Travel Tech Gadgets

Feb 2, 2014

Travel Gadgets for the Super Bowl

Gadgets and Such for the Big Game

Smartphone - There are multitude of ways that this gadget can be used for the big game. You can keep track of the latest news on the weather, roster, team news, and such. You can also watch the game on the phone while out and about or picking up some extra items for the game with NFL or similar app. It can also be used as a remote while watching the game on the big screen.

Tablet - You can also enjoy the game while moving from room to room or if are remote. Download the app and you can watch the game just about anywhere. The tablet can also be used to keep in touch with social network while enjoying the game and tweeting about the latest plays and commercials.

Kindle Fire HDX 7", Wi-Fi

Wireless speakers - Hear the game from anywhere in the house or pick up the phone without having to take your game off the screen. Hook up a Bluetooth compatible phone or other gadget, and the sound will come through loud clear through the speakers.

Turtle Shell 2.0 Rugged Water-Resistant Wireless Bluetooth Hi-Fi Speaker

Apps - When there is a Super Bowl party, there is likely to be some alcohol involved. And if you are drinking you should not be driving. There are apps for that. Such as intoxicheck, Breathaleyes, and DrinkTracker Breathalyzer. Theses apps can give you an estimated blood alcohol reading, keep track of your drinks, or test you to determine whether you are sober. While these are mostly for entertainment purposes, they could still be good indicators.
Super Bowl XLVIII official app

Wireless Clean Up Tool - At the end of the game, with some great celebrations, someone has to clean up. A wireless bagless vaccum makes it easier. It can be great for cleaning up indoors as well as cleaning inside of your car.

Black & Decker Cordless Hand Vac

Sound-off: What kind of gadgets did you have at your Super Bowl party? Let us know below

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Jan 28, 2014

No Texting and Driving

STOP Texting and Driving

Information on texting and driving facts from the DOT indicates cell phones – texting or talking
- were responsible for 1.6 million accidents a year, which resulted in half a million injuries and deaths.
- 330,000 injuries per year – Harvard Center for Risk Analysis Study
- 11 teen deaths EVERY DAY – Ins. Institute for Hwy Safety Fatality Facts
- Nearly 25% of ALL car accidents

Per CDC website, 69% of drivers in the United States ages 18-64 reported that they had talked on their cell phone while driving within the 30 days before they were surveyed. In Europe, this percentage ranged from 21% in the United Kingdom to 59% in Portugal.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted. For drivers 15-19 years old involved in fatal crashes, 21 percent of the distracted drivers were distracted by the use of cell phones

Did You Know?
Engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone, dialing and texting) associated with the use of hand-held phones and other portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by three times. (NHTSA)
Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the length of an entire football field, blind.
Texting and driving is as bad or worse than drinking and driving

For more texting and driving statistics see the Driving while Intexticated infographic below

Stop before it gets worse

Solutions & What is Being Done
- States have or are passing laws that envolve distracted driving using cell phones. For current laws, see state map on NHTSA site
- New Jersey and several other states have texting and driving as a primary offense with steep fines
- On October 27, 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enacted a ban that prohibits commercial vehicle drivers from texting while driving.
- New technologies are being developed and hitting the market
a. Safe Driving Systems KEY2SAFEDRIVING

technology that will not allow texting while driving
easily installed within your vehicle, no tools required
reroutes calls directly to voice mail and sends automated text message responses saying that the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination

b. Five Apps that Help Prevent Texting While Driving
internet-safety.yoursphere.com/five-apps-that-help-prevent-texting-while-driving/

c. Cars To Disable Texting While Driving
businessinsider.com/cars-to-end-texting-while-driving-2013-6

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

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Jan 21, 2014

Trip to Oheka Castle (Babymoon)

Babymoon at the Oheka Castle

We are down to the wire. In just a few weeks our lives and size of our family will change. Due to planning and preparations, we needed a no fuss getaway for just two. And then a Groupon came up for Oheka Castle. A place we looked at but was way to expensive for our wedding venue. This was a great opportunity to check it out and spend a weekend away.
Getting to the castle when you first arrive into the area there is a gate keeper within large gates. After the check in, the gates slowly open up into the a long and tree lined driveway. Then you drive down into what looks like pretty much a castle entrance with tower and narrow arch way.

Before getting to Oheka Castle we stopped for lunch at Ting restaurant. If you are in the area I highly recommend this Asian fusion restaurant. The Pad Thai and General Taos shrimp were delicious and so was the miso soup. We also did a quick tour of the Cold Spring Harbor with view over the water and small eccentric shops.
At the castle we had dinner at their restaurant. The food was great. The service needs quite a bit of improvement. Since this was our babymoon, we asked for a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling something. It took quite some time and deliberation to find one and then decide on what to charge for it. That was the entertainment portion of the evening :)

Our room at the castle was grand:

The Castle:

"If pizza is round, and slices are triangle, why are the boxes square?"

Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium

Pictures taken with Canon Rebel XSi

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

Related:
Travel Tech Gadgets Goes Flying
No Worries, It's All Inclusive Here
Our Last Hoorah... For Now

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Jan 14, 2014

New Cool Up-and-Coming Travel Gadgets - 1st of 2014

New Cool Up-and-Coming Travel Gadgets

World’s first mobile hydrogen fuel cell charger, Upp, unveiled
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/125060-world-s-first-mobile-hydrogen-fuel-cell-charger-upp-unveiled
It charges up your phone quickly and also lasts much longer than most other chargers without needing to recharge itself. It will be available at Brookstone

Sony Xperia Honami Z1: 100% Water-proof, 20.7-MP Camera
http://blog.laptopmag.com/ces-2014-highlights-day2?slide=7

And kicking it back to the year of "Saved by the Bell..."
The Zack Morris Phone is reincarnated by Binatone
http://www.wired.co.uk/reviews/mobile-phones/2013-12/binatone-brick
http://www.binatoneglobal.com/binatone-brick/

GPS are making themselves relevant:

Garmin - came out with new interactive Garmin Head-Up Display (HUD). Dashboard Mounted Windshield Projector displays projects driving information directly onto a vehicle’s windshield.

Magellan - has the new RoadMate GPS which now features built-in camera. Mounted inside the vehicle, the GPS would also act as a dashboard cam. In the event of sharp braking or sudden impact, the camera automatically captures video of the occurrence.

Mophie Space Pack expands your iPhone's storage, as well as its battery life
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/126347-mophie-space-pack-expands-your-iphone-s-storage-as-well-as-its-battery-life

Samsung dreams up where the next screen might appear
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2014/01/07/samsung-dreams-up-where-the-next-screen-might-appear/

5 Gadgets from CES 2014 that Will Change How We Travel

Sound-off: What gadgets are you looking forward to in 2014?
Let us know below

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Jan 8, 2014

Best Winter Gadgets to Keep Warm When Traveling

Best Winter Gadgets to Keep Warm and Entertain

Hands-Free Bluetooth Beanie

Wireless Hands-Free Bluetooth Beanie

Why good to have on a trip:

as name implies, keeps your hands free while
enjoying some tunes while out and about in chilly weather
no wireless to mess around with, syncs wirelessly with your smartphone/media plan
keep you warm

Wireless Speaker Ear Warmers
180s Mens & Womens Bluetooth Ear Warmer

Why good to have on a trip:

If you don't like or want to wear a hat, these are great for keeping your ears warm while
enjoying music wirelessly from your smartphone

Touchscreen Gloves

Why good to have on a trip:

Don't have to take your gloves to use smartphone
Yarn woven into these gloves mimics the energy and accuracy of human touch
Keep your hands and fingers warm
protects screens from smudges as the gloves will not leave oil residue as fingers do

The 7-In-1 Emergency Auto Tool