Strange New World: Picks of the Week

April 10, 2008— -- This week, as clouds on the economic horizon continue to grow, innovation is finding a home in the auto industry. It looks as though General Motors is finally stepping out of its whack-the-new-idea past and moving toward a "green" future.

Also, the FBI just released a report on Internet crime. Maybe the Web is not quite as dangerous as you think. The real world may be of more concern. And finally, before you book you air travel this summer with sites like Orbitz and Expedia, why not check out this year's crop of new travel services?

Here are our picks for the top tech stories of the week:

1) GM "Volts" ahead.From a strictly technological perspective, terms like "Advanced Automotive Technology" and "New Car" are stone cold oxymorons. Compared to things that really do change, like computers and the Web, cars today are essentially the same internally combusted, rubber-tire rolling, innovation-free idiot boxes they were 10, 20, 30 — heck, even 130 years ago. Yet, change may finally be coming.

GM, of all companies, had a press tour this week for its new all-electric car, Volt. And we have to say, we were impressed. First of all, there is no "American Revolution" marketing drivel here. Instead, GM is letting the story of creating a new car — dare we say the truth — be the message. There is a decent Web site about the Volt where — shock of shocks — there are facts, pictures and honest discussions about the problems the company is facing in developing the car. And sit down for this: There's even a section for customer input!

For our money, not only does GM deserve credit for a legitimate attempt to develop a truly new car, but the company is showing it may be maturing from the "pay no attention to reality" mentality that has crippled innovation in cars for decades. GM still might find a way to pull defeat from the jaws of innovation victory here. But as of now, we are loving the notion of not only being intrigued by a car company, but by an American car company.

Way to go, GM.