The last hi-tech suitcase we looked at can follow you, but we're still waiting to see a live version. What we have seen in real life is the Live Luggage electric-powered suitcase, and after hearing what a UK Times reporter had to say after taking this case on holidays, we've decided to stick with what we've got.

This motor-powered suitcase has quite a few drawbacks, starting from the fact that when it's empty, it already weighs 25 pounds, so you're going to have to pack super light. It's hard to get up and down stairs--and we also think it's ugly. Sure, when you're pulling it on a flat surface the motor makes it really easy, but since the British version costs £700 (almost $1,400) we're really not thinking it's worth it.

Related Stories:
· Live Luggage [Official Site]
· The £700 Motor Suitcase That Drove Me Wild [UK Times]
· The Suitcase You Can't Lose [Jaunted]

[Photo: LiveLuggage] amandak 2008-07-30T09:45:26-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/13/34041/6308

It's been a while since we've held a real, paper ticket for a flight, but they do still exist... for the next couple of weeks, anyway. The industry's given themselves until June 1, 2008, to change over to completely paperless tickets.

Estimates are that around 90 percent of plane tickets are issued electronically at the moment, and that might not change too much before the deadline. Routes where they're having trouble changing over include some to China, Vietnam, India, Africa and South America, and bringing a baby along on an e-ticket is also still problematic; some round-the-world routes are also only issued on paper.

All hail the paperless ticket world, we say, not just because we like trees but also because it's much harder to leave an electronic ticket at home. We're gunning for paperless passports and baggage-less baggage, too.

Related Stories:
· Airlines Face Problems Meeting Paperless Tickets Deadline [eTravel]
· Travel Technology coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: zhaffsky]]]> amandak 2008-05-13T09:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/4/1/114814/8965

We'd be lost without Google Docs. From piecing together itineraries to storing flight times and phone numbers, it's a central part of our non-stop trip planning.

The only bad part is that you have to be online to use it. Well, that was the bad part. Starting today, the Google overlords will be rolling out offline access to some lucky users. (It should be out for everyone by mid-month.)

The tech stuff that makes it work is actually pretty interesting, at least to web dorks like us. But more importantly, you'll now be able to access your stuff while stuck at an airport that still doesn't have free WiFi.

Related Stories:
· Bringing the Cloud with You [Google Docs Blog]
· Websites coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-04-01T11:51:26-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/11/16/124118/36

We went by the office of the Zagat guides yesterday for a little chat with Tim and Nina--more on that next week--and they reminded us about their new mobile service, which debuted this summer. Just point your web-enabled phone or BlackBerry to Zagat.mobi and get more restaurant reviews than you'll know what to do with.

Once you've got the page up, you can search by neighborhood, cuisine or new openings. We like the "SMS to Friend" feature, which we imagine would make meeting up with pals much easier. And since the service is ad-supported, it's free.

Zagat is also cracking Facebook with a new application for nightlife spots and restaurants that have pages on the social network. Once they're approved by the survey, businesses can drop the widget on their Facebook page and see it constantly updated with the latest, imminently quotable reviews.

Related Stories:
· If It's Not NOLA, Zagat May Not Like It [Jaunted]
· Facebook coverage [Jaunted]
· Technology coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2007-11-16T12:45:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/11/16/63721/446

Russian inventors have finally solved the problem of the heavy, unwieldy suitcase. They have produced the first smart suitcase that will follow the owner through the airport. (They're still working on the photo of it.)

The tech geeks at Robotronic have been more into robotic dogs and dinosaurs in the past, but have finally put their minds to something useful. The $2,000 suitcase, due to come on the market late next year, uses a gyroscope, light detectors, ultrasound and infrared sensors to make its way around obstacles and can follow you around for up to two hours.

If this were a really smart suitcase, it would follow its owner onto the plane rather than getting itself stowed in the baggage hold--especially if it's a British Airways flight, the only airline with the ability to lose 358,000 bags in three months.

Related Stories:
· Robot Suitcase Invented in Russia [Russia IC]
· Another Bad Day for BA [Jaunted]

[Photo: robotronic.ru]]]> amandak 2007-11-16T09:30:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/10/18/92554/837

While most websites can't track your flight, we know a few booking aggregators that can find you great deals. At least, we thought they could. The Andy Rooney of the travel world, Arthur Frommer, recently tried a Danish site, Momondo.com, and he says it's the best.

Frommer plugged in searches for three flights--a trans-con, a trans-Atlantic and an intra-Europe--and was wowed with Momondo's work:

I won't bore you with every pricing detail, but suffice it to say, the little Danish-based Momondo was the clear winner every single time, finding fares that ranged from 20 percent to 40 percent cheaper than the next-closest results.

Leave it to the Danish to come up with something cool that also works like a dream. Momondo tops other sites like Kayak, Mobissimo and FareCompare by searching an even broader range of airfare vendors. The one caveat with all that is to always check the airline website--you never know when a secret sale could be on.

Related Stories:
· Momondo.com [Official Site]
· Danish-based Search Engine Has The Best Fares [Houston Chronicle]
· Most Websites Can't Track Your Flight [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2007-10-18T09:30:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/10/9/161255/718
When you see this, only one website can get you accurate, updated info.

Tracking your flight online is hardly news, but the Wall Street Journal recently took the time to test out all those services. Sadly, what they found wasn't any more impressive than the latest on-time numbers we've been crying over.

For significantly delayed flights--or those that push back from the gate but get stuck on the taxiway--most online services don't cut it. The Journal found a tough flight to track (AirTran 1699, that took off very late on Wednesday) and plugged it into some sites to see what happened:

FlightView.com...was less than helpful: It listed the flight's status as "Call Airline"...FlyteComm.com knew something wasn't quite right: It listed the flight's current altitude as zero and its current speed as zero, but still showed it arriving on-time. FlightArrivals.com correctly figured out that the plane had not yet departed...FlightAware.com and FlightExplorer.com couldn't find the flight.

So where should we turn for answers?

The most useful source of more information was at FlightStats.com, which collects data from airlines, airports and the Federal Aviation Administration and sends frequent updates.