GEEKS ON THE GO: How To Use An iPod Touch As A Global Smartphone

Say goodbye to hefty monthly contracts and global roaming fees with a $199 Apple iPod Touch.

When my husband and I made the decision to put our life in New Mexico on hold and set off for an extended romp through Latin America, it wasn’t where we’d live, how we’d get there, or even what we’d take that worried me. The Internet, vacation rentals, hotels, airplanes, and local shops offered easy solutions to those problems.

What did present a challenge, however, was a question on the minds of many Americans traveling abroad: How can I avoid the global roaming fees of my U.S. based mobile phone provider and still stay connected?   

Nearly eight months into the adventure, we’ve said goodbye to hefty monthly contracts and global roaming fees, in large part thanks to the simple convenience of a $199 Apple iPod Touch.

Basically an iPhone without a monthly contract, the iPod Touch is proving to be an essential pocket-sized travel tool and budget-friendly communications alternative. 

Here are 3 key ways I use the iPod Touch in lieu of a global smartphone.

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Amazon Kindle: Now With U.S. & International Wireless

As if I needed yet another reason to want a Kindle…

Santa, are you listening?

 

If, like me, you’re still on the fence about buying a Kindle, Amazon has just release some tempting news. First, their bestselling Kindle is now $259, down from $299. Second, they’ve introduced a new addition to the Kindle family: Kindle with U.S. and International Wireless. Hooray for travelers!

Now traveling bookworms can download books, newspapers, and magazines wirelessly while at home or abroad in over 100 countries. Whether you’re in New York, Paris, São Paulo, Mumbai, Beijing, Tokyo, or Sydney, you can think of a book and be reading it in less than 60 seconds. That’s sooo cool!

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Fresh Prints On The Go

If you have only … a minute. Print your cell phone photos, travel pics or latest masterpiece using one of these pocket-sized printers to whip up hard copies in no time. Fun, compact and cool, cool, cool. Get those photo faves off your hard drive and into the hands of your new BFF.

Canon Selphy CP780

Photos That Last A Century
Print, display and preserve beautiful borderless photos that are water-resistant and last up to 100 years!

Gorgeous Prints – In Under One Minute
Enjoy photo lab quality with 4” x 6” images produced in approx. 47 seconds.

2.5” LCD
Easily view, select and edit your images for simple computer-free printing. No downloading needed, just pick your pic and print!

Available at www.estore.usa.canon.com or at The Travel Store at EllenBarone.com powered by Amazon. 

Polaroid PoGo

Print and share
2 x 3-inch borderless color images in under a minute.

As mobile as you are
Pocket-size, sleek, stylish design.

Camera Phone Wirelessly transfer images from a Bluetooth-enabled camera phone to the Mobile Printer and print instantly. Using the built-in OBEX (object exchange profile) Bluetooth in the phone and the printer, connecting and printing becomes instant.

Digital Camera Instantly printing images from a digital camera is as easy as connecting the USB cable to the PictBridge-enabled camera and printer. Once connected, follow the PictBridge screen on the camera display. Simply select what image to send to the printer and within 60 seconds, the print is ready to be shared.

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

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BenQ Joybee GP1 Mini Projector

Updated on Friday, July 3, 2009 at 12:27PM by Ellen Barone

A carry-on-ready projector with enough resolution for impromptu movie nights, traveling business presentations and vacation photo slideshows? Yep!

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.

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Travel Tough Protection for Your Mobile Technology

I don’t know about you, but I’m tough on electronics. And my cell phone, tossed carelessly into purse, backpack, jacket pocket, etc, tends to take the worst of it. But, thankfully I discovered the Ellen-tough protection of the OtterBox Defender Case. The oh-so-gadget-girl-cool case takes all the abuse I give it, and more. Rain, snow? Who cares? Not me.

Better yet, its grippy surface keeps it resting nicely on the center console of my car, handy when I’m talking hands-free but still want to be able to see the display screen. And, by choosing their eye catching yellow and black case, I’m sure not to leave it, or confuse it with another, when I’m in a rush at airport security.

And girls, while my husband isn’t wild about this feature, it’s a huge guy magnet. I cant’ tell you how many guys - on airplanes, in coffeehouses, in frequent flyer lounges, on the street, in the park, etc. - ask me about it.

So, if you’re busy making a list and checking it twice, be sure to check out OtterBox.com, they have a case for nearly any electronic you want covered - PDAs, phones, laptops, cameras - with new models being added all the time.

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With New TripIt Badge You Can Brag A Little - Or A Lot!

Check out this cool new tool from TripIt.com!

Add the cool new TripIt.com brag badge to your website, blog, or social networking profiles and let visitors see what you’re up to. The TripIt widget automatically updates where you are now, your upcoming travel plans and allows click thru access to your TripIt Profile any other details that you’ve chosen to share. So, go on…

Create Your Blog Badge Now.

reQall for BlackBerry

Okay, Gadget-Girl regulars, you already know I’m a BlackBerry addict. Now travel editor Larry Bleiberg has turned me on to yet another cool new add-on application that’s sure to keep me hooked! Better yet, it’s techy-cool and FREE.

Read on for details…

reQall for BlackBerry gives you a voice-to-text recorder, task/shopping list/idea manager, reminder service and memory aid all in one. Turn your BlackBerry smartphone into a powerful productivity center that helps you remember all the important things in your life. Beta version available now.

• Use voice or text to tell reQall what you want to remember—then get a reminder via email or text message at just the right moment.
• Intuitively organizes your reminders by when they have to be done, who has to do them and what kind of reminder they are (To-Dos, Notes or Shopping List items).
• Integrates with the email, calendar, address book, memo pad and task list in your BlackBerry so you can automatically create To-Dos and Notes from these sources.
• Elegant and simple interface works seamlessly with the BlackBerry trackball and keyboard, making it easy to stay organized.
• Fast, accurate voice-to-text transcription.
• Understands dates and times, as well as keywords like “buy,” “ask” and “note,” so it can automatically organize your items for you.
• Allows you to share reminders with others so you can keep your family or work group on track.

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Trip Tech: HD Camcorders

Hey gadget-girls, a slew of new high-definition camcorders are making it easier than ever to capture (and share) your favorite travel moments. Concierge.com puts the latest high-definition camcorders to the test to see which are best for creating your vacation memories.

Well worth a browse, especially if you’re busy making a list and checking it twice!