There is a Travel App for That: Free Wi-Fi Finder

Free Wi-Fi Finder (download)

This app will help you find all types of free, as well as paid public if a need arises, Wi-Fi hotspots that are open to the general public, customers or guests. You are able to filter hot spot search results by free vs. paid, provider or location type. Also, you can filter locations by categories, such as cafes or libraries, and you can save your favorite spots for another time.
The app, additionally, provides offline database that covers over 100 countries and 110,000 free hot spots where you can access the Internet. This tool is great for planning ahead for vacations and business trips. Especially since you can get Wi-Fi hotspot details and call the location, get directions to it or add it to your favorites all from within the app.

Why good to have on a trip:
- Find a hotspot and get online quickly whenever and wherever
- Get Wi-Fi hotspot details and call the location, get directions to it or add it to your favorites
- Compatible with iPhone and iPod touch. Requires iPhone OS 3.2 or later.
- It's Free!

Wi-Fi Finder is available on iTunes and also on Android Market

Did You Know?
A few things to keep in mind about some Free Wi-Fi high speed internet access locations:
- It is an open unsecured connection. Use a VPN - virtual private network - for extra protection if you plan to transfer any sensitive information.
- The signal may not always be on or be strong.
- Some locations may require a purchase to get the login info required to connect.
- Some locations may have SafeSurf type software installed that will restrict access to some web sites.
- Don't expect to get much support help from the staff, they're waitresses or baristas, etc., not tech support people. Some may not even know it exists.
- Don't expect to find many plugs. Make sure your battery is charged or bring a spare.
- Some locations will not allow outgoing e-mail to be sent via their SMTP server. Use a web based e-mail account if you need to send e-mail while in this type of free location.
- At a lot of Hotzones or other similarly named types of access that cover an outdoors area (usually town, city or municipality sponnsored/provided), the signal may or may not carry to the inside of and be available in the businesses within the Hotzone.

What is your favorite go-to Wi-Fi spot? Leave a Comment

Halloween Travel & Gadgets

Sweet & Spooky Adventures:
http://family.go.com/travel/pkg-halloween-travel/
Ghost Towns & Tours
Haunted Houses
Sweetest Travel Spots
and More from family-friendly Halloween travel
by Disney Family

Halloween Destinations:
They're Creepy and They're Kooky from the travel channel

7 Thrilling Ghost Tours:
1. The Salem Night Tour: Salem, Massachusetts
2. Supernatural History Tour: Edinburgh, Scotland
3. Winchester Mystery House: San Jose, California
4. Jack the Ripper Tour: London, England
5. Hearse Ghost Tours: Savannah, Georgia
6. Dark Rome Crypts & Catacombs Tour: Rome, Italy
7. Ghosts of Gettysburg: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
More here

5 Haunted Hotels for Halloween 2011:
http://www.mainstreet.com/article/lifestyle/travel/5-haunted-hotels-halloween-2011
1. The 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa – Eureka Springs, Ark. - 3rd most haunted building
2. Buxton Inn – Granville, Ohio - one of The 10 Most Haunted Hotels in America
3. The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa – Denver - Beatles stayed at the hotel during a tour stop in 1960
4. The Myrtles Plantation – St. Francisville, La.- one of the nation’s most haunted
5. Hotel del Coronado – San Diego - some of the long-term guests have never left

10 terrifying Halloween gadgets

Top 10 Scariest Gadgets from PCMag.com

What are you doing for Halloween? Leave a Comment

There is a Travel App for That: Travel Packing Aid

Saving Grace. Travel Packing Aid:

When we are packing for one of our trips, we usually put together a list of things to take along on paper since it is easier to update it and cross off items that have been packed. Well now there is an app for that:
- Saving Grace makes packing easier by showing you not only how many items you’ve already packed, but also how many are left to pack in each category.
Just tap an item to move it into your ‘packed’ list
- The app has pre-set lists for different trip types – winter, summer, activity holiday or a short break. Activities include specific lists for surfing, cycling, golf, diving, fishing, camping etc. We have found the lists quite extensive and detailed. Even my wife, an avid packer, was impressed with all the items listed on the lists.
- You can also personalize the lists by swiping in new items or categories or delete one or multiple things at once.
- The app also features a readymade list of important stuff to do before you travel - from travel insurance to currency to watering your plants and emptying your fridge.

Available for download on iTunes

Why good to have on a trip:
- a packing check list and reminder tool all in one. Designed to cut the stress of packing.
- It's simple, and more importantly, fast to use
- Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later
- Price: Free

How do you pack for travels? Leave a Comment

Travel Bottle Kit - TSA approved, ready to go

Travel Bottle Kit is a great travel gadget for packing and organizing and, most importantly these days, abiding by the TSA rules. (TSA regulations) It is also great for health and for the environment since these are made from food grade material and resuable again and again.
A kit consists of leak-proof and break-resistant travel bottles that can be filled with shampoo, lotion, body wash, vitamins, and other travel essentials. In the eBags 3-1-1 Nalgene Travel Bottle Kit, the bottles also have different color tops for easy identification and they come in different sizes as well, ranging from 2oz down to 0.5oz. These bottles easily fit into a 1-quart zip-top bag.
Travel kits help reduce the amount of space in your suitcase when packing up various personal and hygiene products Since you can take only so much with you on the trip, its a great idea to not drag a full size shampoo bottle or lotion with you. Most bottles can provide sufficient volume to hold enough shampoo/conditioner/shower gel for a week trip. This way can pack more of other essentials and pack less in your suitcases. Or, as we have done on our trip, not take suitcase along at all, by packing everything tightly in small containers and Space Bags. Save on airline fees and your health.

Why good to have on a trip:
- easy to pack and carry
- portable and convenient
- leak-proof and break-resistant
- get past security without a problem

What do you pack for air travel? Leave a Comment

Lift up the car, easily

Titan Exhaust Air Jack:

Be a superman, get an adrenal rush, or just get the Air Jack, to lift up the car.

Air jack is inflated via a 15ft. hose that connects to tailpipe. This way you always have the power to blow up the jack no matter where you are with your vehicle and if you do not have the electric pumps or full heavy jacks with you. Though it can also be operated with air compressor using optional adapter if you would like do it the old fashioned way or not able to access the tailpipe directly. The one-way back valve will keep it inflated for up to 45 minutes and can deflate slowly or as fast as 5 seconds.
Also, as the Air Jack is made from woven polyester material coated with PVC, you do not need to worry about placing the jack on the frame correctly without damaging it, or if you can get a jack under the car at all. Double layered coating on the top and bottom of the Air Jack provide further protection from unseen jagged or sharp edges or debris.

Why good to have on a trip:
- Changing Tires
- Vehicle recovery from mud, sand, and snow
- Easily lifts the car with no additional external power
- No waiting for the mechanic or another car to arrive

How to Pack Accessories for Travel

Pack like a pro: accessorize



Gadgets in this video that are part of my travel arsenal:
-Combination lock by Samsonite - had on our checked bag on the way back from Cali trip
-Hefty travel bags
-Travel size toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, and other personal products. Great for space saving and more room in suitcases on the way back as these would be disposed off by then.
-Canon PowerShot SX120IS

Travel Tech for Today's Road Warrior from MarketWatch

Meet the Road Warrior 2.0:

"According to a national survey released by Hyatt Place, and conducted by Harris Interactive, 50 percent of today's road warriors say that life as a business traveler is easier and more productive now than it was 10 years ago, thanks in large part to modern hotels and evolving technology, keeping travelers both connected and comfortable." ... Read more

There is a Travel App for That: AllSubway

Each Wednesday, starting today, we will feature a new cool and useful travel app.

Here is the first one:

AllSubway

- AllSubway takes the confusion out of traveling underground. The travel app features subway maps for about 128 different cities around the world. There are around 140 maps available for routes in Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

- Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later
- No internet connection required to view maps.

- available on iTunes for $0.99 AllSubway

Why good to have on a trip:
- find your way around the transit systems around the world
- use public transport and save money while traveling
- great maps

California 1.5 week trip

Post about our west coast trip coming soon...

Get ready for yours with some cool gadgets:

Two sides to every gadget

During the Labor Day weekend, I and my wife took another one of our fun short road trips. This time we went to Upstate NY up to Warwick.
  In my previous post I wrote about how GPS can Tell you how to get to places, though on this trip I realized another dimension to having this gadget on a trip. Here is what happened:
  On our one-day trip we visited several wineries for some wine tasting, went to get ice cream at Bellvale Farms Creamery (which I highly recommend if you are in those parts as ice cream was really good and so was the view ..see pics in photo album), and went to a drive-in movie, they do still exist. After the movie, we were going to stay over in northern NJ as it was late and we have been driving for awhile. We plugged in the address into GPS and off we went. However, about 5 minutes into the trip, were were interrupted by the road closure on main highway we needed to take. It was flooded and/or had construction after the storm. We thought, "thats ok, we will just point the GPS to build a detour." And after some recalculation, it did. So, as we got so used to doing, we followed its directions. It turned out that it was taking us another way but to the same highway that was closed. We turned off the road again going in opposite direction, again hopping that the unit will find a detour. Once again it was leading us to the same highway, now from a different direction. To add a kicker to the situation we were also running low on gas. So we circled around the neighborhood for a bit, looking for a way out, as though we were in a labyrinth of some kind. Then we decided to take a pause and regroup as we realized that as smart as GPS seems sometimes, it was not going to help us out.
  After starring at it the GPS for awhile, I started moving the interactive map on it. And that is when it dawned on me. We can use the map within the unit in less advanced way and find the side streets manually that would take us to our final destination. With my navigator, ie my wife, following the route we came up with, we made it out of the labyrinth and to the gas station, and at last, to the house.

Why good to have on a trip: 
- Great for navigating to new destination
- Turn by turn direction
- Can be used as a map
- might lead you out of labyrinth


Warwick trip Photo Album

Life before the computer

Life before the computer
An application was for employment
A program was a TV show
A cursor used profanity
A keyboard was a piano!

Memory was something that you lost with age
A CD was a bank account
And if you had a 3 1/2 inch floppy
You hoped nobody found out!

Compress was something you did to garbage
Not something you did to a file
And if you unzipped anything in public
You'd be in jail for awhile!

Log on was adding wood to a fire
Hard drive was a long trip on the road
A mouse pad was where a mouse lived
And a backup happened to your commode!

Cut - you did with a pocket knife
Paste you did with glue
A web was a spider's home
And a virus was the flu!

I guess I'll stick to my pad and paper
And the memory in my head
I hear nobody's been killed in a computer crash
But when it happens they wish they were dead!

via www.pagetutor.com/jokebreak/202.html

10 Cool Gadgets Girls Love via GlamChic

10 Cool Gadgets Girls Love:

..Sometimes gadget gifts go over well, and sometimes they don’t, but the trick is—especially when tracking down something special for those hard-to-shop for gals—to get something that’s as stylish as it is useful. (Indeed, that should be your shopping M.O. for just about everything.)..

Rest of article on Glam.com

Top 5 ways to keep you and your gadgets safe while traveling

I am not going to discuss the storm as there are many posts and tweets about it already. What I will do is tell you about some of great and interesting gadgets that will keep you safe as well as your gadgets while in route.

  One such great gadget is a GPS. It is a great tool while on a road trip as it shows you step by step directions of where to go and knows where you are located in the wilderness of our country. We have been using ours extensively on short and long trips. Recently, we have been musing how we have traveled before without it. On our first trips with my wife, we were using a paper map and it was not easy. During the longest road trip we have taken at that time, my wife let me know that she was not sure how to read the map. We were on the highway at that time by the way, speeding along to somewhere. 

 The GPS could also be used while walking to find your way around town or forrest, as well as while biking and boating. Though while in a boat it would be a great idea to put it in a water proof pouch.

How to Use Your Car GPS in Pedestrian Mode

Keep your gadgets dry and secure:
As we all know water is a top enemy for anything electronic. I know first hand, since I thought that my phone could go swimming in the pool with me. But it was not so. There are many different cases and skins available to protect your electronic gadgets from getting ruined by water. The LifeProof case for iPhone 4 is one such case. It has a super thin and light profile that barely increases the size of your phone, has two parts with a back plate that clips onto the front with a ridge all the way around and secures via a clamp on the bottom edge. It prevents dust, water, and other stuff from getting inside.

Waterproof cases: Amazon collection and REI matrix of waterproof cases

Hold on to your gadgets securely
Handstand iPad case - The Handstand case fits snugly around your iPad -- so far, nothing overly different from other cases on the market. Where the Handstand excels is a neat rotating hand grip on the back of the case. Simply slip your hand through the elastic strap, and you can hold your iPad with just one hand and rotate it in any angle you want. The rotating rear also doubles as a stand, allowing you to place your iPad on a flat surface and angle it up a couple of degrees for watching movies. The whole construction feels very solid, and even when you shake your arms around, your iPad won't budge. - Gadling.com

Keep an eye on your homestead while traveling:
Logitech Alert HD home monitoring system provides peace of mind for you while away with apps for IPhone, IPad, and Android that lets you easily access cameras located at home with secure remote access.

Keep things secure and with you while touring:
Venturesafe 200 bag - a small daypack with a lot of security measures. First of, the shoulder strap is slash-proof and snatch-proof. A thief can’t quickly cut through it with a knife because there is wire mesh inside. The same wire mesh goes through the whole bag as well, so the old trick of slashing the bottom of a pack and taking what’s inside won’t work either. The extra-strong zippers tuck into little pockets so they are hard to reach. This bag has essential compartments for several gadgets, keys, and headphones. Find out more on Pacsafe.com

Keep your laptops secure:
When traveling on business and otherwise with a laptop, you would want it to be where you left it when you come back. Be it in the hotel room or lounge or library. Sooner or later you will get up and leave you laptop alone. You might need to get up to get a napkin, or when nature calls and you need to leave your computer behind to go to the bathroom. Laptop locks attach to your laptop computer equipped with a lock slot. Simply loop the lock around a desk or chair, then insert the lock into your notebook's lock slot and set the combination or lock it with a key. It is a best practice to lock it to something that is bolted down.

12 essential Android security apps McAfee WaveSecure (free) mSecure – Password Manager AppScan Beta (free) Antivirus Free Titanium Backup PRO Key eyeD Biometric Password Manager - iris scanning Kryptos - encryption to scramble smartphone calls MobileMe Find My iPhone - pinpoints your lost phone's location online and do a remote data wipe

Security Apps That Can Help Recover a Stolen Laptop GadgetTrak - a cross-platform tracking app Hidden - a Mac-specific tracking app Prey - a cross-platform tracking app LoJack for Laptops Laptop Cop

Did You Know?:
Secure Your Stuff: Top Hack-able Passwords (Infographic)

Powering Gadgets a Step at a Time

Powering Gadgets a Step at a Time - Technology Review:
by Prachi Patel on technologyreview.com

  "A new way to harvest footfall energy could someday let shoes generate enough power to keep cell phones and laptops topped up.

  University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have come up with a microfluidics technique that scavenges considerably more energy from human footfalls and converts it into electric power. Previous attempts to make energy-harvesting shoes have yielded less than a watt of power, but the new approach could lead to a shoe-mounted generator that produces up to 10 watts... 
  Cell phones and smart phones need about one to two watts, while small laptops need 10 to 12 watts. Power-generating shoes could be an important breakthrough for soldiers, who currently carry heavy batteries to power their radios, GPS units, and night-vision goggles...."

Rest of this article

Airplane travel gadgets to keep you moving

  The first time I came across the Knee Defender, I thought it was an interesting idea that might be useful. Though at the time I did not know/understand how beneficial it could be to have this gadget along with you on a plane. That is until I had to flight several times on business.
  Most of the time, flying for pleasure, I try to get ready to relax and have no need to drag the laptop or anything like that. So even though the space in the seat is small, I manage well enough. However, flying during business hours, I had to get some work done while in-flight. Out comes the laptop. And flying economy class, you already have little room between you and the seat in front. That room seems even smaller once you open up the laptop. And then it happens. The person in front is thinking what I am usually thinking on such flights and that is relaxing. So they press the button and push their chair backwards. Some passengers even assume there is no one behind them nor care and try to push it all the way. Making it very uncomfortable for the neighbor in the back and forget about one trying to see things on already half closed computer. This is also the moment when, thinking back to it, it would have been great to have the Knee Defender.
So scanning the web for cool travel gadgets, I once again came across it. This gadget seems to be too good to be true. It is simple in design, just a couple of pieces of plastic, and is quite small in size as seen in the picture comparison to a house key size.

  Knee Defender™ helps you stop reclining seats on airplanes so your knees won't have to. It is adjustable to help provide as much protection as you need. This gadget has been selected as an effective and even essential product from the large pool of available travel gadgets.
  Another gadget for airplane travel featured on GadgetDuck is the Scanner Bag. There are quite a few things to consider when packing your carry-on. Most importantly make sure it abides by all TSA Regulations and Recommendations. With all of these things to consider, going through the security check point can be never racking and bothersome. The Scanner Bag makes it a bit easier by keeping all of the things that you would need to take off and pull out of your pockets and dump somewhere in one spot. Your cell phone, keys, jewelry, pen, iPod, iPhone, coins, Blackberry®, and whatever else that might set off the detectors can all be packed safely in the bag. Moreover, since it attaches to carry-on there is no chance of leaving anything behind. The bag stays with the rest of your stuff before and after the scan so you can just pick up your carry-on up and go without delaying to put everything back where it was.

Why good to have on a trip:
- Keep what little space you have in airplane seat
- Save your knees and your eyes when working during flight
- With Scanner Bag, speed through beginning of security check
- And get out of there just as fast

Getting Through Security

Getting a Good Flight's Sleep

Travel Tips and Recommendations

• New Rights for Air Travelers


• Worldwide Tipping Guide


• "Smart Travel Tips for Smart Travelers."
  Gupta, Shankar P. 25 Jul. 2011 EzineArticles.com. 23 Aug. 2011.


• Traveling tips from Fodor's http://www.fodors.com/news/all_practical_tips.html


• TSA Regulations and Recommendations


• Tech Savvy Travel Tips (Video)


• Travel Information by Department of State including alerts, visas and passports, and international news


• More great Travel Tips

Did You Know?:
Click here to download TSA's Helpful Hints for Summer Travelers Checklist (pdf, 1.2mb)

Travel With the Newest Travel Gadgets

Avoid Travel Chaos With the Newest Travel Gadgets
By Tate Fontaine

Everyone loves gadgets but none more so than geeks, and geeks know that there is a gadget out there that will solve every problem life throws their way. Nothing can throw up more problems than travelling. Gadgets are the perfect solution to travel chaos in whatever guise that takes. So take a leaf out of the geek play book and grab yourself a travel geek gadget or two. Here are some ideas to help prepare you for your next adventure.

Always have some form of entertainment with you. Everyone loves to take good book with them on holiday but the problem is that you are limited by the size of your suitcase. Ebook readers are becoming more and more popular because you can carry with you an entire library for the size of just one paperback. Portable gaming consoles can be essential for long cross country car journeys either for you or for the kids in the back of the car. Portable games consoles have come a long way since the the original 8-bit Nintendo Game Boy came out in 1989. Handheld video game devices now have quite advanced graphics.

Power is another consideration. The problem with travelling is that your not always within arms reach of a power outlet to charge all your gadgets. Now with the price of photovoltaic solar cells at an all time low solar charges are now very reasonably priced. So now you can always charge your gadgets; even if your at the beach.

Safety is another important factor to consider while travelling and gadgets can help you with that too. GPS tracking devices are highly recommended if not essential for climbers and off piste skiers. With the simple press of a button your exact GPS location will be broadcast to the emergency services. These are not just another geek gadget but serious bits of kit that could save your life.

Just because you are away from home does not mean that you can not stay secure. There are some really ingenious gadgets out there to keep your data secure. When travelling it is not always possible to carry around your laptop so you will have to rely on public computers to get work done. You can now carry all your personal data with you wherever you go on a highly secure USB flash drive. Some USB Flash drives now have encryption that the CIA or NSA would envy. Identity theft is on the rise a simple geek gadget like this makes it really easy to stay secure when away from home.

In this article several topics have been covered; Entertainment, power, safety, and security. These are a few different areas that gadgets can really help you when travelling. No specific gadgets have been mentioned as new gadgets come out all the time.

If you are going travelling have a look at the travel gadgets over at Geek Gadget.

Tate Fontaine is a blogger and technology enthusiast. Currently working for a large gadget focused magazine in the US. [http://www.geekgadget.net/]Geek Gadget [http://www.geekgadget.net/Geek_Gadget/17-gadgets-every-geek-needs-this-summer]Newest Travel Gadgets

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Avoid-Travel-Chaos-With-the-Newest-Travel-Gadgets&id=3997488] Avoid Travel Chaos With the Newest Travel Gadgets

Top ten Labor Day destinations

Top 10 list of Labor Day destinations as compiled by Hotwire:

1. New York, NY, $195

2. Boston, MA, $129

3. Chicago, IL, $90

4. Las Vegas, NV, $95

5. San Francisco, CA, $135

6. Toronto, ON, Canada, $93

7. Vancouver, BC, Canada, $116

8. San Diego, CA, $94

9. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, $59

10. Washington, D.C., $89

Explore more deals on Hotwire.com:

GPS - an essential gadget when traveling

"Travel Tip: Outdoor GPS Gadgets" an article by Peter Greenberg on PeterGreenberg.com:

  "Even if you like to get away from it all, no one wants to actually get lost in the wild. The good news is with GPS technology out there, outdoor experiences have gotten a lot more manageable. A handheld GPS is probably your best bet for staying safe in the wilderness. One of the more affordable and reliable options includes the Garmin eTrex Venture HC. Or check out the SPOT Connect Satellite Communicator. When out of cellular range, it links your smartphone to a global satellite network to send messages and track your location.
  If you’re looking to keep track of where you’re going and where you’ve been, North Face now has a free app that helps find hiking, biking and skiing trails. You can see your progress on an interactive map, and share advice with other users.
  But never rely entirely on your electronic devices when heading into the great outdoors.
Always keep extra copies of maps and contact information, and always alert a friend and/or ranger to where you’re headed." (PeterGreenberg.com)

Did You Know?:
GPS stands for "Global Positioning System." As a lot of cool gadgets, it was originally developed by the military. It is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit. GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. There are no subscription fees or setup charges to use GPS (don't let anybody tell you otherwise :) )

- The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978.
- A full constellation of 24 satellites was achieved in 1994.
- Each satellite is built to last about 10 years. Replacements are constantly being built and launched into orbit.
- A GPS satellite weighs approximately 2,000 pounds and is about 17 feet across with the solar panels extended.
- Transmitter power is only 50 watts or less.

UsefulGPS.com

Road trip to PA with gadgets on board

  Recently, we took a trip to Pennsylvania. We visited Lancaster County and the Amish, and Philadelphia. Neither of us have ever been to Lancaster. I was in Philadelphia once for a few hours and my wife visited Philadelphia when she was very young. When telling folks that we took a mini vacation in PA, the reaction was almost unanimous: "Not exactly the place I would think of when going on a fun getaway." Though it was interesting.
  While Lancaster can be totally a tourist trap, there are ways to plan around that at least some of the times. We did visit the Amish house and farm, with a tour that was very interesting and we found out a lot of information about the lifestyle that have not known previously. We also enjoyed quite a bit of the farm grown food that was available everywhere including homemade ice cream. I would highly recommend sampling some.
  While on our long weekend getaway, we of course had some gadgets along with us. We do not travel anywhere without our point-and-shoot Canon Powershot SX120 and we also had the DSLR for the scenic shots (some pictures below). Since this was a road trip, we had the Garmin Nuvi in the car showing us the way. 
Other gadgets we packed for our trip were Belkin Mini Surge Protector, which I only recently acquired (Plug in and protect those gadgets), rechargeable batteries, rechargeable batteries charger, rechargeable lithium battery for DSLR, and media phones. My wife also brought along her Kindle, she does not go anywhere without it.
  The Mini Surge Protector came in very handy in our hotel room in Philadelphia that had only a couple of outlets that were easily accessible. We were able to plug in all of our chargers as well as phones which have the USB connector cable into the Surge Protector and have all the devices ready for the next day of all-day touring the city.  
  Moreover, my wife, avid photographer, told me during the trip how much she liked having rechargeable batteries with us. These batteries are not as susceptible to heat or cold as regular alkaline batteries, hence they have more juice and last longer. She was able to take over 200 shots before they needed to be replaced.
 Overall, it was a fun and educational trip. We saw and learned about the staples of American history as well as glimpses of life many years ago. Had some great cheese steaks, rang bells, and climbed the famous stairs.

Here are some of photos from the trip: http://traveltechgadgets.blogspot.com/p/photo-album.html

Photos by Svetik Photography

Free Shipping on great travel gear this week only

Free Shipping for orders over $50 with coupon code GANFRSH from Magellan's.
Expires 8/10/11

Magellan's

Tech Savvy Travel Tips

Great video with great tips on what gadgets to bring on your travels:



In this video:
- Netbooks and Tablets
- TuneBug portable speakers
- Mobile phone that is unlocked to avoid huge charges overseas. Call your service provider for a special unlock code. Also a pre-paid sim card is a good idea.
- JuiceBar Portable Solar Charger
- Built Cargo Travel Organizer and Laptop case (both available at Amazon)
- TSA 311 rule (more info)

Ready to travel Back to School

It is almost that time. School is back in session in a few weeks. Time to pack up and go off or return to college. Do you have all the chuchkies, accessories, and most importantly gadgets?

This year, I think more than ever, students are getting back to their dorms and studying with a lot more technology in their packs. And it is way beyond the standard supply of pens, paper, folders, and USB flash drive. The 'new' student needs gear for backing up important work, printing out reports, keeping in touch and waking up in time for class.
Some of the gadgets that college students are getting equipped with are tablets, e-readers, smartphones, external hard drives with a lot of storage, and of course music media. Speaking of music, which can help you relax and study hardy, you would also need some decent noise-canceling earphones to tune out distractions and concentrate on task. We have discussed in previous posts, such as Noise canceling headphones - life saver for travelers?, the benefits and cool features of these type of headphones. There are some really nice light and small in-ear headphones that are also pretty good at canceling out the noise. You can find a list of some of these here: More on making travel fun with cool headphones. Tigerdirect.com offers a list of earphones that are bit less pricey: Earbuds

Students looking to save money and avoid lugging around heavy textbooks are now able to rent textbooks on their Kindle eReader devices through Amazon. This service recently launched and offers savings up to 80% off the list price of the print textbook: Kindle Textbook Rental

No smartphone can go without some apps on it and hopefully quite a few of these include apps that can actually help in studying and performing research.

Top 10 Student Apps:
Evernote - take notes and organize them on your phone
Wikipedia Mobile
Dictionary.com - The free app delivers trusted reference content from Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com
Facebook Mobile
Google Mobile
WHERE! - Get personalized recommendations for places around you
gFlashPro - flashcard app, create flashcards, share, tests, and trivia
Groupon - 50%-90% off deals on the best stuff to do, eat, see and buy
Zoho Docs - online document management application for individuals and businesses

50 Free Android Apps Every College Student Needs

Moreover, cannot forget to pack other essentials such as the reusable BPA-free water bottle to re-hydrate the body and mind, rechargeable batteries and battery charger, Bedol Water Clock that does not need batteries, and a stainless-steel wallet

Another useful gadget is ZOMM Wireless Leash for Mobile Phones.This gadget wirelessly connects to your mobile phone via Bluetooth and alerts you when you are more than 30 feet away from your phone. It's a perfect device for those prone to leaving the dorm without their cell phones. ZOMM also has a built-in panic alarm that can be activated with a simple press of a button. Continue to hold that button, and ZOMM will automatically call any emergency number of your choice. It comes with fully functioning speakerphone with a noise-canceling microphone, belt/bag clip, instructions manual, wall charger, and USB cable.

Plug in and protect those gadgets

With all these USB devices mentioned in "USB everywhere and anywhere," you need somewhere to plug them in. There is of course the computer or the laptop, though as discussed in the previous post, there are a lot more gadgets these days that utilize USB connectivity. Hotel rooms and airport terminals never seem to have enough power outlets to charge all of the devices.

Outlets of the future might look like this - in-wall USB Charger, but until then there are gadgets that make it easy to charge your USB device. One such adapter that I recently acquired is the Belkin Mini Surge Protector. It transforms one wall outlet into three outlets just by plug it in. Not only that but it swindles in place so you can adjust to whatever way the outlet is facing to make room for any other devices to plug in. It also has 2 USB chargers built it so that you can easily charge your mobile gadgets without having to drag additional adapters.

Furthermore, as the name implies, this device also acts as a surge protector, protecting the electronics in your computer from surges in power. As you might already know, a surge in power can be pretty bad especially for a laptop.  It is filled with voltage-sensitive components that a power surge could damage very easily. At the least, this damage will shorten the life of your computer, and it could very easily wipe out all of your saved data or destroy your system. This little device has over 900 joules of surge protection. And it also comes with $75,000 connected equipment warranty. It is definitely coming along with me on the next business trip, even if I have only a couple of gadgets to plug in I would still rather the convenience and peace of mind of the mini surge protector.


Why good to have on a trip:
- 3 out of 1 outlets
- 360-degree rotating plug with 4 locking position
- provides surge protection through all outlets
- USB outlets for easy plug in and charging
- compact and lightweight
- Nice hotel room companion for plugging in the laptop, cell phone, iPod, and iPhone when you only have one  outlet

USB anywhere and everywhere

USB - Universal Serial Bus, a connection technology for attaching peripheral devices to a computer, providing fast data exchange. These used to be simple and mostly tied to PCs with limited data storage. Not any more.
USBs are part of many different devices and technologies, though they still serve the same purpose, storing data and connecting peripherals. Most computers come with two or more USB ports. It is very unusual to see anything less. Those are USB connectors, that come in many different types (Types of USB Connectors). These days USB has moved on to many other devices. It is part of new TVs, handheld devices, some phones, tablets, memory storage devices and much more.
USB flash drives are small and portable. They come in many different forms, shapes, sizes, and even colors. One example is the Transcend Jetflash Rugged USB flash drive. It comes in variety of colors, but most importantly it comes within a rubber casing that can survive shocks, splashes, dust, and drops from several feet. Making it a great storage gadget to take on a trip. It is available with 16 GB of memory to store a ton of travel photos, videos, and more.
All the gadgets with the USB connection built-in also need to be charged somewhere if the computer is not immediately available such as during traveling. And that is where devices such as the Traveler3USB, come in. With several USB charging ports, it allows travelers the ability to charge cell phone, MP3 Players and other portable devices easily and quickly. Though if traveling abroad don't forget to also take along a Travel Power Plug Adapter compatible with voltage in country where you are traveling.
A green alternative to charging your devices on the go is the Lenmar Solar Powerport USB battery charger. As the name implies this portable charger can power any USB-compatible cell phone or media player from a 3-hour solar charge. Hopefully your travels will take you to places with at least that much of sunshine available to keep your gadgets juiced and ready for use.
For more demanding gadgets such as tablets and netbooks, there is high-powered though still compact travel charger and battery back up. XeMilo from Revolve (revolveusa.com/index.php?p=1_55_xeMilo) has a 4,400 mAh built-in battery that can be powered from outlets or from the sun. Making it a powerful yet eco-friendly travel gadget.
Another type of device utilizing USB storage is a voice recorder flash drive. One example is the Sony ICD-UX71 Digital Voice Recorder. This gadgets are small, easy to use since they come with simple functions. No software to install. No cables or batteries to worry about. Depending of amount of storage, can capture audio up to 40 hours. It also can be used to store MP3s and other media. Great to have on a business trip or an exploration.

Update 07/08/11: Today stumbled across a new cool USB gadget, Ice Cube-inspired Topaz Desk USB Lamp. Check out more info about it here.

USB Battery Charger - charge two AA Batteries in four to six hours while on a computer or plugged into wall outlet adapter. Just plug the power station into any USB Port and the LED light will blink while the batteries are charging and turn off when they are fully charged. The USB Battery Charger has a safety circuit that prevents overcharging.

Some interesting USB flash drive designs:

The secret is out ... Comfortable in-flight Travel supplies

While flying to the business meeting that I mentioned in the previous post, I got reaffirmation just how uncomfy airplanes can be. It is especially more so these days with a lot less extras available on planes. There were no blankets on the seats, no giving out of headphones to listen to music and or videos. We did get a tiny bag of peanuts and pretzels.
Awhile back I came across Magellan's site that has a large variety of travel supplies. It has clothing, accessories, gadgets, trial-size items, guides, and much more. The latest portion of the site that I found is the Get Comfortable En Route collection. It is an awesome gathering of things that would make a flight a lot more comfortable, clean, dry, and relaxing. As part of its listings this collection, of course, also has headphones. I have mentioned noise-canceling headphones in several of my entries (10 Travel Gadgets for the warm weather travel, Noise canceling headphones - life saver for travelers?, How Do Noise Reducing Headphones Work?) and just how much of a benefit they are for a relaxing and more enjoyable flight.
Travel Pillow is a great idea to have along to not strain your neck or end up on someone's shoulder while relaxing or taking a nap. I have one and usually take it with me for a long flight, though I did forget it for this one.
On the flight back home, the plane did not even have a built in video player in the back of the seat. So it was up to you to entertain yourself and hopefully you have some airplane travel gadgets. I had a laptop with me that provided something to do and get good use out of the time, however it did not last long as the battery was drained. So having a portable multimedia player is also a great idea to have. And once I upgrade my phone from a media phone to a smart phone when I am up for a renewal, I will have multimedia player with me anywhere I go. Can't wait. Though for now, it was a good book and some Sudoku puzzles the rest of the flight

Other great collections:
Ease Airport Security Checks
Getaway Essentials
Packing For Carry On

Make boring business trip and meeting more exciting

This week I was on a business trip for a great big small company sales conference.

While out and about one of the sales reps pleasantly surprised everyone when she turned on some music. It was surprising since the music was loud and for the most part clear, yet it was not coming from a boombox. It was from an iPhone that was connected, at least at that time, to a set of small rectangular speakers. Quite a few people were interested to find out what kind of speakers those are and how come she had them with her on a business trip. Her answer was very interesting and both cool regarding the gadget and insightful regarding its application.
The speakers that she had along were Jawbone JAMBOX. The 12-ounce box can produce extreme high and low frequencies from a small dome speaker. The Jambox promises up to 10 hours of continuous play. She brings this little gadget, which is about 6x2x2 inches, to meetings with clients. That is such a great idea. What is a better way to lighten up a mood of another business meeting and break the ice than with some good music. Music revitalizes, divert, and entertains. The client coming into the room with one expectation, but a greeted with a much better one.
This speakers can be connected either through Bluetooth or wires. Since the sales person already has her iPhone with her at all times, her music is also there waiting to be released. It makes a great accessory for a trip to lighten the mood and share the tunes.

Comment below and let us know if you use any gadgets to entertain the clients or yourself that might be a bit of a different tune

Why good to have on a trip:
- compact size
- great sound
- easy connectivity, can be used with no wires
- music lightens the mood and great to share

Did You Know?:
Music has the ability to strengthen or weaken emotions. It can calm, inspire or energize you. It transcends language, culture, gender and age. Music affects us whether we know it or not. Music can help you concentrate or distract.

New gadget by US Government and what you need to know about it

In the last couple of years, State Department has started issuing E-Passports. Anyone applying or renewing their passport will now receive these technologically enhanced travel document.
E-passport has a RFID chip on its front, you can see the comparison pictures below of previous version of the passport and new. It also has more colorful pages inside.
I got one of those when I renewed my passport. It was brand spanking new with hard cover pretty pictures inside, though not of me, and the extra technology. It a cool feature that allows for easy and faster access to information and getting through passport check. However, with new technology there is also concern of digital information being a target for not so scrupulous folks. Here are some details of that the new features are and how the work for the new passports

What is an Electronic Passport?
An Electronic Passport is the same as a traditional passport with the addition of a small integrated circuit (or “chip”) embedded in the back cover. The chip stores:
- The same data visually displayed on the data page of the passport;
- A biometric identifier in the form of a digital image of the passport photograph, which will facilitate the use of face recognition technology at ports-of-entry;
- The unique chip identification number; and
- A digital signature to protect the stored data from alteration.

The special features of an Electronic Passport are:
- Securely stored biographical information and digital image that are identical to the information that is visually displayed in the passport;
- Contactless chip technology that allows the information stored in an Electronic Passport to be read by special chip readers at a close distance; and
- Digital signature technology that is used to verify the authenticity of the data stored on the chip. This technology is commonly used in credit cards and other secure documents using integrated circuits or chips.

How does the ePassport work?
The chip in the ePassport is a proximity contactless chip that must be held within ten centimetres of a reader in order to be read. Moreover, the data on the chip cannot be accessed unless the machine-readable zone on page 2 has first been read, which means that the passport book must be open. It is therefore extremely unlikely that the data stored on the chip could be read without the knowledge of the passport holder.

Border authorities equipped with ePassport readers will insert the traveller's ePassport into a scanner, which will read the machine-readable zone, thereby opening the chip so that it can be read as well. The machine also checks other security features, such as the country's signature. Border authorities who are not equipped with ePassport readers will continue to examine travellers' passports as they do now.

Will the ePassport contain any kind of tracking device?
No. The chip in the ePassport is passive, which means that it does not have a power source. It cannot transmit signals over long distances. An ePassport reader must be held within 10 centimetres of an open passport book before it can capture the information on the chip. The ONLY information that is on the chip is the information from page 2 of the passport. The chip does not transmit or record any other information.

Why good to have on a trip:
- Automated identity verification;
- Faster immigration inspections; and
- Greater border protection and security

Did You Know?:

Old version

New Version

You really shouldn't leave home without...

 From "Sexy titanium travel accessories from Snow Peak" by Pam Mandel on Gadling.com: "The spork is one of those things you really shouldn't leave home without...."
I agree. Spork made out of titanium is even better. It is one of the strongest metals. The other two most useful properties of this metal form are corrosion resistance and the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal. In other words it will not stain and it will feel light in your pack and in your hand. Which is a great thing for long overnight camping trips when you already have a whole lot of gear weighing you down. Spork eliminates the need for both a fork and a spoon.
Some of the uses for spork are: eating noodles, eating soup, break up foods, raking, digging, poking.
It is even useful in the office. Always looking for a spoon and fork around lunchtime? That's gone forever with a spork in your drawer.

Did You Know?:
Spork: Blend of sp(oon sb. + f)ork sb. A proprietary name for a piece of cutlery combining the features of a spoon, fork, (and sometimes, knife). `Spork' is the colloquial term for `Runcible Spoon'