Travel Technology - Your 2006 best travel gadgets of the year...

At 3 it has to be my Nikon s7c, being able to make photos and upload them at a nearby hotspot is just awesome.

At number 2 it's my HTC TyTN; getting closer and closer to being the perfect smartphone.

And at number 1.... SONOS. Simply the best music player I've ever owned. The integration with Rhapsody is just fantastic. Sitting in the sofa with wireless access to 1 million tracks rocks.

I'm guessing that next year I'll have the new video ipod, the Apple iTV and the new iPhone in my top 3... could it really become an all Apple year?

I second your nomination of the HTC TyTN - I have the Dopod 838Pro version and it's a terrific gadget. A little on the bulky side but the functionality is great and, finally, a decent WM phone that can be used *anywhere* in the world.

My number 2 is our iMac running Parallels. Windows and OSX co-existing perfectly. Certainly the best of both worlds.

Has to be the Slingbox and the Squeezebox. I've had more fun with these two items this year.

Parallels Desktop for the Mac.

I'm going to toss the iPod shuffle out for consideration.

It's not flashy. But it's tiny. And perfect for short flights on cramped little planes. I load it with the morning news and maybe an audiobook.

Oddly, I've not bought much this year (spent far too much time in Fiji and that's just not good for gadgets), so I'll list the only thing that spring to mind...

1. Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 (first camera I can say I'm actually in love with - oh, and it takes good photos).

I could list the Sony camera (we just didn't get on) or the Nokia N70 (too big, crap camera) but only the Panasonic shines.

I think I must be going through some sort of freaky minimalist phase at the moment as other than perhaps a DSLR, I can't actually think of anything I really desire (no, not even the utterly gorgeous TyTn gadget). But then again, I might actually be going through on overly fussy phase. If only the TyTn had a VGA display......

My Garmin GPSmap 60CSx. Fast acquisition of satellites, 20 hour battery life, 2GB MicroSD card holds street maps of the entire US and Canada, good point-to-point routing, works great in rental cars, on city walks, and on hikes in the mountains. Did I say waterproof?

For me this year, it's been the MBP (multi-cores are a godsend for my MATLAB codes), the Nokia N73, the Shure E3c, and the Canon PowerShot SD600.

For me it is probably:

1) HTC TyTN
2) Treo 700w with EvDO
2) Ipod 8GB nano with 24 hour battery

Bose QC3

Creative Zen Vision:M does everything I need it to do. Been VERY happy with it.

That's easy . . . my Slingbox (very cool gadget) and my iPod 5G (my best friend when I fly).

Parallels + MBP + Visual Studio (well, that's techincally Nov 2005, but I didn't get it til 2006 has made me a very happy coder.

2006 Purchases
MacBookPro
Parallels
8GB iPod Nano
T-Mobile Dash

2007 Purchases
Slingbox Pro
HTC TyTN
Video iPod

ScottC, how many TB of music do you have? :eek:

If a Canon 70-200/2.8L IS can be considered a gadget, that's my favorite this year. 8GB iNano and Treo 700p are pretty handy also.

If a Canon 70-200/2.8L IS can be considered a gadget, that's my favorite this year. 8GB iNano and Treo 700p are pretty handy also.

It should be, although I forgot about that type thing myself. I will add the Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS to my list. It worked like a charm on safari in Zambia a couple weeks ago. I should also add to my list my Hyperdrive, bought on your suggestion as I recall. Thanks for that suggestion, it is a great gadget for backing up photos away from electricity.

For 2006 I have definitely gotten the most pure enjoyment out of my Canon 5D and 400mm f4.0 IS DO. I've taken it out almost every weekend this year. #3 I think is the Edirol R-09 for recording the ambient sounds of the places I photograph.

GadgetFreak, did you post the Zambia photos yet?

Another vote for the Ipod Shuffle - for it's pure size!

I vote for Slingbox. Actually purchased it on Dec. 30, 2005. We were leaving for London. Hubby was throwing a fit-didn't want to go because he couldn't watch his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes in the Jan. 2 Outback Bowl.

Somebody at Best Buy suggested it. It has literally saved my marriage. I travel internationally quite a bit for business. I love to have Mr. Greatam accompany me on certain trips. He is a sports nut and has a hard time leaving the TV except during the summer.

Slingbox allows him to accompany me to far flung parts of the world and still watch all the sports he wants. Thank you, whoever invented it. And thank you FT, for all the help I got when I was trying to get it hooked up.

In no particular order:

The MacBook Pro
The Canon 350D kit + the 50-200 f:3.5-4.5 zoom
The 30Gb iPod Video with Shure E2C and radio adapter.

/E

I will add the Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS to my list. I... I should also add to my list my Hyperdrive,

The 100-400 would be my top gadget from last year and the new Hyperdrive Space should have been added to this year's list - it arrived just in time for a shooting trip to Costa Rica.

And I predict a 40D will be my top gadget for next year...:)

1. Sony VAIO TX. Best for travel and also quite durable.
2. E-TEN X500. Like it a lot with my GPS navigation software. DO not need a keyboard.

I'll second the Sony TX and add the Motorola KRZR.

For 2006 I have definitely gotten the most pure enjoyment out of my Canon 5D and 400mm f4.0 IS DO. I've taken it out almost every weekend this year. #3 I think is the Edirol R-09 for recording the ambient sounds of the places I photograph.

GadgetFreak, did you post the Zambia photos yet?

Only the unedited jpgs. Im going through now and ditching the bad ones, trying to keep the top 10%-20%. If you want to look at the unedited ones they are on flickr. Search for GadgetFreak as the member or I think this link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97883009@N00/

Will work.

If you want to look at the unedited ones they are on flickr.

Thanks, that worked. I think you have some nice images there! Was that you petting the cheetah? :)

Things of significance I bought this year

Tmobile Dash (2) first one was stolen :(
80GB Video ipod (to replace my 3G 15gb)
Shure E4c (broke my E3c)
PS3 (yeah yeah, I am ready for the flaming) :D

note: all items above bought in Q4

My 2006 best travel gadget of the year are my Bose QC2s. Never mind that I got them in 2004 (and had to get a free replacement this year because of the band breaking thingy) - they were still my best travel gadget this year :D ^

Thanks, that worked. I think you have some nice images there! Was that you petting the cheetah? :)

Thanks! Yes, that is me petting the cheetah. It was purring like a pet cat. But bigger ;)

MOGO MOUSE

(pcmcia BT mouse from Newton Peripherals)

Canon Selphy Compact Photo Printer. Travelled all over China and Japan with the family this summer and made our own postcards. Way cool.

HTC Trinity
Nokia N73 & N80
2nd Gen Ipod Nano (free from credit card offer)


Not travel related... Panasonic 60" Pro Series Plasma :) that collects dust while I'm traveling

Some nice stuff mentioned here, but nothing revolutionary. Cell phones have defintely gotten better in the last 30 years, Apple keeps trickling out a new IpoD every three months to maximize profits, etc., but nobody has suggested anything that's really *new*.

What's some cool new device that's really going to improve my life, not just hold a few more songs?

Slingbox (download College/NFL Football to my Ipod from here) and the Shure E500PTH make traveling a lot better for me.

I fianlly broke down and bought a laptop for travel. The Dell XPS m1210! Under 5lbs 12.1 in screen and I can game on it! Put it in a sleeve toss it in my bag and I'm off. Very easy to travel with and the nvidia graphics card sold me. Like I said I can game on it!!!

Looked @ the Sony but their customer service just sucksI thought I would never ever purchase a Dell but with the 18mo 0% interest I said what the heck. Did I mention I can game on it?

And loves it!

You can see it at www.scottevest.com!

He also got a Cingular 8525 and raves about it! Yes I am married to a geek!

Rebecca

Broke down a few months ago and purchased Bose QC2's. Just love them and next purchase will most likely be video iPod.

I wish I could claim that my favorite travel gadget for 2006 was the Canon EOS 5d and EF 24-105 f/4L IS that I bought in October. Sadly, I've had no time to play with them, other than a few "make sure it works out of the box" test shots. So I guess I'll go with the MacBook Pro I've been enslaved to for the past few months.

1. Etymotic ER-4p headphones
2. 8GB Nano
3. Motorola H700 bluetooth headset

My Garmin GPSmap 60CSx. Fast acquisition of satellites, 20 hour battery life, 2GB MicroSD card holds street maps of the entire US and Canada, good point-to-point routing, works great in rental cars, on city walks, and on hikes in the mountains. Did I say waterproof?

Ditto! I love this thing!

I got a Joby Gorillapod (http://www.joby.com/gp2.html), one of the niftiest ways to re-think the humble tripod.

I love that I can stick my little digi P&S in odd places: back of a chair, tree limb, railing, etc. And small enough to take along for trips!

T-Mobile MDA with Slingplayer on it (Slingbox in MIA, I am in PHL). My first gadget purchase this year will be a Macbook Pro w/ Parallels.

A powerstrip. I started bringing one with me on trips--I don't know why I didn't think of it years ago. It's a life saver. Low tech, but with a big impact.

A powerstrip. I started bringing one with me on trips--I don't know why I didn't think of it years ago. It's a life saver. Low tech, but with a big impact.

Outlets to Go (http://www.monstercable.com/power/lineOutlets.asp) ^

I just got the Garmin Nuvi 350. I'm amazed at the features in this little pocket GPS. It has maps available for the entire world, travel guides from Fodor or Marco Polo, Language guides from Oxford University Press, an MP3 player, currency exchange calculators, etc, etc. If I need to translate a phrase into German or Italian, I can also let it speak the language for me.

I just got the Garmin Nuvi 350. I'm amazed at the features in this little pocket GPS. It has maps available for the entire world, travel guides from Fodor or Marco Polo, Language guides from Oxford University Press, an MP3 player, currency exchange calculators, etc, etc. If I need to translate a phrase into German or Italian, I can also let it speak the language for me.

Welcome to Flyertalk! Im thinking I may need to get one of these. :)

Some nice stuff mentioned here, but nothing revolutionary. Cell phones have defintely gotten better in the last 30 years, Apple keeps trickling out a new IpoD every three months to maximize profits, etc., but nobody has suggested anything that's really *new*.

What's some cool new device that's really going to improve my life, not just hold a few more songs?
It depends on how you want your life improved, doesn't it? If it was utterly groundbreaking, you'd have heard about it by now :D Didn't buy a lot of stuff last year. It was mostly a selling year but I suppose that comes with being a Broke College Student(tm) :p But the setup that I have now is pretty close to perfect...for me at least.

HTC Wizard: three-way trade from a HTC Tornado and a Sidekick III. With a stereo Bluetooth headset, Bluetooth keyboard, and 2GB miniSD card, it's replaced my Gen3 iPod (sold), Jornada 720 (sold), RAZR (sold), and hand-me down portable DVD player (sold). It's the one thing I have with me at all times. With a copy of Navizon (Wi-Fi/celltower triangulation software), I don't really need GPS - as long as stay within areas already mapped by others, anyways. In fact, with an extra battery I never carried a laptop again until I got...

HP TC1100: MSRP $2000...nope. Craigslist $1200...nope. Ebay $600...^ Bought an extra battery and it's replaced my Thinkpad (gave away) and sketchbook; plus, tethered to the Wizard, I get internet access anywhere. I don't know why HP killed this form factor; convertible laptops are all too bulky (and expensive for the most part), and my Bluetooth keyboard takes care of typing. SD slot plus GIMP capabilities means instant editing of shots from...

Casio Exilim EX-S3: Ebay $60...^ 3MP only from a smallish CCD, but it's not like I need pro-quality shots anyways. I can't find another camera as slim that's nearly without shutter lag. Used to have an S2 but it died after contact with a blunt object. Minor nitpick: no optical zoom. Replaces Exilim EX-Z120 (sold).

I really don't think I'll be buying anything new this year, 'cept maybe some RAM for the tablet and probably new batteries as necessary.

I just got the Garmin Nuvi 350.

I got the Garmin Nuvi 360 in November, which adds Bluetooth integration and a speakerphone. This thing is great in my own car but a lifesaver on business trips. I was driving from LAX to Irvine in December, stuck in traffic on the I-405 at 2pm. Press "detour", a short jaunt through Long Beach later and I'm back on past whatever was clogging things up. Then I used it to find the nearest In-N-Out Burger :D

I got some Bose QC2's for Christmas, but haven't flown with them yet (January is a lull in the business travel for me.) Looking forward to trying them out on my next BOS-SFO...

- My Bose QC2 headphones that I got for Christmas last year (they're the best!).
- My GPS (a Magellan). She's kind of bossy, but I like getting where I'm supposed to go without wrestling with MapQuest printouts.
- My foldable iPod speakers (I got the Altec Lansing ones). They're small enough to stuff in my rollaboard an I can hook them up to my laptop so I have speakers for presentations.
- My Blackberry. I switched from a Treo, and though I miss the multimedia stuff, I like the keyboard much better.

I <heart> gadgets! :)

I got the Garmin Nuvi 360 in November, which adds Bluetooth integration and a speakerphone. This thing is great in my own car but a lifesaver on business trips. I was driving from LAX to Irvine in December, stuck in traffic on the I-405 at 2pm. Press "detour", a short jaunt through Long Beach later and I'm back on past whatever was clogging things up. Then I used it to find the nearest In-N-Out Burger :D

I got some Bose QC2's for Christmas, but haven't flown with them yet (January is a lull in the business travel for me.) Looking forward to trying them out on my next BOS-SFO...

Just looked this up and it looks like it could be a life saver in some situations. I got lost a few times in London last month going back to the hotel, is it possible to get 'international' maps onto it? If so I think I will be ordering mine this week.

My humble Garmin E-Trex Legend GPS combined with my laptop. I do a lot of travel by car often in remote areas, and it's saved me numerous times.

Speaking of gadgets. Has anyone seen/heard the new stuff coming from Apple. It's a shame their new phone (which I am drooling over) only works with Crapular (quad band GSM + EDGE). Not 3G??? Wow. I want an unlock code for that so I can make it work with T-Mobile.

Speaking of gadgets. Has anyone seen/heard the new stuff coming from Apple. It's a shame their new phone (which I am drooling over) only works with Crapular (quad band GSM + EDGE). Not 3G??? Wow. I want an unlock code for that so I can make it work with T-Mobile.

Yea, I was planning on going right to the Apple Web page to buy one when I got to the Cingular part. A nonstarter for me. Not going to get a Cingular phone. Im hoping it is just marketing BS and you can unlock them. It could have just meant that they are the only ones selling it among the carriers.