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Showing posts with label smartphone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smartphone. Show all posts

Feb 15, 2021

New Trick Even For Your Old iPhone

How to Activate Secret Button on iPhone


Recently I came across a new function on an iPhone. At first, I was going to skim over the post where it was described thinking that it is probably not for my iPhone 8 but for the shiny new ones. Turned out, good thing I instead tried it out. It worked very well on my phone. And now I have a brand new feature on an older phone.

Apr 6, 2020

How To Clean And Disinfect Your Phone


How To Clean And Disinfect Your Phone


This post may contain affiliate links, please read my disclosure here

Disinfectant wipes won't damage your phone's screen, but there are household chemicals you need to avoid when cleaning your phone.

Dec 9, 2019

New Monthly Series - Ah Smartphone - Smartphone and Travel


New Weekly Series - Ah Smartphone - Smartphone and Travel


It hit me the other day. Almost every article I write about travel gadgets includes smartphone in one way or the other. It is the most essential travel device for travelers. So, starting from this one, I will be kicking off the "Ah Smartphone" post series that talks about the many different ways that smartphones touch, improve, and part of our travel.

Mar 26, 2019

How Will 5G Impact/Change Travel


5G Connection and How It Will Impact Travel


The much-buzzed-about mobile wireless technology that’s rolling out across the U.S. in a year or so is the 5G connectivity. 5G is coming to both in homes and to our phones, tablets, and laptops. This technology is due to bring huge changes to the tech world and how and where to use our devices.

Aug 27, 2018

Smartphone Chargers That Fit In Your Wallet Or Phone Case


Chargers That Fit In Your Wallet Or Phone Case(click to tweet)





Go Travel Slim Power Bank
» 2300mAH slim USB emergency phone charger
» Compatible with most smartphones, mobiles & small USB devices
» Fully charges a smartphone in 1.5 hours (time may vary depending on phone model)
» Power bank charges completely in 3 hours

Feb 12, 2018

Video of the Week - 5 Ways to Increase Battery Life on iPhone

Video - 5 Ways to Increase Battery Life on iPhone



5 Ways to Increase Battery Life on iPhone
The smarter the phones get, the more battery is needed. And the smarter the phones, the more they are used and the battery does not last as long. With new updates to the phone's software, the battery suffers as well. Below are some tips on getting more juice out of your phone's battery.

Nov 20, 2017

How You Can Do Even More With Your Smartphone While Traveling


Multi-functional Phone Cases


You can do almost anything with your phone: order food, pay bills, send photos, watch videos, play games. And with various multi-tasking phone cases, our phones can do even more.

Aug 7, 2017

Traveling With Smartphone - Know Where To Turn To Get It Fixed


Traveling With Smartphone - Know Where To Turn To Get It Fixed

TTG has affiliate partnership, so we get a share of the revenue if you do decide to purchase from links below, no additional cost to you

A smartphone is the number one gadget on most traveler's lists to take along on a trip. It is also a device filled with a lot of valuable and important information. We want to always be able to access it without any issues whenever and wherever needed.

Jun 26, 2017

How Tech Has Transformed the Las Vegas Scene - Infographic


How Tech Has Transformed the Las Vegas Scene - Infographic
This is a guest post by Suzy St. George on behalf of ARIA Resort and Casino

These days, technology impacts almost every aspect of our lives, including the way we work, the way we interact with others, and even the way we travel. For the travel and hospitality industry, it’s a matter of continuing to innovate and accommodate its tech-driven customers — or risk getting left behind.

May 29, 2017

Best Water- and Dust-resistant Travel Gadgets


Water- and Dust-resistant Travel Gadgets


Plantronics BackBeat FIT
Why good to have on a trip:
» Water-resistant, sweatproof
» Long battery life - around 8 hours
» Easy to charge via USB cable or with USB travel USB charger adapter
» Flexible earbuds and band - can be folded to fit into pouch or pocket
» Receive and answer calls via headphones
» Adjust volume and playback all from the headphones without taking out your phone
» GPS type of tracker to find headphones if they go missing

Apr 10, 2017

New iPhone, Many New Changes to Phone Gadgets & Accessories

new iphone many new changes to phone

New iPhone, Many New Changes to Phone Gadgets and Accessories (click to tweet)

iPhone 8 to Kill Lightning Jack and Home Button?
tomsguide.com/us/iphone-8-no-lightning-jack,news-24559.html

iPhone 8 Design 'Confirmed' In Double Leak
forbes.com/gordonkelly/2017/03/16/apple-iphone-8-new-design-leak

iPhone 8 rumored to feature better waterproofing than iPhone 7, tout IP68 rating
9to5mac.com/iphone-8-rumored-to-feature-better-waterproofing-than-iphone-7-tout-ip68-rating

iPhone 8: Everything we know so far about the 10th-anniversary edition of Apple's historic phone
cnet.com/products/apple-iphone-8/preview/

Dec 5, 2016

iPhone's Unexpected Shutdown Issues & What To Do


iPhone's Unexpected Shutdown Issues & What To Do

iPhones have fallen recently victim to a serious battery problem. Apple has stated that this effects only iPhone 6s that was manufactured between September and October 2015. However, it has been discovered that the shutdown malfunction also exists in the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s Plus, in addition to iPhone 6s devices. And I can confirm that on a personal level as my iPhone 6 keeps shutting off when it is at around 40% of battery life remaining. Unless plugged in, it will not restart. And when I do plug it in, it jumps back up to 40-45%. These issues started after an update to iOS 10.1.1.

There are a limited number of things you can do:

Sep 19, 2016

What's New in iOS 10 for iPhone and Benefits for Travelers

What's New in iOS 10 for iPhone and Benefits for Travelers

There are a few significant changes that are going to be released in the 10th version of the iPhone software. The changes that would be beneficial while traveling are:

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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Apr 4, 2016

10 Great Smartphone Camera Hacks For Travel

10 Great Smartphone Camera Hacks For Travel


Multiple uses for feature of your device, camera, that is already part of your travel arsenal:

Use it as a mirror
The camera works great to do a quick hair, make-up and teeth check. It’s much more convenient and space saving than carrying an actual mirror. You can also use it look in tight spaces.

Record your parking spot
If you tend to forget where you parked your car in a large parking lot, then take a photo of your pot, specifically the actual spot number or wall or pole next to it. Remember, a photo of the car you’re parked next to is useless if the driver happens to leave before you return.

Save an e-ticket for flights, movies or events
These days I almost always get an e-ticket when I travel. They are easier to carry with you and don't require wasting paper and, therefore, trees. But there have been a couple of times when I’ve had slow cellular service or no WiFi, which makes it hard to access on the spot. Once you get the e-ticket, grab a screenshot so you can pull it up right from your photo library without worrying about log-ins or wireless service.

Save directions
Google Maps app is a great service to use while traveling to find directions and to find places of interest. Though it would not work well if you hit a bad reception area. I have previously put together a guide on how to use the app in such cases:
How To: Use Google Maps Offline When Traveling
This way you load your directions before you leave. As an alternative or in addition, you can take a screenshot of the map and the directions in list view so you have it all easily accessible. This is especially great for rural areas with terrible reception, and urban dwellers who don’t get service underground in the subway. Speaking of which, a screenshot of the local subway map when you travel is a good idea also.

Translate foreign language text
Have you ever been in a foreign country and needed to translate some printed text? These days, that probably involves typing the foreign-language text into your smartphone or laptop and using something like Google Translate to translate it for you. However, there’s a better way — if you’re using Google Translate, you can use the camera function to snap a picture of the text. Google Translate can use optical character recognition (OCR) to automatically interpret the text and translate it for you. It’s does not translate everything it sees 100%, but it can work surprisingly well and is faster than typing in words you don’t recognize. What's also great is that the app will work with no service or in airplane mode for most basic phrases.

Related articles
What Are the Rules For Gadgets On A Flight These Days Anyhow?
What is the one thing you can't travel without?
Hey Siri And Live Photos iOS Features - How They Are Useful For Travel
How to Get Your Phone and Tablet Travel Ready

Create digital copies of important documents
Snap photos of your driver’s license, passport, and other important documents, especially when you’re about to travel.  If your phone settings require a password to get in (which it should), you won’t have to worry about someone else gaining access. Plus, if you use an auto cloud-syncing service you’ll have it backed up somewhere besides your phone.

Scan and OCR documents
Optical Character Recognition, or OCR, is a technology that enables you to convert different types of documents, such as scanned paper documents, PDF files or images captured by a digital camera into editable and searchable data. You can use your smartphone’s camera as a scanner for receipts and other documents you come across. There are apps that are able to convert those photos by performing OCR to analyze the text and convert it into a searchable document. You won’t get the same image quality you would with a flatbed scanner, but this is a much faster, on-the-go way to scan documents.

Memo(ries) for save keeping
Using the phone's camera you can take mementos during your trip to remember later. You can take a picture of labels from wine or beer bottles that you’ve tried and loved at a restaurant or winery/brewery. Also grab a snapshot of your meal, restaurant name, and hotel room number.

Car rental and rental insurance
When renting a car, take a picture of the car and its license plate. This helps when checking in at a hotel and registering the car, not to mention finding it when you have forgotten what the car looks like. In case of a minor fender bender, pull out your phone, document the damage, snap pictures of insurance cards and drivers license info and get back to your vacation.

Currency converter “cheat sheet”
When traveling out of the country, take a screenshot of the sheet with conversion rates for easy access to the info on the go to do some quick calculations.
OANDA Customizable Currency Cheatsheet - this handy tool puts together a wallet-sized 'cheat sheet' for on-the-fly converting. You input your local currency and that of your destination and you get a currency converting sheet that you can easily take a picture of since it is so compact.
Example (US to Brazilian Real):

Scope out nearby places with augmented reality
Augmented reality overlays relevant information over what your smartphone camera sees.
Just point your camera in a given direction and allow an app, such as Yelp for instance, to show you what's nearby. Once you select something you will also be able to get specific directions.

And Oh Yeah, you can also use it to take pictures and video :)







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Feb 4, 2016

What is the one thing you can't travel without?

Travelers rank their smartphones as more important
than pretty much everything



What is the one thing you can't travel without? If you're like a majority of travelers, you might be reading this story on it.

A study from Expedia found travelers worldwide consider their smartphone more vital to carry than basics like a toothbrush or even a driver's license.

Read more here: Travelers rank their smartphones as more important than pretty much everything http://mashable.com/2016/01/13/travel-necessities-smartphone/




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Jan 18, 2016

Mardi Gras 2016 Travel & Gadgets

Mardi Gras 2016 is on Tuesday, February 9


Mardi Gras Weather
The weather during Mardi Gras can vary from very cold to very warm, almost hot. Sometimes it will change from one extreme to the other during the same day. It’s a good idea to layer your clothes since a chilly morning may turn into a warm afternoon. Since you will be spending long days outside, pack comfortable shoes and clothes that can get somewhat dirty. The streets tend to get dirty with stuff thrown around, spilled, and tossed. Don’t forget to check the forecast for rain. If storms are predicted, then you’ll definitely want to bring a rain jacket and/or umbrella.

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Cameras
With all things going on and colorful floats and costumes, you will need a camera to grab all the moments. Take a lot of shots to keep the memories of the events. Bring along a good fast digital camera to capture it all. And don't forget an extra media card to store the pictures and videos.
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Smartphone
It is a good idea to get a map of the city and study the areas you'll be visiting. New Orleans is a "checkerboard city" - safe neighborhoods can be within blocks of unsafe areas. Your hotel concierge or front desk can help you with route times, traffic and parking. A smartphone also can come very handy to find recommendation for better areas, view maps (How To: Use Google Maps Offline When Traveling), and find the reviews for local restaurants and other activities.

Watch
Since the events during the Mardi Gras celebration are planned out and per schedule, to see them you would need to get there on time. And it is highly recommended to get there early. That is the only way to get the best viewing spots. 2016 Mardi Gras Parade Schedule
Watches on Amazon.com

Parade routes can look empty, but the crowd can fill in fast within an hour or two of the parade. For the biggest parades rolling in the evenings on the weekend before Mardi Gras, plan to get there about four hours ahead of time to get yourself a great spot.

You Never Know What They’ll Throw.
The screaming crowds line the street waiting for throws from the floats. Some of these can include monogrammed toilet paper, sunglasses shaped like toilets, Spam and hot dogs. Anyone can come home with beads. Though the most sought after souvenirs are the unique throws that are sometimes tossed from the floats with interesting themes. Throws often include toys, stuffed animals, beads and more that would be fun for the kids.
Bring big bags to hold all of the stuff that you will catch. Collapsible bags that are light and compact but open up to large size would be great to pack for this purpose.
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Accessories and Necessities
I would advise clothing with close-able inside pockets and/or a hidden money belt. Crowds, crowds, and more crowds. Float parades draw a lot of attention. But they also draw your attention away from your belongings. Making them a prime areas for pickpockets and such.

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Toilet Paper 
A port-o-potty in the area is very likely not to have any or if there is it will be wet. Hotels will NOT let you in to use the bathroom, same goes for restaurants. Take note.

Hand Sanitizer
For bathroom breaks and many many other uses during the trip

A Small Flashlight
Port-o-potties don’t have lights either. And it can come in handy in hotel room or on the road

Small bottle of water
Important to stay hydrated, especially if consuming alcohol

Extra batteries/chargers for cell phone, camera, and all other accessories that light up

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Sunglasses


Did You Know?:
Why does Mardi Gras fall on different dates each year?
The date of Mardi Gras changes every year because it's connected to Easter, which can fall on any Sunday between March 23 and April 25. Mardi Gras is always scheduled to take place 47 days before Easter.

Do I need to buy Mardi Gras beads and merchandise before my visit?
Not unless you are going to be a rider on a float. If you plan to watch the parades during Mardi Gras, you'll catch so much you won't be able to carry it all!

Related posts:
Keep Your Gadgets Safe While Traveling
How to Keep Your Money Safe While Traveling
Cruise Travel: Gadgets and Accessories on our South America Trip

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