Gadgets on the Go

Gadgets on the Go

Are you planning a quick weekend getaway, a family vacation or a business trip? Here’s a round-up of some nifty gadgets that can make traveling easier, more efficient and just plain fun.
LUGGAGE SMARTS

• Weigh, Don’t Pay: If you can never seem to pack light or you plan on shopping during your trip, get a small digital scale to help you stay under the carry-on weight limit. The Travelon Ergonomic Digital Scale, for example, shows baggage weight up to 75 pounds on a backlit readout. It also includes a tape measure so you know when you’re within carry-on size limits.
• Find It Fast: Keep track of your luggage with electronic luggage locators. With the Luggage Locator Pro Deluxe, you put a receiver on each bag and keep the remote on your keychain. Touch a button on the remote and the receiver will beep and light up when you are within 60 feet.

CAMERA READY

• Steady Shots: Keeping your camera steady is important for taking better pictures. The Gorillapod, by Joby, is a mini tripod with flexible, multi-jointed legs that let you balance it just about anywhere – on hills, tree branches and more. The original is suitable for compact cameras. A larger version can handle the weight of an SLR and a magnetic version lets you attach the camera to metal surfaces.
• Simple Sharing: Transfer your travel shots and videos to your computer and sharing sites with the Eye-Fi wireless memory card. Using Hotspot Access, you can upload media from tens of thousands of AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots across the U.S.

BUSINESS TOOLS

• Keep the Connections: Having a reliable cell phone signal is a must to stay in touch with the office or loved ones. Cell phone signal boosters like zBoost allow customers to take full advantage of voice, data and Internet services on mobile phones and data devices, including 3G high-speed data and video, instant messaging and pictures. zBoost travel units (www.wi-ex.com), including the zPocket and zboost Dual Band Car Unit, help you take advantage of your smartphone’s voice and data capabilities on the road.
• Capture Comments: Take better meeting notes with a smart pen. The Livescribe 2GB Pulse Smartpen records audio and links it to what you write. If you miss something, tap on your notes or drawings with the tip to hear what was said while you were writing. You can transfer your notes to the computer, organize them, search for words and share the finished project with others.

FAMILY TRAVEL

• Keep Them Close: If you’ve got toddlers that like to roam, you need a way to find them easily. The Giggle Bug Toddler Tracker clips onto your child’s clothing. To find your wandering little one, press a button on the hand-held unit and the Giggle Bug emits a loud beep until the child is located and you release the unit. The range is 75 to 100 feet indoors and 100+ feet outdoors, depending on environment and obstructions.
• Keep Them Entertained: If you have movies or TV shows on your iPod or DVDs, everyone can watch them on a bigger screen. The iLuv i1166 portable multimedia player has a 9-inch widescreen display. It can work as a standalone player or you can use an adapter to plug it in to the car for drive time viewing. It also functions as a digital photo frame, iPod charger and music player.

TRAVELING WITH A LAPTOP
Whether taking your laptop for work or play, make sure it clears security screening with a minimum of hassle. You can buy laptop bags that will produce a clear and unobstructed image of the laptop when undergoing X-ray screening. A design that meets this objective will enable Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Officers to allow laptops to remain in bags for screening.
Using one of these bags doesn’t guarantee that you can leave your laptop in your bag for screening. If a Transportation Security Officer finds that the bag does not present a clear and distinct image of the laptop separate from the rest of the bag, the laptop must be screened separately.
If you intend to use a checkpoint friendly laptop bag, make sure to check that:

• Your laptop bag has a designated laptop-only section that you can lay flat on the X-ray belt.
• There are no metal snaps, zippers or buckles inside, underneath or on-top of the laptop-only section.
• There are no pockets on the inside or outside of the laptop-only section.
• There is nothing in the laptop compartment other than the laptop.
• You have completely unfolded your bag so that there is nothing above or below the laptop-only section, allowing the bag to lie flat on the X-ray belt.