Travel Gadgets

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Bicycle commuting is healthy, safe and cheap, the only emission is what the biker breathes out. But, it does have its problems. One is that bikes generally have a very awkward shape. If there is no bike rack or if you want to go somewhere with your bike, you’re have to drag a very burdensome package with you.

Well! What if there was a bike you could fold and carry or that you could take on the subway. That sure would be nice.

Image Credit: Foldabikes

According to a review in Wired Magazine, one of the very best designs on the market is the Brompton M6L.

It’s a British contraption that folds up to just 10 x 24 x 32-inches in less than half a minute and weighs only 25 pounds. An additional pair of tiny luggage wheels makes it easy to drag the contraption around when transporting it in its folded state.

Traveling with a folding bike is not the most convenient way to travel but it sure can come in handy at times.

Source: Gadling

Fujitsu has just made public the unleashing of its Eclipse AVN2210P, a GPS navigation device. This device is must-have equipment for the people who are new to a particular environment or who find it hard to remember road links and city road networks.

It looks like a stylish piece of equipment when you place it on the dashboard of your automobile. It incorporates a hell lot of functionalities that will surely never let you loose your way. It displays a 3.5-inch TFT screen, a quite useful SD memory slot, built-in quality speakers, Bluetooth connectivity and a rechargeable battery. This GPS apparatus is surely here to make a difference in your lives.

Price: $900

Via: Akihabaranews

With the launch of different types of electronic devices these days it’s very problematic to carry a bunch of chargers especially when you travel isolated places with no proper electricity supply.

To tackle the problem now Solar Technologies UK has produced its new device called Freeloader that can offer you a low cost solution to your problems. The device is an advanced portable charging system that can power almost any hand held device anywhere without electricity.

This charging device is equipped with 120mA premium quality crystalline solar cells to charge itself within 3 to 5 hours, no matter what kind of weather it is. Its free solar energy can power an iPod for 18 hours or a mobile phone for over 40 hours.

It comes equipped with a series of adaptors and connectors that offer flexibility to solar charge anything from digital camera to a Sony PSP and its USB charging cable also enable users to power-up the Freeloader charger via PC.

This lightweight metallic silver designed device is available from Maplin Electronics in their 117 stores in the UK and Ireland for only £29.99.

Via: Treehugger

Ok so this one’s a new. A talking luggage ID. A high-tech solution for tagging your luggage while traveling. Yes, with this neat little gadget, you can replace the handwritten label attached to your traveling bag. ‘Lost & Found Sound Tag‘ has the ability of recording a 20-second sound clip to pack in your name, address, phone number, hotel’s name and address, and all the other relevant mumbo-jumbo, which you think will ensure that your baggage reaches you if it goes missing.

Shaped like a cross and colored bright yellow, it is noticeable enough; provided of course that your baggage handler has not already removed it. It is battery-operated, comes packaged with 3 batteries and is a manageable 2 1/4 x 3″ in size. It has a red button which when pushed plays back the recorded message.

My only worry is who would want to buy something for which an easier solution already exists i.e. good old handwritten tags? Interested parties can buy it here for $14.98.

Via: Ubergizmo

Now these may seem a bit vague but it’s true, these goggles are a lot more than they seem to be. They have the ability to see in the dark as well as may be termed as the X-ray vision compatible. What are the army men thinking? Are they going nuts? Why have they unleashed such a gadget and that too to the civilians? Would definitely prove dangerous if some infiltrators get a hold on one of such devices.

Via: Gizmodo

Now this is something very much techno- savvy and rather quite innovating for all those snowboarders at the global front. This unique snowboarding jacket is not just a usual jacket, in spite of keeping you warm it also has GPS connectivity and that too through a watch. The display panel is mounted on the sleeve of the jacket which presents you with the speed, distance and time aswell.
The fabric switching technology and flexible screens makes this marvel a complete out of the world gizmo. They bestow you with the highest level of satisfaction regarding the functionality. Seriously I consider it to be a must have gizmo for every snowboarder round the block.

Via: Yankodesign

Siemens, has just reported that the company has developed superconducting motors that can be used to run ships with electricity. No doubt, that electric powered vehicles are eco- friendly with good efficiency but now the question arises how many batteries these sea monsters will demand as compared to electric powered vehicles to power them up via electricity.

However, engineers are already using highly efficient superconducting electric motors to power large ships as a substitute to diesel but superconductors ability to operate at temperatures close to absolute zero, or about -273.15°C is still a big problem to make it happen. Now, Siemens has reported that they have overcome this barrier with the development of their new motor that uses high-temperature superconductors that work at -140°C.

In addition, by using these motors in large case under the ship that many cruise ships uses these days, the surrounding seawater will work as a very efficient cooling system to disperse adequate heat for the motor to enable it to function at required temperature.

Now, let us see how soon this new motor will help to overcome barrier that engineers are facing to power monstrous ships via electricity but we will definitely keep you posted.

Via: Ohgizmo

Have you dreamed of following your friends using Google Earth? Well, dream no more, the Trackstick II is here and it’s guaranteed to creep you out. You will be able to track and record all of its movement, the little device is literally a tracker you’d see in spy movies.

The Trackstick II is a sequel. It’s an updated version of the original Trackstick. The gadget is a GPS data logger designed specifically with Google Earth. It can continuously record its own location history for extended period of time while running on two AAA batteries. It lets you keep a satellite scrapbook of all your travels and record your explorations.

The Trackstick II records its own location, time, date, speed, heading and altitude at preset intervals. With over 1Mb of memory, it can store months of travel information. The Trackstick is the perfect tool for individuals looking for a way to track anything that moves.

How it works?

The Trackstick II receives signals from twenty four satellites orbiting the earth. With this information, the Trackstick II can precisely calculate its own position anywhere on the planet to within fifteen meters.

Where does it work?

The Trackstick II will work anywhere on the planet. Your exact location and the route travelled can be viewed and played back directly within Google Earth. Everything is included and there is no monthly fees.

Use it for recording the exact routes you take when hiking, biking or vacationing.

Record the location of everywhere you go, import pictures and other information into Google Earth to offer an entirely new perspective of your journey.

Trackstick II’s data can be downloaded to your (Windows-only) computer via USB and viewed on Google Earth’s 3D model of the planet. Google Earth Store sells the units for $169.

Image Credit

Source: gadling

$250,000 may not be at all expensive while considering to buy a portable rocket pack for yourself. Looks quite amazing and a lot futuristic regarding the idea it speaks of - that is flying in air, wow.

TAM Rocket Belt is the name given to this innovative and yet useful rocket pack system. A proper guidance is given to the pilot of this rocket system by the manufacturers.
It has enough lifting power that can effortlessly elevate a pilot who weighs 300lbs or less, and boasts of elevating to the altitudes up to 100 feet in the air, hey it do reminds of those ‘back to the future’ movie series.

Via:Technabob

Gail Knight, a British designer has developed two such rings that will guide the travelers in the unfamiliar places. These rings have global positioning satellite to guide the wearer. Also, there is a device controller which one needs to wear around the neck or clip on to clothing.

This device controller has all the necessary electronics that could not be fitted in the rings. The eight digit display allows for a postcode to be entered. It also has an electronic compass and GPS system that powers the navigation of this device.

Inside the rings there is a small vibrating motor and antenna which makes the rings buzz as soon as these receive the signal from the device controller. The rings buzz for left and right, and have different vibrations for forwards and backwards. When the wearer goes in a wrong direction both right and left buzz.

So, next time you are move don’t forget these vibrating rings who knows when you are caught in a place which you are totally unfamiliar with.

Source: BBC News