iPhone, iPad: uPackingList is a free app designed to turn packing into fast and convenient activity for any journey – business trip, vacation, family picnic, fishing, theme park etc.
SUMMER MOVIES
Best Buy Exclusive
Don't go into the water
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Nothing is lovelier than a day at the ocean. That is, unless you are attacked by a great white or swarmed by piranhas. Of course, you could always be stalked by a psycho on your boat or left behind for shark bait by your scuba guide. Watch these movies if you couldn’t get away this summer – it will help you feel better about your staycation. (Check out Jaws, Piranha, Dead Calm, Open Water)
Summer camp
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Ah, memories of summer camp: mosquitoes, homesickness, awkward pre-pubescence…Somehow it never lived up to camp in the movies, where counselors were wacky and irresponsible, yet somehow inspirational, and you made lifelong friends. Even Ernest had more madcap fun than most of us remember. If only you go back and relive it…nope, still not as great as in the movies. (See Meatballs, Wet Hot American Summer, Ernest Goes to Camp, Indian Summer)
Surf’s up
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Hang ten, dude! Or not. It always looks so much easier on the big screen, with surfers finding those totally tubular waves and actually being able to stand up on their boards for more than three seconds. Even if you’re a total poser who hasn’t surfed anything more than the web, you can still get that adrenaline rush on DVD. (Watch Point Break, Surf’s Up, Blue Crush, The Endless Summer)
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
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Baseball: the great American pastime. Particularly when it comes to Hollywood, USA. What can be more inspiring than the classic tale of a group of underdogs and misfits banding together to beat the Yankees (or at least retrieve dad’s autographed ball or get the girl). Baseball has been woven into our collective childhood memories and dreams, and even if you never made it to the big leagues, you can always live vicariously through the movies. (Take home The Sandlot, Bull Durham, A League of Their Own, Major League, Field of Dreams)
Summer slashers
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Who knew summer could be so scary? Jason, that’s who. Summer is a perfect time for terror, with unsupervised teens and camp counselors up to no good, just begging to be stalked by insane, revenge-driven killers. With the huge success of "Friday the 13th" (12 installments to date), slasher films have become blood-soaked cult classics. (Check out Friday the 13th, Sleepaway Camp, I Know What You Did Last Summer)
Family Vacation
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Road trips, camping trips, trips to the shore…the family vacation is what summers were made for. Unless of course, you’re traveling with Chevy Chase or John Candy – the kings of disastrous family vacations. Chase’s Clark Griswold set the standard for the worst trip ever, providing a plethora of movie quotes and universal cultural references. So the next time the rugrats are whining in the back seat, pop in one of these DVD’s. (See The Great Outdoors, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Summer Rental)
Summer job
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Summer isn’t all fun and games. Summer jobs are important for those who need to save up to buy a car or pay for college. So if you didn’t get that awesome job at Best Buy that you wanted, and you already saw what happens to camp counselors, you might want to explore other opportunities that at will least keep you out of a chicken suit. (Caddyshack, Adventureland, The Flamingo Kid)
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APPS FOR THE ROAD
uPackingList
GPSed
iPhone, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and more: Record your trips anywhere on Earth using your mobile device. Tracks are traced on Google Maps and stored in an online archive. All you need to start tracking is a mobile device with a GPS receiver.
Urbanspoon
iPhone, iPad, Android: If you enjoy food and slot machines, then Urbanspoon is your best bet. This free app helps you find great restaurants based on your cravings. Just shake it until you find a restaurant that looks promising.
My Vacation
iPhone, iPad: Tired of crummy, over-priced postcards getting lost in the snail mail? Now you can create picture perfect postcards on the road and send them to your friends (and frenamies) from your iPhone.
Trapster
iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and more: Even the most cautious drivers can sometimes make mistakes. Trapster® is a FREE app that alerts you to speed traps, red light and speed cameras, police check points, and more. But don't speed.
Road Trip Lite
iPhone: Turn your iPhone into a road trip expense tracker and keep tabs on gas prices, fuel economy, even repair costs. Road Trip Lite is especially useful for groups to divvy up road trip expenses.
Google Sky Map
Android: Discover the night sky just by pointing your phone to space. By using your Android phone's orientation sensors, Google Sky Map can show you a star map from a campground, backyard or creepy truck stop.
Kayak
iPhone, Blackberry, Android and more: Get flight, hotel and car rental info in a snap with KAYAK’s free travel app. The app also includes KAYAK Trips so you can easily manage your itinerary from anywhere.
Yelp
Android, iPhone, Blackberry and more: Not sure what to do in your chosen destination? Try Yelp. It’s the fun and easy way to find reviews and see what's great (and not so great) in the city you're in.
Layar
Android, iPhone 3GS: See beyond the map. By using a combination of your phone’s camera and GPS data, the Layar Reality Browser can identify your location and literally show you the sights you may be missing.
FREE WI-FI FOR ALL!
Hotels
Typically, the more expensive the hotel, the more expensive the Internet access. Go figure. Luckily, many 2- and 3-star chains like Hampton, Courtyard By Marriott, Red Roof Inn, and Holiday Inn Express offer free high-speed access (it’s not always Wi-Fi, though).
Want something for nothing?
Free mobile apps like Wi-Fi Finder make finding free Wi-Fi easy. But what if your phone can’t do apps, or your battery dies? Luckily, there are some common places to get a complimentary connection. Click the arrows below to find out where.
Restaurants
Hungry for some free Wi-Fi? Most Paneras have it. Many McDonald’s do too. You also might find it at Burger King, IHOP, Krispy Kreme, Schlotzsky’s, Taco Bell and Denny’s (we suggest the Moons Over My Hammy).
Airports
You’ll have to pay at LAX and Newark, but free Wi-Fi is an increasingly popular offering at smaller airports like Cedar Rapids and Reno. You’ll also find it in Phoenix, Orlando, Charlotte, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, even Anchorage.
Places with books
You’ll have to be quiet while you’re using it, but many public libraries have free Wi-Fi. Sometimes the local bookstore will have it too, but if you want to be sure, go to Barnes & Noble. It’s free at every location.
Proceed with Caution
Free Wi-Fi has its drawbacks: Signal strength can be spotty, and it’s not very secure. Hackers have been known to set up fake hotspots to steal data, so be certain it’s legit, use a VPN when possible and make sure your security software is up to date.
Coffee shops
Major chains like Caribou Coffee, Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee & Tea typically offer complimentary Wi-Fi, but many of the independents do, too. Of course, you’ll need to buy a cup of joe (or a $9 scone) so you don’t feel like a freeloader.
WHAT THE PLUG?
Optical Digital Audio
Get clearer sound from your CD or DVD player by connecting digitally to your receiver. Optical signal means less interference, thus making explicit lyrics more explicit.
RGB Connection
It’s not just for monitors anymore. If your TV has one, connect it to your computer and play PC games on your plasma. If you have surround sound, even better (for you, not the neighbors).
Component Video Connection
If you’re currently using a S-video connection, this tri-colored beauty is a step up. If you’re currently using an HDMI connection, it’s a step down. Like Malcolm, it’s in the middle.
USB (Universal Serial Bus)
USB was supposed to eliminate all other cables. By the time it does that, cables will be obsolete. Until then, it gets most stuff into and out of computers, including newer TVs. No bus pass needed.
Stereo Audio Connection
Basic 2-channel analog connection gets sound moving from your CD player to your home theater receiver. Available in white and red. Operators are standing by…in 1987.
DVI (Digital Visual Interface)
They made it on digital. You watch it on digital. This high-bandwidth connection bypasses those dreaded analog video conversions (analog video conversion = eating soup with a fork).
Ethernet
For wicked fast streaming and downloading, run this beauty directly between your Connected TV and your router. It’s reliable. It’s secure. Perfect for long walks on the Interweb.
Composite Video / Stereo Audio
These solid, dependable A/V cables create sound that you can hear and a picture you can see. Nothing fancy, but life would suck without them (although life would suck less with HDMI...).
Coaxial A/V Connection or RF
This guy has been known to hook cable or satellite to your TV. It’s also been known to make you bleed if you poke it. Much like smooth jazz, it should come with a warning label.
S-Video Connection
The S-Video squeezes all of the color and light from your VHS, Hi8 or DVD player and pours it onto your screen. If HDMI is an option and you’re using this, it’s time for an intervention.
HDMI
Simply put, this convenient, one-cable solution for digital connectivity means:
High (maximum sweetness) Definition (every little detail) Multimedia (whatever you’ve got) Interface (CONNECTED).
IEEE-1394 Connection
AKA FireWire or iLink. With enough of these, you can connect up to 63 compatible, electronic devices and—theoretically—control them all with one remote. Perfect for control freaks.
Coaxial Digital Audio
Let your receiver do the job it was born to do, and hook it digitally to your DVD or CD player. This electrical connection offers a much sweeter sound. Coaxial. That’s a funny word. Coaxial.
Switchbox
Perfect for hooking your Atari up to your Zenith. If you’re still using one, put down the Missile Command and come in for an upgrade (and bring that analog TV, we’ll recycle it).
