MADISON, Wis. – There’s now an easy way to bring all the fun Wisconsin has to offer right to your fingertips. And even better, it’s free.

The Wisconsin Department of Tourism has unveiled its new Travel Wisconsin mobile application for the iPhone. The free app makes finding local attractions, lodging, dining and recreation throughout the state a piece of cake. The app can be downloaded from Apple’s iTunes Store and will work on any Apple mobile device running iOS 3.1.3 or greater.

Mobile apps are quickly becoming a “must have” for travelers. According to the July 2010 report of the State of the American Traveler, 28 percent of travelers have relied on smart phones, PDAs, or other handheld devices to access travel information in the past year.

“Introducing the Travel Wisconsin iPhone app allows us to serve the rapidly expanding market of smart phone users,” said Tourism Secretary Kelli A. Trumble. “It’s one more way we can reach out to travelers as they journey throughout Wisconsin and put the state’s wealth of travel information right in their hands immediately.”

The iPhone application taps into the Department’s TravelWisconsin.com database to serve up nearby attractions, events, restaurants and accommodations in relation to the GPS coordinates of the iPhone user. Attractions and events are organized by categories to further tailor the results. Events are sorted by proximity with the closest events listed first and are also organized by date. Lodging results are sorted by accommodation type (hotels, bed and breakfasts, resorts, campgrounds) and show what amenities are available so users can easily find where they want to stay. Dining options are sorted by cuisine. Directions and maps to each location are also available.

Social media sharing has also been integrated into the application allowing users to link to their Facebook and Twitter profiles from within the program. In addition, the app allows users to save and bookmark their favorite listings to easily return to them later.

Travelers looking for Wisconsin getaway ideas, events and free guides can discover their own fun at TravelWisconsin.com. Or like them on Facebook at Facebook.com/TravelWisconsin and follow along on Twitter at @TravelWI.

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RICHMOND, Va. – (Richmond, Va.)  The Virginia Tourism Corporation announced the Virginia is for Lovers iPhone App - Virginia’s first, statewide mobile travel guide of its kind that puts more than 12,000 attractions, events, accommodations, restaurants and special offers at visitors’ fingertips.  The mobile guide is available for free at the iTunes app store for iPhone and iPad users.

The Virginia is for Lovers iPhone app is designed to help visitors immediately access lodging, entertainment and dining options to encourage them to extend their stay and visit more destinations in Virginia.

Special features and highlights of the Virginia is for Lovers iPhone app include:

• More than 12,000 listings including restaurants, hotels, wineries, museums and historical sites across the state.
• A “Near Me” feature which allows users to find all attractions in a 15 mile radius
• Directions and mapping feature for every listing
• Direct access to call for reservations via phone or Web site
• Customer reviews for restaurants and lodging properties
• Pet-friendly attractions and destinations listed by locality

Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, encourages Virginians to take advantage of this new service to help assist residents on travels throughout the state.

“The Virginia is for Lovers iPhone app is a great resource for Virginians as well as visitors.  Take advantage of this free service and get access to the nearest restaurants, wineries, museums and events while you are traveling throughout Virginia, either on business or vacation with your family.”

Tourism generates $19.2 billion in revenue for Virginia, supports 210,000 jobs and provides $1.28 billion in state and local taxes for communities.

Go to Virginia.org for more information on the free, Virginia is for Lovers iPhone app or visit www.Virginia.org for more details and information.  Or call to request a free, Virginia is for Lovers travel guide.

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Small Bobino Cable Buddy

If you’re anything like me, you travel with all sorts of gadgets. Whether I’m traveling for business or on a family vacation, I typically have my MacBook Pro, a cell phone (or two), my iPod Touch, and other devices stashed in my computer case.

The problem is all the cords you need to carry to connect and charge all those electronics. The bottom of my bag tends to look like a snakepit half-way through any trip.

While on a recent adventure to Kansas City, I happened on a simple little piece of plastic that offered to bring at least some order to my cable conundrum for a mere $4.95. This strangely shaped award-winning device, called a Bobino Cable Buddy, comes in three different sizes: small, medium and large; and multiple colors. I opted for the medium-sized black cord wrap for USB wires and chargers in the hopes of taming my iPod Touch USB cord.

The Bobino is so simple and elegant, it’s hard to believe it actually works. But it does! The semi-rigid plastic is flexible enough to withstand the rough and tumble world of the traveler while still being rigid enough to the do the job of holding and protecting my iPod Touch cable.

As you can see from the photo, the Bobino has two openings through which you wind the cable around the center. One end contains a smaller round notch into which you place one end of your cable. Proceed to wrap the cable around through the loops and in no time you’ve got a perfectly tamed cable that stays in place!

The three different sizes are made for different applications: small for mp3 player and cell phone earbuds at $3.95; medium for cell phone chargers and USB cables at $4.95; and larger for laptop and thin extension cords for $6.95.

My medium-sized Bobino has survived two business trips so far, and it’ll be accompanying me on my upcoming motorcycle trip as well. It’s earned a place in my must-have travel items.

You can purchase any of the three sizes of the Bobino Cable Buddy from Amazon.

Photo courtesy Dutchworld Solutions BV

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Capture Waterproof Case for iPod Nano

H2O Audio introduces the Capture Waterproof Case, a clever kit that turns the iPod nano 5th generation into an underwater camera. Plug in a pair of H2O’s waterproof headphones to enjoy underwater listening too – maybe even swim with sharks while listening to the Jaws music.

Whether showering, swimming, diving or surfing, users can listen to their favorite music or imitate Jacques Cousteau, capturing the sights and sounds of the deep. The Capture features H2O’s unique waterproof technology and is 100% waterproof to depths of up to 12 feet, allowing water enthusiasts to make use of all the iPod nano features in, around, and under water.

One of the Capture’s niftiest functions is that it enables the iPod to capture high-quality video footage even while submerged, thanks to its polished polycarbonate lens, so you can shoot from the action, not the waterline. Other nano functions which are still accessible from the sea bed include playing footage, music, videos and games, thanks to H2O Audio’s patented Commander scroll wheel technology which enables full control of the iPod click wheel while underwater.

Bundled with many neat additional features the Capture is compact (6x2x1”), incredibly lightweight at just 3.6 ounces, and durable with polycarbonate construction to protect the iPod against drops, impacts and scratches. Perfectly portable, the case comes with a sports armband and detachable belt clip.

Capture Waterproof Case for iPod nano with video (5th Gen) available on Amazon priced from $79.99.

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Roadside America Gallery Screen

RoadsideAmerica.com, the online guide to offbeat tourist attractions, announced the recent launch of its Roadside America mobile software app for iPhone and iPod touch. Roadside America showcases thousands of eccentric, entertaining, and unique roadside tourist spots found around the country.

“The app makes it easy for travelers to instantly see what’s nearby,” said Doug Kirby, publisher of RoadsideAmerica.com. “It’s up to them whether to veer off to see a mustard museum or a colossal hot dog.” The app features road trip favorites such as giant twine balls, tiny churches, odd statues, quirky museums, implausible architecture, classic Rte. 66-type attractions, folk art environments, mystery spots, gravity hills, caves, and much more.

“It’s the trip tool we’ve always wanted for our own use,” said Kirby, who has visited thousands of attractions as part of the RoadsideAmerica.com team. “After years of navigating with map in lap, this finally connects our collection of places in a practical way, using the latest mobile and geo-location smarts.”

With the Roadside America app, users can access attraction stories, visitor tips, maps, driving directions, hours, phone numbers, and photos.  The app can retrieve real-time updates and attraction status reports from RoadsideAmerica.com.

“We designed the app to be fun — and a little offbeat, naturally,” Kirby said. Among its exclusive on-the-road trip tools: it can warn when sunset approaches, or schedule a phone alert to get a sidetracked tourist back on the road. And there are many app-only photos and promising places “under investigation” and not yet on the website.

Users can browse attractions by over 70 Roadside-centric themes, such as “Big,” “Atomic,” “Music,” “Tech,” and “Zombie Army.” They can share discoveries via social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, or snap photos for submission directly to RoadsideAmerica.com.

For lifelong road trip enthusiasts, the app’s “Been There!” feature is a way to keep track of roadside attractions they have visited.

Roadside America is available on the Apple (U.S.) App Store for $2.99 for permanent access to any one of six U.S. regions; an additional $5.99 unlocks the entire U.S. for one year.

Get the Roadside America App from iTunes

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In-flight Wi-Fi. Photo by andinarvaez.

FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — American Airlines, the first U.S. airline to launch Gogo Inflight Internet, is launching its new Wi-Fi Widget that enables customers to identify Wi-Fi equipped flights 24 hours prior to departure.

Customers can visit aa.com/wifiwidget to find and use the Wi-Fi Widget. The tool allows travelers to determine if their American Airlines flight will be scheduled with Wi-Fi enabled aircraft. Customers can also embed the Wi-Fi Widget in their own blogs, Web sites, and social network sites, which makes finding Wi-Fi on American Airlines flights even easier.

“We are pleased to have the Wi-Fi Widget tool available for our customers,” said Doug Backelin, Manager — Inflight Communications and Technology. “We realize how important inflight connectivity is to travelers and believe the new widget will make identifying Wi-Fi equipped aircraft easy.”

Simply enter your flight number or select your flight’s departure airport from a drop down menu to find out in seconds if your flight is scheduled on a Wi-Fi equipped aircraft. For a quick video demonstration of how to use the Wi-Fi Widget, visit http://www.youtube.com/americanairlines.

Recently American completed the installation of Wi-Fi on 150 MD-80 aircraft. Combined with the 15 Boeing 767–200 aircraft that also have the service, American Airlines fleet now has 165 planes that are capable of providing customers with the ability to surf the Web, check e-mail, send instant messages, and more on a greater number of flights. In August 2008, American became the first U.S. airline to launch the Gogo service. Since then, thousands of customers traveling on American aircraft have enjoyed onboard Wi-Fi service while flying throughout the United States.

Coming soon, customers will also be able to determine if their flight has Wi-Fi by looking for the Wi-Fi symbol on the AA electronic gate information display screens at the airport.

Gogo service turns an American Airlines flight into a Wi-Fi hotspot. Once the aircraft has reached 10,000 feet, users can simply turn on their Wi-Fi enabled devices — such as laptops, smartphones and handheld PDAs — then open their browsers and be directed to the Gogo portal page where they sign up and begin surfing. Gogo also provides complimentary access to all that AA.com has to offer, including booking flights, hotel stays and rentals, checking AAdvantage accounts, and more.

Once connected, passengers can surf the Web, check e-mail, send instant messages, access a corporate VPN, and even start holiday shopping with SkyMall. By placing an online SkyMall order onboard, customers will receive a $12.95 discount on orders totaling more than $100 — covering the price of the Gogo session.

Each paid Gogo session includes full Internet, e-mail and VPN access. Cell phone and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service use are prohibited.

Photo by andinarvaez

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Don’t throw your hands up in despair! Get out your trusty iPhone or iPod Touch and consult eJourna’s handy list of Holiday Travel Apps to help you through the season! Sorry, there isn’t one for making fruitcake disappear…

Airfare Pro

Airfare Pro

Airfare Pro searches nearly 10,000 airports, hundreds of airlines and over 200 travel sites around the world to find you the cheapest flights possible. It also has a 110% lowest price guarantee. If you can find a cheaper price for the same flight using a booking website, they will refund the entire price of the application, plus 10%.

Cost $5.99 // Airfare Pro on iTunes

Pack & Go Deluxe

Pack & Go Deluxe is a comprehensive family “To Do” and packing list application. When going on vacation with the family do you ever forget to pack your toiletry bag, your teenager’s favorite jeans, your spouse’s passport, your pet’s vaccination proof, or your baby’s milk bottle? Perhaps in your very busy life, you need a simple reminder of what to pack for a short excursion to a local theme park or on a long trip to a far away destination.

Pack & Go Deluxe is an extensive “To Do”, packing and travel checklist tailored specifically for families.

Cost: $2.99 // Pack & Go Deluxe on iTunes

FAAwait

FAAwait provides real-time access to current air traffic delays at all U.S. airports. It utilizes a data feed maintained by the FAA that tracks departure and arrival delays, ground stops, and ground delays.

Cost: $0.99 // FAAwait on iTunes

LiveATC Air Radio

Stuck in the airport terminal with endless delays? Have you always wondered what pilots talk to air traffic controllers about? Now you can stop wondering and tune in!

LiveATC Air Radio provides a quick and easy way to listen in on live conversations between pilots and air traffic controllers near many airports around the world. The application lets you browse by state or country to find an airport and listen to live ATC chatter at or near that airport.

Cost: $2.99 // LiveATC Air Radio on iTunes

Flight Update

Flight Update

Flight Update is a flight tracker application that covers airlines on every continent. It allows you to get ongoing flight status information, flight times, gate and terminal information, baggage claim info, flight cancellations and delays, meal information, seating charts and more.

Cost: $4.99 // Flight Update on iTunes

iFlyPro — Airport Guide + Flight Tracker

iFlyPro is a detailed airport guide and flight tracker. Want to know what gate your flight arrives into? What restaurants will be near your gate? Terminal maps? Whether or not, and where, there is WiFi? How far the connecting gate is? Ground transport options? Parking rates and locations? Terminal services? This app does all that and more.

Cost: $6.99 // iFlyPro on iTunes

The Weather Channel Max

Weather Channel Max provides complete weather coverage without any ads. It is the only weather provider to provide future radar, so you’ll know where the storm is heading, not just where it’s been. Weather Channel Max also includes detailed forecasts, beach conditions, premium video, traffic cams, a severe weather center, hourly, 36 hour and ten-day forecasts.

Cost: $3.99 // The Weather Channel Max on iTunes

Spots — The WiFi Hotspot Directory

Spots is a WiFi hotspot directory. It works offline from its own included database, so you don’t need to be connected to locate a WiFi hotspot. It’s database contains half a million WiFi hotspots all around the world.

Cost: $1.99 // Spots on iTunes

TripIt for iPhone

TripIt for iPhone is a travel itinerary application that allows you to organize and share your travel plans. You can forward your travel confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com and TripIt automatically creates a master itinerary for your trip with all your travel plans in one spot.

Cost: Free // TripIt on iTunes

My Gate Maps

My Gate Maps

How many times have you been at an airport and needed to quickly access a gate map only to find the airport’s website displays them using Flash or PDF? My Gate Maps to the rescue! My Gate Maps includes maps for 36 airports, with more added all the time based on your requests. It also gives you the ability to pick your arrival and connecting gates and see them on the overview and detail maps.

Cost: $2.99 // My Gate Maps on iTunes

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Many people suffer anxiety at the prospect of flying. These fears range from anxiety at booking a trip to complete inability to board an aircraft. Whether it is the unfamiliar aircraft, the strange noises a plane makes, or the fear of losing control, this app is designed to help people overcome their personal fears.

Sir Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic, commented:

“This is Virgin Atlantic innovation at its best. Our first iPhone app will bring the benefits of our successful Flying Without Fear course to millions of people around the world who are now using mobile technology to make their lives better. The app will put many travelers at ease and enable them to prepare for their first Virgin Atlantic flight.”

Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Without Fear team have developed the app with Mental Workout, a company developing mobile applications focused on improving lives by helping people resolve issues and increase mental performance.

The Flying Without Fear app contains a personal introduction by Sir Richard Branson, a video-based in-flight explanation from start to finish of a flight, frequently-asked questions, relaxation exercises and fear therapy, a fear attack button for emergencies with breathing exercises and quick tips, and a “My Program” section where each user can rate their personal fears and add future flights to prepare them for their next trip. As a bonus, the user is offered 2,000 points when joining Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club.

Virgin Atlantic’s Flying without Fear team recently helped American actress, Whoopi Goldberg, overcome her fear of flying. The actress had not flown for a decade but a business commitment in London meant she had to step on a plane once again.

After going through the course, Whoopi Goldberg said:

“The program works, I was a skeptic. I hadn’t flown in 13 years but after doing their program, I understood that while my fear was real, there were many things I didn’t know or had misinformation about, which they were able to clear up. So what happened? I now fly. It’s that simple.”

Mickey Beyer-Clausen, founder of Mental Workout, added:

“Mental Workout is dedicated to providing people with mobile tools that harness best-in-class expertise to improve and enhance their lives. With approximately one in three adults afraid of flying, we wanted to make the best therapeutic tools available to everyone who wishes to take control of that fear. By creating this app in partnership with Virgin Atlantic, we can help those who have a fear of flying — whether acute, mild, or only occasional — control that fear and by doing so broaden their world.”

The Flying Without Fear app is available for $4.99 from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch.

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The thing that sucks about watching video on a Touch or iPhone is having to hold it in your hands, tilted at just the right angle so that you can see the screen. The last thing I want to do is strain my wrists any more than I already do by working on computers all day. Wouldn’t it be great if you could watch a full-length movie on your iPhone without having to hold it in your hands the entire time?

I’ve previously written about some great iPhone and iPod Touch cases suited to travelers. One of them even has a built-in stand, which is pretty handy. Today, I stumbled across a different type of stand that is perfect for anyone on the go, and especially people traveling on vacation or for business.

It’s called the GoGoStand, and it’s so portable that it will fit in your wallet. Wait, what? Yes, it will fit in your wallet (or purse, or pocket, for that matter). The GoGoStand is a plastic folding stand the same size as a credit card and is designed for all generations of iPhones and iPod Touch. It will work equally well with all sorts of other phones like the Android G1, Palm Pre, Droid and more. It retains it’s shape while folded out and has three different adjustable viewing angles.

GoGoStand rear view

GoGoStand flat view

It’s available in dark blue, bronze,  purple, clear and smoke. I prefer the smoke color myself, since it seems the least obtrusive.

The GoGoStand is made in the United States and, possibly the best part, it costs a mere $4.99 with FREE shipping! It’s really hard to go wrong at that price. So what’s the downside? Well, the GoGoStand is apparently so popular that it’s currently sold out. You can become a fan of GoGoStand and you’ll be alerted when they have new inventory in and also get a chance to win one for free.

While you’re waiting for the GoGoStand, you could always make yourself a temporary portable stand out of a paperclip. In the meantime, watch the video below to see the GoGoStand in action.

For more information on the GoGoStand, visit their website at www.gogostand.com.

images courtesy of GoGoStand

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Designed to enhance the “Halloween Horror Nights” experience by creating an interactive snapshot of the overall event, the iPhone and Android application will provide guests with continuously updated and relevant information during their onsite visit. Access to wait times and locations of mazes, scare zone, shows, attractions and restaurants will be easily accessible from anywhere within the theme park throughout the 16-night run of “Halloween Horror Nights.”

“While a traditional website gives a brand marketing reach to users at home, our onsite publishing platform allows businesses and destinations such as Universal Studios to push information that is immediately relevant to customers at their own location,” said Rahul Sonnad, CEO of Geodelic Systems. “Universal is clearly leading the way on mobile technology with this ground-breaking experience, and will provide a showcase for others in the travel, hospitality, and entertainment industries.”

To download the application, consumers can access www.geodelic.com/hhn or search “Horror Nights” at the iPhone App Store. There is no charge for the download.

“Halloween Horror Nights” 2009 is all-new at Universal Studios Hollywood. The movie-based horror attractions include, “Saw: Game Over,” a “live” maze experience based on the “Saw” film franchise, per an agreement among Universal Studios Theme Parks, Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures. The interactive maze, “Halloween: The Life and Crimes of Michael Myers,” will be the first attraction based upon the “Halloween” films to be created by a U.S. theme park. The “live” multi-sensory horror experience, “My Bloody Valentine: Be Mine 4 Ever,” will be based on the 2009 hit movie. “Chucky’s Fun House,” will be a fresh, flesh-and-blood incarnation of one of Universal’s most iconic horror franchises, and a more intense, interactive horror experience will be realized on the new “Terror Tram: Live or Die” walk-through attraction on the historic Universal backlot.

New shows include a live stage production of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Tribute,” based on the cult film phenomenon and an all-new “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure” as well as six all new “scare zones.”

Updates on “Halloween Horror Nights” are available on Twitter and Facebook, as Creative Director John Murdy reveals a running chronicle of exclusive information. Fans are invited to follow John Murdy on Twitter at: Twitter.com/HorrorNights or via Facebook at: “Halloween Horror Nights — Hollywood (Official).”

Universal Studios Hollywood’s favorite thrill-ride attractions, which will also remain open for “Halloween Horror Nights,” many with menacing twists, will include “The Simpsons Ride,” “Revenge of the Mummy — The Ride” and “Jurassic Park In the Dark.”

“Halloween Horror Nights” will continue on consecutive weekends and selected weekday nights through Halloween, Saturday, October 31. Event dates are: October 9–11, 15–18, 23–25, 28–31. The event will begin nightly at 7:00 p.m.; closing hours vary by night throughout the event. Tickets and information are available at www.halloweenhorrornights.com/hollywood.

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