BALTIMORE - When it comes to traveling, things are certainly much more technologically advanced. However, what should you take along?
Today on Good Morning Maryland @ 9, Jamie talked with Geek Squad Double Agent Rob Michaud about some of the items you might take along so you are "Wired for Travel." From updated digital cameras to a slingbox to more and more advanced cell phones, Rob has all the ideas.
You can see Rob's ideas again, by click on the link to the left. We have also provided some information from Rob on the next page.
Wired For Travel: How to Use Technology to Ensure a Stress-Free Trip
Many people are planning on traveling this summer and taking advantage of great incentives offered by airlines and hotels. Whether it’s a family road trip or a jet-setting European vacation, Geek Squad knows that doing a quick check of your technology gadgets before you leave can be essential to a successful trip. Sync your PDA up to your laptop, program your Tivo to record your favorite shows and then fire up the GPS to guide you to your destination. Worried that you won’t be able to get all your gadgets up and running in time for the big adventure? Never fear, Geek Squad is here!
Geek Squad suggests the following tips to help sync your technology so you can sit back, relax and enjoy your trip.
Stay Connected to Home
Remain on Track: Road trips are fun, until you get lost. Invest in a GPS device when you plan to drive in an unfamiliar city.
Most GPS devices can be easily installed into your car by plugging it into your cigarette adaptor and then simply mounting it onto your dashboard. If your device is not picking up a signal, make sure you pull your car out of the garage. It may need a few minutes to locate a satellite to determine your location before you can map out your trip.
Using a GPS device can also help you save money on gas. In the vast majority of GPS devices, you have two options for route preference: quickest or shortest. The shortest route is not necessarily the best option for saving gas if that route requires a lot of stop and go driving. Sometimes instructing your GPS device to find the quickest route will be the most economical way to travel. Many GPS units will also provide you with regular traffic reports and updates on fuel prices at nearby gas stations.
Check with your local state laws; some states forbid mounting GPS devices on the windshield. A Geek Squad Autotech can mount your GPS device in a convenient location so your dashboard is clear of clutter and you’ll have an unobstructed view of the road.
Keep in Touch with Summer Programming: With Slingbox and TiVo you can now travel without missing any of your favorite TV shows.
· Slingbox: Take your home living room experience with you next time you travel with Sling Media’s new Slingbox adapter. Simply connect your new Slingbox adapter to your TV with the provided cables. Install Slingbox software on your laptop or smartphone and you can stream your TV programming onto your mobile device.
TiVo: If you want entertainment waiting for you when you get home, try TiVo or your cable company’s DVR service. These find and record a large amount of selected television programming, so you can easily catch up on your favorite shows once you’ve seen enough of the Grand Canyon. Additionally, some DVRs offer online scheduling services so you can add recordings from anywhere you can access the Web.
Stay Connected to the Office
Be Just as Smart as Your Phone: They’re called smartphones for a reason. With dozens of different models and features to choose from, it can be tough to be “smart” about what phone best suits your needs. Here’s Geek Squad’s quick check list on how you can choose a smartphone that fits your unique business and personal needs:.
The Operating System: Smartphones most commonly work on a Windows, Apple, Blackberry or a Palm operating system. Choose a PDA with an operating system you are familiar with to save time and prevent headaches. Not feeling so smart about operating system options? Geek Squad Agents can explain the differences and help you choose the best one to support your needs.
Office Compatibility: Not all smartphones will work with all office email systems. Talk to your IT department or check with your Internet Service Provider before you make a decision. After all, that smartphone is going to be a lot less useful if you can’t access your email.
Camera: Just say cheese! Most smartphones feature cameras with 3, 5 or even 8 megapixels, but some users might not even know how to use them. It’s simple to use a camera phone, once you learn how – plus they’re great tools in emergencies where you need to take a picture (think car accident or impromptu celebration).
Battery: Keep batteries in mind when purchasing a smartphone. Not all of them allow you to swap out a fresh battery, rather requiring that you recharge. This will be a problem if you’re on the road, but may not be an issue if you’re near outlets. Weigh that consideration against expected batter life. Don’t know how long your smartphone’s battery typically lasts? Visit a Geek Squad Precinct. They’ll help you determine your battery mileage in no time.
Sync Up: Keeping your smartphone and laptop in sync is essential for the organized traveler.
Install syncing software – it should come with your smartphone – to transfer messages, contacts, documents and pictures from your smartphone to your PC, and vice versa.
Stay Safe: In order to ensure that your precious work documents and data remain confidential,
remember these simple steps:
Back up, Back up and Back up: The most important safety measure is to protect the information on your computer in case your laptop is lost or stolen. Back up everything on your preferred storage device before you leave. If you’re working on the road, store your files and data on a removable CD/DVD disk or on a flash drive, and then keep it in your hotel safe. For extra security and convenience, store data and documents with an online storage service in order to access the files anywhere, at any time. The storage service will keep your files backed up and protected on a remote server. Check out Geek Squad’s remote storage service at http://www.geeksquad.com/tools/databackup.aspx.
Individualize your Computer: Keep your contact information or business card taped on the back of your computer and also include the number of your hotel, if possible. If you do accidentally misplace your computer you can be easily tracked down. Additionally, this will differentiate your computer when going through security check points at airports.
Firewalls: Prevent unauthorized and undetected access to your laptop from other Internet users. Software firewalls help keep your PC secure while you surf the Web at locations offering WiFi Hot Spots. Although these firewalls help protect your personal information and can help block it from being transmitted over the Web, it’s good practice to never make purchases using a credit card or access bank information when surfing in a wireless environment that’s open to the public.
Mobile Devices: Cell phones and smartphones are made for portability, but their compact size makes it easy to lose track of them. Activate your unit’s password feature to ensure that if the worst happens, no one can see your personal data. Not sure how to access this function? Stop by a Geek Squad Precinct and an Agent can assist.
Tech Check List Before You Leave: Before you head out the door, remember to go through this simple check list:
· Tape your contact information to all your devices.
· Print out or e-mail your travel documents and trip schedule to yourself to make the information easy to access from a borrowed computer.
· Program your GPS device with the addresses of all the destinations you plan to visit during your trip. This prevents you from having to find and enter this information while on the road.
· Remember your power cord, chargers and extra batteries
· Bring a moisture-absorbing silica gel pack (comes in electronics boxes, shoe boxes or in some preserved foods, such as beef jerky). If you spill anything on a device, put it in a zip-sealing plastic bag with the silica pack and you may be able to revive it.
Need some help getting your technology ready to hit the road? Call 1.800.GEEK SQUAD to set up an onsite consultation, find a location near you at www.geeksquad.com, or visit a Geek Squad Precinct at Best Buy locations nationwide to speak with an Agent directly. We provide our services wherever and whenever you need them – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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