GOOD TIMES

Anyone who reads our blog on a regular basis knows we love our gadgets.  Let's face it, going on a Virgin Islands yacht charter is loads of fun, but getting there can be tedious.  Waiting for flights, standing at the luggage carrousel, taking long taxi rides, etc. can be long and boring.  Having a cool new gadget on hand is a great way to kill some time - and have some fun.

The world's largest trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances, the IFA just wrapped up in Berlin. Here are our three favorite new gadgets for 2012 from the show:

1. Samsung Galaxy Note

If you've been waiting for a smartphone with a big screen, this is your phone!  The Samsung Galaxy Note offers a 5.3 inch display, the largest screen size available among smartphones. This means less scrolling and screen transitions.  Imagine viewing web pages, news apps, and e-books with minimal scrolling or zooming - how cool is that?  The device also utilizes “pen-input technology,” and comes with an S Pen that allows users to draw and send handwritten images and notes via text message, email, and instant messaging.

2. LG Smartscan Mouse

As luxury yacht charter brokers, we're constantly scanning client documents - from bareboat charter contracts to food and beverage preference sheets.  Scanning saves our clients' time and allows us to share their information with yacht crews around the globe.  The latest mouse from LG has a built-in scanner, which the company says will "open a new era for scanners."  Simply click the Smart Scan button on the left side of the mouse, then swipe it over the material to be scanned.

The scanned image can then be saved in a variety of file types, or dragged and dropped into a document or application. LG's Optical Character Recognition technology converts scanned text into a Microsoft Word document that can then be edited as required. The 2-in-1 device can scan page sizes up to A3, which is larger than most conventional portable scanners.

   

3. Sony Cyber-shot DSC TX55 - The World's Slimmest Digital Camera

Imagine going on a Croatia yacht charter and not having a camera with you.  Who will believe you when you say you saw a whale swimming by an island with a Medieval castle?  Most digital cameras are small, but bulky and heavy in your pocket.  Not the Cybershot TX55.  Just 12.2mm slim, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC TX55 is the world’s thinnest camera. It can capture 16.2 megapixel still images as well as full HD video.

The camera’s back panel has an 8.3cm/3.3 inch touch-screen for showing off photos and movie clips. It also features 3D shooting options. By pressing the shutter button once, the camera will grab a pair of frames in fast succession, estimating depth to create a 3D still image.

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Do you have a favorite new gadget that you can't live without?  Tell us about it HERE at http://www.1800sailaway.com/contact_us.html, and we'll share it with our readers.