Google Maps with Navigation

Recently, it was announced that Google Maps Navigation will be released for GPS-equipped phones that are available with Android 2.0. The Google Maps Navigation application will provide turn-by-turn directions powered by Google Maps, and feature a 3D view. Google Maps Navigation offers many features, and best of all, the application will be free. These features include:

1) Search in plain english: Enter your destination as a address, place, a name of a business, or a kind of business. Enter all of the information onto your phone in one string just as you would in a Google search. Google Maps will figure your destination out for you. If there are multiple results for your destination, you can choose which one you want.

2) Voice recognition: You can speak where you want to go, to save time instead of typing in your destination. Because Google maps is connected to the cloud, it has access to all of the updated information on the internet, which can find exactly the destination you want to go to by describing which destination you want

3) Live traffic data: A traffic light glows red, yellow, or green in the corner of the screen based on the currentt of traffic in your upcoming route. An aerial view of your upcoming route is shown and is updated every few minutes.

4) Search along route: Allows you to find places you may want to stop at during your trip. The layers menu allows you to find access to popular places along your way.

5) Satellite view: Helps you visualize your route.

6) Street view: Shows you exactly what each turn will look like on the street, tells you the address of your destination and shows you the actual street view of your destination such as a store front or a home.

7) Car dock mode: Allows your phone to go into car mode which gives you easy access to navigation and voice mode.

Check out the link below for a video that demonstrates Google Maps Navigation:

http://www.google.com/mobile/navigation/index.html#p=default

Samsung's New TL220 and TL225 Camera

I absolutely love taking pictures, especially of my friends and I at parties and of my boyfriend and I when we go on vacation. However, when trying to take a picture of myself with a group of friends or with my significant other, I always tend to cut someone out of the picture no matter how far I extend my arm to try and get everyone in the picture. This can be very frustrating, especially when there is no one around to take a picture for you.

The New Samsung TL220 and TL225 camera has made this problem a thing of the past. The Samsung TL220 and TL225 are the first cameras to have two LCD screens- one on the back, and one on the front. The LCD screen on the front is 1.5 inches and simplifies self portraits and group shots by allowing the photographer to see the exact picture that will be taken at arm's length. The 1.5 inch screen can be turned on with just a quick touch of the screen and features a countdown timer on the screen for timed shots.

The LCD screen on the back is approximately 3.5 inches and is a touch screen. The touch screen offers many features to enhance pictures such as red eye reduction, blink detection, and image retouching. Shortcut features such as a touch delete are also offered. To delete a picture, an "x" can be swiped over the image on the screen during the playback with a finger, and the camera will delete the picture. However, a delete button is also offered on the touch screen for those who don't prefer to use the shortcut. Another shortcut feature offered is to view pictures. Instead of pressing the arrows on the screen, sliding a finger across the screen will scroll over to the next picture.

My boyfriend bought me the Samsung TL220 for my birthday and I absolutely love it. With the front LCD screen, I will now be able to take great pictures of my boyfriend and I when we are traveling and laying on the beach on vacation, and of my friends and I when we are out having drinks together. For those who enjoy taking self portraits and taking pictures of themselves and friends or significant others while traveling or just out on the town, I would highly recommend the Samsung TL220 or TL225 camera.

Check out the link below for a video about all the SAmsung TL220 features:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuuKiLKlAa0

iPhone Makes Travel More Conveinient

The iPhone has made traveling easier and enables vacationers to get the most out of their trip with travel applications that iPhone users can download at their convenience for a minimum cost. Some of the most useful travel apps that were rated in the top ten apps for travelers by National Geographic Adventure include: Next Flight, HearPlanet, UrbanSpoon, and World Customs.

When traveling, catching your flight on time is always a concern. with the iPhone application Next Flight, iPhone owners can use this app to track scheduled departures from more than 4,200 airports and 1,100 airlines. This app allows travelers to easily determine if their flight has been delayed, is on time, or may have been canceled. This app can be purchased for $2.99.

Once Travelers arrive to their destination,it is sometimes difficult to decide what are the best attractions to visit during their stay. Many vacationers will pick up brochures about local adventures and excursions offered, other vacationers will ask locals which attraction they recommend to visit, and some vacationers will just find out for themselves which attractions are the best. The iPhone application HearPlanet, simplifies a vacationers search for nearby attractions by telling them which ones are closest. The app even reads a Wikipedia description of the attraction out loud. This app can be purchased for $5.99.

Along with determining the best attractions to visit while vacationing, most vacationers want to know where all of the best restaurants are located. The iPhone application UrbanSpoon, will display the best guide to local restaurants just by simply shaking your iPhone, which will then spin a dial and reveal the closest restaurants. What is great about this app is that it is free!

For those international travelers whom may encounter situations in which they are unsure what the proper etiquette is, there is an i Phone application that will provide the traveler with international do's and don'ts. This app is called World Customs, and it can be purchased for $0.99.

If you travel a lot, and do not have an iPhone, maybe it is time to upgrade your phone plan. An iPhone can help simplify your travel experience and make it hassle free, which will make the trip go very smooth and allow the traveler to enjoy their vacation without any worries.

Geocaching Travel Adventure

A new and emerging technology that involves traveling is called geocaching. I was not aware of this technology until this past week when I learned about it in my new and emerging technology communications class. However, it is quite interesting.

Geocaching is a high-tech "treasure hunt," which is played throughout the world by individuals with GPS devices. The goal of the game is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. The containers are usually waterproof and are filled with a logbook and inexpensive "treasures" that can be traded once found.

Geocaching can be as simple as tracking these hidden containers in your local community, or for the more adventurous seeker, geocaching can be an elaborate treasure hunt that takes place across the country. Anyone can place a geocache anywhere in the world. So far, geocaches have been placed in over 100 countries and on all seven continents.

According to the website http://www.geocaching.com/, there are 917,115 active geocaches around the world. Individuals who are interested in geocaching in their community, can visit the geocaching website and type in their address to find a geocache near them. The website even offers steps on how to get started geocaching.

So next time you need an adventure, whether that is locally around your town, or traveling across the country, try to track down a geocache and share your adventurous stories and pictures online with others.