Travel

Delta Earns Tech Points with New App

Posted on February 5, 2013 by ellarileyadams Posted in Travel | Leave a comment

Is there a specific formula for a trend-setting app? We would argue there is, and Delta Airlines’ new offering almost gives us everything we need. They are not the first airline to go iPad-savvy–last year a Singapore airline replaced seatback TVs with iPads–but Delta could set the standard for airline-tablet integration.

Every good app:

Streamlines processes. If you randomly showed up to an airport without a ticket or destination, you could settle in one of those charming vinyl seats and do the entire thing from your iPad. First, peruse an interactive world map and assess the most exciting destinations. Then, book your flight, check into said flight, and have your boarding pass delivered to your smartphone. Fly Delta delivers one connected process, with one device to command it all.

Replaces a tired resource. We have all looked reproachfully inflight magazines in the seatback pocket. It’s creased, stained by previous flyers’ food and probably drool. There are pages missing. Still, you will flip to the back to find out what movie you’re watching. The Fly Delta iPad app replaces the paper, serving as a “light travel guide” and offering entertainment choices picked especially for your destination.

Inspires wonderment. Like Google+ Hangout lets you try on a tiara or sport a mustache during your conversation, every good service has something for the kids to play with and the adults to smile about. In Fly Delta, that’s the “Glass Bottom Jet” feature, which gives you a view of the world below you as you jet across the sky. It’s integrated with social networks, so you can leave messages for friends who fly the same route in the future.

It seems the companies that connect us to new parts of the world should naturally favor high-speed connection in all aspects of their service. Next, can we get some free inflight wi-fi please?

Tablet Technology is Increasingly Integrated in Auto Manufacturing

Posted on January 9, 2013 by ellarileyadams Posted in Retail, Travel | Leave a comment

In addition to miniature tablets and tiny speakers, 2013’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will play host to some bigger guests: cars. More than half a dozen carmakers will show off their wares at the annual Vegas smorgasbord of new technology and innovative integration. According to the New York Times, CES expects to welcome Audi, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, and Lexus, along with dozens of auto-tech companies.

Their strong presence makes sense, as familiar technology is increasingly incorporated into daily transportation. Last year, we told you how Cadillac replaced driver’s manuals with iPads in their new luxury cars. Even before the iPad mini came out for consumer purchase, a Tampa customization shop installed it into the dashboard of a 2012 Toyota Corolla. It was a move unsanctioned by the official carmaker, but points to growing consumer preference and future possibilities.

2013’s CES will further the movement. “Some observers expect that the show will put significant emphasis on further integrating the smartphone in the vehicle environments,” NYT’s Stephen Williams wrote.

Many automakers are already integrating smartphone features into their car dashboards, trusting that consumers are already familiar with the technology and can thus make use of it easily. Hyundai’s Blue Link and Kia’s UVO “infotainment” systems will soon have three Google features on their menus: Send2Car–the ability to send destinations to a vehicle’s navigation system from a computer or phone–Point of Interest Search, and Local Search by Voice. Apple has also debuted Eyes Free, an adaptation of Siri that allows drivers to give commands while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

Whether your car has as many apps as your iPad or it comes with an informational tablet, mobile technology is quickly becoming inextricable with driving. It will be interesting to see what other exciting innovations are unveiled in Vegas this week.

EXCLUSIVE: USS Intrepid Tour Guides Decked Out with Android Tablets

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Harry Raymond Posted in Military, Travel | Leave a comment

Intrepid tour guides are now using Samsung Galaxy tablets. (photo via nycvisitorinfo.com)

The United States military is known for its efficiency when it comes to logistical and tactical strategies. It is only fitting that the organization running the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum would operate with similar convictions.

The USS Intrepid, a retired aircraft carrier that toured between World War II and the Cold War, has been an educational center and museum in New York City since 1982. Guided tours are given daily to families, schools, and tourist groups. Nearly one million visit the museum each year.

Recently, the Intrepid teamed up with SAMSUNG for the SAMSUNG SpaceFest, a five-day event centered on the opening of the new Space Shuttle Pavillion. As part of the promotion, SAMSUNG donated approximately two dozen Galaxy tablets that will be used by guides to supplement the Concorde and Vietnam tours.

Guides have been incorporating personal tablets into the tours for less than a year, but now the Intrepid will provide inventory on-site.

The Intrepid does not allow employees to speak with the media, but in an exclusive interview with TabAdapt, one tour guide said, “There is some standard information to include, but no script, so guides can use the tablets to individualize the tour to fit the stories they want to tell.”

Each day, when the museum closes or staffers are on break, the tablets are charged and locked up in the IT department. To keep the tablets safe, the department reportedly uses Google HID security.

Guides have been uploading maps to help visitors locate countries and wartime photos shared by veterans to add a personal touch to each tour.

“I even have some pictures of military ceremonies, some of planes,” the guide said. “Everyone thinks the tablets have been included in the tours for a long time. They’ve fit seamlessly so far.”

The New Four Seasons Flagship Hotel Has an iPad in Every Room

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Harry Raymond Posted in Travel | Leave a comment

75% of room service orders at Four Seasons LA were placed through its pilot iPad app. (photos via hotelchatter.com)

Recently, we reported the Wall Street Andaz Luxury Hotel had replaced their concierge desk with iPads and, now, two Canadian hotels are going a step further. The new Four Seasons flagship hotel in Toronto will have iPads in every guest room, allowing guests to request housekeeping and wake up calls, book spa appointments and adjust room temperatures, among other services. Guests who want to use their own iPads can also download a free app that provides the same services as the in-house device.

The Opus Hotel in Vancouver was Canada’s first hotel to place iPads in every room. Now, they’re also replacing their landlines with iPhones. Hotel guests can place complimentary local calls, contact hotel staff via pre-loaded contact lists, and even use the phones outside of the hotel.

Last fall, Beverly Hills’ legendary Hotel Bel-Air installed iPads in every guest room, equipped with the same technology that powers the Four Seasons’ iPads in Toronto (download the app here). During the Los Angeles pilot program, the hotel has seen enthusiastic usage among guests: 75 percent of the hotel’s room-service orders came from the tablets.

With luxury hotels leading the way, tablet technology will continue to improve travel experiences. For those who are traveling on business, in-room iPad concierge service means a more streamlined, efficient hotel experience. For people whose only obligation is relaxation, it means never having to get out of bed. Vacation perfection.

What do you think of an iPad in every guest room? Do you think this will improve your hotel experience? How will hotels handle security? Let us know your thoughts below.

iPads Replace In-Flight Televisions: Help Airline Slim Down, Stand Out

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Harry Raymond Posted in Travel | 1 Comment

photo courtesy of digitaltrends.com

In December, the Federal Aviation Administration approved American Airlines’ plan to replace flight manuals in the cockpit with iPads in an effort to save fuel. Since, other airlines have implemented similar programs, but, now tablets are moving into the main cabin.

Scoot Pte, a low-cost airline based in Singapore, recently announced plans to replace heavy in-flight entertainment systems with iPads in each seat. The change will help Scoot decrease the weight of their planes by 7 percent.

Each iPad will be programmed with movies, television shows, music, and games. Economy passengers will have to pay $17 to use the iPads, while business-class passengers will get iPad access for free. Corrine Png, the Singapore-based head of regional transportation research for JPMorgan Chase & Co., told Bloomberg (see video below) that Scoot’s strategy “is a very smart move, [because] if they can make the aircraft lighter, it does help improve fuel efficiency.”

Although the iPads will certainly bolster the entertainment value for a flight from Singapore to China, security can be an issue. Scott will now have to deal with ensuring that the devices aren’t tampered with or stolen. On the company’s website, Scoot notes that each passenger who wishes to rent an iPad will need to provide photo identification for security purposes.

Would you be in favor of other airlines replacing television systems with iPads? Would you pay extra to use an iPad? Let us know in the comments section.

Cadillac Replaces Driver’s Manuals with iPads in New Luxury Cars

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Harry Raymond Posted in Travel | 1 Comment

As cars increasingly include touchscreen technology, Cadillac is taking their latest model one step further. When drivers invest in a 2013 Cadillac XTS luxury sedan, they’ll also leave the lot with an iPad. Cadillac is giving new XTS owners iPads loaded with the brand’s CUE app, My Cadillac app, and OnStar RemoteLink. Though My Cadillac’s average App Store rating is two stars (one commenter calls it “useless”), the newer CUE (Cadillac User Experience) technology looks to be an exciting step forward.

The CUE app serves as both an interactive driver’s manual and a test-drive tool. A free download, the app gives would-be owners a taste of the XTS’ technologically enhanced control panel and teaches those who buy the car how best to operate their new vehicle. The idea is instruction manuals are far more useful when interactive and portable.

“We’re taking advantage of the fact that CUE is parallel technology to tablets,” Don Butler, VP of Cadillac Marketing, said in a press release. “CUE is intuitive, in part because its control and command structure aims to be consistent with popular devices millions of people already use.”

In addition to the new app release, Cadillac has hired 25 “Connected Customer Experts” who will cater to CUE-users’ needs. When the XTS officially arrives in June, the Cadillac team will meet questions readily.

Considering Cadillac’s luxury status, this tablet integration probably won’t boost iPad adoption numbers by much, since many buyers are already tablet owners and a luxury sedan caters to a high-end niche market. However, CUE shows us the potential of tablets to create a better user experience when integrated with old technologies.

Will other car manufacturers integrate tablets into their vehicles? Do you care? Let us know in the comments section.

story via Mashable, photo via CarandDriver

Magical Stockholm PR Pitch shows the Potential of Tablets in Display Advertising

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Harry Raymond Posted in Fun, Goverment, Retail, Travel | Leave a comment

Marketers are continually finding creative ways to use tablets as a promotional tool. In October, Saks Fifth Ave used tablets to create dynamic window displays but, six months later, magicians Charlie Caper and Erik Rosales have raised the bar on behalf of the city of Stockholm. The Swedish duo used seven new iPads and impressive sleight of hand to present a Stockholm public relations pitch to MIPIM, an international real estate show in Cannes. Stockholm-based Step2 Communication produced the presentation with the goal to “create a visual, magical and striking presentation about Stockholm using modern technology.” While it’s a mesmerizing and fun video, we believe it demonstrates the potential of tablets in display advertising.

How a Home Remodeling Firm in Chicago has Transformed their Business with Tablets

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Harry Raymond Posted in Small Business, Travel | Leave a comment

via houseingzone.com

American Airlines First to Receive FAA Approval for Cockpit iPads

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Harry Raymond Posted in Goverment, Travel | 1 Comment

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved American Airlines (AA) plan to replace flight manuals with iPads in the cockpit TechCrunch reported yesterday. While other major airlines have announced similar programs (Delta, United, and Alaska Airlines to name a few), AA is the first to get FAA approval for the device. The FAA has not approved any other tablets besides the iPad.

Since Apple CEO Tim Cook boasted that iPads are making planes more fuel efficient at the October iPhone event, there has been a lot of debate regarding actual fuel savings. In August, United Airlines claimed that its plan to replace 16 million sheets of paper with 11,000 iPads will save the company and estimated 326,000 gallons of jet fuel per year. This assumes that a two-iPad cockpit would trim 77 pounds of weight, a drop in the bucket when a Boeing 757’s maximum takeoff weight is 255,000 pounds. However, keep in mind that an airline like United has 21,200 daily flights so the savings can add up.

AA will be using a publically available navigational chart app called JeppTC. AA’s licesned pilots will have access to additional charts. Pilots will be required to carry backup batteries. The savings may have come to late as AA’s parent company AMR filed for bankruptcy last month.

photos via American Airlines and TechCrunch

Your Next American Airlines Pilot Is Now Allowed to Use an iPad While Flying (gizmodo.com)
Reports: American Airlines wins FAA approval for in-cockpit iPads, will launch Friday (engadget.com)

First iPad Rental Service Booms in Madrid; Eyes International Expansion

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Harry Raymond Posted in Retail, Travel | 1 Comment

When Francisco Pena learned that a Jetstar airline was renting iPads to passengers, he wondered why that kind of service was only offered to airline passengers. That was ten months ago and since he has teamed up with co-founder Juan Gomez to start the first iPad rental service called PadInTheCity.

The Madrid-based company rents 3G iPads for 25 euros (about 35 dollars) a day. In addition, PadInTheCity places a hold on your credit card for 390 euros (540 dollars) in case the iPad is not returned. iPads (both 1 and 2) come with leather cases and unlimited internet access. The company will deliver you an iPad wherever you are in Madrid. Originally targeting tourists visiting Madrid, business travelers and conference attendees have become a major part of their business.

Business is booming. The company started with 10 iPads and, ten months later, is renting 250. According to Smartplanet.com, PadInTheCity also has rental contracts with Madrid hotels and are in negotiations with two airlines. The company plans to expand to other cities soon including Libson, New York and Paris. Gomez and Pena are seeking funding from angel investors and venture capitalists.

photos courtesy of tablets.com (above) and tibd.com (below), via smartplanet.com