Click here to view the embedded video.

The Microlink FR160 from Eton is a solution for those who like to go backpacking and take their music with them or want to keep on top of the weather. It also doubles as an essential emergency radio due to its ability to hold a long solar charge as well as recharge via the sun or the hand crank. The Microlink has a USB charging station to recharge your cellphone too. To see how all these features worked out watch the video review above or read the written review below.

Solar Radio
This is the most stellar feature of the Microlink. The radio was picking up a great signal even though I had a lot of interference and was up in the hills. I hardly ever have to revolve the crank anymore because the Microlink keeps sucking up juice from the sun. So now if my Ipod fails me, I can easy pop out the Microlink and keep listening to tunes…did I mention it has a little dock to plug in your headphones? I like that!

Cell Phone Charger
Cell phones can be charged by the Microlink via the hand crank only. First make sure you have set the radio bar to “CELL.” Unfortunately I could not get my Blackberry to even power on after 15 minutes of nonstop cranking. The manual does say cell phone charge times will vary – but I doubt anyone will have the patience to continually crank. Strangely I did notice the charging light on my Blackberry flash even though it could not manage to juice it up enough.

The Flashlight
The Microlink’s flashlight is incredibly bright. It’s a small blessing in disguise considering all you have to do to power it is lay it in the sun or give it a couple cranks. As I was editing my video review, I left the flashlight on for over an hour. The fact that something powered just by sunlight could stay on that long is amazing to me – the shine hadn’t even grown weaker! Can you imagine how helpful this would be during blackouts?

The Microlink FR160 is best looked at as a solar power radio. I was so pleased with how long the device could keep chugging that it won my heart over. The sting of it not being able to power my Blackberry wasn’t easy but there are other devices and dedicated solar batteries that can already do that. In fact you may want to keep your eyes peeled this coming week for one we will feature in another product review. At the end of the day, the Microlink is a winner in my book so I will only dock it a star for not being up to snuff as a cell phone charger.

The Microlink FR160 is rated ★★★★☆ 

Etón FR160B Microlink Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power and Cell Phone Charger (Black) List Price: $40.00 Price: Too low to display Read Reviews

No related posts.

Here is a rundown of my top five apps for travelling, backpacking or just on those holidays.

5. World Lens – from $9.99

More languages and this would be a neat little app

Whilst I am not convinced they have the product up to scratch just yet, the technology is astonishing, allowing you to hold up your iPhone to some writing and hey presto what appears on your iPhone is the translated version. Whilst the technology is indisputable, you can currently only translate from Spanish to English and English to Spanish, each direction of translation costing $9.99 makes it a bit useless unless you are going to a Spanish speaking country.

4. Emergency Panic Button – $1.37

When you find yourself abroad in a different country, you could end up in slightly dangerous neighbourhoods. The Panic Button will quickly send out a text message to the number you place in your phone with the last known GPS location and a message such as “John is in Trouble” which can hopefully set your mind at ease as well as all the people waiting for you at home.

3. TripAdvisor – Free

It’s no coincidence that my top three apps are free for both Android and iPhone, the TripAdvisor app is handy in scoping out at a quick glance what are the top destinations for the place you are currently in, allowing you to browse reviews and hints and tips of people that have been there before, never again will you miss that spectacular piece of culture because its not on your direct route through town.

2. Skype – Free

Making those long distance phone calls that little bit shorter, there will not be many people who are not familiar with Skype, but the smart phones of today are perfect with their front facing video cameras. Anywhere you go that has wifi will help you avoid all those expensive roaming charges but you will be able to stay in contact with your family and friends.

1. Google Translate – Free

Whilst the World Lens translates what is written in front of you, the Google Translate app is much more practical in real world situations, nothing short of revolutionary, the app will allow you and a foreign speaking comrade to converse through the medium of the smart phone. Allowing you to speak into your phone, let the app do the translating and it will then speak out the translated language. With 50 languages with preset words and phrases as well as its voice recognition, this app is the number one travel app. Available on iPhone and Android for free, it is a must for anyone going to any other country and is helpful for learning the languages you are going to need.

These apps are perfect for those long trips abroad and will give you everything you need to make the most of every location you visit, conversing with the local people and the people that are at home.

Andy is a freelance copywriter, committed travel blogger and advisor. His current interest is in Diving holidays having just come back from a diving holiday in Zanzibar.

Related posts:

1. 5 Must Have Entrepreneur Apps Whether you have an Android or an iPhone in your pocket, every budding entrepreneur needs a few good apps in...
2. 5 Great Holiday Gadgets for Travel Holiday travel gadgets that will make it easier to enjoy your vacation, these top 5 gadgets to travel will keep...
3. iPhone Apps Help Kids in Speech Therapy iPhone apps that help children in speech therapy have advantages in that they are easy to use and are more...

AquaPac Waterproof Bags (£17)

You can take you gadgets safe in the knowledge that it is completely protected from mud and water. The AquaPac will keep your shiny new camera, MP3 player or phone dry even at the bottom of a pool. This 100% waterproof casing will protect the device fordepths of 5m for 30 minutes.

Electronics

• $39.99 List Price
• $29.95 at Amazon.com

Product Description Tuck your iPhone safely inside this Aquapac and you'll be able to take it and use it wherever you want to go and with the freedom to do whatever you like to do.... Read more

Medio Life Speaker

This waterproof wireless speaker is perfect for the beach. Simply connect all your devices to the transmitter and you’ve got yourself a roaming rave with a range of 80 metres. It’s possible to add more speakers to really bring the noise!

Live Luggage

• $1,620.00 at Amazon.com

Product Description The world's first power assisted suitcase. Make travelling a breeze with this stylish and technologically advanced luggage. Live Luggage has nanotechnology, pancake motors in the wheels with intelligent control systems and sensor systems.... Read more

If you are the ultimate techie then this is the suitcase for you. Not only does it have plenty of compartments for all kinds of gadgets, it also has a built in ID chip so you can track it down if the case is misplaced. If you’re one of those people who pack way too much, simply drive the motor-driven suitcase up to the check-in.

LG XF1 Portable Hard Drive

Electronics

• $116.30 at Amazon.com

This portable hard drive can easily plug into any TV and offer 500 GB of storage meaning you can take a whole bunch of music and movie files with you on your getaway. This is great if you want to occupy the kids while you treat yourself to a full luxury spa.  Of course it works best if you have a laptop with a card that can plug into standard Composite TV inputs or the TV has either a USB slot for the hard drive to plugin directly or allows for a laptop to plugin via a VGA port.

Motorola Xoom Tablet

If you already own an Android phone then this tablet could be a more compatible travel companion than the iPad. Like its Apple counterpart, the Motorola Xoom runs on Verizon Wireless. The Xoom has a cutting-edge processor that makes it faster than most tablets on the market. It also has cameras on the front and back for self-portraits and video calling on Skype.

Personal Computers

• $999.99 List Price

Product Description Device comes neverlocked with sealed box, can be used with any sim card on all GSM networks. Manufacturer warranty from 12 to 24 months.... Read moreAmazon.com Product Description Redefining the tablet by providing more ways to have fun, connect with friends and stay productive on the go, the Motorola XOOM for Verizon Wireless boasts a dual core processor with each core running at 1 GHz, 10.1-inch widescreen HD display, and 3G connectivity (which can be upgraded to 4G in coming months).... Read more

Olympus EPL-2 Camera

Most DSLRS are too big to lug around on your travels which is why the reduced-sized Olympus EPL-2 is great for holiday snaps. It comes with interchangeable lenses so you can capture everything from a beautiful foreign landscape to up-close family portraits.  This is also a 12+ MP camera so you can be sure your shots will be of the highest quality and resolutions.

Electronics

• $599.95 List Price
• $599.00 at Amazon.com

Product Description Olympus E-PL2 with 14-42MM lens Black ... Read more

Related posts:

1. Technology to Take on Your Holiday Some of the best technology gadgets to take on a holiday vacation including the Amazon Kindle, Nintendo DS and more....
2. Top 5 Essential Travel Apps Top 5 Essential Travel Apps for iPhone and Android to help you get around in foreign destinations....
3. Sell Old Gadgets for Extra Cash Make some extra money by recycling or selling old gadgets or electronics with Gazelle.com...

The Amazon Kindle is the obvious choice for many a book reading holiday goer, but instead of filling a suitcase up with your Mill’s and Boon novels, instead you can just bring your Amazon Kindle, pre loaded with as many books as you may fancy and it will happily let you read to your hearts content for the majority of your holiday without ever having to be recharged. I have been on many holidays to hot and humid climates, I would like to say I read a lot on holiday but the glue in the book tends to disintegrate and I’m left with missing pages throughout the book.

Kindle Keyboard, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display

Electronics

• $139.00 List Price

Product Description Kindle (Wi-Fi) is a great choice if you already have a high-speed internet connection and wireless router set up in your home and do not need the added convenience of a 3G connection. 3G enables you to download books anytime, anywhere, while on the go. If you do not have Wi-Fi set up in your home, Kindle 3G may be a better option.... Read more

The Nintendo DS is the obvious choice for the children on holiday to play on the plane and when at the resort, you have to make sure that the children don’t substitute enjoying the sun and scenery of the holiday for playing games on their portable gaming console.

Nintendo DSi Matte - Black

Nintendo DS, Video Game

• $149.99 List Price

Product Description Nintendo DSi is a new hand held portable game system for anytime, anywhere fun and more. Enjoy the largest screen size, best audio quality and thinnest design of any system in the Nintendo DS family. Download exclusive games, clocks and calendars via the Nintendo DSi Shop. Take pictures using either an inward or outward facing camera and chose from 11 different lenses to customize your shots. Connect wirelessly to browse the internet, share photos and play with others....... Read more

Image Credit: Author

an ebook reader, the only problem has been the brightness of the screen in the sun light and is liable to overheating if you are travelling to the most exotic of locations.

Of course if Apples offering is too pricey then you could consider getting a netbook, these mini laptops are great for checking email, updating Facebook and twitter as most resorts now days have a free wi-fi service for you to connect to. The netbook of choice is the Samsung N220 netbook and has a great battery life and processing power to comfortably carry out any tasks you may need of it.

If you are looking to capture some amazing moments throughout the holiday then there are not many better choices than the Sony Bloggie digital camcorder that shoots in high definition and the ability to shoot 360 degrees. This is the video camera of choice for the vlogging holiday goer.

Sony MHS-PM5 bloggie HD Video Camera (Violet)

Electronics

• $169.99 List Price
• $169.00 at Amazon.com

Product Description Capture HD MP4 video and 5MP images and upload them directly to the Web with the Sony® bloggie™ camera. The pocketable bloggie camera also features a unique swivel lens that rotates up to 270 degrees, making it easy to self-record a video clip.... Read more

With technology above totalling £1190 it is understandable you might not want to shell out for all of them, but it is in no doubt that technology can in fact enhance your holiday.

Related posts:

1. What Tech Gifts Are You Getting This Holiday Season? Some tech gifts for 2011 holiday season include tablets, robotic kits and of course gaming devices!...
2. 5 Great Holiday Gadgets for Travel Holiday travel gadgets that will make it easier to enjoy your vacation, these top 5 gadgets to travel will keep...
3. Did Some Holiday Shopping On NewEgg I actually use NewEgg.com so frequently I decided to do a plug for the site on my own.  I have...

How low are the rates?

We are talking about Hotels in Australia from $87 USD, China for $58 USD, and Thailand for $51 USD per night.

• Over 1 million hotel rooms are available for booking across 16 countries including:

Australia, Bali, China, Fiji, HK, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

• The Accor 3 Day Hotel Super Sale has the best rates on well known hotel chains that also include:

Sofitel, Pullman, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure, All Seasons and more.

I myself have wanted to visit so many of these destinations including Sydney, Australia and Tokyo, Japan which would be my top two destinations I would visit if I were able to get away and take advantage of this super sale starting tomorrow.

Accor has hotel deals for 36 cities in Australia alone, whether you want to travel and stay in Melbourne, or Cairns and stay at the All Seasons Cairns Gateway resort you can find amazingly low rates on hotels in any one of the 36 cities.

Or travel to Yogyakarta, Indonesia and stay at the beautiful Phoenix Hotel for less than $80 USD per day.

Stay at the Novotel Hyderabad Airport Hotel in Hyderabad, India for less than $45 USD per night.

See the great deals and amazing rates on nearly a dozen hotel chains in 16 countries for yourself with the Accor 3-Day Super Sale in the Asia Pacific and remember that the sale only lasts between October 27th through October 29th 2009.

-Dragon Blogger

Related posts:

1. Amazon Video Games 4th of July Sale! Ah the 4th of July ‒ a time for celebrating the liberties obtained by our forefathers, barbecuing a banquet of...
2. Dragon Blogger eats at Noodle Asia at the Venetian Yesterday I had lunch at Noodle Asia in the Venetian Casino area, this was a lunch bistro serving and specializing...
3. Know What The Difference Is Between Super Charger and Turbo Charger For Your Car I drive a Chrysler and a Mercedes-Benz and have wondered whether or not I should put a charger to get...