For upcoming 4th July holiday you must be thinking about travel options, With travel options one must keep in mind the traffic situations and try to avoid traffic jams which are quite common on public holidays.  Following are few attractive cities and places for travelling on fourth July weekend:

As far as worries about traffic jams are concerned, latest technology options can help you , consider following tips and solutions to avoid traffic jams:

• Chose destinations wisely

  As a general rule most population will be heading towards popular summer destinations in the area such as lakes and beaches, you may want to head towards relatively less occupied areas such as restaurants, movie theaters etc. Traffic is usually going to be high in above mentioned metropolitan areas so keep this point in mind as well. Additionally visit http://triptrik.navteq.com for planning trips.

• Gather latest traffic information about the route you are taking.

  Traffic.com’s launch of the popular “check your drive time” feature which provides customizable traffic information during this travel weekends and beyond. With “check your drive time,” drivers simply type in where they are and where they want to go, the system instantly presents the driver with two options: the fastest route based on real-time traffic data and the shortest route based on distance. Included with route details are complete door-to-door driving directions with current conditions, accidents, construction, and delays along each roadway.For drivers on the go, MyTraffic personalized alerts can be scheduled whenever they are needed and received however is most convenient — by email, voice, or SMS.

• Track traffic conditions and Jams on iPhone Map Widget:

  IPhone default mapping application allows you to view live traffic conditions on the map, additionally if you specify a route you can see traffic condition on that and nearby routes. Also consider using TomTom for iPhone to track extensive traffic conditions in HD.

• If you have android based SmartPhones then you can use Google Maps for android application to track real time traffic conditions. Google maps are free and can also be used on Blackberry, Nokia and most of other phones, however, you will need a data plan which may cost you.
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  Checkout live traffic cameras

  For many cities, drivers can also click on a live traffic camera video to see the conditions at key points along the way. Traffic.com provides this feature.

• Timing makes a difference

  Travelling in early morning and late at night can help you avoid traffic jams as usually people avoid travelling at these times. Make sure you are well rested before heading out.

• Traffic monitoring on the go using gadgets and technology

  Ideally if you have a GPS navigation system available in your car you will be able to navigate and see the route’s traffic situation. However, if you don’t have that then mobile devices such as iPhone, Blackberry and Nokia phones can be useful. You can use Google map software on your mobile device which offers a free feature of monitoring traffic conditions using color coding on maps.

• GPS device usage for navigation in unchartered territory

  GPS navigation devices provide maps, directions, route identification, traffic conditions, accidents, delays and even turn by turn directions making the process of finding a place a lot easier.  Megellan, Garmin and TomTom offers such devices with services.

• Avoid accidents with cautious driving and adjusting to driving patterns

  Reckless or fast driving in less or Jam packed  traffic can be a recipe of disaster, similarly losing temper in slow traffic is also going to get you in trouble. So if you are caught in traffic trying act coolly to avoid further problems. Additionally different communities and localities have their own driving patterns, extra cautious driving with driving pattern adjustment can help local people to avoid traffic accidents.

See also other traffic avoiding tips and technology options at following links :

How to avoid heavy traffic jams on labor day using tips, technology and gadgets

Beat the traffic of Thanksgiving with Google Maps Navigation (update) for Android 1.6

Free Sat-Nav and music search by Google

Happy traveling on Independence Day.

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In Spanish DondeEsta means where is he, she, it or you. In Nokia mobile phones running Symbian or other ones running Windows Mobile it means a lot more. It means being able to locate the mobile phone and hence its owner wherever he, she or it may be. The application is a mere 52 kb in size and can be downloaded from the DondeEsta website or even Getjar.

Download the application, install it and simply add the users from your directory who can trace you. In order to trace a person the other party simply has to send an SMS with the “???” in the text portion. The mobile phone with the DondeEsta will reply with an SMS indicating its location. The coordinates can be searched on Google Earth for finding the exact spot on planet Earth.

The interesting thing is that the tracker or the finder does not need this application, it is only required for the mobile phone which is being tracked. The interface is simple and user friendly. The application website also has a list of phones that are DondeEsta compatible. The application has been downloaded over 27,000 times and if the number of downloads is a measure of its popularity we say it is quite popular.

Mobile phone with integrated A-GPS will show more accurate results but the app still works on non GPS mobile phones with some trade-offs in accuracy. DondeEsta can be used for Safety of family members, for exercising Parental control, for locating your vehicle or even for companies on the lookout for field workers antics. A good application for any of these purposes or fun, I say give it a try.

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It’s a mobile phone, a GPS and a NetBook all three bundled in to one neat device running Windows XP and weighing about 400 gm. The screen size is 4.8”, it is a touch screen off course. Let us first of all have a look at its specs:

• AMD Super Mobile Processor
• 1 GB RAM
• 8 ~ 64 GB SSD
• 30 ~ 120 GB HDD
• Screen size: 4.8”, top res is 800 x 400 (LCD)
• GSM/EDGE/WCDMA and HSDPA/HSUPA
• 1.3 MP Camera
• GPS
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and WiMax
• QWERTY Keyboard
• VGA out port
• Touchpad
• USB/Earphone jack

In Technology Group (ITG) is a Chinese company which is poised to launch this product, the xpPhone. The best feature perhaps is that it is a NetBook besides being a mobile phone and a GPS. The availability of VGA out ensures that one can have bigger display attached to it, and with a USB an external mouse and a keyboard can be attached. Optional connectivity includes WiMax, thus making it the ultimate gadget of the day. Since its going to be running Windows XP  so there is virtually no limit to the type and number of applications that can be run on it. Carry it in your pocket and attach to a Projector to play to your presentations!

The device can be pre-ordered from the xpPhone website, although no information on the price or its release date are known yet. My frank opinion is that it is going to be a big hit, I mean look at the features, all known voice data connectivity options, a huge storage, external display options, Windows XP. In nutshell it’s a small tablet with mobile phone features.

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If you have ever in your life wanted to buy an SLR or an expensive digital camera I will urge you to think again, because Samsung is out to do some major damage to the camera industry as well. I mean look at the Samsung M8910 Pixon12, which happens to be a mobile phone with a 12 MP camera!  In fact it happens to be the only mobile phone in the market sporting a 12 MP camera. It’s a Quad band GSM phone with HSDPA for 900/1200 MHz spectrum. The prominent features are as enumerated below:

• Dimensions: 108 x 53 x 13.8 mm
• Weight: 120 gms
• Screen: 480 x 800 pixels, 3.1”, 16 M colors
• Resistive AMOLED touch screen
• Memory: 150 MB internal, extendable to 16 GB via microSD card
• Data Connectivity: EDGE (Class 10), HSDPA, WLAN, Bluetooth, USB 2.0
• Camera: 12 MP, LED and Xenon flash
• Cam Features: Geo-tagging, facial/smile/blink detection, autofocus, image stabilization
• Video: 720 x 480 at 30 fps, QVGA at 120 fps
• Other features: Tv Out, Radio including RDS, Document Viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF), MMS, SMS ,E-mail, Voice dialing, Games, organizer, music/video player and the GPS

The camera saves images rather quickly so you can take snaps after 2 seconds of the first shot. Its top resolution is 4000 x 3000 pixels, what more can you expect from a 28 mm lens? The phone is small and light with touch screen capability. The device is retailing at in between $600 to $700. So save up and buy it and dump the idea of a separate camera.

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Pick out any Smartphone in the market today and it is sure to have a GPS built in to it. The availability of advanced applications make it even easier to navigate and get directions. But  when Garmin teams up with Asustek to add mobile phone functionality to a GPS cum navigation device the result is nüvifone G60. This is a navigator with added functionality of a mobile phone which features voice and data both. This is 3G phone, with a 3 MP camera, Bluetooth, Garmin GPS, preloaded maps for navigation, web browser, SMS and E-mail, Wi-Fi, geo-tagging, MS Word/Excel?PowerPoint viewer, calendar, alarm clock, to do scheduler, 5,000 strong contact list  to name a few. The device is 4.4 x 2.3 x 0.5 inches in dimensions. It has 4 GB internal memory and is expandable to 16 GB using a microSD card. An mp3 player is included and the maximum talk time is up to 4 hours whereas the stand by time is 250 hours. It is very much a touch screen phone which allows one to use it as a mobile phone and a GPS at the same time. Besides all this it has some very advanced features like connecting with friends, checking flight status, avoiding traffic jams, and navigating form SMS. In simple terms if you need to find the location of a friend simply track his/her SMS. Similarly, he/she may also track you. There goes your privacy! More information can be found here. The big question is should one buy a Smartphone which has a GPS as an added feature running as an application or should one go for a GPS that has mobile phone facility? Confused? So am I

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What exactly is the ultimate gadget that one can dream of? Personally I would like to carry one slim not too fat, energy efficient gadget that would allow me to make phone calls, surf the Internet at will (without straining my eyes), play games (well once in a while), listen to music, watch movies, take photographs/make (acceptable quality) videos , locate my position on the planet, use it as a PC (off course with an external keyboard, mouse and display attached),noting less, nothing more.

Although mobile phones have gotten smarter,smaller, and more efficient, but my contention is why to have a separate laptop,camera, GPS, mobile phone, NetBook, webcam, PC etc. Why don’t they make a device which has all of these in one place, a small nifty thing that that sits in your shirt pocket, never mind if it doesn’t have the video projector built in to it. Well I guess somebody heard all this…only a little less, or maybe they are beginning to think like me. I am talking about the Archos 5 and 7 Android based Internet Tablets. These are mean looking devices that pack so much in so little. These things which are coming to the shelves soon have some new features which are not present in any gadget presently:

Screen Res:  800 x400 pixels, High Res screen, 16 M colors

Screen Size:   5 and 7 inches (Archos 5 and Archos 7)

Memory/Storage: 60 to 320 GB (depending on the model)

Connectivity:  USB, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)

Attachments: Keyboard, mouse, camera, external memory via USB

OS: Linux

Features and Goodies: PDF Reader, E-mail client, Photo viewer, Web browser, video playback, video recording, Audio recording, video playback, audio playback, built-in speakers, Web TV, Web Radio, games, widgets, video streaming from a PC, and a rather long battery life.

Last Words: Archos 5 and 7 have introduced a new concept in Internet devices that are small but pack a punch. Compared to the Zune or iPod nano it has outstanding features. However, I would still like it when a newer model includes a GPS and camera if not a GSM module.

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As labor day is approaching on 7th September, people will be pouring out on streets specially on automobiles. Most likely they are going to end up in a situation where horns are blowing and tempers are flaring, leaving you wondering why you had to leave home in the first place.

Labor Day Weekend to Be Third Busiest of the Decade

It is estimated that about 13 percent fewer Americans will travel this weekend as compared to  last Labor Day weekend. About 39.1 million total travelers will head out of town, roughly 32.9 million by car. These numbers are estimated by American Automobile Association as gas prices are lower this year.

Fret not because technology is here to rescue you in this situation along with few common tips.

• Chose destinations wisely

  As a general rule most population will be heading towards popular summer destinations in the area such as lakes and beaches, you may want to head towards relatively less occupied areas such as restaurants, movie theaters etc. Traffic is usually going to be high in metropolitan areas so keep this point in mind as well. Additionally visit http://triptrik.navteq.com for planning trips.

• Shifting Weekends can make a difference

  Fridays and Mondays evenings are observed to be worst in term of traffic jams. You can avoid the dense traffic jams by avoiding travelling on these days.

• Gather latest traffic information about the route you are taking.

  This is very important as one of the major causes of traffic jams are accidents and road constructions, because of current stimulus wave in US road constructions are frequent. Figure our a route where there are no traffic accidents and construction going on. This information is available at department of transportation and AAA’s online site.
  Other useful sites are : http://m.traffic.com  for mobile devices

• Timing makes a difference

  Travelling in early morning and late at night can help you avoid traffic jams as usually people avoid travelling at these times. Make sure you are well rested before heading out.

• Traffic monitoring on the go using gadgets and technology

  Ideally if you have a GPS navigation system available in your car you will be able to navigate and see the route’s traffic situation. However, if you don’t have that then mobile devices such as iPhone, Blackberry and Nokia phones can be useful. You can use Google map software on your mobile device which offers a free feature of monitoring traffic conditions using color coding on maps.
  Google collects anonymously transmitted data from Google maps about vehicle speeds and aggregates this data to calculate average speeds for different roads for live traffic conditions which then is available in Google maps.
  There are other websites and services made available by states which provide traffic information, 511 service provides information on phone and there are also services which send text messages for update on traffic as subscriber drive.

• GPS device usage for navigation in unchartered territory

  GPS navigation devices provide maps, directions, route identification, traffic conditions, accidents, delays and even turn by turn directions making the process of finding a place a lot easier.  Megellan, Garmin and TomTom offers such devices with services.

• Avoid accidents with caution and adjusting driving patterns

  Incautious or fast driving in Jam packed  traffic can be a recipe of disaster, similarly losing temper in slow traffic is also going to get you in trouble. So if you are caught in traffic trying act coolly to avoid further problems. Additionally different communities and localities have their own driving patterns, extra cautious driving with driving pattern adjustment can help local people to avoid traffic accidents.

Happy traveling on labor day.

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