Ellen Barone

Once upon a time my basic needs were simple: food, water, travel… Now, I can’t live without my Verizon BlackBerry? What the heck happened?

24/7 wireless e-mail connectivity, worldwide voice and data coverage, GPS navigation − THAT’S what happened.  They don’t call it CrackBerry for nothing.

I used to snicker at the corporate drones tethered by their techy-umbilical cords to bosses and work, while I, the foot-loose freelancer, jetted off to some remote destination with a flippant “catch-you-when-I-get-back” e-mail auto-response and phone message.

That was pre-BlackBerry. Today, you’ll find me right there with the corporate schmucks, checking e-mail and thumbing back responses before the plane has even pulled up to the jetway. I hardly recognize myself.

But just when I’m ready to go cold turkey, I’ll need to Google a hotel phone number, e-mail the airport shuttle with delayed flight details, find my way to an important meeting with audible turn-by-turn directions, or score a dream assignment from the beach in Rio just because I was able to dash off a quick “I’ll do it!” on the BlackBerry, and I’m hooked all over again.

Sound familiar? To keep the scales tipped to technical god-send rather than compulsive addiction, follow these simple Rules to Blackberry By at Forbes.com.

Fortunately, for the techy traveler there’s no shortage of geek-chic gadgets sure to make communication easier and a whole lot cooler. Bring along one of these snazzy talking translators and never be at a loss for words again.

 
Lingo Navigator, is a sleek, affordable pocket-sized talking translator that translates and speaks thousands of words and phrases in 12 different languages - English, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Turkish, Chinese, Arabic, Portuguese, Japanese, Spanish and Russian. Other convenient features include currency and metric conversions, games, world time clock with alarm and sightseeing information. $79.95 www.acornonline.com

 

 

iParrot Phrase for iPod/ iPhone
For those who’d never leave home without their iPod, iParrot Phrase offers instant multi-language translation software. Designed exclusively for the iPod/iPhone/Apple TV, it’s stocked with over 20 kinds of perfectly pronounced oral language for instant use.  Organized into categories such as: Greetings, Transportation, Shopping, and Asking for helping etc., it is easy  to find the sentences you need. Organized for instant access and ease, it’s an essential travel tool for the high-tech traveler. Virtual fluency available in Chinese, English, Japanese, Russian, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Arabic, Thai and Vietnamese. Available for download at www.apple.com

 

 

Franklin’s Speaking Global Translator contains over 450,000 words and 12,000 phrases, and speaks 115,000 words in recorded human voice. Ideal for communicating on almost any continent with 12 languages and translations to and from Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Enter a word in your native language and the translator will speak and show the translation in the language you seek. A voice recording feature allows you to record custom words and phrases appropriate to travel or business needs. Also included, MP3 player, earbuds, games. $229.00 www.franklin.com

Do you think satellite phones are only for bullet-dodging troops in Afghanistan, remote scientific expeditions in Antarctica, or thrill seeking mountaineers calling in from atop Everest?  I did. But times are changing fast.

As 250,000 subscribers have already discovered, today, you can dial up outerspace and phone home, text message and even check e-mail from anywhere on the planet at international rates less than the cost of some cell phone services.

At nearly a pound, the 6.2 inches by 2.4 inches by 2.2 inches sat phone may look like a clunky 1980s-era handset, but as I recently discovered, its services are most definitely cutting-edge 21st century: satellite paging, text messaging (SMS), emergency 911 service and Internet access from almost anywhere on the surface of the Earth (including oceans, airways and polar regions). It also includes a menu of travel friendly features that business travelers will especially appreciate, such as caller ID, voice mail, data transmission and digital facsimile.

Feeling übercool and gadget-giddy, I travel-tested Iridium’s 9505A portable satellite phone during a yacht cruise in Mexico’s remote Sea of Cortez. Using the phone was as simple as using a conventional cellular phone, with one exception – the device can only be used outdoors. It must be “see” a satellite in order to connect. Multitasking with a margarita in one hand and the sat phone in the other reclined in a comfy lounge chair, was hardly an inconvenience. But, had I been in the arctic deep freeze, you can bet I’d have kept the calls short.

• The Good: Beyond the novelty of calling my parents and overseas friends from the middle of nowhere, having the satellite phone aboard ship enabled one passenger to learn of a life-saving new medical procedure - turning a ‘final voyage’ into a celebration of hope. Perfect for cruising.
  
• The Bad: Outdoor-only capability might be a bit of a nuisance in cold or rainy climates where an international mobile might be a better alternative.
  
• The Bottom Line: Small, light and water resistant and designed to travel, the 9505A is the ideal communications option for people who work in or travel to remote locations. Take it with you on your next trip.

 

Telestial Satellite Phone Service

Telestial satellite phone rental and purchase solutions offer service from industry leading satellite phone providers including Iridium and Globalstar.

For a brief introductory section on each satellite phone describing the highlights: coverage area, rates and popular features visit Telestial: Wireless Solutions for Travelers to find the satellite phone that best suits your needs.

Technical Specifications:
•    Water, shock & dust resistant for rugged environments
•    Data Capable (use your satellite phone to transmit and receive data with an optional adapter)
•    Global SMS
•    Headset/Hands-free capability
•    Simple GSM style dialing
•    Up to 30 hours of standby time/3.2 hours of talk time
•    Dimensions: 158L x 62W x 59D mm
•    Volume: Under 375cc (22.9 ci)
•    Weight:Under 375g (13.2 ounces)
•    3.2 hours Talk Time
•    30 hours Standby Time
•    Operating range: -10 to +55 ºC

While high-end hotel butlers aren’t losing any sleep and Clefs d”Or concierges have nothing to fear, several European hotels are harnessing technology to better serve both business and leisure guests and free their staff for more complex personal services. In Rome, Paris and Manchester - to name a few - hotels are providing guests with high-tech gadgets and in-room technology that can multi-task to a fare thee well. These techno-concierges seem able to do just about everything for you except serve tea and draw a bath.

At Rome’s five-star Cavalieri Hilton, guests receive a “city navigator” combining MP3 player and digital camera functions. With two pre loaded audio tours, guests can navigate Rome’s streets and famous sites, snapping pictures along the way, which the hotel’s human concierge can then download onto a disk.

In Paris, the Hilton Arc de Triomphe rents a TAO city PDA in English or French for 10 euros. Featuring a touch screen map fitted with a GPS system, it guides guests through Parisian streets to hundreds of historic sites and artwork masterpieces in the city’s museums. Guests can also map restaurants, bars and shops, minimizing guesswork and maximizing enjoyment every step of the way.

At England’s new City Inn Manchester, guestrooms boast iMacs with high speed internet that also function as TV, radio, DVD and CD player. Customers can load files and save them to a memory stick. After shutting off the computer, Deep Freeze software deletes the new information and assures personal security. In addition to 38 television channels, 23 radio stations and a DVD/CD player, the system plays music via an MP3 player and gives guests access to iTunes, iChat, iPhoto and iMovie. If that isn’t enough stimulation, a built-in iSight video camera allows video conferencing for business travelers - all at no extra charge.

Source: Spring O’Brien

KeePass Password Safe - a secure password manager for your sensitive login information

With 10.1 megapixel image resolution,  a 12x optical zoom that reaches 420 mm, built-in image stabilization and top class optics, it’s no wonder Leica’s V-Lux 1 caught my eye when I went looking for a high-quality, all-in-one SLR alternative.

No, it’s not pocket-sized, but those compacts don’t boast a sophisticated  35 - 420mm zoom that can handle everything from delicate macro shots, to wide-angle views and super telephoto nature shots. Better yet, you can compose  through a full-sized viewfinder and use the swivelling LCD display for unusual or awkward perspectives.

Throw in the convenience of a pop-up flash, 16 custom functions for special shooting situations including video recording,  a choice of automatic and manual focus, exposure and white balance settings and its easy to understand its popularity. Add to that, the ability to record RAW images, as well as the usual JPEGs, and I couldn’t resist travel-testing one on a recent adventure yacht cruise.

The Good:

True to its name, the Leica delivered everything it promised - superior image quality, optimal sensitivity in low light conditions, the built-in convenience of a sharp  f/2.8 to f/3.7 image-stabilized zoom, accurate exposures, saturated colors, and well-balanced flash lighting.

The Bad:

In continuous-shooting mode, capturing JPEGs in bright light was reasonably quick, but in low light, or when set to RAW, the time between shots was slow enough to frustrate.

The Bottom Line:

This is a great all-round alternative for photographers who want to combine top-class optics, a powerful zoom and high resolution image quality with a convenient intelligent design. But, if you want faster raw performance, you’ll have to step up to an SLR.

 
Thinking of buying one? Don’t just take my word for it, be sure to read the user reviews posted  at www.bhphotovideo.com. Already have one? Use the Post-a-Comment link below to tell me what you think!

 

 

ADVENTURE CHIC: FINALLY - A WOMEN’S TRAVEL VEST TO LOVE

 

SCOTTEVEST’s new womens travel vest is custom made for on-the-go travelgirls.

I’ve always envied my male colleagues the practicality of their multi-pocketed, photojournalist vests, but hated wearing one myself. They’re fine if you’re a broad-shouldered, six-foot-something, two-hundred-pound male, but on smaller-framed females they’re uncomfortably heavy, unattractive and scream journalist (can you say, target?) in places where I’d just as soon blend in.

Yet, it is handy to have everything I need within easy reach, discretely concealed on my person, rather than carrying them in a separate daypack or carryall, susceptible to theft or easy to leave behind.

Until now, the perfect vest eluded me. Not only did SCOTTEVEST design a functionally stylish vest with 21 streamlined, no-bulge pockets and hidden compartments in a lightweight, breathable and water repellant material, but, nipped at the waist and falling below the hips, it even flatters.

Better yet, it’s wired for  techno travelers, making it easy to carry and access gadgets on the go. Its earphone ports and internal conduit cord management system allow me to connect the headphones from my iPod and cell phone without entangling myself in a mess of wires every time I take it off.

The folks at SCOTTEVEST seem to have thought of everything. There’s a hidden, yet easily accessible pocket spacious enough for travel documents, airline tickets, passport, etc. Another for your digital camera: uniquely suspended and secure to keep it protected from other devices and water. Hanging pockets sized specifically for your Blackberry, PDA or mobile phone, are positioned perfectly against your body so that even when you’ve set the phone to vibrate, you won’t miss a call. Extra deep pockets feature magnetic closures and zippered pocket-within-a-pocket so your stuff won’t fall out, and reach-through access to additional storage in back. Additionally, the handy extras like eyeglass chamois and clip, removable key holder, water bottle sleeve, and pen and stylus pockets turn this fashionable and comfortable vest into a savvy solution to the one carry-on rule.

But don’t think you need to wait for a trip to use it. I like this vest and its versatile go-anywhere conveniences so much that I’ve taken to wearing it for everyday use.

Colors: Black Lava, Desert Sand, Red Rock
Women’s Sizes: XS – XXL
Price: $100
Available: December 2007
Also Available: SCOTTEVEST Essential Jacket for Women ($120)
1-866-909-8378
www.scottevest.com

Sphere: Related Content

Whether you're busy writing up your own holiday wish list or looking for something fun, yet useful, for your favorite gadget loving traveler, here are a few ideas....

 

Charger Bag

How many times have you groped in your bag or briefcase for the charger, cables or the converter for your electronic gear only to find you didn’t have the one you needed? With its six secure neoprene pockets and industrial strength zipper, our Charger Bag keeps cords and chargers organized and intact. Even better, it folds completely flat when not in use. It’s perfect for traveling or just to keep it all organized in your bag.
 

Price ...... $24.99 

Built NY 212.227.2044; www.builtny.com 

 

J. Grundrig AM/FM Shortwave Travel Radio

With AM, FM, and seven international shortwave bands, here's a pocket-sized travel radio that keeps the world in the palm of your hand. Road worthy extras include a built-in alarm clock, a digital LCD screen, and easy button and dial controls that make it simple to operate. Slips effortlessly in a shirt pocket to keep you connected anywhere. Includes carry case, earphone, and two AA batteries.  

Price ....... $29.95

National Geographic 1-888-225-5647; www.shopNG.org

 

 

 

Digital Luggage Scale

Watch your weight  and avoid unexpected overweight luggage fees at the airport with this compact scale that weighs luggage up to 100 lbs (or 44 kg) so you'll know instantly if your bag exceeds the allowable weight limit. And it couldn't be easier to use. Just lift your suitcase, wait for the beep, set it back down, and read the weight on the large digital display. Takes two AAA batteries.

Price ...... $24.85 

Magellan's 1-800-962-4943; www.magellans.com 

 

Lingo Voyager 2 Translator

Speak the lingo wherever your travels take you. Handheld unit instantly translates and pronounces over 240,000 words and 27,000 phrases in 12 languages at the push of a button. Loaded with useful features: voice/memo recorder, alarm, world/local time, currency and metric converters, talking calculator, 32k phone book, even travel games. Includes 2 AAA batteries and case.

 

Price ...... $199.95 

Kaehler World Traveler 1-800-314-2247; www.worldtraveler.com 

 

 

 

Flexpod Tripod

This three-legged octopus featuring dozens of flexible joints that rotate nearly 360-degrees holds a camera anywhere. Custom-forming around rocks, posts, bike frames, fences, branches, etc., each ball-and-socket joint is ringed by grippy rubber for a non-slip hold. Universal screw mount fits most compact digital cameras. Durable, weatherproof plastic.

 

Price ...... $19.95

Sahalie 1-800458-4438; www.sahalie.com 

 

Adventure Medical Kit

Don’t get caught on your next trip - Survive Outdoors Longer - pack the S.O.L. Pak.
 
The new S.O.L. (Survive Outdoors Longer) Survival Pak groups together all of the essential survival components you need to stay alive in the outdoors and signal for rescue help if you happen to take a wrong turn or sustain an injury.  All of the gear comes in a waterproof dry bag with a sturdy clip, allowing you to securely attach it to your pack, belt or coat. Ideal for hikers, climbers, cyclists, backcountry skiers, campers, and just about every other kind of outdoor enthusiast. The S.O.L. weighs a meager 5.4 Oz., so it won’t slow you down when you want to travel light and fast. Includes: compass, mini rescue flash signal mirror, slim rescue howler whistle, waterproof and windproof survival matches, waterproof tinder quik, heatsheets survival blanket, survival fishing kit and duct tape. 

 

Price ...... $25.00 

 

Multi-port Power Inverter

Add AC and USB power to your car without draining the batteries. Just plug this multi-port power inverter into your cigarette lighter socket, and gain a 110-volt AC outlet on the road. Use it to run your laptop, video camera, or portable CD/DVD, or to recharge batteries while you drive. Dual USB ports power your iPod, Blackberry, PDA, or camera. And the additional cigarette lighter outlet means you'll still be able to use your radar detector. 115 watts of continuous power gives you plenty of juice. Electronic circuit protection prevents damage due to overloading, short circuit, or over voltage. And it's so small it easily tucks away into your console, or into your laptop's carrying bag.  Includes automatic overheat/low battery protection.

 

Price ...... $39.95

Herrington 1-800-903-5221; www.herringtoncatalog.com 

 

 Global Travel Atomic Alarm Clock

Planning a round the world venture? This state-of-the-art atomic radio controlled clock is the most precise in the world - it's accurate within one second every million years - and you never need to worry about setting the time zones. Packed with everything you need in a travel clock: day/month display, backlight temperature; and alarm with five-minute snooze. Takes 2 AAA batteries (not included).

 

Price ...... $49.50

Travelsmith 1-800-950-1600; www.travelsmith.com 

 

With Amazon's new ebook reader, Kindle, already sold out after only one day on the market, is the writing on the wall that techy travelers are ready to leave the paperbacks at home? For the book loving gadget geek considering going electronic, here are a few of the digital options available.

 

The Reader Digital Book From Sony:

Sony was one of the first to provide techies with a new way to experience reading. Boasting an impressive 6-inch display that is easy to read even in bright sunshine, the popular ultra portable reader weighs just nine ounces (without cover), is only half an inch thin8 and holds up to 160 eBooks4. And, with its rechargeable battery you can turn up to 7,500 continuous pages on a single charge - enough to read The Da Vinci Code 16 times before recharging is required. With plenty of internal memory and a slot for optional removable memory cards, you can take hundreds of titles, user-selected Web content or other supported documents for reading on the go.

The device connects to a PC for purchasing and downloading electronic books from an online store with 20,000 titles, or digital texts can be uploaded using a memory card. The unit has an integrated music player that is compatible with unencrypted MP3 and AAC formats, and it supports Word documents, Adobe® PDFs, and JPEGs. 7" L x 5" W x 1/2" D.

Price: ................... $299.95

Technical details
displays eBooks purchased from the CONNECT eBook online store
displays Adobe® PDFs, plus TXT, RTF, and Microsoft® Word files
plays MP3 and AAC files (protected files not supported)
internal 192MB memory
memory slot holds an SD Memory Card (up to 2GB capacity) and Memory Stick® Duo media (up to 8GB capacity)
Hardware Platform: PC
Operating System: Windows XP/Vista
Display Technology: E Ink
Display Size: 6 inches
Display Color Support: 4-bit (16 gray levels)

Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device:

 
Three years ago, the folks at Amazon set out to design and build a convenient, portable reading device with the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. The result is Amazon Kindle. 

Utilizing  a new display technology called electronic paper, Kindle promises a screen that is sharp and natural minus the strain and glare of a computer screen. Kindle is also designed for ambidextrous use so both "lefties" and "righties" can read comfortably at any angle for long periods of time.

One of Kindle's nicest features is that Amazon made it wireless. No PC and no syncing needed. Using the same 3G network as advanced cell phones, it delivers your content using their own wireless delivery system, Amazon Whispernet. Unlike WiFi, you don't need a hotspot. Better yet, there are no service plans, yearly contracts, or monthly wireless bills.

With Whispernet, you can be nearly anywhere, think of a book, and get it in one minute. Similarly, your content automatically comes to you, wherever you are. Newspaper subscriptions are delivered wirelessly each morning. Finished your book in the airport? Download the sequel while you board the plane.

With Kindle’s paperback size and expandable memory letting you travel light and the freedom to download what you want, when you want, is it any wonder it's selling like hotcakes?

 Price: ................... $399.95

Technical Details
Display: 6" diagonal E-Ink® electronic paper display, 600 x 800 pixel resolution at 167 ppi, 4-level gray scale
Size (in inches): 7.5" x 5.3" x 0.7"
Weight: 10.3 ounces
System requirements: None, because it doesn't require a computer

iLiad by iRex Technologies:

Differentiating it from other readers, the iLiand not only lets you read anything you like,  exchange documents, receive new content and sync with your PC, its pen-like stylus  lets you make notes or add comments to your documents. While perhaps not quite as easy as Kindle's innovative wireless capabilities, the iLiad also has a WiFi connection to automatically download content and updates over the Internet.

The iLiad can hold dozens of books and documents and memory capacity can be increased simply by inserting a Compact Flash or MMC card, just as with digital camera. You can even insert your USB-stick into the iLiad to quickly read content.

 Price: ................... $699.00

Technical Details
Display: Display 8.1-inch (diagonal) Electronic Paper Display; 768 x 1024 pixels resolution, 160 DPI.; 16 levels of grey-scale
Size:  8.5" x 6.1" x 0.63"
Weight: 13.7 ounces
System requirements: PC Intel® 400MHz XScale™ processor; 64 MB RAM
Built-in Wi-Fi® 802.11B/G wireless networking 

 

Mobipocket Reader 5 for Mobile Devices :

Looking for a user friendly, versatile, and customizable eBook reader for the PDA or smartphone you already own, or are looking for an excuse to buy? There's probably a Mobi Reader for it : PalmOs, Windows Mobile, Symbian (Series 60, Series 80, 90, UIQ), Blackberry, Franklin, iLiad (by iRex), BenQ-Siemens, Pepper Pad... And if you have a Symbian smartphone a Franklin an iLiad a BenQ-Siemens or a Pepper Pad. 

Good News: There is a good chance that Mobipocket Reader is already preinstalled on your device.

Bad News:  Mobipocket does not currently  support iPhone,  and iPod Touch.

 

Digital Bookshelves: Where to Find and Download Electronic Books

Project Gutenberg - the first producer of free electronic books offers an online library of more than 17000 free ebooks produced by tens of thousands of volunteers.

Mobipocket -   choose from more than 40 thousands titles available : novels, series, dictionaries, professional titles at this  Amazon subsidiary.

CyberRead - carries over 40000  from both major and independent publishers.

Ebooks - a leading online source of ebooks, with 102,000 popular, professional and academic ebooks from the world's leading publishers.

Diesel ebooks - Over 35,000 titles in 50 categories. Don't miss the free download section. 

 

 

Go Solar: Go Wherever

 

Gadget Girl or not, the vote is still out on whether or not one should bring technology on vacation. Nevertheless, once I retired my film cameras and entered the digital age, traveling with electronics became a professional reality.

Under most circumstances, plugging in to charge up isn’t an issue, but whether I have an electrical source to plug my electronics into or not is. Using solar energy to recharge or revitalize my electronic equipment is a great way to keep my gear running no matter where my travels take me.

For technology that travels, check out these cutting-edge solar chargers and power up your next adventure à la Mother Nature.

PowerMonkey eXplorer

 

 

 

The PowerMonkey eXplorer kit comes with everything you need to charge most of your mobile devices, including cell phones, iPods, and digital cameras. Charge it up in the wall, or use the Solar Slave (included) to charge with solar rays. This is a VERY handy piece of equipment for backpacking, river trips, backcountry skiing, and travelling.

* Compatible with the majority of standard mobile phones.

*USB connectors power up iPods and accessories, MP3 players, PDAs, smart mobile phones, digital cameras, games, consoles, BlackBerry and Bluetooth headsets and many more digital devices. 

* Includes main travel charger for use in 150 countries - 110V to240V

* Water-resistant, rubberized design - a power source for every adventure.

 

 

 

Powerful enough to charge all of your handheld electronic products at home or on the move, anywhere under the sun.     

* Provides an emergency power source when away from power outlets.

* Adapter tips allow you to power multiple gadgets with a single charger ( tips for most products included in pack.) 

* Works with multiple gadgets, including mobile phones, iPhone™, Bluetooth® headsets, smartphones/PDAs, MP3 players, portable gaming devices, digital cameras, GPS and much more. 

* Reusable - use it again and again.

* Compact lightweight design - convenient for travel or emergency use. 

 

 Brunton Foldable Solar Array

 
The next generation in foldable solar technology, Brunton's CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide) is the most efficient thin film solar technology available. Maximizing performance while optimizing portability, a Brunton Solaris panel is one of the most compact high output model available, with a design that instinctively converts incident sunlight into an electrical current, even in low-light conditions.

The unit's multi-section design folds up into a compact footprint that's just a bit larger than a DVD case, while still delivering an impressive 26 watts of power, more than enough to charge a laptop or digital video camera or power a satellite or cell phone.

Handheld GPS units aren’t just for hardcore explorers anymore. Indulge your inner gadget geek and consider bringing one along on your next adventure. With features like backtracking, waypoints, extended battery life, automatic routing capabilities, color screen, and an electronic compass and altimeter, these easy to use devices can come in handy whether you’re traveling the backcountry or the globe.


Garmin eTrex Venture Cx    
Pack more detail into your adventure with the eTrex Venture Cx. This popular handheld navigator has a bright color screen and microSD card slot for expandable memory, and it can route you on roads or off, for wherever your travels take you.  And, eTrex is IPX7 waterproof, so it can take an accidental splash or dunk in the water and still continue to perform. With eTrex, your adventure can last and last — up to 32 hours on just 2 AA batteries. While you roam, you can store up to 1,000 waypoints in memory for easy retrieval. Just enter the point you want to go to, and eTrex points you to your destination (no street or terrain maps). To get home, use Garmin’s exclusive TrackBack® feature to reverse your track log and help you navigate back to your starting point. Price $246. www.garmin.com

Brunton Atlas
At a touch, the Brunton Atlas GPS StormWatch feature will predict the next 12-hours’ weather, bring you daily weather trends, and a 36-hour history. Add an altimeter function and the TrueMagnetic direct-access digital compass, and a StraightHome™ feature that allows you to find your way back to camp or the trailhead without satellite aid by just the push of a button, and you have a pocket GPS that truly navigates. Continuous GPS Navigation up to 12hrs; Batteries: 2AA;Two year warranty. Price $399. www.brunton.com

On vacation, chances are good that your jazzy new digital camera, or camcorder, will run out of memory long before you run out of photo ops. Carrying several high-capacity memory cards, as I do, is one way to solve the problem.

But, when I'm on the road, especially on assignment, I can easily fill three or four CompactFlash cards a day. Plus, just in case of an electronic hiccup, each evening I backup my images to at least two other media - usually my Macintosh G4 Powerbook and a portable storage device. (currently the Epson P-3000 and Smartdisc FlashTrax XT)

Adding a high capacity portable hard drive to your gear, such as the 40 GB Epson P-3000 or 80 GB P-5000, lets you easily download and transfer your 'trip of a lifetime' digital pics where they can be stored, viewed and shared whereever your adventures take you.

Listed below are just a few of the portable storage devices on the market today:

Epson P-Series
Price: 40 GB P-3000 $499.99; 80GB P-5000 $699.99
Size: 3.5" × 5.9" × 1.3" Weight: Approximately 1 pound.
Display 4-inch color LCD
Media: Supports CompactFlash Type I/Type II and IBM® Microdrive® (3.3 V) Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard™ Memory Stick, ® xD Picture Card, ™ and SmartMedia™ supported with optional, third-party CF™ adapter, sold separately

GIGA Vu Pro by Jobo
Price: 40 GB $469.95: Also available in
Size: 5.7 × 4.2 × 1.5" Weight: 14.8 oz.
Display: 3.7-inch color LCD
Media: CompactFlash (CF) cards (Type I & II)Microdrive. Other media supported through optional card adapters


iPod by Apple.
Price 30 GB $249; 80 GB $349
Size: 4.1" × 2.4" × 0.43" (30GB) or 0.55" (80GB) Weight: 4.8 oz (30GB) or 5.5 (80GB)
Display: 2.5-inch color LCD
Stores data via USB cable.

FlashTrax by Smartdisc.
Price: 40GB $199.99
Size: 5.75 × 3.625 × 1.25 in. Weight: 12.5 oz.
Display: 3.6-inch color LCD flip screen
Media Accepted: CompactFlash (supports several other cards with the appropriate media adapter)

The other day a girl friend sent me an OTTO wireless mp3 headset player to celebrate my recent commitment to get back in shape. “You’ll love it for jogging and tuning out the chatter at the gym!” she wrote in her accompanying gift note.

I’d never heard of OTTO, let alone its player, but I’ve worn it practically non-stop ever since it arrived – at the gym, around the house, on the fitness trail, you name it.

With user-friendly USB plug-and-play and drag-and-drop technology, transferring my favorite music from my computer to the player was a no-brainer, with no additional software required.

Add to that, a built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery with approximately 8 hours of continuous play time, 512MB of memory – enough for more than 100 songs – and this lightweight, comfortable player becomes a must-have for any music addicted gadget girl (or guy).

The only downside? Since the wraparound headset loops around my ears hidden beneath my shoulder length hair, people tend to look at me like I’m a crazy person as I hum, whistle and sing along, happily oblivious to the fact that I can’t carry a tune.

$84.95; 888-234-OTTO (6886); www.hearotto.com

*Also available by OTTO: Surround Sound Stereo Headset; Noise Canceling Travel Headset; Multimedia Stereo Headsets; Bluetooth Cellular Car Kit with Wireless Headset and Speakerphone.

Being out of touch and unobtainable has always been, for me, one of the greatest perks of travel: no phones, no faxes, no e-mail, no voice mail, and no mail at all. The whole point of leaving was to escape that stuff, to be out of touch for a while.

But, as a self-confessed gadget-girl, when I am on the road, there is another part of me that misses my electronic toys.

So, I've managed to balance these two sides of myself - the self that treasures inaccessibility in a totally too accessible world, and the self who loves her ipod, mobile phone, digital camera, etc. - in a way that still manages to feel fun and free.

As a professional wanderer, I love to travel. My husband Hank, not as much. Traveling alone is great. Making connections with local people and other travelers seems to happen much easier as a woman alone, than it does when I am half of a couple.

That said, I love sharing my experiences and impressions with Hank as they happen, when they're fresh, rather than waiting until I get home. Which is where having a global mobile phone comes in handy. With low outgoing rates and no expensive roaming fees, calling home has become an inexpensive indulgence, wherever I am. Better yet, unlike my mobile phone at home, I keep my global phone number private, thus preventing unwanted intrusions from interrupting my escape.

I use the phone to call home and to make and confirm reservations. I leave the number with my travel agent or airline to avoid the type of nasty last minute surprises that unknown flight or itinerary changes can cause. The only thing I pay for is the phone itself, delivery and the calls I make: no restrictive contracts, no hefty service fees.

Traveling with a global mobile phone keeps me as connected, or disconnected, as I want to be.

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Mobal World Phones was founded in the UK during the mid-1980s, today, Mobal is a world leader in telecommunications with operations in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific offering travelers a convenient way of making and receiving calls in over 140 countries. There are no monthly access charges, so if you never use the phone there is never a charge. $49.00 (140 countries, but not the US) or $99.00 (160 countries, including the US). 60-day money back guarantee.

Now, National Geographic has entered the communications game with their new Talk Abroad™ Travel Phone, offering coverage in more than 100 countries, low outgoing rates and unlimited free incoming calls in 65 of the world's most frequently traveled countries. $199.00.

Has this happened to you? You’re logged online at an Internet café in some foreign locale checking email when suddenly you remember you need to follow-up on something important at the office or at home. Darn, if only you could remember their email because, of course, it is in your desktop computer’s address book. Ugh.

Or, perhaps you have brought along your laptop, only to find that your address book is out of date and your crucial correspondence bounces back undeliverable. What then?

Well, suffer no more because there is a free, simple, secure and reliable way to get all your contact information up-to-date and complete online.

"Plaxo Contacts was born out of my own frustration of out-of-date and incomplete contact information and the fact that nearly everyone suffers from this frustration," said Plaxo co-founder and president Sean Parker. "An incomplete or out-of-date address book means lost productivity, lost business opportunities and lost friends. Plaxo makes it fast and easy to update your contacts." Parker was a co-founder of Napster before Plaxo.

After a quick download, Plaxo Contacts seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Outlook and lets people send a personalized email to friends, family and colleagues asking them to correct and update their contact information. People can make updates by simply replying to the email message and correcting the contact information in the body of the message. Once the email is returned, the contact i