Travelling Abroad - Phones n such

jsm · Wed 16 Feb, 2011 18.52

Most places require you to sign or enter a pin, even if it's just on a receipt.

I haven't been down to Florida in about 5 years, but if you're planning on going to any beaches, I recommend Clearwater, right near Tampa. The water is much warmer than the Atlantic, and it's pretty empty this time of year.

Gavin Scott · Wed 16 Feb, 2011 19.19

jsm wrote:Most places require you to sign or enter a pin, even if it's just on a receipt.

I haven't been down to Florida in about 5 years, but if you're planning on going to any beaches, I recommend Clearwater, right near Tampa. The water is much warmer than the Atlantic, and it's pretty empty this time of year.

They've all asked me to sign - but that's pointless for stopping fraud if they don't flip my card over to see if it resembles the signature on the back of the card, and is only useful for after-the-fact reimbursements for the card owner. The speed at which the card is authorised suggests that its merely cross checking against a "hot list" of stolen cards - and hot lists get updated every 24 hours. Thats plenty to time to use one that's been lifted out of someone's pocket.

Had a message from a pal who's in Miami on Monday, so might head down there. I'm not much of a beach lover to be honest - I just burn.

I was sitting in a spa pool in the mid day sun earlier. The water was 104 degrees F.

That was nice.

Sput · Wed 16 Feb, 2011 20.42

Gavin Scott wrote: Had a message from a pal who's in Miami on Monday, so might head down there. I'm not much of a beach lover to be honest - I just burn.

Jaron?

Gavin Scott · Wed 16 Feb, 2011 20.55

Sput wrote:
Gavin Scott wrote: Had a message from a pal who's in Miami on Monday, so might head down there. I'm not much of a beach lover to be honest - I just burn.
Jaron?

Ha!

No, I had him killed.

Gavin Scott · Sat 19 Feb, 2011 19.33

Hello again. Well at circa $600 for 3G 16GB, I took the plunge and bought me an iPad. Its pretty delicious, I must admit.

Is it easy enough to pick up a "micro SIM" in the UK and connect it to my regular phone account with Vodafone? It comes with an AT&T card. Was tempted to try and activate an account here, but I'm only here 'til Wednesday, and Wifi abounds, so best not to, I suppose.

I might be able to get a quid or so back by flogging the AT&T card on eBay - although probably not worth doing once I pay the selling fee.

Not to segue this into an iPad thread, but trying to log on here caused the Safari window to load, but in a darkened/grey state, and going back to facebook and it looks similar. Any clue as to why this might be?

Currently back on the laptop while I do some reading about what the iPad offers.

Gavin Scott · Sat 19 Feb, 2011 20.17

Oh well. Turning it off and back on again has fixed it. Who'd have thunk it?

Typing on this thing is super fast too.

Took a wander with it earlier, and saw a chap typing in a no wireless zone. When I asked about it he pointed to a little verizon box on the table which was presumably giving him wifi via 3G. Little credit card sized device with an led illuminated. Do we have these little things at home? Is this their version of 3G dongles?

Very cute it was, but easy to lift off the table if you turn your back.

Critique · Sat 19 Feb, 2011 20.30

Is that Mi-fi, where Wi-fi is created from your 3G internet connection? Mi-fi in the UK is a rectangular device with rounded edges and the carrier logo on top, which is similar to your description.

I do like the iPad, they're very nice devices. I've began to stop reading physical newspapers, instead beginning to read the e-publications, like The Guardian and all. Have you tried 'The Daily'? It's a magazine app, heavily promoted by Apple that's only for the US, with dynamic content in terms of weather, along with articles and what-not.

Gavin Scott · Sat 19 Feb, 2011 20.35

I haven't - but I will, thanks.

I had to create an iTunes account, and set my default billing location to the UK, but I'm guessing I'll be able to use US stuff whilst here.

Just tried a sample of a movie on iTunes - am agog at the HD quality.

Critique wrote:Is that Mi-fi, where Wi-fi is created from your 3G internet connection? Mi-fi in the UK is a rectangular device with rounded edges and the carrier logo on top, which is similar to your description.

Yep - that's what I saw.

Critique · Sat 19 Feb, 2011 21.03

Gavin Scott wrote: I had to create an iTunes account, and set my default billing location to the UK, but I'm guessing I'll be able to use US stuff whilst here.

Presumably you'd still get the US iTunes store, even if your billing location is the UK. You can change your store if you need too anyway, if you want an app only in the UK store, like the Guardian.

Alexia · Sun 20 Feb, 2011 02.12

Critique wrote:Have you tried 'The Daily'? It's a magazine app, heavily promoted by Apple that's only for the US, with dynamic content in terms of weather, along with articles and what-not.

You mean that Murdochite app?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12345686

Critique · Sun 20 Feb, 2011 12.36

Alexia wrote:
Critique wrote:Have you tried 'The Daily'? It's a magazine app, heavily promoted by Apple that's only for the US, with dynamic content in terms of weather, along with articles and what-not.
You mean that Murdochite app?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12345686

Indeed, that's what I'm referring too. Whilst some of the content may not be sound, the dynamic content like weather, sport and what-not that reflects to where you are is quite nice.