Joe Brancatelli, writer for Portfolio.com and veteran road warrior, shares his list of gadgets and services for making life out of the office more bearable.

• Flight Tracker: FlightStats, online and mobile versions
• Computer Manager: LogMeIn offers “Web-based remote computer access, support, and management”
• VoIP System: Skype for laptops and cell phones “obliterates the high cost of calling” during international travel
• Wi-Fi Roaming Service: you guessed it…Boingo Wireless! “The world is full of WiFi hotspots, but most of them are behind a confusing array of high-priced firewalls. Boingo vaults you over most of those walls at a fair price: $9.95 a month for unlimited access in North America or $59 a month for unlimited global access.“
• Portable Power System: $90 everwhereMax Laptop Charger
• Plug Adapter: Universal World Travel AC Adapter with USB Power Port
• External Drive:  OWC Mercury (doesn’t require AC adapter) or eGo Portable hard drive (stylish)

Read the entire article here.

Budget Travel magazine just announced their 2009 list of top 10 travel innovations that contribute to an “easier, more enjoyable and more affordable” travel experience. Drum roll please…

1. Kayak.com: the discount travel site added new features, including “search sharing, a real-time map of available airfare and an iPhone application.”
2. New York City: the Big Apple gets kudos for creating “new public spaces like making Times Square car-free and turning an abandoned railway into a walkway called the High Line.”
3. Apple: the company continues to get recognition for the iPhone 3GS and its “built-in applications store for anything you might need on the road.”
4. American Airlines: the “One-Way Flex Awards loyalty program…helps occasional travelers earn rewards.”
5. JetBlue: it’s the little amenities, “like the Re:Vive bar kiosks at JFK airport,” that differentiates this popular airlines.
6. Intrepid Travel: the adventure travel site is “carbon-offsetting all of its itineraries by early 2010.”
7. Google: “Street View mapping feature for theme parks and trails” makes family vacations much easier to navigate through.
8. Delta: customer service is friendly and stylin’ with the Red Coats, “agents dedicated to troubleshooting at a number of airports.”
9. Hyatt: the ubiquitous hotel chain makes a habit of announcing “new surprise perks to new and loyal customers.”
10. TripAdvisor: Nifty new tools such as “the Vacation Rental Calculator, the Top Values Tool, and the Fees Estimator” give travelers a leg up on savings.

Our one contribution to the list at #11 is…Boingo Wi-Fi for laptop and smartphone users! Our 2009 “innovations” include the addition of 16,000 hotspots (for a total of 130,000+ locations globally) as well as support for the hottest new smartphones such as the iPhone 3GS, Android MyTouch 3G, and Nokia N97. Boingo Wi-Fi helps travelers get online to check their itinerary on TripAdvisor or to email photos to family. We make your travel experience easier, more enjoyable, and more affordable. Find a Boingo hotspot just about everywhere.

Read the entire USA Today article here.