New Year's Eve Essentials!

Well, it's that time of the year again... the end! First, I want to thank you, the readers, for a wonderful 2011! I'm so happy that you enjoy this tiny consumer reports operation I started! While you're generally void from the comment section, I love reading your emails and seeing you repost my reviews! Thanks! 2012 will be awesome with you all around!


With that said, most of you will be going out on the town for New Year's Eve. The Trav Test has 3 essential items to make your night an A!


1. Agloves. I've told you about Agloves before and Tweeted about their newest products. You'll want to use your touchscreen phones, but it's cold in many places! Stay warm AND connected with Agloves!


2. Blistex. I'm not sure if it genuinely counts as prevention, but if you'll be kissing people at midnight, 50%-80% of them have herpes! Blistex claims to relieve cold sores so you'll want it in your purse or pocket! (On that topic, grab some condoms, too. Even if you won't need them, someone will.)


3. Numbers for taxis or a taxi finder app. You'll probably be a drunk mess, so don't drive. It's simple!


If you have these 3 (ok, 4) items, you can be confident that you'll have a great time!*


*The Trav Test is not responsible if you have a shitty time. If you do something stupid, it's on you. If you have a really annoying significant other, that's on you, too. If you have nowhere to go on NYE, have these items anyway - you can go to see a movie. Using the Agloves, use your iPhone to get a ride and have the Blistex ready when your lips are super dry from the salty popcorn! All kidding aside, be safe, have fun, and see you next year!

New Year's Eve passes The Trav Test with an A+. 


• Category: Fun!
• Location: Everywhere!
• Cost: Depends!
• Ease of use:
 Easy!
• The Trav Test grade: A+!

Spotify vs. Pandora

As promised, TheTravTest is back - relaunching alongside Spotify! Spotify is a successful music program that is now available in the United States. There are currently 2 approved methods of joining Spotify: get invited or pay! LifeHacker can tell you more about that. Whether you're in or not, you're probably like the many people wondering how Spotify is any different from Pandora, right?

Spotify and Pandora are similar, yet not. That totally makes sense... not! Pandora plays music similar to something you like and keeps suggesting music it thinks you'll like. Spotify is more like iTunes where you tell it want you want to hear, but everything is free and streaming, not downloaded. Let's say you wanted to listen to something like all of Ari Herstand's music, Spotify can do that. However, if you wanted to listen to Ari's music AND music similar to Ari's music that you may or may not know about, Pandora can do that.

I think it will get down to individual preferences and vary depending on your task. Right now, I'm listening to a Pandora station I created that plays music similar to Ari Herstand, Jay Brannan, Terra Naomi, Ellis, Pink, Alanis Morissette, and Adele (Listen here, if interested) because I just want some background music that I know I'll like. So far, every song it's served me has been great - exactly what I like. If I wanted to hear just Adele like now I do, I'd switch over to Spotify.

One last thing: Spotify has an application so you don't need the website, Pandora does not unless you pay for Pandora One. Since I do most of my work on a personal computer, I prefer having applications. Again, though, this is just a personal preference.

Spotify & Pandora both pass The Trav Test with a B.

 • Category: Products, Music
 • Location: N/A
 • Cost: Free - unless you chose to subscribe!
 • Ease of use: Easy
 • The Trav Test grade: B

Google's CR-48... So far

Alright, here goes. This is my first review of Google's CR-48. I've had it for a month now and I pretty much hate it. I don't even know where to start. The only thing I like about it so far is the free Verizon service that comes with it, but I have yet to use it and it was a major pain in the ass to activate. So why I do I hate it? Well, first of all, it's nothing special. Want to know what the user experience is like? Ok! Take your computer, launch Chrome, and don't allow yourself to touch anything else outside of Chrome. Seriously. You can't use any other applications like Word or Skype or anything. Want to type a Word doc? Google Docs is your only choice. Want to look at your schedule? Google Cal is your only choice. Want to instant message with a friend? Google Talk is your only choice. Call me crazy, but I prefer Word for Mac 2011, iCal, and iChat.

Ok, so you now know what it's like to be stuck with nothing but the web. What else? Well, the machine itself is SLOW. When both are on WiFi, my iPhone loads webpages about twice as fast as the CR-48. One thing Google talked a lot about when they introduced the CR-48 was that it turns on instantly. Well, actually, my MacBook Pro turns on almost as fast - it only takes about 20 seconds longer. I'd much rather "wait" an additional 20 seconds and have a complete, powerful computer over a bad netbook. Another issue I have with it is the trackpad. I can't even put into words how awful it is!  

So far, going from my MacBook Pro to the CR-48 feels like I'm stepping back into 1995. It is slow, unresponsive, and basic. Don't get me wrong, I love that it was free and the free Verizon service is nice to have when I don't have access to Wifi (which is incredibly rare). I also like that I can toss the CR-48 into the awesome case I got and let it sit in my car in 20º weather and not worry. I probably could do that with my MacBook Pro, but it's such a beautiful machine that I wouldn't even want to try.

I'll post again as time goes on, but one month in, the only thing I like is the price. Oh, and that a group of probably 15 year olds approached me at Chipotle to ask if it was a CR-48 and drool. It took me back to high school momentarily... and I had something that the other kids wanted! Damn, I should have offered to sell it to them... oh well.

My old Black MacBook (left) & My CR-48 (Right) on my bed

Google's CR-48 fails The Trav Test with an F (so far).

 • Category: Products

 • Location: N/A

 • Cost: Free!

 • Ease of use: N/A

 • The Trav Test grade: F

Quick Tip: Twitter Followers

I am addicted to Twitter!  I definitely over-share and love the ability to Tweet friends, companies, and celebrities... sometimes they even reply (friends included in this "they").  I don't like having random followers, though.  One option would be to "protect" my account so people would have to ask for my permission before being able to follow me.  This, however, prevents people who aren't following me from seeing my Tweets even if I mention them.  Since many of the companies and celebrities don't follow me back, they wouldn't see my Tweets to them at all.  The other option takes a few steps and may not be around forever.  First, if you're using the "new" Twitter, you need to switch back to "old" Twitter (you can switch back and fourth freely).  Next, go to your settings page and check "Protect my account."  You'll only leave it protected while you're removing followers.  You see, this is the only way to get the "Remove follower" option.  Next, go to your followers page.  Use the "Remove follower" action to remove the followers you want to remove.  Now, go back to your settings page and uncheck "Protect my account."  You can also switch back to "new" Twitter at this point if you'd like.  Hopefully Twitter will give us a less complicated way to remove unwanted followers in the future, but for now, this works.  Happy Tweeting!


By the way, are you following @TheTravTest?

This is a quick tip from The Trav Test to make every day an A!

Jen Brookman Graphic Design

When I launched The Trav Test in February 2010, the purpose was simple.  I use a large variety of products and services and wanted to share my experiences with friends.  I threw together the website in a matter of minutes and took under an hour to design the logo.  Today, however, The Trav Test is more than a personal blog for friends.  I never could have expected the level of success and media coverage my simple site has received.  It recently became evident that I needed to step up my graphic representation online!  I created The Trav Test's Twitter account and began looking for a graphic designer to save the day!  I received a handful of replies, but Jen Brookman's reply stood out.  She sent me to her portfolio and I was blown away.  Ready to begin working together, I emailed Jen and got the ball rolling.

Jen was incredible.  It was clear that she wanted to deliver exactly what I wanted.  While I know Jen could have come up with hundreds of ideas for a completely new logo, I just wanted the one that I made to be re-freshed.  I needed something that was higher quality with a transparent background.  I also wanted to use my favorite rare font, if Jen had it, of course.  Not only did Jen have my font, but she also had the ability to deliver exactly what I was looking for and then some!  Originally, I was just going to stick with my burgundy red logo, but Jen sent a few colors including a burgundy gradient.  I really loved the gradient look so that instantly became the new main logo, but Jen also provided me with the logo in every color of the rainbow for special uses or if I change the color scheme!  Jen did all of this fabulous work in a matter of hours and we maintained seamless contact via email.

If you or your company ever needs any graphic design work completed, Jen Brookman Graphic Design has my highest recommendation.  She is professional, highly skilled, and fast!  Her prices are very competitive and she will work with you to make sure you get exactly what you're looking for.  From logos to ads, posters to invitations, and everything in between, Jen Brookman Graphic Design is your solution.  As for the work she did for me, the only other thing I can say is THANKS!  Stay tuned to see all of the logo varieties she did for me as they are used around the web!

Jen Brookman Graphic Design passes The Trav Test with an A+.

 • Category: Graphic Design, Services, Online
 • Location: Online
 • Cost: Varies
 • Ease of use: Beyond Easy!
 • The Trav Test grade: A+