Recently in Travel Tech Category

Wouldn't it be nice to have your own personal travel assistant? In this day and age it's got to be digital. Enter WorldMate Live, a mobile travel application that quickly compiles all those little bits of information regarding your upcoming trip, into one place, your beloved BlackBerry. Most of the application's merits come free, including a customized itinerary detailing flights, hotels, rental car information, and meetings; easy access to flight details, maps, and confirmation numbers; and alerts that notify you when, for example, it's time to leave for the airport.

The amount of time I spent writing down each piece of information for my trip last night astonishes me. Flight number, departure time, hotel name, address, etc... Somehow the exercise, necessary as it is, just adds to the anxiety. And guess what? My flight was cancelled. No joke. Had I been a WorldMate Gold member, for the price of $9.95 a month, or $99.95 a year, I would have been alerted about my canceled flight, and maybe gotten myself on another one, with the click of a button, and a phone call to the airline. Then I could have moved on to the next part of my itinerary "Check-in: The Laguna Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali." Now that's luxury.

There is little I dread more than the line at airport security. I know the removal of my shoes, jacket, scarf, belt, and most other accessories is for my own protection, but couldn't these guys up ahead move a bit faster? Get organized people! Liquids in a ziplock bag, laptops out, pretty straightforward. Well, there's a little thing called the Registered Traveler program that might help take the anxiety out of the airport equation. Until of course the rest of the country catches on.

A company called Fly Clear looks to be leading the way with express lanes installed in select terminals at thirteen airports around the US, including big guys like San Francisco International, and New York's Kennedy and LaGuardia. Here's how it works. First, you enroll online, providing basic details like height and birth date. Then, your irises are scanned, and fingerprints filed at one of fourteen in-person enrollment centers. Finally, you wait, while the Transportation Security Administration conducts a "threat assessment." If the TSA deems the homeland safe with you flying its skies, you'll be bypassing those interminable airport security lines, biometric identity card in hand.

All it takes is 99 bucks, and you're not only whizzing through security, but you're feeling pretty much like a special agent. The shoes will probably still have to go, just make sure the socks match the black suit. Seriously though, in this day and age airport security is no joke, and I'll do whatever I can to just get through quickly and efficiently. Because the faster I can get to my gate, the more relaxed and ready I'll be for my vacation at some extraordinary Caribbean locale like the Westin Aruba Resort.

With gas prices skyrocketing, it's always good to find out about sources of cheap(er) gas. When you can find out using novel technological methods, well, that's even better. Gizmodo tipped us off that mobile phone app GetMobio now includes listings of local gas prices courtesy of Gas Buddy. Initital reports have been positive of success with the app and we can see how it would be helpful on the road. However, the app is incompatible with Verizon and there are problems with T-Mobile at this time as well.

An interesting tool from the world of gadgetry: The pricy $195 Ultra Slim Universal Power Adapter Kit is the size of a credit card and is compatible with nearly every power outlet found on the road. It's designed specifically for mobile computer and electronic device users and is airline friendly as well.