I admit it. I’m feeling clever these days as my husband and I view UK-only BBC Olympics coverage on our laptops in Peru. I also beam with geeky pride each time my yoga instructor here in Cusco asks to use my iPod to stream Pandora’s Krishna Das station during class. And yes, I’ve been known to indulge in a free episode of Modern Family, or a movie, on Hulu during the past year while we’ve been living in Latin America.
Truth told, however, I’m not really all that clever. Any Gadget Girl worth her iPad is already using my secret solution - a Virtual Private Network (VPN) - to get around annoying Internet boundaries when traveling abroad.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
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 eighteen 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.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
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!
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
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.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
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.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
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.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
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…
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
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.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
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!
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Bound for Paris? Off to Rio? There’s nothing better to get you in
the mood for a destination than its music. Before your next great trip,
start your journey online at NationalGeographic.com.
From a scorching blast of Mali rock-n-roll
to the sizzling salsa of Brazil and the Mardi Gras melodies of New
Orleans, busy travelers can jazz up their pre-trip preparation by
listening to National Geo’s free world music podcasts and videos.Experience the soundtrack of the world – at zero cost.
Won’t leave home without your iPod? Check out the growing library of pre-selected music playlists keyed to some of the world’s hippest destinations from National Geographic Traveler on iTunes for your wanderings. Download individual songs or the entire playlist for only 99 cents per tune.
So, go on, get your groove on, and hit the road blastin the destination’s best tunes. I’ll be the gal bee-boppin’ in the airline seat beside you!
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Start Your Engines Gadget Girls!
This just in…
BLACKBERRY TAKES THE WORLD BY STORM WITH VERIZON WIRELESS AND VODAFONE
BlackBerry
Storm Delivers the Full Power of the BlackBerry Platform on the World’s
Leading Networks with the World’s First “Clickable” Touch-Screen
Smartphone
Verizon Wireless, Vodafone Group (NYSE and LSE: VOD)
and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced
that the BlackBerry® Storm™ will be available later this fall,
exclusively to Verizon Wireless customers in the U.S. and Vodafone
customers in Europe, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Designed
to satisfy the needs of both consumers and business customers, the
BlackBerry Storm smartphone combines the powerful communications
features, global connectivity and personal productivity advantages of
the BlackBerry® platform with a revolutionary touch-screen technology
that dramatically enhances the touch interface and enables easy and
precise typing. The world’s first “clickable” touch-screen responds
much like a physical keyboard and also supports single-touch,
multi-touch and gestures for intuitive and efficient application
navigation.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Your
laptop is one of the more expensive items you travel with, your ipod
one of your favorites, and, if you’re one of the millions who won’t
leave home without your smart phone, then why not protect your
investment in style?
Gelaskins are a great new way to personalize and protect your gadgets without bulk. From the classics to graffiti style street art, Monet to Munch, Van Gogh to Vonnegut, you’ll be oh-so-cyber-cool with a Gelaskin protecting your gear. And, they not only protect the outside of your gadget of choice, but every Gelaskin comes with a GelaScreen protector to keep scratches at bay.
Another cool thing about Gelaskins is that they welcome design submissions from anyone. Simply send them some of your ideas, and if they like
them, they will add them to their collection and put them into production. If you happen to have 50 friends who would want a Gelaskin designed by you, they will run your custom artwork for you (minimum order is 50).
Pretty darn cool!
For more information, click here.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Blackberry Tour 9630Once upon a time my basic needs were simple: food, water, travel… Now, I can’t live without my Verizon BlackBerry 9630? 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.
FOR TRAVELERS ON THE GO - BUY A NEW BLACKBERRY SMARTPHONE AND EARN 4,000 AADVANTAGE MILES FROM AMERICAN AIRLINES.
If you can’t do without your BlackBerry(R) smartphone and just have to have those American Airlines AAdvantage(R) miles, then now you can have the best of both worlds. Now, you can earn AAdvantage miles when you purchase and activate a BlackBerry smartphone on any of the nation’s major service providers.
Earn 4,000 AAdvantage miles with activation of a new wireless rate plan.
Earn 4,000 AAdvantage miles when you upgrade your existing rate plan, and upgrade to a new device.
Contact Information:
To earn AAdvantage miles, your BlackBerry smartphone must be purchased through this link www.blackberry.com/aa* or by calling 1-877-337-0136.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
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
About Ellen Barone: Consumer travel expert Ellen Barone is the founder and publisher of EllenBarone.com and YourLifeIsATrip.com. Learn more here and connect on Twitter at,Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn.
Learn the Lingo on your iPod - Join the locals and have fun with Lonely Planet’s World Nomads free language guides that contain around 30 basic phrases that you can download onto your iPod.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
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 “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
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
The other day my house cleaner panicked when her cell phone accidentally fell off her belt clip and into the Cloroxed bubbling abyss of our toilet. Another friend returned from Key West with a ruined, salt-encrusted mobile after he put it in the drink sea kayaking. Then, I drenched mine in coffee.
Too bad we didn’t have Verizon’s submersible, travel-tough G’zOne cell phone. Drop it, scratch it, shake it, bake it, the indomitable 5.3-ounce phone can handle just about anything you throw its way. Tougher than you are, the military-tested mobile is built to withstand exposure to temperatures in excess of 140ºF, extreme vibration, solar radiation, conditions set to simulate storm conditions of two inches of rainfall per hour with high winds and submersion in one meter of water.
You don’t need a 007-lifestyle, however, to want this phone. Thanks to industrial-grade seals and enhanced shock resistance with the G’zOne you can snap underwater pictures, talk in the shower and run over it with your shopping cart and we’ll still be able to hear you now.
To learn more, click HERE.
Certified to MIL–Standard 810F For:
- Water Resistance, Humidity
- Shock
- Dust
Camera/Video
- Built–In 300K CMOS Camera with Flash & Digital Zoom
- Camcorder
Services
- Mobile Web 2.0 Capable
- Email, Mobile IM, & Chat Capable
- VZ Navigatorsm Capable
- Chaperonesm Parent/Child
- Get It Now® Capable
- Picture & Video Messaging
- Text Messaging
- Voice Mail
Tools
- Address book with up to 500 Contacts & Picture Caller ID
- Calendar, Alarm Clock, World Clock
- Calculator, Notepad
- Countdown Timer, Stopwatch
- Speed Dialing
- Push to Talk Capable with other Verizon Wireless Push to Talk Capable Phones
- Polyphonic ringer and sound capability
- Speakerphone
- Voice Activated Dialing
General
- Bluetooth® Capable for the following profiles: Headset (HSP), Hands–free (HFP), Serial Port (SPP) and Dial–Up Networking (DUN); it does not support Bluetooth Object Transfer OBEX Profiles
- Dual Mode (800/1900 MHz CDMA) 1XRTT
- Dimensions: 3.8” (H) x 2.0” (W) x 1.1” (D)
- 8 Lines of Text
- Weight: 5.1 ounces
- Main Display: 1.8” 65K Color TFT (176 x 220)
- Sub Display: 1.3” Black & White STN (96 x 96)
- Hearing Aid Compatibility = M4
- TTY Compatible
- SAR: Head –1.07 / Body –0.413
- Battery: 1050 mAh Li–Ion
- Usage Time: Up to 203 Minutes OR
- Standby Time: Up to 170 Hours
- Handset Insurance is Available
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
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
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
KeePass Password Safe - a secure password manager for your sensitive login information
Do you worry about cyber crime and identity theft when checking e-mail, credit card charges and online banking in Internet Cafes? I do. It’s the main reason I avoid accessing personal information on a public computer. KeePass, a free/open-source password safe which helps you to manage your passwords in a secure way, might just be the answer to lugging along a laptop. With KeePass, you can put all your passwords in one database, which is locked with one master key or a key-disk and remember one single master password to unlock the whole database. The databases are encrypted using the best and most secure encryption algorithms currently known (AES and Twofish).
It allows you to organize your entries into categories and offers several ways to conveniently enter your username/password; you can use drag and drop, copy to the clipboard, or create auto-type sequences that can enter the login information with a single click.
For more information: www.keepass.info
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
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!
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
ADVENTURE CHIC: Finally - A Women’s Travel Vest to Love
SCOTTEVEST’s new women’s 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.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".