GeekSugar

How To: Video Chat With Up to 10 of Your Friends at Once

GeekSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:33:21 -0800

Although iChat allows me to video conference with up to three people at the same time, sometimes I just want to have an iChat party with more of my friends or family. Same goes for those who work from home and need to video with other co-workers in a conference. And with SuperIM, you can now video chat with up to 10 people. Amazing!

All it takes is a free account with Paltalk and a quick download of SuperIM, and you're on your way to chatting with 10 of your buddies from around the world who have an Internet connection. But it's not just video, you can also text IM with Paltalk too. So if you're having a bad hair day, no one has to know.

Would You Interview For a Job on Skype?

GeekSugar — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:13:50 -0700

If you ask me, using Skype for dating is one thing, but using it for a job interview is something entirely different. But now, employers are turning to Skype as a cost-cutting interview tool. Instead of flying prospective candidates for in-person meetings, some companies are using the video-chatting software to narrow the list to a few finalists.

Even though I'd get to interview at home - in slippers and sweat pants if I wanted to, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable using Skype to meet a potential employer. I think you can learn more about a new job and work environment from inside the office, not from behind a computer screen. What do you think?

What's More Awkward: Bluetooth or Video Chat?

GeekSugar — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:26:46 -0700

The trailer for Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen shows Sam moving into a dorm and flirting with a Bluetooth-using Mikaela about the webcam he got so they can "chat like 24/7." It's a cute scene, but I can't help but think about how unnatural both technologies are to use. Many states have adopted hands free laws, which require cell users to use a Bluetooth or hands free device when driving (just ask Tinseltown celebs who stay connected via a headset), but there's no getting around the funny feeling of sticking a device on your ear when trying to connect with someone. And then there's video chat. Most of you admit you've used video chat before, but it's not exactly a natural experience. As soon as I receive a request to video chat I wonder if I have salad in my teeth or if my hair looks a mess. They are great technologies, but boy are they strange to use. Which communication tool do you think is more awkward?

Daily Tech: Now You Can Order Dominos Pizza With Your TiVo

GeekSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:00:19 -0800

Ever get the munchies when you're watching a good show and couldn't be bothered to make a trip to the kitchen? With a few clicks of the TV remote, you can now order Dominos Pizza via your TiVo. - CrunchGear
Over 4.2 million LEDs are on display at the Nabana no Sato theme park in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, to kickoff the annual Winter light show which runs until March 8. - Fareastgizmos
Lifehacker puts together a list of five of the best video-chat applications, so you can get the most out of your calls. - Lifehacker
How do you feel when your reliable laptop starts freezing and giving you a hard time? A new study shows that more young adults - especially men - are more optimistic when it comes to their gadgets failing. - Cnet
It's giveaway time! Be sure to log in for your chances to win a Nintendo DS Lite and fitness games! - geeksugar

When Video Chat's a Bad Thing: Michael Scott on Deck

GeekSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:30:00 -0700

Leave it to the world's most inept boss - The Office's Michael Scott - to make something wonderful (Video Chat) into something totally awkward.

Witness Jim trying to video chat Pam in last week's season premiere, which should be sweet and romantic, but in the office? That was his first mistake.

Oh, I always knew Jim was a Mac! He may be the hot PC guy at the office, but at home, he's all MacBook Pro. Hubba hubba.

Geek Tip: Adding Video and Audio to Adium

GeekSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:00:18 -0800

If you prefer using Adium as your all-in-one messaging application, you'll be happy to hear that there is now a plug-in that integrates video and audio chat into this IM client. The freeware MeBeam plug-in lets you start chatting with you contacts immediately by video when you click "Initiate MeBeam Videochat." According to lifehacker, Adium will create a web-based chatroom and send the URL to your contacts, who don't need the plug-in themselves. Not the greatest quality since it's still fairly new, but you can have up to fifteen people in a multiuser videochat, which is really neat.

Download of the Day: Camfrog Video Chat

GeekSugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:00:46 -0700

Being able to chat with someone online is a convenience most of us wouldn't be able to live without, especially now that we can use our webcams for video chat. Camfrog video chat is different from other video chat applications because it allows multi-user videoconferencing, so users can join a chat room with up to a thousand people. This is much different from Eyejot, where videos can be recorded and sent in more of a one-on-one emailing format. If you like group chats, this may be the download for you. Keep in mind that this software comes with a Yahoo web browser toolbar which can easily be uninstalled.

To learn how to post your favorite sites to the Download of the Day group, read more

I know that this long list looks scary, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it'll be a snap the second time around.

First of all, join the Download of the Day group
Click "Create and Share!" on the left hand side
Choose "Blog"
Give your photo a Title
Leave the category as "general"
Change the channel to "technology and gadgets"
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "Download of the Day")
Click on the "Add Image" link below the "body" box
A popup window will happen - click on "Browse" to find your image on your computer
Once you have the image chosen, click "Submit"
The popup will show you your image, choose size: "normal" - if you want, you can give it a title (which will show up as a caption)
Click "Insert" and the popup will go away
Your "body" box will now have some text in it. Leave it as is. If you want to add some text before the picture telling me why you love the download, do it before the code that has appeared.
Click Submit

So join the Download of the Day group and share information about all your favorite downloads! Yours just might end up on the geeksugar homepage!

Gmail Gets Video and Voice Chat!

GeekSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:00:12 -0800

Talk about Google rolling out an exciting new FREE feature! If you have friends and family all over the world, and hate the thought of spending a small fortune on long distance calls, you can now use Gmail to chat via voice or video! Available on Macs and PCs within the next couple of days, Gmail users will be able to select "start video chat" or "start voice chat" right from their chat windows and start talking for free. Even if you don't have a webcam, you can still have voice conversations with this useful plugin. To install, visit this link or click on options in the Gmail chat window and choose "add voice/video chat." Thank you Google!

Do You Use Webcams?

GeekSugar — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 14:04:43 -0700

I'll be the first to admit I'm a little camera shy when it comes to using webcams. In college one of my best friends used one to keep in touch with her friends and long distance boyfriend, but I was always a little squeamish. But ever since I started using a MacBook, which has a built in iSight camera, I've gotten a ton of requests from people on my buddy list to video chat and I'm slowly getting in to it. According to a New York Times article, with the advent of higher quality webcams that offer good picture quality for a low price video chatting is on the rise.

Right now the most popular instant messaging programs that support video chatting include those from AOL, Skype, Yahoo and Microsoft.

Abigail Breslin's iPod Touch Is Lost But Not Found in NYC

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 07:30:01 -0700

The not a girl, but not yet a woman Abigail Breslin - who is eternally seven in my mind - made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last Thursday and had some sad news - she lost her iPod Touch the other day in NYC. Here's what she had to say about the ordeal. . .

And to watch a video of Abigail discussing her love for her computer and video chat read more.