travel

Aviator Travel Jib helps up the production value of dSLR movies

If you're looking to give your HDSLR movies more of a cinematic look, you should definitely check out the Aviator Travel Jib Kickstarter project.

The ultracompact camera crane lets you smoothly sweep your dSLR (or other camera up to 6 pounds) through a scene or change perspective like a traditional jib. But, because it's so small and lightweight -- it weighs less than 3.8 pounds -- it can be set up in places you can't use other cranes. The jib arm extends to 6 feet and collapses down to 2 feet.… Read more

Hotel replacing guest phones with iPhones

There's about to be a whole lot more Angry Birds played at the Opus hotel in Vancouver.

The hotel is in the process of swapping out its hotel room phones for iPhones, USA Today reported today.

The hotel hopes that its guests, particularly the ones from the U.S., will know how to use them and enjoy using a Canadian phone that won't stick them with international roaming fees. This means guests will be able to take the iPhone from their rooms and use it as they would their own while they're guests of the hotel.

It … Read more

Forgo the hotel for something more unique

With Airbnb for Android, you can easily search for unique accommodations while on the go. If you have an account already set up, you can edit your profile, add favorite properties, and, of course, book a room. If you don't have an Airbnb account, you can still search through listings.

If you're not familiar with Airbnb, it's a marketplace where people can list and book unique accommodations around the world. Think vacant Manhattan apartment while its owner is away, or quirky London flat while it's not in use. In short, Airbnb is all about offering and … Read more

TVFoodMaps is a GPS-guided tour for food TV fanatics

TVFoodMaps for Android is an app that takes you on a tour of all the restaurants featured on your favorite Food Network and Travel Channel shows, using GPS. For self-proclaimed food enthusiasts, it is a veritable treasure trove of eating advice.

Launch TVFoodMaps, enable GPS, and watch the app immediately get to work searching for notable restaurants in your vicinity. The home screen lets you choose to do a keyword search or jump straight to a map of nearby hot spots. For users of the paid premium version, you can also browse by TV show and even get notifications when … Read more

Free summer travel apps for iOS

Summer is here in the northern hemisphere and many probably already have their vacation plans set for a short getaway to enjoy the weather. But if you haven't made any plans yet, I've gathered up some highly rated apps to help you get out of town.

This week's collection of apps will help you plan the perfect trip. The first is a popular app that checks for the best flights to your chosen destination and looks for the best deals. The second will help you find the best food in your location once you get there. The third is a mapping and guide app that lets you download the information so you'll never get lost -- even when you have no connection on your iPhone.… Read more

Earth goes 3D

Think of Google Earth as a sort of souped-up version of Google Maps, but with more of a focus on life-like renderings of locations, rather than typical roadmaps. With google Earth, you can virtually fly to pretty much anywhere on the planet, zooming in and out of cities and streets to your heart's desire.

While Google Earth lets you manually navigate to an area of interest (via zoom and swipe), the more precise method is to use the search bar. Here, you can type in a full address, just a city name, business name, or even a keyword (like &… Read more

Swoop around the globe like a superhero

Think of Google Earth as a sort of souped-up version of Google Maps, but with more of a focus on lifelike renderings of locations, rather than typical road maps. With Google Earth, you can virtually fly to pretty much anywhere on the planet, zooming in and out of cities and streets to your heart's desire.

While Google Earth lets you manually navigate to an area of interest (via zoom and swipe), the more precise method is to use the search bar. Here, you can type in a full address, just a city name, business name, or even a keyword (… Read more

Aviator Travel Jib gives you smoother videos

The Aviator Travel Jib lets budget videographers capture videos with smooth, cinematic panning at a fraction of the price of professional systems. A jib is also known as a camera crane, which is typically used in movie productions to get a sense of the scene, usually with the camera panning or zooming from a higher vantage point.

Weighing only 3.7 pounds, the camera crane is able to extend up to 6 feet and should be able to carry your dSLR and a kit lens (the accessory can support cameras of up to 6 pounds). When not in use, it can be folded down to 24 inches for portability. … Read more

Mac users pay more than PC users, says Orbitz

Apple customers are known to pay a premium for their Macs, strong design, and integrated software. Apparently, Mac users will also shell out more for hotel rooms too.

According to the Wall Street Journal, travel site Orbitz has been able to segment its audience in Apple and Windows camps. The upshot: Mac users will pay $20 to $30 a night more on hotels than PC users.

The Journal noted:

The sort of targeting undertaken by Orbitz is likely to become more commonplace as online retailers scramble to identify new ways in which people's browsing data can be used to … Read more