Yahoo! Canada Tech

Amber's tech for the best summer roadtrip

Coffee Cup Power Inverter

If you’re taking a long road trip, chances are that you’ll drag your laptop or other gadgets along with you. To avoid arriving at your destination without battery juice, plug and power along the way with the Coffee Cup Power Inverter,US$29.99. This colourful gadget fits in your automobile’s cup holder, but it does a lot more than your average jug of Joe; it converts your car power into two AC outlets, so you can charge anything while you’re rolling down the highway. For more cool gadgets, click here.

iPod Nano

A road trip without music is like a sundae without the cherry on top. If you want to bring your own tunes in the car, there is no better way to do it than to invest in a tiny iPod Nano. This 8GB Apple player, $169.00, device holds up to two thousand songs and eight hours of video, so you can load up artists galore and your kids can store their favourite cartoons. To keep it charged, invest in the Belkin Dual Auto Charger so you never have to stop rockin’ on the highway. (NB: Depending on the type of car you drive, you might have to buy an adaptor to get your iPod to work).

XM Satellite Radio - Xpress All-in-One

If an all-Elvis road trip is your Dad’s dream this year, there is no better way to keep up with “The King” theme than satellite radio. With dozens of channels, including all-Elvis rock, the XM’s Xpress All-in-One ($59.99 for the device, $164.89 for a one-year radio service) is easy to navigate in the car and at home. Keep in mind that you have to buy the device and a subscription to get full access to the XM service. For more cool gadgets, click here.

Garmin Nuvi 880 Portable GPS Navigator

A portable GPS device is a must-have gadget for your upcoming road trip. The portable Garmin Nuvi 880,US$489.99, will keep you headed in the right direction; plus, it fits easily in your pocket. With more than six million points of interest, you won’t miss a thing on your next vacation. This device also offers up speech recognition, so you can keep your eyes on the road and still keep your trip on track. Check out the latest in , GPS technology.

Audible.com audiobooks

Books on tape have come a long now. With digital audiobooks, car time will fly for the whole family. There are more than 60,000 titles on Audible.com, making it the best place to download audio entertainment. This service is based on a monthly or annual subscription plan. For example, for US$229.50 a year, you get 24 credits for two dozen audio downloads.

Jawbone Prime Bluetooth Headset

Nothing makes the time fly more quickly in the car than talking on the phone. To stay safe, and in this case stylish, the Jawbone Prime Bluetooth Headset, US$129.99,offers hands-free talking. This device uses noise-cancellation technology, so if your kids are yelling in the backseat when you’re doing a conference call, your colleagues can still hear you on the other end. The new Jawbone comes in many colours, including green and yellow. Learn how to practice the best etiquette.

Belkin Dual Auto Charger

There is nothing more frustrating than driving around with a dead iPod or cellphone in the car. With Belkin’s new Dual Auto Charger, US$29.99, you can charge both devices at the same time. This tiny gadget plugs into your cigarette lighter for quick and easy access. The two USB ports will keep your favourite tech toys ready to go on the road. Want more? Check out my article on USB gadgets.

License Plate Flash Frame

OK, this last gadget might not be so practical (or legal in your province!) on the road but it’s a fun concept to think about. The scrolling license plate flash frame,US$34.99, lets you express yourself when you’re doing some long-distance highway driving. You can enter up to five messages into the flash frame and select from three scroll speeds (think Twitter on the go!).

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