Hindmarch Gadget Pouch ($90) that stores your essentials neatly so you never wonder which cables you put in which bag. Travel can be stressful enough on its own, but keeping your gear organized has proven to save time in the airport security line. If you must compartmentalize, you might as well do it in something cute like this. Just sayin'.

8 Life Lessons Learned From CES 2012

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:31:59 PST

This year's CES didn't just teach us about gadget trends and the future of the industry - it also taught us a few things that we'll remember in our everyday lives as well. Here, we offer up a few tips to take with you on your next journey to a big tech conference, or to keep in the back of your mind for life. Trust me: our pain is your gain!

Get plenty of sleep. Between long hours on the show floor and various industry parties (and afterparties), there's a good reason we'd love to see siesta lounges at CES. But if you can't nap during the day, be sure to get enough shut eye at night. This is true even for the real world, where you've got emails, shows, and news to catch up on. Put away the laptop at a decent hour and get your beauty rest. You'll wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day's to-do list.
Carry water. Downing coffee, cocktails, and Diet Cokes, coupled with the dry weather in the desert, and filtered air in the hotels and casinos can cause dehydration fast. Keep a bottle of water on you at all times. This not only keeps your skin fresh, lips hydrated, and head clear, but it'll keep you from overheating due to thirst.
Wear good shoes. Did I mention how much we walked at CES? Seriously, the biggest expo I've ever seen, it spans the Las Vegas Convention Center and surrounding hotels. It's not hard to walk six miles in a single day. Multiply that by three or four days, and you've got yourself a good workout. Dress your feet appropriately for CES, and everyday life, since it can save your back later down the road.
Get in the lunch line early. Hungry bloggers line up to get their lunches far before the 11:30 a.m. call time. Although we never saw a shortage of food, who wants to wait in another line when you're tired and hungry? This is another way to say "eat your lunch." Skipping meals can lead to headaches and crankiness, symptoms you don't want to experience when you're in a fast-paced and crowded space or in your office.

Check out the rest of the list when you read more.

Ludacris Shows His Soul at CES

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:01:22 PST

What's the Consumer Electronics Show without a sprinkle of celebrity-endorsed gadgets? This year, hip-hop mogul Ludacris was on hand to introduce the latest additions to his Soul by Ludacris headphone line.

In 2012, the new finishes are all about shine. The SL300 noise-canceling headphones come in chrome gold, and the SL150 hi-def headphones are chrome silver. The SL100 model now has a white finish with gold accents. Soul's line of earbuds, the SL49 and SL99, also has new color options including a green and black combo, red and black, pink and white, and platinum.

We spoke to the musician-restaurateur-actor-entrepreneur for more on his life in the tech industry:

Style meets Soul - Ludacris said his life is "all about setting trends and pop culture," which is infused into the design of the Soul product line. He draws inspiration from a little bit of everything including fashion and cars.

Listening must-haves - Though it's like naming a favorite child, Ludacris keeps a pair of the SL99 earbuds in his pocket for whenever, wherever, and the SL300 when traveling for the noise-canceling experience.

Apple fan - He names the iPhone 4S and iPad as the nonheadphone gadgets he can't live without.

Pricing and availability for the new Soul headphone and earbud designs hasn't been announced, but the current line on sale ranges from $70 to $300. Check out photos of the Soul line in the gallery.