Welcome to Gypsy Wednesday! Every Wednesday, I’ll strive to highlight all the juicy morsels related to travel and beyond.
One night my girlfriend pulled out a Christmas gift to herself – an iPhone. She began showing me the functionality, flipping through apps, talking excitedly. Meh – I was unmoved. A cell phone is a mobile tool that I can use to text, talk, or have close by in case of an emergency. That’s all.
We dropped the subject and moved on. The next time I saw her, she extracted it from her coat pocket to demonstrate another new app. I actually paid attention. The screen responded to her light touch, “Uh, look at this one, if you’re lost you can use the compass. Or this wifi finder, in case you want to surf.. “ At the end of our social outing, I almost snatched her phone and stuffed it down my pants. An iPhone is the equivalent to electronic masturbation. My lust for this gadget was cemented.
Why I Love It
The truth? I seriously get lost easily. Of course, on this journey I intend to get lost on purpose, but if I end up directionally challenged in Bangkok, a compass could come in handy before I’m ravaged by mangy dogs. Another reason, my fears about staying linked to the world or friends has run out of steam. Here is a product that offers me options in a singular device.
Basic iPhone Features
Without even touching upon apps, a basic iPhone 3G exhibits a terrific starter template for the tech-savvy traveler:
- Video Camera: I can shoot, edit, and share all from the phone. Wow!
- 3-megapixel camera: My informants tell me the camera lacks a flash, and is not high end, but it could work if my camera suddenly died.
- Compass: Ooh, this feature makes me squeal with joy. It will automatically reorient a map to match the direction I’m facing.
- Messages: I can send messages in various forms (text, video, pictures) with the option to send to one or several contacts.
- Voice Memos: An audio recorder to capture an observation or interview. Great for the freelance writer or intrepid journalist.
- ipod: Music is a must. This saves me from carrying 3 devices - phone, ipod and laptop. 2 out of 3 are decent odds.
- SIM Cards: All phones operate with SIM cards nowadays; what makes this potentially special is I can swap out cards during my travels.
- Mobile Phone: One complaint with iPhones is the poor reception. The 2.0.2 software update allegedly addressed bugs.
Cheap or Free Apps that Make Me Swoon
1. WorkSnug
Will scout all the wifi hotspots in a city, giving you locations and ratings. Cost – free.
2. Google Maps
A triple threat. Google Street View, public transportation options and walking directions adds up to heaven. Cost – free.
3. Urbanspoon
If I’m exhausted and want dinner quickly, this app can locate restaurants in my area based on location, cost and food type. Cost – free.
Since my itinerary is flexible, this app could be a godsend. Tripit is an advanced itinerary planner boasting integrated maps, local restaurants, driving directions, sightseeing spots, weather, and so on. The beauty of this app, it can be accessed online, but if you can’t tap a wifi spot, an itinerary is still viewable without one. Cost – free.
5. Skype
Free Skype-to-Skype calls based from a wifi zone. Also, call and text mobile phones by a pay-as-you-go credit. Cost minus mobile phone access – free.
6. XE Currency
Unbelievable, there are over 180+ currencies to access with the ability to monitor up to 10 at a time. It’s easy to switch to my base currency as well. Cost – free.
A universal translator with speed control from text-to-speech. Cost – $1.99.
Viola, there’s no excuse not to plan a trip today. You can choose to stay tapped in via technology, or trust in a paper map and guidebook. Obviously, there are no rules, the iPhone grants a traveler another option to take off, be free, and be connected.
With the release of the iPad today, Apple products continue to vie for my attention.
The iPhone could be my perfect partner. He won’t talk back, whine, burp, and will immediately respond to my magic fingers. What more could a gal ask for?
Photos: giglamesh under Creative Commons.
Popularity: 13% [?]
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
@Keith – I have a couple of ideas, one is to turn off roaming and use wifi/Skype to keep in contact with close friends and family, etc. I also plan on unlocking the phone, this gives me an option to purchase SIM cards from xyz country. Legal Nomads has been doing this on her trip. Basically, the phone option is nice if I had to call home quickly.
I’ve always kind of wanted an iPhone, but the cost of the data plan has kept me clean. My understanding is that using the phone’s data plan overseas is cripplingly expensive. Is the idea to turn that off and just use wifi?
@Lauren – They are pretty neat devices, right? Thank goodness you stopped by, your link will be going up, I promise! :)
I wrote a post a while back about my i-touch while traveling. I Love (and need) the currency converter tool, and i use the language apps a lot on the road as well. Versatile little toys, arn’t they?!
@Nancy – Isn’t it insidious? Similar to a nerdy, grating man who suddenly grows on you. I was a Microsoft Windows devotee forever, then one day I woke up to Apple. It’s been a great relationship thus far!
I’m with you. I resisted for the longest time. Now my lust for the iPhone is full-blown. I desperately want one for all those fun travel/food apps. (Not to mention ridiculous T-Pain voice apps, lol.)
@Chris – I never pegged you for a geek, but there it is. :) Glad you’re on board with me.
@Ayngelina – You are already a skilled photographer. You see, I have to compensate.
@Shannon OD – Hope you got some tips from Brooklyn Nomad re: New York. The app world is exciting, kinda like how I felt when I finally downloaded itunes on my computer.
@Cornelius Aesop – You can unlock it! See my comment to GRRRL. PC world posted a way to do it.
@Sofia – Welcome back! iPad does look cool, but at this point the iphone will work for my needs. Who knows? A girl might change her mind. :-D
My iPod Touch is my personal assistant, I just love it.
Just found out about the ipad today, it seems pretty awesome, might have to get one of those as well ;)!
I wish that my blackberry was hip to the SIM card. I think that the only way I would get an iphone is if I could unlock it to open up some options with carriers.
I have a 3G that I’m only just starting to use and find apps! Great list and I look forward to adding and playing with some of these :-)
I would really really REALLY love to get one but I’m going to lug around a netbook, DSLR and 3 lenses so I had to draw the line at that.
My iphone will travel everywhere with me. The ability to get local sim cards will negate expensive global roaming fees and you can disable data usage if you see fit.
Turn on wifi when you need to or data to get a google map. GPS has been useful here in aus for directions many times.
In saying all this I’m an IT geek from way back so not taking it was never an option.
@Grrrl – Ooh, one more thing, I saw Google Earth, but wasn’t sure if I’d use it. Hmmm, I might. And thank you kindly for the other recommendations. Kayak would come in handy. :)
Oh yeah, here are the instructions on how to unlock it: http://www.pcworld.com/article/137223/how_to_unlock_an_iphone.html
We’ll be set lady, hehe.
Ah, you beat me to the blog… Great minds think alike & I’m there with you! Been researching options for my time abroad- everywhere from Android to Nexus. Am a gadget head & life without my Smartphone would be painful. I got an iPod Touch in frustration. So far it seems like the best solution for my travel needs. Only thing – I need to be near a free WiFi in order to use online apps.
Can you get your iPhone unlocked? It would allow you to use country Sims vs. your own plan.
Google Maps/GPS supposedly doesn’t work well outside U.S./Canada (so I heard…) but I can still map tight locations abroad.
XE Currency- Yay! I didn’t know they had an app.
You might like:
Kayak
Google Earth (I once used it to find the type of building my hostel was in)
Hostelbookers (a cool app for any RTW budget traveler, huh?)
Airport Gates (99 cents & love it! How many times did you wonder how far you’d be running to catch your connecting flight?)
@soultravelers3 – I’ve heard bills for the iphone can be high. But, I’ve also been told there are work arounds. http://holeinthedonut.com/ does a post on how to turn off your roaming.
AT&T are terribly expensive, but some of the Canadian plans aren’t bad.
Honestly, I truly want the phone for the apps, the phone/surfing aspect is secondary to me. Silly, huh? But, there you have it.
Have you seen some of the outrageous phone bills some travelers have gotten unexpectedly with the iphone?
We haven’t given into the iphone, ipod, or wii, nintendo ds for our kid.
We had a top of the line global quad phone, but soon stopped using that. We just Skype every where from our macbook etc…even local calls. We do have a small handheld gps that has lots of bells & whistles, but we mainly use it for both vehicles & walking. Handy!
We love our macs, but frankly I also really love to go unplugged as much as possible when traveling & worry a bit about the addictiveness of the internet. Laptops help control that more than an iphone or ipad …just by size.
Travel 2.0 has been amazing for us, but there are times where we all really consider doing a total, unplug forever.
It’s the time suck thing & how it keeps one from being present with reality in front of you.
Still, there are times when it is tempting & we may give in to the ipad eventually. ;)