Could We See the iPad Pro Release in 2015?

The Apple iPad has been getting improvements with every generation. The iPad Air series is the thinnest and most powerful one to ever come out, but now the legendary tablet is about to get a "Pro" title. The iPad Pro will be the next generation of the tablet series that started it all, and it is expected to be so sweet that it could ACTUALLY replace your laptop. Rumor has it that it will have a way more powerful processor, dual operating systems, and even a keyboard that can be attached to it.

Of course, if it is going to be a "Pro" model and replace your laptop, it's going to have to be pretty big. Well, it is. The iPad Pro is going to have a 12.9 inch display and not only is it going to be pretty big for a tablet, but it is going to be the best display Apple has ever used on a tablet as well. In addition to that there will apparently be a 2K version and a 4K version. The iPad Air has a really great display with a 2048 x 1536 display, but the 4K version of the iPad Pro will be somewhere around 4096 x 3072. So you can see how big of a difference that will make.

Apple also recently filed a new patent for their Smart Cover. Eventually they will release one that has a full keyboard built into it. The keyboard will also operate separately from the cover so you will be able to use it wirelessly. It might also include gesture control, which would make a lot of things a ton easier. This would make the iPad Pro even more useful.

There is also talk of the Pro coming with a stylus too. If they want to compete with other companies, this would be a good idea. I know that Apple thinks that just because they are Apple that their customers aren't going to care that they use outdated technology and market it as being new... But people are starting to catch on, and eventually they will realize what else is out there.

Speaking of them not keeping up with the times, there is also FINALLY talk of eye tracking. This sounds cool and they will market it as this new crazy technology and speak on how it will scroll for you when reading, or pause videos when you look away. But realistically, Samsung has been using that technology in their smartphones for about the last two years. It's old news. Get with it, Apple.

Other neat features that the Pro will have will be the dual operating systems. It will probably have iOS 8 AND OS X. So that will be pretty useful in different situations. Of course it will have a beefed up processor and other hardware as well. Other than that, we'll just have to wait and see. But it is for sure something to be excited about!

Smartphones in the Year 2015: A New Age Of Technology

The worst thing about smartphones is the fact that when you drop all of your money on a shiny, brand new phone,the latest and greatest thing on the market, but it becomes outdated in just a few short months! Although you might be the coolest guy in the office today (*see photo below), next week you might as well be living in the stone age...Oddly enough, this is also one of the coolest things about the smartphone market; there is always something to look forward to and whenever you get an upgrade there is always going to be something fresh to pick up!

Starting this year, most of the new phones will be using Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 chip. They are the latest and greatest chips out right now, and they are going to make tons of new things possible. Most of the top end smartphones that aren't iPhones use a snapdragon chip, so you know the next generation of Snapdragon is going to pretty much blow everything out of the water.

The processor in any phone is probably the biggest thing to look at. It powers everything; makes everything your phone does possible. Here is a list of some cool new things that are going to be possible with the new Snapdragon 810 chip:

4K Video:

Yes, some smartphones on the market right now already have a 4K display. But that isn't what they are aiming for here. New phones that come out this year will be able to stream 4K video wirelessly to a TV with just a few taps on the screen. (Now that is just super awesome.) You will also be able to record 4K video with most phones. Cameras capable of shooting 4K video aren't exactly new, but the point here is that you will be able to transport 4K video to other devices very easily and it is going to create a whole new world of possibilities!

Way better cameras:

 

Now that there will be way more powerful processors in smartphones, they can power way better cameras. There is a new smartphone camera made by a company called core photonics that is actually two cameras built into one. It has a wide angle imager, and a fixed telephoto lens that magnifies the image. By combining the two images together, you can take a picture that is better than a DSLR camera.

Recording audio in stereo:

One of the biggest downfalls of recording video with your phone is the fact that it always sounds like well, crap; especially if you are at a concert or something. But with these new processors, you will be able to record video with a high quality, stereo audio track. This means no more mono recordings; also means your chances of becoming a YouTube star greatly increase.

Using your phone as a computer:

 

The new Snapdragon 810 is 5 times more powerful than any other chip on the market. It has enough power that you will literally be able to wirelessly hook up a monitor and a keyboard and work on it like it is a PC. The possibilities are absolutely insane. Why even have a laptop when you can carry a PC in your pocket?

These are just a few very practical uses that you will be able to get out of the phones that will be coming out this year. There are way more things that you could do, I'm sure. And there will certainly be more apps and services that will come out based on all of the possibilities. If you didn't have an upgrade available when the iPhone 6 came out, don't even worry! You'll have a chance to get something that will make it look like a kid's toy very soon.

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Do Apple's "Limitations" Lead You To Other Competitors, Or Does It Even Matter?

If you turn on the TV right now, odds are that you're going to see a commercial at some point about another tech company bashing Apple products. Shots fired. Microsoft is clearly throwing blows at Apple with some of their recent product likes. If you've seen anything involving the Surface Pro 3, the ever-popular tablet-laptop hybrid, you've more than likely seen it taking shots at Apples Macbook and iPad. Apple might not be having the best year in terms of tablets or laptops, and the competition isn't holding back on the ammo they have. Even Microsoft's Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro has its own commercial throwing punches at the Macbook Air. These commercials can be pretty funny to those techies out there (such as yours truly) that know about the devices and brands, but others might actually feed into the commercials. But, that's the point right?

Are you feeding into the hype/lack-there-of? Should you be feeding into it, or not feeding into it?

Is Apple Really "Limited"?
There seems to be some sort of notion that Apple is limited because their products can't "do" as much as products from competitors. Apples Macbook can't bend the way that Microsoft's Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro can, this is completely true. The Yoga and bend to "tent" mode and to "tablet" mode. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, I'm not looking for a computer that can do gymnastics. I'm looking for a computer that can perform the tasks that I need it to perform, and run the software that I need it to run. Not to mention the new Yoga Pro 3 is starting at $1,300, where as the Macbook Air is $400 cheaper on it's starting price. Unless the competing products actually have better inner workings to perform better, are you actually getting a better product? I guess that would all just be a matter of opinion at that point.

Opinions Do Matter
Everyone has their own opinion on what their favorite products are or what their favorite brand is. There is nothing wrong with this. The deciding factor doesn't need to be based off of how far back your screen can bend or if you can stick a keyboard onto your tablet. The deciding factor should be what you're going to be using the device for the most. Are you going to be performing functions that would be better suited for a laptop? Then get the most powerful laptop that you can. You're only as fast as your computer after all. Maybe your duties would work better with a tablet. Should that be the case, then just get the best tablet on the market. All of these other "gimmicks" are nice, but would the novelty where off? Well, there in lies the "opinion" factor.

Should Apple Be Worried?
This question is both reasonable, and completely laughable, all at the same time. Apple has done a simply amazing job at making a brand that essentially sells itself now. That's not to say that they don't deliver quality products. The new 5K iMac computer performs just as incredibly as the screen looks. Apple's Macbooks and iMacs might be able to bend and turn into Transformers, you might not even be able to utilize any touchscreen functionalities with them, but you do know that you're getting a product that has done so blazingly well, that they don't have to do much with their advertising other than show a small clip of the product itself and then flash their logo. Yes, the competitive market has made their point that they can do a quite a lot physically, that the Apple can't do. Apple is still king of the hill though, so what is that really saying about Apple and the competition?

No matter what your brand or product choice is, laptop, laptop-tablet hybrid, or a laptop that folds out into a couch, remember that quality is what you're looking for. At the end of the day, do you want a device that give you top-notch performance? Or, would you rather a device that could join our U.S. gymnastics team and give you mild performance. The choice should be pretty clear.

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Are You The Traveling Business Type? Acer Might Have Something Just For You

When you have to take a business trip, or take any type of business on the road, the stress can be overbearing at times. Between making sure that you're travel times are adhered to and making sure you don't mess up your presentation, there's a lot to worry about. The last thing that you want to add to your list of things to deal with is your technology not being able to perform up to the level that you need it to. When you go to start your presentation, you don't want to have a device that can't give you what you need. As good as our technology is today, it still feels impossible to find a device that can actually stay alive for longer than 2 hours. All of the devices are nice when you get them, but as time goes on, they tend to last for about 30 minutes without dying.

Luckily Acer has just given hope to those who need a laptop that can stay alive more than long enough to get the job done.

1 Charge, 13 Hours
While tablets have been the way that technology seems to be headed, you just cant beat the use and responsiveness of a keyboard. Tablets may look sleek and perform very well, but that doesn't mean that the laptop is down for the count, Acer has made sure of that. Recently Acer has been doing very well in the classroom market. The new Acer Chromebook 13 definitely is definitely giving users the power that they need. You need a long lasting laptop? How does 13 hours of battery life sound to you? From just one charge! Now mind you that this claim hasn't been completely proven, but due to the technology that Acer is using under their hood, they just might be able to prove that claim to be true.

Props To Nvidia
For anyone that's a techie, you're probably familiar with the fact that Nvidia definitely has a huge following, especially for graphics cards. Nvidia CPU's and GPU's have been known to put out quite a lot of power. They've lent this power to the new Acer Chromebook 13. The new Chromebook is working with an Nvidia quad core Tegra K-1 CPU. This particular chip can tackle just about any type of gaming graphic you can throw at it and then some. While you may not be using it for gaming purposes, the fact that it can process a lot of graphics programming and effects at one time just shows how power the CPU actually is, and how powerful it makes this new notebook. The fact that the OS on the new laptop is basically the Chrome browser makes it easier on the CPU as well, and will definitely help out with the battery life.

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Lookout MacBook Air
The MacBook Air has been known to not only be powerful, but also be very light and sleek. Well, Acer has made their own version essentially. The Chromebook 13 is only 1 millimeter thicker than the Air, and with a price range geared more towards the cheaper side, definitely affordable. The new Chromebook has the potential to completely outshine the Air in terms of classroom sales. The addition of the powerful CPU from Nvidia coupled with the long battery life and thin design already make for a very nice laptop from Acer. The $297 price tag is just the icing on the cake.

Whether this particular notebook was made for the classroom, or the businessman on the go, this is definitely one of the best, if not the best Chromebook to come out now. To pay such a cheap price and get a sleek design, Nvidia CPU, and long battery life to go with it, this is definitely a perfect asset for business on the go, or the traveling student.


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Samsung Has Just Given Apple Quite The Run For Its Money

America on the go. That is what our technology caters to now. Mobility. Practicality. Performance. We want it all, and many different tech companies have made note of that. Everyone from Asus, to Apple, to Samsung. We've gone from desktops and laptops, to smartphones and tablets. We want mobility. Well, we got it! With many people traveling for business every single day, it would only make sense to cater to the people who may need technology to be as mobile as they are. Businesses understand how to make money. Give the consumers what they want. Apple did that with the iPad. Boom. A more mobile "laptop" essentially. It took off like no one had expected. Competitors took note. The tablet war began.

What better way to cater to the mobile market, both average consumers and business consumers alike, than with the tablet? A touch screen computer display that's sleek and effective. Apple has capitalized on this market, and anyone would agree with that. Having said that, Apple can only stay on top for so long, right? That's what Samsung tends to think anyway.

Most companies attempted to jump on board the tablet bandwagon after they witnessed just how lucrative the iPad was becoming. Many of the tablets from Apple's competitors that you see on the market today tend to fall flat, and there's a reason for that. Not only does Apple have its name going for them (yes, it is a fashion statement, I don't care what anyone says), but they also have had the best hardware and were the first tablet on the mass market. That headstart really did help more than most people think. But Apple's biggest rival, Samsung, has something to throw into the tablet fray now, and it's definitely worth checking out.

Samsung has shown their new new tablet, the Galaxy Tab S. Now, if you're familiar with Samsung and their products, you know that the "S" line is their top tier product line. The Galaxy S5 is their most recent smartphone, and they put just about everything they had into it. Naturally you're going assume the same thing with the Tab S now. Your assumptions would be correct.

Samsung's plan was to "build the best tablet for our consumers". The only thing is that they've modeled this new Tab S to match the iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina Display, almost exactly. The thickness of the new tablet is something to talk about as well. Everyone knows that the iPad Air was designed to be extremely thin and light. The new Tab S is actually thinner. There are currently two models being set up for retail; the 10.5-inch mode,l that happens to weigh just as much as the iPad Air, and the 8.4-inch model that is slightly lighter than the iPad Mini with Retina, coming in at 10 ounces. The dimensions are basically the same as the iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina. The hardware on the inside even offers the same type of performance capabilities and is being priced to match the iPad Air and Mini. The new Tab S even has features like SideSync which is basically their version of Apple's Continuity. That Apple feature won't be out until iOS 8 drops later this year. Samsung already has a leg up.

It almost reminds me of how Xbox went ahead and lowered their price of the Xbox One from $500 to $400 in order to compete with the Playstation 4's $400 starting price tag.

The point that I'm trying to make here is that Samsung is finally attacking Apple head on with this new Tab S model, and while Apple may still be able to stay afloat, I'm sure they've definitely taken notice of what has happened and will plan accordingly.

Since today's businessmen and women are constantly on the go, it will be interesting to see just where the consumers will go to for their mobile technology needs.

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How Tablet Rentals Can Help Your Musical Career

Being a touring musician is more than just playing rockstar for a few weeks in your dads van. Your band is your business, your crew are your employees, and we know how seriously you take your work. Some people think it is insane to hit the road in a bus or a 15 passenger van and go play devil music for a month, but you know better. You know that on top of your passion for the music that you play, there is some serious money to be made in touring. If you run your business correctly and use the correct tools, you can always make sure that you will be making a solid profit. It's hard to stay focused on business when you are driving 12 hours every night, getting no sleep, and living off of terrible food. There are a million ways that renting a tablet specifically for your tour can keep you on track and keep you making money while you are on the road.

First of all, you have a huge tour itinerary to keep track of. In the old days, we had to print them off and put them in a binder that we called a "tour book" to make ourselves feel more important with a Wal-mart binder in our hands. Now, tour managers and musicians alike can easily download and keep track of a full itinerary directly on their tablet. You can store it as a PDF, or access it from your Google account at any time. This also makes it super easy to simply copy the address of your next location and paste it into your navigation app on the exact same device. Convenient right? Yes, I know.

Speaking of navigation, people never think about using tablets for it. This rules, because you can keep track of all of your files and use the navigation on the exact same device. The screen is really big, tablets are really easy to mount on your dashboard, and you can also store all of your driving music on it as well so you can listen while you cruise. This is super easy and convenient if you have a 3G tablet, a mobile hotspot, or a tethering app. The possibilities are endless. This also keeps everyone from arguing about who's phone they are going to use for navigation that day, and if you are part of a touring crew or a band, you know that struggle and are probably laughing really hard right now.

I won't go into detail and try and sell you on specific apps, but with a simple Google search or sifting through the app store, there are a TON of absolutely free apps for keeping track of inventory and money from different sources all in the same place. This is completely necessary for keeping track of how much merchandise you have, how much you have sold, how much money you have made, and how much money you have spent. You can also calculate deductions for what you owe your crew, manager, label, and whatever else.

One other neat thing that you can do for absolutely free is accept credit card payments with a tablet. How many times has someone said "I don't carry cash" but they wanted to buy a shirt? Well now, you got the sale anyway. Being able to accept credit card payments will LITERALLY double your merchandise sales every single night. Download the Square Register app. You don't even need to buy the card reader if you don't want to, you can just punch in card numbers instead of swiping.

For zero money at all besides the initial rental of the tablet, you can make your life so much easier and so much more profitable while you are on the road.

For Your Next On The Go Tablet Rental Contact www.RentOurTablets.com Today At 888-736-8301

Mapquest Making A Comeback

At one point, Mapquest was one of the most important tools we had when it came to travel. These days, Mapquest has almost become 100% irrelevant in the modern world. In most cases, it would make you mad if you actually had to use Mapquest instead of your phone.

The mappers at Mapquest know that their product has fallen off, but they have not stopped developing their business. They have continued working and building on their product to make a big return to relevance in the mobile technology world.

Mapquest was intended to help you navigate your travels, but these days most people only use it to get a general idea of how much gas money they are going to spend ahead of time and figure out how long their trips will take. Even if it isn't being used as it was intended, it has still maintained its ranking as one of the top 200 websites in the United States. Recently, they added local discovery and sharing along with a brand new mobile mapping product. They have also gained a lot of partners to enhance the quality of all the listings on its map product.

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They have teamed up with MLB and Hampton Inn. Now users can see all of the Hampton Inns near them on one tab and will also be able to book hotel rooms.

Partnering with MLB has helped them out in several ways. It's nice for users to be able to explore the stadiums on Mapquest and have the ability to download specific team kits. It also benefits Mapquest because now they are the sole mapping partner within the official MLB app.

Now Mapquest results also include all of the listings and information for GrubHub online ordering, SinglePlatform, Booker's schedule for spas, SeatGeek results for event tickets, FAA airport delays, and in the coming months will also include Foursquare's venue tips.

Mapquest is trying to fight to become what they once were. They used to be the go to tool for anyone's travel needs. Now, it's going to take a lot more for them to rise to the top, especially with Google and Apple having their own built in travel tools and fighting every day to overcome each other. The competition is insane, and Mapquest thinks they have what it takes to move beyond simple road mapping and transform into a full-service utility for every day use.

Managing Your Money On The Go With Manilla

When you choose to manage your bills online, it's not always as simple as it sounds. There are different options that banks offer for bill paying, but more times than not, you'll end up more confused than when you started. Manilla is a free service which launched back in 2011, and they are making bill paying and money management easier than ever before.

When you sign up to start using Manilla, you can add any bank account, credit card, utility, health, travel, and subscription accounts to it. Once you get everything situated, you will be automatically updated at all times so that you can stay up to date on your bills and account balances. You will even get alerts automatically whenever a bill is due, so you'll never miss anything. As if that wasn't convenient enough, you can access Manilla through its website, or by using the app for Android or iOS. Perfect for managing all of your money while you're traveling, or if you just live a super busy life.

Another useful feature that Manilla has to offer is its ability to share bills with friends, co-workers, family members, or anyone that you may have to or want to share with. If you are sharing a bill with someone, like a roommate or a business partner, instead of giving them all of your account information, you can simply invite them to Manilla and share it that way.

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There are lots of reasons to use this type of service. It eliminates lots of headaches that you would come across when trying to juggle multiple accounts and having different bills due on different days. What also makes this particular service a little bit better than the others is the fact that Manilla doesn't really have any ads. No one wants to be distracted while managing their money. It also comes off as being a little more professional and lets you know that they take their service seriously.

Managing your money from one place is priceless when you are busy or traveling. It lets you focus on the important things in life and frees up a lot of time that you could spend being productive. Not only that, but once you have everything added to it, you never have to remember any of the passwords to multiple accounts ever again. It's already right there and stored permanently. It removes all the hassle and puts you in control of everything from your smartphone, tablet, pc or laptop.

Lost Your Room Key? It's Ok, Just Use Your Smartphone!

 

Traveling of any kind can bring its own set of comforts and worries. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, we can all agree that our homes away from home carry their own stresses. More so for business traveling-- keeping up with all of your belongings can be an issue that you don't really anticipate. Your laptop is in check, you made sure to tip the waiter on your way out of the diner, but when you look for your room key, it's gone. Again, this is a common occurrence for anyone traveling, no matter what the reason may be. But once again, technology comes through for humanity. Don't have your room key on you? Don't worry. There's an app for that.

The new Starwood app for Starwood Hotels & Resorts is now offering an added new feature. Its added functionality of a "virtual room key" has given their customers the opportunity for less headaches when checking in and gaining access to their rooms. The app is set up to have a payment method and check in access directly involved with it. Now, when you book at the hotel, you don't necessarily have to wait in line or ring the bell for service at the front desk. When you arrive, check in and pay on your app, head to your room, and even enter your room via the app!

The access to your room is completely based on the app, should you choose to do it that way. It all works via Bluetooth technology. However, you need to have at least an iPhone 4S or newer for it to work. An Android device using the Android 4.3 OS or newer OS will also work. The locks on the door contain sensors which become active as soon as the Bluetooth connection is detected. One other good note is that the locks are completely battery powered. That means that although the batteries will need to be changed regularly, you will still have complete access to your room should the hotel's systems go down.

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This all seems very well and good, but could it be seen as just another gimmick to attract more customers? The CEO of the Starwood Hotels, Frits van Paasschen, actually addressed that very question. He admitted to seeing how the idea of it could seem to be a bit of a "novelty" when it first comes into use, but also said that he could see it actually being the new standard for checking into your hotel and your hotel room.

So far the only drawback is that this feature will only be available at the Starwood Aloft hotels in Cupertino, CA and Harlem, NY. Since they are the ones piloting the program, they do plan to see how well this new app works for their customers. Should the app and its uses see success, then Starwood plans to move it to all of their hotels by the end of 2015. But should you still want to keep things old school, you can always gain access through the front desk. You are not limited to the app. Just remember that having your key card and your phone become the same thing, essentially, can make life just a little bit easier for your travels.

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Kansas City Now Has its Own iPhone App

There's an app for almost everything these days and now you can include traveling to Kansas City in the mix. A new app called "Kansas City Uncovered - a Sassy Look at a Midwestern Gem" has been created by Sutro Media and it is now available from the Apple iTunes store.

It was compiled by Diana Lambdin Meyer, a travel writer and resident of the city. She came up with 109 restaurants and attractions along with 639 pictures (shot by her husband, photographer Bruce Meyer) for the app. Meyer said she tried to come up with "fun, distinct and memorable" selections and tried to include some information that even the most savvy of Kansas City residents and travelers would not know about.

According to the St. Joseph News-Press, a "marketing blurb" that comes along with the app reads, "This guide gives you the facts, as well as a little sass and trash talk as only longtime residents of the city can provide. Who would you ask about the controversial newspaper ad for the Blueberry Margaritas or what services Count Basie received at the Phoenix Jazz Bar?"

So what kind of attractions will you find in the app? There are museums, gardens, places to take children, attractions, fountains, nightlife, restaurants and even trivia. Did you know the first Walt Disney studio was located in Kansas City? Did you know the Happy Meal started there? You can also learn about different tours and hikes and some of the town's history. Visiting a specific neighborhood? You can use the app to tell what you can do in that specific area.

Meyer says she has lived in the city for 25 years and had a hard time narrowing down what she wanted to use for the app. Restaurants were the hardest things to choose from. She and her husband picked out their favorites, as well as asking others what they would suggest. She cut that list down to 50 restaurants, plus ten of Kansas City's famous barbecue places. The restaurant section includes facts such as where to get the best margarita in town and even some information on some of the city's iconic places to eat.

One of her favorites was a place called You Say Tomato. Of the restaurant she says, "It's a farm-to-table restaurant in an old building that used to be a neighborhood grocery store, and everything has tomato in it. Excellent food, independently owned and they wear tomatoes on their heads. We had to include it."

Each place to visit, be it a restaurant or attraction, comes with pictures, information such as prices, whether it's child-friendly or not, any interesting facts, and of course contact information and links to websites. There's also a map and walking or driving directions to each location.

The app can be downloaded for your iPhone for $1.99 at Sutromedia.com or the Apple iTunes Store.

Check out these related stories:

1. Oh, No! The App Store was Hacked!

2. Kansas City Computer Rentals

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Apple Patents iTravel

It's being reported that Apple has filed a patent to develop a platform for the travel industry, called "iTravel." The application would allow you to book your flights, hotels, and car rentals, and provide a paperless check-in at airports. According to eTurbonews.com, Apple, Nokia, Amazon, Google, and RIM have been competing against each other to develop such a platform for travel.

Imagine having a digital boarding pass right there on your iPhone. It would handle check-in and baggage identification, advanced electronic ID, car rentals, hotel, and airline reservations, without you having to juggle your paper ticket and your picture ID.

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New App for Finding Your Luxury Hotel

Do you find yourself with lots of money to spend on traveling and luxury hotels but little time to spend on making travel plans? If you're one the lucky few, Small Luxury Hotels of the World is ready to help with their new iPhone app, which is coincidentally free. The new app, which also works for iPod Touch, allows you to "discover, enjoy, and share" the over 500 lodging properties offered under the brand, anywhere, anytime.

The app, which is obviously meant to appeal to those who can afford luxury hotels, will make it so that you can book any hotel of your choice and share the information with your family and friends. It also finds nearby points of interests such as tourist attractions and restaurants.

"The free iPhone app was developed with our guests’ needs and wants expressly in mind. It provides a highly flexible and easy way to search, browse and book a hotel while on the go," says Paul Kerr, the company's CEO.

The app was designed by Fortune Cookie and is being promoted as having three main functions:

1. Discover: Browse and book your luxury hotel through categories such as such as destination, specific experiences or the latest special offers for a quick getaway. Whether you're looking for a relaxing spa weekend or a week at a tropical location, you'll be able to find it here.
2. Enjoy: Once you've arrived at your destination, you can find points of interest that will help you make the most of your trip with these personal recommendations.
3. Share: This function allows you to create a list of your favorite luxury hotels and share them with friends and family via Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail.

Justin Cooke of Fortune Cookie has said of the app, "We have designed the SLH iPhone application to allow SLH guests to engage with SLH at every stage of their journey – finding the right property to suit their needs, using the app to enhance their experience while staying at the property and of course, sharing the experience when they return.”

The app is available for both iPhone and iPod Touch and will be available from the Apple Apps store later this month.

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Nokia to Offer Free Navigation Software

Nokia has announced that it will be offering free Navigation software on about ten of its smartphones. The no-strings-attached-offer will let users use the navigation in their handsets without having to connect to the internet. It will include turn-by-turn directions, voice prompts, travel guides, and other features.

Nokia hopes the move will help sell smartphones. "It will serve as a defense to our product prices," Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia's head of marketing, said in a statement.

Recently, Nokia has seen its rivals Apple (with the iPhone) and Research in Motion (with its Blackberry devices) take a share of its sales. However, analysts say Nokia is also attempting to compete with Google, which is already giving away its own mapping software with the Motorola Droid and all smartphones using the Android operating system. Some say users of all smartphones will start to expect free navigation software to be a standard smartphone feature from other companies such as Microsoft, RIM, and Samsung, affecting the whole market.

Either way, the move is sure to put pressure on TomTom and Garmin, the two biggest mapping leaders. Tomtom already sells navigation software for iPhone for $70 and the move could negatively affect that type of software, as well.

Currently, Nokia users can download free Ovi Maps from its website.

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Top Five Travel Gadgets of 2009

As the end of the year grows near, several "Top" lists of 2009 are popping up. One great list is Time Magazine's recently released "The Best Travel Gadgets of 2009." If you're planning to travel, for business or pleasure, anytime soon, and you want to stay connected with the latest (and best-looking) technology, this is the list for you. Let's take a look at the top five.

Coming in at number one is the Slingbox Pro-HD. This neat little gadget is great for catching up on your favorite television programming on the road. It allows you to watch video from several sources including your home cable box, DVR or DVD player. Using the internet, tune in via your mobile phone, laptop or other mobile device.

The next item on the list is MiFi. Forget trying to find wi-fi wherever you're traveling. MiFi by Novatel is your own personal mobile hotspot that allows you to tap into Sprint and Verizon's 3G networks. Never be without a connection again!

Following Mi-Fi on the list is the Targus 4-Port Smart USB Hub. There are very few items out there today that don't use a USB. The problem is, most laptops only have two ports. With this device, you can turn one port into four! It connects with a durable cord and features a one-touch reset button that allows you to restore connectivity to all of your devices.

At number four on the list is Apple's MacBook. Apple's little laptop (13 inches) was recently updated with a new polycarbonate shell for durability and style and an LED-backlit screen that helps increase battery life to seven hours, as well as providing instant full-screen brightness as soon as it is turned on. It's environment, as well as consumer-friendly.

Rounding out the top five is the Beats Solo. These $200 over-the-ear headphones were created by Dr. Dre and Monster Cable and the according to Time, provide outstanding sound. It also comes with a built-in hi-fi mike and ControlTalk, a controller on the headphone cable that allows you to adjust volume and playback, and is said to be very light and comfortable.

To view the rest of the top 25, visit Time.com.

What's Your Favorite Travel App?

It seems like there's an iPhone app for everything these days and traveling is no different. And as with anything else, everyone has a favorite to suggest. Josh Clark, the author of "Best iPhone Apps: The Guide for Discriminating Downloaders" recommends TripIt and the Lonely Planet City Guides. Actor and talk show host Jimmy Fallon has spoken favorably of Bionic Eye. The New York Times recently asked its readers what their favorite apps for traveling were and got answers such as World Surfer and Flight Update. But just because those apps work for some people, does that mean they work for others? Does that make them the best? While ultimately, app preference is up to the individual, the kings of travel at National Geographic recently put together a list of the top 20 apps. Here is a look at what they decided were definitely must-have:

At the top of their list was Next Flight. For a mere $2.99, you can track flights from over 4,200 airports and over 1,000 different airlines. Coming in at number two is UrbanSpoon, which they called "the best guide to local restaurants yet," and best of all, it's free. HearPlanet cost a little more at $5.99, but it alerts you to nearby attractions and plays their Wikipedia pages out loud. Need to access your personal HTML webpages, PDFs, text, and other files at any given time? For $4.99, Air Sharing allows you to do just that. Number five is Tweetie, not necessarily a travel app, but it is top-rated for using Twitter on-the-go and costs only $2.99.

For just $0.99, IAmHere lets your friends know exactly where you are on Google Maps. World Customs (also only $0.99) provides you with international dos and don'ts. Wi-Fi Finder does exactly what the name says in over 135 countries and it does it for free. Rounding out the top ten on Nat Geo's list are The Weather Channel, which is free and also pretty self-explanatory, and Google Earth, another free way to figure out where you are and where you want to get to.

As for the rest of the top 20, they are: 11. Packing, 12. Room, 13. FlightTrack Pro, 14. Lonely Planet Phrasebook, 15. Skype, 16. Write Room, 17. Amazon Kindle, 18. Cheap Gas, 19. Babelingo, and 20. Where. For more detailed info on each app, visit NationalGeographic.com.

New TomTom Car Kit for iPhone

According to TomTom's website, they will begin selling a new Car Kit for iPhone at some time in October. The kit will work for both the iPhone and iPod touch, along with other third party GPS applications.

So what does the Car Kit have to offer? A number of things including its own GPS receiver that, according to NaviGadget, works a lot better than the one already on the iPhone. It also includes a microphone and speaker for hands free calling, allows your phone to charge while driving, and streams music to your car stereo.

Unfortunately, the kit won't currently feature TomTom's iPhone app. The app, which sells for $100 in the United States, can currently be purchased through the iTunes App Store. There is no word on whether or not TomTom will add the app to the Car Kit bundle in the future.