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Do Tell: Speakerphone + Pets Equals . . .

PetSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:30:38 -0700

Though North now spends my mini vacays at Pet Camp or Wag Hotel, when I lived in NYC, I'd usually just bring him up to my parents' house to stay with Gamma and Gampa. The first time I left him was on a long trip to London, and I called often (and I mean often) to check up.

One day my mother put me on speakerphone to talk directly to North – I guess my silly pup ran all around the room from the phone and to the door looking for me! I haven't had the chance to try it since then, have you? If so, how do your furry friends react to familiar voices coming from the speaker?
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What's Your Take: Did Verizon's LG Dare Commercial Offend?

PetSugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:30:00 -0700

Can you hear me now? Although that's the only Verizon message that sticks in my head, turns out the company recently pulled a very controversial commercial for one of their newer phone models, the LG Dare. I never caught the video when it was still airing on TV but, seeing it now, I can understand what the hype was about.

I'm shocked they chose two "vicious" pit bulls on heavy chains to get their point across for the "dare you to touch one?" ad. While this generated much discussion among my friends for the subliminal, or not-so-subliminal messaging (with all the recent news about dog fighting), I'd think that marketers would be super sensitive to perpetuating this stereotype against the breed. What do you think?

The Scoop: Come Quick . . . The Bird Is Ringing!

PetSugar — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 08:00:58 -0800

Now sometimes I jump when my own phone rings, but imagine jumping when you hear your phone ring, only to realize that it never rang at all! This bird, Billy, is the culprit behind that very scenario with his owner, Stuart McNae, both seen here. The Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot is able to perfectly learn and mimic ringtones . . . so perfectly, in fact, that his owner has had to change the mobile phone's sound five times already! To make matters worse, Billy also likes to wait until Stuart leaves the room to copy the sound, and even imitates laughter when he dashes back to answer. The bird has already learned the Nokia theme, Lou Bega’s Mambo Number 5, the BBC Match of the Day tune, Soul Limbo by Booker T and the MGs and Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry . . . I can't think of trickier tones to test such a qualified creature with, can you?

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Your iPhone and iPod Touch Just Got a Little Classier

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:10:24 -0800

Although you only get two options when choosing an iPhone (even less if you're picking up an iPod Touch), you can always express your individuality with a case. I've got plenty of options for you, but if you're looking for something with a little more sizzle, a little more class if you will, check out these slim-fitting Blink Cases ($20-$25).

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These sleek and shiny cases hug the curves of your iPhone or iPod Touch without adding bulk and weight to your pocket. And even though they look like a million bucks, they don't cost a fortune. Coming in four different shades to match your sophisticated taste, Blink cases also come correct with a mirrored face plate so you can touch up your lip gloss or smooth out those perfectly placed waves in your hair. Oh, behave.

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.

A High-Tech Way to Prevent Cell Phone Driving Distraction

GeekSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:05:12 -0800

A few months ago, I told you about a new program available for pre-order that turns off your cell phones once the key is in your car's ignition.

Now, there's another similar service to keep you safe and free from distraction while driving. ZoomSafer is a free service that uses your phone's GPS system to monitor your driving speed and prevent you from placing or receiving calls or texts when traveling over 10 miles per hour. The application is programmable to allow exceptions, like calls from certain important numbers. And an added bonus for parents or employers who want to monitor the driving habits of kids or employees on the job: if the system is overridden and a call is placed or text message sent, the account administrator receives an automatically-generated email alerting them to the phone's usage.

Right now, the service is only available for BlackBerrys, but will work with select Windows and Android phones early next year. I think this kind of service is a good idea to prevent distractions, especially for people without the willpower to simply ignore the phone while behind the wheel.

Share Your iPhone Tips!

GeekSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:29:40 -0800

I'm never more than an arm's reach away from my beloved iPhone, and I love figuring out new tips and tricks to help me use it more efficiently. I've been discovering quite a few tips lately, from keyboard tricks to iPod shortcuts, but am always on the hunt for more shortcuts or helpful apps to make my life a little simpler.

Do you have an interesting iPhone tip, trick, or favorite app to share? Create a PopSugar account or log in to your account. Then join the iPhone Tips group and post your tip - it could end up featured on GeekSugar! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

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.

Regis Philbin Puts an iPhone on His Holiday Wish List

GeekSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:47:33 -0800

Well well well. Back in early 2008, Kelly Ripa tried to get Regis Philbin to join the iPhone club, but he just wouldn't budge. And after almost two years of confessing her love for her iPhone, good ole' Regis has finally decided it's time to ask Santa for an iPhone - which he says he wants to fill with "thousands of apps." I think once he gets the hang of the iPhone, he'll love it. I mean, the guy does know what a search engine is, so maybe he isn't a total Luddite after all? Regardless, just listening to the adorable duo banter back and forth about tech is pretty priceless.

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.