Rough Guides launches travel apps
Rough Guides’s books began life as indispensable destination guides for many a backpacker and gap year student. Now Rough Guides, increasingly popular among a wider spectrum of travellers, is set to launch itself into the corporate travel world with a range of new mobile apps. The guides, based on the candid experiences of its authors, are now available for download from Vodafone’s new 360 cross-platform internet service. The “mini guides” feature background information on destinations, things not to miss and places to eat, shop and drink. The guides also contain an image gallery, and will initially be available for 50 destinations. A further 150 destinations will be added to the Vodafone 360 App Shop. The guides are compatible with the Vodafone 360 Samsung M1 and H1 handsets as well as a range of Nokia Symbian smartphones.
Price 49p each
Contact 360.com
Salter Luggage Scale
Salter has applied its expertise in weight measurement to luggage. As with other similar devices, the light-weight Salter Luggage Scale attaches to a suitcase which is then lifted using a handle on the scale. The downward force is then measured by the scale and displayed. The scale can handle up to 40kg, far in excess of most airline luggage weight limits, with an accuracy of +/- 100g.
Price £19.99
Contact salterhousewares.com
Kingston DataTraveler Locker+
Computer memory manufacturer Kingston has released the DataTraveler Locker+, its latest secure USB flash drive. The waterproof USB uses full hardware-based 256-bit AES encryption to store 100% of the data contained, and locks down and formats itself after ten unsuccessful login attempts. According to Kingston, the device is easy to use with no installation of software required. The device comes in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB, is compatible with Windows 7 and earlier and comes with a five-year guarantee and 24-hour support.
Price 4GB £13.98; 8GB £19.41; 16GB £50.47; 32GB £100.94
Contact kingston.com
Blackberry Media Sync 3.0
Blackberry has released the latest version of its Media Sync software which allows users to synchronise both music and pictures between phone and PC. Media Sync 3.0 also has an improved interface for transferring music between Blackberrys and iTunes or Windows Media Player via USB. Images can also be optimised (in other words made the right size) for viewing on whichever model of Blackberry they’re being transferred to. Blackberry Media Sync 3.0 is available for both PC and Mac (OS X v10.5.5 or later).
Price Free
Contact blackberry.com
Coming soon
Casio EX-G1 "G-Shock" cameras
Casio’s new EX-G1RD and EX-G1BK shock-resistant digital cameras are coming to the UK in January. Hailed as the world’s slimmest shock-resistant cameras, the EX-G1 range has a profile just shy of 2cm and carries the popular G-Shock watch branding which is synonymous with durability. The cameras are part of the larger EXILIM G brand which Casio hopes to position as an “endurance category”. As well as being shock-proof, the 12.1 megapixel cameras are water and dust proof. According to Casio, the EX-G1s can be used at depths of up to ten feet for 60 minutes. The shock-resistant, two-layer stainless steel shell can shrug off drops of up to seven feet.
Price £279
Contact casioatcarnaby.co.uk (from January)
