GeekSugar

Geek Tip: Avoid Extra Holiday Pounds With Lose It

GeekSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:50:45 -0800

For me, part of gearing up for the holiday season is the realization that I'm going to overindulge in holiday goodies from time to time. While this time of year isn't the best for trying to shed extra pounds, there's still benefit in watching what I'm eating - even if I allow myself a few "cheat" days here and there. Lose It! is an iPhone app that tracks caloric and nutritional intake as well as calories burned by exercise, giving you a calorie budget for the day.

First, enter your starting weight, your goal weight (if you want to lose, that is), height, and birth date, and the app figures how many calories you need to lose a few pounds or maintain your current weight. Then, enter exactly what you've eaten that day (you can search by meal, favorite foods, previous meals, even brand name foods from supermarkets and restaurants) and any exercise you've done. The app tracks your daily, weekly, and monthly caloric intake, factoring any exercise into the equation.

I'm certainly not shooting for any serious weight loss before January (hello pumpkin pie!), but it will be nice to know how many calories I'm consuming during non"cheat" days.

Daily Tech: Nintendo Announces DSi Bundles For Black Friday

GeekSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:20:53 -0800

Nintendo will sell two limited-edition DSi bundles for Black Friday - Kotaku
Google will soon be getting a search sidebar to streamline its experience - Mashable
Target has leaked some of its Black Friday deals - CrunchGear
The BlackBerry Bold 9700 has landed in AT&T stores for $200 - Engadget
The FunMail app transforms text into fun images related to the message - Chip Chick
Log in and submit your Cool Captures for your chance to win a CanvasPop print - GeekSugar

Geek Tip: Control Your Computer From Anywhere With an App

GeekSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:45:11 -0800

There have been those times where I really needed some info off of my home computer but am nowhere near it to access it. Now with my iPhone and a spare $25 for an app, I can! The app is called Jaadu and like a magic wand, it allows you to access your home computer from anywhere in the world. An easy setup lets you control your mouse on your Mac, Windows, or Linux home system, and modifier menus let you control up/down/left/right arrows for easy navigation. Plus, there's a cheaper version that comes with less features, so if you just need to peep a few files, $1 should get you there.

5 iPhone Apps to Help You Through the Holidays

GeekSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:47:57 -0800

Can you believe that next week is already Thanksgiving? I can't, and there's no slowing down from here. In the midst of seasonal travel, family gatherings, and shopping on Black Friday, you may need some help getting organized. Check out five fun and functional apps that will help you wade through the holiday madness.

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13 Under $20 Wines Perfect For Hostess Gifts

partysugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:15:34 -0800

Do you have an iPhone? Then stop what you're doing right now and download the Nirvino (my preferred online drinking community) wine ratings guide. With over one million wines listed by name, price, grape varietal, flavor profile, region, and producer, the wine application is an amazing resource to always have at your fingertips.

Not only does it provide food pairing suggestions, but there's also lots of fun lists to browse. Food Network's Aida Mollenkamp shares her favorite wines to drink while cooking, Sommelier Mark Bright rounded up his top bottles from Whole Foods, and yours truly has even created a list!

I headed to Safeway to pick out the best wines - all of which are under $20 - for hostess gifts. I've tasted and enjoyed these wines and would bring them to a party. Be it a birthday bash at Hog Island oyster farm, an intimate Thanksgiving dinner, or an upcoming holiday soirée, there's a bottle for every occasion. To check out my list, keep reading.

The Cover Up App Masks Unpleasant Restroom Sounds

GeekSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:50:16 -0800

Picture this: You just had the date of your dreams, so when he invites you to his place for a little night cap, you immediately say yes without hesitation. After a glass of wine, your stomach starts rumbling and you realize that extra spicy Tandoori chicken dish maybe wasn't the best ordering option for your first date. Next thing you know, you're in his bathroom, wondering how you'll be able to drown out unwanted restroom noise.

Not to worry! There's an app called Cover Up that is said to help women "save face in those potentially awkward situations in the office place bathroom, public restroom or at the new boyfriend’s house." For only 99 cents, you can choose from a variety of sounds (including running water, hand-dryers, and blow dryers) which are launched when touching any of the makeup compact areas - and yes, the makeup brush controls the volume!

You can have a peek at what the app looks like on your phone, when you read more.

DirecTV Customers: Set Your DVR With Your iPhone

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:30:29 -0800

I'm not sure how I lived without a DVR - though I've only had it for a few years, it's a convenience that I don't think I can live without! I've already told you how to program your TiVo online, and now DirecTV subscribers can set their DVRs on the go. The DirecTV iPhone App for iPhone allows you to access and edit your account and recording schedule.

Sign into the free application using your DirecTV account to access and change your preset recordings and schedule new recordings from your phone. You can also customize the application to include only channels you receive within its listed shows. Even if you're not a DirecTV customer, you can use the app to search current shows by channel, title, or date and time, plus read episode information and summaries.

Similar to TiVo's disclaimer that the service isn't guaranteed to be error-free, the app does include a warning that "in rare instances, scheduled recordings may not be recognized," so if you're recording something super important, it's best to program that from home.

Vintage Video Maker App Does Exactly What It Implies

GeekSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:05:46 -0800

All things old are new again as vintage gadgets and tech come back with a bang. Since you can already turn your iPhone photos into cool vintage-looking pics in more than a few ways, it's only natural that there would eventually be an iPhone 3GS app that turns your on-the-go videos into retro styled mini movies.

Called the Vintage Video Maker, this $3 app is worth its weight in fun - just capture your video within the app, or load one up that you've already shot, and choose between three old-timey styles: 20's movie, black and white, and 60's home video. You can also add sound effects like a running projector or loop an old piano to play over your 20's themed vid.

Are you as obsessed with vintage gadgets and tech like I am? Join our Vintage Geek group and share your retro faves with us!

Access Store Coupons on Your iPhone With the Yowza App

GeekSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:05:29 -0800

With the holidays right around the corner, I'm not only starting to think about shopping, but I'm also thinking of creative ways to save. Yesterday, I told you about ten websites that will help you save some money on gifts, and today it's all about Yowza!!, an iPhone and iPod Touch app that will show you all of the store coupons within a mile or as far as 15 miles from where you are shopping (which makes sense why it has two exclamations after its name!).

Once you download this free app, open it and you will see all of the coupons applicable to your location, or you can type in a store name to see what's available. And if an offer includes a bar code, just have the cashier scan the barcode, right from your phone. No coupon clipping, no paper, no hassles - I die!

iPhone App You Need Now: Black Friday

GeekSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:05:02 -0800

In case you missed it, it's November, which means Thanksgiving is right around the corner, Christmas will soon arrive and before you can shout "Happy New Year," it'll be 2010. Not to put the pressure on you, but November doesn't just mean turkey and stuffing - it means Black Friday. I predict that this year, good deals and sales will be more important than ever to get people in the stores to shop for gifts, so be on top of it all with the Dealnews Black Friday app.

This app is great because it gives you details on the best sales around right now, as well as confirmed and leaked Black Friday deals from all across the web and on store shelves. Plus, it even counts down the days until November 27 so you know exactly how long you have to plan your in-store shopping strategy. Keeping with the penny-pinching theme, the Black Friday app is totally free.