Top Must-Have Travel Gadgets 2010

These are your simple tourists who just want to get out of the country to relax, see and experience new things and absorb foreign culture. They just want a fuss-free holiday and therefore love tour packages because everything is arranged and catered for. The more discerning amongst them, however, might opt for free and easy packages. They love gadgets that can help them preserve memories of the trip, but nothing too fancy or complicated.

Samsung Pixon 12

Looking to travel with a light inventory? That means you wouldn't want to bring along too many gadgets. To be practical about it, having the Samsung Pixon12 that functions as a phone and a powerful imaging device with its 12-megapixel sensor, 28mm wide angle lens and imaging features such as Beauty Shot will be more than sufficient for your travel logs.

Price: S$998

CISCO Flip Mino HD

Shoot videos with your phone? Nah, it's too much for the batteries. If you love capturing animated footages rather than snapping stills, why not consider the CISCO Flip Mino HD instead? This USB-based camcorder is light and compact which makes it ideal for your travels. Best of all, this small little thing is also able to capture footages in 720p too. You are just one red button away from recording bliss.

Price: S$349

Sony Alpha Nex-5

Want to travel light yet still be able to take plenty of beautiful DSLR quality pictures? The Sony Nex-5 is the camera of choice then, thanks to its interchangeable lens feature and compact build. It can also capture videos in 1080p HD resolution, which means you don’t need to lug around a video camera too!

Price: S$1,199

Creative Zen 300

Wish to bring your music on the go without any hassle? The Creative Zen Style 300 might be extremely small with an equally miniscule 1.8-inch LCD screen, but it comes with 4GB - 16GB worth of storage, a built-in speaker and FM radio. It's enough to keep you occupied during spurts of boredom.

Price: S$179

Choiix Power Fort

Find yourself short on power for your portable gadgets? The Choiix Power Fort ensures that a casual traveller like you gets all their charging needs met in one device. It can power tech gadgets, like your hand phones, cameras, or gaming portables - provided that they either have a mini- or micro-USB port or USB input.

Price: US$44.99

Nintendo DSi XL

Fancy having a sturdy portable gaming device with titles that last more than 3 minutes? The heftier model of the Nintendo DSi, equipped with a much bigger touch-screen and up to 17 hours of battery life, should fit your casual-travelling bill. Not only can you play classics like Tetris DS and Mario Kart with your pals, but you can also browse the net or even search for DSiWare games if there’s a WiFi spot nearby.

Price:S$275

<img src="https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/hardwarezone/ecab2f545ad11e501c9922e4e1f039f4ad6ca73526f5c950058716b82b3ad215" alt="" class="caption" title="The Road Trip Maniac ">

Mostly likely petrolheads in disguise, these holiday-goers are willing to go the distance as long as they are the ones behind the wheels. They love driving and consider it part of the holiday, and as such no destination is too far. The only question is how to get there? As such, GPS navigation devices are critical. But while the designated driver is busy chomping down the miles, the passengers too need some form of entertainment, and this is where gadgets like portable media players come in handy. Here are some top recommendations for this troupe.

Panasonic ToughBook CF-C1

When you are battling the elements, you really shouldn't have to worry about your gadgets. So how does a ruggedized convertible notebook sound? Panasonic's CF-C1 can be used in tablet form or in its clamshell guise. It is powered by a Core i5-520M processor and boasts of a spill-resistant keyboard as well. Tough and light at 1.47kg, this ToughBook is built to survive your rough and tumble road trips. It's time to twist and shout.

Price: EUR$1,998

Garmin nuvi 1460 Heading up north is holiday season for a road trip? Be sure then to bring along a good GPS, and as far as GPS devices go, Garmin makes some of the best. In this case, the Garmin nuvi 1460, is a wonderful road trip companion thanks to its large 5-inch touchscreen display, which is bright, vivid and easy to read. The nuvi 1460 is also easy to use thanks to Garmin’s intuitive user interface.

Price: S$459

Apple iPad

With the Apple iPad, those long road trips will be over before you know it. Whether you're reading an ebook, watching a movie, playing with games or just surfing on the internet, the iPad's excellent battery life will tide you though those dull moments. Best of all, it will keep your little ones entertained and docile for hours.

Price: From S$728

Victorinox Flash Flight 16GB

Why are Swiss Army knives so popular? They are decked with multi purpose tools and they are made with the most awesome build quality, that's why. Now imagine a Victorinox Swiss Army kit with a 16GB USB drive and a Flash light? How about that? Oh, let's not forget this cool gizmo comes with a pressurized ballpoint pen too.

Price: US$129

MiFi

If you’re going on the road and need to be connected to the internet, the MiFi wireless hotspot router is a great device to have, allowing your phones and notebooks to get online without too much of a hassle. The best part? Your friends can also get connected unlike say a USB 3G modem.

Price: Two years contract: S$68 or Free depending on contract

Casio Exilim EX-G1

A rugged adventure requires long-lasting gadgets that don't break into pieces? The sturdy Casio Exilim EX-G1's shock-resistant, waterproof, dustproof and freeze-proof exterior is made to complement an active lifestyle. The device also comes with a feature called the Best Shot, which allows you to choose from three relevant modes (snow, beach or underwater) - perfect for road trip maniacs who have no time to stop to toggle with settings.

Price: S$549

For these travelers, it's all about the bottom line - how much they spend, and what can they save. They have a tight budget and are always finding ways to optimize costs. Therefore, high megapixel count cameras are unnecessary as are HD camcorders and ultra-light aluminum, carbon fiber notebooks. Their mantra to traveling is best represented by the song "The Bare Necessities" as sung by Baloo the bear from the Jungle Book.

Samsung R430i

Let's face it. We can't do without the net. Your phone might be able to get you online, but overseas 3G charges aren't to be trifled with. That is why you need a notebook. Samsung's 14-inch R430i is a lean, mean Core i3 machine with smart looks to match. This baby features three USB ports and a 6-cell battery. At just $1,399, it doesn't get any better than this.

Price: S$1,399

HTC Wildfire

When you have limited finances to work with, what has to be considered is the price of your gadgets. Having a phone is just as important, but if you do not wish to blow your budget on a high-end device, get the HTC Wildfire. The Google Android 2.1 device is equipped with a Qualcomm 528MHz processor that runs HTC's Sense UI smoothly on its 3.2-inch screen.

Price: S$498

Kayak App (iPhone/Android/BlackBerry)

With Kayak's mobile app, you can now get the best prices and information for all your travel related needs with just one app - flights, hotels, car rentals and more. The mobile version of the popular travel search engine is now conveniently available on multiple platforms, from the iPhone to the BlackBerry. A must-have for those looking to keep their travel costs down.

Price: Free

Stanza Book Reader App for iPhone

If you’re going to be needing something to do on your entertainment-less budget flight, then why not get Stanza, a book reader app for your iPhone? The free app lets you load your own eBooks onto your iPhone, which means that 4 hour flight you hate is over before you even know it.

Price:Free

Sony Walkman B152

Looking for an affordable player that still sits high on style? The Sony Walkman B150 Series is a candy bar MP3 player that's build for a lightweight auditory experience. The device comes power-packed with features like ZAPPIN for track previews and an express 3-minute Quick Charge feature that provides a cool 90-minute playback.

Price: S$74

Nikon CoolPix L22 Camera

Investing in a camera is often expensive, but if you are looking to cut cost and still get high-quality photos, you can look towards the Nikon CoolPix L22 camera. The L22, an upgrade to its 8-megapixel L21 brother, comes with a higher 12-megapixel count, a comfortably-sized 3-inch TFT LCD monitor screen and plenty of stylish shades to choose from. Available in Champagne Silver, Black, Red, and Blue.

Price: S$189

Like budget backpackers, business travelers are concerned with the bottom line too, but in a different way - how much money they can make. And as the old saying goes, time is money, and these travelers have no time for fancy-smancy gadgets. However, they are ever-ready to focus upon gadgets that enhance their business travel needs which are direct, plain and simple to use. Along the way, they don't mind splashing the cash for a little of life's pleasures to make the trip more bearable.

Sennheiser MM 550 Travel

The new MM 550 Noise-Canceling Travel headphones is Sennheiser’s new flagship for the Mobile Music series and it boasts Sennheiser’s critically-acclaimted Noisegard 2.0 noise-canceling technology, which reduces the drone from the airplane’s jet engines, while extra-large ear cups offer excellent noise isolation. To further provide listeners with unadulterated listening pleasure, the MM 550 also boasts SRS Wow HD surround sound technology for a wider sound stage. Truly a jet-setting audiophile’s dream come true.

Price: S$729

Dell Streak

While carrying a notebook around is kind of expected for a business traveller, sometimes it makes sense to travel light - and this is where you’ll want the Dell Streak with you. This 5-inch smartphone may be bigger than a normal phone, but it can somewhat double as a work tablet thanks to its built it GPS, 3G and snappy 1GHz processor

Price: US$549

Samsung Galaxy Beam

Business meetings are always about presentations. So if you have a phone that is also a pico projector for your presentation needs, wouldn't that be great? That's one of the reasons why you should get the Samsung Galaxy Beam, equipped with a Texas Instruments Pico projector that can project almost anything from 5 to 50 inches in screen size.

Price: S$1018

Kindle DX Graphite

Keeping abreast of news is important to a businessman, and the Kindle DX Graphite is a perfect accessory for that. The 9.7-inch E-ink screen is versatile enough to accommodate a vast amount of reading material from newspapers, magazines to blogs. The improved DX Graphite version sports improvements in contrast, and visibility but comes equipped with an equally long battery life of 1 week on a single charge with wireless on.

Price: US$379

HP EliteBook 8440p

A travelling executive needs a reliable laptop, there's no two ways about that. Dressed in an anodized skin with a Core i5-540M workhorse, the HP EliteBook 8440p is truly the epitome of class and panache. And you get to impress your business clients further with its robust build and enduring 51WHr battery pack. The EliteBook also features four USB ports (with a USB/eSATA combo) and FireWire jack.

Price: S$2,599

Canon S95

Compact, stylish and powerful, the Canon S95 not only fits in your pocket, but offers power-packed features that place it amongst the top compact cameras in the world. Featuring a bigger sensor than most, the S95 also has a unique control ring around its lens that lets you manually set functions like aperture and shutter speed, letting you control just how you want your photograph to look. With a fast f/2 lens and new High Dynamic Range mode, you can't go wrong with the PowerShot S95.

Price: S$669

These travelers are the most hardcore of them all. They go all-out to make sure their holiday is a truly memorable one. Think exotic locations like Namibia, Madagascar or the Bahamas and over-the-top hotels like the Burj Al-Arab in Dubai or The Plaza Hotel in New York City. To complement their unique and usually extravagant holidays, these travelers demand the absolute best gadgets, no expenses spared.

Shure SE535 In-ear Headphones

There's nothing like a good pair of sound isolating in-ears to block out the mundane noises of traveling. Shure's latest SE535 in-ears is the update to its popular SE530 audiophile class earphones, offering thicker cables to withstand the rigors of travel, shock protectors to buffer its microdrivers from impact and a closer, tighter fit for your ears, the better to dampen unnecessary noise. Most importantly, you'll get the same high audio quality as its predecessor.

Price: S$729

Immarsat IsatPhone Pro

Where you're going, normal mobile phones just can't cut it. So if you're preparing for a trip to the Amazon forests, it might be wise to invest in the Immarsat IsatPhone Pro. Tapping onto the global satellite network, this rugged satellite phone is also able to withstand extreme weather conditions with a rated battery life up to 8 hours on a single charge.

Price: US$699

Garmin Approach G5

Fall is a wondrous time in the States and for the golf lover, the United States is home to some of the best golf courses in the world, Pebble Beach and Augusta National, just to name a few. To aid you in your game, Garmin has introduced the Approach G5, a special GPS device designed especially for golf courses. Preloaded with maps of golf courses across the United States and Canada, the Approach G5 shows you your exact location in relation to the pin, helping you plan your approach.

Price: US$499

Canon IXUS 300 HS

An exotic holiday, for the exotic photo enthusiast with the exotic, no-expenses-spared camera. If you are not willing to bear the burden of a heavy DSLR, the sleek and small Canon IXUS 300 HS is a viable investment. Powered by a high-sensitivity CMOS, accompanied by a fast F2 lens and shielded in a modern stainless steel exterior, the camera is capable enough to capture everything and anything during your stay.

Price: S$599

Sony HDR-XR550 Handycam

The worse thing that can happen to you when shooting your travels is to run out of precious storage space on your camcorder. But with 240GB of internal memory that lets you shoot up to nearly 23 hours of video, the Sony HDR-XR550 Handycam guarantees that you need never fear.Besides the large memory, the XR550 also features Sony's amazing Active Image Stabilization technology, which stabilizes your shot even when you're handholding it, so your viewers won't have to worry about watching dizzying shaky holiday videos.

Price: S$2899

Nikon D3s

You never want to miss a shot, especially in an exotic place you might never pass by again. But there's not enough light and your camera's too noisy at ISO800. But what if your camera shot at ISO8000? The Nikon D3s does even better, and shoots up to an amazing ISO102,400. You'll never have to worry about shooting in unpredictable lighting anymore, anywhere in the world.

Price: S$7888