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A Few Geeky Tips For Black Friday Survival and Success

GeekSugar — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:00:33 -0800

If you're getting your shop-on for Black Friday, be sure to check out some of my favorite deals and tips before you head out. Once you're out braving the crowds, here are a few geeky shopping tips I've pulled together to help you out during the thrill of the hunt for the perfect bargains.

Unsure you've found the best deal? Text Google to find the best prices while you're at the store.
Do you use a Twitter app on your phone? Create a unique hash tag for friends and family who are also shopping in the area, and post awesome deals and finds while you're shopping. You can easily divide and conquer the sales without sending a flurry of text messages to everyone individually.
Trying to avoid the lines? Many stores, like the Apple store are offering special online-only deals, so your crowd-braving friends won't be the only ones scoring great deals.
Roads near malls and other shopping outlets can get pretty congested, so try one of these apps for tracking traffic on the go with your cell phone.

I'm planning on hitting a sale or two myself, so if you have any tips to share, please post them in the comments below!

Whoa, Talk About Cell Phone Bling!

GeekSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:42:50 -0800

I'm all for a little glitz and glam, but I think that this Rhinestones For My iPhone case ($20) might take the cake for most blinged-out iPhone case I've seen. Honestly, it's a little too adorned for my taste, but there's at least one upside: finding your phone in a jam-packed purse just got a little easier.

Have you seen any outrageous cell phone bling lately? Do you have a totally tricked-out phone? We'd love to see pics of your rhinestones, charms, and other accoutrements! Create a PopSugar account or log in to your account. Then join the Cell Phone Bling group and share your photos with the community. Your bling could end up on the GeekSugar homepage. Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Geek Tip: Take a Self Portrait With Your iPhone

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:50:24 -0800

One of my favorite iPhone features is its camera. It's of impressive quality for a cell phone camera, and has gotten successively better with each generation of iPhone released. Add the plethora of accessories meant to enhance the iPhone's camera and applications to enhance your photos, and my iPhone can produce better photos than my camera. But even with all of the additional bells and whistles, there was one thing I thought my iPhone camera couldn't do: take self-portraits. In fact, I thought the only real way to take a self-portrait was with a mirror, with the back of the iPhone in full view.

Sure, we joke about the famous self-portrait photos that show up all too often as Facebook profile pictures, the telltale extended arm in the photo holding the camera above eye level. But taking a self-portrait with an iPhone seemed nearly impossible; holding the phone in one hand, trying to tap the right place on the screen where the camera button is located, nearly dropping the phone on the ground. (Not that I've, um, tried this or anything).

But the iPhone self-portrait is possible! To find out how, read more.

The iPhone camera doesn't take the photo when you press the camera button, it snaps the image when you release it. So, in order to take a self portrait, open the camera function and place your finger on the camera button, but don't release. Then, you can turn the phone around, extend your arm, and take the shot. No more blurry photos or iPhone-in-the-mirror shots. Even more helpful? Make sure your phone is out of silent mode, so you'll hear the "click" of the shutter's release. Smile!

Do you have a helpful iPhone tip you'd love to share? Join our iPhone Tips group where you can share your tip and tell us why you love it so much. And your handy tip or trick could be featured on GeekSugar! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Share Your Stunning Photos!

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:20:16 -0800

Have you had a chance to take a look at some of the impressive photos in the GeekSugar Community? Why not submit some of your own! We have a group called Cool Capture, where you can upload images that you're proud of, and share any special photography techniques you used to take the pic as well as the model of the camera.

On that note, I know you've probably had a hard time taking your eyes off this beautiful photo that reader aggiemsd took while exploring her beautiful city of San Diego. Taken at Torrey Pines State Reserve aggiemsd says she used her Canon PowerShot SD940IS to capture this amazing pic.

Be sure to upload your photos, and you might be featured on GeekSugar! There are lots of ways to share, so read on to learn more.

Share Your Fabulous Food Photos!

YumSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:15:26 -0800

Are you drooling over the yummy-looking food photos in the YumSugar Community? Then add some of your own! We've got a group called Savory Sights, where you can upload mouth-watering images of foods and drinks you've made, consumed, or just salivated over. Speaking of which, doesn't this blueberry scone uploaded by Nancita look delicious? Upload your photos, and you might be featured on YumSugar! There are lots of ways to share, so read on to learn more.

Lindsay Lohan Is a Fan of Apple but Not Its Warranty

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:45:29 -0800

Although Lindsay Lohan has run the gauntlet of cell phones, she's become a BlackBerry convert and sticks with Apple for her computer needs. Lindsay recently lamented on Twitter about how her MacBook took a beating during her recent travels and ended up with a cracked screen. I know how expensive replacing screens can be, and unfortunately the star had to learn the hard way that accidental breakage isn't covered on Apple's warranty or by their protection plans.

Besides Lindsay's cracked screen, what else isn't covered through warranty or an APP? Find out when you read more.

Even if you have paid extra for an AppleCare Protection Plan, these items are excluded from your coverage:

Installation of noncovered equipment or software
Damage caused by accident, abuse, neglect, misuse, unauthorized modification, extreme environment (like temps and humidity), extreme physical or electrical stress, fluctuation or surges, lightning, static electricity, fire, and even . . . acts of God
Problems caused by a third-party or non Apple-branded device
Lost or stolen equipment
Cosmetic damage to your device, including scratches, dents, and broken plastic on ports
Batteries, except in respect to battery coverage under APP for iPod, or unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials and workmanship
Preventative maintenance
Defects caused by normal wear and tear

Geek Out: Find Your First Cell Phone!

GeekSugar — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:00:49 -0700

This week marked the 20th anniversary of the mobile phone and glam sugar had the fantastic idea that we should all share our first cell phone.

While I sadly can't recall or find a photo of my first cell phone, it was a chunky Nokia that looked a bit like the one at right. It was at least twice the thickness of the iPhone and housed a humongous battery. Chic or not, I loved it. It was an extreme upgrade from my pager (yes, I had a pager!) and meant I had a new kind of freedom and accessibility.

Do you remember the make and model of your first cell phone? Share it with us by finding a picture of it on the web and bookmarking it on TeamSugar. Make sure to tag your finds with "my first cell phone" and tell me why you bought it and what you liked about it. Then check back to geeksugar next week to see if I featured your picks.

To learn what Geek Gear is and how to bookmark your finds on our site, click here. To see some of my favorite online stores, read more

Amazon
Apple Store
Best Buy
eLuxury
Etsy
Firebox
Sony Style
Target
Think Geek

A WHO Report Says Cell Phone Use Leads to Brain Tumors

GeekSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:05:10 -0800

Cell phone use causing cancer - certainly not something we haven't heard before and not something that is going away anytime soon. First we learn that the electromagnetic radiation from cell phones doesn't cause cancer and when I asked you if you were worried about your cell phone increasing your risk of getting cancer, most of you said no.

The latest news? Well it doesn't get more legit than the World Health Organization, who have been working on a ten-year investigation called Interphone to see if there were any correlations between prolonged cell phone use and brain tumors. According to CNN the study will be published by the end of the year, and did reveal that those who had cell phones for 10 years or longer had the strongest risk of tumors.

And another recent study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology supports the link between cell phone use and tumors as well. The CNN article states:

Studies that looked at people who had used cell phones 10 years or longer tended to find the strongest risk of tumors. Researchers found that cell phone users had a 10 percent to 30 percent higher risk than people who barely, if ever, used this technology.

They also touch on Bluetooth devices, which aren't as harmful, but could cause tumors if worn on your ear all day. I don't know about you, but whenever I know I'm going to have a long cell phone conversation, I make sure to pop in my ear piece (not a Bluetooth) so that my phone isn't glued to my head for a couple of hours.

What do you think? Would you consider changing your cell phone habits after learning about these findings?

Geek Out: Find Me A Great Cell Phone/Camera Combo

GeekSugar — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:07:38 -0800

Last week I asked for your help in finding the perfect cell phone/camera combo. Although I missed J.T's tour opener concert I am still on the lookout for a new stylin' multi-functional phone, so if you have any ideas please submit your favorite camera to our Geek Gear section and we'll feature our favorite models on geeksugar! Be sure to tag your finds with "my favorite cell camera."

To learn how to contribute to our Geek Gear list, click here.
Source

Great Geek Gear Find: Golla Cell Phone Sock

GeekSugar — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 08:06:10 -0700

Thanks to TeamSugar user eruntale for geek gearing this adorable orange cell phone sock by Golla! This fun sock fits multiple phone models and includes a clip so you can attach it inside your purse or outside your jacket. The top also folds over so your phone is well protected. Find this case dirt cheap at Amazon for $10. Not the most extensive color selection but still a great deal!

Got some great geek gear finds to share? To learn how to contribute your own tech finds to my Geek Gear list, click here.