Contact Us   Site Map
Airline Mismanagement

As the pace of modern life accelerates, the need for gadgets that make our lives easier multiplies.

Here are some of the devices we've reviewed during 2004.  Which are your favorites (and least favorites!)?

 
 
Travel Planning and Assistance
Road Warrior resources
How to Book and Buy Travel
Scary, Silly and Stupid Security Stories
Airline Reviews
Airline (Mis)!Management
Miscellaneous Features
Reference Materials
About the Travel Insider
 
Search
Looking for something else? Search over four million words of free information on our site.
Custom Search
 
 
Help this Site
Thank you for your interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your travel experiences in other, non-cash ways. Click for more information
 
Reader's Replies

If you'd like to add your own commentary, send me a note.

 

2004 Second Annual Best Travel Technology Product Awards

Vote for your favorites
 

Our 2004 Best Travel Technology Product Awards will commemorate the products that you and we jointly feel made our lives easier in 2004.

 

 

 

We've reviewed a wide range of different gadgets during 2004, ranging from things as inexpensive as 'free' headsets up to a $150,000 Bentley Continental GT (no prize for guessing my favorite out of those two).

Here's a summary of the major reviews we featured in 2004.  Tell us which products you like - and if you have a personal favorite product that was new in 2004, tell us about that, too, in the 'Write In' box at the end of each of the two categories.

How to Place Your Vote

There are two sections - Technology and Other Gadgets, each with a list of products and a space for your own write-in suggestion as well.

If you know nothing about a product, and/or have no opinion, just skip it or, if you prefer, check the 'no opinion' box.

If you do have an opinion on a product, rate it from 0 (= very bad, don't like, don't recommend) to 4 (= wonderful, marvelous, highly recommend).

If you want to refresh your memory, click on the product link to have our original review open in a new window.

And, for each of the two categories, choose one only product as your category favorite.

All voting is optional.  Nothing is mandatory.  Vote as much or as little as you like.  It all helps and counts towards the category winners.

Lastly, we don't ask for any personal details in this voting.  Don't worry - no salesmen will call!

 

 


 Part 1 :  Technology

Plane Quiet NC6 Noise Reducing Headphones

 

Last year's winner has been redesigned, improved, and reduced in price.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Noisebuster NB FX Noise Reducing Headphones

 

Noisebuster finally release a new product; very similar to the Plane Quiet NC6, but more expensive.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Cellboost Emergency Cell Phone Battery

 

A compact, quick, easy, and inexpensive way to recharge your cell phone's battery if it dies unexpectedly.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Sidewinder Emergency Cell Phone Battery Charger

 

Can be used with many different types of cell phones, and because it is crank powered, never runs out of emergency power.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Parrot in-car Bluetooth Handsfree Speaker Phone for Cell Phones

 

When you go into your car, your cell phone automatically switches, via wireless Bluetooth, to use the Parrot speakerphone.  When you leave, it switches back.  Completely convenient.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Ety-Com Cellphone noise cancelling headset

 

Use your cell phone, even in noisy environments, with this convenient headset.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Mobal World Phone

 

A cell phone that works in just about any country you're likely to visit, and a phone number for life, all for as little as $49.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Motorola V600 Quad Band Cell Phone

 

This state of the art flip phone combines all the bells and whistles you could hope for with elegant design.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Audible Digital Audio Books

 

A modern day update of the venerable 'talking book' concept.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

SIM Saver

 

Backup and copy the phone book information on your cell phone's SIM card.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Add a 'Write in' Candidate

 

And what do you think was the best new electronic item that helps make a traveler's life more convenient in 2003?

Nomination for : 

 

Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   
 

 

 

 Part 2 :  Other Gadgets and Helpful Things
 

First Class Sleeper

 

Transform your coach class seat and have a chance at enjoying something approximating comfortable sleep.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

MyTag Baggage Tags

 

Big, bright and bold, the MyTag luggage tags ensure your bag is easily spotted when it appears on the carousel.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Briggs & Riley Expandable Wheeled Carry-On

 

My favorite of the ten carry-on bags reviewed last year.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Kiva Pico Pico Key Chain Tote Bag

 

A lightweight 'go everywhere' item I keep with me when traveling, particularly internationally.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Daymakers Non-slip Travel Coin Purse

 

This provides you with a convenient place to carry all the coins you get in other countries, as well as notes, keys, even credit cards and travel passes, and offers some protection against pick pocketers, too.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Wrinkle Free Travel Clothing

 

I've got lots of clothing that claims to be 'wrinkle free'; but only these items from Magellan's truly are totally wrinkle free.  See the before and after pictures.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World

 

Where to stay, what to eat, what to see, how to handle children; everything you want to know about visiting Walt Disney World.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Steripen

 

With Steripen, you no longer need to be concerned about drinking the water, wherever in the world you travel.

       No Opinion/Experience or
Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

Add a 'Write In' Candidate

 

And what do you think was the best new gadget or other helpful thing that helps make a traveler's life more convenient in 2003?

Nomination for

 

Score  0   1   2   3   4               Category Favorite?   

 


    

 

 

Originally published 21 Jan 2005, last update 20 Jul 2020

You may freely reproduce or distribute this article for noncommercial purposes as long as you give credit to me as original writer.

 
 
 
 

 

 


 
Back to Top