Pixel 8 Pro First Impressions and Some Features I Like

My Best Pixel 8 Pro Features & Insights

I am in my 1st week using a Pixel 8 Pro and I want to share some of the best features and my impressions. This is not a review or anything of that nature, but just some insights I wanted to share.

The Pixel 8 Pro is 6.7 inches with rounded corners – just the right size to fit comfortably in my hand. The back is matte glass but feels like non-slippery plastic. I like it a lot.

To unlock my Pixel 8 Pro, I turned on both facial recognition and fingerprint unlock features. They both work seamlessly and save time, as I don’t need to keep trying to unlock it.

The Pixel 8 Pro camera system was redesigned and updated. I am a content creator and the main reason to buy a Pixel 8 Pro was its camera system. 5X optical zoom, GoPro-like image stabilization for video, 10-bit-HDR video, and the Audio Magic Eraser are some features worth mentioning.

Another video feature designed for content creators is coming in December: Video Boost. This feature automatically adjusts color, lighting, stabilization, and graininess, and Night Sight Video to make professional-quality videos from a smartphone.

The Pixel 8 Pro also offers enhanced macro capabilities in macro mode, which is a plus point for photography lovers who love macro photos. I have been testing lots of macro shots and the quality is mind-blowing for a smartphone.

Another unnecessary but fun feature l like is the to check the temperature of anything. I have been using this a lot just to show this feature to my friends.

There are many other features, but the ones I mentioned above are some of the most unique ones I can think of right now. I will link my Pixel Playlist below if you are interested in watching the videos:

Pixel Smartphone 101: Tips, Tricks, & The Basics

Do This First When Get Your Boarding Pass

Boarding Pass Hacks You Didn’t Know

When you receive your boarding pass for your next trip, whether it’s an electronic boarding pass on your phone or a paper boarding pass you printed out to present at the airline counter, do this before you do anything else to make your travel smoother and hassle free.

If you happen to use an electronic boarding pass, the first thing to do after you receive it is to take a screenshot of your boarding pass. Then when you go to the airport, head over to a kiosk or airline counter and ask them to print you a paper copy.

If you use a paper boarding pass, after receiving one at the airport or at your home out of your printer, take a picture first on your phone camera so you have a digital copy of the same boarding pass.

The reason you want to have any or all of the above is to protect yourself. Your electronic boarding pass may not work when you lose your signal or WiFi on your phone, especially when you are transferring in foreign countries.

You don’t want to get stuck at security or at the boarding gate because your phone network is not working. A picture of the boarding pass or a paper copy will save you if the worst happens.

When you are using a paper boarding pass, it may get lost or damaged. Having a digital copy of it on your phone could save your entire trip.

I have a travel playlist where I share small travel tips like this, you can view it here:

Tiny Travel Hacks 101

HSBC World Elite Mastercard Canada – Get Canada’s Best Travel Credit Card Before It’s Too late

Best Travel Credit Card in Canada - HSBC World Elite Mastercard Canada

All the so-called “best travel credit cards in Canada” promoted by travel sites on the Internet have some things in common. Most of these cards do not provide zero foreign currency transaction fees and offer very low rewards on travel spending.

The HSBC World Elite Mastercard is one of the few travel credit cards in Canada that offers no FX fee on foreign currency transactions and a whopping 6 points per dollar spent on travel purchases. These points also are hybrid points that can be converted to airline points.

However, this not-so-well-known travel credit card is coming to an end due to the RBC buying HSBC’s Canadian portfolio. RBC does not offer any no foreign currency transaction fee and other benefits like the HSBC World Elite Mastercard offers. One of them is very extended travel medical insurance and even travel medical insurance for seniors beyond 65.

As of the writing this article, HSBC is still accepting applications for this card and I think you should get one right now as the window of opportunity is closing any time now.

No one knows at this point what RBC will do after acquiring the HSBC World Elite Mastercard. They may let existing account holders keep all the perks and features and stop issuing this card. They could also convert the HSBC World Elite Mastercard into an RBC World Elite MasterCard, cutting all the benefits. Another option, which is very unlikely, is that RBC may rebrand this card and keep issuing the same benefits and features under the RBC name.

Whatever the outcome is, it’s wise to get a HSBC World Elite Mastercard now and wait and see what happens. I just got mine last week and couldn’t be happier receiving it.

Why Money Belts Are Outdated & You Should Stop Using Them Immediately

Why Money Belts Don’t Work & What to Use Instead

Should you still use money belts today? To answer this question, let’s first look at why there was a need for a money belt in the first place. Many decades ago, there were no ATM machines, credit cards, bank cards, electronic payment apps on phones … basically none of these existed. The only means of paying for hotels, goods and services were cash and travellers’ cheques (yes, those).

So, there was a need to hide large amounts of cash and TCs and the money belt came to rescue. Fast forward to today, travellers no longer need to carry large amounts of cash and TCs. You don’t pay your hotels or plane/train fares with cash anymore. Everything now is credit cards, cash, or phone app payments. Money belts have become outdated and a thing of the past. Yes, there are some who will hold onto them and will use them forever. But this is always the case as some of us simply hold on to the past, won’t upgrade and accept the change.

There are also several disadvantages in using money belts:

Money Belts Are Old School & Ridiculous.

Money Belts are the opposite of inconspicuous.

Money Belts Are Sweaty & Dirty.

Money Belts Advertise You Have Cash & Make You a Target for Theft or Robbery.

Money Belts Immediately Mark You Out as A Tourist—And Not a Particularly Savvy One. You Have to Expose All of Your Cash Just to Get a Little.

Money Belts Are an Insult to The Country You Are Visiting (I Don’t Trust Anyone Here).

What to Use Instead of Money Belts

Diversification is the key. I don’t recommend putting all your money, cards, and valuables in something like a money belt. Put your money, cards, and valuables in separate places such as in your back pack, personal item bag, sling bag, fanny pack, small cross body bag, or a day pack.

Do not carry all your money when go out for your day trip. Leave some money and one credit card in the hotel (possibly in the hotel safe box), some money and another credit card you will be using in your day pack bag or any bag you are using for the day.

Better yet, keep some cash in your front pocket to pay for any expenses for that day. This amount should be little enough that even if you lose it you are in no trouble, as you have backup money in the other bag. Replenish your daily expenses money when you return to your hotel or as needed.

To make this article short, I didn’t elaborate on some of the disadvantages mentioned above. However, watch this video here to see the details:

Do Not Wear Sling Bags at The Airline Check-In Counter

How to Wear a Sling Bag to Save Baggage Fees

 Every inch of space counts, especially with what the airlines are charging for extra bag fees these days. In this article, I will give you a tip that not many know about sling bags.

Sling bags should be a must-have travel accessory when you travel. They can keep your passport, phone, charger, ear buds, and other accessories close to you throughout the flight. This also gives you the opportunity to carry some extra items to create more space in your carry on or personal item bags.

In general, airlines won’t count a sling bag as a personal item. However, if you wear a sling bad across your shoulder, some airline employees may count it as a personal item.

This is not a problem at all if you have only one carry on and a sling bag. For those carrying a personal item, a carry on, and a sling bag, this may cause a problem. The airline staff may ask you to check one bag or pay extra fees.

One simple way to avoid this is to wear your sling bag as a hip bag or as a waist money bag before going to the airline counter. A waist bag counts as part of personal attire and will be exempt from your baggage limit.

I travel with only one carry on and have traveled 100s of times wearing a sling big as a cross body shoulder bag and had no issues. The only time my sling bag counted as a personal item was in 2023 when I was on my way to the Philippines with EVA AIR. It didn’t matter for me, as I had only one other bag.

So next time you travel, depending how many bags you are carrying, be mindful about how you wear your sling bag at the airport.