I’ve been on the hunt for a ultra-portable projector that wouldn’t break the bank, and found it in the new $499 BenQ Joybee GP1 Mini Projector.

Available for purchase at The Travel Store at EllenBarone.com

Gadget Girl Goes

A while back I was fortunate enough to be asked to sign on as the new Green Gear girl at GreenSpot.travel, a wonderful online portal for environmentally responsible travelers. 

This month’s featured product is a nifty new eco-friendly gadget - the SteriPEN JourneyLCD portable water purifier. 

It’s fast (16oz. in 48-secs), lightweight (5 oz), easy (just one button) and effective (proven to destroy viruses, bacteria and protozoa). Oh, and did I mention it runs on rechargeable batteries, purifying 1 liter of water for less than $0.02 USD? Take THAT you 3-Euro bottle of San Pellegrino! And, even better, because the pen uses light, instead of chemicals, there’s no chemical aftertaste like tablets or drops.

I’m hooked. Whether I’m day hiking in the mountains of New Mexico, sightseeing in Marrakech or shopping in Paris, I’ll have the SteriPEN in my bag.

Available at www.steripen.com or at The Travel Store at EllenBarone.com powered by Amazon. 

I used to be a huge fan of cycling. Now, after nearly 2 bikeless years, a cool new gadget put me back in the bicycle seat again.

The Cy-Fi wireless sports speaker was created for cyclists who love to listen to music when they hit the road, but know that riding with headphones or earbuds is an accident (or ticket, in some states) waiting to happen.

Listen in (or read on) as I discuss the pros and cons of this innovative sports speaker.

The music capabilities alone appealed. But, the Cy-Fi also synchs to any Bluetooth enabled phone, PDA, MP3 player or laptop, turning the sporty little speaker into a wireless 4-oz traveling sound system. THAT, I love.

Attahcing the Cy-Fi to the bike handlebar using the provided mounting bracket is a no-brainer; no tools required. And, the controls are just as easy.

I love tooling around town and the bike trails spinning to the beat of my favorite playlists. The sound is great and if you’re trolling for a date, the Cy-Fi attracts as much attention as a chocolate lab puppy. Especially if you’re using the Cy-Fi’s speakerphone feature. Once people figure out your not a lunatic riding around talking to yourself, they want details. How’s it work. Where do you get one? People stopped me on the street wanting to learn more. I have a lot of fun with that.

I never imagined I’d be sporting a whole lotta bling in my home office. But, hey, these groovy headphones offer serious sound at a reasonable price. Listen to my newest podcast and learn how I’ve used the iFrogz DJ-style headphones to create my own little desktop sound studio. And, you can too.

Available at iFrogz.com and The Travel Store at EllenBarone.com.

Fashionistas swear by a Pashmina for warmth, and for years I carried a woolly warm Mexican rebozo. But thanks to rising checked bag fees and shrinking carry-on allowances, those days are gone. Just too much bulk.

If you’re feeling my vibe here, then you’ll love my latest find; the COCOON travel blanket. When you consider that it squashes into it’s own tiny stuff sac, is lightweight and fits easily into my laptop bag, you don’t have to be germ-phobic to recognize that it’s a great travel staple.

Better yet, throw in one of their ultra compact air core, memory foam, or down travel pillows (my fave) and you’ll be the envy of coach class. 

To learn more, visit www.cocoonusa.com.

You can also find COCOON products in stock in my new Travel Store.

Favorite Feature: Topping my list is it’s pocket-sized convenience assuring that I’m never without a camera. Better yet, at 10.1 megapixels, if I do happen to snap the shot-of-the-century, it’s publication-quality. Did I mention it shoots YouTube ready video, too? Very fun.

Not-so-favorite Feature: No viewfinder means that I have to compose my shot in the LCD screen. But every shutterbug under the age of 30 that I voice this complaint to tells me to “get over it!” Okay, okay, I get it, viewfinders are sooo middle-age, but I still don’t like it.

Bottom-line: I wouldn’t even think of adventuring without it.

$299.00 suggested retail price: www.olympus.com

Also available at The Travel Store at EllenBarone.com powered by Amazon.

Listen as Ellen shares the pros, cons and novel uses of the new thief-thwarting PacSafe camera bag in her most recent podcast.

I’ve been asking my travel buddies to tell me what travel favorites they think I should offer in our new online Travel Store and I’m placing my order right away for this stellar suggestion:The Micro Professional Projector MPRO110.

One gadget-geek colleague tells me he uses his onto project movies off his iPhone on the airplane tray table during long-haul flights. Another business traveler says it’s perfect for sales pitches. Me, I can’t wait to be a total gadget-girl and stage a little slide show for my coffeehouse group and show pictures from my next trip.

Once I have mine, I’ll share more.

You may remember from previous posts that one of my favorite eco-tech gadgets is the Solio Solar Charger - a must-have addition to any gadget-loving traveler’s kit bag. And now, Better Energy Systems (Solio’s parent company) have announced their new Solio Communicator - a sun-powered hands-free car kit. Very cool! I can’t wait to give it a test on my next roadtrip. But, not yet: The Solio Communicator will be launched officially mid March 2009 and is expected to retail at about $100.

Here’s the company pitch: A wireless hands-free mobile communication alternative to expensive inbuilt car systems or for those who’d rather not use a Bluetooth headset. No cords, no forgetting to recharge it (stored solar power takes care of that nuisance) and virtually unlimited talk time. Can be used while driving or as a portable speaker phone.

I’ll have the travel-tested scoop ASAP, so check back in. In the meantime  for more information, visit http://www.solio.com.

Boasting proven dry bag technology, I’m thinking it should be perfect for any adventure near water: sea kayaking, skiff rides, wet landings, hiking in the rainforest, or even a trip to Seattle in the rainy season. Ingenious!

More to come soon, as I head off to Baja’s Sea of Cortez to put it to the test! 

The techie in your brood will love this new twist on the classic Swiss Army knife; the Swiss Army Multitool with USB Drive. With the addition of a detachable USB drive and LED mini-light no self-respecting digital traveler will want to leave home without one. Use it to transfer and share your vacation snaps, illustrate your Power Point presentation with its red LED light ray, screw a battery compartment shut, file your nails or snip the tag off that new dress, female or male, this is the ulitmate geek gadget. $69.95; National Geographic.

Got a thirst for saving the planet? You’ll dig a Sigg. Clean, sleek and stylish, the Swiss made aluminum bottles are my favorite alternative to plastic. I take one everywhere – in the car, on the trail, to Bermuda. Tough, lightweight and BPA-free, trust me on this one, once you go Sigg you’ll never go back.  www.sigg.com

Set off for college, the office, or the road with this season’s hippest accessory and protect your mobile tech from taking a hit in style. All about style and function, this fashionable line offers all the features any on-the-go Gadget Girl craves: external pockets to carry the extras; non-slip carry straps; a slim, snug, durable design; and graphics that roar with personality. From $34.95; www.designersleeves.com

Go ahead, trade in those goofy lighted slippers from Aunt Sally for the gizmo you really wanted, PlanOn’s new mobile Printstik. I won’t tell. Promise. After all, what self-respecting gadget geek wouldn’t want to add a Printstik to their portable arsenal? It’s Bluetooth enabled, lightweight, fits in your pocket and syncs with your PC laptop, PDA, and mobile phone, and prints “on the spot” wirelessly. From $199.00; www.planon.com