Paris Around

Archive for July, 2010

The Blackberry Storm was the first Smart Phone released by RIM, reputedly as a response to the release of the i-phone by Apple.

Although it has some great features it doesn’t quite fit the bill and isn’t quite as impressive as the later Blackberry Curve 8520 and probably not quite as useful for business mobile phone users it is never the less a pretty nice phone.

There is no argument that the Blackberry Storm is a sexy, good looking phone. It’s a similar size to the i-phone – just a little bit shorter, but slightly wider and thicker. The face of the phone has a nice 3.2-inch touch screen and beneath this are four buttons including: a send key, an end key, a BlackBerry menu key, and a back key – the buttons are made of hardened rubber and sit nicely with the screen and feel good in the hand, it is also a comfortable size and not too much to have in the pocket.

The screen has a good quality, perfectly snsitive touch screen that glows up in blue when you touch one of the buttons. When the screen is clicked it makes a light click sound which makes it feel like real typing on a computer keyboard.

The Blackberry Storm, like most Smartphones also has an accelerometer, which, when you rotate the phone round it changes the orientation of the phone. However we did find that some of the keys are a lttle close together so not great for heavy business mobile phone users.

Another issue that I had with the Blackberry Storm was that it has two menu systems – both icons and folders. It is a bit like websites that cannot decide where to have their navigation menus, on the left or at the top so just go for both.

Although this can sometimes be handy as it covers the needs of users who have a preference for each type of navigation it can get a little confusing, especially as some of the duplicated folders have slightly different names.

In terms of making calls, the Blackberry Storm was absolutely fine and with a clear sound. One problem was that the volume didn’t seem to be quite loud enough. As well as this the touchscreen was quite sensitive so when the phone is held close to the head when speaking it is all too easy to accidentally press buttons unintentionally; which is obviously a faux pas for business mobile users who have a lot of important client calls on the go.  Read more...

How about booking an apartment in Paris for your business trip or family vacation? Sounds good! But there is a catch as it is going to be yours only for few days. Paris is not only known for its furor, but also for its prolific culture which opens its arm for all the tourists coming here. Paris the “Fashion Capital of Europe”, apart from the magnificent Eiffel tower, is also home to Louvre, one of the largest and renown museums in the world housing many works of art which includes Picasso’s famous “Mona Lisa”, and the statue of “Venus de Milo.”

When you stroll through the tree-lined lanes in Paris you would certainly desire to experience how it feels to live like a Parisian. And if you want to familiarize yourself with the Parisian living style, the most convenient way is by booking an apartment or hotel in Paris. Browse through the hotel and travel websites and look for a Paris apartment rather than a hotel. One thing that comes immediately in mind is why to book an apartment instead of a hotel? Few important things should be taken into consideration before you make your choice.

Paris hotels are illustrious, but if you are the one who is looking for very personalized service attached with privacy then Paris apartments is the answer for you.

Paris apartments give you all the luxury of a hotel added with wider space and where maid service is also included.

In hotels we have to pay for many facilities which even we do not use but if prior care is taken on the choice of accommodation then it can be very handy financially.

Paris apartments give space and security which adds to your vacation.

When you are in Paris for a short stint sometimes it goes out of schedule then these apartments give you home away from home feeling. Paris apartments give direct access to internet and provide many facilities but it is important to check it and read-out all the rules and regulations before making reservation. Paris is called “City of lights” and these serviced apartments in Paris are making it ‘crème de la crème’ in tourism industry.

Solar power backpacks are simply high quality backpacks, usually made of 1,680 Denier nylon, with small solar panels attached to them. A new technology called thin film solar panels are used to generate power from the sun while keeping the weight to about 3.5 pounds for the whole backpack. There are currently two main manufacturers of solar powered backpacks, Voltaic Systems and Eclipse Solar Gear. Both of their backpacks have similar features; one is a little less expensive while the other generates more power.

Both backpacks are designed to charge hand held electronics such as cell phones, PDA’s, GPSs, and digital cameras. They are not designed to charge laptop computers. Laptops usually draw more current than the backpacks can generate so eventually the battery pack would be totally depleted. Portable hand held electronics do not draw that much power so the backup battery remains charged up.

A 4,400 mAh, 3.6 volt lithium ion battery is included along with a generous assortment of adapters to fit just about any personal electronics you may have.  You can charge the backup battery three different ways, by the thin film solar panels, with an AC adapter or with a DC cigarette lighter adapter, all three are included. Both backpacks have a generous 1.850 cubic inches of storage and many pockets for storing MP3 players, cell phones and water bottles. The Voltaic backpack can even handle a 3 liter water bladder with tubing threaded through the bags wire channels for hands free sipping.

Solar powered pack packs can be used by just about any one but they are especially useful to hikers, campers and hunters. How many stories have been written about people hiking into the wilderness getting lost? Some were saved by a cell phone call while others had their cell phone or GPS run out of power when they need them most. These back packs are great those who depend on small electronic devices like cell phones, GPSs and digital cameras but will not be any where close to a charging source for days.  Digital landscape photographers, cross country skiers, bikers can all make good use of this great new technology.

Going on a holiday to hot destination like the expensive Paris means lots of expenditure. Considering the huge expenditure you are going to encounter, there should be a way out to maintain a good balance between your expenses and enjoyment. If you are one of those who do not mind staying in a modest accommodation, you have a fair chance to save some money, which can be utilized in other miscellaneous things like shopping, dining or visiting attractions. In such a scenario, Paris bed and breakfasts are the best and ideal accommodation.

Paris bed and breakfast (B&B) hotels are private residences which are relatively pocket friendly. These bed & breakfasts are also favorably located in envious locations with good facilities, thus making your stay worth every penny. Mostly Paris bed & breakfast are private family home, villas or the beautiful “chateaux” style properties and gives you the feel of complete holiday. These B&B provides home like atmosphere and has the capacity to accommodate between 2 and 6 people. You can cook for yourself in the fully equipped kitchen or small kitchenette.

A stay in Paris B&B will render you the comfort and privacy of home which otherwise is not possible with hotels. However, you will not have the luxury of hotel service such as room service and concierge service. You should not expect facilities such as air-conditioning and elevators in bed & breakfast unless they are mentioned. When you choose to stay in Paris bed & breakfast, you get an opportunity to know about the society and culture of Paris first hand from friendly hosts. It is this unique feature which sets it apart from Paris hotels.

B&B in Paris are also wonderfully located near shopping areas, entertainment, restaurants and nightlife. Thus, your stay in Paris bed & breakfast ensures that you are not kept bereft of any enjoyment and pleasure. You can choose these bed & breakfasts according to your preference. These days more and more people are opting to stay in bed & breakfast than hotels. This is because the advantages of staying in bed & breakfast far surpass the cost of staying in otherwise, expensive hotels where facilities may not be at par with its charges.  Read more...

It’s not that far away. I’m talking about the holidays. Just a few months and you will be expected to have all those presents wrapped and under the tree. But with the tough economic times you have been dealing with this year, where are you going to get the money to do all the shopping you need to get done for the holidays?

Think credit cards.

While you may instantly have had an image of a pile of debt come to your mind, that is not what I am talking about here. There are ways to use your credit cards responsibly and save a lot of money towards your Christmas shopping – take advantage of the rewards.

The Best Rewards Cards

Cash Back Credit Cards

By far the easiest way to do your Christmas shopping is with cash in hand. If you have a cash rewards credit card you can use that card for as many of the family and household purchases as you can during the year and then have the credit card company ship you a cash rewards check just before you get ready to do your holiday shopping. Some of the best cash back credit cards may well feel like you are part of a special Christmas club. You do the purchasing you need to all year long and have a check waiting when you need it.

Catalog Credit Cards

If you are a catalog shopper, catalog credit cards may be your best bet. You can order anything from catalogs these days. Additionally, many of the catalog families work together, so when you get a credit card for one catalog company, you may be able to use it for a number of their sister catalogs. The best catalog credit cards offer points for every dollar you spend that can lead to free merchandise or major discounts as you add them up.

Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Do you have someone in your family that loves to travel? Or maybe you are the big traveler. Either way, the best travel rewards credit cards on the market can let you do your Christmas shopping and get some great trips out of it as well. Imagine giving a family member a round trip ticket to see someone they haven’t seen in years. They’ll think you spent a fortune. You’ll know it was just cashing in the points you had earned on your card. Additionally, if you are the traveler, you can charge all your holiday purchases on your best travel rewards credit cards, let the points pile up and then be ready to take a trip to recover from the busy holiday period.