Travel Tech Q&A: Sony Ericsson's Brendan Johnston

As managing director of Sony Ericsson Oceania, Brendan Johnston shares with us his favourite tech while he's aboard flights and his one travel mishap that sent him back home.

Brendan Johnston
(Credit: Sony Ericsson)

What tech do you travel with and why?

Brendan Johnston: Having completed roughly 20 overseas flights in the last year, technology when I travel is a must. My Bose noise-cancelling headphones quickly make you wonder how you ever survived without them, and recently letting the hours fly while gaming on my Xperia Play (which will be hitting shelves in Australia soon) has proven more than effective.

What tech do you miss from home when you're away?

Answering the question from a different angle, I do miss BBC iPlayer and Spotify after leaving the UK 15 months ago for Australia.

What's your favourite phone app and why?

Google's "Listen" app is indispensable for me in the car and travelling, it lets me absorb my favourite podcasts around technology, news and entertainment. Qantas' app is great for easy check-in on flights as well.

What was your biggest travel disaster?

A trip a few years ago from London to Warsaw where I mistakenly thought a Travel Visa wasn't required. Upon arrival, I was immediately ushered back on the plane I flew in on and was on my way back to London.

How do you deal with jet lag?

The duration of my overseas visits is usually so brief that it doesn't make sense to adjust to the new time, so I usually just push through on adrenaline and sleep when and where I can.

What is your dream travel tech to have on planes/in airports/at hotels? This is tech you don't have yet, but would make life so much easier on the road?

My dream is that internet access doesn't become de rigueur on planes. Being offline for an extended period allows me to catch up and reflect.