Archive for July, 2009
Gizmo5, the Skype-like internet phone service, could already be set up as a Google Voice forwarding number, letting headset callers receive and, through Voice’s web site, make calls. Now Gizmo allows for straight-up, convenient dialing through Google Voice numbers.
If you're signed up and registered with Gizmo, you can head to your account settings at Gizmo's main site and provide your Google Voice email and password. Then log into its mobile site or desktop clients for Windows, Mac, or Linux with your 1+10-digit Gizmo5 number and password. Now making outbound calls shouldn't require using any of your Gizmo credit, or heading to Google Voice's site to connect the call—outbound calls from Gizmo setups automatically route through your Google Voice number. That setup can be used for U.S. and/or international calls, depending on your preference.
Google Voice is still in an invite-required semi-closed phase, with invitations rolling out on a first-come, first-served basis. Gizmo5, however, is free to use and sign up for. Thanks Andrew!
Update: Andrew points us to a visual Gizmo5/Google Voice setup guide that details the nitty-gritty of getting going with free Giz/Google calls.
Remember when Google was handing out free business cards earlier this year to promote profile pages? Now Google Voice is running a similar promotion, handing out 25 free business cards to the first 50,000 users to sign up.
Photo via TechCrunch
Presumably you’ll need a Google Voice account, then point your browser to https://www.google.com/voice/promo/iprint. (We’ve also been told you can find a small link to this offer on the bottom of the left sidebar when you’re logged into your Google Voice account.) The offer is limited to the first 50,000 orders, and Google picks up the shipping, so it’s all free. Granted, 25 business cards isn’t all that much, but if you’re looking to ease your transition to Google Voice, it could be a good start.
Unfortunately I’m having trouble getting access to this offer on my account (I’m clearly cursed, because I had the same problem with the last free business cards offer), but we’ve received loads of emails from folks who had better luck.
Update from a Google Voice employee on Twitter: had to turn off the biz card promotion: too many requests!, our partner got overloaded! Will bring it back shortly. bear with us! Thx!
Sweating is a critical bodily function, but that doesn’t make having sweaty hands and feet any more tolerable. Here’s how to treat both using tea bags.
Photo by aussiegall.
How to website eHow offers a six step solution for tackling sweaty feet. The instructions can also be applied to sweaty palms. Either way, you’ll need one pint of water (for boiling purposes) and two black tea bags. Both regular and decaffeinated varieties will work. You’ll next need to dilute the tea solution with two quarts of cold water.
Once you’ve created the mix, soak your feet or hands in it for one week, 30 minutes daily. You can lower the count to twice weekly once you see some results. The remedy apparently works because of the pore-clogging capabilities inherent in the tannic acids found in black tea.
Fair warning: using black tea provides only short-term relief from sweating. NY Mag tested out the method on their feet and found it to be effective, but only for twenty minutes.
If you’re a heavy sweater, how do you combat your glands? Let us know in the comments.
Just because you don’t have an Android phone or BlackBerry (or even, unofficially, an iPhone) doesn’t mean you can’t text from your cellphone using your Google Voice number. In fact, you can use Google Voice SMS capabilities on any phone.
Even if you do have an Android phone, BlackBerry, or iPhone, you can still use this method to use the native SMS app on it. It’s an inconvenient kluge, but it works.
First, log into Google Voice and configure it to forward text messages to your cell phone. When someone sends a text message to your Google Voice number, you’ll receive the text on your phone–but not from the recipient’s phone number. Instead, it will be a 406 number you’ve never seen before, with the person’s name preceding the message (as pictured here). Add that number to your recipient’s address book entry as “Other” or a custom label (like “GV SMS”). Each one of your text recipients will have a different 406 number.
From there on in, if you SMS that 406 number, your recipient will receive text messages from you—and it will look like they're coming from your Google Voice number. Their replies to any messages you send to that number will go back to your Google Voice number and come to you via the 406–meaning, your recipient never sees the 406 number. Like I said, it's a kluge, but it works.
We already mentioned this tip in our guide to easing your transition to Google Voice, but it’s an important feature worth repeating.
Smarterware is Lifehacker editor emeritus Gina Trapani’s new home away from ‘hacker. To get all of the latest from Smarterware, be sure to subscribe to the Smarterware RSS feed. For more, check out Gina’s weekly Smarterware feature here on Lifehacker.
Here are some locally specific statistics from MDA DataQuick's quarterly foreclosure report for California.
Top five ZIP Codes in number of homes repossessed by lenders, per capita, second quarter 2009:
1. Tracy 95391 (148 Q2 foreclosures, 71 per 1,000 homes)
2. San Jacinto 92582 (220 Q2 foreclosures, 56 per 1,000 homes)
3. Lake Elsinore 92532 (244 Q2 foreclosures, 52 per 1,000 homes)
4. Perris 92571 (504 Q2 foreclosures, 47 per 1,000 homes)
5.Merced 95341 (477 Q2 foreclosures, 47 per 1,000 homes)
Some upscale communities with big annual jumps in foreclosures (in no particular order):
–South Pasadena 91030 (24 Q2 foreclosures, 200% over same quarter last year)
–La Jolla 92037 (103 Q2 foreclosures, 115% over same quarter last year)
–Manhattan Beach 90266 (35 Q2 foreclosures, 192% over same quarter last year)
–Calabasas 91302 (94 Q2 foreclosures, 170% over same quarter last year)
–Malibu 90265 (54 Q2 foreclosures, 146% over same quarter last year)
–Beverly Hills 90210 (61 Q2 foreclosures, 110% over same quarter last year)
Foreclosures are generally less than 1% of all homes in those upscale ZIPs, but they still skew prices. That's because a much smaller percentage of total homes is typically on the market in those areas, so a few dozen foreclosed is a significant share of homes for sale.
San Marino 91108 had only three foreclosures in Q2, the same as Q2 2008.
– Peter Y. Hong
I been receiving a ton of questions about the Cash for Clunkersor CARS program. There seems to be some confusion around the faq regarding the program. I thought I’d take today to share some of the questions and answers regarding the Cash for Clunkers program.
Q: Is Cash for Clunkers a scam?
No. The U.S. Government’s Cash for Clunkers (or CARS) Program is not a scam. It’s a legitimate program administered by the Department of Transportation. There are, however, plenty of scams popping up that are trying to take advantage of consumers looking to participate in the program. For more, see: Beware of Cash for Clunkers Scams. A better question might be, will it work? or will it be an efficient use of our tax dollars?
Q: When does the Cash for Clunkers or CARS program begin and how long does it last?
The Cars for Clunkers bill was made into law on June 25, 2009. The program was implemented on July 24, 2009. But transactions taking place between June 1, 2009 and November 1, 2009 are eligible. Note that funds for the program may run out prior to November 1, 2009.
Q: Where do I go to find the “official” government information about the CARS program?
Please visit the official Department of Transportation website at CARS.gov or call the CARS hotline at (866)-CAR-7891.
Q: Does the clunker trade-in need to have been registered and insured in your name for at least a year?
As far as I can tell, the clunker must have been registered in your name for at least one year. The CARS website says that the vehicle must have been insured for at least one year. I don’t know if there is a requirement that it must have been insured by youfor that year. So there could be a situation where the clunker is registered in your name, but insured in someone else’s name (i.e. relative) and the clunker still be eligible. I tried calling the hotline but couldn’t get through. If anyone has a definite answer on this, please let me know.
Q: My clunker is really old. How old can my clunker be to meet the requirements for this program?
The clunker needs to be less than 25 years old on the date you trade it in. The date the vehicle was made is located on the safety sticker found on the frame of the driver side door. Remember also that the clunker has to be in working condition. You can’t push it in.
Q: I’m currently leasing a vehicle? Does it qualify as my clunker?
No. You need to own the vehicle for it to be eligible. But you can trade-in a clunker that you own for a new car lease.
Q: Can you trade a clunker car for credit towards a new truck? And can you trade a clunker truck for credit towards a new car?
Yes. As long as the clunker and new car meet the miles per gallon (mpg) requirements and other requirements, it doesn’t matter if it is a car or a truck.
Q: What will the dealership do with my clunker once I trade it in?
The clunker cannot be re-sold. It must be destroyed. The dealer will likely sell it to a scrap yard. It’s possible some parts may be stripped from the cars. But the main body and drive chain must be destroyed.
Q: Can I get a “new to me” used car with the Cash for Clunkers program?
No. You must buy or lease (for 5 years) a brand new vehicle. Used cars are not allowed.
Q: Can I get a new 2008 vehicle?
Yes. As long as it’s new, not used, it is eligible.
Q: Can I trade in a clunker for a new motorcycle?
No. This only applied to autos.
More Cash for Clunker Q&A
If your question wasn’t answered above, please check out my previous post on the Cash for Clunkers program, or visit the Department of Transportation website for the program at CARS.gov.
© Prime Time Money – Visit Prime Time Money for more articles on saving money, frugality, and debt reduction.
Digging through the Dwell archives, we were pleased to rediscover the tiny West Village studio of Milan Hughston. Featured in a 2005 issue, Milan’s one room studio is only 400 square feet and a wall of Teflon-treated nylon/polyester drapes help conceal storage, a custom-made Murphy bed and a flip-down tabletop…
Milan worked with architect Joel Sanders and the transformative possibilities of the apartment make it truly inspirational for small space dwellers. Check out the full article and all the photographs: Dwell | One Room Fits All.
(Images: Grant Delin)
In response to the controversy over official MPGs getting upped, disqualifying some car owners from taking advantage of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Cash For Clunkers program, a spokesman says affected consumers should “call our attention to it.” They did not, however, say they would do jack about it. [CNN Money]
PREVIOUSLY: EPA Tweaks Official MPGs Prior To Cash4Clunkers, Shafting Some (Photo: morsteen)
Engine Industries used Google Trends to map the frequency of search terms like “used car,” “new car,” and “buy car” through Google. They found that “people search car-related keyterms most in the summer and least in the winter, with a small spike right before Christmas.”
“Best month to buy a car? Google Trends says November-ish” [Engine Industries]
Want dSLR-level control and results from a pocketable camera? Check out the new Ricoh GR Digital III (£529.99; roughly $875). The third-generation of Ricoh’s heavily-praised GR Digital boasts a newly-developed,…
Visit Uncrate for the full post.
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