geeksugar -- Geek is chic.

Geek Tip: Easily Watermark Your Images with PicMarkr

geeksugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:35:17 -0700

Do you know what a watermark is? I'm sure you have seen them on a few geeksugar posts, but do you know what are they used for? A watermark is used to tell people who the photos belong to, and especially helpful if you don't want anyone else using them without your permission. But it's not only blogs or businesses that use watermarks, you can use them too — even in photos you've uploaded to Flickr — to protect your copyrights.

Which is why using PicMarkr is so easy — just upload the photo you want to watermark (from Flickr, from your TeamSugar account, or from your computer), select what type of watermark you want (either text that you type in, or by uploading a logo), and you're done! You can even send your newly watermarked photo from PicMarkr right into Flickr, making it super simple to brand your best work.

Geek Tip: How to Make a Monitor Cozy

geeksugar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:00:59 -0700

Martha Stewart has some directions for how to make a monitor cozy from an old issue of Blueprint, which reminded me of the monitor cozies I created for my boyfriend's two monitors last year. Lest you get discouraged by how nice and fancy Martha's version is, just check out the ones I made on my own, with just a bit of quick measuring and side-seam sewing. I also added a lining as well as a decorative fabric, since, like Martha says, it adds a little bit of color to the room.

Of course, hers are made much more carefully, where I'm more of a sew-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of gal. For instance, she adds gussets, and I don't even know what a gusset is.

Geek Tip: Get Great Goods on the Cheap With Woot

geeksugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:40:16 -0700

In addition to being my favorite word, Woot is also one of my favorite places to find cheap stuff. Woot's premise is simple: they offer one product per day for 24 hours. That's it. No exceptions. You won't find any "search" boxes or places to "narrow your selections" cause there's only one item available at a time.

Although there are many mornings spent checking my RSS reader, and finding that I can easily pass on the days offerings, there are those gems that pop up and force me to slap down my credit card as I cry out "WOOT!" all to myself. Those are the days I live for — and probably how they came up with their name. And seriously, 5 Device Universal Remote for five bucks? Count me in!

Six Things You Can Create With All Those Photos

geeksugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:00:15 -0700

There are probably a million and one great things you can do with your library of digital photos. Photo sites like Flickr offer elaborate ways to explore and share pics while free photo editing sites allow you to enhance and resize your little moments in time. But, what should you do with all your photos once they are all spruced up? I suggest you pick your favorites and turn them into multidimensional and tangible works of art.

Make a Photo Cube Out of Six Pics	Create a Photobook With Personal Touches	Don't Just Frame It, Order Wall Art!
Build a Scrapbook	Design a Coloring Book	Enter the Gap Casting Call

Geek Tip: The TiVo Clock Easter Egg

geeksugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:00:08 -0700

Easter eggs are rad little treats for geeks; others may ask what the point is, but you know: They're just cool. This Easter egg is for TiVo users, and while the result is not mind-blowing, it's handy and practical, and you'll probably know about it before any of your friends, so here we go!

Press Select, Play, Select, 9, Select. A little TiVo clock will pop up in the bottom right corner so you can check the time.

Of course, you can just click one button - Info - and get the time, but then you also block the top of the screen with all the other program info, and the other main reason you'd want to do this is simple: Because you can.

Digital TV Signal Guide: What You Have to Do to Switch

geeksugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 07:30:52 -0700

You may know that full-power television stations in the US are required to stop using the old method of transmitting TV signals and start broadcasting exclusively in a digital format on February 17, 2009, but do you know what you have to do to switch?

If you use an antenna to watch free, over-the-air television on an analog TV set (and don't subscribe to a pay TV service) then you will be affected by the transition. If you pay for TV services, such as cable or satellite, then you will not need to upgrade. For a better look at the rules and a guide to figuring out if you need to switch,

Geek Tip: Freezing Your Hard Drive Is Mythbuster Approved!

geeksugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:00:52 -0700

After a bit of a panic with a seemingly dead hard drive recently, my brother-in-law suggested something I long thought was an urban legend — freezing my hard drive. Yes, he was suggesting I literally put my hard drive into the freezer, next to the frozen bananas and emergency vodka, in hopes that it would come back to life. I was just about to try this trick when my hard drive came back — no cryogenics necessary.

However, I didn't give up on the frozen hard drive theory like that; I went to my favorite urban legend dispellers that I knew I could trust: The Mythbusters! And, of course, they had an answer: Yes, it does work!

How does it work? Just

Geek Tip: Turn Your Digital Photos Into Wall Art

geeksugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:00:30 -0700

So you can change your photos to look like mini models, or fool people into thinking you took your pics on a plastic Lomo camera, but what if you love the turnout so much, you want to make it into a work of art? "No problemo," says Shutterfly!

Shutterfly offers some pretty easy ways for your photos to get the attention they deserve. One of the ways is turning your digital pics into canvas art. Just upload your chosen photo to Shutterfly, chose your size, and in a few days, your stretched canvas artwork will arrive at your doorstep. It's not the cheapest service they offer — with prices ranging from $90-150 — but this would make an awesome gift for someone special, or to just give yourself a reward for all that hard work in Photoshop!

Geek Tip: Feedflix Knows What Your Netflix Habits Mean

geeksugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:40:16 -0700

Taking Netflix to the next level, my friends are all really into how much Netflix says we're alike based on our movie ratings. I know that I can always take a movie recommendation from my friend Jen because Netflix says we're 96 percent similar (96!).

And besides getting recommendations, I just think it's fun to see what my renting habits say about me. So when I found Feedflix, it totally tapped into that curiosity. See, Feedflix is all about Netflix analysis; see how long you tend to keep movies, compare that to other users, and see how much each rental costs you, based on how fast you send and receive them.

You can also set alerts with Feedflix to remind you to watch or send back a movie whose red envelope is gathering dust on your TV stand.

Geek Tip: Use a Dashboard Timer to Set Surfing Limits

geeksugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:03:21 -0700

Although part of my job is to surf daily news and other blogs, I do sometimes find myself knee deep in tabs to websites that have nothing to do with what I'm working on. . . and most (naturally) are total time wasters. Although everyone deserves a little bit of a mind break, it's easy to get sucked into surfing the web – before you know it, it's 4:30 and you still have a mountain of work to finish!

So for the times when I just want to let my fingers aimlessly click away, I like to use a dashboard or desktop timer - like this free one from Baldgeeks – and give myself a set time to waste. Whether it be five or fifteen minutes, I'll know when my time is up. Plus, it's much easier for me to get back to the daily grind after a quick check-in to see what Brad and Angie are up to. Don't ask why, it just is.

Geek Tip: Use an Old Tube Sock to Round Up Your Cords

geeksugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:04:14 -0700

I never thought of this super simple solution for an old sock, and I thought I'd heard all the cord organizing tricks out there! Courtesy of this month's issue of Real Simple, the editors suggest using an old trouser sock to wrap around cords to keep them together.

Just snip off the toe part so you have a little tube, unplug from the power strip, insert the cords, and then plug them back in.

They say trouser sock, but I keep envisioning a cute striped retro tube sock! Their tip also has them gathered from a power strip, but I could also see using them to keep cords wrapped tightly around one another when they're put away.

Geek Tip: Use Your Xbox and Register to Vote

geeksugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:40:49 -0700

If you haven't registered to vote because of one lame excuse or another ("I don't know how," "I don't have time," or my fave "It's too complicated") then I have fabulous news for you — you can now take the simple route and register to vote using your Xbox! With all the time you spend playing games, the least you can do is make your voice heard in between Gears of War sessions and Mountain Dew runs.

Partnering up with Rock the Vote, Xbox Live's voter registration is free to access with a Xbox Live membership. And although you can't actually vote from Xbox Live, they make it pretty darn easy to take the first steps in doing your civic duty. Plus, if you've already decided on who you'll be casting your vote for come November, you can participate in online polls, and download gamerpics of your candidate to show your support. How patriotic of you!

Source

Twitterkeys Add Fun Flair to Tweets!

geeksugar — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 10:04:31 -0700

OK avid Twitter users, have I got the perfect way for you to "enhance" your tweets. The Next Web Blog has come up with a way for you to add cool characters like ♥, ♂, ✔ and ✈ to your Twitter convos. I'm not a huge Twitter user, but from what I've heard, it's life changing!

Now for the deets on how to start using these characters. To use TwitterKeys you will need to drag this link (the Twitterkeys bookmarks toolbar) into your browser — just like you would the TeamSugar bookmark URL.

Have fun tweeting!

Geek Tip: Stream Radio on Your iPhone For Free

geeksugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:00:12 -0700

One thing I love about the iPhone is choice. I can pick which apps I want or don't want on my phone — no one is telling me that I have to use one or the other. I also love that you can get some of the best apps for free. Take Pandora for example — I'm totally bummed about the news that they may go under — but it's by far one of my favorite free music-streaming programs, iPhone or not.

So I was equally excited when I found FlyCast, an app that lets you stream radio stations from all across the country. I can listen to KEXP – my go-to station for indie music – and a thousand others wherever I have a connection. You can pause live radio, and it runs in the background so you can still surf the Internet or check your mail while it's playing. Plus, FlyCast is free! This really is a win-win situation here.

Can't Access Your Gmail? Don't Spaz Out (Like I Did)

geeksugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:45:40 -0700

This has only happened to me once (knock on wood it never happens again), but about eight months ago, I went to sign into Gmail as I normally would and it wouldn't let me in . . . just like that. As I entered my password over and over, double-checking CAPS LOCK for the umpteenth time as my heart started to race faster, I immediately started freaking out — yes I was at work, and yes I put my deodorant to work that day! Because all my pictures are on Picasa, docs on Google docs, and email (email!) couldn't be accessed, I feel like my entire life flashed before me.

To see what happened next, and to learn some useful tips if this ever happens to you, just

Geek Tip: Get Outta There With Getmooh

geeksugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:00:11 -0700

Have you ever been at a lame party or on a less-than-stellar date and would give your left arm for an excuse to bail? Then today's geek tip is for you. Getmooh can get you out of a sticky situation quick, just by ringing your cell phone. All you have to do is enter your cell number, specify what time you want to be called, and which "excuse" you want to use. Voila! You'll be validating your parking ticket and on your way home before Gossip Girl's credits start to roll.

But Getmooh doesn't just ring your cell phone, it tells you what to say for a truly believable conversation. For example, when your fictitious roommate locks herself out of your apartment, Getmooh calls and says: "Repeat after me: 'Hey how's it going?' (pause) 'Oh no, where are you now?" — you get the picture.

Geek Tip: Check Your News on a Map

geeksugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:00:21 -0700

I'm all about catching up on my world news, but some days, sifting through my RSS feeds can be a little painful on the eyes. Not sure if it's the lack of coffee, or that there's just so much to take in! So when I found the Breaking News Map, that shows you visually where the bits of news are coming from across the globe, I was happily relieved. Now I can just sit back, take a tour of the world, and be in the know about what the big headlines are.

What's better, you can set parameters of the kinds of news you're getting – don't care about sports news? Ban it from your list. Want lots of Election 08 coverage? Part the velvet ropes by checking that button. It's easy, free, and kinda fun!

Play With Gmail Labs to Enhance Your Gmail Account

geeksugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:40:14 -0700

As a Gmail convert, you have probably already messed around in your settings to optimize your email experience, and no doubt you've come here for helpful Gmail tips, like how the period in Gmail accounts can go basically anywhere in your email address, but are you aware of Gmail Labs?

To hear what I like about Gmail Labs, just

Geek Tip: Let Amazon Find Your Printer Refills

geeksugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:00:42 -0700

I know I boasted about being out of the printer game, freeing up the desk space for more efficient things a few months ago, but it appears I'm back in — my boyfriend and I decided that we really needed a scanner, and Ta-Da! Our scanner came with a printer (bonus: it makes my Fandango outings a lot easier).

So now it looks like I will be back to shopping for one of the most annoying things to shop for ever: printer ink refills. However, Lifehacker tipped me off to the best place to find refills: Amazon's Ink and Toner Finder. Simply select your printer manufacturer and the model, and Amazon will return results for everything that will work in your printer, even generic brands, so you get the best savings!

Geek Tip: Make Scrapbooks in Photobucket

geeksugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:00:52 -0700

Remember when I told you about the cool online scrapbooking site called Scrapblog? Photobucket liked it so much that they've teamed up to bring you a Scrapblog app right in its photo-hosting site. So alongside your albums, slideshows, and videos, you can customize your own scrapbook with all those digital photos you've been storing!

There's tons of templates to choose from, and even a few from your favorite shows like Ugly Betty, Samantha Who?, and the juggernaut of teen movies, High School Musical. Finally, my niece can do something with all those Zac Efron photos she's been collecting.

Geek Tip: Use Workrave to Relieve Computer-Related Aches

geeksugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:00:08 -0700

Using a computer has obvious personal and professional benefits, but there are some physical issues that arise when you sit in front of a computer (or tote one home — save your back!). You can do basic exercises to avoid carpal tunnel, but you can use technology to prevent injuries caused by technology: Workrave!

Workrave is a free download (for Linux and Windows) that provides all kinds of handy tools to ensure that you don't hurt your eyes, back, wrists, or neck while you're working (read: perusing Sugar sites). My favorites are the timers for breaks it prompts you to take — and one break even walks you through simple exercises.

You can also set a daily limit, so that it will pop up and remind you that you're at your limit and should maybe get up and out, lest you suffer from one of those pesky Internet addictions.

Source

Geek Tip: Check Flixster Before Heading to the Theater

geeksugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:03:46 -0700

I hate it when the trailer for a movie has me all excited, and then a few minutes in I realize I have a totally lame, boring, or disappointing 90 minutes ahead of me (why Speed Racer, why?!). So after a friend turned me on to Flixter, I've been feeling a little more confident that the movie I'm about to see is worthy of my $10.50.

Flixter's tagline is "Stop Watching Bad Movies." 'Nuff said! With thousands of other movie buffs like you weighing in every day, you get a good idea of what the masses think about that new action flick in a simple, quick, and easy-to-read rating system. Plus, you can check out reviews of DVDs and get your social fix by seeing what films your friends have seen and rated. Another cool thing about Flixter is you can participate in user-generated polls and quizzes based on movies they've seen. It's a pretty hopping place, that Flixter. You should check it out.

Green Geek Tip: Print on Both Sides of the Paper

geeksugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:00:19 -0700

It's not complicated to learn how to print on both sides of paper, but I bet very few of us actually do it. There are few times when you need to have an actual blank page on the back of a printout, but doing so will save precious trees so let this be a reminder to you!

If you don't know how to print on both sides, simply go into your print settings. For Macs, click the arrow next to the printer and then select "Layout" and turn "Two-Sided" on. For PCs, it's usually known as "Duplex."

And a reminder: If you forget to print on both sides, you can always reinsert printed pages into the paper tray, right side down and print your new project.

Your colleagues and boss shouldn't mind the double-sided printing, since it's a green and money-saving, solution. Heck, you might even be promoted for your efficient idea!

Source

Kwiry Can Now Send You Netflix and Amazon Updates

geeksugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:00:48 -0700

When we're out and about, my boyfriend is always telling me to remind him to add such and such movie to his Netflix queue or remember a product name to look up on Google later. Today I'm sending him a link to this article so I can retire from all my "remember this and that" duties. If you haven't heard of it already, Kwiry is the ultimate "free" service that will send you text messages of all the things you want to remember. Not only can you send yourself email reminders, add tasks to your calendar, add a feed to your RSS reader, but you can now add products to your Amazon wishlist and update your Netflix queue, all thanks to Kwiry.

Once you sign-up online, all you have to do is text a message to K-W-I-R-Y (59479) with the name of the service you want and then the name of the product, movie, etc., and Kwiry will do the rest of the work! The only thing I'm a tad skeptic about is providing a website with all of my passwords, but they swear everything is encrypted so I may just have to go with it.

Use Google Talk in Safari on Your iPhone

geeksugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:45:55 -0700

I'll admit this isn't a life-changing tip, but a reminder that Google Talk has been redesigned specifically for the iPhone. It runs right in your Safari browser, so you don't have to download any special application. All you have to do is navigate to talk.google.com and sign in to your account.

The version was made to work in your browser so you'll be automatically signed out of Talk when you navigate to a different browser window or app. That means you won't always be online, but you can check in at any time to see if your friends are online or if they have updated their clever status updates.

Embed Your YouTube Videos With Cool Skin Flix Skins

geeksugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:02:00 -0700

You spend hours perfecting your Myspace or Facebook profile. You frequently feature hilarious videos on your blog. You want to be fresh and innovative. If this describes you, why would you embed a plain old video box on your pimped-out blog or profile? It just doesn't work, but I have the solution. Skin your video with Skin Flix instead. Slide, the maker of Skin Flix, brings you tons of ways to frame your YouTube videos in fun skins, from (my fave) the old-school TV set to picture frames and drive-in movie screens.

I know what you're asking. Why would I skin a YouTube video? Well my friends, the answer is why the heck not?!

Geek Tip: Export Your Feeds From One RSS Reader to Another

geeksugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:00:59 -0700

Change can be hard. Maybe, for instance, you committed to an RSS Reader early on and then decided to switch to a different RSS Reader later on. I'm not here to judge — just to guide.

If you happen to be dying to make the switch to Google Reader from another RSS (maybe you heard how fan-freaking-tastic Better GReader makes it), then I bet you're also saying, "yes, I would love to switch, but what about all my feeds?!" That's a valid complaint, especially if you have upwards of 100 feeds, as so many of you do.

To see the tip, just

Geek Tip: Manage Your Money With Rudder

geeksugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:45:00 -0700

My aunt is a bank manager, and I told her at a recent family event that I don't use a check register to keep track of my deposits and withdraws from my checking account.

She gave me a lecture about being responsible with my money, and wondered how I didn't overdraw my accounts all the time. But being that I only write one check a month for rent, and all my other bills are paid online, I don't really see the need! (Not sure if that's a Savvy approved thing to do, but hey. . .)

So when I found Rudder, it gave me yet another excuse to break my paper habit. Rudder is a cool app that delivers daily money updates right to your inbox. Rudder calculates how much money you'll have after all your bills are paid, shows you daily balances on your accounts and credit cards, and even alerts you when your bills are due. I don't even need my paper statements anymore, since Rudder keeps me on top of my money! And paired with Dime tracker, I think I've got my funds covered from start to finish. Worried about security? See why you shouldn't be when you

Geek Tip: Add Audio Comments to Your Blog or to Facebook!

geeksugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:45:24 -0700

Typed comments have a major drawback — they really lack the tone you're going for. Sure, you have CAPS LOCK and italics to emphasize something, but you can never really get across what you would like to say the way you can with your voice, right? Well, then, say it with your voice with WagWire!

WagWire lets you add an extension to your blog, website, or Facebook page that allows visitors to leave voice comments and messages. Simply register for an account, and then go into "plug-ins" to add the voice-recording button and the site will provide HTML code for you to add to your blog or site (except for Facebook, which is even easier). Now you'll really be able to hear the nagging in your momma's voice!

Get TV Guide on Your BlackBerry or Windows Mobile Phone

geeksugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:01:19 -0700

Do you ever panic about when the next episode of So You Think You Can Dance is on when you're no where near a computer? The free TV Guide Mobile download will give you access to television listings and movie reviews on your BlackBerry, pocket PC or Window Mobile smartphone.

You can set personalized enhanced listings and program reminders by episode or series that will be
delivered as an SMS text message right to your phone.

Eco Geek Tip: Use a Powerstrip With a Breaker

geeksugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:45:45 -0700

I know it seems like common sense, but if you are looking to save energy and money, plug your gadgets into a power strip with a circuit breaker so you have the ability to flip the switch off instead of draining energy. I suggest hooking up devices like your TV and DVR or TiVo to one strip (so they can stay on and record all your favorite shows), but keep everything else on strips that can be turned off whenever you leave the house for an extended period of time.

There's a neat site called MyGreenElectronics that offers a simple energy calculator so you can guesstimate what your electronic use means for your wallet by the minute, day, month, and year.

Make Your Own Virtual Scrapbook Online

geeksugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:00:34 -0700

I try to be a crafty, DIY type of gal but I have to admit, my heart belongs to the Internet and my trusty laptop. I probably would really enjoy making my own photo scrapbooks if I could just tear myself away from my Flickr account long enough to print some of my pics. But thankfully, Scrapblog has made me realize I shouldn't be ashamed of my Internet addiction, but that I should nurture it.

Why? Cause I can just as easily make my photo scrapbooks online with Scrapblog's easy to use service, plus I can get my creation out to more people since I can embed it on my blog, or send links to my friends and family. And hey, I'll even save a few trees in the process. To hear how Scrapblog works, just

Geek Tip: Get Radio for the iPod Touch and iPhone!

geeksugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:01:49 -0700

So far, there have been so many apps released for the iPhone and iPod 2.0 update that I haven't had to wait for any apps yet (though I have questioned the usefulness of many). That is, except for a radio app. The absence of a radio option has frustrated some iPod users, as shown in this week's iPod vs. Zune post. That changes now — if you have an iPod Touch or iPhone.

AOL Radio is a new app for those who have upgraded to the 2.0 firmware update, and it provides over 200 radio stations, including your local radio stations (when you're in the area, and when you're not), as well as Internet radio stations. One drawback for first gen iPhone users is that there are not as many stations as there are for 3G, but radio on your little device is certainly still an auspicious start!

Geek Tip: Text Google to Find the Best Prices While Shopping!

geeksugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:00:21 -0700

This geek tip is coming to you courtesy of Real Simple, and without being too punny, it is real simple. I knew you could text Google for info on mostly anything, and I was really stoked when I found the Checkout SmartShop iPhone app last week.

But if you don't have an iPhone or don't want to pay $5 for the app, then RS advises you to text 466453 with the item name that you spot while out shopping (like "Joe's Jeans Muse") and then type "price" after that.

Google will then text you back with the price of that item at different stores! You won't overspend if you have tech on your side (well . . . maybe you won't).

Source

Make Your Photos Look Like Mini Models in Photoshop

geeksugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:01:56 -0700

Is this a picture of a miniaturized London street? Nope, it's the real deal, just made to look like a tiny version of itself! The effect is called Tilt-Shift and it's totally awesome. You can make virtually any picture look like a scaled down version of the real thing with a few easy adjustments in Photoshop. Assuredly, once you bust out your own completed works, there will be plenty of praise from pals who are amazed with your digital skillz. Yes, that's skills with a z, 'cause you're just that good.

Check out this easy-to-follow tutorial to get you on your way. One quick tip though — make sure your photos of choice are taken from a higher angle, as miniature scale models are usually shot from above. I've already done several of my own landscape shots, so be warned, it's kind of addicting!

Source

Best Ways To Stay Socially Connected

geeksugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:00:09 -0700

Social networks are all the rage these days, with people Twittering, Loopting, and sending their locations to friends via their cell phone, all in hopes to stay in touch and rack up points on those social calendars. Whether you are tethered to your cell, or connecting through your WiFi, here are some of the best websites, networks, and apps to keep you connected to your friends. Source

Geek Tip: Stalk Your Friends With Loopt

geeksugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:00:20 -0700

Well, maybe not stalk, but at least you will know where your pals are (and what they are doing) when you're needing a buddy fix. Loopt is a new mobile program that not only alerts you when your friends are nearby, but shows you their pics, reviews, and favorite hangouts right on your mobile device. Send your location and deets about what you are doing, and automatically be connected via AIM, buddy lists, and Loopt contacts, so you can meet up wherever, whenever.

And tell me if you've heard this one before: You can download Loopt for your iPhone right from the App Store for free! I've tested it out already on my new favorite gadget, and I gotta say it's pretty sweet!

Spygeek: Deliver a Self-Destructing Note with Privnote

geeksugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:00:57 -0700

If you have never thought to yourself, I can't wait until the day I send someone a note that says, "This message will self-destruct in 30 seconds," then you should both check yourself and have that thought now.

Privnote was devised for the spy in you, or at the very least, the person in you who has a really juicy secret on their hands that they do not want to be traced back.

Simply go to Privnote's site and type in your super secret message, and they'll give you a link to send to your recipient. Once they read it, poof, it's gone, and it can't be accessed again. Stealth.

Source

Geek Tip: Easily Take Screenshots With Your iPhone

geeksugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:00:59 -0700

Taking screenshots on the old iPhone was a difficult task, requiring you to perform a preference hack then do some tricky moves with buttons just to get a screen grab. But thankfully on your iPhone 3G (and if you've updated to the 2.0 firmware update for an older iPhone), it's so much easier and doesn't require any hacking into your new, pristine toy.

To take a screenshot on an iPhone 2.0 (that's "two dot oh" to you, ma'am), all you have to do is hold down the Home button while pressing the Sleep/Wake button. Your screen will flash and presto, you have a screenshot. You can find your shot in your iPhone's photo app for easy download to iPhoto or Windows photo program. Simple. Like the iPhone itself, no?

Geek Tip: Put Your Gmail Account to Work For You

geeksugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:00:22 -0700

I love learning new tips and tricks for managing my Gmail account so I was thrilled to see the official Gmail blog celebrated its one-year anniversary with a rundown of its 10 most-viewed tips.

While I've already put together my own Top 10 Gmail Tips it was really interesting to see theirs. Here are highlights of the Gmail list:

Tips for importing old mail into Gmail — Considering the amount of storage on Gmail it really is worth it to import your most precious message from your old accounts into one account. Their guide is shockingly easy to follow.
Two ways to get more out of your account — Gmail notes that when you choose a Gmail address, you actually get more than just "yourusername@gmail.com." You can insert one or several dots (".") anywhere in your email address. Gmail doesn't recognize periods as characters in addresses, they actually just ignore them. (This is one of my classic faves.)
Five little-known Gmail features — Did you know you can share Gmail searches with friends? I didn't! You can prove that you did indeed send that message. Search for the message and when you find it listed in the results, just copy and paste the URL and email it to your friend. When she goes to that link while in Gmail, your friend's Gmail will run the same search you ran and will be able to locate that "lost" email instantly. It's time to make some bets!

Want more? Check out the complete list on the Gmail blog.

Keeping Your Laptop Cool in the Hot Summer Months

geeksugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:00:43 -0700

When things start to heat up in the lazy hazy days of Summer, we all have our ways of cooling down when the temperatures rise — like jumping into a pool, fully clothed. But even though we can treat our bodies like that, we can't do that to our laptops! So to prevent you from getting a laptop born on your legs in addition to a sunburn, I've compiled some products to keep your computer cooled down and working like it's supposed to. Source

Use BiddingForTravel For Cheap Summer Rooms and Flights

geeksugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:00:54 -0700

Travel season is upon us, and I'll be the first to say I have champagne taste, but am confined to a beer-sized budget. Finding deals on hotels and flights has never been so important, especially with gas prices and travel costs through the roof! So lately, Priceline's "Name Your Price" feature (you know the commercials — William Shatner is the "Priceline Negotiator"?) has been looking more and more attractive, but I've heard a story or two about users who have been less than thrilled with their room once they've arrived.

My girl Petsugar has been there and told me about a site she found that deconstructs the rules and ways of Priceline's hotel selection process. Dubbed BiddingForTravel, this site schools you on some sweet tips and tricks to using Priceline, and now Petsugar can even guess (correctly!) which hotel she is bidding on!

Go through BiddingForTravel's helpful FAQ's first to learn how Priceline chooses your hotels and flights, then start bidding. If it's all too much and you need further help, request for bid assists from the pros to help you get the room and location you want for your next vacay. That's what I call full service!

Source

10 Websites to Visit Before You Take Flight

geeksugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:00:51 -0700

So you've already scoured your favorite discount travel site in search of the perfect vacation package and started thinking about your packing list, what else do you need to consider before you take to the friendly skies? I've put together a lineup of my favorite websites and web services to make it easy for you.

Geek Tip: Use GasBuddy on Google Maps to Find Cheap Gas

geeksugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:00:50 -0700

If you were one of the millions who hit the road this long weekend, you know that rising gas prices can do a number on your wallet, leaving you with less cash to throw down for an icy, cold beer.

So instead of just forking over your last twenty at the first gas station you see, plot out your fuel-ups for next time with Gasbuddy on Google Maps. The GasBuddy add-on will help you find the nearest and cheapest gas to your location, helping you save a few pennies in the process.

Just add-on the GasBuddy extension to your Google Map and enter your zip code. It's all downhill from there.

Capture Fireworks Like a Pro With These Tips

geeksugar — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:00:00 -0700

If you're heading out to check out your local fireworks show tonight don't forget to bring along your camera! Unsure of how to take great action shots of those nighttime displays? I've rounded up some tips to help you snap those fireworks like a pro. Happy Fourth! Source

Geek Tip: Use Window Cleaner to Fix Unplayable Discs

geeksugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:45:27 -0700

This tip actually comes courtesy of Netflix, after they were beginning to kill me by sending unplayable disc after unplayable disc. The first offender, (a How I Met Your Mother DVD, if you must know), refused to play in my DVD player, so I pulled out all my tricks to clean it (except for the ol' toothpaste trick, which I was tempted to try, but since I didn't own the disc, I had reservations), to no avail, so I reported it unplayable, and Netflix sent another copy of the DVD.

Would you believe it, the next HIMYM disc they sent would also not play! By then I was angry and cursing the Netflix gods as I signed in to my profile to tell them yes, you sent me another crappy DVD that I can't play. But instead of them telling me OK, they'd send a new one out (as they had the previous time) it was as if the website sighed loudly at me; the next message I got was something along the lines of "Have you tried Windexing it?" Defeated, I admitted I hadn't, so I tried it.

To see the rest of the tip, just

Geek Tip: Use PhoneVite to Send Invites and Updates

geeksugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:02:54 -0700

I'm sure you all know and love eVite for sending quick and easy invitations. But I've come across an interesting situation with some of my non-tech-savvy pals: they can go days (even weeks) without checking their email, causing them to miss out on fun evenings cause they didn't get the notice! Can you imagine?! But I still love 'em, so I try to figure out ways to work with them, and not against them. Which brings me to my new fave invite service that's friendly to techies and nontechies alike: PhoneVite.

PhoneVite allows you to batch-send invites, updates, messages, and reminders by voice message to your recipients' phones, and even lets them send an RSVP or message back. To learn how to get started with PhoneVite just

Sensible Units Takes the Guess Work Out of File Sizes

geeksugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:00:24 -0700

Sweet! You just purchased a 32GB Edge flash drive to store your files, but now you're wondering what the heck this drive can actually hold — how many MP3s? Movies? This is all important information! Well Sensible Units will help you on your quest, taking any unit of size (not only tech related) and converts it into real-world objects. I suggest playing around with it. . . Who knew that 5cm was 6.3 dry basmati rice grains end to end? Or that 4 MBs is only equivalent to 1.3 MP3s worth of songs?! Love it!

Geek Tip: Fix Misspelled URLs With URL Fixer

geeksugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:00:49 -0700

I love typing in www.google.con or yelp.lom to be told that the address cannot be found. I freak out, tell Firefox it's an idiot, and then head to downforeveryoneorjustme.con, at which point I develop an ulcer until I realize that it was just my butterfingers making me enter typos into the address bar.

URL Fixer is like my Zen-master — it keeps me calm by fixing my misspelled urls. After you tell it to confirm confirmations, you'll get a pop up asking you if you meant their suggestion (which appear to be pretty accurate so far!). Butterfingers, you've met your match.

geeksugar -- Geek is chic.

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Keeping Your Laptop Cool in the Hot Summer Months

Use BiddingForTravel For Cheap Summer Rooms and Flights

10 Websites to Visit Before You Take Flight

Geek Tip: Use GasBuddy on Google Maps to Find Cheap Gas

Capture Fireworks Like a Pro With These Tips

Geek Tip: Use Window Cleaner to Fix Unplayable Discs

Geek Tip: Use PhoneVite to Send Invites and Updates

Sensible Units Takes the Guess Work Out of File Sizes

Geek Tip: Fix Misspelled URLs With URL Fixer