Mar 14th, 2012 at 12:00PM: One of the best accessories for any road trip these days is a good handsfree Bluetooth device that allows drivers to take and make phone calls while keeping their hands firmly on the wheel. An increasing number of new cars come equipped with these systems, but for those of us not fortunate enough to own such a vehicle there are a number of options available that deliver similar functionality. Take ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Cellphone posts
Gadling gear review: Supertooth HD Bluetooth car speakerphone
Mar 14th, 2012 at 12:00PM: One of the best accessories for any road trip these days is a good handsfree Bluetooth device that allows drivers to take and make phone calls while keeping their hands firmly on the wheel. An increasing number of new cars come equipped with these systems, but for those of us not fortunate enough to own such a vehicle there are a number of options available that deliver similar functionality. Take ...Babies and first class: why is this an issue?
Mar 12th, 2012 at 3:00PM: Earlier this week, I saw a story about babies and first class air travel posted on Facebook. The Facebook poster asked our own Heather Poole (flight attendant, mother, and new book author!) for her thoughts on the story, and she replied, "I'm fine with babies in first class. Usually they just sleep." Columnist Brett Snyder is a frequent flier and new dad wondering if he should use miles to upgrade ...SkyMall Monday: Cell Phone Handset Battle
Dec 19th, 2011 at 1:00PM:
If you've used an iPhone, you know that holding it up to your ear for a long period of time can be uncomfortable. If you need to be on a lengthy call, cradling the iPhone in your hand can get tiresome. Speakerphone is not always a viable option and headphones can be unsafe for your ears. Thankfully, SkyMall offers two options for adding a handset to your iPhone. This week, SkyMall Monday ...Gadling gear review: Samsung Focus Windows phone
Nov 28th, 2011 at 8:00AM: Remember when buying a cell phone was easy? You simply walked into a store, found a device that was the right size and price to fit your needs, bought it, and walked out the door. You usually didn't have to buy another one until that phone died, and the thought of upgrading on an annual basis was nearly unheard of. The increase in demand for smartphones over the past few years, spurred on by the ...Gadling gear review: Grace Digital Audio Eco Pod
Sep 19th, 2011 at 9:00AM: Grace Digital Audio is probably best known for its line of Internet radio devices, but the company also produces a line of waterproof cases for smartphones and mp3 players as well. In fact, we positively reviewed their Eco Extreme case back in 2010, and now are similarly impressed with their new Eco Pod as well.
As an active traveler and avid outdoor enthusiast, I almost always cringe when I ...Pocket WiFi device offers cheap service in Europe
Jun 24th, 2011 at 9:00AM: Using your US-based smart phone in Europe can make for some expensive phone calls. US service providers have international plans that can help but the average roaming charge across Europe costs US travelers $19 per MB. Connectivity is another issue as travelers struggle to get and stay online with phones, laptops, tablets and other wireless devices. Tep is a convenient and affordable service is ...Could your cell phone make you an in-flight killer?
Jun 10th, 2011 at 10:00AM: Could my Kindle have the potential for murder? Mayhem? Needless to say, I may think twice before firing it up during takeoff on my trip to London at the end of the month!
I'll be the first to admit that I thwart airline rules about turning on electronic devices during takeoff and landing. I don't like reading print, and a year and a half after getting it, I still have a comfortable yet steamy ...Mountaineer summits Everest, tweets from the top
May 7th, 2011 at 8:00AM: Yesterday we mentioned that the Sherpas had finished fixing the ropes to the summit of Everest, clearing the way for all the commercial climbing teams to soon follow. We predicted that the big push to the top of the mountain was still a week away, but a British climber took advantage of good weather and empty slopes, to rush to the summit yesterday. Once there, he not only savored the view from ...Aquarium crocodile swallows cell phone
Jan 22nd, 2011 at 1:00PM: A visitor to an aquarium in the Ukraine was trying to take a picture of a crocodile with her cell phone when she dropped it right into the creature's mouth, the BBC reports.
Last month at an aquarium in Dnipropetrovsk, Rimma Golovko reached her hand towards Gena the crocodile in order to get a good shot as it opened its mouth. She fumbled and the phone fell right into the Gena's gullet. The ...Photo of the day (12.9.10)
Dec 9th, 2010 at 5:30PM:
Finding contrasts is one of the best things about travel. We love seeing places, people, and cultures different from our own and when we see a familiar item in an unfamiliar context, it's especially interesting. Pick up any travel article about Turkey, Morocco, or Japan and you're guaranteed to read a few examples of "old world meets new" contrast. Today's Photo of the Day by Mike GL captures a ...Seven reasons cell phones kill people on road trips
Dec 8th, 2010 at 12:00PM: Even though Thanksgiving is behind us, there are still plenty of reasons to road trip before the end of the year. Well, there's one reason, really, and that's Christmas. But, a lot of people are going to get behind the wheel or whine in the back seat. Of course, we can expect a lot of people to be on their cell phones while they're driving about, according to the Insurance Information Institute's ...Mt Everest now has cell phone service
Oct 30th, 2010 at 12:30PM: Nepali cell phone company Ncell announced this week that they have activated a cell tower in Mt. Everest base camp, providing reliable 3G coverage on the mountain for the first time. To commemorate the launch of the service, the technicians completed the highest altitude video call ever from 5300 meters (17,388 feet) on the mountain.
Ncell's service will replace expensive, and often unreliable, ...Wiki catalogues pay-as-you-go SIM cards by country
Sep 22nd, 2010 at 2:00PM: Our good friend and technomad Paul Oppenheim stopped by this week with a dispatch from Germany and some more info on his current holy quest: to find an international phone plan that supports data and that doesn't cost more than the mortgage on his condo in San Francisco.
Those familiar with data plans and roaming charges outside of the US might be familiar with the sad details: taking one's ...Daily Pampering: The little black cellphone dress
Sep 13th, 2010 at 1:59PM: The little black dress is a staple in women's closets, and soon it will ring. London-based fashion company CuteCircuit has just released the newest version of the Little Black Dress, complete with a cell phone.
Called the "M-Dress" (Mobile Phone Dress), the elegant silk jersey dress also doubles as mobile phone. All you do is slide your standard SIM card into the dress label and you'll be able ...Daily Pampering: Gresso's $1 million jackpot phone
Aug 16th, 2010 at 4:00PM:
You don't have to win big in Las Vegas to act like a high-roller. For a cool $1 million you can purchase Gresso's Luxor Las Vegas Jackpot cellphone, which will no doubt show people you're worth it even if you didn't win.
The Luxor Las Vegas phones have cases made of solid gold, are embellished with a bezel and feature a 200-year-old Balckwood on the back panel. The phone's case is made of ...Lessons Learned: I lost my cell phone and actually got it back
Aug 6th, 2010 at 2:30PM: Losing a cell phone at any time is inconvenient, but when you're on the road, it can certainly put a dent in your travel plans.
I've yet to lose my wallet or passport while traveling, but I lost my cell phone last weekend when I was on a road trip in New England. It was well past midnight when I reached into my bag to charge it back up. Nothing. A mild panic attack later, I went to sleep (and ...New international travel phone service from National Geographic
Jul 23rd, 2010 at 8:00AM: National Geographic and Cellular Abroad have joined forces to introduce a new option for those who need to stay in contact while traveling the world. The National Geographic Travel Phone includes an unlocked Motorola handset, a charger that comes complete with international outlet adapters, and a Nat Geo SIM Card, all for just $99. A second phone, dubbed the National Geographic Duet, is also ...Daily Pampering: Vertu Signature $15,000 cell phone
Jul 19th, 2010 at 4:00PM: Vertu, a luxury cell phone maker, has created yet another phone for discerning travelers: the Vertu Signature Pure Black. Why is it great for travelers? This phone is so indestructible you can throw it anywhere in your luggage and feel confident it won't get so much as a scratch during travel (but we don't suggest you test this theory... read on).
Vertu's Signature Pure Black is specially ...White Collar Travel: How Important Is That Phone Call?
Jul 1st, 2010 at 2:00PM: The biggest complaint that non-business travelers have about the white collar folks likely involves cell phones. Our reluctance to turn the off at the appointed time is probably the greatest annoyance to those around us, though the Gordon Gekko-style pacing and posing at the gate tends to ruffle some feathers, too. I've overheard and even been asked countless times the very simple question: "Is it ...Walkie talkies work everywhere - Road trip tip
May 10th, 2010 at 10:30AM: Walkie talkies use radio waves to communicate directly with each other, unlike cell phones, which rely on a cell phone tower as a go-between.
People on road trips often end up in rural areas where cell phones are useless. A couple of inexpensive walkie talkies can help your group stay in touch, as well as keep the kids entertained.
Bonus tip: Walkie talkies also work on cruise ships! ...
