Tech journalist and frequent traveller Nafisa Akabor on new tech you can use on your travels.
It has been a while since I was this excited for a phone. I finally got my paws on the Huawei P30 Pro, and I have been blown away. I am also enjoying the wireless Galaxy Buds, paired with ad-free YouTube Music and Casey Neistat’s podcast with his wife Candice, all while making my Instagram Stories pop, using a cool app called Unfold.
Huawei P30 Pro
The Huawei P30 Pro is a traveller’s dream for photography. The next-level four rear-camera setup includes a Time-of-Flight sensor, which measures distance for artistic, multi-layer bokeh effects. And my experience with Night Mode is unlike anything I have seen on rivals.
R18 999 | Any network
YouTube Music SA
I have enjoyed a YouTube Music premium subscription recently, but on the ad-free YouTube price plan. In addition to the extensive catalogue and background audio feature, not seeing a single ad anywhere is refreshing. When you have limited Wi-Fi at airports and hotels, it goes a long way in saving that precious data allocation.
From R72 pm | YouTube.com/Premium
Galaxy Buds
Samsung’s truly wireless buds are a great alternative to Apple’s AirPods for those on Android. It has up to seven hours of charge on-the-go with the case and comes in an eye-popping yellow shade. Whether you are doing airport runs or trial runs, the Galaxy Buds are a nifty travel companion that fits into a pocket easily.
R2 999 | Samsung Experience Stores
Unfold
This highly rated toolkit for storytellers would appeal to any traveller who shares content on social media. The free version of the Unfold app lets you create visually appealing Instagram Stories, but we are going to let you in on a secret: the extra templates are worth the minimal cost. Capture moments as you normally would and get creative later.
Free: Android; iOS.
Couple’s Therapy
I did not expect to listen to YouTube star Casey Neistat and his wife Candice Pool’s podcast beyond episode one. Don’t let the title “Couple’s Therapy” fool you; it is a wonderful insight into relationships and the dynamic between this duo. Recommended addition to pass time in transit.
Free | Apple Podcasts, Anchor, Spotify
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LOVING LONDON – AND MY BANK CARD
There is a saying that goes along the lines of … “when you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life”. London will always hold a special place in my heart because it was the first city I visited when I left South Africa back in 2004, on one of those working-holiday visas that sadly don’t exist anymore.
Back then, I was most impressed by the Underground system, and weirdly enough, again on my last visit. Fast forward to years later, instead of having to purchase an Oyster card, I was pleasantly surprised that my bank card with FNB doubled up as a ticket. That’s right, my contactless card was all I needed to navigate London, which even cuts off with the Oyster daily price cap, meaning I didn’t pay beyond a certain amount for “unlimited” rides. Can we have this all over the world, please?
