Travel and technology: Apps

This is being cross posted on my new blog, Tweeps Talk Tech.

Last week my family and I traveled to Disney for a week vacation and for the first time that I can remember, I didn't bring a computer with me.  OH, THE HUMANITY!

Many technology lovers like me prefer to never be disconnected; even when my father-in-law comes to visit he brings his laptop. The beauty of having my iPhone is that I was never disconnected and had every piece of information I wanted right at my fingertips.

Here is a rundown of the apps I used and why you should too.

Dropbox

Dropbox is a free file storage app that syncs files with your PC, Mac, and iPhone over the internet.  I needed to have access to some files for work, so I just copied them into my "work" folder inside Dropbox and they were sync'd in seconds.  From inside the app I can view, email or copy the file.

Since Dropbox updated to V 1.1, they added PIN code access, making the app secure.

Evernote

Evernote is my brain inside my phone.  I snap pictures of notes I've taken, clip web pages, emails, flight info, itineraries and more.  Evernote searches by keyword and even reads words inside pictures!

Dragon Dictation

Who wants to actually *type* on your clean iPhone screen, when you have Mickey chocolate on your fingers?  Why not just speak into Dragon Dictation and send the converted words to email, text message, or copy to the clipboard to paste anywhere!

Twitteriffic

My favorite Twitter app, and you know I can't be without my Twitter.

eBuddy

eBuddy is a great chat application that offers free and paid versions.  You can chat live with contacts in Gmail, Facebook, Yahoo, AIM and more.

Siri

Want to find local restaurants, events, businesses, taxis, or the weather?  Just open Siri and Say it!

Foursquare

How else would you know where I was?

Watching a Spectacled Owl surgery live at Animal Kingdom

Watching a Spectacled Owl surgery live at Animal Kingdom, originally uploaded by -SPK.

Epcot test track. That's what I'm talking about.

Epcot test track. That's what I'm talking about., originally uploaded by -SPK.

There is a princess here for everyone. If you know what mean...

There is a princess here for everyone. If you know what mean..., originally uploaded by -SPK.

OMG! It's Cinderella.

OMG! It's Cinderella., originally uploaded by -SPK.

New shades, new attitudes.

New shades, new attitudes., originally uploaded by -SPK.

If you don't already use Dropbox, now is the time to start.

If you don't already use Dropbox, now is the time to start., originally uploaded by -SPK.

This video will make your day!

5-year-old Savannah remains calm on the phone with the 9-1-1 operator while her Dad is suffering from chest pains.  If you have children, there is no way you will keep your eyes dry.  As seen on Bonnie Hunt's show.

I am the world.

Look at your man, now back to me, now back at your man...

Look at all the local people on google buzz. Have you tried it out yet?

Look at all the local people on google buzz. Have you tried it out yet?, originally uploaded by -SPK.

Here's a nice perspective with our model Paige

Here's a nice perspective with our model Paige, originally uploaded by -SPK.

This hurts my head

side by side???, originally uploaded by erik minnema.

In case you missed it.... a Tweeps Talking Tech roundup!

• I had to run the radio controls because Mike was running late and called in from his mobile phone
• We talked about Geolocation
• Foursquare
• Gowalla
• Twitter
• Yelp.  With the monocle!  "Shake it like a baby!"
• Facebook
• MailChimp
• The iPad
• What happened to Google Wave
• The Tweetup is this Monday, follow @lvtweetup
• Be The Bee Seminar coming up February 23rd
• We heard from @RayAttisano, @hosfeldinsuranc, and @bearboy1964
• Make sure you vote for LVTweetup on the Shorty Awards
• @TheJennC won #LVtweetoftheWeek with this gem

Listen to the official show recording now by by going here!

Tweet of the week? #LVTweetoftheWeek

We all work hard on our tweets.  When you take quality time away from work to tell your followers a random fact about boobs or how Pink did not lip sync - YOU DESERVE RECOGNITION, DAMN IT!

Some more than others... but you know who you are.

Can you start looking for candidates for the Lehigh Valley Tweet of the Week and RT the URL with #LVTweetoftheWeek hash tag?  Can you do it, Lassie?

Any good ones this week??

Join us on Blog Talk Radio tomorrow at 6 PM for: Tweeps Talking Tech

Tomorrow, Thursday at 6 PM - make sure you tune in for my debut on Tweeps Talking Tech on Blog Talk Radio with Mike Andreano of Be The Bee Social Media and Coaching & Seminars.
We'll be talking about the iPad, Geo Location, Foursquare, Gowalla, What Happened to Google Wave?, and more!
We'd love to have you contribute if you want to call in, the number is (646) 727-1346.

Hitler's angry reaction to the iPad

I'm certain this is wrong on many levels.  But - it IS funny!

The original iPad from Apple

Upload any document to Google Docs (Now ready)

It looks like Dropbox has it's hands full now that Google is in the file storage business starting today.  If you have a Gmail account, you already have a Google Docs account.

You can upload files up to 100 MB each with a total free storage of 1 GB and the ability to purchase more at these rates:

• 20 GB - $5/yr
• 80 GB - $20/yr
• 200 GB - $50/yr
• 400 GB - $100/yr

 What's really nice about this new set up is that you don't have to convert your documents to Google Docs, you can keep them in their native format.  From Docs help:

You can simply store the uploaded file in Google Docs, or convert it to Google Docs format so you can later edit it online. To store the file without converting it, make sure you deselect the option to convert the file. If you'd like to convert your document, presentation or spreadsheet to Google Docs format, you don't need to take any extra steps.

It's your voice... as a band.

If you don't know about the IBM 305 RAMAC, then you must watch this video.  If you do know about it - you already know that it was truly an amazing machine and it cost $160,000 in 1956.  Oh, it had 5 a megabyte disk.

Today I hold in my hand a 14 gigabyte iPhone that costs about $200.00.  To compare:
-The iPhone has 14,000 MB more storage than the IBM RAMAC
-The iPhone costs .1% (POINT ONE) percent of the IBM RAMAC cost (in 1956 dollars)

You wonder why people are nuts over the iPhone and Andriod?  Because you can do this with it in your hand (not that you would want to necessarily) - but that you could: