Steve Paine is a tech blogger and reporter. Steve has developed a very light and compact kit that allows him to travel to conferences without being loaded down with gear. Steve's kit allows him to take excellent photos, create decent short movies, conduct audio or video interviews, write text, and upload it all to the Internet for publication.
Read about Steve's "no-bag pro-blogging" kit here
http://www.umpcportal.com/2011/08/the-no-bag-pro-blogging-challenge/
More information here. IFA is a big tech conference in Berlin in September.
http://www.umpcportal.com/2011/08/mobile-reporting-kit-v10-no-bag-blogging-at-ifa/
The heart of Steve's kit is composed of two items:
-- Nokia N8 smartphone (about $350 in USA)
-- Samsung Galaxy Tab 3G P1000 (7 inch screen, about $450 in USA)
The N8 camera was developed with Zeiss technology. The 14 megapixel camera is widely considered the best camera in a smart phone today. A recent software update turns on auto-focus capability for movies in macro mode. This helps Steve make good quality close-up video of new electronics products. Movies at regular distances have auto-focus, too.
You can get an idea how the auto-focus works in this video Steve posted. It's the result of a few minutes filming in his garden, then edited together and posted directly from the phone.
The Galaxy Tab serves as Steve's note taker, text editor and WordPress blog publisher. The Android tablet also serves as calendar, email, texting and game machine while on the road. Steve is competent using the Galaxy Tab onscreen keyboard with his thumbs while holding it in portrait mode, so no external keyboard is necessary.
Both devices are "unlocked," that is, they work on any GSM/UMTS carrier's 3G data network, worldwide. Pop in the SIM card appropriate to the country and carrier, and you're in business. In USA, that gives Steve a choice between AT&T and T-Mobile as carriers.
Steve calculates the weight of his kit, including the phone, tablet, cables, mains power adapter, 5V AA emergency battery charger, mini-tripod, headset with microphone, plus his glasses and wallet to weigh 1,040 g (36 oz). The pieces fit into a couple of pockets in a jacket or vest. One company that designs clothing with electronics in mind is http://www.scottevest.com/ But any jacket with big pockets will do. Add a toothbrush and a change of underwear, and Steve is ready for several days on the road.
The equipment and techniques Steve has developed would work well for overland travelers, too. What's in your high tech ultralight travel kit?
Read about Steve's "no-bag pro-blogging" kit here
http://www.umpcportal.com/2011/08/the-no-bag-pro-blogging-challenge/
More information here. IFA is a big tech conference in Berlin in September.
http://www.umpcportal.com/2011/08/mobile-reporting-kit-v10-no-bag-blogging-at-ifa/
The heart of Steve's kit is composed of two items:
-- Nokia N8 smartphone (about $350 in USA)
-- Samsung Galaxy Tab 3G P1000 (7 inch screen, about $450 in USA)
The N8 camera was developed with Zeiss technology. The 14 megapixel camera is widely considered the best camera in a smart phone today. A recent software update turns on auto-focus capability for movies in macro mode. This helps Steve make good quality close-up video of new electronics products. Movies at regular distances have auto-focus, too.
You can get an idea how the auto-focus works in this video Steve posted. It's the result of a few minutes filming in his garden, then edited together and posted directly from the phone.
The Galaxy Tab serves as Steve's note taker, text editor and WordPress blog publisher. The Android tablet also serves as calendar, email, texting and game machine while on the road. Steve is competent using the Galaxy Tab onscreen keyboard with his thumbs while holding it in portrait mode, so no external keyboard is necessary.
Both devices are "unlocked," that is, they work on any GSM/UMTS carrier's 3G data network, worldwide. Pop in the SIM card appropriate to the country and carrier, and you're in business. In USA, that gives Steve a choice between AT&T and T-Mobile as carriers.
Steve calculates the weight of his kit, including the phone, tablet, cables, mains power adapter, 5V AA emergency battery charger, mini-tripod, headset with microphone, plus his glasses and wallet to weigh 1,040 g (36 oz). The pieces fit into a couple of pockets in a jacket or vest. One company that designs clothing with electronics in mind is http://www.scottevest.com/ But any jacket with big pockets will do. Add a toothbrush and a change of underwear, and Steve is ready for several days on the road.
The equipment and techniques Steve has developed would work well for overland travelers, too. What's in your high tech ultralight travel kit?