Let your style roar…
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
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 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
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".
This day bag by Tilley Endurables is the perfect city carry-all, yet tough enough for adventure. I prefer the ease of access of this padded, rainproof shoulder bag to that of a backpack. Not to mention the handiness of eleven pockets, inside key-clip, conveniently located pen pockets, Velcro-closed side pockets perfect for a water bottle and cell phone, and waterproof interior pockets that’ll keep important documents dry even in a downpour. It’s spacious enough to carry a bulky zoom lens and conceal an expensive SLR while you dine or in a pub, where you’d rather not rest it on the tabletop or sling it over a chair back, while its school-bag look doesn’t scream camera bag to thieves. It also passes macho-muster with my husband who I’ve finally trained to carry his own stuff (no more, “honey, can you put this in your purse?”).
$185.00; www.tilley.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".
By now you probably suspect that if I can go ga-ga over a laptop bag, the right suitcase could probably send me over the moon. You wouldn’t be wrong. My husband and I both own this bag and won’t even look at another. Why would we? We’ve watched our Patagonia Freewheeler take a fall from the top of a heap from a makeshift luggage cart on a rustic airstrip in Myanmar, without so much as a torn corner or bent frame. It’s trailed after us over cobbled streets and bounced up railway station steps, been dropped roughly from the rooftops of third-world buses and lashed to camels in the Sahara. And, when it finally did, after a decade of traveling the world, tear slightly along a seam, when we returned it to Patagonia for repair, they sent us a new one - free.
Made from tough ballistic cloth nylon, this water-repellent free-wheeling suitcase sports the same wheels as those found on the best inline skates. The designers at Patagonia seem to have thought of everything a traveler needs: Its duffle-style top compartment collapses snuggly into a hard-sided bottom to slide easily under a ship’s bed or the floor of a hotel closet and a zippered lower compartment keeps your shoes and dirty laundry separate. $350.00; www.patagonia.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".
Don’t let its plain-Jane looks fool you. My quest for the perfect computer case ended when a fellow road warrior turned me onto this winner. The glazed look in my friends eyes as I rhapsodized about the distinguishing qualities of the bag pegged me as the hopeless gadget geek I am. I can’t help myself. I’m prone to extolling the bag’s virtues – superior padded protection, rugged ballistic nylon construction, convenient compartments for files and data media storage, front loading access to AC adaptor cables and cords, a multi-pocketed easy-access organizer panel for cell phone, iPod, GPS unit and other accessories, felt-lined quick-access pocket for sunglasses or tickets, and wheelie strap for attaching to wheeled luggage – with the zeal of a religious convert. Oh, and did I mention that it’s ‘carbon balanced’? All purchases on Brenthaven.com will be offset with carbon credits. Hey, quit rolling your eyes! $99.95; www.brenthaven.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.
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".
No matter where my travels take me, I gotta have my morning java jolt. Try scoring a take-out cup anywhere outside the coffee crazed U.S. and you’ll understand my affinity for this go-anywhere, leak-proof, shatter-proof, 14-ounce, stainless steel travel mug. And, I’m not the only one to appreciate its appeal. Thanks to its convenient carabiner that lets you hang it from your backpack, purse strap or belt, a slick fingered pickpocket in the Nairobi airport grabbed my morning cuppa. Now, as I grip the rubber padded handle of Nissan travel mug number 2 and sip the caffeine nectar, I imagine a happy thief somewhere in the world enjoying a savory brew, and smile. $23.99; www.thedailymug.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.
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".
Lugging a bulky, rigid tripod has never been a practical alternative for the type of on-the-go shooting that traveling photographers like me encounter. Thanks to the cleverly designed pocket-sized Joby Gorillapod, I’ll never have to choose between sharp shots or carrying a tripod again. The cleverly designed pocket-sized gorillapod - a bendable tripod that secures to any surface, has legs that bend and rotate 360 degrees, and rubber feet for extra gripping power – is all I pack these days. Slip it into a pocket, purse or day pack and capture those artsy low-light shots of Paris at night, dimly lit tango clubs in Buenos Aires or the final glory of a tropical sunset and impress em’ at home with your postcard-perfect vacation snaps. Available in 4 sizes; www.joby.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.
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".
It’s day three. You swear you packed your favorite fleece zip-up. But where the heck is it? Not a problem you’ll ever experience again if you learn to organize your clothes in Eagle Creek Packing Cubes. With a different color for shorts, socks, t-shirts and undies, you’ll find what you’re looking for, fast. Better yet, no more blushing with embarrassment as the hot guy in line behind you watches the security inspector riffle through your Bridget Jones underwear. www.eaglecreek.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".
Discover your ‘visual DNA’, and lots more, with this cool online quiz at Imagini.net.
It’s easy and fast. Simply select the picture that best answers each question, then read Imagini’s version of your personality profile. Fun stuff!
See my quiz results below…
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".
Here’s a great last-minute holiday gift for traveling shutterbugs.
Hold on Gadget Girls, this is a fun one! eStarling (www.eStarling.com ) has just released their newest WiFi digital picture frame, the eStarling ImpactV, and, get this, the new model supports video clips. Now you can send photos and videos of your experiences, from anywhere in the world, to a photo frame sitting in a home or office anywhere else in the world. I love it!
Every ImpactV has a unique email address and can be connected to a home of office WiFi network to receive photos and video clips wirelessly.
Here’s how it works. Let’s say you are traveling to someplace exotic and fun for the holidays, but away from your family at home. You can take a photo or video with your mobile phone or digital camera and then send that video to your ImpactV frame back at the house. (With an iPhone camera the sending is automatic. With other camera-enabled phones that have emails, you can take the picture or then email it using the phones email camera. If you are using a digitial video camera or camera, you might make a quick stop at an Internet cafe to email the photos directly to your eStarling ImpactV frame at the house.) Cool, eh? I told 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".
This is one of the coolest techie toys to catch my eye this season. Whether you’re out camping, sailing, trail running, walking the dog, or heading off to Timbuktu, this bright-orange handheld lets you track a digital trail, send for help or check-in okay at home. Rugged enough to work in extreme temps and altitudes or even underwater, the spot-on GPS unit offers an affordable safety net for remote ramblings. Service plans from $99.00; www.findmespot.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".
Pure fun, that’s what these pretty-in-pink ear buds from OTTO are. Your boss might think otherwise, but phooey on her. Pop these noise-cancelling, music-rocking buds into your ears and it’s goodbye cubicle, hello nirvana. Perfect for cranking iTunes from your laptop, bebopping to Mama Mia enroute to Greece, or simply tuning out CNN at the gym. $69.95; www.hearotto.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".
I love these Tepper Jackson luggage tags available at TravelSmith. Their whimsical designs are sure to brighten even the shabbiest bag and make it easy to spot at baggage claim. I can’t wait to gift these to every tasteful traveler (including me!) on my list. I know they’ll love em’ but are too busy saving up for the next trip to make the splurge. $17; 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".
You won’t have to click your ruby slippers three times to add this stylish Iomega eGo hard drive to your travel plans. Offering 500GB of portable storage the pretty little workhorse features super durable DropGuard® protection to handle the rigors of the road. You’ll love that it goes where you go, storing your vacation videos, photos and every important document you need while you’re away. Better yet, it’s USB (or firewire) powered, which means one less power cord to carry. Wahoo! From $80.74; 160 GB; http://store.iomega.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".
How do I spell procrastination?
ELFYOURSELF.COM
OMG, it’s just too fun! Check it out then go make your own at http://www.elfyourself.com. It’s free!
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 knew me, you’d know that I love my job. Who wouldn’t? I write about what I love - travel, people, adventure, gadgetry, etc. - AND I get to trot off often to experience this beautiful world and meet the awesome people who inhabit it.
So, why do you sense a ‘but’ coming. Probably because that’s where this is going.
Today I’ve been digging out far-too-long-since-it’s-been-used ski gear from dusty boxes in our garage for a Utah ski assignment. I leave tomorrow, and, as usual, I’ve left packing to the last minute. In fact, instead of packing, I’m studying the National Geographic Holiday 2008 catalog and kicking myself.
Here’s why: Waterproof Fleece-lined Adventure Gloves.
Had I planned ahead, I could’ve been hitting the slopes wearing “patented three-layer membrane, fleece-lined gloves that let perspiration out but prevent moisture from penetrating.” Instead, I’m packing the ancient pair of dried out leather mittens that my forage into the garage produced.
Oh, I wish I had em’. Guess what’s getting added to my Christmas letter?
BTW, I’m also adding the socks to my evergrowing wish list. I’m hopeless, I know, but they don’t call me ‘Gadget Girl’ for nada.
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".
When buying a new car: no Bluetooth, no Nav system, no satellite radio = no way.- Your kitchen boasts every cooking gizmo available, and you don’t cook.
- You program smart phone alerts to remind you to relax.
- You carry a power strip in your purse.
- A diamond might be a girls best friend, but in your book, nothing says “I love you” like a new iPhone.
- Your backpack boasts solar panels.
- You sync everything - garage door opener, BlackBerry, laptop, coffee maker, frequent flyer miles.
- When you go on vacation, you pack gadgets first, then whatever else there’s room for.
- Your cookbook is online.
- You’re the only one in camp whose Swiss Army Knife has a USB thumb drive.
- On the train, you used to read 3 newspapers, now you Twitter (thanks Wendy Perrin!)
- Your bedside alarm clock is a Chumby.
- You’re the go-to girl for any techie question.
- You track your pets with GPS.
- Your little black dress is wired for tech.
- All you want for Christmas is a virtual assistant.
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".