Gadgets

Top tips for great travel gadgets and software

Traveling opens a world of experiences, filled with exciting adventures, cultural exchange, and mesmerizing landscapes. In our modern age, technological devices or “gadgets” have become indispensable companions, enhancing these experiences in countless ways.

The summer is upon us and it’s time to start planning those family adventures, solo expeditions to find one’s self or a party in the tropics. Many hope to get away from it all and that includes the gadgets and gizmos they feel control their lives. Whatever your itinerary tech is also there to help, facilitate and entertain you on your journey.

The load out:

We all must suffer the burden of not being able to take it all with us so we need our carry on to keep as much to hand as possible. These days mobile phones are packing an awful lot of neat features to reduce clutter.

Many will rely on their iPhone, Samsung Galaxy S5 or HTC One (M8) to take the burden of many tasks and rightfully so. We are now entering a time when the inbuilt features rival many of the products we have come to rely on in the past.

A Camera – The LG G3, HTC One (m8) and iPhone 5S all pack superior shooters for most environments. Our pal and site editor Matt recently relied exclusively on the HTC One to document a trip to Disneyland. However, we are gadget lovers at heart and something like the Sony AX100X 4K Camcorder with 1.0 Type Exmor R CMOS Sensor would really pop when capturing those moments of your kids bungee jumping or some totty on the beach.

A Computer – Internet cafes are a thing of the past, shoddy hotel wifi is now all the rage. Your phone will likely be dead after a full day and you are going to want something to send evidence of your escapades back for your Gran to see. For a little editing of photos and videos the Lenovo X1 Carbon is a stunning lightweight and versatile laptop with some top end specs at a modest price. For the lower end price the Acer Chromebook C720 will do everything you need in the cloud and still allow space for a bottle of tequila from duty free in your backpack on the way home.

A Map – You must know where you are are, have been and are going. Again your phone, combined with Google Maps or mapping software of choice is indispensable. When planning a trip, some really nice online tools are at your hands, such as the GoEuro search travel search engine for example. It compares modes of transport and their various prices and times for the desired route of the user. Another great online resource is airbnb, in terms of booking a place to stay you want.

Power – Your phone is only as useful as it’s battery life and you are likely going to need some form of backup after using GPS to find the sights, the camera to capture the sights, the wifi to share the sights and the screen to watch Captain America on the long sticky bus ride back to the hotel from the sights. The Anker Astro 3E 10000mAh portable charger is the ideal solution and a backpack must have. Cheap, light and quick to charge even the more demanding hardware. Perfect to resurrect a dead phone with your eticket stored in your inbox.

A neat little trick, you probably already know is how to charge them all, a simple 4 Gang, with an adapter. I have seen folks in the past buying three adapters or families squabbling over the single adapter they packed.

Travel can be stressful and unexpected, it’s doesn’t have to be and hopefully this year technology will help you enjoy it a little more.

Finally, we shouldn’t forget the importance of gadgets in ensuring our health and safety while traveling. Personal safety alarms, portable water purifiers, and health monitoring devices can make our travels both safer and healthier. A fully charged phone in a time of crisis can even prove to be a lifesaver.

If you love travel gadgets and you’re looking for the best Expert-crafted travel ideas & private tours to plan your next trip, remember that while gadgets have become integral to the modern travel experience, providing convenience, entertainment, and safety, they should not overshadow the essence of travel itself. It’s important to sometimes set the gadgets aside and immerse ourselves in the cultures, landscapes, and unplanned moments that make traveling such an enriching and fulfilling endeavor.

Top tips to help you afford the latest gadgets

It seems like every few months a new swish gadget hits the market. Unfortunately, the latest gizmos do not usually come cheap and even for the most avid tech geeks, it can be difficult to finance the latest state of the art technology. Not all of us have the means of a multi-billion dollar corporation like Stark Industries at our disposal and that is why it is handy to know a few tips and tricks which can help making it easier to afford new technology, fancy gizmos and fun gadgets.

eBay Is Your Friend

Set up a “saved search” on eBay for the item you are looking for and that way you will be notified immediately as soon as it is being sold. Quite often, you will find second hand items on eBay that are in mint condition and some might only have been taken out of their box but they were never used. This will usually knock a few pounds off the price and you might be able to get yourself a bargain. 

Claim It Back

If you are self-employed and need the latest gadget for your business, you might be able to claim back the expenses of the item when filling in your tax return. You can find more information on whether you are eligible to claim back expenses for an item by clicking here.

Borrow the Money

There are ways to cheaply borrow money and one way of finding out is by using Totally Money’s ‘Cheapest Ways to Borrow’ tool to find out what the cheapest way of borrowing money would be for you. The tool also lets you know how long it will take you to pay back the borrowed money, so that you know exactly what you’re getting into. One of the suggestions this tools makes is taking out a 0% interest credit card. That way you can pay back the money interest free over a period of time until the 0% expire.

Sell Old Gadgets

Once we upgrade our technology most of us have no more use for the previous models, whether that is a phone, a laptop or an e-reader. There are plenty of places that will pay you money for trading in your old gadgets. This might help you to raise some money for the newer version of a gadget.

Wiring for Sound: Choosing the Right Headphones

Headphones are one of the best things to come out of our technological innovation. What other device allows you to drown out your noisy neighbour but still listen to that new song in perfect clarity. That said, the market is inundated with headphones and it’s tough to differentiate between a good headphone and good marketing.

Here’s a guide to get you started:

(Un)necessary accessories

One of the more popular accessories for headphones is the anti-tangle feature. The premise is, because we’re so impatient that we can’t spend the 15 seconds it takes to untangle the wires on a headphone, we need a feature that minimises the tangling. If you’ve found a pair of headphones you like, and it just so happens it has an anti-tangle feature, so be it. Just don’t centre your buying process around this one feature.

However, a pair of headphones with Bluetooth is a different story because you can then listen on your headphones completely wirelessly (although most come with a wire just in case). Better still, it doesn’t substantially degrade the music quality, which makes the feature well worthwhile.

Another feature that is recommended is a built in mic. If you’ve ever been on a jog or a bike and received a call, this feature is a life saver. Also, many of the headphones with microphones also have a volume and pause control built in, another added bonus.

Being practical

Of course, one of the main activities people like to do with music in the background is exercise. A lot of people exercise to music, be it dancing, aerobics, some high-intensity cycling (euphemistically called ‘spinning’ to make it sound less gruelling!) or even a gentle (or not so gentle) jog. You might want to consider splash-proof headphones designed for those who are working up a sweat to music. Some JVC HA-EBX5 headphones might just do the trick while you strive to shape up indoors or outdoors.

Worlds of sound for less

Unless you’re an audiophile or have a job where only the crispest, clearest sound quality is acceptable, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on a headphone. For an in ear headphone, the Sol Republic Jax are a great choice. They deliver pulse pounding bass with barely any distortion, all without overpowering the midrange and treble frequencies. As a bonus, they come with a microphone and volume control.

For an over the ear headphone, Griffin Woodtones are a great buy. They’re comfortable, stylish, and have a balanced, well rounded sound. They even use a real wood finish to round out the look.

Headphone highs

Here’s where to choices get tricky. The best sounding headphones can cost thousands of euros, with bells and whistles that any audiophile can appreciate. If money is no object, then you might be interested in a set of Grado PS1000s. This headphone makes listeners feel as if they’re in the room with the band. The sound comes in crisp and clear. Cymbals sizzle and the texture of the bass comes in like never before.

As you can see you can get great sounding headphones for any price. Whether you’re looking for a replacement for those white iPod headphones, or want to transform your listening experience, there’s something out there for you.

The Best In-Car Technology

In-car technology has been improving greatly in recent years. In fact, it seems that the motoring industry cannot get enough of new technology and innovations. The amazing thing here is that this applies to almost every segment in the automotive industry.

At a time where innovative in-car technology is one of the major deciding factors of most consumers, many car manufacturers find it important to either have events or attend events to showcase their latest offerings: in 2014, Las Vegas was the popular venue for the reveal of several latest innovations.

Before we take a look at some of those innovations, a common-sense reminder – no matter how advanced technology becomes, there is no substitute for driver ability and being totally confident and knowledgeable regarding the rules of the road. Top Tests is a great website for reviewing and refreshing driver know-how.

Performance Data Recorder

Set to be available for Chevrolet Corvette next year, this in-car technology has been gaining a lot of buzz already. Think of having a GoPro and telemetry device together in your vehicle. This is how the performance data recorder is reported to work. A camera is mounted on the headliner trim while the telemetry hardware will measure and record everything in the SD card, allowing you to simply upload and edit the raw data when you get home.

Bluetooth Audio

Think of smart television and how you use your smartphone to play YouTube clips on it. With this Bluetooth audio, users can now set a playlist and play it through the car’s speakers without having to use bothersome and unsightly cables or transfer the playlists to another device. This simple-sounding device has proven to be useful and hassle free during testing and could be a game changer. Pay attention music lovers everywhere!

Smartphone App Integration

This is another in-car technology that focuses on how to use your smartphone for various activities in the car. This allows smartphones to directly connect to the vehicle’s infotainment system, which usually features Pandora Internet radio and others. Once synced up, you or your passengers can simply access the controls directly from the mobile device, eliminating the need to lean over to reach the controls and opening up control to everyone in the car.

NVidia Customisable Digital Cockpit

How would you feel if you could customise not just the exterior look of your vehicle but the digital cockpit as well? It sounds pretty amazing and we are guessing this is something to look forward to. The NVidia customisable digital cockpit will let drivers choose their preferred colour, texture, and instrument panel configurations.

Solar Concept

This is a new feature that will be offered by no other than Ford C-Max Energi. With this, the vehicle’s battery can recharge itself using the rooftop solar panels making it even more practical than it already is.

These are just some of the latest advancements in in-car technology. This selection will definitely get you excited since these features are not just for show and style but for practical uses to benefit the driver experience too. If you also want your car to always look good you may try How to remove oxidation and see the benefits of doing so.

The ultimate guide to gifts and gadgets in 2014

The increasingly popular car shaped mouse

As modern technology develops, every year more and more exciting, unusual and unique gadgets are released. Quirky pieces of technology make perfect gifts, whether it’s for your sister’s birthday, your parents’ wedding anniversary or for your boyfriend on Valentine’s Day.

Another great option to consider when looking for a gift are the romance novels of AnyStories.

You won’t want to buy a loved one the same gift as someone else. So why not buy a unique gift that the person will definitely remember? 2014 is a great year for fantastic gadgets being released that all make perfect gifts.

Below is the ultimate guide to some of the top gadgets and gifts for 2014.

Projection Clock

We’ve all experienced fumbling around to try and find out the time while we’re in bed. With this fantastic gadget, when you’re laid in bed and its dark, all you need to do is press a button and the time will be projected onto the ceiling or a wall, making it easily visible.

This great clock projects the time in 2 foot tall writing, so even if you don’t have your glasses on you’ll be able to see the numbers. This is a fantastic gift in 2014, and is sure to be useful as well as unique.

Bendable Keyboard

Another of 2014’s top gadgets is the bendable keyboard. This silicone keyboard comes in a variety of bright colours and adds a lot of style to your computer. But as well as adding a touch of class, there are many functional advantages to the bendable keyboard.

The silicone offering is practically indestructible compared to standard keyboards and is also waterproof, so if you accidentally spill a bit of tea on it then there’s no need to worry!  It is very easy to wipe and very flexible…which means it’s easily cleaned. Finally, it is very lightweight, so if you want to move around taking the keyboard with you is no problem.

Electronic Cigars

Cigar smoking is increasing in popularity, not least because of the dramatic rise in Celebrities smoking cigars over cigarettes. Electronic cigars using e-liquid are set to continue their meteoric rise in popularity throughout 2014 and into 2015. There is now a wide selection of electronic cigars available online, from different strengths to colours or other models like iqos uae you can get for this. There’s also replacement vape glass australia if your vaporizer needs fixing.

There are many cigar distributors online, I have personally bought cigars from The Cigar Club online, so if you are curious to try your very own electronic cigar check out their range.

Mouse Designs

Another computer-related gadget of 2014 has quite a big fan-base already: interesting mouse designs. Instead of having the standard mouse to go along with your computer, why not buy someone a unique and unusual mouse to go with their bendable keyboard?

One of the most popular mouse gadgets is a car shaped mouse, also known as a ‘street mouse’. The owner of this mouse can enjoy ‘driving’ their mouse around while on the computer. You can also get an inflatable mouse, egg shaped mouse, arrow shaped mouse, washable mouse or even an actual mouse shaped mouse! With so many choices this is a great way to buy some-one the perfect gift to suit them.

In conclusion, 2014 has seen the release of many exciting gadgets that will make perfect unique and unusual gifts. You’re sure to wow the gift recipient with one of these fantastic gadgets. There’s a seriously low chance you’d end up getting them the same gift as someone else, and it’ll definitely be a memorable present. If you’re looking for a great way to save money on high-quality merchandise, then a bargain bins store may be the perfect place for you.