GeekSugar

Music Site Gives You Money Back for Buying Songs? Whaa?

GeekSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:00:56 -0700

I'm a little ashamed to tell you how much I spend on music every month - iTunes and my credit card are now BFFs. So if there were a way for me to get some money back just for buying songs, you know I'd be totally down with that. Enter Popcuts – a new music site that rewards you every time another customer buys the same song you did.

Stocked with emerging indie artists from around the globe, Popcuts knows you like to be on the cutting edge of music and rewards you with credits for buying songs, so the artists get some much needed bankroll, while you eventually get your music for free – sort of. To see how Popcuts works, just read more.

So you search through Popcuts' library of 700 songs (from about 200 artists), and find one you really like. You make a purchase for $.99 cents and call it a day. Where does the credit come in? Well, every time another Popcuts user buys the same song you did, you get a share of the profits. So if you're a music connoisseur and can spot the upcoming trends, you may just bank up a nice amount. Right now, Popcuts offers digital credits, but hopefully soon, can offer to cut you a check for some real dough.

Wood Gadgets: Natural Materials Are In

GeekSugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 10:00:23 -0700

When we think of gadgets, we think of shiny plastic, aluminum and man made materials, not natural wood. That may be the very reason we see wood gadgets popping up all over the place.

Recently, wooden gadget cases (like this iWood iPhone case ) have been generating web buzz, but the trend doesn't just apply to the gadget covers - some geeks have begun creating gadgets made entirely out of wood. It's a phenomenon that cannot be explained easily. Either projects like the 60-inch wooden plasma and the S-Series Cellphone are a study in opposites and what's expected (say gold, silver gadgets), or a way to prove yourself as a real geek. Whatever the case natural is in.

Scroll through the widget below to check out how wood is being used in the gadget world.

Wood Memory Sticks: Nature Meets Office	The Tree Camera: A MP3 Player In Disguise
USB Memory Strap	Alarmingly Mysterious Wooden Clock
LG Makes Limited Edition 60-inch Wood Plasma	S-series Wooden Cellphone
Wooden Creative Zen Stone	Ericsson: Made from Apple Wood

Asthma Pod: Why This 'Pod' Craze Has Gone Too Far

GeekSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:01:33 -0700

We already knew the "i" craze had passed the point of no return, but it looks like "pod" mania may be gaining speed in the race.

Yesterday I learned about the Apod, or Asthma Pod, which is a colorful plastic case that clips around your standard asthma inhaler. They cost about $20 (or £10 because it's a British company) and come in 7 colors. So why am I so bent out of shape? For the most part the devices are cute, brightly hued plastic that will hopefully make asthmatic children everywhere feel better about their illness, however, the name alone makes me worry and wonder about the day the "pod" epidemic will end.

From the Laserpod, "pod" Hotels to EnergyPods for midday napping, there really is no logic to the over usage of the word "pod," which sprang to popularity with the lionization of the iPod. Will three out of five plastic items that are shaped like a bean or iPod be labeled "i-something" or "pod" from here until eternity? Will we wake up one morning and find out "pods" are suddenly as uncool as Walkmans? Most importantly, when will it end?

View 2 Photos ›

Source

Dress Up Your Desk And Gadgets In Black and White

GeekSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 07:00:37 -0700

Sure, brightly colored gadgets and desk accessories have their fun, flirty place, but you can never go wrong with classic black and white gear. It's calming, clean and won't leave your desk in a cluttered mess of different shades and styles. FabSugar noted the black, white and gray trend earlier this season, so it's no surprise we see simple black and white mousepads, iPod cases, desk accessories and geek paraphernalia popping up all over the web.

My favorite find is this adorable Black and White Ghost mouse, $38, which is not only perfect for Halloween, but would probably cheer you up whenever you look at it. The device is a modern 3-button optical wheel mouse, which can connect to a PC or Mac via USB port.

For some more black and white gear that brings simplicity back to the geekspace, click through the widget below.

' />

Trend: Moleskine Notebooks

GeekSugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:00:07 -0700

That's right folks, even in this age of BlackBerries, Treos and iPhones, the old school Moleskine notebook is making a comeback. According to Buzz Feed, my source for all things hip and hot, leather-bound notebooks are gaining a cult following as a low-tech PDA. GTD freaks and creative types - and those who are both - love the mini form factor of the Moleskine.

Sure, they don't have spell check, a web browser, calendar and built in calculator, but Moleskine notebooks (pronounced 'mol-a-skeen'-a') offer a place for us to exercise our most important geek muscle: our minds. Of course it helps that Moleskine journals have a history of popularity with artists, writers, intellectuals and travelers. How trendy are they? Companies like Moleskine US have gotten into the game by creating collection after collection of notebooks, including a line named after trendy cities like Paris, Prague, Rome, New York City and Barcelona. They cost $16.

Trend: Glamorous, WiFi Enabled 'Camping'

GeekSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 08:00:45 -0700

Camping used to mean sleeping in a tiny tent, eating over a fire pit and packing loads of mosquito repellent, but it seems the days of roughing it without electricity or the conveniences of modern internet-addicted life are over. It's a trend that must have been fueled by our inability to travel without our laptops or smart phones, but I think it points to a loss of those old school family camping trips we all love to hate.

ABC news recently took a trip to Clayoquot Wilderness Resort on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, where the tents are decorated with Persian rugs and they have electricity, heat and a thermostat. Unlike your average Costco-tent camping the resort isn't cheap - more than 3 days costs about $2,000 including a massage, water activities a few classes and of course, WiFi.

The resort, which overlooks the ocean and surrounding mountains, features tents with remote-controlled propane wood stoves, oil lamps, candles and rustic interiors. They also run on generators that provide electricity for light, hairdryers and wireless internet. Is it just me, or does this negate the entire purpose of camping, which is supposed to be about hanging out in nature and getting away from the office? If you want an electricity-fused trip visit one of the best WiFi hotels in Times Square and save your camping for real camping.

Trend: Candy Bars For Gamers

GeekSugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 07:00:20 -0700

My boyfriend's college roommate Eric was a soccer player who would get up at 3:30 in the morning to go to practice, go to class, return home in the afternoon and game. I'm talking all-nighter, XBox live sessions where he would wear a headset and face off against some unknown person halfway across the US. Needless to say, despite being a fit athlete, these gaming binges went hand in hand with candy and caffeinated soda consumption.

A company called Uncommon Loot is banking on the fact that there are a bajillion men, women and children like Eric out there in the world. People so tuned into their gaming that they need Headshot, a chewy chocolate toffee bar "made for gamers by gamers." Despite only being moderate gamers, who willingly choose parties and sleep over Halo 2 marathons, PartySugar and I got a chance to test out the bars recently. For our review, read more

PartySugar described the bar as "hideous." Saying it "tasted like a cross between a super processed candy bar, stale rice crispie treat and a bark-like health food bar." I think I was so intrigued by the concept, and the knowledge that most gamers are wild candy consumers, that I could give it more credit. Plus, I like health food bars. To me, it smelt like a donut and tasted like a Reese's Crispy Crunchy bar without the peanut butter, with elements of a rice crispie treat and score bar. Officially, it's chewy chocolate toffee or "Guarana Infused Energy." Guarana being a berry that is a highly caffeinated berry native to the Amazonian rainforest. Apparently, guarana is gentle on your system and less likely to produce headaches that are more common with other sources of caffeine. So you can get needed ummppfff while gaming without the crash later.

One bar is 1.8 ounces and has 220 calories and two grams of protein. The bar has been officially released to the public so look for it at gaming and electronic stores. The company also hopes to work its way into the paintball/airsoft industry and night club industry. "Currently there is nothing on the market other than beverages that have kept this market awake," says Uncommon Loot. "Now Headshot and the flavors following it will be front and center to help bring more profit streams to night clubs, and to keep their customers awake through the night.

So you can now get your game, paintball and party on with a candy bar. Just don't tell your competitor.

Trend: Brides And Grooms Tell All Online

GeekSugar — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 03:00:05 -0700

Gone are the days of sending doves or hand written notes announcing your engagement and alive are the days of broadcasting your proposal, nuptials and honeymoon online for the whole world wide web to fawn over.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Wedding Web sites, or "Wed sites," were initially created as a way brides and grooms to be to notify guests of wedding dates, plans and gift registries. Today, the sites are far more personal, offering stories, videos, photos and even up to the big moment journal entries.

I've been talking about wedding websites for months (I even offered a tutorial for making one), but I have always thought of the more traditional sites with simple announcements, directions and registry information. Boy are those passé. If you're not turned off by the idea of proposing via a widget or commercial, consider what you'd feel like if you had a website with videos of your proposal, planning and wedding ceremony. According to the Wall Street Journal, more than 1,800 marriage proposals are on YouTube, which has to mean most people not only love the idea of the web publicity, but they plan on putting the video on a website.

To watch my favorite wedding video, read more

Referenced in the WSJ article, Chris and Anna Saccheri created hoobalicious.com to celebrate their wedding.

Trend: Nintendo DS Serves As A Life Coach

GeekSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 08:00:07 -0700

My sources (as in Wired's Japanese School Girl Watch ) have alerted me to an exciting trend from our our geeky gal pals in Japan.

Apparently, some young women have ditched traditional DS games Super Mario and even non-traditional DS drinking guides for games like Female Power Emergency Up! DS, which promises to "Change your destiny in three months!" by measuring skills in love, fashion, beauty, diet, and fortune-telling.

Even more touchy-feely is Mainichi Kokorobics DS Therapy, which offers sessions with a digital psychiatrist. Need help with your waistline instead of your subconscious? There's always Yoga Anywhere, which is like having a personal trainer and tips on daily workouts in your pockets. I am going to stick with using my Blackberry to watch FitSugar's workout videos, but I think I could use a digital psychiatrist.

Source

Japanese Machine Uses RFID To Make Crowds 'Buy Now, Buy Often'

GeekSugar — Thu, 17 May 2007 10:30:04 -0700

RFID technology, an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders, isn't just being used to create talking Mini Cooper billboards anymore.

Digital World Tokyo reports that Fujitsu is using a UBWALL machine (pronounced 'U-B-Wall'), which is a giant plasma display panel loaded with RFID and Wi-Fi, to share 'information' with the masses. Apparently, a financial services company is installing the terminals in its branches around Japan in an effort to provide more information about trading, stock prices and branch services. Here's more:

The main draw of the UBWALL is a 50-in plasma screen that displays general information in 'attract' mode until a customer approaches and is detected by a motion sensor. It then switches to offer a menu of services and the option to find out more about them, all navigated through using the touch-sensitive display.

Not sure this would ever catch on in the states, but the idea of a giant plasma information station is pretty exciting.
Source