Best New Travel Apps for Kindle Fire and the Nook

In the past year, teams of students, engineers, product designers, computer programmers, and entrepreneurs have been developing prototypes of inventions designed to help travelers take control of their trips. Recognizing a need to update travel gear, innovators have been applying fresh thinking to the design of common items. We here at Budget Travel wish hotels, airlines, and the rest of the travel industry do more experimenting along these lines to improve the travel experience, such as airplane wheelchairs, GPS-powered eyewear, and smarter power adapters. Here are a few examples of promising travel products that recently caught our eyes. Note that these are prototypes and are not yet available for sale. The Skycare Chair This prototype wheelchair is designed by Brian Liang for the specific constraints of airplane passengers. By placing the wheels under the chair, it enables the seat to navigate narrow aircraft aisles. A lever-based system enables a person with limited use of his or her legs to get in and out, plus propel down an aisle. The chair collapses for compact storage. Computerized Eyewear There's a rumor that Google is testing "Google Glasses," eyewear that can overlay on the surface of one lens relevant information about what you're seeing, such as GPS-based walking directions, according to the blog <strong>UPDATE Feb 21.:</strong> <a href=">Big Think. A spokesperson for the company had no comment on its product testing. But whether Google is trialing computerized eyewear or not, it's only a matter of time before some major company finds away to mass produce such high-tech glasses cheaply. UPDATE Feb 21.: The New York Times confirms talk of Google selling these glasses by year-end. Portable Power Socket Anh Nguyen has prototyped a universal power adapter that cleverly adjusts to geographic and domestic locations. Travelers can carry it with them and fit the metal prongs into any region’s cables, with an automatic voltage adapter built-in. Unlike existing "universal adapters," this one would be cute and come with a built-in extension cord, for easy use in hotel rooms. Hey, manufacturers! Stop being complacent. It's time to pay attention to a new generation of designers and prototype mavens. What products do you wish inventors would improve? Feel free to share your insights in the Comments. SEE MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL RIGHT NOW :-) Is This the RV of the Future? New Shoelaces Ready for Airport Security 5 Ways to Keep Your Cords Tidy and Organized

Luggage makers always strive to respond to the growing demand from travelers for lighter and tougher suitcases. Their latest solution is baggage made of an ultra-lightweight yet highly durable material: polycarbonate resin. The big surprise is that hard-sided cases have suddenly become popular again, now that they're as light as soft-sided bags. A 22-inch carry-on made of polycarbonate weighs a mere 4-and-a-half pounds, the same as a traditional soft-sided piece made of nylon, and much lighter than traditional ABS hard-sided material. How light is four-and-a-half ounces? That’s light enough to hold a bag with your forefinger, when the bag is empty. Yet the plastic is still tough enough to avoid getting dented. The glossy material isn’t new: Polycarbonate has successfully been used in motorcycle helmets, bulletproof glass and riot-police shields for a couple of decades now. In 2000, German luggage maker Rimowa introduced the material into luggage. Ironically, travelers were unnerved by how lightweight the luggage felt, worrying that it would prove to be flimsy, and the product didn’t catch on right away. Yet sales of polycarbonate luggage recently began to take off in a big way, according to the Travel Goods Association. These suitcases are replacing old-fashioned cases at higher prices. Even Zero Halliburton, a luggage maker that’s famous for selling aluminum cases, says it is experiencing its strongest sales for its line of polycarbonate suitcases, such as the 19-inch Z-TEX (about $325). Here are a few reasons to explain the current sales boom: Enough manufacturers have designs made of polycarbonate resin now that competition is bringing prices down from $800 a decade ago to as low as $140 now. Additionally, airlines have ramped up their fees for oversize and overweight luggage, so fitting everything into a single compact bag has become increasingly crucial. Changing fashion is another factor. The polycarbonate material is eye-catching, because it can easily be dyed in brilliant colors, such as shiny tomato red, cobalt blue, and gleaming silver. Travelers seem to have become more willing to explore bold colors in their baggage. Black, which was the near uniform color choice of a decade ago, is today mixed with a wider array of hues and patterns, probably for the practical reason of speeding up identification of a bag in a pile at an airport carousel. Budget Travel found a few types of the new luggage that are stylish, lightweight, sturdy and affordable: Samsonite, the world’s largest branded luggage maker, showcases the Gravtec line of polycarbonate suitcases, imprinted with a raised-edge pattern. A 24-inch size model runs was recently for sale at $180 from ebags.com. Britain’s Antler brand creates the Liquis 4 Wheeled Super Lightweight 22-inch carry-on, with a shiny and grooved polycarbonate outer shell in blue, red, or silver, with four multi-directional wheels at its base, recently from $299 at ebags. Rimowa developed the technology to make polycarbonate luggage and today makes some of the chicest models, such as its Salsa 22-inch Globetrotter ($450 recently at Zappos). A zipper joins the two luggage halves in an improbable design, with four multi-directional wheels at the base. All this news reminds me of the movie "The Graduate." Today, adults might tell kids that the future will be in polycarbonates. SEE MORE ON BUDGET TRAVEL RIGHT NOW 4 Most Common Reasons Airlines Lose Luggage Worst Luggage Incidents of All Time Should Airlines Have to Allow One Free Checked Bag By Law?

We've already shown how you can use your phone to find a place to stay, whether it's booking at the last minute, finding the nicest room in a hotel, or revealing which property you're about to book on an opaque site like Hotwire. But what about making your actual hotel stay more comfortable? Now there's an app for that too. The same company that works with hotels to set up interactive television systems such as the ones you find at The Iroquois in New York has developed a free app aimed at optimizing the hotel experience for anyone with a smartphone. By downloading the free app from either the Apple Store or the Android Market, you'll be able to use your own smartphone or iPad as a hotel remote control, neighborhood directory, or as a resource for information about the hotel you're staying in. I met with Todd Kelly, LodgeNet's Vice President of Interactive and Mobile Applications, for an in–room demonstration to see what it would be like to take this new app for a spin. The product was surprisingly easy to navigate, and within a few seconds we had started playing the film Hugo on the hotel TV. You can also use the app to find local churches, supermarkets, Laundromats, restaurants, and other places that might be helpful to someone on the road. According to Kelly, there is no other vendor out there that offers such a complete set of services. He also envisions the app being helpful in the planning stages of a vacation, since it allows you to see a hotel's movie and TV channel choices before booking a room. "If you want to check a ball game on ESPN2, and one hotel has it, and the other doesn't, that could swing your decision," Kelly said. If you're in a hurry, the app can be useful too. Kelly says he's been known out the door and turn off his hotel television on the way down the elevator, since, well, you can take the controls with you. For anyone worried about privacy and the integrity of the product, Kelly says while each device need only be coded and connected to the television once during your stay to remain active, "only one device can use that code with that TV. We're very careful in that respect." What do you think about this new app? Does this sound like something that would appeal to you, or would you rather stick with a good old-fashioned hotel remote? MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL The Ultimate Guide to Travel Apps Top 10 Hottest New Travel Gadgets Apple Plans to Block iPhone Users from Recording Concerts

Whether you're trying to distract yourself—or your children—during a long car ride or flight, we've rounded up some great apps to help pass the time. (All apps can be purchased in the iTunes store and are compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad). FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS: The App: TapShot Cost: $0.99 Why You Want It: This App lets you customize your smart device's camera experience, enhancing the camera that already comes with your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch by letting you adjust focus and exposure, plus adds high-quality zoom and other effects. The App: Hipstamatic Disposable Cost: Free. (Original Hipstamatic App, $1.99.) Why You Want It: Fans of Hipstamatic rejoice! They've recently developed a new app called Hipstamatic Disposable that acts as the world's first social media camera, letting friends share rolls of "film" in sets of 24 photos at a time. The photos are released as an album that can be featured on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks. FOR MUSICIANS: The App: Magic Guitar Cost: Free. Why You Want It: Brought to you by the creators of Magic Piano, I Am T-Pain, and Glee Karaoke comes an app that lets you play your iPhone (or iPad) like a guitar—giving you control of the instrument's pitch, notes played, and speed, with a songbook including music by KISS, the Rolling Stones, Santana, and Poison, among other artists. Break out your inner rock star and let the hours disappear in a blaze of glory. FOR SKI ENTHUSIASTS: The App: Liftopia Cost: Free. Why You Want It: Attention anyone who plans to go skiing this season: Liftopia has just launched a new app allowing you to search, browse, and purchase exclusive deals on ski resorts and lift tickets around the country. You can even get updates on weather conditions and information on ski supplies. FOR GAMERS: The App: Grand Theft Auto III Cost: $4.99 Why You Want It: For Grand Theft Auto fans, Rockstar Games has created a mobile version of their 10-year anniversary edition of Grand Theft Auto III. Take your favorite game on the road, on a plane, or on that long-haul train ride you're sort of looking forward to. JUST FOR FUN: The App: Scoop.it Cost: Free. Why You Want It: This app allows you to create your own web page based on whatever topic you're most passionate about. Enter your topic, and the app rounds up a number of related articles from various websites and formulates them into your very own virtual magazine, which you can then share with friends via social media. Friends can add their own page suggestions, and you can share your passion with the world. A New York Times article lists other great apps for kids, with some geared towards ages 1 to 4—think Elmo and the gang from Sesame Street; others for 5- to 8-year-olds, like Highlights magazine activities and educational games; and more for 9- to 12-year-olds, like a random fact—generator from National Geographic Kids, and an updated version of the License Plate Game. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: The Ultimate Guide to Travel Apps iPhone: Top Language Translation Apps Apple Plans to Block iPhone Users from Recording Concerts