Category Archives: Gear & Tech

5 Things to Remember When You Travel With an iPhone

iPhone vs iPhone 3G. CC Image by Ricky Romero (Flickr).

Travelling with gadgets is an absolute necessity for many travelers these days. And when it comes to iPhones nothing can beat them in technology and user friendliness. From getting directions to suggestions about the best restaurants and bars, a smartphone can assist in every way possible. However, it is important to keep a few things in mind when you step out to explore the world with your much loved iPhone.

1. Disable Voicemail:

When out of station, most of the carriers for the iPhone charge you hefty amounts for receiving voice mails. And if you are thinking that not listening to them will save you some bucks, let us warn you that it won’t!

No matter whether you listen to the voice mail or not, every time someone drops a voice mail, you will be charged at international rates. So, to avoid unwanted surprises, disable it completely before you leave for your holiday.

2. Disable data roaming:

Another application which can incur exceptionally high charges is data roaming. Internet enabled application on your iPhone can cost you extensively, even before you realize. Even a simple application like email or browsing can cost you truckloads of money. Thus it is better to disable data roaming before you start your journey. The good news is there are ways by which you can still use GPS navigation whenever needed.

And if you can’t avoid using data roaming, do remember to stop the automatic updates as automatic checking for new mails in every few minutes will fetch you exceptionally high charges.

3. Use flight mode whenever you can:

Why burden yourself with an mp3 player or a camera when you have an iPhone? However unnecessary calls on roaming can act as a damper. So the best way is to keep your iPhone on flight mode when you are not expecting any important call. This will save your phone’s battery which you can use for other purposes. You can activate Wi-Fi even in flight mode. This will allow you to use internet without excessive charges for data roaming.

4. Set a passcode:

It might not take you more than a few seconds to set a new passcode for your iPhone but it will prevent a lot of your important data from reaching the hands of some stranger. After setting a passcode you can turn ON the option of erasing the iPhone in case of 10 consecutive wrong passcodes. You need not worry as a simple restore from back up will bring all your data back.

5. Sync your iPhone before you leave:

Sync your iPhone to your computer just a few hours before leaving for your trip. If in case you lose any data during your trip or if you are required to reset your handset, you can use the data from your computer for a quick back up.

This article was written by Truly Holidays, a leading UK based Travel agent, offering amazing travel deals and packages.

The Best Free Apps For Lovers of Travel

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iPhone 4′s Retina Display v.s. iPhone 3G. CC Image by Yutaka Tsutano (Flickr).

By ZAC COLBERT

The developments in digital technology over the last decade have made both the prospect and the experience of travelling around the world even more exciting. Of the hundreds of apps on the mobile market to enrich your globetrotting, we’ve collated the best.

UrbanSpoon

There are myriad restaurant finder apps out there but in our experience UrbanSpoon tops them all. First off, it works, quickly and on a consistent basis, no matter where you are in the world. Its user interface is a fun and more inventive way to find places to eat – you shake your iPhone and UrbanSpoon’s slot machine suggests a restaurant in your vicinity. You can file the results by cuisine, price and area. The amount of information is spot on, enough to allow you to make an informed decision but not so much that you’re bombarded with data. It also includes all the additional features you’d expect; making reservations, ratings from newspapers and high profile food bloggers and sharing capabilities so you can compare reviews with friends, which makes it brilliantly sociable and interactive.

Currency Calculator

Simple, easy and obvious, yes, but it’s also invaluable. Being able to check currencies and exchange rates while you’re on the move means you can avoid the highly likely possibility of paying over the odds for food, services, souvenirs and activities. Often local establishments will charge tourists more than they do local residents; this is commonplace and understandable, however, with a currency calculator on your Smartphone you can at least ensure you’re not being completely hoodwinked. The majority of us don’t have the luxury of being able to travel without worrying about our finances so it’s also incredibly useful to be able to stay on top of your travel money 24/7, to measure your expenditure and to ensure that you’re not changing too much or too little money at a time.

Kayak Mobile

Frequently the number one travel app on the iPhone, and for good reason, Kayak Mobile is where you can find and book hotels, flights, and car rentals, all from your mobile device. Having your full travel itinerary condensed into one handy and accessible application makes the logistics of travelling around the world a lot less stressful. The app is quick and easy to use with an interface that’s simple to navigate. The most useful features include its inclusion of baggage fees and price alerts – so you’re notified if the prices of anything you’ve booked change. Removing those nasty surprises is again, a great stress saver. You can also access airline numbers and airport info, which means you can decide when and where you want to fly either last minute or way ahead of schedule. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Kayak Mobile is the fact that it’s free. You can upgrade to the pro version which boasts extra features such as airport maps and terminal information but we think the standard version provides more than enough.

Photosynth

This is by far the hottest photo application available at the moment. Its distinguishing feature is how it niftily stitches together your separate pictures of a scene to create one panoramic vista that you can scroll through – this is so simple but so effective, allowing you to finally capture the whole scale of those beautiful views, colossal skyscrapers or amazing people you’ve met along the way. Not only can you Photosynth pictures horizontally but also vertically enabling travellers to photograph the full sphere of the world’s many wonders. The social options are impressive too. Once the app’s made your photo tapestry you can then share it as an interactive panoramic experience on social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, so it’s easy and instant to make your friends, family and followers jealous of your latest adventure.

Google Translate

Unless you’re a language wizard and own every Rosetta Stone out there then Google’s Translate application is an absolute God-send, especially in countries where you don’t even have the slightest grasp of their language (hello Japan) and English isn’t their second tongue. With 64 languages at your disposal you’ll be able to translate simple phrases and key words for most main travel destinations, it also has a foreign character keyboard and full screen mode so you can show the poor locals what you’re trying to say, even if you can’t say it. And if this doesn’t work you can listen to your translations aloud, to either perfect your pronunciation or to play to whoever you’re trying to communicate with. Other excellently helpful features include being able to star and save your favourite translations and translation history for easy access even when you’re not online.

Best of the Rest

HotelTonight: There’s nothing worse than wandering a new city panicking about where to lay your weary head. You can only use it for same-day bookings and the last minute nature can often save you substantial money.

Find-ER: Accidents do happen, Find-ER locates the nearest hospital wherever you are in the world, a potentially lifesaving app.

TripAdvisor: It’s bursting at the seams with over 75 Million user reviews of hotels, activities and restaurants wherever you find yourself in the world.

Zac Colbert is a travel writer from Brighton, UK. He covers a range of topics from travel tech and dream destinations, to the perks of flying in a private jet and the most luxurious hotels around the globe.

Travel Smarter & Cleaner With Trekr

4 Gadgets to Make Travel Easier

How Broadband Internet Enhances Your Traveling

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By RUBEN CORBO

I can’t imagine traveling without broadband internet. How on earth would I show off my tan, share the glorious sunset, and generally brag to my friends that I’m in a tropical island paradise and they are not? Half the fun of traveling is to exercise my bragging rights. Well, maybe not half. But surely one third. Snapping photos and uploading them to my blog minutes later is quick, convenient, and ten times more effective than trying to evoke the experience a week later, back home, chatting over coffee while my tan fades and I’m all grumpily readjusting to the old daily grind. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then an instant picture shared immediately from thousands of miles away must be worth, oh, ten thousand.

Have you ever asked a local for directions? Okay, the lady who worked at the post office really knew where things were and also had a gift for explaining it both clearly and concisely. But everyone else either gave me the deer in the headlights look, swore there was no such thing anywhere in town and never had been, or gave directions that were so wrong they were worse than useless. They were, in fact, counterproductive. That’s not to criticize the locals. I’m sure I have been equally unhelpful to passersby on many occasions. There is no reason to assume that every random stranger on the street is a walking, talking encyclopedia of local lore. If you want and need access to reliable information about some place you have never been before, it’s best to keep broadband internet access in your pocket (or car or backpack).

I don’t know about you, but I’m a serious geek. A vacation would not be relaxing without access to my email account, reading my favorite web comic over morning coffee, and otherwise conveniently taking with me all the parts of my life I actually like and do not want to get away from for a week. Then there is online banking. How on earth do you cope without it, especially when you are far from your bank branch and in a different time zone? Once, I got in a smidgeon of trouble, cash flow wise, while traveling and called mom for some emergency funding. Mom is great and promptly rushed off to the bank with an infusion of much needed cash.

I checked my bank balance online and the deposit was showing so fast that when I tried to call her to thank her, she wasn’t home from the bank yet. Mom has not gotten with the whole internet thing. She couldn’t wrap her brain around the fact that I already knew the money was there. I guess it is pretty mind boggling if I stop to think about it for a minute instead of taking such amazing services for granted. There was nothing even close when I was growing up. At one time, just being able to call an automated line to check your bank balance was considered revolutionary stuff.

I also track down favorite stores, restaurants, and hotels online while traveling. I am not real big on taking an itinerary. I prefer to go with the flow — plus, every trip seems to have some minor emergency. The internet and other modern conveniences makes it a manageable and pleasurable experience instead of making me look like the lost and clueless airhead I sometimes felt like in the past when travel plans went awry for some reason and I didn’t know how to readily fix it. Now I feel like I can fix anything, anywhere.

Ruben Corbo is a writer for the website Broadband Expert where you can find broadband internet providers in your area and compare prices on different deals for your mobile broadband needs.

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Road Trip Success With Connectify’s Software App

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By BHANA GROVER

As a mother of two growing kids, and co-founder of a growing tech start-up, I wear more than a few ‘hats!’ Like many parents, I often find myself rushing to make the carpool line after a last-minute, afternoon meeting is called in the office. It’s quite a juggling act, this whole work-and-family balance thing, and sometimes I have to take a deep breath and repeat my friend Annette’s mantra: “you’re going to miss these days, many years from now!”

However, my kids Anya (10.5 years old, as she says) and Adam (almost 8 years old) are big supporters of what I do, and that certainly helps. Both kids are always “pitching” me on marketing ideas for our fast-growing software app, Connectify. Anya loves the idea of giving out tote bags, t-shirts, and other Connectify swag, while Adam, the video game-obsessed younger brother, thinks Connectify should have shelf-space at every GameStop!

I love listening to my kids’ ideas when it comes to Connectify, and their perspective is that much more valuable because they’ve seen first-hand just how useful the app can be, especially on long family trips!

My ideal vacation entails packing only the bare essentials, and purchasing anything else I might need when I arrive at my chosen destination. But, when it comes to traveling with the kids, well that’s a pipe dream. Instead, on our family trips we look more like a nomadic tribe, caravanning from state-to-state with all of our worldly possessions in tow. Anya and Adam each have their laptops, iPads, and gaming devices. And, that’s in addition to their pillows, 100 books, ten puzzles, juice boxes, granola bars, and… well, you get the picture.

Our car always gets packed to the hilt, and if I try to remove even a single packed item, I hear that it’s the most important thing and absolutely cannot be left behind. With some persistence, I usually cave, so most of their precious items make their way out of our house and into the car.

On a recent trip, I heard a familiar question: “Are we there yet?” I immediately quipped, “Hey! Use that iPad you begged me to bring!” Almost in unison, the kids countered, “And do what? It has no Wi-Fi!” My maternal (and business) instincts kicked in, “Ahh, but you can get on the Internet because I have Connectify running on my laptop.”

Connectify lets users transform their laptop into a Wi-Fi hotspot. It’s easy to create a secure wireless network and share any Internet connection with friends and family… especially on-the-go.

In two seconds flat, I set up our Connectify Hotspot. The kids were on the Internet, and happy for the rest of the ride. In an instant, Connectify went from boring… to brilliant. Both kids offered, “Mommy what you do is pretty cool, and it works!”

And they doubted me.

While Connectify was a total lifesaver, allowing us to launch a real Wi-Fi hotspot in our Honda Element, I’m sure my husband and I still heard the age-old, “are we there yet” a few more times. That never changes.

Hopefully, as my fellow parents travel this season, they will remember to have Connectify! They can download today at www.connectify.me!

Bhana Grover, Connectify co-founder & President, has been creating and managing the production of a variety of technology oriented products since the mid 1990s. Connectify is a Philadelphia based software company whose product can turn any PC into a wireless hotspot that can be shared across multiple devices. Besides running a company, Ms. Grover is the proud mother of Anya and Adam and can be found running them from one activity to another! She finds her biggest fans and critics are her kids!

Top 5 Designer Swimwear Trends For 2011

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By SUSAN BODACK

The 2011 summer travel season is almost upon us, so it’s time to get prepared. Many vacation-goers opt to travel to warm and sunny climates, home to some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. While on the beach, you want to look your best, so in addition to getting your body into tiptop shape, you can prepare with this season’s hottest designer swimwear trends.

1) Animal Prints

lana Top 5 Designer Swimwear Trends For 2011

Lana by Despi. Exotic snake print bandeau one-piece with ruching detail along bust and low scoop back.

You can never go wrong with animal print swimwear styles. Regardless of the season, animal print swimsuits are always in style. Some of the most common animal-inspired prints are leopard, zebra and tiger print. But this season, it’s all about the reptiles. Python prints in both neutral and more colorful hues are all the rage.

2. Go Nude

balboa Top 5 Designer Swimwear Trends For 2011

Balboa by L*SPACE. Nude sliding halter top with luxurious gold chain link detail on straps.

Don’t get too excited – I’m talking about nude swimwear! The nude trend helps you achieve that barely there look with flesh-toned hues. Go for designer swimwear styles in varying hues of tan, cream, taupe, gold, peach and soft pink. Unless you’re on a nude or topless beach, nude designer swimwear styles are the next best thing to being naked!

3. Retro Trend

viva maillot Top 5 Designer Swimwear Trends For 2011

Viva Maillot one-piece by Seafolly.

For the 2011 summer beach season, the retro look, also referred to as the “pinup look,” is one of the hottest designer swimwear trends around. Think ‘50s-inspired swimwear styles worn by pinup stars, such as Marilyn Monroe. You can achieve the retro look by choosing swimsuits with high waist bottoms and sweetheart necklines or one-pieces with skirted or boyshort bottoms. With retro designer swimwear styles, you’ll look both classic and chic.

4. Artsy-Chic

santorini Top 5 Designer Swimwear Trends For 2011

Santorini by Vitamin A. Sliding triangle top in a colorful mosaic-inspired print with matte gold ring details at straps.

Many people see fashion as a form of wearable art, and for 2011, a number of brands have created designer swimwear styles inspired by various forms of art. For paint-inspired styles, go for swimsuits with tie-dye, watercolor or even splatter paint patterns. Or, opt for abstract-inspired geometric prints and patterns. Some designer swimwear styles even mimic mosaics! Regardless of the style you choose, this trend guarantees a cool boho-chic look.

5. Mix & Match… Or Don’t

beach party coral Top 5 Designer Swimwear Trends For 2011

Beach Party Coral by L*SPACE. Black and cream polka dot triangle top with gold chain and coral faux leather link detail on straps.

Finally, this last trend is strictly for bikini-wearers. One of the simplest and most creative designer swimwear trends is the mix and match trend, or even better, the mismatching trend. Not only is mixing and matching your tops and bottoms fun, but it’s practical in that you can recycle separates that you already own. Pair solids with solids, prints with prints or solids with prints; go matchy-matchy or totally mismatching. But the most important thing about this designer swimwear trend is to have fun!

Whether your summer travels brings you to the beaches of Spain, Brazil, Mexico, you name it, you want to look as good as you feel. Shop these top designer swimwear trends and more at InStyleSwimwear.com.

As a thank you for reading, take 10% off your order at InStyleSwimwear.com with this exclusive Travel Blissful discount code: TravelBlissful10. Avilable through May 31st. Happy summer!

Susan Bodack is the Director of Social Media Marketing at InStyleSwimwear.com, a leading online retailer specializing in luxury designer swimwear and beachwear. Carrying over 60 designer brands for both women and men, InStyleSwimwear.com has something for everyone. Get ready for the summer travel season and shop the most sizzling designer swimwear trends!

Sleep Safe & Sound with Ila Wedge Portable Door Alarm

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When traveling in a foreign country, peace of mind is a priceless gift. For many women, personal safety is a serious concern and it’s not uncommon to feel most vulnerable whilst alone at night. Especially if one stays in an unfamiliar hotel or hostel in a dodgy area. Regardless of one’s choice of accommodation, feeling safe is essential for a good night’s sleep.

Thanks to ila Security’s brilliant ila WEDGE Doorstop Alarm women can now feel safer when traveling or at home alone. I’ve used it in both hotel rooms and at home. Works perfectly. The pressure sensitive door alarm should be placed at 90 degrees under a closed door. If the door is opened from the outside, the alarm triggers and prevents the door from being pushed opened any further while also emitting a 130dB siren alarm. Enough to scare off any unwanted visitor and alert others.

Ideal for use in hostels, hotels, student residences or at home, the alarm is lightweight, compact and stylish. Fortunately ila takes style as seriously as safety. To see how this innovative device works, check out the video demonstration below:

The alarm is available in a pretty butterfly design from www.handpickedgiftstore.com for $19.95.

To see ila Security’s full range of women’s security products, including personal alarms, luggage locks and running alarms, visit www.ilasecurity.com. The products now sell in over 15 countries. In the UK, Marks & Spencer has sold over £1 million worth of ila DUSK personal alarm alone.

Screwpop Multipurpose Keychain Tool

Boingo Wireless: The World’s Largest Network of Wi-Fi Hotspots

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With hotspots in hundreds of airports, thousands of hotels, and tens of thousand cafes and coffee shops around the world, Boingo is the Wi-Fi industry’s leading global provider of software and services. People on the go in need of consistent, affordable Wi-Fi access can easily log on to Boingo Network locations on their laptop or mobile device with a single account. Plans start at $7.95 with BOINGO MOBILE for unlimited use worldwide on your smartphone, or $9.95 for laptop Wi-Fi.

Thanks to Boingo and California-based Comunicano, I received a complimentary one-month account to test Boingo’s Wi-Fi service in my Swedish hometown last year. After checking out the available hotspots in Halmstad I made it a point to try out as many locations as possible.

The hotspots at Stora Torg (the main square) and other public spaces worked perfectly but, for obvious reasons, I much more enjoyed the surf zones in Clarion Collection Hotel Norre Park, Hotel Continental, Best Western Grand Hotel, and Hotel Tylösand. At the time, the staff at these hotels hadn’t heard about Boingo but they were all happy to let me take a seat and surf for some time. My visits ranged from 15 minutes (in Hotel Norre Park) to a few hours (at Hotel Tylösand) during which time I did a variety of activities (on Gmail, WordPress, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and iTunes) to test speed and reliability. Apart from during a windy day at Östra Stranden, a beach east of the city, when the software never popped up, I experienced no issues and had super fast Wi-Fi speed (regardless of activity).

Connecting is easy. Just download the Boingo software and once you’re in a Boingo hotspot the software will automatically pop up. Username and password only need to be entered once as the software will store them for future sessions.

With the increasing demand for easy, reliable and inexpensive high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity, it has been rather exciting to follow the growth and success of Boingo Wireless.

In October, 2010, Boingo partnered with MTS, one of Canada’s major national communication solutions companies, to give customers access to over 150 MTS hotspots locations (cafes, hotels and retail spots) in the Winnipeg and other communities in Manitoba. Besides these hotspots, Boingo provides users in Canada with close to 1,200 Wi-Fi hotspots.

In November, Boingo expanded its network with new hotspots in more than 300 Chinese cities via China Telecom, China’s largest wireline telecommunications and broadband services provider. Boingo also partnered with KT, the largest telephone carrier in South Korea, giving users access to more than 36,000 new Wi-Fi hotspots in airports, hotels, restaurants, cafes, train stations, bus terminals, and convention centers throughout South Korea. This addition increased Boingo’s total hotspot count to over 210,000 locations worldwide.

In early December, Boingo and T-Mobile USA announced a renewed, extended roaming agreement for subscriber access to Wi-Fi hotspots – covering both handheld devices and laptops. Boingo subscribers can now continue accessing T-Mobile hotspots in hotels and airports including the airline clubs of United Airlines, American Airlines, US Airways and Delta Airlines – no Virgin Atlantic so far.

For more information about Boingo, or to sign up, visit http://www.boingo.com.