Arriving with exactly zero surprise factor, the Nokia Lumia 1020 has been officially unveiled at a exclusive launch event in New York.
The new phone comes with a 41MP camera, a xenon flash and LED light together atop the new Pureview sensor, and seems to have crammed it into a much thinner chassis compared to the original 808 Pureview.
The technology is made possible thanks to combining seven pixels into one, which Nokia is calling oversampling, giving you not only a 5MP image but one that has a large amount of detail in one place.
This oversampling is also going to be used in the video camera as well, bringing the same clarity to the HD movies.
Optical image stabilisation is on board, apparently completely redesigning the system, which now uses ball bearings and motors to maintain the stability when you're wiggling your phone around if taking photos and video.
Carl Zeiss wide angle lenses will be on offer, with six lens elements used to enhance the sharpness further. Nokia's CEO Stephen Elop spent a long time extolling the virtues of the zoom power of the 41MP lens, but the examples on offer didn't look as sharp when cropped down. However, the clarity is still high, literally picking out a needle in a haystack when zoomed in.
Nokia Pro Camera is also on board, giving a much wider range of settings than you'll see on other Windows Phone 8 devices, allowing you to control exposure, manual focus and white balance to really give more oomph to your shots.
The good news for colour fans: it's coming in yellow as well as white and black. Colours are important, people
It's fair to say that touch has already revolutionised the way we use our mobile phones - making every task quicker, more efficient and easier. So if you are looking to update your PC or laptop then it makes perfect sense to look for a touchscreen option too.
The good news is that, with Windows 8, the latest stylish computers are already embracing the touch revolution and Lenovo has some remarkable PCs that bring the finest touchscreens to your laptop or all-in-one computer.
Windows 8 is really brought to life with touch allowing you to access and use apps and games just like you would on your phone, but it doesn't come at the cost of the familiar desktop, so you won't have to give up on your favourite computer programs.
Factor in a wonderful keyboard and you really do get the best of both worlds - all the fun and feeling of touch without sacrificing the functionality of a proper keyboard and the familiarity of the Windows desktop.
That means you can flit between playing Angry Birds and getting that super-important spreadsheet finished off ahead of your big meeting and not need to switch devices. You can use your finger to control your computer, or use the trackpad or a mouse if you need to be a little bit more precise.
Let's face it, we've spent a long time compromising by being forced to control things one way or another so it's nice to be able to choose however we want to navigate through our daily computing lives.
Touch brings Windows 8 to life
One of the finest ways to enjoy touchscreen computing on the go is with an ultrabook - ultra-thin and light for great portability but with all the functionality of a laptop.
And touch-enabled ultrabooks need not break the bank - Lenovo's IdeaPad U310 won praise for its lovely keyboard and for its stylish look but costs less than £500 and the IdeaPad 410 picked up plaudits from TechRadar for its fab graphics and sound as well as coming in at a price that you won't believe for such a beautiful piece of kit.
Another option is the versatile Lenovo Z500 Touch where, as TechRadar's review puts it, "you'll find yourself seamlessly playing games, tabbing out to prod your way through Windows and then turning the system to more mundane tasks without stopping for breath."
Of course, not everybody is looking for a laptop so Lenovo has a range of fantastic all-in-one PCs that bring beautiful touchscreens that can bring your home computing to life.
Take the IdeaCentre A720, described in TechRadar's review as powerful and stylish and which will give you easy touch-enabled access to the internet.
That means an easy way to explore the power of the web - from that recipe you need in the kitchen through to a quick check of your email - and all of the wonderful touch-enabled apps in Windows 8.
And with its glorious 27-inch screen you'll also have a computer than can double up as an entertainment hub, allowing you to have a powerful music player, connected television and on demand video player to boot. How's that for versatility.
Last, but not least, check out the Lenovo IdeaCentre B450 All-in-one with a stunning screen and all the power that you would traditionally associated with a dull old desktop tower.
Touch is the future of computing, but you needn't wait - Windows 8 and Lenovo's touch enabled computing will bring you right up to date and let you take advantage of the new revolution in computing.
Hit the links below to see what TechRadar thinks of Lenovo's laptops and all-in-ones...
When it comes to gaming, the platform of choice goes to the consoles. Well, at least as far as the average consumer goes. But enthusiasts know that if you want to experience the true quality that a game has to offer, then PC gaming is the way to go. Desktops will give you that extra oomph, but sometimes portability is a necessary factor for LAN party-goers or traveling pros. For those looking to take their game mobile without sacrificing too many frame rates, PCMag has rounded up the best gaming laptops.
As with desktops, the best gaming laptops tend to be configured specifically for gaming performance. That means the best gaming graphics card out there (in this case, either an Nvidia GeForce GTX 780M or AMD Radeon HD 8870M), and at least a third-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU. The screen size for gaming laptops tends to be big (think 15 to 18 inches), though there are one or two ultraportable gaming laptops on the market today. And given that high-end components tend to drain battery life, don't expect these gaming rigs to stray too far from a wall socket very often. Lastly, be prepared to brownbag it for your workweek lunches for a while, as all this performance (especially in a portable package) doesn't come cheap.
But maybe you're not looking to burn up the gaming grid. Maybe you want a laptop that offers smooth gameplay on the lighter end of the 3D graphics spectrum without sacrificing your rent check. In that case, there are laptops available with lower-end GPUs that cost a little less than the higher-end stuff out there and still let you hold your head up when competing in World of Warcraft or Torchlight, or older titles like Team Fortress 2.
Below are 10 of our best gaming laptops, which range from the luxury to the more moderate purchase that can still
MSI GX60 1AC-021US
$1,299 list $1,215.17 at AmazonWhen you're faced with a choice of overall performance vs. gaming performance on a budget, the MSI GX60 1AC-021US is a great entry-level system for the gamer on a budget.Read the full review ››
Origin EON17-SLX
$4,405 list
The Origin EON17-SLX high-end gaming laptop has the latest and best of everything, from an overclocked quad-core processor to SLI graphics. It's a mean machine, but it costs serious green. Read the full review ››
Razer Edge Pro
$1,449.99 list $1,224.27 at AmazonThe Razer Edge Pro gaming tablet is the rare device that reimagines what the PC experience should be and delivers something that's not just different, but better. That it's made to let you game anywhere just makes it a lot more fun. Read the full review ››
Samsung Series 7 Gamer
$1,899 list
The Samsung Series 7 Gamer delivers on most fronts, making for a powerful gaming laptop that's equipped with some great features. Its minor shortcomings are tempered by its reasonable price tag. Read the full review ››
MSI GT70 0NE-276US
$2,599.99 list
With its impressive specs, slew of nifty features, and overall cool design, the MSI GT70 0NE-276US is a fine choice for a gaming laptop, but better choices are out there. Read the full review ››
Gigabyte P2742G-CF1
$1,499 list $1,319.90 at AmazonWhile the performance isn't quite as stunning as you'll find in other gaming laptops, the Gigabyte P2742G-CF1 does offer a longer lasting battery than more expensive competitors. Read the full review ››
iBuyPower Valkyrie CZ-17
$1,399 list
Equipped with a 3rd-gen, quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU, the iBuypower Valkyrie CZ-17 laptop is a multimedia powerhouse with some gaming prowess. Read the full review ››
Lenovo IdeaPad Y500
$1,250 list $1,039.20 at LenovoThe Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 is a solid choice for a gaming laptop, offering decent gaming performance and portability, with a modular upgrade system that lets you add and swap extras easily. Read the full review ››
The deep, dark fear of security-minded people was that smartphones would surpass PCs as the prime target for malware. The good news is this hasn't happened…yet. Apple's strict control over its store has kept out nearly all the overtly malicious apps, and the Google Play store has seen remarkably little malware despite the freedoms it allows.
Malware is a threat for mobile users, but if you stick to Google Play it's highly unlikely you'll encounter it. There are, however, other, more pressing concerns. Scammers and aggressive ad networks want access to your personal information, and mobile device theft is a burgeoning problem. Thankfully, Android security suites are already guarding against these threats, and are ready to defend you, should the mobile malware threat ever really take off.
Mobile Malware Protection Today
App stores have benefited greatly from a digital security industry that was well established by the time smartphones arrived on the scene. Most have made the jump to mobile, and brought with them years of experience and advanced techniques. That's obvious when you consider that, according to the independent AV-Test lab, the average detection rate for Android security suites is 96 percent and several apps have detect 100 percent of the threats used in the study. I've written about mobile malware detection on SecurityWatch quite a bit, and the numbers keep getting higher, even as the tests include more and more samples.
The approaches to protecting against mobile malware vary depending on the developer. Bitdefender Mobile Security and Antivirus, our Editors' Choice for paid-subscription Android security apps, uses a targeted method: it only scans app files, scans every app when it is installed, and uses a cloud scanning technique that only works when an internet connection is available. On the other hand, our Editors' Choice for free Android security apps avast! Mobile Security & Antivirus can be configured to scan every single file on your device and even scan files every time they're accessed. Either one will protect you, but avast! is probably better for power users who side-load apps from weird markets, and Bitdefender better suited for the average user.
Pocket-sized Data Goldmines
For scammers, the information inside your phone—your phone number, your contacts, the easy sharing to social network—is gold dust. With it, they can craft convincing phishing emails, send spam directly to your phone via SMS, spread spam to everyone in your address books, all in the hopes of making some money.
The ability to send texts is particularly attractive to scammers since they can easily monetize a so-called "premium SMS message." Remember those "Text [number] to donate" things for charitable organizations? Like those, but evil, and with the scammer or an affiliate on the receiving end.
Many security apps will offer some form of phishing protection for mobile web browsers, generally by blocking known phishing URLs. Apps like TrustGo Antivirus and Mobile Security can extend their protection beyond the stock Android web browser and include Chrome, Dolphin, and other browsers as well.
A rare, but welcome feature amongst Android security apps is SMS protection.Kaspersky Mobile Security for Android lets you create white and black lists of numbers, and avast! will offer to block messages from any number not already in your address book.
Ad Networks and Permissions
A sour truth for smartphone junkies is that advertising is a critical part of the app ecosystem. Yes, you don't like ads, but you probably really like getting games for free. In order to make money off free games, developers insert ad network code into their apps and get a cut from the network for pushing ads to you.
Ad networks are keen to get access to more of your information in order to better target ads and get more information about who sees their ads. Access to a phone number or device ID lets advertisers track your movements between apps, and build up complicated profiles. Less reputable ad networks may also try to access your address book in order to send ads to other people, or even change your ringtone to an advertisement. Some ad networks store your information in countries with hazy information protection laws, raising the possibility of your information being sold to third parties.
In SecurityWatch's weekly Mobile Threat Monday feature, we often see apps that are tied to suspicious ad networks or request many more permissions.
Many security apps now include privacy inspectors that report on what information apps can access. Lookout recently unveiled tighter definitions of malware and started flagging apps in Lookout Security & Antivirus Premium that aggressively harvest information or use unusual advertising techniques without your consent. Bitdefender recently unveiled a stand-alone app called Clueful Privacy Advisor, which can even tell you where your personal information is being sent.
Right now, the most privacy inspectors can do is assist you in comparison shopping. Because Android's approach to permissions is all or nothing, you either allow an app all the access it wants or you don't get the app. Privacy inspectors give you a birds'-eye view of where your information is going, letting you choose which apps to keep and which to ditch.
Loss and Theft
Your smartphone itself represents a not-insignificant investment, and one that has increasingly become a target for thieves. Reports claim that 1.6 million Americans had their phone stolen in 2012, the problem apparently warranting a summit earlier this year.
More than your phone itself, the information inside needs safeguarding as well. Not necessarily for scams, but just peace of mind. Personally, the idea of someone using my phone to post things on Facebook or Twitter, rifle through my photos, or read my text messages makes me feel sick to my stomach.
To defend your phone, most security apps include a slate of anti-theft tools to keep you in charge of your phone no matter who possesses it. Once the app is installed on your device, you use a web portal to track your phone, keep people out using a device lock, set off an alarm, or send messages to whomever has the device. Security apps like Kaspersky even allow you take pictures of the phone's captor, and others like Bitdefender let you control your phone via special text messages.
To deal with worst case scenarios, most Android security apps will let you remotely trigger a factory refresh which erases all your data on board. If you've got sensitive information on your phone, it's a drastic but necessary step.
Choose Your Shield
The freedom of the Android platform has opened the door for new threats, but also given security apps the latitude they need to protect your device. The result has been a surprisingly diverse ecosystem of free and paid apps to keep you safe(r).
Whatever you chose for your device, make sure it works for you. Learn how to use it, and be sure to test-drive the anti-theft features so you know how they work before you ever need to use them for real. Mobile security is only as good as the person using the phone, so choose wisely, and make it part of your life.
I saw this funny article on cracked.com, and I'm sure you will love it.
Unlike many of the columnists at Cracked, I've been married a long time. (I also have functional genitalia, but that's not relevant to this discussion.) And when you've been married, you learn the little difficulties of a shared daily existence. Certain traits start to emerge that make anyone a bad spouse or partner. And wouldn't you know it, all those traits are things the Internet is great at. Yep, the Internet is a lot like the last person in the world you'd ever want to marry. Here are five reasons the Internet would make a terrible spouse.
John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images Five reasons in addition to the Internet (like most Cracked columnists) not having functional genitalia.
#5. It Uses Your Honesty Against You
You're supposed to marry your best friend, your trusted confidant, the person you can tell anything. Of course, those traits don't apply to spouses that have super kickin' bods or lots of cash, but for the rest of us, that's the goal, and it's a really good idea. Even if you don't come easily to trust and aren't a particularly big sharer, odds are that most of us will start to divulge more and more about ourselves over time.
Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images "Wait. You like it when chicks put what where?"
This is all good. It builds bonds and makes for a strong marriage. So basically the worst thing you could ever do as a husband or wife is use that shared information against your partner in a fight. Let's say your wife divulged her feelings of guilt about the time she lied to her dad at 18 and her father died before she ever cleared her conscience. Only a bastard would wait until he got into a fight with his wife and say something like "Oh, is this just another one of your lies, like the one you told your dad?!"
But the Internet LOVES to do that!
Anything you share with the Web will be used against you. So if Cracked's John Cheese writes intensely personal columns about his struggles overcoming addiction, then the Web's go-to insult for him is to call him a drunk (which is weird, because that non-functioning genitalia thing is such a gimme). I mention my Judaism in a handful of the hundreds of columns I've written for Cracked, and boom, it becomes a quick way to deliver anti-Semitic cheap shots. (In fairness to the haters, they're short on material because, as I mentioned, my junk is like totally functional.) DOB writes that he really likes his puppy, and whammo, suddenly millions of women go "awwww." OK, that last one was probably a bad example, but the point is, much like the last person you'd ever want to marry, everything you share with the Net will be weaponized and returned twofold.
#4. It Judges You by Your Last Bad Act
In many wedding vows, there is some form of that classic language about staying married "for better or worse." You can view those words as a mere talismanic phrase meaning "You're stuck, mofo, deal with it," but I tend not to. I think of it more as "taking the good with the bad." I like to think that, in a good marriage, you build up credit. You've done a bunch of good deeds because you wanted to and they flowed naturally from you, and your spouse appreciates them and loves you for it. Those deeds are part of who you are and why they love you. But in time, you will fuck up, you will make mistakes, you will do bad things. And when that happens, those mistakes will not wipe the ledger clean of your goodness. You will not be judged only by your most recent mistake. You will not suddenly become some whole other person in the eyes of your partner who has forgotten everything that has come before.
Unless you don't have that kind of marriage. Then look out. Then it really doesn't matter who you are or what you've done because you're just the person who has pissed off your partner right now, and nothing that came before counts for shit.
Let's use Cracked as an example, since I assume we're all familiar with it and because I get a bonus every time I'm self-referential in an article. Some of the angriest, hatiest bastards in the comments are also some of Cracked's most dedicated readers. Some of them. Some are just garbage. But let's talk about those dedicated people. They read this site every day. They're given three to five pieces of new content every single day including weekends and they generally like what they're getting because these folks keep coming back. So they see a piece they hate. Let's pretend they're right. Let's pretend it's awful and it's not their own subjective stupidity. Let's assume the piece just objectively sucks. Maybe Bucholz remembered he was Canadian and decided to stop trying so hard. Perhaps Soren made the mistake of thinking readers would appreciate a gentle form of satire. Or maybe I wrote it. Whatever. Point is, holy shit, how mad at Cracked can you be? You're here every day, you love us, you see something you don't like? Good. Don't like it. You can even say you don't like it, if you have a reason beyond this article is "retarted" or "full of gay," but have some perspective. Don't shit on the whole site and speak in extremes. Well, much like a bad husband or wife, the Internet hates perspective and loves the drama of the extreme.
#3. It's Bored of You
You marry someone because you like things about them. Maybe it's shallow, like you're totally into blondes with large breasts. Or maybe it's more psychological, like loving a man with paternalistic qualities and strong opinions about how you should live your life. Here's the interesting thing about people: They get tired of the things they like. That frat boy husband whose only goal in life was to marry a big, bouncy, all-American blonde is not likely to be caught cheating with another big, bouncy, all-American blonde. He's probably jumping on some svelte, dark-haired Ukrainian or something. And that woman who enjoyed a man with strong opinions about how she should live her life is almost definitely going to resent feeling controlled by a douchebag. It's very dangerous to marry someone who fills a desperate, almost fetishistic need because needs change and then you hate them. Yes, in this entry, the bad spouse is you. You're the one hating them for being exactly what you wanted on your wedding day.
Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images "I love you. Never change. Unless I decide someday I want you to, then please change fast."
And Being Fickle Is the Internet's Talent
I suppose I could demonstrate this by pointing to websites that do well until they don't. All those sites that have overstayed their welcome and used up their shelf life. Nothing changed. They offered the same content, but the people went away, probably saying something shitty before they left.
Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images "Uh, yeah, we get it, CNN.com -- you're 'newsy'!"
But just think about memes. We consume them, want them desperately, and get infatuated, and six months later, we want to murder anyone with the audacity to mention their existence. If someone rickrolled you right now, you'd probably never speak to them again
Wander the streets of Venice, the boardwalks of Brazil or even just the aisles of a grubby Boeing 737 and you'll quickly notice tourists abusing their gadgets with ill abandon, as if nobody is watching.
But as well as red-faced foreigners using iPads as cameras and show-off friends checking in on Facebook while still at the airport McDonalds, the usually tech-savvy can be prone to the odd holiday slip-up, too - usually by massively over-estimating their gadget needs.
Here are 10 of the most common tech-related errors that make travellers look stupid. Stop yourself from committing these sins to avoid irritating locals and embarrassing your fellow tourists.
1. Checking-in on Facebook... at airports
Checking in online at airports is best left between you and your airline
Airports are exotic only to children. "Look everybody, I'm in New York City!" is a half-decent boast. Posting that you're wandering around the duty-free shops at the airport, on the other hand, is more a cry for help.
Facebook is at its best when informing us where trusted friends are on the globe, particularly if they're somewhere unusual and also post some stunning photos. Knowing friends are enjoying themselves somewhere special is certainly more interesting than knowing how boring their day at work was, for sure.
But if you're busy queuing in a large concrete block to get to an airline seat that's already been allocated to you, please keep your powder dry. Nobody is interested.
2. Chatting during take-off
There was a time when the phrase, "we're just about to take-off, I'll call you later," was generally uttered into a mobile phone when boarding the plane or settling into one's seat. Now it appears to have moved back 20 minutes to the actual point when the pilot has already rattled down the runway at 100mph and is tilting towards the clouds.
We don't blame the flight attendants, but couldn't their breeze down the aisle to check seat belts also involve spotting - and possibly tranquillising - covert smartphone users who rate the importance of their business call with Derek from Distribution far higher than the safety of 149 people crammed into a long tin tube attempting to float?
3. Obsessive phone battery preservation
Holidays are for re-charging your own batteries, not your smartphone's
Your phone's alarm goes off at 4am. You silence it to prevent the battery draining further: you've a long journey ahead, and in the airport you barely check Facebook at all while you hop between charging points - at one stage sitting on the floor behind a bin just to avoid dipping below 99% as your flight starts to board.
You've bought yourself an emergency battery that's good for a full recharge, and packed a worldwide adaptor just in case it's possible to charge up on the plane. You've even put an old MP3 player in your now bulging carry-on bag just in case.
And what happens when you get on the plane? You watch The Dark Knight Rises on the in-flight system, drift into a Zen-like trance and drink cheap wine until you fall asleep, finally arriving at your hotel many hours later with a healthy 97%.
4. Careless photography
We live in a throwaway age where SD cards are capable of holding thousands of photos, but do try to consider what it is you're photographing. On a recent trip to the ultimate honeypot of world tourism - Machu Picchu in Peru - we spotted more than a few fellow tourists so desperate not to miss out on the ultimate shot (read: overdone clichés that you'll never look at twice) that they were snapping away with a camera while looking in the opposite direction.
Spend less time taking indiscriminate pictures and more time thinking about light, subject and composition, to get nice photos.
Oh, and when a couple give you their camera and ask you to take a picture of them in front of the Taj Mahal or the Sydney Opera House, remember that it's probably the only photo of them together on their honeymoon, so don't absent mindedly cut their heads off.
5. Using an iPad as a camera or camcorder
Why not watch the action instead of taking selfies?
The ultimate tech faux pas? The iPad is a quite brilliant boredom-beater, but wielding an iPad above your sunburned head to film rudimentary video is the new sandals with socks.
Whether it's during a guided tour, a show at Disney Land, a sporting event or - worst of all - a gig where that 10-inch screen is an unwanted beacon of bright light, we nevertheless predicted this worrying trend years ago. After all, the two-gadgets-in-one concept is always hard to resist, and who wants to carry a camcorder?
Please just use a phone - it's more discreet, it's safer and it's far less intrusive. Or perhaps you are actually on holiday specifically to spend quality time with your iPad. If that's the case, point the thing at your own face and take a long, hard look at yourself (yes, we know it has a front-facing camera).
6. DSLR in one hand, smartphone in the other
You want to take a professional, nicely framed picture of your significant other in front of Buckingham Palace to keep forever on a hard drive when you get home. On the other hand, you want the instant gratification of about 10 meaningful 'likes' and perhaps a 'LOL' on Facebook, too.
So as well as lugging a DSLR across the globe you insist on composing the identical shot on your phone exclusively for uploading. If you're in a busy tourist spot, taking twice the time is likely to get you shoved out of the way, and rightly so.
Until all cameras come with Wi-Fi, like the Samsung Galaxy Camera, Panasonic LF1 and friends, why not try waiting a few hours or days and then just uploading your well-composed, considered pictures from the DSLR?
7. Obsessing about music and movies
You don't need the entire BBC iPlayer library for a long weekend in Paris
What if you get bored? It depends what kind of trips you take, but any amount of lazing by the pool/long train journeys/killing time in airports demands a Plan B comprised of music, movies and books.
So a week prior to your holiday you get busy compiling playlists on your phone, stuffing it full of music, endless reams of podcasts, movies, TV shows and more.
But hey, guess what? Being on vacation isn't just about taking a break from the daily routine of work - it's also a getaway from all those digital distractions you fill up your home life with. We predict that you'll consume about 5% of what you actually travel with... and, no, you really don't need that just in case cache of 1001 Ebooks You Must Read, either.
8. Checking email while away
What did you do on your annual leave? Clear your mind? Or just your inbox? The smartphone is a misnomer on holiday and best left at home if you're the type who can't resist checking work email.
The logic is fool's gold; if you check email while on trips away, you can delete some ahead of time and get back to the office with a less-than-overflowing inbox. Whoopee.
If the checking of email on phones wasn't already almost a reflex action for many, it's about to get even easier with the price of data around the globe (especially in the EU) about to drastically reduce, which is the ultimate in false economy if you've spent hundreds to escape the daily grind. Besides, isn't an overflowing inbox the ideal excuse to take it easy on your first day back?
9. Abusing stargazing apps
Clumsily pointing at a free iPad app doesn't make you Professor Brian Cox
We like learning about space, and our summer holiday is usually the only time of the year when we're likely to be somewhere outdoorsy with a big horizon-to-horizon view of the night sky - perhaps even somewhere dark enough to show the Milky Way in all its glory (at what other time of year does anyone actively seek out a sunset or sunrise?).
We like having someone knowledgeable to point out constellations, star clusters and planets, but that's not the same as having some berk proudly thrust a tablet in our face to "show us" where Venus is by pointing at their free Night Sky app. And on a bright LCD screen that instantly kills our night vision, too.
Those apps - which, incidentally, all get very confused anywhere near the equator - are great for solitary learning. So come back next year when you've learned enough to actually point something out in the sky. We can all use apps.
10. Back-packing with bulky noise cancelling headphones
In theory these are great; what better way to block out the din of air travel than by donning a massive pair of headphones that cleverly create a sheen of calculated silence?
Except, when the flight is complete, they're virtually useless - too big and clumsy to wear around your neck in hot climates and a pain to stow in a backpack, they're another symptom of our obsession with how awful flying is. They almost always come with massive protective cases, and most of them don't have a passive non-battery mode.
Still, it could be worse. On a recent trip we spotted a family of five - including three kids no older than 10 years old - all sporting a pair of Beats by Dr Dre. We're sure they had a lot of fun on their holiday.
Did we forget any other irritating tech habits of tourists? Seen anyone doing all of the above at once, or something even weirder? Leave your suggestions in the comments below.
