What's New What's Hot is Travel Weekly's look at useful and fun travel gadgets, edited by Joe Rosen. Click on the image to open the slideshow of all of the featured products for October.
TomTom Go Live 1535M. Truly something new among the glut of GPS devices, this TomTom offers real-time connectivity to such travel apps as Yelp, TripAdvisor, Expedia and Twitter as well as updated fuel price info, weather forecasts and local search via Google. All of this comes free for the first year of use with the TomTom Go Live ($59.95 a year thereafter), as does frequently updated traffic info accessed through TomTom's Live Services via the AT&T network. In short, this value-added GPS, which features a five-inch screen, not only can tell you how to get where you are going but also where to find a well-regarded restaurant or a starred hotel, as well as enable you to tweet your destination and ETA so there will be a welcoming committee to greet you when you arrive. $249.95; www.tomtom.com.
Underwear With Pockets. A new company called Clever Travel Companion says it designs and produces products with one simple goal, to make travelers safe and secure on the road, and you could say they are starting from the bottom up with this unique undergarment. After all, it would take a pretty deft pickpocket to make off with your passport, money or tickets once you have hidden them away in the two zippered pockets that could make this unmentionable the biggest thing in undies since Depends. Underwear With Pockets range in size from X-small to X-large as boxer briefs with a two-button fly for men (available in green, black, blue and gray) and boy-style shorts for women (pink, black, blue and gray). $29.99; www.clevertravelcompanion.com.
Lori L. Tote Bag and Perez Cosmetic Organizer. Perfect for home or travel, the luxurious tote bag from Mocha Moon and its accompanying organizer are several rungs up from run-of-the-mill carry-alls and cosmetic kits in that they look great, feel great and are exceptionally practical accoutrements for the stylish woman on the go. The tote, which measures 12 by 8 by 12.5 inches (15.5 inches across its zippered top), with 20.75-inch twin handles, features a mocha-colored, croc-embossed faux leather and black nylon exterior. Hefty enough to accommodate a laptop, e-reader, iPad and the like, it features an integrated organization system for carrying pens, a smartphone, keys and other essentials. The matching faux leather organizer, only 5 by 7.5 by 4 inches, keeps all makeup essentials and brushes easily accessible and has a removable, transparent cosmetics pouch that helps ease the way through airport security. Tote, $64.95; organizer, $34.99; www.mochamoon.com.
Bloxsun Sun Scarves. This sun-shielding apparel looks good and does good, offering UPF 50 UV-ray protection in the form of attractive scarves made of a stretch nylon blend. Available in two sizes, the standard-size Bloxsun (36 by 34 inches) can be worn bandana-style to help shield the wearer's neck and scalp, while the large size scarf (56 by 29 inches) can do all of that and act as a wrap, as well. Perfect for those warm-weather destinations, Bloxsun Sun Scarves come in four colors: dark green, rose, navy and turquoise. Standard size, $75; large, $135; www.bloxsun.com.
Princeton Tec Bot Headlamp. Promoted as an outdoor adventure product for families, the Tec Bot really shines indoors when you want to read in bed in a dimly illuminated hotel room. All too often hotels either skimp on adequate bedside lighting or opt for designer lamps that look great but illuminate little. The solution when you want to read yourself to sleep? Just slap on the Tec Bot -- two high-power LEDS attached to an adjustable headband -- and do your tired eyes a favor. The headlamp is powered by two AAA batteries and will provide light for up to nine hours on low, which is perfectly adequate for reading, and 4.5 hours on high if you find yourself spelunking in your sleep. A large push button makes for easy on-off operation. $15.95; www.princetontec.com.
Got something for What's New, What's Hot? Email Joe Rosen at jrosen@travelweekly.com.