Keep your travels neat during and after

Update: There is an app for it, and its free. I came across the article below about an app that lets you record and snap photos of receipts to create monthly/annual reports. This app is available for multiple smartphone operating systems, quick to input and import receipts and such into accounting software. And its free.

App of the Week: Track Your Expenses – For Free

This week's cool gadget is Portable Scanner.

This gadget I have come across on several occasions. Mostly in really good advertisements that got my attention. Ok, maybe they were not that great, but I did notice them as someone who is into gadgets and read through and then read up a bit more about it on the site.
The first one of this type I came across was NeatReceipts. I really like what it promised. All of the receipts that I have all over the desk and then "neatly" put a way in a filing case would instead be scanned onto my computer and then I can organize them whatever way I want in digital format. Moreover, since these are now digitized they can be inputted into accounting software or simple data sheet. That is awesome, as that would make it much easier to see what we have spent on and create tracking for the various little purchases. You can also scan business cards and such to keep digital copy of and create pdf files and contact lists.
NeatReceipts is USB-powered, slick at only 14 inches width x 4 inches height and weighs 1.6 pounds, comparable with both PC and Mac, which makes it great for traveling since it fits easily into laptop bag or a backpack.
That is all great, though the thing that kept me away from this gadget is the price. NeatReceipts goes for around 200 dollars. While its a nice tool to have to organize receipts and such, my current filing system works and it cost me about $5, the price of the plastic filing folder.
The other portable scanner I came across was CopyCat Portable Scanner. By dragging your hand across a piece of paper you able to digitize a document into picture file on the Micro SD card in the scanner. It can scan photos, magazines, typed documents, and more. Text processing software also enables you to edit any words scanned. This one is a bit less, but still a pricey gadget.

What do you think? Would this be a good travel gadget purchase or should be left in the office?

Why good to have on a trip:
- easily scan receipts, instead of having a pile somewhere in the bag
- able to create data sheets, reports, and other documents
- easy tracking of small and large purchases
- light and compact
- easily connects to any computer

Did You Know?: IRS accepts digital versions of receipts, bills or other tax deduction documents.
Publication 552 - "Electronic records. All requirements that apply to hard copy books and records also apply to electronic storage systems that maintain tax books and records. When you replace hard copy books and records, you must maintain the electronic storage systems for as long as they are material to the administration of tax law."

Follow up...Rechargeable batteries charger plus cool camera plus pics

Update to "Rechargeable batteries charger - saves money saves planet" ...

This weekend, we took a 4 day trip to Maryland. It was great, we went to Baltimore Inner Harbor, got on top of the World Trade Center to see all of Baltimore laid out in-front of us in 360 degree view. We also went down to Annapolis and visited the Naval Academy as well as the town, even though it was pouring all day. And relaxed across the bridge in Tilghman Island and Kent County. All in all it was a great road trip. And you know it was scenic as my wife took 510 photos in three and a half days. That is around 146 shots per day. I thought it was quite a bit.
We had the Canon Powershot camera I mentioned in the last post with us. And we took along our "new" rechargeable battery charger set including the 4 batteries that it came with. I would like to report that it was an awesome gadget purchase and it was great to have on the trip.
We only had to switch the batteries twice while actually walking around. Which is in itself a wonder as the camera usually goes through a lot more changes. On the third day of the trip my wife even said that she was surprised and impressed how long these batteries lasted as compared to regular batteries. We put not yet used batteries into the camera and charged the other 2 in the evening and were set to go. Moreover, as we do a lot walking we like to travel light, so having only 2 batteries on stand by in my pocket was great.

Why good to have on a trip:
- less batteries to drag around
- surprisingly longer life span
- cheaper than regular batteries
- for us, they work

I do not usually recommend any products. In my posts I am looking to describe the coolness and usefulness of  gadgets on a trip. However, I am partial to the camera that we have in terms of the quality of pictures that it takes, the ease of taking them, and the awesome resolution of those pictures when printed or on computer screen. The latest version of the digital camera we have is Canon PowerShot SX130IS 12.1 which comes with 12x optical zoom compared to our 10x which was the only option at the time. This camera is not the smallest, slimmest, or cutest, but it is one of the better point-and-shoots I have seen.

Laptopmag.com review: "Big zoo, small price. This 10X optical zoom camera is perfect for soccer moms (or dads) who want to get that perfect shot from afar. The SX120 IS also has a large 3-inch screen for framing and reviewing your 10-mp photos, optical image stabilization (IS), and motion detection for blur-free pics. If your friend isn't tech-savvy, have no fear, the Canon has Smart Auto mode and Easy mode, so that anyone can get the best shot without having to tweak the settings."

Some pics from the trip: Maryland trip

ZOMM Wireless Leash for Mobile Phones

Key chain finder have come a long way. The original keys finder is well known and is a marketing giveaway nowadays. This is the gadget that would start beeping when you whistle while trying to find where you left your keys.

ZOMM Wireless Leash is a lot more technologically advanced way to make sure that you do not loose and/or misplace your expensive phone. I came across this gadgets awhile back when it was still a concept in development and was not available for purchase. It has hit the market and developed quite a few additional features since then.
ZOMM will begin vibrating, flashing, and sounding a distinct alarm when you are about to walk 20-40 feet from your mobile phone. It uses Bluetooth® technology to connect with the phone and keep the monitor its location relative to the key chain gadget.
It also has a built-in panic alarm that can be activated with a simple press of a button. Continue to hold that button, and ZOMM will automatically call any emergency number of your choice. ZOMM comes with fully functioning speakerphone with a noise-canceling microphone, belt/bag clip, instructions manual, wall charger, and USB cable.

Why good to have on a trip:
- keep your phone close by without leaving it behind
- safeguard your phone and all the data on it
- keep safe with emergency call feature and alarm

Did You Know?: More than a third of consumers have had cell phones lost or stolen. On average 32 percent of people had had their phones lost of stolen, with the age group 18 – 24 most likely to have experienced loss or theft with 51 percent. Today’s mobile phones are capable of storing a lot of valuable information, which can be used for malicious purposes if the phone falls into the wrong hands. Keep your phones close and locked.

Norton Smartphone Security

Top 25 GIfts Under $50

http://www.laptopmag.com/review/roundups/top-25-under-50.aspx - a list from Laptopmag of cool gadgets for travel and other gift ideas

Our favorites:

Bedol Water Clock
For the jaded gadget geek who thinks he's seen everything, this 6.5-inch clock runs on H20. It converts ions from ordinary tap water into electrical power that'll keep the hands spinning for three months or more before a refill is needed.
Why good to have on a trip:
- no batteries.
- water available in most countries, even if not clean or drinkable

Belkin Conserve Valet
Kill four volt-sucking chargers at once with this four-device USB smart-charging station. Once all your gadgets are fully juiced, the Valet shuts down so no power is drained needlessly. To eliminate spaghetti cables, the cords wrap around the unit itself.
Why good to have on a trip:
- less wires and less plugs
- keeps your gadgets powered up all at the same time

Energizer Energi To Go SP1000
All you need is light--artificial or solar--to keep this portable charger full and, therefore, any cell phone or MP3 player powered. The 1000-mAh lithium polymer battery can be solar-filled up to 500 times, and two free TipFit connectors a year from Energizer.
Why good to have on a trip:
- light is available, especially when traveling to warm sunny destination
- keeps all the gadgets charged

Naftali Easy2Pick Wireless Luggage Finder System
For all those with lookalike black luggage, this wireless tag system alerts forgetful loved ones via a blinking red LED on the keychain when their bag is within 90 feet - on the carousel someplace. It also works in reverse: Use the luggage tag to help locate lost keys.
Why good to have on a trip:
- no straining neck to look for luggage on carousel
- no picking up strangers luggage just because it looks like yours
- find luggage and/or keys

ThinkGeek Guitar Shirt
Seriously, it's a T-shirt with a playable guitar on it. Connect a shirt to a belt-clipped amp/speaker (four AAA), or jack into to a real amp. The guitar neck detaches like Velcro for washing. There are also drum and keyboard shirts coming to complete your T-shirt family band.
Why good to have on a trip:
- its fun and could be cool

New Cool Gadget Find of Today: Wallet Made of Stainless Steel

Woven using 25,000 flexible stainless-steel threads that are three times thinner than a piece of paper, this wallet is resistant to stretching or staining and corrosives such as salts, acids, and seawater. It does not have sharp corners or the inherent bulk of other wallets so it easily fits in front or back pocket.
Also, since it is made out of steel, it passively resists radio-frequency hacking. Which is the latest identity theft technique that attempts to scan newer credit cards and other cards that are RF-enabled (Radio frequency identification chip).
This virtually indestructible wallet feels like silk. Features 6 credit card, two internal and currency slots with a divided large pocket for bills.

Why good to have on a trip:
- it is durable
- resistant to stretching and staining and corrosives
- made out of steel, yet feels as smooth as silk
- resists radio-frequency hacking
- slim, fits easily in front/back pocket
- protects your hard cash

Did You Know?:
Wireless identity theft is a relatively new technique of gathering an individual's personal information from RF-enabled cards carried on a person in their access control, credit, debit, or government issued identification cards.[6] Each of these cards carry a Radio frequency identification chip which responds to certain radio frequencies. When these "tags" come into contact with radio waves, they respond with a slightly altered signal. The response can contain encoded personal identifying information, including the card holder's name, address, Social Security Number, phone number, and pertinent account or employee information. Upon capturing (or 'harvesting') this data, the thief is then able to program their own cards to respond in an identical fashion (via 'cloning').(Wikipedia.org)

10 Travel Gadgets for the warm weather travel

10. Digital Luggage Scale - an essential gadget for today's traveler. Take the guesswork out of packing and avoid paying extra fees by finding out luggage weight before check-in.

9. Charging pad - lets you charge multiple electronics at once without having to plug all of them in an outlet. Only the charging pad gets plugged in and all other gadgets are placed on top of it. The devices are charged using inductive charging. It is a wireless charging method used for mid-sized items such as cell phones, MP3 players and PDAs.

8. Joby Gorilla pod - Gorillapod is a very bendy tripod composed of more than two dozen plastic “leg joints” that once connected to your camera’s tripod mount hole can be twisted around and secured to virtually any surface

7. Noise canceling headphones - Music just makes the day go faster and helps you immerse in your own world and your relaxation.
more here:
Gadget that would be considered a must have by frequent travelers
Noise canceling headphones - life saver for travelers?

6. Swiss Army knife - its a classic multi-tool. Everything you need and more within one device. Now it also comes with tech gadgets such as USB, flashlight, digital clock and thermometer. (Traveller Lite)

5. Reusable water bottle - keeps you hydrated during the trip, keeps the liquid cool, and can be used over and over instead buying and carrying multiple water bottle. Hence these bottles save money space and weight. And they also help save our planet.
How to take care of reusable water bottle
Review of the Best BPA-Free Water Bottles
Green travel: how to ditch the plastic water bottle

4. First aid kit -
Good items to include in the kit are:
•first-aid manual
•sterile gauze
•adhesive tape and bandages in several sizes
•antiseptic wipes
•antibiotic cream/solution (triple-antibiotic ointment)
•hydrocortisone cream (1%)
•acetaminophen and ibuprofen
•tweezers
•sharp scissors
•safety pins
•disposable instant cold packs
•calamine lotion
•alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol
•plastic gloves (at least 2 pairs)

3. Digital Camera - an essential gadget on any trip. A good camera will give you great resolution shots and memories

2. E-reader - These gadgets hold multiple books and magazines within one small light package. No more dragging multiple heavy books on a trip. They also come with wi-fi and a web browser included.

1. Smartphone - Built in gps, cameras, emailing and texting, Apps with maps, directions, games, reviews and recommendations. Needless to say these phones make a great companion on any trip.

Did You Know?:
Travel Tip: Avoiding International Roaming Charges

Best headphones ad ... ever

ZippearZ earbuds commercial:



Why good to have on a trip: They don't fall out :)

Rechargeable batteries charger - saves money saves planet

Update : http://traveltechgadgets.blogspot.com/2011/04/follow-uprechargeable-batteries-charger.html

My wife loves taking pictures. It is her hobby. It is really a great thing that the digital camera was invented since she takes hundreds if not thousand of pictures when we go on a trip. Can you imagine all of the rolls of films or the cost of processing those?
When going on longer trips or tours that would be better taken in without a lot of bags to drag around, we take along with us a point-and-shoot camera. Ours is a Canon Powershot SX120 SI, which is a great camera to have when cannot shoot with a DSLR. It is far better than most "lighter" digital cameras with a 10x optical zoom. The drawback of this and most other digital cameras are the batteries that you have to take a long on a trip. While we really like this camera and it produces great pictures, it eats a couple of batteries for breakfast lunch and dinner. So we had to take with us quite a few spare batteries in the luggage. And with all of the weight restriction these days at the airport this extra weight does not help.
Then, a couple of months ago with had a Eureka! moment. We can use rechargeable batteries.
I used to have one of those recharging stations quite a few years ago. It was bulky, not that easy to use, and would not charge the batteries that well. So based on these pre-conceptions, this idea did not pop-up right away. However, with all of the improvements and innovation in technology, we figured this gadget had to change as well.
As we do with any purchase, we began our research to figure out what is out there and what would be the best lightweight and quick portable battery charger that would also give us the best bang for our buck. To our surprise and great benefit, what we found to be the better of the bunch was not a main brand name, but a lesser known one, that had a lot of the features that we were looking for at a great price. We chose Sanyo Eneloop 4 Pack Rechargable Set. It received great reviews from users and rated high for fast and complete charging. It is lightweight and easy to store as you can fold the prongs into the casing. And at just over $11, it is a great travel gadget to throw in a bag for next trip.
We have already used it on several occasions and it is great to not have a baggy of 20 plus batteries weighing down. It also keeps our camera nice and full. It still uses up the power quickly, but the batteries can be recharged just as quickly 4 at-a-time, and it has worldwide voltage so can charge just about anywhere. And we spend a lot less money on getting new ones every so often.

Reviews and comparisons for the battery chargers:
http://battery-charger-review.toptenreviews.com/
http://www.consumersearch.com/batteries/review
http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/12/aa-rechargeable-battery-shootout-energizer-powergenix-and-sany/

Why good to have on a trip:
- less bulky than a bag of batteries
- also weighs less
- saves money on buying batteries for high tech devices
- helps you be more green and saves the planet

Did You Know?: Some batteries may contain mercury and need to be properly disposed off and/or recycled. Recycling batteries keeps heavy metals out of landfills and the air. Recycling saves resources because recovered plastic and metals can be used to make new batteries.