Technology aids that make your travel easier

Here are a few lesser known devices and accessories that can go a long way in improving your overall travel experience, says Karan Bajaj

Luggage tracker

If you keep worrying about losing your luggage while travelling, a luggage tracker is just the thing for you. The compact Bluetooth-enabled trackers can be pinned on a bag or a gadget, allowing you to track them via a smartphone or tablet. We recommend the Find Tag by SenseGiz (Rs 1,495). It uses replaceable batteries for power and each battery can last up to six months. Its smartphone app adds several useful features to the tracker.

Travel seatback mount

On most aircraft and trains, keeping a device steady for watching videos, playing games or reading, is just not possible. If you are looking for a solution that does away with the wobbliness, you can opt for the Skyview Travel Seatback Mount (`5,000). The seatback mount fits on the latch of tray tables on trains and planes and comes with an adjustable cradle to hold your tablet/e-reader in a position of your liking.




Gorillapod

Using a normal tripod on uneven surfaces or rocky terrains can be tricky. If you often travel to such places, opt for a GorillaPod. Its legs can be individually adjusted for height and distance to stabilise your camera. GorillaPod has several variants—there is one for point and shoot cameras, one for DSLR and one even for smartphones. Prices start at Rs 1,499.


Bluetooth speakers

A compact Bluetooth speaker is a great investment for those who want to enjoy their favourite music while travelling across the world. Several brands including Creative, Logitech, Bose, Nokia, JBL and Jabra offer such speakers, across a price range. These speakers have excellent battery life—you don’t need to recharge them at frequent intervals. In addition, some of them even have built-in microphones for voice calls, effectively making them great conference call speakerphones. Prices start at Rs 4,000.

Wi-fi TV dongle

Travellers often miss their daily dose of television, especially in a country where English is not widely spoken. Next time you visit such a country, instead of hunting for a channel or renting expensive movies, you can buy a WiFi TV dongle such as Chrome Cast or Teewe. You need to connect these dongles to your TV via the HDMI port, and then you will need to connect them to an existing WiFi network—most hotels provide free WiFi to their guests. After being set up, these dongles can play media from the Internet and can also connect to a compatible smartphone and stream content to the television.Prices from Rs 2,000 onwards.



Selfie stick

Love taking selfies, but can’t get the right background? You can use a selfie stick to increase your field of vision. A selfie stick comes with a clasp that can mount any smartphone and the stick can be extended to include more people in the frame. You can set a timer or use a wireless Bluetooth shutter to take photos. There is also a variant that has a shutter button built-in on the grip of the stick that makes it easier to take photos. Prices from Rs 1,000 onwards.

Action camera

While a DSLR camera has its advantages, carrying bulky equipment is not everyone’s idea of a vacation. This is where action cameras like the GoPro (Rs 35,000 onwards) or HTC RE (Rs 9,990) are a boon. These cameras are extremely compact, have a built-in battery, wide-angle lens and can record videos in full HD resolution and also take fantastic images. The photos/videos can then be transferred to a computer/viewed on TV (on the GoPro) or viewed instantly on a smartphone (HTC RE).

Emergency mobile phones

True to its name, the Spare-One is a phone meant for emergency calling. This phone is built to last. It uses an AA battery for power and can last up to 15 years with one battery if not used. Just use a local SIM card in it when travelling abroad as a spare phone to use in case of any emergency. The compact phone also has a built-in panic siren and SOS flash to signal for help. Prices start at Rs 2,500.