Daily deal - 2GB Creative Labs MP3 player with FM Radio for $29.99

Filed under: Gadling's Daily Deal

The daily deal for today is for the highly rated Creative Labs Zen Stone Plus 2GB MP3 player. This player is about the same size as the Apple iPod Shuffle, but unlike the Shuffle, this player has a small display. The Zen Stone Plus even has an FM radio, stopwatch, countdown timer and a clock. And if that is not enough, you even get a voice memo recorder.

This player normally sells for just under $60, but if you don't mind buying a refurbished product, you can buy one today for just $29.99. Refurbished products are usually items that have been returned to the manufacturer and are returned to their "as new" condition. Creative Labs include a 90 day warranty with their refurbished products.

The Zen Stone is available in black, white and blue. The red and pink versions are currently out of stock, but may be available later this week.

At this price, you could pick up a player for your kids and load it with their favorite music to keep them entertained in the car or plane. The Zen Stone features a volume restriction control, to protect their ears and with 2GB of storage space, you should be able to fit up to 500 songs on the player.

The Creative Labs Zen Stone is available in their web store. Shipping is a pretty unreasonable $9.95 for one player, or (oddly enough), just $4.99 for 2. Orders of $90 or more ship for free.

 

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London Restaurant Hotshots to Try Dubai

Filed under: Food and Drink, Asia, United Arab

Formula One, the world's tallest building, the most luxurious hotel on the globe, a housing development that is built to resemble a miniature world. Dubai has made a name for itself with its larger than life constructions, impressive spectacles, and over-the-top luxury offerings.

It seems only natural, then, that the major players in other urban areas would want to try their hand in Dubai. London super-cool eatery The Ivy, a fave of movie stars and other paparazzi targets, is going international by opening a location in the glamorous gulf city.

The competition will be quite stiff, however. Because of its status as both a business and leisure destination, numerous restaurateurs have joined the fray, making Dubai one of top culinary destinations in the world.

Celeb chef Gordan Ramsey, when he isn't cussing at would-be chefs on reality TV, is overseeing a restaurant at Dubai's Hilton. And there are many others, more than a few who have earned the coveted Michelin star given to fine dining's finest.

Any newcomers are going to find the competition top notch.

Will Dubai's restaurant scene ever reach its limits? Perhaps, but The Ivy and its peers are sprinting to make into into the world's new capital of fine dining before that happens.

Source

 

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Vegas Building Boom Means Cheap Rooms

Filed under: Hotels and Accommodations, News

Las Vegas is feeling the pinch of slumping travel numbers. The amount of visitors who enter Sin City has dropped by nearly 5%, but the construction of new hotels has led to an increase in rooms. Who to fill them?

Once they get over criticizing themselves for lacking foresight, hotel execs have to find a way to hawk all those empty beds.

The obvious strategy, at least for the short term, is to lower prices until they reach a point where visitors won't mind shelling out a little extra for the flight because they are getting such a ridiculously cheap deal from the hotel.

How cheap is ridiculously cheap? According to MSNBC, over half the casino-owned hotels in the city are offering rates of $50 per night or below. Yes, that type of price is usually reserved for roadside motels where you can also choose to pay by the hour. Even high end, established names like Luxor and MGM Grand have rooms available for under $100 per night.

However, the famous ad campaign tag-line might be true of hotels as well. What happens in Vegas...isn't happening elsewhere just yet. Rooms in Chicago, New York and other major metro areas are still at full price. International tourists, convention-goers, and business travelers make up the bulk of New York's hotel customers. They have other bases to rely on as the number of US-based leisure travelers decline. That is not so in Las Vegas.

Source

 

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China coverage on Travel Channel

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Podcasts, Stories, China

In preparation for the Olympics, The Travel Channel has been offering several China-themed options this week and is continuing with its coverage by repeating various episodes. Here they are in case you've missed them and want to catch up.

For those interested in China's natural landscape and wildlife and how the natural world fits into Chinese culture and sensibilities, check out Wild China. Episodes range from panda bears to the ecosystem and take armchair travelers from Tibet to the Great Wall and from the deserts to the sea. (For schedule.)

Samantha Brown's Passport to China is focused on three places: Beijing, Sichuan, and Xian. The show offers a potpourri look at life in China from a variety of angles. (For schedule)

Great Cruises is offering an episode "Royal Passage to Asia." Like the others, it is being aired a few different times.

For the gastronomic delights--or the opposite of delightful, depending on your tastes, Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Foods and Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations are repeating episodes that are China related. (No Reservations schedule; Bizarre Foods schedule)

The photo of the Bird's Nest, the stadium where the Olympic ceremonies will take place is from the Travel Channel Web site's page that highlights Beijing's attractions.

 

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Struggling airlines close airport lounges

Filed under: Business, Airlines, News

Scrambling to cut costs at every corner, airlines have now turned to their airport lounges as possible ways to save money.

If you've ever been walking through the airport and saw a business person on a Blackberry weaving through the crowd only to duck into a room labeled "Red Carpet Club" or "Admiral's Club", you know what I'm talking about. Airport lounges were created as a way to award elite and first class passengers for their business, make a little money on memberships and provide haven from the oft busy airport terminals that we deal with on a daily basis. For me, they're a lifesaver, while others only view them as an extravagance.

Unfortunately, some of them just were not making enough money to justify their existence, so many airlines are closing their underutilized or overstaffed lounges. Delta just announced that it's closing nine of its Crown Room Clubs, while United similarly is closing four. You can check out the UA lounges being closed here, while you can find the CRC's that are still active here.

At the very worst, those who hold memberships to either clubs that are closing may be able to use partner clubs -- holders of Crown Room Club cards should be able to get into other Skyteam lounges while United members can use Star Alliance lounges.

And if those aren't an option? Try a magazine.

[Thanks to Moody75 for the link]

 

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Product review - Kensington Mini battery pack and charger for iPod and iPhone

Filed under: Gadling Gear Review

Today's product review will take a quick look at a kind of product that has suddenly become quite popular.

Many owners of the new iPhone 3G have been rudely awakened by its poor battery life. In some cases, the phone won't even last till the end of the afternoon. Since an outlet and charger are not always available, Kensington have developed a portable power source to help get you through the day.

The Kensington "mini battery pack and charger for iPod and iPhone" is a 1.5oz/42g pocket battery pack with an iPod dock connector.

The battery pack contains a Lithium-Polymer battery with enough capacity to fully recharge most iPod and iPhone models. On most devices, you'll add up to 30 hours of music playback or 6 hours of video. On the iPhone, you'll add up to 3 hours of talk time.

The battery pack can be charged using your computer or any other power source with a USB connector, including the AC adapter included with some iPods.

Using the battery pack couldn't be easier, you simply plug it into the bottom of your device, and let it charge. On the front of the battery pack are 4 lights. Three of these lights show the charging status of the iPod or iPhone, and one turns on when the battery pack itself is being charged. One of the other big advantages of the Kensington battery pack is that you can charge your phone using USB, which means you can leave the Apple charging cable at home (of course, you can't synchronize your device through the battery pack).

Included in the package is a handy retractable USB cable and a plastic cover to protect the dock connector when you are not using it. The only minor complaint I have is that the battery pack adds close to 2 inches to the total length of your iPod when it is plugged in. An alternative product is the Kensington ultra portable battery pack, which I reviewed last week. Of course, with that product you will lose some of the convenience of having such a light battery pack, and you will need to carry your iPod charging cable.

The Kensington "mini battery pack and charger for iPod and iPhone" costs $49.95 ($47 from Amazon).

 

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BTN: 'United Ends CWT Preferred Relationship'

Both companies declined to comment, but our sources agreed that there's a serious rift at the moment between Carlson Wagonlit and United Airlines, first reported by Business Travel News. United told The Beat last month that it planned to cut agency commissions by $100 million.

Robbers nab 3,000 British passports from security van

Filed under: United Kingdom, News

Ever wanted to become a British citizen? This just might be your chance.

A team of hijackers raided a British security van Monday morning and stole 3,000 blank British passports, each with a black market value of about US$3,400.

The driver of the unarmored van had stopped to get a newspaper when one of the hijackers jumped in his vehicle and sped off after assaulting a second security guard in the passenger seat.

British security officials say that because the blank passports contain a high-tech micro-chip, they will be useless for crossing borders. But some argue that even though they can't be used to enter the UK, the fraudulent passports can be used abroad to open bank accounts, obtain employment, and enter foreign countries.

One government official assures the public that "there are steps being taken to stop the use of these particular passports," but it's difficult to imagine what those steps might include. Perhaps they can politely ask for them back?

More here.

 

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Jerry Lewis nabbed at McCarran in Las Vegas for having gun in carryon

Filed under: News

Entertainer and comedian Jerry Lewis was nabbed by the Transportation Security Administration at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, after trying to board a flight to Detroit last Friday with a gun in his carryon bag.

TSA screeners found the unloaded gun, a 22-caliber. Police detained and cited Lewis at the airport for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.

A spokesman for Lewis, an entertainment icon in America, said the gun was simply a hallowed out prop gun that Lewis was carrying, along with other props, for his shows. The gun could not fire, the spokesman said.

Lewis said he did not even know the gun was in his carryon bag.

But it seems that police suspect something different. Police say the gun was registered to Lewis -- which begs the question whether one registers a prop.

Lewis will have to show up for a court date in Vegas if he wants the gun back.

A police officer involved in the incident said if the gun was really a prop and could not fire, then Lewis could not be cited for carrying a weapon.

 

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Proporta Keyring SIM Card holder - brilliant!

Filed under: Gadling Gear Review

Most gadgets are products that are in search of a problem, but the Proporta Keyring SIM Card holder and "anti-loss system" clearly understands that there is a problem in need of a simple solution.

This stylish keyring features a magnetic closure and space to store a SIM card. If you have ever traveled abroad and tried juggling your primary SIM card with a prepaid SIM, you'll know what a hassle the little chip cards can be.

I'm not entirely sure what the "anti-loss" portion of the item name means, but I'm guessing it's just a fancy way of saying that it keeps your SIM card stored safely. Just remember to always enable the PIN code protection on your SIM card when you travel abroad. Losing a SIM and having it fall in the hands of someone with bad intentions could be a very costly mistake.

The Proporta Keyring SIM Card holder costs just $6.95 with a very reasonable $4.95 for their international shipping to the States (Proporta is based in the UK).

Proporta.com (via Crunchgear)

 

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Take your gadgets on your next diving trip

Filed under: Gadling Gear Review

Our friends over at Engadget have posted about a new product that could revolutionize the way we use, and travel with our gadgets. The product is called "Golden Shellback" and is a new way of coating any kind of device, and making it waterproof.

The product is a development of the Northeast Maritime Institute in Fairhaven, MA.

Applying Golden Shellback involves placing the item in a vacuum and coating it with what they call a "vacuum deposited film".

In videos released by the institute, you can clearly see them pour water on a laptop, a Blackberry and even an iPod touch.

The coating even adds the ability to repel oils, hazardous materials, dirt, dust and sand from your prized possession.

Imagine a world where you can bring your MP3 player along on your next trip, and not worry about using it in the rain, or on the beach. Or, next time someone spills a can of soda on your laptop duing some heavy turbulance, simply rinse it off and get back to work.

The Northeast Maritime Institute has a site dedicated to Golden Shellback (and if you want to know where the name comes from, you can read this Wikipedia article).

 

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Garmin Nuviphone delayed till mid 2009

Filed under: Gadling Gear Review

Back in January, Garmin announced their first combination of a GPS unit and mobile phone called the Nuviphone.

The Nuviphone was originally slated for Q3 of this year, but this morning, Garmin announced that things were delayed till the first half of 2009 due to "carrier requirements".

While this delay may seem like bad news, it is actually not all doom and gloom. Having to make changes for mobile phone carriers means there is clearly significant interest in it from the mobile operators which means you should be able to buy the phone directly from your phone company, with a significant discount.

This 3G enabled phone will come preloaded with maps of the US or Europe and even allows you to do online Google searches from inside the map application. By combining a phone and a GPS unit, the Nuviphone also provides online access to gas prices, local weather reports, sports scores and real-time traffic.

In coming years, I'm sure we'll see more GPS units become connected to the Internet. Magellan are working on one and the Dash Express has been available for several months. As more and more mobile phones add GPS, we'll see more and more GPS units add a phone. The ability to do an online search for something directly on your GPS unit, is a very powerful feature.

 

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Photo of the Day 7-30-08

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Nicaragua, Photo of the Day

The green first drew me to this photo and then the concept. This is a photograph turned into an artist's statement of sorts. Adam Baker, AlphaTangoBravo calls this shot he took in Granada, Nicaragua this past June "Dos Partes."

Even if Baker hadn't divided this into two color schemes, there would have been two images. The men on the scooter (?) and the woman walking--blurred and in focus. The color division creates a surreal quality and an odd depth of field. Is the man in the front glancing at the woman and she at him?

Also, the building's walls in need of repair are a contrast to the ornate details or the door frame. That's another way to look at two parts. Robust and crumbling. Possibilities or dreams gone by. I've just finished reading Pico Iyer's Sun After Dark, Flights into the Foreign, so perhaps I'm feeling a bit fanciful myself.

If you have a shot to share, send it our way at Gadling's Flickr Photo Pool and it might be picked for a Photo of the Day.

 

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Daily deal - up to 50% off outdoor gear at Amazon.com

Filed under: Gadling's Daily Deal

My daily deal for today is for a large clearance event at the Amazon.com outdoors store. With summer slowly coming to an end for many of us, Amazon clearly need to make room in their warehouses for Halloween costumes and Christmas toys. Their loss is your gain, because there are some very nice deals to be found.

Some of the highlights include this heavy duty flashlight for $5.50, this highly rated Teton backpack with internal frame for $57.17 or this Columbia 3 person tent for just $51.58.

There is something for everyone in the discount aisle, including some pretty sweet discounts on Victorinox Swiss Army knives.

All purchases over $25 ship for free, and as always, Amazon Prime members can benefit from free 2 day shipping on most products.

For an overview of all the deals, check out their various discount departments:Cycling and wheeled, Camping and hiking and Exercise and fitness

 

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