Nick Hide
Summer holidays are supposed to be about getting away from it all, but that doesn't mean you have to disconnect from all your wonderful tech. There are loads of gadgets that can make relaxing by a pool even more fun. CNET.co.uk has picked ten of the best...
1. Sling Media Slingbox
The Slingbox plugs into your TV, satellite receiver or set-top box and uses your broadband connection to pipe the TV signal over the Web, where it can be viewed on a computer using special software. This means you can enjoy the TV programmes and sports broadcasts you'd normally see at home, rather than missing out or struggling to make sense of foreign soaps. The Slingbox serves its purpose perfectly and can be recommended without a moment's hesitation.
Read review
Price: £180
2. Panasonic DMR-EX75
If you're happy to wait until you get home to catch up on two weeks of Deal or No Deal, this Panasonic hard-drive/DVD recorder could be just the job.
With an integrated Freeview tuner, a 160GB hard drive and compatibility with all DVD formats, it's incredibly versatile. Its picture performance on all formats is excellent, and it's very easy to use as well.
3. Archos AV500
Sleeker than its predecessors and with a new high-quality screen, the AV500 is the realisation of Archos' early promise. While the interface could never be described as intuitive, this portable video player is competitively priced and packed with features. As well as watching movies on the 102mm (4-inch) widescreen LCD, you can connect it directly to your digital camera and download your photos to the hard disk.
If you've got a diverse digital media library and can't stand in-flight movies (or travel by train), the AV500 is indispensible.
4. Canon Digital IXUS 800 IS
The Digital IXUS 800 IS has practically everything you could want in a compact camera. The 6-megapixel sensor and 4x optical zoom go a long way towards justifying the price, and its great image stabilisation and subsequent blur-free photos are worth a few extra quid.
There's also the optional WP-DC5 underwater housing for taking pictures while sailing, snorkelling, scuba diving or, should your holidaymaking take place in the UK, falling in puddles.
5. PURE Digital Oasis
There's no mistaking this: a romper-stomping, reinforced-metal, panic room of a digital radio. Its heavy weight makes the Oasis a chore to lug to the beach, but once you get it there, its astonishing durability -- it's tested to IP64 standards for water and dust resistance -- and excellent audio quality more than compensate.
A rugged, weatherproof digital radio with an impressive 15-hour battery life, the PURE Oasis lets you take your favourite DAB stations outdoors.
6. ViaMichelin X-950T
A small, portable sat-nav unit with a difference, the X-950T includes free content from the company's world-famous Michelin Guides. It'll not only take you from A to B, but also show you cool places to explore and points of interest, including local services, shopping, car parks, petrol stations, restaurants and pubs.
One of its best features is the integrated FM tuner, which can receive and interpret traffic information broadcast by radio stations such as Classic FM. Traffic blackspots are shown on the screen so you can plan your route accordingly.
Read Crave's coverage
Compare prices
7. Sony Ericsson K800i
For a relatively compact 3G phone, the Sony Ericsson K800i is positively dripping with features, making it ideal when you're travelling light. The 3.2-megapixel camera has autofocus, a 'real' Xenon flash and a handy Best Shot feature, so your snapshots should be good enough to print. You can also upload them to a photo blog so the folks back home can follow your adventures.
FM radio, a high standard of music playback, a fun ringtone maker and built-in games help ease the pain of travelling by coach or train, and if you're really homesick, you can use it to call your Mum.
8. Nintendo DS Lite
With a slick new design, brighter screens, and a growing library of fun and innovative games, the Nintendo DS Lite is an impressive improvement over the original DS. While the first version looked like a child's toy, this flash little console -- available in black or white -- won't look out of place in first class.
You could also consider Sony's PSP console, which can play music and video as well as games, but we much prefer the DS Lite's huge range of fun, intuitive and original games, many of which have truly cross-generational appeal. With excellent battery life and Internet multiplayer over Wi-Fi, this is a great travel companion for gamers of all ages.
9. Samsung Q35
If you absolutely have to take a full-blown computer with you on holiday -- or if you're just looking to move your office into the garden while the sun's out -- then you won't go far wrong with the Samsung Q35.
It's powerful enough to run most applications, has outstanding battery life, and is surprisingly good value for money. Bonus feature: the high-quality 12-inch widescreen display is perfect for watching DVD movies on the plane.
10. Sony Handycam HDR-HC3
If you have an HD Ready television, you'll need a high-definition camcorder to get the most out of your holiday movies. The HDR-HC3 isn't as pricey as you might imagine, and offers excellent video quality, decent still photos and supports both HD and DV resolutions. It's also very compact and only weighs half a kilo, so you won't go over your baggage limit.
Visit reviews.cnet.co.uk for in-depth reviews of many more products
