GeekSugar

The Latest Yelp App Features This Cool Feature

GeekSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:32:34 -0700

Yelp is one of those apps that I think everyone should have on their iPhone. It's free, it's handy, and it saves you from having to do multiple searches in Google.

But did you know that version 3 of the Yelp app has a little something something that makes it that much more amazing?! To find this undiscovered gem, just shake your phone three times (probably best when you're out on the street) to turn on "the Monocle" for the augmented reality feature. Using your phone's GPS and compass (yes, you need an iPhone 3GS), you'll be able to see any nearby bars, restaurants or other businesses right on your screen . . . how fab is that?

Last but Not Least: Yelp For the BlackBerry

GeekSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:50:14 -0700

I don't know if Yelp is very popular in your neck of the woods, but here in San Francisco, it's one of those sites that everyone uses. Whether you're trying to find the address of a restaurant or are looking for a decent dry cleaner near your office, Yelp delivers the goods and then some.

Being both an iPhone and BlackBerry girl, I usually do all of my yelping from my iPhone, but good news today, folks: Yelp has just launched a BlackBerry Yelp app. The app will let you search for nearby businesses, read reviews, and access a moveable map that is surprisingly powered by Bing and not Google.

You can download the app from here.

Daily Tech: Samsung's Latest Cam Includes a Front-Facing LCD

GeekSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:52:31 -0700

This is pretty neat. The Samsung TL225 point and shoot camera includes a front LCD screen for self portraits - Dvice
Yelp's latest iPhone app, which will be available soon, comes with a cool Sales and Offers Near You feature - TechCrunch
TheRadio is an on-demand service that aggregates radio stations from around the world - Makeuseof
Oil painter Bill Guffey uses Google Street View to paint destinations across the globe - ABC News
Google has just introduced new Google Reader features to make sharing interesting links easier - Mashable
Wal-Mart is selling the Toshiba Satellite L355 laptop for only $350 - CrunchGear

Express Yourself: 6 Websites to Get Your Review On

GeekSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:02:28 -0700

Got a lot to say? Well the Internet is your playground then, buddy. There's no reason you should stew over a product that broke or a restaurant that left a bad taste in your mouth - review it online! It's cathartic to air your opinion, and you're far less likely to offend or annoy your real friends who've heard enough of your authority. So where should you go to express these opinions?

View Slideshow ›

Daily Tech: Manage Your Netflix Queue From Your Cell Phone

GeekSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:05:46 -0700

For Windows Mobile users only, Microsoft has released an awesome a download called Mobile Netflix Mobile, which is available for free for a limited time. Get it while it's hot! - Lifehacker
This is amazing! Check out 10 of the geekiest music videos of all time. "Praise You" gets me every time. - Gizmodo
The Tweetlite will display your Twitter stream in LED flashes of Morse code. Sounds like a must have! - Boing Boing Gadgets
An updated Yelp app has reached the app store and makes it easier for users to write reviews directly from their iPhone. - TechCrunch
Find out 15 reasons why you should maybe kick Facebook to the curb. - Switched

Gmail Labs Adds Previews For Yelp, Picasa, YouTube, Flickr

GeekSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:15:51 -0700

Imagine if it wasn't necessary to click a link to view a photo album or YouTube video? Now if you go into your Gmail Labs under Settings and enable YouTube videos (you can watch the entire clip right from your inbox), Flickr and Picasa preview, and Yelp review preview, you can see everything inside your mail window. Yes, Gmail will automatically detect links from various sites and show you previews right from your email message.

Oh, Snap: SF Restaurant Puts Bad Yelp Reviews on Shirts

GeekSugar — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:33:29 -0800

There are a lot of business owners who've felt the sting of bad Yelp reviews, and one restaurant in San Francisco is getting even (instead of getting litigious).

Pizzeria Delfina decided to embrace its one-star reviews - by printing them on the shirts the staff wears.

They triumphantly rock t-shirts that say stuff like "This place sucks" while serving their delish dishes.

I love this idea, although, yes, I am frantically looking through my more notorious one-star reviews to see if it's possible that I might be Internet famous for a less-than-glam reason.

Should You Be Able to Say Anything Negative on the Internet?

GeekSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:00:05 -0800

It's quite the litigious news day for the Internet, what with the news that a Yelp user is being sued for his negative review of a doctor, and a model is suing Google because of anonymous nasty comments about her which were posted on a Blogger-hosted blog.

Disregarding the validity of each case, they both present interesting cases for how we should and shouldn't use the Internet; as for Yelp, you're supposed to be able to post negative reviews (reviews tending to be one way or the other); will each negative claim be investigated? Could I be sued for not being able to prove that I found a hair in my burrito?

As for the nasty comments on a blog, I'm pretty sure this model will be told one way or another that a thicker skin is in order. Or will she? What are her rights (or anyone that's bullied) in comparison to the freedom of speech of the anonymous poster?

What do you think? Should you be able to say anything negative on the Internet? What are the limits?

Source

Internet Reviews: When Does It Stop Being Unhelpful?

GeekSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:05:49 -0700

This era of web 2.0 is awesome for the consumer aspect of our lives; no longer do we have to guess if a restaurant is going to be good (or has violated health codes, yeeesh!), or if the down comforter you want to order online will be fluffy enough. No, we can rely on each other, uh-huh (yes that is an "Islands in the Stream" reference)!

Whether it's a helpful reviewer on Yelp that tips you off to the sushi place in your neighborhood you didn't know existed, or the lady in Philadelphia who can report that the vacuum you're eyeing on Overstock is a waste of money, it's awesome that we can trust each other's reviews. I mean, what did we do before? I know, it was kind of fun flying blind, and you can still do that, but it's nice to know that you have "friends" online that are looking out for you.

But there is one big problem with online reviews. To see what it is just read more.

The only problem is that on Yelp or retail sites that provide reviews, there are so many opinions that it can start to get confusing, the NYTimes notes. Both Yelp and Amazon have experienced scandals over whether people really were impartial parties (gotta love the story of the Amazon book reviewer who anonymously gave his own book a rave review - until the website accidentally revealed his name).

Tell me - what has been your own experience with reviews online? Do people usually steer you in the right direction, or have you had any bad experiences?

Website of the Day: IgoUgo

GeekSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:24:01 -0700

I know Yelp is super helpful because real people submit their reviews on restaurants and attractions to give me an insider look at my destination. I often check it before deciding on where to take out-of-town friends or a new restaurant. Same goes for IgoUgo, a travelers Yelp if you will. Select where you want to go, and you'll find hundreds of user reviews of hotels, eateries, parks, and tourist traps so you stay in the know before you go.

Plus, there's a huge database of photos so you get a good look at your destination from the inside out.

Have an interesting website you want to share? To learn how to post your favorite websites to our Website of the Day group, read more.

First of all, join the Website of the Day group.
Click "New Post" under the website of the day tab at the top of the page.
Give your story a "Title."
Fill in the "Body" with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Type "Technology and Gadgets" in the Categories box
Add keyword(s) in the tag field with relevant tags (for example mine for this story was "Website of the Day").
Choose whether you want the post to be private or public.
Click "Create Post" to submit content.

So join the Website of the Day group and share information about all your favorite sites! Yours just might end up on the GeekSugar homepage!