GeekSugar

Transform Your iPod Into A Translator With iSpeak

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:07:12 -0700

For all the traveling I do, this should be a product that I never leave home without. Who knew that your iPod can be used as a portable translator? With McGraw-Hill's iSpeak you can download 1,500 audio phrases in French, German, Spanish or French right into your iPod! All you have to do is go to 'artist' and choose the theme you want. Then go to "album" and select the topic within the theme. From there you just select the phrase you want to hear and you will not only hear it but you will see it on your iPod screen! These translating travel buddies are only $13 and are also compatible with the Zune and other mp3 players. If you want other languages, expect Chinese, Japanese and Portuguese editions to launch this summer. Now if only I would have had the Spanish iSpeak and my iPod on me when I got lost in Barcelona!

View 4 Photos ›

Geeksugar Tests The USB Travel Dock for iPod Shuffle

GeekSugar — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 07:04:00 -0700

The Dr. Bott's USB Travel Dock for iPod shuffle, $19.99, allows you to charge and load your 2G iPod shuffle in a sleek, space-saving USB Travel Dock. It's ideal for traveling or in the office because of its size and its design perfectly matches my MacBook.

While the Shuffle comes with its very own dock that you connect to your Mac or PC, it must be via a USB cord, which means extra cord and space. With the Dr. Bott charger you can charge your iPod and provide up to 480 Mbps data transfer for loading or syncing of your entire music library just by sticking the charger directly into the port. For a full gallery of photos, read more

The USB Travel Dock won’t interfere with any adjacent cables, so you can prominently display your new 2G iPod shuffle right next to your laptop screen. It has a blue "Power on" LED indicator. I wouldn't say it's a gadget you have to have, but it's useful and saves space, which is always appreciated.

Note: My shuffle is wearing a Mophie Shuffle cover, which I actually haven't taken off since I put it on. Just wanted to make sure you knew it's not part of the USB charger.

View 11 Photos ›

A Travel Blanket That Comes With a Gadget Storage Pouch

GeekSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:44:35 -0700

I would love to find out how many iPods and cell phones airlines find each year on their planes. I mean seriously, as soon as you sit down on a plane, you get your "zone" all pimped out with some magazines and your iPod or cell phone sticking out of the seat pocket in front of you. Next thing you know, you get off the plane and your beloved iPod is wedged so far in that seat pocket, you wouldn't have spotted it if you had tried.

And do you like to stay nice and cozy as well? I for one was not a happy camper when airlines got rid of complimentary blankets for those riding in economy. Well for $28, this Blue Travel Set solves your iPod vanishing issues with its built-in pocket for your cell phone or iPod and it also keeps you nice and warm while flying high in the sky.

Lindsay Lohan Is a Fan of Apple but Not Its Warranty

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:45:29 -0800

Although Lindsay Lohan has run the gauntlet of cell phones, she's become a BlackBerry convert and sticks with Apple for her computer needs. Lindsay recently lamented on Twitter about how her MacBook took a beating during her recent travels and ended up with a cracked screen. I know how expensive replacing screens can be, and unfortunately the star had to learn the hard way that accidental breakage isn't covered on Apple's warranty or by their protection plans.

Besides Lindsay's cracked screen, what else isn't covered through warranty or an APP? Find out when you read more.

Even if you have paid extra for an AppleCare Protection Plan, these items are excluded from your coverage:

Installation of noncovered equipment or software
Damage caused by accident, abuse, neglect, misuse, unauthorized modification, extreme environment (like temps and humidity), extreme physical or electrical stress, fluctuation or surges, lightning, static electricity, fire, and even . . . acts of God
Problems caused by a third-party or non Apple-branded device
Lost or stolen equipment
Cosmetic damage to your device, including scratches, dents, and broken plastic on ports
Batteries, except in respect to battery coverage under APP for iPod, or unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials and workmanship
Preventative maintenance
Defects caused by normal wear and tear

Grid-It Gray From Flight 001

GeekSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:25:31 -0700

Like any jet-setting geek girl, I refuse to travel without all of my gadgets. But with a phone, iPod, camera, cords, and chargers, keeping gadgets organized and cords tangle-free is a challenge.

I'm in love with the Grid-It organization system ($25) from Flight001. Overlapping rubberized elastic bands offer easy storage for even the strangest-shaped objects, and the entire grid is perfectly sized to fit right into my laptop bag. There's even a zippered pocket in the back for storing other small items. Knowing my beloved gadgets are safe and secure means one less travel stress.

iPod Touch As the New Concierge: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:45:14 -0700

When I head out on vacation (when I get the chance, anyway), I always choose a hotel that offers the most amenities to suit my techie tastes . . . and I think this would qualify as most geek-tastic of all: The Malibu Beach Inn is taking technology to a whole new level by issuing an iPod Touch to all of their guests at check-in equipped with a program called Hotel Evolution. Hotel Evolution enables them to order room service, schedule spa treatments, make reservations, or even have their dry cleaning sent out, all with a touch of the screen.

No more clunky TV check-outs or picking up a phone to call for room service! Although I'm digging the idea of having things so accessible with a standard-issue iPod Touch, I'm just wondering how realistic it is to ask people to carry not only their cell, MP3 player, and digital camera around, but to keep track of the hotel's iPod Touch! I can only imagine what the fee would be if you lost it. What do you think about the next step in "Hotel Evolution"?

Boa Booq Bag Holds All Your Gadgets and Then Some

GeekSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:51:21 -0700

I don't normally go for a laptop backpack (I'm more of a tote kind of girl), but for the sake of utility, I just had to brag about my Booq Boa Laptop Backpack find. Not only does the Boa pack your 13-17 inch laptops, iPods, and boasts enough room to store a few books or folders, but it also has a special bottom compartment for your SLR and top section to fit your full-sized headphones. . .all within a secure and padded shell.

View 5 Photos ›

This bag is ah-mazing when it comes to storage. If you click through the gallery, you'll see that Booq has managed to stuff a mouse and mousepad as well as a pretty bulky travel book in with all the other goods I mentioned. And at $200, it's a steal. But really, all this girl wants is her Hayden-Hartnett. Call me shallow, but I like a good fashionable tote.

Colorful Corega Speaker Dock For iPod Shuffle

GeekSugar — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 06:00:26 -0700

For those of you who liked the Cuby Speaker that I posted last week, here's another portable iPod Shuffle speaker with a few more features. Corega Japan has just come out with these tantalizing mini boombox docks that deliver quality output from their built-in speakers. While playing your tunes, you can connect the dock to your laptop or computer via the included USB port- therefore charging and transferring songs all at the same time. Featured on mobile magazine, the Corega CG-IPSPDC02 is powered with 2 AA batteries and comes in the same five colors as the Shuffle. These speakers are set to hit stores in Japan later this month with a price tag of $30.

View 2 Photos ›

The Globetrotter Solar Charger Keeps Gadgets Juiced Up

GeekSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:03:04 -0700

Even if you're planning a glamping trip this Summer (glamping as in glamorous camping), and you'll be staying at a hotel or two, we all know that there aren't any guarantees when it comes to finding ample outlets for charging gadgets.

Glamping or camping, the Globetrotter Solar Charger ($100) will surely come in handy for those who travel loaded with gadgets. This powerhouse charging device comes equipped with eleven connectors and connection cables (meaning you can charge you and your friends iPod, cell phone, DS Lite, and GPS device), it will work in all weather conditions, and only takes about four hours of sunshine to fully charge its solar panels. And its internal battery is said to power an iPod for 18 hours, a cell phone for 44 hours, a PSP for 2.5 hours and a PDA for 22 hours. How do you like them apples?

Laptop Essentials Kit Keeps You Working Wherever You Are

GeekSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:07:36 -0700

Although I'm hoping that my Summer travels are more for the purpose of pleasure than business, I can appreciate this Laptop Essentials Kit ($45) for either situation. The good news is, Sharper Image is thinking ahead (no, they aren't totally dead), and have made all the contents of this kit ultra portable - both mini sized, and with retractable cables for clean and easy storage.

Coming stocked with a mouse, a number keypad, USB cable, ethernet cable, iPod Cable, USB adaptor with four USB ports, and earbuds (as well as a few other goodies), the kit should be easy to toss in your laptop bag since all the contents come in a nice and neat leather case. Business travel just got so much easier!

View 5 Photos ›