Blog Posts by GeekSugar,

iPhone 4SSource: iPhone 4S Buying Guide: Pros and Cons, and Who Should Buy

Still debating whether or not to spring for the new iPhone 4S tomorrow? While it does come with some shiny new hardware (and software) inside, not everyone will benefit from an upgrade. Debate no more - here, the pros and cons of the new smartphone, complete with a verdict on who should buy it and who should skip it.

Pros

• New camera - The 8MP camera with simple editing features (crop, rotate, enhance, and red-eye reduction), a backside illumination sensor, and larger aperture (for better low-light and white balance correction) make the iPhone 4S's camera one that competes with regular point-and-shoots. It will also come with face detection and image stabilization and the ability to capture HD 1080p video.
• Faster processor - The custom A5 chip in the iPhone 4S is the same one you'll find on the iPad 2, which means the iPhone 4S will be faster in processing speeds, games, and downloads.
• More

Source: 4 Reasons to Skip the iPhone 4S

If newer is always better, why were so many geeks disappointed by yesterday's iPhone 4S announcement? Rumors had been swirling of a fantastic new iPhone 5 for months, so seeing the same ole form factor with a few souped-up parts was a letdown for some. Though there are plenty of reasons to buy the iPhone 4S, here are a few reasons to wait it out for the next version:

• No 4G - Still no 4G on the iPhone 4S. This is unfortunate, but you may not have to wait too much longer to get fast download speeds on your iDevice - analysts believe that Apple is waiting for better LTE chips before adding them into the iPhone, which could be as soon as early next year.
• No NFC - Mobile payments on the iPhone will have to wait as Apple has excluded NFC (near-field communication) technology on the latest iPhone model. Of course, this won't be a deal breaker for some of you who said you wouldn't use it anyway.
• All those leaked case images -

Source: 10 Productivity Guides That'll Help Alleviate Stress

Mondays are almost always manic and seem especially rough when they mark the start of a month. Manage your stress this month- and better enjoy the last magical moments of Summer - by taking some time early in the month of August to organize your technology so it can help you stay on track. Here are some helpful techie guides to help you get through the month.

1. Email Yourself Important Numbers - Send yourself an email with that locker combo, to-do list, holiday gift guides, and your brother-in-law's shoe size so you always have the deets in your email archives.
2. Use Your Cell Phone's Camera to Make Your Life Easier - Having a cell phone with a camera isn't just a fun feature - it can make your life easier and help you remember little things you'd otherwise forget.
3. Download Productivity Apps - Stay on track with the help of automatic reminders and to-do lists.
4. Guide to Getting Organized Online

Source: Extend the Life of Your Computer With These Care Tips

If your laptop is still in working order, you probably don't need to spring for that brand-new MacBook Air this season before you head back to class. Nonetheless, the start of a new school year (or just Fall in general) is a good time to spruce up your trusty laptop and get it ready for the long nights of studying ahead. Here, a few tips on how to get your machine in tip-top shape before the first bell rings, and how to care for a brand new investment so it serves you well for the next four years.

• Clean it Up Giving your laptop (or desktop) a thorough cleaning is essential to extending its life. Back up any data you may already have stored (on an external hard drive or portable flash drive), organize your desktop icons, empty your computer's trash on a regular basis, and clear out any programs you don't use. This will help free up space and keep you on the fast track to productivity.
• Practice proper shut-down

Source: 5 Tips For a Digital Diet

If admitting that you're addicted to your social networks isn't enough, a new book by technology reporter Daniel Sieberg called The Digital Diet ($10), wants you to admit and remedy your tech addiction (you know you have one). While technology is becoming completely integrated into our modern lifestyles, it's not always good to block out the world around you while you tweet, post to Facebook, watch movies, and check emails. Daniel Sieberg offered up some handy tips on how to break your tech addiction from his book, which you can check out below!

• Avoid tech turds - One of our own favorite tech etiquette tips says that, as a rule of thumb, you shouldn't leave your phone out on the table. Daniel Sieberg has a more colorful way of saying it, calling these situations "tech turds": "Don't just dump your smart phone on the table at a restaurant or at home. Keep it in your pocket or purse unless it's critical to have it out. If you must have it out,

Source: Tips For Organizing Your Digital Photo Collection

Spring isn't just the time to clear out the clutter from your home, it's also a great time to get your digital photos in order. I'm guilty of just tossing my pics into one jumbled and disorganized file (which makes it a pain to find a specific pic), but we can all start fresh and clean from here on out thanks to some helpful tips from the pros. Featured in a recent Wall Street Journal piece, Bradly Treadaway, digital media coordinator and faculty member at the International Center of Photography in New York, shows us how easy it is to keep your photos in order with just a little bit of proactive work. I've rounded up his tips into four points below.

• Store on a dedicated external hard drive - Instead of storing your photos on your computer's hard drive (which takes up lots of space), buy a dedicated external hard drive to use as your digital photo library. Store it in a safe place, and you'll never be without your precious

Between work, play, and home, your life can get a little cluttered. Though some are in the camp that gadgets cause us more stress than we need, tech can actually help simplify and streamline our lives, even - dare we say it - make it a little more fun. Check out these 11 tips on how tech can help you breathe a little easier every day.

1. Set up autopay for your bills - Writing checks seems so outdated these days, especially when a majority of creditors and even landlords have an autopay option. By setting up your bills to automatically withdraw from your checking account, you save cash on stamps and envelopes and could even save a few trees in the process. Plus, you'll never be late on a credit card payment again!
2. Stop getting paper bills - In addition to setting up autopay, you should cancel your paper bills in favor of an electronic version if possible. This will cut down on mail clutter, and you'll have a digital copy of your monthly statement whenever you need it.

Source: 5 Apps and Sites to Keep You On Task

Does your schedule get so packed that you sometimes forget mundane tasks like stopping by the bank or dropping off your dry cleaning? What about bigger reminders, like how that presentation is due next week? Good news - these apps and websites will help you stay on task, organized, and keep your to-do lists in check. On time and organized looks so good on you!

• Google Tasks (Free): Turn your Gmail emails into tasks, and set notes, deadlines, and alerts on your Google Calendars. Plus, you can access on the web or mobile apps.
• Astrid (Free): Astrid, a free Android app that manages deadlines and appointments, organizes tasks by priority, date, and time. The reminders are cute and cheeky, too: "When you have a minute: clean out your inbox," for example.
• Doris (Free): Doris is a clean and simple web productivity tool that organizes to-dos, deadlines, and appointments. There's also a free iPhone app that syncs up with your