NB: This is a guest post by Sling Media, makers of SlingBox.
Business or leisure, travel is a well-connected world these days. But what services and products can travellers use to ensure they make the most of the web, stay in touch with the rest of the world and work effectively?
1. Wuala
Now that the floppy disk has died a long awaited death, the latest in accessing data is in the cloud, such as the rather ingenious cloud service offered by Wuala.
Offering free secure online storage, Wuala allows its users to store, backup, and access files from anywhere and to share files easily with friends or colleagues.
The beauty of Wuala is that it allows its users to trade their idle disk space in exchange for online storage, and in doing so keeps the service free to use!
2. XE Currency Converter
A simple online currency converter with iPhone, BlackBerry and Android apps to ease the confusion of overseas shopping.
3. FotoTranslate
Fototranslate from ABBYY allows you to instantly translate text using your smartphone’s camera. In just a few seconds, the program automatically recognises the photographed word, and shows the translation on the phone screen.
Fantastic for deciphering local menus and road signs.
4. Skype
Skype is a great solution to horrifyingly high international call tariffs. Use Skype to make voice calls over the Internet. Calls to other Skype users are free, while calls to both landline and mobile phones can be made for a nominal fee. Multi-user video calls are now also included in the basic service.
5. Net Doctor
Not sure what vaccinations you need? Use the NetDoctor guide to find out what's required for your destination.
6. iPass
Any traveller who can’t be torn away from their laptop would be crazy not to get an account with iPass.
They are the world’s biggest wifi network so wherever you are, you’ll be able to get connected.
Once you are registered, just "save to favourites" and you won’t even need to enter your details when you are trying to get online; iPass will find nearby hotspots automatically.
7. Next Flight
If you’ve missed a flight and want to quickly check the next available flight or if you finished up a meeting early and wondered if you can hop on to an earlier flight, then this application is a handy solution.
Next Flight provides you a list of available flights from all airlines and airports worldwide.
8. Blurb
Have a mountain of fantastic travel pics languishing on your digital camera? Rather than leave them to the digital ether why not create a fantastic coffee-table style book with Blurb.
Turn your pictures into a travel bible for friends and family to admire, or if you have higher aspirations you can even sell it via Blurb and become the next Ansel Adams.
9. Mobile Streetmaps
Preload map data on your iPhone before you leave, so can you be on the streets, offline, and still know everything about the area you are in.
You don’t need any network connection once the application is installed– no WiFi, no 3G, no GPRS, so no nasty data charges to return home to.
10. Zagat
For international foodies Zagat guides are a trusted source of unbiased opinion. Hailed by the Wall Street Journal as The Gastronomic Bible, you can search online or on your smartphone to get the most of out eating abroad.
11. Posterous
If you can’t find the site that satisfies your travel needs in terms of sharing content, how about starting your own? Posterous makes it easy to write your own blog, upload pics, videos so you can create your own guides.
12. Cab Corner
CabCorner.com is a global, mobile web-based, cab-sharing platform that connects commuters headed in the same direction.
Put simply this site allows to you find people to share cabs with, helping to cut down the cost of getting to the airport or hotel.
And, of course...
13. SlingBox
Whether keeping up with sport, watching local news or catching up with your favourite TV series while away on holiday the SlingBox makes it possible to stream HD TV, DVR or DVD to a computer or mobile device anywhere, anytime.
No need to download additional apps, users can tune in straight from a browser to make access quick and easy, and watch on any PC or Mac laptop, or desktop, in the world.
NB: This is a guest post by Sling Media, makes of SlingBox.