Blog Posts by GeekSugar,

Source: How to Prep Your Smartphone For Resale

ICYMI, the new iPhone is expected to drop next month and if you're planning on upgrading to the new device when it hits the scene, you can save a few bucks by reselling your old device. Whether you've got an iPhone 3G, 3GS, or 4, here are some tips for making sure your phone is in tip-top reselling shape.

• Back up your data and do a clean sweep - First thing's first - make sure you connect your iPhone to iTunes and back up all of your data. You'll be able to sync it with your new iPhone after you bring it home. And just like a computer, before you sell your old iPhone, you'll want to wipe it clean of any sensitive information, apps, and contact lists. Erasing all of your content and settings (go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings) is great, but go ahead and perform a full restore in iTunes as well.
• Polish the exterior - Cleaning your old iPhone is kind of like cleaning your LCD monitor - you don't

Source: Tech Tips For Working Remotely

At Home:

• Have a designated work area - The couch may be comfy, but working while hunched over on your sofa isn't the best idea for your posture. Get a real desk, or at least work at the dining table so you can prevent a sore neck and back later on down the road.
• Keep a clean workspace - Speaking of a designated workspace, there's nothing more distracting than working amongst cords, cables, papers, dirty coffee cups, and whatever else happened to land on your desk while you weren't working. Start the day off right with a clutter-free environment by making a point to clean off your desk at the end of each workweek. Monday mornings will thank you.
• Ready, set, share - Set up a file sharing service with your teammates so you can keep on top of document changes while you're working. Dropbox and Box.net are both great services for sharing documents and files between groups.
• Consider dual monitors - More desktop real estate equals more

Source: 5 Ways to Check the Weather Before You Peek Outside

Nothing ruins a good day like getting caught in the rain - or snow, or cold, or sweltering heat - when you least expect it, or when it conflicts with your morning run. Here, a few ways to have the forecast delivered right to your phone or inbox, so you won't get caught unprepared again. Don't fret if the forecast calls for rain or snow! You can use one of these geeky umbrellas to stay dry.

• Daily Emails From Umbrella Today: Get a straightforward answer to an easy question: do I need an umbrella today? Visit umbrellatoday.com and enter your zip code or city and state. Then register to receive a daily email or text on days you need to stash an umbrella in your bag. You can even set the time you wish to receive the email - just check your inbox before heading out in the morning.
• Specialized Text Alerts: Sign up for any combination of the 10 weather alerts sent via text message from weather.com. Have the daily

Source: 4 Reasons Why the Amazon Tablet Could Rock

Just because Apple has an obvious hold on the tablet market with the iPad, doesn't mean other companies aren't getting in the game. The latest entrant? Amazon. Rumors have been swirling that an Amazon tablet is expected to go on sale this year, and it could change the game for the better. Here are four ways the Amazon tablet could rock our worlds.

1. Affordability - Latest rumors and reports peg the Amazon tablet at a super-low price point, maybe even as low as $249. Given the fact that the HP Touchpad sold so quickly at $99 during the recent liquidation fire sale, Amazon could move a ton of units with an affordable price tag.
2. OS - The Amazon tablet will likely run the Android operating system, which will allow users to download plenty of apps from the Android App store.
3. Options - Word on the street is that Amazon could release a tablet that comes in two sizes - seven and 10 inches - with the 7-inch tablet coming in October and

Source: Facebook's New Privacy and Sharing Controls Explained

Facebook just rolled out new privacy controls for the things you share. Similar to Google+, Facebook is allowing users to share posts and photos with certain groups or lists of people and making it a whole lot easier to manage your photos and content. Find out more about each of the changes (which should be rolled out over the next few days) in this slideshow guide.

• Privacy Settings on Your Homepage: Instead of fishing around in the "Settings" menu, you can now control who sees what part of your profile on your actual profile page. Items like favorite music, education, employer, and other sections will have inline controls so you can set "Friends," "Public," or "Custom" privacy settings for each item.
• View Profile As: You can see how your profile looks to other friends, friends of friends, and strangers just by clicking a button on your profile page.
• Privacy Controls on Status Updates: In a very

Source: Your Target: Trade In or Recycle Outdated Electronics

No more excuses for cluttering an apartment (or worse, a landfill!) with unused electronics as Target has expanded the amount of stores offering their electronics trade-in service.

Bring calculators, DVDs, video games, iPods, iPads, iPhones, cell phones, and Nintendo DS units to more than 1,400 of Target's 1,762 stores. These products are evaluated for their current worth at the store and customers can walk away with a prepaid Target gift card with the value amount.

If you have electronics that are too old to qualify for Target's buy-back system, not to worry; there are many options to ease your e-load.

• Electronic recycling - To ensure electronics don't end up in landfills or are otherwise improperly disposed of, find a certified e-waste recycler near you, who can properly strip the devices of their recyclable parts. 1800Recycling.com provides nationwide resources. It can also be as easy as searching Google or Yelp

Source: Cell Phone Safety Tips For Paris Hilton (and You)

Reality star Paris Hilton reportedly lost two smartphones on a flight from Dubai to Manila over the weekend. Though both phones were located in her carry-on bag, she couldn't find them once it was time to deboard the plane. We've all experienced that sinking feeling when you can't find your cell; it's more than just a communication device these days. It's a device that holds a lot of personal information, especially if you have loaded up on banking, shopping, and instant purchase apps. Before you make like Paris and lose your smartphone, follow some of these basic safety tips to keep from losing your phone, your personal info, and your mind.

Don't Let Your Cell Go Unprotected
Password-protect your home screen so hackers can't access your private info if lost or stolen. Here's how:

• For iPhone: From the home screen, select Settings > General > Passcode Lock
• For Android: From the home screen, choose Settings > Security >

Source: Free Websites to Track Your Finances

After a Summer of weekend getaways, alfresco dining, and buying a Kindle just because it can be read on the beach, it's time to get the finances in check. As the thrill of the season winds down, sign up for some money management with these free websites that offer daily budgeting, group payments, and credit-use tracking.

• Mint - The leader of financial management sites, Mint charts every expense, transaction, and asset with easy-to-read charts, budget progress, and weekly financial summaries.
• LearnVest - Similar to Mint, LearnVest presents financial planning from a woman's point of view. Beyond budget and finance tracking, the site provides editorial content such as money tips and the option to connect with in-house financial experts.
• Creditable - Visualizing a goal can sometimes be all the push that's needed to make it to the finish line. Creditable creates a debt-payoff plan and tracks the progress with each log