gadgets
High-tech Travel Gear
From getting a kick out of your alarm clock to hands-free underwater photography, here are four gadgets to pack for happy travels.
Sonic Boom
You were travelling on business, but, as always, pleasure got mixed in. Missing your early-morning flight is not an option, and a wake-up call can be slept through. (I learned my lesson last time I was in Prague.) Next time, pack the Sonic Boom alarm clock by Sonic Alert. You can turn it up to 11 (113 decibels in fact), but what sets it apart from other alarms is its kick; slide the bed-shaking thumper under your mattress and abandon all hope of oversleeping.
PowerJolt
It might not be sexy, but this one is simply essential. The PowerJolt (available in Status-Symbol White or Undercover Black) plugs into your car lighter outlet to allow you to use your iPod on the road while keeping it fully charged. But beyond the beloved iPod, you now have a handy USB port to plug in any device with an insatiable thirst for power — even your rival Zune MP3 player.
The Apple iPod Camera Connector
Nothing feels better than cutting out the middleman, and, in this case, it’s your laptop. The Apple iPod Camera Connector lets you transfer pictures directly from your camera to your iPod should your laptop not be around. So when you find yourself running out of room on your digicam, just connect it to your iPod, offload your images and keep snapping.
Digital Hero 3
Ever been swimming along, minding your own business, when suddenly a school of angelfish bursts out of the reef? Happens to me all the time, and I never have a camera on hand. This is where the Digital Hero 3 comes to the rescue. Waterproof up to 30 metres, this little three-megapixel sports camera attaches to your wrist, freeing up both your hands for more important duties — like swimming.
(Chad Beaumont is a tech-savvy traveller and writer based in Montreal.)
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