Shay Fan | CuteGeek

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Web Wednesday: Google Reader Play

by Shay Fan on March 31st, 2010

I’m not quite sure when they enacted it, and I’m pretty surprised that more people (or at least what I have read and seen online) haven’t talked about it: Google Reader…Play!

Okay, for those of you where are also new to Google Reader, it’s basically another RSS feed for all of your favorite sites. Instead of visiting 10 different places, it pulls the latest articles for your perusal. The other interesting thing about Google Reader is that you can share articles that you enjoy with your *select* friends on Google.

I love Google Reader for catching up on all the latest pieces on the Web…but, as it usually tends to go, I ended up overpopulating my Google Reader with TONS of different blogs. One day, I noticed this message:

Google Reader Play is a fun way to browse interesting stuff on the web. Give it a try!

When I clicked on it, this is what I saw:

Although there are still some kinks to work out, I enjoy using it (especially when I don’t have tons of time in my day and night). As you can see, Google Reader Play pulls some of the trending articles, pictures, links and more. I’m not quite sure where the algorithm comes from, but so far I’ve found some pretty fun things.

It isn’t without problems. For example, once you scroll through all of them Google Reader Play runs out of recommendations. So sad. Of course, this is remedied when you wait and peruse it again the next day. Also, Google Reader Play can also get a little redundant.

Even though it’s not perfect, it’s something I’d definitely recommend checking out. I’m curious though…what RSS feeders to you cute geeks use out there…or do you get them straight to email?

The Internet is a big place. There are so many sites to read, widgets to play with, and viral videos to watch. In the midst of all the trending topics and links being sent around, sometimes there are those little tidbits on the Internet that go unnoticed. Have something to share? Drop me a line at Shay@cutegeek.com!

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Web Wednesday: My Famebook

by Shay Fan on March 24th, 2010

Okay, so if you’re a cute geek chances are you’re on Facebook. With the site overtaking Google for the first time as the most popular destination on the Web, you’re really missing out on a chunk of culture if you’re one of the few profile-less people out there.

For the rest of us that are on Facebook, you’ve probably seen a lot of people with the “my year in status updates” around December of 2009. I thought it was pretty neat; after all, I tend to forget all of my status updates and now they are all there in one place. Now, a new site has taken it even further…enter My Famebook, a site that aggregates all of your updates in one place and puts it into a real notebook.

Basically, it’s three easy steps: you connect your Facebook account, pick your “wittiest friends” (according to the site), customize and preview it and you’re done! The site automatically picks from your stream and each page has a post from your feed. Ever wanted to write a book but didn’t have the time? Maybe you’ve been doing it all along. Need a unique coffee table book? Here it is. Or hey, how about a trip down a digital memory lane the old fashioned way? Yup, this would be it.

Of course, I do wonder if they would ever figure out a way for you to make this into a gift. Maybe one day you could stream in updates from someone else. What do you guys think? Is this a real famebook, or kind of a lamebook?

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Web Wednesday: Rentalic

by Shay Fan on February 17th, 2010

For a bit of a departure this Wednesday, I thought I’d share a site that I recently discovered through The Consumerist (who in turn found it from the Boston Globe) called Rentalic. Similar to the business model of other famous sites such as Rent The Runway and Bag Borrow or Steal, Rentalic is an online marketplace that lets communities rent out items and simple services that they need. Need a rake? Instead of buying one and throwing it in the garage for storage most of the year, why not rent one?

Here’s the story of how the little ingenious idea came to be:

Some time last year, our founder was faced with a common problem that many people in our society face. He was re-doing his backyard and needed a wheelbarrow. Even though buying a wheelbarrow is not expensive, he did not want to own one because it takes up space to store it. He knew that his neighbor has a wheelbarrow just sitting in their backyard, but felt bad borrowing it yet again for free as he has already borrowed it a few times. He started thinking: ‘What if my neighbor rented it out for a small fee?, then I would not feel bad about borrowing it again, and the neighbor gets the added benefit of making some extra cash from an item that just sits in their back yard’.

I find the whole online borrowing concept really interesting. I wonder if it would take off like the next Netflix for household items. When you think about it, you could rent the place you live, rent everything you own in it and have nothing belong to you…not even your clothes! What do you guys think? Would you use a service like this, or has the loaning culture of the Web started to get a little crazy?

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Web Wednesday: Move over, Manolo

by Shay Fan on February 10th, 2010

One of the biggest trends that I have seen on the web is the availability of customization on practically everything. In the last Web Wednesday, for example, you could upload and send unique sets of postcards. Threadless encourages designers to upload unique images and the community votes on ones that are made into t-shirts. Zazzle lets you design mugs, shirts, whatever you want. It seems like almost everywhere you look, there is a chance to put your own spin on things.

shoesofprey

For the shoe fanatics out there who swear by the comfort and worth of top designers like Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin – now you can really get a one-of-a-kind shoe made just for you…because YOU design it! With the Shoes of Prey customized shoe designer, you can chose the basic shape, embellishments, fabric and more of shoes made just for you. Take heed though, these puppies don’t come cheap. There is a price for customization and comfort: shoes cost $180 for ballet flats; $230 for 1½ to 3½ inch heels and $280 for 4 to 4½ inch heels.

Of course, if you’re going to already shell out $500 for a name brand, why not make it your own name brand? There is no longer the need to hunt for the perfect shoe that is missing from your closet. Just make it! Nervous that they won’t fit? Don’t worry, the site says you can return for a full refund or exchange the shoes.

These shoes definitely look made for walking. Curious – has anybody out there tried this, or will try to make their own? I’d love to hear your experiences!

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Web Wednesday: Tripletz

by Shay Fan on February 3rd, 2010

It’s hard to believe that it is already February, and even harder to believe that Valentine’s Day is coming in two weeks. That being said, I happened across a recent article in Mashable about some great geeky gift ideas this V-day. While some of them were cute, one really stood out to me: Tripletz.

Picture-29

Basically, this is how it works: You pick a set of three cards that spells out a message (something simple like “I love you” or “You’re super cool”) and one card gets delivered at a time to the recipient. You can pick the approximate date when the last card goes out, and the last card lets you put a short message – about 150 characters. If you feel like flexing your creative muscle, joining Tripletz also lets you upload a “set” of cards with your design and messages. If you’re just a shopper, you can see the created sets or mix and match. Many of the sets are also categorized by occasion or purpose, like birthdays, zingers, etc.
Continue Reading…

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Web Wednesday: Rent the Runway

by Shay Fan on January 27th, 2010

I admit, I heard about this site before from the amazing blogger of NOTCOT, but I was shocked when a lot of my friends had no idea what it was.

If you’re a budget conscious fashionista – here is how to get your fix of some of the latest and hottest couture dresses for a fraction of the cost.

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Font Fun

by Shay Fan on May 11th, 2009

One of my favorite things to do as a kid was to play around with all of the different font types. And, admittedly, I still do that. I’ve always found fonts to convey so many different things. Arial is so businesslike, Times New Roman is classic. Comic Sans is a little silly and immature, and Futura Black is…well, futuristic.

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Font Fun

Get Your Guns Out

by Shay Fan on March 13th, 2009

For the Cute Geeks that are heading to Austin for South By Southwest Interactive, there is a group of fellow Geeks that are taking the convention by storm…and nerf darts.

Andrew McCollum, a co-founder of Facebook, has concocted a plan for an interactive assassin game. Once you receive your target (over direct message, of course) set your fun gun to stun and prepare to embark on your journey. If you see someone you’d like to target instead, send a direct message “d assn target @username”

You can keep tabs on the game by following @assn on Twitter, or at a interface that can be found here which also provides rules, bot commands, and activity.

via [ZDNET]

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