Wi-fi, cell coverage coming to New York City subways

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Do you ever feel the urge to live-tweet your ride on the F train? A jones to push iPhone photos to Posterous? Well, you’ll have the chance soon. Whether you just want to chronicle your subway rides for the rest of the world or feel the need to stay connected at all times, New York City is going help you out. Wi-fi access and mobile service are set to come to the subway system, according to Mashable.

This development is three years in the making, and now that some cash has been unearthed to make this project possible, New York will finally attain the standard set by Singapore, Berlin and Tokyo.

The effort, which was scheduled to take 10 years from 2007, will start with stations near Union Square in the next two years, with the remaining 271 platforms coming in the four to follow. While some of the tunnels will have access, most of the connectivity will be available on mezzanines and platforms.

This means that the bodegas at the tops of the stairs will need to add another item to their shelves, of course: ear plugs.

[photo by @mjassal]

Langham Hotels International launches voice-enabled iPhone app

by Melanie Nayer on


We make it a priority at Gadling to ensure our readers are equipped with the best travel advice, travel tips and travel amenities (including gear, gadgets and more) before setting out on their journey. However, we also know that some people just don’t listen. For those people (and you know who you are) technology is a wondrous invention.

Even though we’ve told you over and over again to always include a business card from your hotel, or a matchbook with your hotel’s address on it in case you get lost, you didn’t listen, did you? And what happened? You got lost, and your cab driver didn’t speak English and took you for a bit of a ride, didn’t he? Did you learn your lesson? Probably not, but the Langham Hotels group has created a little ditty that might just help you.

Langham Hotels International recently launched Langham Touch – the first hotel iPhone application that offers voice-enabled travel phrases in a variety of languages so you’ll never get lost again (at least not in a city where there’s a Langham property). The voice-enabled phrases include directions to the hotel from virtually anywhere in the city and if you just can’t make it work, then there’s a hotline to the local Langham property where they will surely help out.

The app includes a mini-city guide of your destination and recommendations to cultural must-do and sees around the city including top attractions, restaurants and bars. Of course, the iPhone app also includes hotlines for room reservations and allows guests to access hotel information, as well as the ability to order room service, ask for a wake up call and make restaurant reservations.

The best part? It’s free, so you really have no excuse for getting lost now.

Distracted driving rules drive you to distraction

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Road trips are a staple of summer travel. You load up the car, cram in the kids and put the pedal to the metal. Well, it’s not that simple any more. The rules with which you have to contend vary from state to state, especially when it comes to distracted driving (also “known as get off your cell phone while driving”). Can you go hands free? Should you just shut up and drive? It depends on the state.

We’ve become more reliant on our cell phones, and not just for talking. Travel apps abound, and iPhones, BlackBerry devices and Androids laden with them help us communicate with each other to get local color, find hotels and cheap gas and even get from Point A to Point B without getting lost. All these tools that make travel easier could make driving safely harder, as you desperately need to monitor the Twitter public timeline while blowing down the highway at an absurd rate of speed.

Well, it turns out that keeping track of distracted driving rules from state to state, particularly if you’re on a long road trip, can lead you into distracted driving. Simply put: trying to obey the law can cause you to break it.Distracted driving laws, according to MSNBC, are far from uniform:

So far, 30 states – and some local jurisdictions, including Chicago and Phoenix – now have laws that address using cell phones or sending text messages while driving. Fines range from $20 to $150 for the first offense.

Unfortunately, the laws aren’t uniform. One state may ban handheld phone use in cars while another may allow it. Texting while driving is banned in dozens of states, but will result in a ticket in others only if you get into an accident.

Just keeping track of distracted driving laws can distract the heck out of you. So, you may want to print them out, MSNBC suggests, particularly since these laws aren’t always posted at state borders. A better idea, I think, is to e-mail or text them to yourself … which only works in states where you can use your cell phone while driving. D’oh!

Even better? Bring a copilot.

[photo by Lord Jim via Flickr]

Ten kid friendly travel products to calm, soothe and entertain

by Scott Carmichael on

Kids are spoiled nowadays – I used to have to entertain myself with a piece of string and an empty toilet paper tube, but today, even young kids are aware of the coolest technology products and want a piece of the action.

In this list, we’ve gathered ten awesome kid friendly travel products – from a way to help them sleep at night, to the latest in kid-proof digital HD cameras. The biggest advantage of all this new technology is that parents get a little more peace and quiet, and don’t need to play “I Spy” for 6 hours on a flight. Especially when the answer to all 450 questions is “clouds”.
Aerobed Sleep Tight for Kids

We recently reviewed the Aerobed Sleep TIght for Kids here on Gadling – and it has so far been the best piece of kid travel gear we’ve seen in a long time. The bed fits in a compact (included) carrying bag, and comes with an electronic inflation pump and a cute moon/stars cover.

Product page: Aerobed
Price: $79.99

Olympus Stylus 8010 rugged digital camera

The Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 is the perfect camera for taking photos where other cameras would normally crash and burn in a matter of minutes. The protection inside the Stylus Tough 8010 takes “rugged” to the extreme – with waterproofing up to 33 feet, drop protection up to 6.6 feet, freezeproofing down to 14F and even crushproofing up to 220lb.

This is one camera you’ll be able to hand to your (young) kids, and not worry about what they plan to do with it (as long as they don’t open the battery compartment underwater).

The camera features 1GB of internal memory, HD video recording and an internal optical zoom with automatic lens protector.

Product page: Olympus Stylus Tough 8010
Price: $399.99

Scosche reviveLITE II

The iPod and iPhone are slowly becoming “must have” products for young kids – their movie and music abilities, along with the massive lineup of kid friendly apps has taken them way beyond their original audience. The Scosche reviveLITE II is a wall charger for your device, with the added bonus of a night light. It even features a second USB charging port, which means you can charge your boring Blackberry and your kids iPhone at the same time.

Product page: Scosche Industries
Price: $24.99

Kodak Playsport HD camcorder

The Kodak Playsport HD camcorder shoots video in 1080p, and can swim in up to 10ft of water – which means you can make some pretty neat video clips at the beach or pool. With large easy to operate buttons, you can even teach your kids how to make their own video clips.

Product page: Kodak Playsport
Price: $149.99

Air Play airplane tray table play cover

For (really) young kids, the boredom of air travel may prove to be too much for them to deal with – which is why Star Kids Products invented the Air Play. This table and seatback cover fits about as much as possible into the cramped space. Kids get a variety of toys, a peek-a-boo mirror and even a small photo album. Best of all, it’ll keep their tiny hands away from the filthy table.

Product page: Air Play
Price: $29.99

Leap Frog Leapster Explorer

Leapster game consoles have always been a great way to entertain kids while providing some education at the same time. The upcoming Leapster Explorer is half gaming console, and half learning tool. An optional digital camera attachment will even let kids make photos and video clips. The Leapster Explorer will be available starting July 1st.

Product page: Leapster Explorer
Price: $69.99 (includes 18 games)

Mobi TykeLight Jr.

The TykeLight Jr. is a battery operated night light – with up to 100 hours of use off a set of AAA batteries, this light is a great way to help your kids fall asleep. The light can stay on all night, or for 15 minutes and is available in pink, green and blue.

Product page: Mobi TykeLight Jr.
Price: $12.95

Kidz Gear headphones

A DVD player in your car or flight is a great way to entertain kids – but the last thing you want, is to listen to Yo Gabba Gabba on a 7 hour road trip drive. This is where Kidz Gear headphones can help. The headphones are specially designed to fit kids, and go small enough to fit a three year old. Volume is kept to a minimum. They are available wired and wireless – and the wireless ones will work on the majority of wireless audio systems found in today’s vehicles.

Best of all – the company also makes a wireless transmitter, which is great if you want to add it to a hotel TV so you can get some peace and quiet, while they get some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Product page: Gear for Kidz
Price: $16.99 (wired) and $29.99 (wireless)

iPhone and iPod Touch kids apps

There are thousands of kids apps in the App Store – but for every great app, there is usually at least one dreadful one. This is where Best Kids Apps can help – the team behind this great site reviews apps, and takes the hard work out of picking the best apps for your kid(s). Apps are sorted by age and category, making it really easy to find the best of the best.

Product page: Best Kids Apps
Price: Apps start at $0

Mobile device video cables

As more hotels start adding the ability to connect your mobile device to the in-room TV, an investment of about $30 can turn your iPhone, iPod, Zune or other brand player into a portable media center.

The most common input system used is “composite”, but some hotel brands even allow HD content using HDMI or Component cables. Check your local electronics store for the correct cables, or refer to the product site of your specific player. In an upcoming article, we’ll show what you need, and how to stay entertained without having to invest in pricey pay-per-view movies.

[Photo credit: Flickr user Rob!]

Scosche announces pre-sales of eight iPhone 4 cases

by Scott Carmichael on

I’m not entirely sure what kind of overtime is involved in designing not one, but eight cases – but to pull this off a mere 24 hours after Apple announced their newest iPhone is quite impressive.

Scosche were obviously not content with just one case, so they designed a different case for almost any purpose:

  • KickBACK g4 is a glossy case with an integrated kickstand
  • SwitchKASE g4 is a clear silicone skin with removable armband
  • SwitchBACK g4 is a kickstand case with interchangeable covers
  • MetalliKASE g4 is an all metallic case with a mirrored screen protector
  • BeefKASE g4 is made from genuine leather and plastic
  • BandEDGE g4 polycarbonate case offers a rubber bumper edge
  • BandIT g4 is a durable rubber shield
  • GlosSEE g4 is a full rubber case made of a “unique glossy material”

All these new cases are available for pre-order, with an expected shipping date around the end of the month – just in time for the availability of the new iPhone 4. Prices start at $19.99.