Nokia E90 versus HTC Advantage:Updated

So are others struggling with this comparison as well? For the last week, while waiting for the price of the Nokia E90 Communicator to drop, I came across the 5" screened HTC Advantage x7501. www.AllAboutSymbian.com had a good comparison of the two. It is a good pairing, since they are both available now in the US for between $800-900. I included the first box of a great comparison table of the two devices. The side-by-side photos were equally helpful.

AAS Feature: Flagship head to head: Nokia E90 versus HTC Advantage

"Finding valid comparisons for devices from the competing Symbian OS and Windows Mobile world isn't always trivial and this is one of the hardest pairs to match up. Yet both communicators sit right at the top of each product line and, despite the form factor differences, match well in terms of overall specification. Can either of them really replace a laptop?

(photo courtesy of All-About-Symbian.com)

It's safe to say that, at well over £600, SIM-free, the pretensions of both devices are fairly high - after all, you can buy a capable notebook PC these days for far less. So how do the Nokia E90 and HTC Advantage X7500 measure up and how well do they perform the basics of work on the road?"

	Nokia E90	HTC Advantage X7500
Form factor	'Classic' communicator clamshell, smaller than the 9500 but still weighing 210g. Dual displays and very phone-like when closed. Score 9	A 360g tablet with touch-screen and detachable qwerty keyboard, superb as PDA or Internet tablet but almost unusable as day-to-day phone. Score 8

UPDATE: I have read so many reviews about these two convergences devices, that I am starting to develop my own list of pros and cons that relate to the uses that are most important to me. The highest priorities on my list may be quite different from the typical business user, since my business is blogging.

I plan to use whichever convergence device I settle on to keep abreast of travel/tech news via Google Reader, read and respond to email, post to my blogs, research blog ideas (aka surfing the internet), take photos and phonecalls. Those uses are listed in order of priority. Taking quick candid photos and using the phone have recently fallen to the low priority actions, since I compromised and got a thin, non-QWERTY cameraphone for the times when I need to travel light and snap photos quickly.

With all this in mind, the pros for the Nokia E90 seem to be backlit keyboard and a screen more easily read in direct sunlight than the x7501 (providing for better night and outdoor useage), possibly better camera, better phone (you can actually hold it against your head for calls), and a size that while larger than most phones, does not require a love of baggy cargo pants to carry it in your pants pocket.

The HTC Advantage x7501 has a larger screen (5" diagonal) for better browsing, a very good camera, compatibility with the new SDHC high capacity memory cards (capable of holding up to 32 gb), plus 8gb already onboard, and . . . 3G.

Yes, the x7501 is all set to use HSPDA here in the USA, with its triband 3G. This is the huge divider for me between the devices. If the Nokia E90 sported 3G frequencies that worked in the US system, I would have one by now. I really like its portability and form factor, the clamshell, for quick thumb texting and data entry, but it really frustrates me that the internet browsing experience is dependent on the EDGE network. That will be troublesome for posting blog/photo entries.

The Nokia E90 at the Edinburgh Fringe

More real-world experience with the Nokia E90. A reporter is trying to give up his mobile phone AND laptop (brave soul), while covering the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland this month. This is a link to the first installment of his adventure, with more to follow over the next 3 weeks.

AAS Feature: The Nokia E90 at the Edinburgh Fringe: "The Nokia E90 at the Edinburgh Fringe

Ewan's got himself a loan of my Nokia E90 - and he's hitting the Edinburgh Festival Fringe....

To set the scene for the month of August, Edinburgh turns from being the Scottish Capital to the largest Arts Festival in the world, with over 19,000 performers, putting on over 2,000 productions on a mostly daily basis for three and a half weeks. And I do a lot of reporting from it, and generally testing out technology ‘in the field’.

So, to make this clear, this is not going to be a normal review – partly because of the number of shows and real life stuff I have to do that I can’t go through every icon and application in every real world circumstance, partly because Steve's already done a lot on the E90's functions and features, and partly because I think that an ‘only real life’ view of the device is a jolly good idea."

Case Logic Pocket - For the Quick Draw

This little neoprene pocket works great for either of my phones or my digital camera. The ring has a quick clip opening. I hook it on the strap of whatever bag I am carrying, to keep my phone/camera readily accessible. It saves digging through a big bag to answer the phone or snap a quick candid photo. The fact that it has a slit opening instead of a zipper has endeared it to me. It is much faster to get things in and out of it.

Because the Case Logic pocket is so handy, I am continually expanding it's applications. I have even started using it when I run, carrying my phone, cash and ID in it. It keeps the items from getting wet from sweat, and protects my delicate phone in the case of rain or a drop to the pavement.

The title link is to the medium size pocket at Amazon.com.

(photo courtesy of Amazon.com)

These Case Logic pockets also come in other colors, such as pink, blue, orange, green, and silver, and at least 3 different sizes. I am inclined to buy a couple more, to replace my more expensive zippered neoprene cases, which are ultimately safer from a waterproofing perspective, but not nearly as usable. They will be relegated to vacation packing.

Editorial note:
(I actually bought the large size from www.ebags.com. I got a product review request, which I completed, since I really like the product, and now I can no longer find the Case Logic Neoprene pocket on the ebags site, though it may just be due to inadequate website search capabilities.)

Callpod Chargepod: One Device to Charge Them All

One of my biggest problems while traveling is keeping all my gadgets charged. Most hotel rooms, especially older ones, just do not have enough outlets. I end up deciding between unplugging the clock radio or the lamp, both of which I would like to continue using. And this is just to get maybe 2 devices plugged. Then at some point I have to rotate my other devices into the charging cue, because I always travel with at least 5 electronic gadgets: phone, laptop, camera, mp3 player, Garmin GPS (for running). I often travel with a second camera as well, and if G is traveling with me, we need at least 2-3 (blackberry, bluetooth, laptop) more outlets at night. (Wow, after adding that all up, I think I have just justified the cost of this thing.)

Here is how to get the job done: Callpod Chargepod. It lists at $49.95, plus $9.95 per tip. I don't think I can charge my laptop on it, but there is room for SIX devices here. They can all charge concurrently, and the speed is supposed to the the same as if they were charging alone. Plus, many fewer cables and adapters to drag along, thereby streamlining my electronics kit.

I also think it looks kind of cool. I would use it as decoration on my coffee table. Mmmmm . . . gadgets . . .

From a cnet review:
"The AC and car adapters are sufficiently long, while the device adapters range in length from 3 to 5 inches. While that might sound too short, the Chargepod's circular design means the device adapters fan out with enough room to plug in the full component of six gadgets. With that feature alone, the Chargepod beats your standard power strip hands down. By eliminating the often clunky power cords that come with many cell phones, handhelds, MP3 players, and portable gaming systems, you won't have to struggle to make everything fit.

Fortunately, Callpod has produced a wide variety of device adapters. Supported gadgets include cell phones from BlackBerry, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Sanyo, Sidekick, Samsung, Audiovox, Pantech, Palm, Nokia, LG, and Kyocera. And don't worry about multiple plug types under each manufacturer, as Callpod offers several options for most companies. You can also charge Nintendo Game Boys; Sony PSPs; Jabra and Plantronics Bluetooth headsets; Acer and Compaq handhelds; and Apple iPods. Yet, just like the Chargepod itself, the adapters don't come cheap. You can get one free with the purchase, but additional adapters are $9.95 each. Ouch."

Maybe when I finally end up with my Nokia E90 Communicator, I will be able to travel with fewer devices, and the shortage of available outlets won't be such a problem. In the meantime, this looks like it will do the trick.

Update: The prices on this are coming down. Nice.
Now down to $39.95 at Mobile Planet. Adapter tips are $8.45-8.95.

See Callpod.com for more info.

Top 9 Ways to See You Laptop Screen Better Outside

These are good tips on how to improve your (wo)man/machine interface while working outside on your laptop. After all, that's why you payed for the portability in the first place right? I have struggled with this problem myself this summer, so in the interest of productivity, here are 9 ideas to try. *The first two are mine, the next 7 are from Web Worker Daily. I am looking for a 10th - anyone, anyone?

Web Worker Daily » How to Use Your Laptop Outside «:

"If you’ve ever tried this, you know immediately what could be better: being able to actually see your laptop screen, that’s what. Laptops are great for many things, but visibility in bright sunlight is not one of their high points. Over my years of mobility, I’ve tried a bunch of things to get around this, and collected ideas from others. If you insist on going out to work, try some or all of these potential solutions to see what you’re doing:"

1. Buy a laptop with a matte screen, which reflect much less light outdoors than the glossy ones.*
2. Override your battery saving settings and turn the screen brightness up to full.*
3. Work under an awning or umbrella.
4. Wear a baseball cap, cowboy hat, or other cap with a brim, pulled low to put your eyes in shadow.
5. Wear polarized sunglasses.
6. Equip your laptop with an anti-glare screen. (The last time I tried this, a few years back, I couldn’t actually find any that worked, but perhaps the technology has improved.
7. Equip your laptop with a sunshade. You can buy a commercial version or spend a few minutes with a big piece of cardboard and some tape to make your own.

8. Take frequent breaks to look away from the screen to ease your eyestrain.
9. Give up, have a beer, and decide that the summer sun is more important than work. You probably need to stop billing in this case, though.

Swift - Best Bike To Take Traveling

Xootr Swift Folding Bicycles

I have a Xootr, the very cool kick scooters made for adults. The company is now selling a lightweight, ultra strong, full-size folding bike. It weighs in at around 22 lbs, light enough to carry up the stairs of your 5th floor walk-up, or on to a train. It folds small enough to pack in a Samsonite "oyster" hard-sided suitcase to check for plane trips. How much fun would that be? Fly into Paris and see the sites on your own bike!

Since the Swift bike sports mostly standard size components, you can swap out a worn-out seat or chain at most bicycle stores, instead of having to order parts from the factory as you must with some of the high-priced, specialty folding bikes. Plus, it costs less than most of them too.

$679 (Blue or Silver) "Best Overall" -The Wall Street Journal

Sweet Ride Full-size wheelbase. Classic steering/frame angles. Rock solid TrusFold frame system. Efficient 406mm wheel--the compact standard. Gets Small Quick Folds in 5 seconds with the TrusFold system. Goes Where You Go Subway, train, bus. Elevator/office. Automobile. Air travel.

Sleek Steel Wallet

Sleek and Sturdy Steel Wallet Keeps RFID Hackers at Bay - from Wired.com

Mmmmmmm . . . steel . . . I have a weakness for the strong metallic type, in almost kind of design form. In this case, it is a very practical thing as well. Aside from its beauty and uniqueness, being impervious to water/sweat/rum would come in handy, not only while traveling, but also around my house.

Image: Stewart/Stand

Ever felt the need to replace your tattered, bulging, leather wallet with something closer to a solid metal case? Now you can. A new wallet made from industrial-grade stainless steel fabric promises to keep your money and credit cards safe -- from rain, perspiration, spills and even identity thieves.

New York designer Theo Stewart-Stand created the steel wallet from the same finely woven, industrial steel that is used in aerospace applications, petroleum processing and metal doors and windows. Stewart-Stand tightened the weave of the steel so it is small and flexible enough to thread into fabric, but still stronger and far more durable than leather or suede. The resulting skinny wallet feels as smooth as silk -- but doesn't stretch, is cool to the touch and, of course, can't be stained.

While developing the wallet, Theo Stewart-Stand inadvertently discovered an even more unique benefit. It turns out the stainless steel used in the wallet protects from the latest concern in identity theft: RFID hackers.

The wallets are available for between $80 and $125 online or at the Stewart/Stand store in Brooklyn.

Which Luggage is Right For You?

PRACTICAL TRAVELER; PICKING OUT THE RIGHT BAG TO PACK - New York Times:

Great article from the NY Times on what type of bag is best suited for you/your trip. These days there are so many options, but no one best choice. Different styles work for different types of trips, so when choosing, keep in mind the length of the trip, amount of hauling you will have to do yourself, type of terrain and transportation (cobblestones and stairways vs limo to luxury hotel).

"Type of Construction. As outlined by Mr. Meek, there are three basic categories of luggage today. One is the hard box, such as the molded luggage of Samsonite or American Tourister and the aluminum alloy cases of Zero Halliburton (which usually retail from about $325 to $550). These are especially durable, watertight and can usually be handled roughly without disturbing the contents. But they are relatively heavy (the 29-inch four-suiter Halliburton, probably the heaviest, weighs 19 pounds).

A second category is semistructured, which means that there is a basic frame but soft or semisoft sides, usually with zippers, allowing room for expansion. ''If you put an extra sweater in, it's going to bulge a bit,'' Mr. Meek said, ''but you won't wrinkle anything.'' Most of the people interviewed agreed that among the better brands are French, Ventura, Skyway and Hartmann. For the traveler who simply must travel heavily laden, such as a professional entertainer, several retailers spoke admiringly of the French jumbo garment bag, which can carry up to eight men's suits or 15 to 18 lightweight dresses and has suggested retail prices from $505 up, depending on length and type of covering.

The third category is totally unstructured, soft, casual luggage - the most prevalent on the market today. It can be in the form of a duffel bag, a backpack or a suit or dress bag to carry aboard a plane and hang up or fold over and stow beneath a seat. It usually lies perfectly flat for storage, will carry as much as anything on the market and weighs practically nothing. If the material used is of superior quality, such as Cordura or ballistic nylon, it is virtually indestructible. Those interviewed mentioned that among the leading brand names are Bill Bayley, Pegasus and Andiamo. "

I definitely live in the third category mindset. To me, the lighter the luggage, the better, since I already have to haul the weight of all the clothes/shoes/electronic equipment inside. Can you imagine starting out with a suitcase that weighs 19 lbs. (Halliburton 4-suiter), and then adding your 20-30 pounds of stuff to it? Where is that bellman?!

In addition, those of us that live in tiny NYC apartments don't have room to store anything but the soft-sided bags that lay flat when empty, and take up relatively little room. Happy Packing!

MyWorld66 States Map

create your own personalized map of the USAor write about it on the open travel guide

Ok, this stuff is fun, so I went ahead and did my World66 "states visited" map too.

This looks a bit better than my world map. 20 states or 39%. Looking at this map kind of brings out my competitive side, and makes me want to go to all 50 (and 1 district).

By the way, I HAVE been to Canada, I just forgot to mark in on the previous post's map.

World66 - World Traveler's Information

Here is a good website to add your worldly travel knowledge to. Its sister site is WikiTravel.org,
and it is open content, so you can find travel information, use the travel information, and edit the travel information. It is also downloadable to a handheld device. The more people that know about it and use, the better it will be.

World66.com: "Let's start with our credo:

We believe that travelers are the best source of travel information.

That is why we have setup World66, an open content travel guide, where people from all over the planet can write about the places they love, the hotels they stayed in, the restaurants that have eaten. Every part of the travel guide can be edited directly, just click the [edit] button and go ahead. You can change the info you find, do a write up, add a complete city or just a bar or a restaurant.

Does this work? We think it does. Thanks to this approach World66.com has become one of the most complete travel resources on the internet, with 136,233 articles on 68,444 destinations all over the world. Good info, more up to date than you find in travel books. Check for yourself. And should you find some wrong info, a hotel that has closed down, whatever, don't complain, but act. You can change it. It's up to you.

And together we can make world66.com the best travel guide on the planet."

You set up your own profile, and it lists every contribution you have made to the travel information on the site. PLUS, you can customize your very own kick-ass MyWorld Map!I thought I has traveled a few places, but I see I have been dancing around in a small circle we will call the Atlantic Rim. I haven't actually even been to Alaska, so it looks a bit better than the reality. Unfortunately, is goes only by country, not city, so we are painting in broad strokes here.
MyWorld66Map will continue to be located at the bottom of the home page of this blog, thePortableLife, and I will update it regularly.

A Woman Packs For A Week (Monica Ricci)

Monica Ricci, professional organizer, shows how the other sex does it. This is a good comparison to the last post - Tim Ferris packing for a trip to Maui - because it is for a week also, but her trip includes business and pleasure, so I think that is a bit tougher. Here is an example of her minimalist packing aptitude.

Your Life. Organized. : Tips for Packing Light: "I left Atlanta on Sunday and I come home next Sunday so I'm out of town for a full week with only a carry-on bag and my purse. (LOVE this thing!) My seatmate on the plane thought it was amazing that I hadn't checked a bag, so I thought I'd share a few tips for packing light...
This is what was in my rolling carry-on bag. There's the large Eagle Creek Pack-It Folder which holds all my clothes (except the jeans, t-shirt and sandals I was wearing when I took the photo), the three smaller Eagle Creek zipper pouches which hold my underwear, my non-liquid toiletries, and my cords and chargers.

Next to those you can see my little blue cosmetics case and my regulation quart-size Ziploc bag of liquid and gel toiletries, my orange pashmina wrap and baseball hat. Below those, there's my curling iron and two pairs of shoes. Look closely and you'll see my sneakers are stuffed with socks and a sports bra."

Plus, she added in her laptop and cooling mat. Follow the link to more pics and tips on this packing post.

Great job. A week with only a carry-on roller bad and a purse - and she's a woman!

A Man Packs For A Week (Tim Ferris)

From the Blog of Tim Ferris, who is packing for Maui in this post. This is much more my style than was the Nancy Novogard packing post. I will never be the one who inter-wraps my clothes with tissue, then places them in recycled dry cleaner's bags to reduce wrinkling. One of the many ways in which I will disappoint Martha.

» How to Travel the World with 10 Pounds or Less (Plus: How to Negotiate Convertibles and Luxury Treehouses): "I practice what I’ll label the BIT method of travel: Buy It There.

If you pack for every contingency—“better bring the hiking books in case we go hiking, better bring an umbrella in case it rains, better bring dress shoes and slacks in case we go to a nice restaurant,” etc.—carrying a mule-worthy load is inevitable. I’ve learned to instead allocate $50-200 per trip to a “settling fund,” which I use to buy needed items once they’re 100% needed. This includes cumbersome and hassle items like umbrellas and bottles of sunscreen that love to explode. Also, never buy if you can borrow. If you’re going on a bird watching trip in Costa Rica, you don’t need to bring binoculars — someone else will have them."

He follows this bit of wisdom with a video and packing list explaining everything in this photo, why he is packing it, and where to get most of the pieces. This is minimal packing.
I am wondering if he has another pair of shoes? My guess is that this pile is sans a traveling outfit, which he is wearing for the plane ride there. This is for a week long trip. There must be more shoes . . .

MizPee Follow-Up

The link to Miz Pee in the last post at Travel Gear Blog led to the King James version bible for sale at amazon.com. What the . . . ? SO I searched out the home page of Miz Pee myself and here's what they had to say.

MizPee Home:( If you follow the link, you will see that the example they give uses New York, NY, so maybe the service has expanded outside of San Francisco at his point.)


"Do you ever find yourself desperately looking for a clean toilet in the city?

MizPee finds the closest, cleanest toilet and gives you entertaining reading material once you get there. Since the service is cell phone-based, it's always with you, when you really need it."

I was going to wait and post his tomorrow, but I couldn't hold it any longer.

Where to Wiz?

Excuse me, MizPee? -From TravelGearBlog.com

MizPee is not a way of spelling out the name of your 3rd grade teacher, it is in fact a somewhat humorous, yet most likely extremely practical service for your cell phone. How many times have you been out in the city and realized that you needed to use a restroom, only to pull into a gas station (or run, frantically) and discover that they don’t have public restrooms? Probably way too often.

This is a brilliant idea. A mobile phone app that helps you find the nearest bathroom in the city. Unfortunately, it is only available in San Francisco at the moment.

Packing Fashion for Foreign Travel

Here is the companion print piece to the previous unrevealing video. The highlights are less about the actual packing, and more about packing the appropriate clothes for different countries.

Fashion Journal - WSJ.com: "Ms. Novogrod says she takes care to choose clothes that work, rather than those that make a statement. 'It's possible with fashion to become so concerned with the surface that you're not approachable,' she notes. 'I'm conscious of looking appropriate -- to my age, to my profession.'

But she is careful not to play it too safe, because there are situations where a distinctive, colorful piece can work. Ms. Novogrod has been very happy with a recent purchase of a cotton Pucci tunic. It has turned out both to be packable and to look great from stages or a dais.

Sometimes it can take several days for Nancy Novogrod to pack for an overseas business trip. Before putting things in her suitcase, she lays out all her outfits, along with shoes and handbags to go with them. Everything is packed within bags, with shoes and handbags traveling in the cloth bags they came in. Gym clothes go at the bottom of the suitcase.

The actual packing process for Ms. Novogrod can take place over several days. She makes notes in advance. When she settles down to pack, with her schedule in hand, she lays out outfits complete with shoes and handbags to be sure she has the right thing for each event -- and not a single extra item. 'Otherwise, you end up taking way too much,"

I do second the idea of laying out each total outfit, accessories included, before packing any of it in your luggage. This way you can ensure you don't have way more pants than shirts, etc. I think in the end it helps you reduce the amount you pack. Once you layout the outfits, you can figure out which pair(s) of shoes will go with the most outfits, so you can take fewer of those too.

How a Professional Traveler Packs

A WSJ video of Nancy Novogrod, editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure magazine, showing how she packs. Some good basic ideas, though nothing new for the regular traveler. How much time to you have to put clothes in bags? I prefer to pack things in tightly and then get the wrinkles out with the steamer once there.

Summary of Online Note-Taking Programs

Here is a good summary of several of the leading online information collecting programs from Web Worker Daily, via Lifehacker.

Web Worker Daily » 7 Apps for Online Note-Taking «:

"If you’re like most of us, you deal with piles of unstructured information every day: phone numbers, ideas for later consideration, snippets of information from the web, recipes, phone messages…the list is endless. For the web worker, moving this information into an online notebook can be an attractive proposition. Rather than tie yourself to one computer, or even one operating system, you can get at your notes from anywhere that has a web browser handy. Not surprisingly, there are a fair number of choices in this arena these days.

For this roundup, I stuck to online applications that let you save free form notes in some sort of organized fashion for later use."

The 7 apps summarized are:

Google Notebook

mynoteIT

Notefish

Notezz!

Stikkit

Yahoo! Notepad

Zoho Notebook

The consensus among Lifehacker, and Web Worker Daily and its commenters is that Google Notebook and Zoho Notebook are the front runners.

Organize Your Information In One Place

It all started with bookmarks in the Internet Explorer toolbar. A way to keep track of my favorite sites. Then bookmarks were not enough as I started researching projects on the web. I was printing out the articles to save them, so I had the full versions at my fingertips, without having to search through a bookmarked web page.

Next I started using Evernote, a great free product for clipping web articles with the touch of a button while I surfed, and the ability to add notes, reminders, etc. Evernote was just the ticket, until I started traveling more and using a laptop in addition to a desktop, in which case I had a different set of notes on each machine. Well, Google to the rescue, with a type of online Evernote-style product called Notebook.

Official Google Blog: Note this: "Note this" 5/15/2006
Posted by Bay-Wei Chang, Senior Research Scientist

"Search is all about finding the answers you need. Unfortunately, some kinds of questions--like where you should stay and what you should do on your Hawaiian vacation, or what kind of digital camera you should buy, or what the latest treatments for arthritis are--can't always be answered in one sitting, or by visiting one site.

That's why we built Google Notebook--to give you an online 'notebook' where you can organize all your research, add personal notes to it, and share it with others. Google Notebook surfs along quietly with you as you browse, letting you clip and annotate whatever text, images, and links that help answer your question, all without ever leaving the web page you're on."

If this sounds like something you'd like to try, you can find it here

There is a Firefox extension that puts a "note this" button on your toolbar for super simple copying. This is a perfect addition to the wired traveler's online toolbox. Spreading the Google Gospel - Amen.

Victorinox Garment Sleeve "Werks" For Me

Twice a week I walk the 1/2 mile to the cleaners and back to pick up laundered shirts. Twice a week I struggle to keep from dragging the hanging shirts on the ground (I'm 5'2"), being slobbered on by the dog, or wrinkled as I lay them over the chair when I stop for coffee, on the way home. Twice a week I think there must be a better way to get them home.

Today I went on an online search for a garment bag to carry the clean shirts home in. The requirements were: very lightweight, inexpensive or dual purpose (useable for plane travel) foldable so it doesn't drag on the ground, and a shoulder strap so I have my hands free to hold the dog, groceries, or handlebars of my XOOTR.

This is what I decided on:

Victorinox Werks Traveler 2.0 Deluxe Garment Sleeve at eBags
At $129, it is not inexpensive (there were some for $20), but I'll be using it twice a week, vs the twice a year that many more expensive models are used for. Plus, we are big fans of the duffel bag for travel at our house, so a small sleeve for hanging items will fit in perfectly, since there are always one or two items that don't hold up well in the unstructured bags. Below are the Garment sleeve's specs. This garment sleeve was the best combination of lgihtweight and style that I found on eBags, plus, it has a shoulder strap!

Unique design and innovative materials come together to deliver a bag that is durable, lightweight and stylish.

Product Features

Material:	1682 Denier Ballistic Weave Nylon With Teflon Coating
Size:	23" x 23" x 1"
Linear inches:	47"
Weight:	2 lbs , 10 oz
Warranty:	Lifetime guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship

Spill-Proof Paper Soap

FLIGHT 001: Shop for Your Trip:
"SHAVING PAPER $ 6.00

Finally! Airline regulation defeating paper soap. Perfectly legal in your carry-on luggage. With these products, you can get back to carry-0n only luggage. No more checking a bag just to get your toiletries to your destination with you.

"Laundry Paper
This Laundry Paper is compact, convenient and easy to use. Perfect for traveling, and for washing socks and underwear etc. These laundry paper sheets have an ocean fragrance. "


There is also soap, shampoo, and shaving paper.

(photos courtesy of www.npw-usa.com)

Nokia E90 Communicator Hits Shelves

At least some shelves, anyway. I read last week in a forum that the Nokia E90, announced at the beginning of this year, would finally be released June 18th. I read a few other dates as well, but this info bit appeared to be true. Went surfing for it yesterday and found this one.

Good News - This is a real sale opportunity, not a pre-order, email harvesting procedure.
Bad news - Unlike the posted pre-order price of $799, the Nokia E90 from this shop will cost you over a thousand dollars from this particular vendor.



Nokia E90 Communicator No Preorder

"Price: $1,020.99
Seller: flushs
Store: http://flushs.ecrater.com

Shipping Available To:
US-Mainland, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, International Shipping Fees:
US-Mainland: $18.00
Alaska: $18.00
Hawaii: $18.00
Canada: $26.00"

Ironically, I gave up waiting for this last week and ordered a Samsung U600 from www.Dynamism.com on Friday. Passed up the QWERTY keyboard for a 3.2 autofocus camera on a thin, thin phone. This way, I can wait until the Nokia E90 is less of a novelty, and the price is more in line with value of the phone.

The Freeloader You Will Be Happy To Take Along

Freeloader, charge your ipod / PDA / Mobile Phone / PSP with solar power
Summer is here and gadgets are are on the move, to the great outdoors. How great to be able to charge them without having to come indoors. The Freeloader is a solar powered battery charger for your portable electronics.

The Freeloader will charge just about any hand held device. from a mobile Phone, to a Digital Camera!

This bit of kit will replace the chargers and adaptors you would need to take with you to keep your mp3 player charged, to charge your camera and to keep your mobile running! AND what's more it will recharge its batteries by sunlight! free power! all from just £29.99 ($57.46).

both photos courtesy of www.Wavemaker.co.uk

It comes with 11 different connectors included in the price, and is pocket size. There are more connectors available in different kits or singly, seemingly one to fit any device you have.

This seems like the perfect thing to take on vacation. I always have one gadget that I have forgotten to plug in overnight. The Freeloader's internal battery charges in 5-6 hours via sun, or 3 hours if you charge it via the supplied USB cable. Too bad it can't charge your laptop too.

Best Products: Bags

Butler Bag by Jen Groover

This is one of those products that is so good I just had to post it, though it is not specifically a travel gadget, it looks like it will help keep you organized at home or on the road, but especially in transit in the car or on the plane. And the best par about it? It is not ginormous, as most of these super organizer totes are. Well done!

I am going to order one personally, and I will road test it and report back.

The eBook is THE Book To Travel With

Sony Reader: Gizmodo's Hands All Over - Gizmodo: The Sony Reader ebook, a device based on electronic ink technology.
This review from GIZMODO is very thorough, with exceptional pictures, so i will skip the specs, which you can read there also.

We have had a Sony Reader in the house/suitcase for 4 months, and it s pros and cons are pretty simple. If you are a traveler who aspires to the One Bag philosophy, or at the very least, would like to shed some pounds from your book bag, then this thing is for you.

The Pros
The biggest thing the Sony Reader has going for it is that you can carry several books with you on vacation in something the size and weight of a paperback books. How cool is that? Very cool!

The print is easier to read than paperback book. AND, you can change the size of the font.

The battery charge lasts FOREVER.

The Cons
Lack of book selection at Sony's proprietary CONNECT ebook downloading website. This is the major complaint, and it is a big one. This will be what sinks the ship if it doesn't improve quickly. 10,000 books is not a lot if it doesn't include the 3 you are looking for.

No backlighting. For reading in bed or on a plane at night, you have to carry a separate book light. Not a deal breaker, but inconvenient.

Summary
The portability carries the day. If you are a frequent traveler who normally carries a lot of books or other documents to read, it can keep you out of the chiropractors office.

"Jiffy Steamer Esteam" personal travel clothes steamer

You're in your hotel room, finally, and you drag your folded/rolled/crumpled mess of a shirt/dress/suit out of the travel bag and hang it the closet hoping the wrinkles will miraculously fall away. Or maybe you are a crafty one, and you hang them in the bathroom to passively steam as you shower. The trouble is, neither method really works on a worthy wrinkle. I finally bought a travel steamer to smooth out this problem.

Jiffy Steamer Esteam personal travel clothes steamer.
(8 customer reviews on Amazon if you follow the title link)
Price: $69.99

I was tipped off to this steamer in a wardrobe book written by a stylist, someone who uses steamers on a regular basis for work. She had used several and swore by this one.

Pros:

• 800 watts of power baby!
• heats up instantly (under 2 minutes)
• simple to operate - put water in, plug in, steam clothes
• lightweight, compact
• very effective at getting rid of wrinkles

Cons:

• ugly, seriously utilitarian design
• small water chamber, must fill often if doing many clothes
• smaller nozzle than some, due to its small portable size

Sure you can get less expensive ones, but they won't work as well. Sure you can get ones that work better (bigger water chamber, bigger nozzle) but they won't be near as portable.

This is a portable travel gadget that gets an A from me. It just works. In fact it works so well, I use it all the time at home when something needs a touch up. It can't recreate a crease, but it does well on everything else.

One Bag: Using A Packing List

If you are a frequent traveler, you may have come across the fantastic/ridiculous (depending on your point of view) web site called OneBag.com. It is where I go to dream of a perfectly organized trip, where you use every single thing you packed and you packed every thing you couldn't do without. Here is an except from one of the many insightful pages:

"One Bag: Using A Packing List: "What To Pack > Using A Packing List

To know what to leave out and what to put in; just where and just how, ah, that is to have been educated in the knowledge of simplicity.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Arguably the most important aspect of intelligent travelling is the issue of what to pack. This, more than anything else, will determine the size of your luggage, the weight of your load, and the state of your happiness. Your top priority, then, should be the acquisition, personalization, and use of a good packing list. 'What to pack' is far too important to make up as you go along!

The world is awash with packing lists. Dozens have appeared on the Internet, and almost any travel store will happily supply you with what usually amounts to a list of the many things you might buy from them. And therein lies the fault of most lists: they enumerate the possibilities, rather than eliminate the liabilities. A list of stuff you might want to take is very different from a list of things you can't travel (comfortably) without. Even the venerable Universal Packing List is intended to be exhaustive; author/maintainer Mats Henricson uses a much shorter list for his actual travels.
Do I Really Need a Packing List?

It's not possible to overstate the importance of actually creating (or adopting) a personal packing list, and using it regularly. "

Spork of the Gods

ThinkGeek :: Titanium Spork:

I have made an attempt to always travel with a spork. Since I often bring my own food on airplanes, and almost equally often forget to pick up utensils, my various spork incarnations have gotten me out a jam more than once. The best one I've had I picked up in Manchester UK, at a Haagen-Daz store. It was very well-formed thick plastic, and it lasted quite a long time, but then busted in half as I was bearing down on a rather unruly lettuce spine.


I have been carrying these poor substitutes since, the spindly thin black plastic one, and the thicker green one, which is sturdy, but without the half-times, (so not really a spork) that I got at Rice To Riches but neither one is fit for the job.

Well! I have found my replacement. Lightweight, strong titanium no less.
"Spork of the Gods
The Titanium Spork is ready for the challenge. Titanium is known for its great strength, corrosion resistance, and light weight, which makes this spork a valuable asset around feeding time. Imagine how much more food you could shovel in at your local buffet if you didn't have to worry about the strain of picking up a heavy fork or spoon. Your food consumption can become the stuff of legends. Even just holding the Titanium Spork in your hand, you can feel its power. It is perhaps the greatest gastronomic invention since lickable wallpaper. Hunger, beware - your end is near!

Titanium Spork Dimensions:approx. 6.25' long and 1.5' at its widest point."

HTC Advantage Portable Office

HTC Advantage Portable Office (unlocked)



This HTC UMPC is interesting. With a 5" screen, you could actually do some work on it, at least more than say, the Nokia E90 Communicator that I am impatiently waiting for. It has a QWERTY keyboard that tucks away to leave a sleek tablet format. Of course, at $1200.00, it costs as much as a laptop.

Available soon at Mobile City Online.

Tips For Travelers

Ultra Cord Travel Pack 13-Piece Connector Kit wUSB, FireWire, Headset, Network and Telephone Cables - Carbon Fiber ULT33142 at TigerDirect.com

I don't know about you, but I carry an entire separate Eagle Creek pouch to hold all my cords and chargers when I travel. AND they are always tangling. Here is help for us frequent travelers with a lot of electronic/computer gadgets who don't want to be carrying a tangle of cords for recharging and connection equipment. Love those retractable cables! One caveat: before you leave behind all the cords that came with your camera, phone, etc. try out the replacement tips at home first to make sure they are compatible.

Shoe Wheel!

Rakkudesigns new Shoe Wheel

Ok, so this is not a portable thing - I guess this is more for The Rotational Life, than The Portable Life - but it is just such a cool gadget I had to post it. How about this tie-in: it makes packing easier because you can see all your shoes at a glance?