Voyager 855 headset from Plantronics
The Voyager 855 from Plantronics, which works as both a hands-free headset for the phone and a stereo headset for the music player, may be that multifunction tool for the plugged-in set.
Extending the 855's boom microphone pauses the music played on a phone and answers a call. Ending the call restarts the music. Both earbuds are activated for listening to music in stereo by plugging a detachable cable to the main unit.
But the 855, available next month at most electronics and office supply stores for about $150, works only with phones that are A2DP compliant. You can check whether a particular phone supports this standard for playing stereo through a Bluetooth wireless connection by going to Plantronics' Web site, www.plantronics.com . Now, if only it came with a screwdriver and a can opener.
I found this post on Cool Tools, a great useful gadget blog. It is a recommendation for the book "Moving Heavy Things". The precept quoted below strikes me as THE guide line for moving house, as I just did, or packing for a trip. Definitely an argument for roller over duffel bags.
Precept Five: Applied SlothCool Tool: Moving Heavy Things
As stated in the stagehand's axiom: "Never lift what you can drag, never drag what you can roll, never roll what you can leave." Creativity germinates in indolence, and the cleverest people are often the laziest: they are always looking for an easier way. The easiest way is often the simplest, most direct, and the best way.
Here is what I would use as the side table for the "Chair" in the previous post, when I wasn't chic-ly cavorting about the country with it.
Polycarbonate Expandable Zeroller - It comes in Black, Red or Silver, in sizes from 19"-29"
Polycarbonate Specific FeaturesIn creating the new Polycarbonate collection, Zero Halliburton was inspired by the contemporary design objective of providing lightweight, protective, flexible luggage with the level of functionality expected from a bag designed for today's frequent traveler. Features include:
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This post is less about being portable and more about looking portable. If there was ever a chair to give you the feeling of travel while staying home - this is it. It reminds me so much of those ZERO Halliburton aluminum briefcases I used to lust after.
Design - Chairs - Furniture
Naoto Fukasawa's design, called Chair, embodies his notion of objects "dissolving" into their environments. The sight of travelers perching wearily on their rolling luggage inspired the witty aluminum-clad "suitcase" chair, while the idea of a bale of hay becoming an impromptu seat resulted in the hay chair. Other versions of Chair are made of clear acrylic, marble, felt, wood and polyurethane, each one of which evokes an entirely different feeling. The prices, though not yet set, promise to be anything but dissolving. But then good things come in small quantities.
Great tip, courtesy of Daily Candy yesterday. I fly quite often, and I have never heard of this. Totally worth a look at FareCompare or more info. Who would pass up a chance for first class?
Step-By-Step Guide:
FareCompare.com is the only web site that tracks over 100,000 of these confirmed discounted first class airfares. Y-Up airfares are intentionally published by the airlines to look exactly like a coach ticket, but the seats are allocated in the first class cabin. This sneaky little trick allows corporate travelers to legitimately & inexpensively get around their "No First Class Travel" policy.
Y-Up airfares are deeply discounted first class airline tickets available for travel within/between the United States and Canada. They do NOT apply to international coach, business or first class air travel.
SteriPEN
Pocket water purifier
"I took a SteriPEN to Africa for 3 months this summer and the verdict is in: it's the best water purifier you can carry without a tractor-trailer. It's basically a UV ray flashlight you submerge into your glass. The water stays cool and it doesn't change the water, except to kill all the living things in it, viruses included. It is expensive,but pays for itself quickly, as you don't have to buy bottled water. On my trip, often when I asked a waiter for a glass of tap water, my request would elicit a smile or a laugh. In some cases, they simply would not bring me a glass of water. Most of the time, though, I convinced them -- and then, to their amazement, I would take out the SteriPEN, push a button, and stir the water with the glowing purple UV light that always brought stares from other diners. After less than 60 seconds, I would take out the SteriPEN and drink the water, occasionally hearing gasps from other tables. Then I'd mention that UV light is how certain towns and companies now sterilize water."
-- David Siegel
SteriPEN
$125
Available from Amazon
OH MY GOSH! I fell for this 'brell' the moment I laid eyes on it in the New York Times Sunday Styles section last weekend. My pulse quickened as I couldn't stop myself from ordering one even before I posted it. It represents everything that makes me a gadget freak: high-tech materials, supreme functionality, sweet, sleek, beautiful design, and extreme portability. Sure its spendy, at $95 for the solo version, but can you put a price on love-at-first-sight? Besides, this relationship has a life time warranty.
Its the last umbrella you'll need . . . if you don't leave it in a cab.
DAVEK Umbrella - Davek Solo
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Having witnessed the attack on 9-11 first hand, I really appreciated this thoughtful post and photo from Sherry at Geeky Traveller.
A break from travel gadgetry
by Sherry on September 11th, 2007
"I tried very hard to make myself post something about a cool gadget to make travel fun or a nifty site to make vacation planning easier, but I kept looking at the date on the calendar hanging on the wall beside me, and I can't do it today.
Instead I'd like to offer up a moment of silence for everyone who lost their lives this day six years ago. I will never forget."
For all you right-brained creatives out there who use mindmaps to organize your grocery list/presentations/IPO, you'll be pleased to know that they are now offered in in a pocketable form.
Pocket Mindmap Features
The mindmap below and the list describes the most important features of Pocket Mindmap. (You can download this map from the download area.)
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| The topic with the title "Attribute" is a maplink to the map below. In Pocket Mindmap you can switch to this map by simply tapping the red arrow. |
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(all photos courtesy of Mindmaps.com) |
Stumbled across this great packing list+, on the Eagle Creek website.
They have a lot of good traveler's information there. If you follow the link to their site, you can download the pdf version which includes the sweet little check boxes for each item. Yes!
| Pre Departure
Travel Gear
| Everyday Basics
| Maintenance Items
Travel Health
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| Home Checklist
| Toiletries
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I have been running for some time now with my Samsung YP-Z5 mini music player (MMP) and my Sennheiser MX75 Twist-to-Fit earphones, and been very happy with the set-up, so much so that I use it for traveling and everything else. Its a very compact player with decent battery life, very nice colorful little screen, and controls that are very easy to work without looking at the device. But lately I have noticed a bleed in the lower corner of the screen, and at times, after a long run, the player does nto respond to the pressing of the buttons. I think sweat and rain are getting the best of it, and I realized it is time to start looking for a new MMP, so I am ready when this one gives out.
I could just get another YP-Z5, but what's the fun in that? There has to be some NEW, BETTER, SMALLER gadget to try. That is just what I came upon this morning. With four and a half circles and an "Editors Choice" badge at PC Magazine, it has to be good, right? Plus I am a sucker for the USB easy connect. One less cord means one step closer to a gadgetraveler's nirvana.
Cheap MP3 Players 101 - Samsung YP-U3 - Review by PC Magazine
Tim Gideon
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I think they made a huge mistake here in the marketing of the terrific portable gadget. The more robust ones also work for messenger bags and backpacks, so they would be just as useful to men as to purse-tote'n women.
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Am I the one person in NYC who cannot wear ear buds? I get that feeling when I ride the subway, and see everyone where their tiny little rubber pieces stuck in their ears. I have tried every kind, even the in-the-ear Shures with no success.
And for running, forget about it! There are several kinds that stay on, but all have their drawbacks: the back-of-the-head style works well with hats, but often rub against the ear in an uncomfortable way, plus, they are not good on a plane, where you lean your head back against the seat; the headphones that clip on your ear don't play well with sunglasses, and often make your ears sore; the lightweight, foldable, over the head style are the ones I end up with most of the time, because they stay in the vicinity of the ear best, and work with sunglasses, but they don't fit so well in the winter when I am wearing a hat.
Enter the Sennheiser MX75 Twist-To-Fit In-Ear Stereo Sport Headphones - these things work!
(Amazon.com Product Description)
"The Sennheiser MX75 Sport Line Stereo Headphones with Twist-to-Fit System combines a flashy neon green profile with a convenient twist-to-fit design that ensures stability while you're out jogging. The two earpieces contain rubber stoppers that press against the outer ear to further enhance stability, and a cable clip is included to hold the headphones to your clothes when they're not in use. Then, you can put them in the included vinyl carrying case for storage. The headphones themselves deliver low-end bass and drum clarity together with crispness in mid-range frequencies, and the overall sound quality is comparable with Sennheiser's studio headphones."
[via Geeky Traveller]
This dual-light flashlight emits a forward-facing, narrow-angle beam (uses a high output Luxeon one watt LED bulb) to light the path ahead of you. It also emits a downward-facing wide-angle beam (uses two ultra bright 5mm white LEDs) to light the ground. Using both of these light sources simultaneously enables you to feel safer while walking in the dark. No more constantly rotating the light near and far to see everything in the dark. There are also multiple lighting options available with the flashlights three-way switch: the front light on alone, both front and lower lights on, and lower lights only.
Portable washcloths for the Portable Life. These work great for events like the Hood-To-Coast Relay, hiking or camping, and motels with little or no shower pressure.
Wet Ones Outdoors Antibacterial Portable Washcloths
Product Description From Amazon:"Wet Ones Outdoors Wipes make cleaning up in the great outdoors fast and easy because they're big, thick and strong - they're portable washcloths! The mild antibacterial cleansing solution kills germs and bacteria while soothing aloe moisturizes your skin. Great for: Camping Fishing Boating Hiking Cooking Out Picnics & BBQ's 35 - 7.5" X 8.6" (19.0cm X 21.8cm) Big Moist Wipes per package"
. Its more compact (smaller, thinner wipes), and doesn't have any fragrance to bother fellow passengers sitting next you. Keep some in your car or carry on bag.
"Black Microfleece Pullover from SCOTTEVEST/SeV® - Gear Management Clothing™: "The versatile Microfleece Pullover ($59) is a wardrobe necessity—at least according to everyone at SeV headquarters, where this has become a voluntary uniform! The lightweight, breathable and wicking fabric is a great Gear Management Solution™ for hiking, biking, travel, everything! The pullover has 5 pockets, including a specially designed chest pocket with a ZIP-PIP™ for sunglasses and 'back-up,' patent-pending magnetic closures. The Weight Management System™ for this pocket was an R&D
coup...you can't imagine how much testing went into this design. The pullover also features the patented Personal Area Network (PAN), a detachable key chain, an epaulet to attach devices, like cell phones, ventilation eyelets and an adjustable waist cord."
Also available at Amazon.com
A couple more sleek Hide and Seek versions, one with fewer pockeys, one with more: the hoody ($69), and the high-bred Fleece 4.0 Jacket ($139),
which has zip-off sleeves and 12 pockets, one for every gadget you carry on the plane/train/automobile.
As you can see, you can drill down several levels, instead of having all the details on the same pagel. This makes better use of the smaller phone/PDA screen.
