Gigwalk app

Feature 1: Nine weeks after launching in May 2011 with $1.7 million in seed funding, Mountain View, California-based Gigwalk now says it has a 50,000 strong army of  “GigWalkers” available for completing 110,000 paid on-location “gigs” in eight metro areas.

Gigwalk pays its iPhone-powered workforce between $4 and $7 to complete a variety of on-location tasks that take about 20 minutes to complete.

Gigwalkers use their iPhone and a free Gigwalk app to capture and send in real-time data about street names, restaurant menu photographs, product placements in stores, etc.

Gigwalk’s latest client is Bing, which is asking Gigwalkers to use Microsoft’s Photosynth app to take 3-D and panoramic photos of retail stores and restaurants so that they can be accurately represented in Bing Maps results.

Gigwalk adds 110,000 new jobs and boasts 50,000 workforce members – Gigwalk.com
Google Maps dumps driving times with traffic estimates‎ – PC Mag
TripAdvisor reaches 50 million reviews and opinions – TripAdvisor
Facebook app provides travel planning and purchase with help from friends and trusted sources – Gekko.com (pr)

Feature 2: At midnight on Friday, July 22, 2011, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is all set to lose its funding and be forced into a partial shutdown because of a budget fight in the U.S. Congress.

If Congress doesn’t do something, 4,000 FAA workers will get furloughed, and non-essential functions performed by the FAA will be suspended. As long as the FAA stays de-funded, airlines can’t collect ticket taxes. Work on the FAA’s NextGen satellite based air-traffic control also will be halted.

Transportation secretary Ray LaHood urges swift action by Congress on FAA bill - FAA.gov
LaHood scrambles to avert FAA shutdown, furloughs for 4,000 workers – The Hill

Here’s the rest of the week’s interesting news:

Bill introduced in Congress to block EU airline emissions scheme – The Hill
Burt Rutan designs hybrid flying car – Wired.com
AAA unveils roadside assistance truck for electric vehicle charging - AAANewsroom

Concur makes $5 million strategic investment in Yapta - Concur.com
Cvent gets $136 million investment for technology developments and acquisitions - Cvent.com

GBTA reveals best and worst travel taxes in top 50 U.S. destinations - GBTA
2011 North America hotel guest satisfaction index - JD Power

In Texas hotel tax case, OTAs ask judge to seal order – Travel Weekly
Internet sales tax could pull down Priceline and Expedia - Forbes

Is Microsoft about to launch a social networking site (Tulalip project)? – InformationWeek
Gogobot launches Scrapbooking for the digital age - Gogobot

TSA introduces body-scanning machine software to generate generic outline images – TSA
Woman accused of groping TSA agent gets online support from Facebook – IB Times

Silver lining to the end of NASA’s space shuttle program – Houston Chronicle
Lynda Weatherman, EDC, Space Coast: “NASA is just one leg in the stool of space” - Floridatoday

Photo – Gigwalk

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There’s an App for That?
FAA Reauthorization Bill Stomps on EU Agreements