Australian T3 - May 2018

(C. Jardin) #1

SOLAR-


POWERED


TRAVEL


GADGETS


Paranoid about losing your possessions? Bontag
has the solution with its wide selection of arty
trackablestickers,tagsandlabelsthatcanbeused
on smartphones, suitcases, laptops, wallets and
sports equipment. Each Bontag security sticker,
label or tag has a unique ID code, along with the
message “If found, go to bontag.com. Reward
given”.Bontagwillthencallyou(oryourchosen
contact) to arrange safe return of your lost gear,
which you can then track. Bontag also provides the
reward for the good samaritan who finds your stuff.
The cost of the self-adhesive labels (from $6.60,
bontag.com)includesLifetimeAlertsforeach
individualitemyoustickalabelortagto.

SOLGAARD
LIFEPACK
Live like
a digital
nomad with
the Solgaard
Lifepack,
a roomy
backpack with three-in-
one power bank, Bluetooth
speakers and a solar charger.
It’s comfortable to wear,
sturdy, water resistant, and
designed with secret pockets.
It even has a decent travel
lock to fend off pickpockets.
US$269 ($357), solgaard.co


ECEEN SOLAR
POWERED
FLASHLIGHT
Did you forget to pack
batteries for your torch?
Camping fail! hat wouldn’t
happen to you if you’re
sleeping out with Eceen’s
solarflashlight,whichcanbe
chargedviathebuilt-insolar
panel or USB cable. It also has
a range of 20 metres, so no
more tripping over tent pegs
inthedarkforyou.
$23, eceen.com


16 T3 WINTER 2018 Discover more at techradar.com/au


Horizon


INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF


FLYING FIRST CLASS FOR FREE


Sick of losing your tech when travelling? A new digital lost
property service is here to keep tabs on your stuff

So you want to turn left when you get on
the plane rather than being stuck at the
back? Yeah, us too. Lounging in first class
is the perfect way to kick off a holiday, or
to make a work trip more pleasurable, but
the price of premium travel is often enough
to make your eyes water. A one-way upper
class seat on a Qantas flight from Sydney to
London, for example, costs around $10,000,
something only movie stars and oligarchs
can afford.
However, there are ways of improving
your chances of upgrading an economy
class ticket. For a start, frequent fliers who
use the same airline and pay the full price
for their ticket will inevitably be favoured if
an upgrade becomes available. Travelling

on your own certainly helps, as there’s less
people to upgrade to First Class, while
choosing a less popular route is also a good
tactic. Avoiding business routes at peak
times (Monday mornings and Thursday/
Friday afternoons) will also increase your
chances of a free upgrade. You could try
selecting a flight to a seaside resort during
the school holidays, too, as there’ll be fewer
single passengers so more chances for you
to bag that premium upgrade for nought.
Alternatively, having a good reason, such
as a birthday or anniversary, can work at the
check-in desk. Above all, look smart and be
extra polite. Free upgrades don’t happen
often, but when they do the complimentary
champagne tastes all the better.

Getting an upgrade is the holy grail of plane travel. Veteran travel
writer Simon Horsford has some pro tips for bagging a premium seat

VIP FOR FREE


TRACK IT


POWER
MONKEY
EXTREME
Stay charged
up whether
you’re scaling
a mountain
or are deep in the bush. he
Power Monkey eXtreme
combines a sturdy 9,000mAh
battery pack with enough
voltage to charge your phone
and even DSLR camera. Unfold
the solar pack, point it at the
sky and you’re all set.
$259.95,
multipoweredproducts.com.au


LOST AND FOUND

Free download pdf