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Jul 18, 2016

Travel Gadget Review - Large Beach Umbrella

Travel Gadget Review - Large Beach Umbrella

sports beach umbrella

This is not a little sun umbrella that you can stroll around with. It is the kind you can set up and sit under in a chair.

However, it is not as heavy or bulky as you would think. It weighs 9 pounds and folds up into a slick, long, line that is easy to swing on the shoulder with built-in strap on the case.


We have been considering getting an umbrella awhile ago and have been doing research. And in researching beach umbrellas, we can across a beach tent for kids. So instead of an umbrella, we purchased the tent for our kiddo. It has been a hit and life and skin saver for the family. Read here how we have used it on trips to Aruba and Dominican Republic as well as on the local beach.
However, the tent is only for the little one, adults got left out in the scorching sun. Hence for our local trips to the beach, we needed a shade of our own.

Related:
Family Trip to DR - What To Pack
What To Pack For Vacation With An Infant

Why good to have on a trip:
- Easy to transport
- Unfolds easily just like a regular umbrella
- Comes with all the accessories and gadgets to keep down in the sand and with wind blowing
- Roomy for a family
- Has ventilation windows
- Can be used as a tent or
- Free standing, mushroom type
- Easy to collapse

Con: It does weight 9 pounds, so while it is the same operation as regular umbrella, you have to make sure to support it and works best with 2 people

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

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Jul 14, 2016

The Unexpected Side-effects of Pokemon Go

Image source: Youtube.com

The Unexpected Side-effects of Pokemon Go

How to get Free Pokémon Go Coins:
cnet.com/how-to/how-to-get-pokecoins-for-free-in-pokemon-go
eurogamer.net/articles/pokemon-go-coins-how-to-get-pokecoins
ign.com/wikis/pokemon-go/How_to_Get_Coins
forbes.com/sites/davidthier/theres-one-way-to-get-free-pokecoins-in-pokemon-go

Update: Pokemon Go is now available on the Apple Watch. Also coming soon to the game are Pokémon trading and player-versus-player battles, plus several new creatures.

Pokemon Go is nothing like the original game you might remember from the '90s. It's a free mobile game that lets you see Pokemon with your phone via augmented reality in the real world.
It is the hottest game out right now. And it is causing people to travel more. And even, exercise more.
As part of the game you walk around town, the park, the mall, your workplace until you find a Pokemon. Then, you try to catch it. You can get extra PokéBalls and other extras by visiting your local PokéStop. These are tagged using the phone's GPS. Your avatar gets marked in the current position on a simplified version of what is essentially Google Maps. And then you see the locations of the stops and Pokemon within your vicinity.
The players of the game are getting on their skateboards, bikes, buses, and trains and getting around their towns and beyond to locate their next Pokemon.
Though all this traveling while playing the game does raise some concerns and as Pokemon Go website says:

"For safety's sake, never play Pokémon GO when you're on your bike, driving a car, riding a hoverboard, or anything else where you should be paying attention, and of course never, wander away from your parents or your group to catch a Pokémon."

By walking around and getting on bikes and such, folks are also getting exercise with some side-effects..soreness:




See more of similar tweets collection on Gizmodo: Sore Legs Become Pandemic As Pokémon Go Players Accidentally Get Exercise

Update: There are now some statistics available on how Pokemon GO got more people to travel IRL.
The company behind the game, Niantic, said that it drove more than $249 million in tourism revenue for the cities on its event list.

You can't catch 'em all with an old phone. Get one that can:



Travel Gear for Your Pokémon Go Adventure:

Update: Nintendo released Pokémon Go Plus wearable, which is a gadget that lets you catch Pokemon in the wild with a simple click of a button. You don't even have to take out your phone. It pairs with your phone via Bluetooth and can be attached to belt, pocket or strap, and also comes with a lanyard bracelet. Pokémon Go Plus notifies you of the appearance of a Pokémon nearby—using an LED and vibration
Because of its constant connection to data and GPS networks, cell service, and camera, Pokémon GO is a major power drainer for your phone. Anker PowerCore Charger is a compact solution to this problem, get one to keep the game going.

While you are doing all the walking might as well keep track of your progress and activity with Fitbit Charge HR

Protect your phone, and your game, from accidental bumps, falls and spills with Lifeproof FRE iPhone 6/6s Waterproof and Shock Proof Case

Essentials for everyone's favorite app

Google Maps now has a ‘Catching Pokémon’ feature in Timeline

Is Pokemon the Coolest New Tour Guide in Town?

Is your phone/tablet/computer open to hacking? Protect the ones you love with a PIA VPN service for safe and secure Web Browsing: VPN for Android VPN for iOS

Sound-off: Have you download and played this game? If so, where did it take you? Let us know below

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Jul 11, 2016

Find My iPhone - Locate Your Misplaced Phone As Well As Sanity

Find My iPhone - Locate Your Misplaced Phone As Well As Sanity

Find My iPhone feature of iPhone not only can find your phone within the exact address as we know first hand (story below), but the latest feature that the phone has is that you can use it to locate a misplaced phone as well. Using another iPhone or computer, login into iCloud and Find iPhone. Afterward, you can turn on sound on your missing phone, even if it is on vibrate. The feature will override it and will play a loud ping sound continuously for two minutes to help you locate the phone. It is a great thing to know for someone who is always looking for their phone.

Other things that you can do using the Find My iPhone app:

• Remotely lock your device with a passcode

• Display a custom message on the Lock Screen

• View recent location history of your device while in Lost Mode (iOS devices)

• Get driving directions to device's location

• Remotely erase all content and settings on your device

• Battery charge indicator


Did You Know?:

How to turn on Find My iPhone for your iPhone or iPad
  1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap on iCloud.
  3. Tap on Find My iPhone.
  4. Turn On the option for Find My iPhone.
Related articles:
10 Great Smartphone Camera Hacks For Travel
What is the one thing you can't travel without?
Finders Keepers - How To Find and Keep Your Travel Gadgets
Amazon Prime - Why I Use It For All My Travel and Gadget Needs

Our lost phone story:
"Going into an elevator I and my wife reached for the elevator door that was stuck at the same time. Bump. Since my wife was also holding her phone in that hand it went flying. We both watched in slow motion as it went to the floor and somehow tilted on its side and was able to slide through almost the same width opening between the body of the elevator and platform. It ended up going down into the basement.
We called the superintendent, and he let us know that it is a big fall but not far, however, there was water at the bottom. That did not sound great. Neither did the fact that he could not go down and access it. Though he was able to tell us that elevator maintenance would be able to do that. During a workday. And this happened on Sunday.
The next day coming back to the same spot, we noticed that it looked like some work was done on the broken door and we were hopeful that the same people were able to access the basement and retrieve the phone. Super did confirm that some maintenance guy did come by but he was not sure where the phone was located. So this is when we decided to turn on Find My iPhone via computer and check it out. Once the map came up, there it was, several miles in a different borough. Turns out not only did the maintenance guy find the phone, he decided to take it with him.
After contacting the super, who contacted the elevator company, who in turned contacted the guy, we were able to confirm that he had possession of the phone. Through this same chain, we received the phone back. Though it seems that the guy was not happy about us tracking him down, and decided to run over the phone with his boot or car as it was very damaged. Thankfully, the Geniuses at Apple Store were able to retrieve some of the data and give us a replacement. We are very thankful for the Find My iPhone app and have it turned on on all of our devices."

Sound-off: Have you used Find My iPhone app or any other similar ones? Or had other situations with "misplaced" phones? Tell us your story below


Is your phone/tablet/computer open to hacking? Protect the ones you love with a PIA VPN service for safe and secure Web Browsing: VPN for Android VPN for iOS

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Jul 7, 2016

New Cool Up-and-Coming Travel Gadgets - July


New Cool Up-and-Coming Travel Gadgets - June

Samsung Wireless Headphones that can Store Music - Gear IconX
interestingengineering.com/information-leaked-samsung-wireless-headphones-can-store-music
Image source: Venture Beat
- Truly wireless headphone, no wires connecting the two earbuds
- Can store music, upto 4GB flash memory
- Don’t need to be connected to a phone at all times
- Carrying case charges the headphones
- Will be touch controlled and
- Water resistant

Levi's + Google Jacquard Commuter Trucker Jacket
uncrate.com/stuff/levis-x-google-jacquard-commuter-trucker-jacket
Image source: google.com/jacquard
- Interactivity is woven into the fabric
- Designed specifically for urban bike commuters
- Control your phone and services such as music or maps, directly from the jacket

Delta is Making In-Flight Entertainment Free to Everyone
"By July 1, almost all travelers flying with Delta can watch Showtime and HBO, or still-in-theaters flicks like The Jungle Book." 
- Best way to watch movies on airplane

A Team Of Japanese Scientists Creates Glass As Strong As Steel And Iron!
hexapolis.com/2015/11/03/scientists-create-unbreakable-glass-as-strong-as-steel
glass for smartphones
Image source: Hexapolis
- The potential applications are on electronic screens.
- Which would mean no more cracked screens on your phone or tablet while traveling.

"Olli", Self-driving Vehicle With The Power of IBM Watson Inside
ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/49957.wss
Image source: IBM.com
Local Motors is the company behind the creation of this vehicle with collaboration with IBM.
- Fully electric and connected vehicle
- Can carry up to 12 people
- Utilizes the cloud-based cognitive computing capability - to learn and adapt to transportation needs and preferences





Sound-off: What gadgets have you recently heard about or excited about coming out? Let us know below

Is your phone/tablet/computer open to hacking? Protect the ones you love with a PIA VPN service for safe and secure Web Browsing: VPN for Android VPN for iOS

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