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No Best City To Visit Travel Tournament This Year

by Anil Polat | Feb 11, 2021 | Site News | 0

Well, we got away with one last year as Covid-19 was just beginning to spread around the world (congrats Singapore) but in 2021 with the pandemic still going strong, it doesn’t make sense to have a Best City tournament this year. Right about now is when I’d be preparing the annual contest (newsletter subscribers look for a chance to win) where I’ve given out over $15,000 in cash and prizes. Though the more I thought about it, the less sense it made.

A lot of travel media lately seems to be ignoring the pandemic or at least marching along like there isn’t a massive viral elephant in the planet room and I’m not sure how sure a thing travel will be this year. On a less negative note, I still want to give you an opportunity to win some money. Any good ideas? Let me know in the comments, with an email, or very strong telepathy.

On a related note (a lot of notes in this post), I’ll be going over the history of the Best City Travel Tournaments in the next episode of the foXnoMad Podcast (what are the odds I run a giveaway there this week…?) plus a look at the future of the contest. So, what’s March going to look like on foXnoMad, the first year in nearly a decade without the weekly polls to determine the Best City to Visit? Probably taking a short bit of time off to recharge and plan a few new things for spring to share with you 🙂

The Narrowing Gap Between Power And Portability

by Anil Polat | Feb 9, 2021 | Culture, Green, Luggage, Pictures and Video, Tech | 0

There used to be a time when you had to make significant tradeoffs between power and portability. That was an ancient time known as the early 2010s. Now, a decade later, the narrowing gap between power and portability means we might be closer to understanding the importance of global tourism.

You can watch my video here or read on.

Shrinkage

2020 was the year most everyone couldn’t travel but tech marched on and brought us a few new eye catching leaps forward. The Sony a7C became the smallest full frame camera on the market with a tiny kit lens to match. Apple’s new M1 chip Macbook Air takes leaps toward the rest of the Macbook lineup. I could go on… but the point is these products aren’t stripped down versions of the full sized thing.

The future of portable gear is a merger with power to become a new branch of electronic evolution.

Versatility Domino Effect

Sony’s a7C is immensely customizable and the M1 Macbook Air has 20 hours of battery life. Plucking out those two features shows that portable doesn’t just mean less, it can also mean more useful. Longer battery life has some obvious advantages but look a bit further and it means you don’t always have to bring chargers or extra batteries along. The domino effect is less time spend in airport security lines. Having a 4K video camera in your phone is a travel movie or moment that’s just that much more accessible.

Refocus From Tools

Ultimately, the less you have to think about what will fit in your backpack or how heavy a lens is or that you’re at 1%, the more useful your electronics become. Your focus is best spent on the places you’ll go, people you’re going to meet, and the world around you. As our tech continues to get smaller yet remain powerful (while coming down in price too) it means more of us will get to share. We’ll get to share in different and more creative ways and tell the stories of the world around us.

There’s a quiet revolution in tech that’s happening right now. In the cross-section is a world that’s potentially smaller, more understanding, and filled with more art from around the world.

Bose Built Headphones Into Sunglasses And It’s Back To The Future

by Anil Polat | Feb 4, 2021 | Pictures and Video, Tech | 0

The Bose Frames Tenor are sunglasses with headphones built into the frames designed so that only you can hear them. They are expensive. They are ridiculous. But they’re also a lot of fun.

You can watch my full review of the Bose Frames Tenor in this video or read on.

Hands Free

The concept of the Frames line from Bose – a series of sunglasses from casual to sport – seems indulgent but the application is thoughtful. Physically the design doesn’t reveal these are pricey sunglasses with capable speakers embedded in the frames, aside from a bit more thickness, noticeable only if you’re really looking for it. Using polarizing glass Bose didn’t cut corners on the glasses themselves which can be ordered to your prescription if needed.

Bose Frames Tenor, Smart Glasses, Bluetooth Audio Sunglasses...

The real trick of these sunglasses however are the two speakers on either frame that are positioned toward your ears.

Surprising Sound Quality

Although there is some sound bleed – others around you can hear what you’re listening to at higher volumes, from your perspective as a wearer, the audio is clear. Bose has also included two microphones in these Frames Tenor so you can make and take calls, which sound decent, considering there’s nothing dangling anywhere near your mouth.

Touch controls and gestures in the frames themselves let you swipe up/down for volume controls, left/right for forward/back, and taps for pause and play. There’s a lot to like about the Bose Frames Tenor which don’t seem nearly as frivolous once you start using them.

Limiting Sports

There are some obvious limitations to the Frames however. First, you have to wear them in bright conditions and sunglasses might not be appropriate in a lot of places (don’t be that guy in the airport or office). The Frames also have a little noise bleed so in quiet settings they might be a bit too loud for your surroundings if you crank up the sound. On the flip side, those limitations can be assets if you look at the Bose Frames Tempo – the sporty version of the Tenor.

On a bike or jog in bright conditions, sunglasses sit more comfortably than most earbuds when you start sweating. Also, having your ears free gives you the opportunity to hear the world around you, whether it be cars in traffic or a jogger passing you on a trial. The portability of the Frames line makes them a very interesting option for runners, bikers, and outdoorsy people in general. The Frames are also a look into the future where we might have headphones embedded in more products or even our ears.

Imaging the possibilities of portable audio Marty.

3 Apple TV Shows To Fuel Your Travel Wanderlust

by Anil Polat | Jan 28, 2021 | Car, Culture, Green, Travel | 0

You probably don’t need much inspiration to travel these days if you’ve been quarantining but with the world closed off, everywhere feels a bit less reachable. Fortunately we’re more connected digitally than ever and having just come out of the tech season, you might be the owner of a new Apple device. New iPhones, iPads, and Macbooks come with a free year subscription to Apple TV and the vibrancy of these three series will make take your imagination places.

Here are 3 Apple TV original shows any travel lover will enjoy.

1. Long Way Up

Part of the Long Way series, Long Way Up follow Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor’s electric motorcycle trip from the southern tip of Argentina to Los Angeles. The cinematography is stunning, the motorcycle tech evolves literally throughout the series, but the camaraderie between Boorman and McGregor will remind you of your own road trips with friends.

Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World

Long Way Round is one of the best motorcycle books you can read and is a personal inspiration of mine as well.

2. For All Mankind

An alternate history where the Soviet Union lands on the moon first before the Americans and how it could have pushed the space race. The real appeal of For All Mankind, which is based on the technology possible during the 60s (even calls a very recent lunar discovery), is the societal changes that result. The acting is excellent and you’ll appreciate the story on Earth and the challenges in space, leaving you with optimism for our current times.

3. Earth At Night In Color

This is another Apple series where you can marvel at the tech, focus on the result, or enjoy both. Using some of the most advanced cameras available, the series films wildlife at night but are able to show it in color. You may have seen night vision – take that image out of your head – and watch the first episode. The crew are able to film the nocturnal habits of lions, migratory birds, and adorably deadly (for insects) tarsiers.

A lot of the footage is the first ever captured because of the nighttime world the cameras unlock. Weaved beautifully into each 30 minute episode is a specific message about conservationism you might not have heard before. These are stories of the lives of animals, they’re families, and their environment. At the end of each episode you’ll also get to see a bit of the lengths the crew had to go to in order to film Earth At Night In Color, giving you an appreciation of the effort involved.

One More Thing

There’s a visual quality to each of these Apple TV series that’s bold aesthetically but nuanced in a way that makes the experience of watching them fresh. Once you’ve watch these, here are 8 other series you might want to marathon before you next flight.

5 Ways To Use Frequent Flyer Miles (Other Than Flying)

by Anil Polat | Jan 26, 2021 | Air, Car, Lodging, Money | 0

You might not be flying as much lately – global pandemic or otherwise – but your accumulated frequent flyer miles don’t have to go to waste. Although many airlines have extended frequent flyer programs so your miles won’t expire any time soon, you can put the miles you have now to good use.

Here are 5 ways to use your frequent flyer miles for everything that’s not a flight.

1. Shopping

Most airlines have online malls with a number of retailers including Apple and Best Buy. You’ll find these online malls through the airline mileage website and can use any miles you have for discounts or to purchase items outright. Additionally if you’re using a credit card with mile perks, they most likely will have an online store as well.

2. Take A Road Trip

Frequent flyer miles can be used for car rentals or hotels so don’t limit yourself to the sky. As a general rule you’ll get more bang for your mile using points in the travel industry as opposed to a new iPad (see point 1 above).

3. Convert To Cash

You can trade in frequent flyer miles for cash, especially if they’re accumulated through a credit card. NerdWallet breaks down Marriott’s award program (.3 cents per point) but according to Alex Miller, the CEO of Upgraded Points, you want to aim for conversions of a cent per mile.

4. Donate

You’re a good person, I’m sure but just so you know, unless you bought your frequent flyer miles donating them won’t be a tax deduction in most cases. You can though donate your miles, in case you didn’t know that. (Works for random currency you’ve accumulated traveling too.) There are a number of good causes most mileage programs have partnered with and your miles can help others escape political violence or make ends meet (by converting miles to cash).

5. Give To Friends And Family

There’s often a fee to transfer miles to another account (if you’re married though maybe not so contact the airline) but for those people who need to fly, your miles might help them get what they need for a free flight. Like many of the points already mentioned, the best way is through the airline’s online mileage program site, then call to see what better options they might offer you.

While You Wait

Most people haven’t checked up on the miles they have recently or when they might be expiring. If that sounds like you, check your frequent flyer miles right now to make sure they aren’t (or haven’t) vanished. Contact the airlines to see what extension plans are in effect since when travel does resume, you’re likely to get some great deals with the miles you have. So, unless you have a good reason not to, it’s best to stash your miles until you’re ready for sky time since they can protect you from flight cancellations as well.

Trove Wallet Might Convince You On Minimalist Money Carrying

by Anil Polat | Jan 21, 2021 | Money, Pictures and Video | 0

The Trove Wallet is a slim wallet that differs itself from the competition buy going for a small and soft aesthetic that might entice you to finally leave the fold.

You can watch my full review in the video above or read on.

Trove’s Minimalism

Like most slim wallets, the Trove Wallet cuts down on pockets by giving you space for the stuff you actually use. Unlike most slim wallets however, the Trove is made of an elastic material, not hard plastic or metal. The flexibility of the design, which primarily uses two fabrics stitched together results in a wallet that’s only as big as it needs to be.

The first elastic fabric comes in a variety of colors you can choose from with a single piece of material (reflex, carbon-fiber, or leather) used to hold the form together. (Reflex and carbon fiber are vegan options.) All of the components can be configured with the colors you want from the reflex to the stitching or you can choose from Trove’s default selection.

Additionally, you can add a “Swift” tab which let’s you pull up your cards out of the front pocket of the Trove. Honestly, I couldn’t see using this wallet without it.

Fabric Design

Although the Trove Wallet is physically small, it’s also physically diverse and inconspicuous. There are three compartments, two on the top and one on the bottom formed by the tension between the two top pockets coming together. The best way to use the Trove is to put your 2 or 3 most used cards in the front pocket, less used cards in the rear pocket, and cash in the “underneath” pocket. You could also use this underneath pocket for receipts or miscellaneous items like a coin or two but you won’t be able to carry much change at all.

Who’s The Trove For?

Read this part first, react, then give it a second to sink in: the Trove Wallet holds up to 10 cards and a few bills of cash, maybe a receipt. Your gut reaction might be “there’s no way I can reduce my wallet to all of that!” But if you check your current wallet, that’s probably all you’re carrying as it is. (Plus that membership card you haven’t looked at in 5 years.)

For frequent travelers, the trade offs for a slim wallet will be worth the switch. The Trove Wallet is slim, light, and so much more convenient although it takes a week to get used to the new form factor. Traditionalists who don’t like change probably aren’t reading at this point but if you’ve been on the fence about slim wallets, the Trove brings a lot of the best from folding and slim wallets.

About Anil Polat

Hi, I'm Anil. foXnoMad is where I combine travel and tech to help you travel smarter. I'm on a journey to every country in the world and you're invited to join the adventure! Read More