10 Travel Worthy Hi-Tech Gadets

Over the years, we have increasingly become gadget dependent. The fascination began with the television remote control, and we never turned back. Gadgets have become smaller and cooler, and when we don't have them with us, we feel lost. Here is a list of 10 cool tech gadgets that are worthy of being regular travel companions.

Kodak Zi8: Whether it's for photos, online slide shows, video blogging, or YouTube, this compact and highly portable HD camera sports a resolution of up to 1080p for video, and stills at 5.3 megapixel. The built in USB connection or SD card slot will allow for transfer of content, a built in Microphone jack allows for enhanced recording of audio, and an HDMI port supports connection to an HDTV.

iPhone: Without a doubt, the hottest mobile phone we have seen yet. With literally thousands of free to low priced applications there really not be a reason to bring a laptop on the trip with this one along for the ride.

Trackstick Mini: The latest in the Trackstick line of GPS tracking products, the new Mini is a thumb drive like USB device that features a built-in rechargeable battery. With the Trackstick, any trip's travel history, maps, routes, stop times, and geotags can be viewed by plugging directly into a computer. The data the Trackstick collects is compatible with Google Earth, Google Maps, Microsoft Live, and more.

Energizer Energi To Go: This line of portable power pack rechargers and power supplies extend the battery life of portable games, phones, mp3 players, and more. Available pack styles for various devices include universal, docking, and solar, and multi device.

FLO TV: Currently available as a wireless phone service, automobile device, or portable television the size of a PDA, the FLOTV provides nationwide 24 hour programming from almost all major cable networks.

Livescribe Pulse smartpen: Have a few meetings to attend while traveling on business? Never miss another note with the Livescribe Pulse. The smart pen features an internal infrared camera and built in microphone to assist with note taking, and a USB connection allows for getting those notes into the Livescribe Desktop software for review.

Nintendo Dsi: If gaming is your thing, having this portable gaming unit on hand will certainly help pass the time. Chances are, you'll even become addicted while using it. With a vast library of software titles, a built in web browser, and WiFi capabilities, it'll be hard to put down.

SteriPEN water purifier: Available in a few portable shapes and sizes, the SteriPEN sterilizes water for drinking use by simply dipping the pen into a glass of water. For example, the Traveler Mini which weighs only 3.6 ounces, can purify a half-liter of water in 48 seconds. If your travels take you outdoors or into foreign areas, the SteriPEN will certainly be your best friend.

Geomate Jr.: Geocaching is a growing and popular casual sport. Described as a game of hi-tech hide-and-seek requiring a GPS, there are hundreds of thousands of hidden caches to find in the US. The Geomate Jr. is specifically designed to locate and lead you to the nearest cache(s) no matter where you are.

3M MPRO150 handheld projector: Supporting popular business applications such as Microsoft Office, Adobe PDF, and movie and music files, this projector features a Micro SD card slot to download and present without any wires or connections. With a size small enough to fit a shirt pocket, the projector also features 1GB on board memory, and built-in speakers.