My friend Alex von Oech is working to develop a revolutionary travel focused search solution. The beta will be launched at the end of October.

Be sure to check out Alex’s blog at Kango here.

It will soon be possible to send driving directions directly from your computer to your car’s navigation system.

PAL-V, a hybrid tricycle and gyrocopter, will allegedly be available for an undisclosed price by 2009. The vehicle, which has been in development for six years by Netherlands-based PAL-V Europe BV, will fly below 4,000 feet and have a fuel efficient engine for both driving and flying. [via oh gizmo]

A research group from two Beijing, China universities is developing maglev technology to launch spaceships into orbit at a fraction of the cost of current rocket departure methods. A spaceship would be magnetically levitated over a track and up an incline, and lift off when it reaches a velocity of 620 miles/hour. [source link] Researchers at NASA are also apparently investigating similar technology. [source]

Another fascinating propulsion possibility are lasers. The Department of Defense has invested in developing battlefield viable lasers beyond 100kW solid state by 2009, but the same technology could allegedly be used for pushing satellites and probes to Mars in days rather than months. [for more information, click here.] [Thanks, Futurismic]

HOVER (high occupancy vehicles in express routes) is an efficient carpooling system originally developed in Auckland, New Zealand to reduce congestion.  Hover provides a system that does not require pre-planning for drivers, no commitment to participate everyday, or travel at specific, predesignated times.  Lots of cars commute to similar destinations, and have empty seats, so it’s a great system to reduce highway congestion, and reduce automobile emissions.  The organization advocates that “park and ride” facilities for the “park and pool” system be publicly funded like roads and buses.  Check out the video below.

Virgin is lobbying to introduce an innovative aircraft service within America. Each seat would have a 110 volt plug, USB port, Ethernet jack, an in-flight entertainment system unrivaled by U.S. carriers, greater knee room in economy, and plush leather seats.

AirTroductions is an online service whereby you can create a profile, and search for other people who are traveling on your flights, so you can potentially sit next to them. I’ve met some really interesting people on airplanes, and I like the idea of choosing with whom I am going to be sharing an armrest!

The JR Hokkaido Company of Japan is testing a vehicle capable of traveling via rail and road, and expects to carry its first paying passengers by April. The $150k vehicle cost is a fraction of a diesel rail car, and has much cheaper maintenance and fuel costs.

[via Gizmodo]

Check out this advertisement for Mexico travel with live models inside a trailer with transparent walls! Inside there’s sand, palm trees and women in bikinis! The actors play beach volleyball, and give each other massages etc.! [thanks, Software Development Manager]

[UPDATE 12-31-06: Check out this YouTube video below.]