Posts Tagged iPhone
IDAPT i1 Eco Dual Charging Device
This unique dual charger from Idapt provides the ability to charge more than one device simultaneously, which for this time-strapped traveler is extremely important. Yes, it is feasible to charge an iPad, iPhone, and laptop all at once overnight in my hotel room, but sometimes they run out of juice in the middle of the day. I can charge more than one thing from the same outlet in the airline lounge or airport gate area while on a short connection.
The brand’s main focal point is the reduction in environmental impact this can have by only using one charger for all of your devices. When it has reached 100% charging for your devices, it automatically powers down reducing usage of electricity. This is, of course, important to me too, but so is the ease of use and increase in productivity that it provides.
Plus, when you are the one paying the electric bill (like when using its wall plug while at home), it saves you on energy use. I am sure you have heard that even when an outlet is not in use, if something is plugged in, it is using energy and electricity. In addition, the device is created from recyclable materials. There is also a car plug to use with your car lighter port that makes it a cinch to use while driving to the airport.
There are dual inputs on the device: one USB charging port perfect for my iPhone or iPad and one regular charging port for my laptop. The combination cuts down on the number of cords needed on my desk or near my seating area if space is limited.
The $25 price tag is extremely affordable especially with a tradeoff of having fewer cables to travel with (think about those otherwise overweight bag fees!) and increased productivity on a short connection. It is available on IDAPT’s website and at Amazon and makes a great gift for business travelers.
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Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, Travel Light on March 19th, 2012
PressReader Mobile App
Reading your favorite newspaper online, no matter where you are, is quickly outpacing the printed version of papers these days. Many newspapers offer the entire paper for free online, but others require a email registration or a small fee. Others don’t even have substantial content online. The Press Reader app revolutionizes how you gather your news.
It features access to 2,000 newspapers from across the globe. A search function divides them by country or allows users to search by title for their favorite paper. It takes just a few seconds to download the newspaper using a wireless or network connection, and then users flip the pages with a swipe of their finger. A zoom function allows you to enlarge specific articles or photos.
An interesting bonus of reading the newspaper on Press Reader rather than on a publication’s online site is that the app allows you to see the full newspaper in its entirety. You can see where an article is placed on the page. At the bottom of the screen, tabs allow you to skip to different sections of the paper without flipping through each page.
As a business traveler, I download a couple of domestic papers and then my favorite newspapers from around the world to read on the plane. There’s no crinkling of paper, black ink on hands, and stacks of reading material to carry around.
While I tested this on my iPad, it can also be used on other mobile devices or even a computer. Clickable URLs, downloadable audio or video clips, and phone numbers are additional bonuses for those who truly want to connect with information within a news story. If you want the news article read aloud to you, simply click the audio button and it is delivered in an audio format in the article’s published language.
It is downloadable from the iTunes store. Subscriptions vary from a monthly option with unlimited downloads for $29.95 to a pay-as-you-go option for .99 cents per download.
It makes a great gift for the new year especially for those who travel frequently or want to stay connected with news in multiple corners of the country or globe.
Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, Travel Light on December 26th, 2011
Nest Case for iPhone
Nest Case for iPhone
This durable iPhone case is more than just a protective cover for your mobile device. It also doubles as a stand that lets you watch movies or photos without having to hold it in your hand. The one time I tried to use my iPhone to watch a movie on an airplane before using this case, I leaned it against the armrest. Of course, I dozed off and found the phone had slipped in between the seat cushion!
The Nest case features openings on the side to allow for the ringer or audio volume to be adjusted without removing the case. There is enough room for even your thumb to push the buttons. Openings for the power switch, charging ports, and speakers are also present and wide enough to access without difficulty.
Another solid feature that I appreciate is that the case wraps all the way around the phone protecting the front of the screen as well. Many iPhone cases that I have tested do not cover the front edges, which puts your screen in danger if it unluckily falls face first to the ground. Guess what, mine did! I have three cracks on the screen as a result. The Nest case would have prevented that.
To use the display stand, simply remove the phone from the case and place it into the side grooves. It sits at a 55 degree angle. Cases are available for both the iPhone 3 and 3GS and iPhone 4. The iPod touch has its own set of cases for various models. All of which are affordably priced at www.NestCases.com or www.Amazon.com
This plastic case serves multiple purposes since it allows the business traveler to listen to music or watch movies while using a laptop. It also allows parents a hands-free entertainment option while they are taking care of kids on a long flight.
I especially like that the material on the back allows me to tape my business card to the case (in the event that I lose my iPhone). Often times, the material of the case is too rubbery to allow tape to stick to it. This exceptional case allows travelers to multitask without worrying about dropping or losing their mobile device in transit.
Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, Travel Light on October 24th, 2011
The Callet Cell Phone Wallet
Let’s not even get started on how often I lose my iPhone. In fact, it is such a common situation, I have been searching for a way to tether it to my body! The Callet may be the closest way for me to do just that. It is a unique plastic-coated case that protects your phone while also serving as a wallet with compartments for credit cards and money. This way, you are holding everything in one hand or in one pocket making it much less likely to lose or leave behind.
Who is going to leave their phone sitting out on a table if all of their money and credit cards are attached to it? It’s an instant reminder to yourself to put it back in your pocket. Plus, when attending sporting events or concerts and purses or handbags are not permitted, the Callet allows you to easily manage your money, cards, and phone in one pocket without it being too bulky. For women, this is a great way to save space in your purse (or in a briefcase, for men) by ditching the wallet and combining everything into one holder.
There are versions of the Callet for both the iPhone and the Blackberry and it comes in various stylish colors. The design is conveniently lightweight making it feel less bulky than a wallet when in your pocket. An initial concern for me was that money or cards would fall out, but the pockets are more like thin slits keeping everything in place unless you really try to shake them out. Yes, if you hold it upside down and shake hard, they could potentially fall out, but most people would not do that.
Designed by four young entrepreneurs from New York, this product is especially convenient in large cities because it keeps one less pocket from bulging (bulging pockets call attention to pick pockets!). This innovative product is only $19.95 and makes a great stocking stuffer. Find it at www.TheCallet.com, and simplify your going-out or travel routine!
Posted by Ramsey in Travel Light on October 3rd, 2011
5 Things I Always Pack: Julie Ovenell-Carter
Julie Ovenell-Carter launches her travels from Vancouver, BC. She has learned most of her packing lessons the hard way–which is why she never leaves home without her Canadian sense of humor.
Once many years ago, when I packing for a business trip and fretting obsessively about whether to pack one pair of pantyhose or two, my mother wisely observed that “they probably sell pantyhose in Toronto.” That sober advice stuck with me, and when it came time to pass along packing wisdom to my own kids I told them they’d always be good to go with a ticket, a passport and a credit card.
Beyond those essentials, I always bring along:
An unlocked iPhone: Technology—and all the bling that goes along with it—is so essential to a travel writer’s job that it’s as basic as packing a toothbrush and clean underwear. I never leave home without my (legally) unlocked iPhone 4: not only can I swap out SIM cards to cut exorbitant roaming and long-distance fees, but in a pinch it allows me to do anything I can do on my laptop—plus navigate through foreign streets and take great photos.
Earplugs: I carry a pair of orange foam earplugs (I get ‘em cheap at Home Depot) in my carry-on because I inevitably choose the seat next to the guy who drinks five scotches during the first half of the flight and then snores through the last half. And I also carry a second pair in my packed luggage because there are a lot of things that can get lost on a trip and one of them is sleep.
A shawl: I learned the multiple benefits of carrying a shawl even before menopause made easy layering a necessity. I stuff one in my carry-on so I don’t have to pay for a blanket on the plane. I wad it up to use as a pillow on buses and trains. I throw it on to dress up a simple outfit. I use it to cover my head and shoulders when culturally appropriate. (And when I had small children, I occasionally used it as a changing pad and/or to catch barf…)
A Moleskine notebook: Even when I’m not writing an article I’m a compulsive note-taker, and for my money there is no better journal than a leather-bound Moleskine notebook. I like the way the quality paper feels under my pen; they way the built-in ribbon bookmarks my place; and especially the way the little envelope at the back neatly stows ephemera such as business cards and ticket stubs.
A silicone blister-stick: Every traveler has a weak spot—Mike Barish’s crotch, for example, or Jessica Spiegel’s tummy. For me, it’s my feet. Essentially if I put on shoes, I get blisters. This is particularly a problem when I’m in a great walking city such as Berlin or New York. To the rescue: a silicone blister-stick that I can glide over my trouble spots before slipping on my shoes and socks. (I prefer a European brand called Compeed, but there are other brands available in pharmacies and outdoor-adventure stores.) I discovered this little magic bullet a few years ago on a hiking trip into the Grand Canyon, and I haven’t been hobbled since.
Follow Julie on Twitter: @theseboots
Posted by Pam in General Gear, Travel Light on September 23rd, 2011
