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Mar 20, 2014

Best Travel Gadgets for Spring 2014

Best Travel Gadgets for Spring 2014

Believe it of not, Spring is coming. With the weather that has been around this winter in the Northeast, most folks can't wait for warmer temperatures. Though winter keeps holding on, with below freezing temperatures still around in March.

Get yourself ready and look forward to Spring travel with these cool travel gadgets:

Water proof digital camera

We used to have the Panasonic Lumix (Travel Essentials of Nearcation, Two Year Wedding Anniversary - we were traveling and Fun in Dominican Sun). And while it was great for awhile and we took everywhere we traveled including water and land excursions, the viewfinder did not last as long as the rest of the camera. It kept getting water inside and foggy. Recently, we got the Olympus Stylus TG-830 iHS Digital Camera. It is as functional and durable as previous camera. It is light and takes great pictures in different settings. It is yet to stand the test of our travels, though that is coming up soon.
digital camera olympus targus


Rechargeable batteries
I wrote about the benefits of rechargeable batteries as well as about our favorite, Eneloop rechargeable batteries and charger, a few times. See here: Rechargeable batteries charger - saves money saves planet. And I stick to it. It is a great idea to take a long these type of batteries on long or short trip.
rechargeable batteries


TP-LINK Wi-Fi Range Extender and Router
Travel size wireless router can be used in your hotel room to hook up to wired internet and enable WiFi in your room for all of your gadgets. While at a hotel, or home, that already has a WiFi connection, this device can also provide a boost to the signal so your connection is faster and stronger.
I got this one a couple months back and after initial set up it easy and quick to use to give a boost to the signal to rooms further away from the router. In our travels we have on several occasions encountered lodging facilities that advertised free WiFi to only later find out if works within a few feet of the main location. This device would be great in these situations to get the better connection in your room.


Noise-isolating Headphones
Very few, if any, people travel without some type of headphones these days. Especially, the younger generation. Check out Travel Gadgets at the Sochi Olympics 2014 for some examples. So a great pair of noise-canceling headphone can go a long way on a Spring getaway.
As of late, I have noticed on my commute a lot more ladies wearing over the ears type of headphones. I know there were plenty who wore these prior, but the frequency has definitively increased. I wonder if it because the headphones are not much lighter than they used to be, much more mainstream and accessible in terms of price and design, and are more functional. I remember when the in-ear ones gained popularity, they were marketed as headphone you do not have to wear on top of your head, though that does not seem as much of a negative anymore.
If you wear these and/or know of any other reasons for the change, please let us know
noise-isolating headphones


For a limited time, up to 70% off on select Headphones!

Powerbag Sling Bag with Battery
Traveling light is almost always a best option. It is especially true during Spring break when there are more folks stirring around. A great way to pack light is to get most of the stuff into your carry-on suitcase and have the rest in your personal bag. And these multi-functioning bags are essential on the plane and when touring. You can pack all of your gadgets, snacks, peripherals and other knickknacks into them. And you will have easy access to your goods while en route and keep them safe and secure, and even charged with a Powerbag Backpack type of travel bag.
powerbag backpack


Some Other Great Travel Gadgets as noted by our readers:

Kindle Fire HD 7" with HD Display and Wi-Fi


Kidz Gear Wired Headphones For Kids


Belkin SurgePlus 3-Outlet Mini Travel Swivel Charger & Surge Protector




Sound-off: What are you packing along for your Spring getaway? Let us know below


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Mar 9, 2014

It's Official - We have a new addition

It's Official - We have a new addition

Our little girl has arrived last month into the world. She, as her parents, is an Aquarius.

She is our bundle of joy and I cannot wait  to start traveling with her. I and my wife are already building out a list in out heads of fun destinations where we would like to go and show to her. The experience I am sure would be quite different, to see the places through child's wonder.
Though come to think of it, she did start on her world tripping already. While in her mom's belly, she went to upstate New York, Bermuda, and Delaware. So she is already a traveler, even before her passport arrives.

My wish is for her to see more of the world than both of her parents combined. I believe that there is no better education than experiencing different lands and cultures.



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Mar 4, 2014

New Cool Up-and-Coming Travel Gadgets - March

New Cool Up-and-Coming Travel Gadgets

Smartphones To Be Used As Room Keys
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2014/01/smartphones-to-be-used-as-room-keys-in-starwood-hotels-new-pilot-program
New Pilot Program at Starwood Hotels will test out using guests' smartphones as their room keys. As long as you have your smartphone, your room key will be with you as well. Great idea since most if not all travelers are tethered to their phones.

Motorola’s Google Smartwatch Prototype
http://www.ibtimes.com/google-watch-leaks-online-motorola-nexus-gem-smartwatch-prototype-photos-released-1557959
Scrapped after sale of Motorola in favor of LG Electronics and the developments between these two companies.

The world’s first wireless smart in-ear headphones

The Dash in-ear headphones have 4GB of storage which translates to about 1,000 songs. With so much music saved right into your headphones, you do not even need to take your phone along for a run. It also has an accelerometer to keep track of your steps and distance during a workout, heart and temperature monitors, and more. Dash headphones are Bluetooth comparitible and can connect with most wireless gadgets. It comes with an app that lets you track your workout, measure your vitals, and keep track of your goals. It is currently in funding stage on Kickstarter, and looks likely to go mainstream.

Automotive Tech
Next few years will see quite a bit of new technologies within vehicles. Peugeot have brought a new hybrid combination, teaming up hydraulics with a conventional gasoline engine, powering the car partially by air.
Driverless cars are being experimented with by several different manufacturers, from Audi to GM. With latest sensors, the cars would be able to tell their own location based on multitude of factors as they are en route. The other trend is for electronic city vehicles that are more nimble and require less space and fueling.
More prevalent technology and the one that is now being build into more new models is connected vehicle infrastructure. Your car becomes a hub for your connection to music, entertainment, phone, texts, and social media. With Siri and WiFi as part of the navigation, automobile is the mobile hot spot of the future.

Helmets as a Pop-Up

When not in use it looks like a bulky neck piece scarf. Hoving bicycle helmet is a newest travel gadget that helps protect you in case of an accident while on a ride. It is made out of "ultra-strong nylon fabric that won’t rip when scraped against the ground. Hövding protects nearly all of the head, while leaving the field of vision open."
Scarfs are more and more a fashion statement not just in winter, but throughout the year and for multitude of folks. Hovding pop-out helmet makes for a great accessory as they come in many different colors. See their official page for options www.hovding.com. The shell of the helmet can be interchanged so you can match it to your outfit.

Camera that will not let you get lost



A new concept camera design is targeting travelers as its main audience. In an unfamiliar city, while you can snap away all of the great sights and monuments that you will see, this camera also will help guide you to your next stop or to your hotel. Travelling Companion Panorama, as it is called currently, has a unique design that is a mix between a see-through tablet and a current camera.

First Commercial Jetpack Set to Arrive this Year
http://interestingengineering.com/first-commercial-jetpack-set-to-arrive-this-year

Some gadgets that are the opposite - will be fading as the cool new ones proliferate:

Blackberry Smartphone - the company and its hardware line are on life support. They are out sold by all other large players in the market. Even there newest software is not helping them stay afloat

Did you know that the Apple iPod is now over 12 years old! iPod classic is a thing of the past and in gadget history as well as hall of fame.

Sound-off: What do you think? Let us know below

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Travel Gadgets