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".
10MP D-Lux 3: The Little Leica that Can…
Think you need an SLR to capture pro-quality images? Think again. Think Leica D-Lux 3. The little power-house, with its high quality optics, 10-megapixel sensor and custom settings, can rival most SLRs. Better yet, it’s so compact, that I won’t leave home without it.
Never again will I miss capturing that dazzling double rainbow, decisive moment or impromptu jam session where Keanu Reeves shows up (it could happen!) just because I didn’t want to be weighted down with an SLR. Sure, I could snap it on my cell phone, but with the D-Lux 3 in my pocket, purse or backpack, not only will I get the shot, but it’ll be magazine quality resolution. Add to that a video function, and, it’s easy to see why I’ve taken to calling it ‘the little Leica that can.’
The D-Lux 3 is more than your average point-and-shoot. It’s a compact camera with controls like those on my professional SLRs. With focal lengths from 28 to 112 millimeters (F2.8 - F8.0), auto and manual focusing, image stabilization for shake-free pictures, and file formats from simple Jpeg to QuickTime movies and RAW for optimum image quality, it’s a pocket-sized performer.
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".
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".
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
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 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.
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".
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.
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".
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
New and Improved SkyCaddie SG4 Golfer's GPS:
For the golfer in the family this new hand-held, water-resistant GPS determines your yardage to the green (and to other targets) on any course you play. Also, choose the right club with confidence, because as you play year round, SkyCaddie measures how far you are hitting each club. Stores 10 courses: use SD memory card slot for additional storage. $349.95; www.sharperimage.com.
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".
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)
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 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.
Good News!
I’m proud to announce that we’ve just launched a new travel store powered by Amazon and stocked with all my personal favorites, including these awesome headphones! Now available for $59.99 at The Travel Store at EllenBarone.com
Happy trails,
Ellen
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".
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.
***
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.
Good news for customers of Verizon and Sprint who want to use their phones around the world. Each is introducing a BlackBerry 8830 from Research in Motion that will work both on their current CDMA networks at home as well as on GSM networks nearly everywhere else in the world. Neither company had offered a worldwide solution for their customers other than an older, bulky Samsung model.
Each model resembles the current Cingular and T-Mobile BlackBerry 8800, having the same form factor, keyboard and screen. The Verizon model is silver and the Sprint is black.
Sprint goes one step farther and offers its model unlocked, the first unlocked phone from a major U.S. carrier. That means you can use the phone with SIM cards you purchase locally, saving $1 to $1.50 per minute.
Expect the phones to cost about $200 with a new or renewed contract. The Verizon model is available in May and the Sprint in July.
USE YOUR OWN PHONE:
Already have an international phone but want to take advantage of our inexpensive rates and great coverage?
Get all the benefits of the Mobal World Phone service on your existing GSM cell phone with the Free Mobal World SIM.
No monthly fees, and there never will be!
No minimum usage requirements
Works in over 170 countries*
Keep the same phone number every time you travel
Free technical support and itemized billing
*Please note:
Your GSM phone must be of the correct frequency for each of the countries that you intend to visit.
Click here to learn more.
A National Geographic Talk Abroad International SIM card includes 30 minutes of initial outgoing talk time as well as unlimited free incoming calls in 65 countries and territories. Cost: $79.
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".
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 information is automatically updated within the original sender's address book.
Those who use Plaxo Contacts can choose which aspects of their own contact information will be automatically updated to their friends and colleagues who also use Plaxo. They can also synchronize the contacts on their computer at home with their computer at work. If desired, address book content and most Plaxo tools are also made securely available on the Web so they can be accessed anywhere.
Plaxo, operator of the largest and fastest growing address book network, today announced the availability of Plaxo Mobile Plus. For the first time, consumers can get a single, self-updating address book on their mobile phones, which will synchronize their contact information with all of their other communication tools, including Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, AIM, Yahoo! Mail, the Mac OS X Address Book, and Thunderbird. Plaxo Mobile Plus is immediately available nationwide from a leading carrier on a variety of BREW handsets. Additional carriers will offer the service in upcoming weeks.
Plaxo Mobile Plus enriches the information within mobile phone address books and eliminates the hassle and time spent manually updating and maintaining mobile phone contact information. Users can be confident that they will always have the latest contact information for friends, colleagues, and customers. Whenever a contact is added or edited, whether on their phone or in any other communication tool, it will be updated everywhere, automatically.
“Today's consumer is demanding easier ways to stay in touch with their friends, colleagues, and customers,” said Ben Golub, President and CEO, Plaxo, Inc. “And, they want to be able to communicate seamlessly from home, school, work, or on the road, regardless if they are on their mobile phone, e-mail, or IM. Our smart address book is the solution that consumers are looking for to increase their productivity and personal connectedness. We're pleased to be working with a leading developer like Zingy to bring this solution to mobile phones.”
For more information, visit www.plaxo.com.
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 globetrotting sister is coming into town for the weekend and you find yourself circling the airport byways awaiting her arrival. That’s right, her plane is late. Again.
Touchdown tardiness is a problem for the ages, whether you’re waiting for someone or someone is waiting for you, it’s inevitable that there will be a wait. Thankfully, technology is improving faster than the punctuality of your favorite airline and you can now know the exact location of your plane, or any plane for that matter, at all times.
Web sites like MyRatePlan.com provide free real-time flight trackers that let you search for a flight in a number of different ways. For flights that are in the air, the flight tracker will display an image with the plane's position overlaid on a weather radar image. The flight tracker results also will show you aircraft type, altitude and estimated arrival time.
While flight trackers may not abolish airport waiting completely, at least can keep for you sanity by knowing just how much longer you’ll need to wait.
*If you're a MAC OSX user, simply add the handy flighttracker widget to your dashboard display.
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".