After a long absence in the U.S. consumer video market, Toshiba recently announced the Camileo line of digital camcorders.  The trio of devices includes the entry-level Camileo S20, a compact camcorder with 3″ LCD screen and 4x digital zoom and the top of the range Camileo X100, which features a 3″ LCD touchscreen and 10x optical and digital zoom.  All Camileo models provide 1080p full HD resolution, a YouTube hotkey for instant uploading, HDMI and USB 2.0 connectivity, and up to 32 GB in SD/SDHC memory.
We took a closer look …

To many business travelers, luggage is luggage.  Indeed, when I needed a new 22” rolling suitcase, I thought I would just buy a bag, pack it up, and be on my merry way.  I was, however, mistaken.  By selecting a Tumi Alpha Frequent Traveler expandable carry-on, it turns out that I was also buying a relationship with the company
My original criteria were overall durability, ease of use, high quality materials, and the design of internal and external storage compartments.  This particular Tumi had met all of my criteria.  I knew …

Is a tripod a true necessity on a trip – or just extra weight?
The answer, as most photographers know, is both.  While it can take up precious space in one’s luggage and add a few kilograms, when it comes to getting good sharp photos, especially landscape, architecture, and nighttime shots, there is no substitute for a stable shooting platform.
Today’s business traveler/photographer has a wide range of options available, ranging from inexpensive and relatively simple tripods to top-of-the-line models with sophisticated heads.  And a tripod isn’t the only option – take …

Today almost all digital SLRs are equipped with a zoom lens. My Nikon D90 came with a 18-105 mm zoom, for example.  Even though a range of 18-105 mm sounds good, it quickly becomes clear that a greater range is desirable.
One of the most versatile lenses I have come across in terms of range is the Sigma 18-250, which is a digital only 29-400 mm (35mm film) equivalent.  Because it can go from wide-angle to telephoto to close-up – all with one lens – it is the perfect addition to …

There are many times where I simply don’t have room for even the smallest of travel tripods.  A monopod has one leg instead of the three on a tripod and, while it’s not considered a direct replacement, it is easier to carry, easier to move around with, and far lighter than its three-legged cousin.  This makes it ideal for the business traveler on the go.
The four-section Davis & Sanford Trekker Pro monopod performed admirably in my tests and took up very little room in my luggage.  It is a sturdily-built …

The carbon-fiber Gitzo GT1550 Traveler is the lightest and most compact tripod I have ever seen.  It features a patented 180° folding mechanism to minimize space requirements; the head is stored inside the folded tripod legs.
Lightweight, however, does not mean a lack of stability; I found it to compare favorably to much heavier (and far less portable) tripods, in part thanks to unique technology such as an upper disc Safe Lock, which cuts down on vibrations and improves the grip between the tripod and the head.
For the photographer/business traveler on …

The gadgets we travel with and rely on, be they laptops, smartphones, tablets, MP3 players, or thumb drives, add a certain amount of risk to our travels as well.
Many people fail to take basic precautions, such as password protecting all devices in order to minimize exposure in the event of loss or theft.
Make sure your laptop or tablet has both a power-on password and a hard drive password. If entering a password is too much trouble, get a laptop with a fingerprint reader. Ditto for smartphones: use a …

Business travelers almost always have business cards on hand – except when they run out or you’ve left home without them.  This, of course, always seems to happen during an important trip or before a meeting and no one is exempt. As if to illustrate the point, I found myself without cards when attending a major conference but was able to resolve the situation without straying far from my computer.
FedEx Office has a Print Online service and I used the Design and Print Center to design and print my cards.    …

Since its launch almost two years ago, I’ve considered the BlackBerry Bold to be the ideal smartphone.  It was a bit bigger than some other models, but that was part of its charm – and what made it far more useful.  The extra size translated into a generously-sized keyboard and a larger display (compared to other BlackBerry devices with keyboards).  Combined with the high-quality materials including a leather-like back cover, it was the smartphone equivalent of a precision German sports sedan.
For the past three months I’ve been testing the Bold’s …

The launch of the Apple iPad today has many proclaiming this moment to be akin to the information revolution sparked by Gutenberg’s invention of mechanical movable type.  As an author of multiple books and articles, I agree that the advent of the iPad is significant, but not in the way most people are viewing it.
Look at an important (and related) parallel: the move from analog to digital photography. Similar to the eBook reader, where the opening salvos were launched by Sony in 1990 (the Sony Data Discman) and …