Geeky Traveller

Here at Geeky Traveller, I've got an ongoing obsession with vending machine innovation. For example, I was pretty excited when I spotted a novel (the book, not the adjective) vending machine in Heathrow last month.

Now I read about the folks at Coinstar, who apparently make machines that convert your loose change into actual money. Now you can convert your coinage into tunage (thanks to Planet Gadgets):

The machine will either spit out a gift card or a paper “eCertificate” instead. The eCertificate can then be used to buy products online. In addition to iTunes Music Store, Coinstar has redemption programs established with Virgin Digital, Borders, Hollywood Video, Amazon.com and other mass-market retailers.

From pocket change to Shakira. Who knew? 

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I don't know about you, but I drop my phone a lot. I consider myself lucky that my durable Sony Ericsson clamshell number has lasted a whole year.

Via Metaefficient, Motorola launched a new ruggedized iDEN phone that might last longer in my posession:

Motorola has released its latest iDEN phone that is designed to meet military standards. The iDEN is water and dust resistant and sports Bluetooth, MP3 player and a 1.3 megapixel digital camera. Multiple push to buttons are available to allow you to push to talk, push to meet and push to smart reply that allows you to send SMS messages using push to talk.

Now, if only it didn't cost a small fortune to call home from the Sahara Desert. 

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Really, who hasn't been here?

The mad scramble between flights, the desperate search for an outlet, the positioning of valuable electronics on the floor of a busy airport.

This photo comes courtesy of Johnathan Fuchs, and it's taken in Chicago's O'Hare International airport. He spent a mere US $6 on wireless access. That's a steal.

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Via MetaEfficient, I learned about the increasingly important sleep sack for the hostel visitor:

Sleep sacks are lightweight sheets for travelers that pack into a very small space. They provide a clean "cocoon" to sleep inside, when your bedding is questionable. Many European hostels actually require that you bring one along. In warm weather, you can also use sleep sacks as replacements for sleeping bags.

They recommend the Cocoon TravelSheet, which keeps the kudies out for a mere $50. If you've got another $25 to spend, you can upgrade to the model made with, uh, seaweed.

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I don't know why he's not taking photos outside, but Lee provides an extensive tutorial and photo essay about cleaning your clothes while travelling:

Step Two:  Apply soap to stain or “problem” areas (armpits, collar, bottoms) and scrub together. Apply more soap to the water and article before kneading it like bread.  Squeeze and scrub.  If suds do not appear…rinse, repeat.

The last photo features the clothes hanging on an armoir or wardrobe to dry. This gives me a chance to introduce a very low-tech but very handy travel gadget: the four-way bungee cord.

Not only is it handy for strapping down gear when travelling in or on a vehicle (or, you know, mount), but it's also a handy improvised clothesline. You just hook two or more ends to parts of your bathroom or hotel room, and hang up all your clothes. Such a gizmo stood me in very good stead in Costa Rica.

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Via BuckleUpNow.com, I found OHSO. 'the ultimate travel toothbrush':

OHSO is Self-Dispensing. Toothpaste is stored in the handle for safekeeping. The window shows you how much paste is in the chamber. OHSO uses suction to pull the paste into the handle for no mess refilling. so it is easily refillable. More over one can fill OHSO with their favourite toothpaste. OHSO will not leak. The bristles when worn out can be easily replaced. The OHSO Travel Brush cap doubles as a rinsing cup. 

You know, I'm not sure why this is fancier than any other travel toothbrush, but there you are. 

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There are plenty of travelling girl geeks out there, you know. In truth, I don't know if Australia's JJ* is a geek, but she's sufficiently outfitted her travel bag to qualify:

Geeky features include a broken Samsung laptop, Nokia mobile phone and–for you naturally-wavy geeks–the ghd Professional Ceramic Straightener.

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Via The Cool Hunter, we find this cleverly-designed luggage called Trunki.

 As you can see, it's specifically designed for your kids to ride:

We have built Trunki out of the same plastic that adult suitcases are made with, so he is very durable and can be ridden by several toddlers. We recommend you don't exceed 50KG of load and that you don't check Trunki at the check in desk.

For child-enabled geeks, here are some "boredom busting travel tips". 

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I'm late on this, but maybe they'll remount this badboy. Heddatron is a one-act of Ibsen's Hedda Gabler with a mixed cast of humans and robots. Here's a snippet from a review:

Much is forgiven when someone — or something — is cute. That goes for "Heddatron," an amusing, if arch, deconstruction of "Hedda Gabler" by the avant-garde company known as Les Freres Corbusier. Five of the cutest robots that ever rolled off an engineering ramp interact smartly with human actors in this cheeky sendup of Ibsen and the precepts of the well-made play.

I saw a piece about Heddatron on the Discovery Channel's Daily Planet (yes, Natasha Stillwell and her accent float my boat). My Windows Media Player is totally b0rked, but it looks like you can watch it on this page. It looked pretty absurd to me–a gimmick to be sure.

A quick footnote: If you check out Heddatron's (stupid) splash page, you'll see a robot which looks a heck of a lot like the Geeky Traveller hitchhiking android. I checked with GT designer Mark Yuasa, and he confirmed that he drew the robot based on this stock photography, which the Heddatron folks have also used. Mark subsequently acquired his very own robot, which you see in the above photo.

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"Progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things" — Robert A. Heinlein

Is this the least necessary device that humankind has ever created? Must we mechanize and automate every aspect of our lives, even down to the simplest, oldest games? Courtesy of Cool Tools, I give you the Sno-Baller:

The ultimate snow ball maker! Pummel your enemies with pre-made snow ball after premade snow ball. Great for family fun this winter. Best of all, the SNO-BALLER does all the work, leaving your gloves dry and your hands warm. Makes perfect snowballs every time. Up to 60 per minute.

How lame would you look, showing up to a snowball fight with one of these badboys? I did like one of the product reviews: "yes see this item is very lousy like sam the pirate arrg!!!"

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