Tag: Tech Travel

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The Only Thing Going Faster on Amtrak is the WiFi

May 23, 2013 at 9:27 AM | by | Comments (0)

Riding the US rails just got a little bit better, as Amtrak is reaching into their pockets to pay for a little bit of a technology upgrade.

Travelers must be enjoying the WiFi and other in-train offerings, so the decision has been made to boost the connection options and speeds in hopes of attracting even more in-train WiFi fans.

Amtrak leans on cellular carriers to grab their WiFi signal, so we’re sure there will still be some dead spots or other areas where things aren’t ideal. Still, we can’t really complain given the price—WiFi is free aboard Amtrak.

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In-Flight WiFi Will Be Just One More Fee on Ryanair

May 17, 2013 at 11:12 AM | by | Comments (0)

One of the world’s best airlines (when comes to ancillary revenue) is getting ready to add another option for you to tack onto your flight total. Fair warning that this is still very much speculation, but Ryanair just might be flipping the switch on in-flight WiFi sooner rather than later.

There’s no decision yet, and they’re still working behind the scenes to determine what company would even provide the in-flight magic. It does sound like LiveTV is just one of the groups in the running for the contract. Apparently, Ryanair isn't exactly sold on the idea as they don’t know if the installation costs will be totally worth it in the long run.

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QR Codes on Your Luggage Tags, Why Not?

April 17, 2013 at 7:11 AM | by | Comments (0)

At this point you probably have a favorite luggage tag. It might be the one that came with your suitcase, or maybe it’s a snazzy one that you scored in your travels. For quite some time ours was a just free paper one—thanks Delta—that was hanging on by a thread; however, we’ve thankfully upgraded and moved on from that one. If you’re still in the market for a piece of suitcase flair, head over to GoCodes and they will get you set up.

GoCodes take a unique spin on the traditional luggage tag, as in addition to pictures of flags, flowers, or kitties there’s also one of those QR codes on the back. The code is linked to your account, so if your bag every goes on vacation without you it’ll be able to find its way back home—at least in theory.

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Let Facebook Do the Work for Your Next Flight on Finnair

Where: Finland
March 21, 2013 at 8:17 AM | by | Comments (0)

Another week means it’s time for another carrier to do the social media thing both on the ground and up in the air. This week it looks like Finnair is sending their Facebook capabilities to 35,000 feet, as the airline is trying to get passengers connected during their flights.

Basically what Finnair is trying to do is to allow their passengers to check-in aboard their flight just like the would back on the ground. The new system is able to connect someone’s Facebook profile to the seating map, and then from there they can what friends or other passengers might be up to. In theory it should even alert friends when you’re safely on the ground and in need of a pickup from the airport.

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Can Jet Lag Be Cured by a Scientific Shower?

March 4, 2013 at 9:32 AM | by | Comments (0)

We thought Delta was hard at work adding plenty of those Economy Comfort seats as well as WiFi on each and every flight, but apparently they also have a little extra time to work on some other projects. They’re actually trying to solve the problem of jet lag, and they just showed off some of their most recent ideas at the Technology, Entertainment and Design—TED—conference out in Long Beach, California.

This stuff might be a little bit above our pay grade when it comes to understanding the science behind things, but basically what Delta has created is some kind of light shower. Photon light rains down upon you, and then like magic you’re cured from any and all jetlag—at least in theory.

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Airport iPads are Getting Smarter

February 26, 2013 at 8:35 AM | by | Comments (0)

It wasn’t that long ago that iPads invaded the airport, and we’re not just talking about the personal ones used by travelers. Restaurants have embraced the new technology, as they’ve been quick to add ordering abilities to the tablets as well as stuff like nutrition information and wine lists. Well now it looks like the iPads might just be doing a little more than taking orders. Be sure to say please and thank you, as the iPads are now talking back.

OTG Management—they’re responsible for airport restaurants all over the place—is upgrading their iPad offerings, as they claim to be the first to introduce multi-language support to their airport systems. Things are starting off at a couple restaurants up in Toronto, as it looks like Fetta Panini Bar and Heirloom Bakery Café inside Toronto Pearson International Airport are the first to graduate from the foreign language program.

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Aeroflot Preps to Flip the Switch on In-Flight WiFi

February 6, 2013 at 11:38 AM | by | Comments (0)

There’s a little bit of an arms race going on in the former Soviet Union, as the country’s carriers are going all in when it comes to in-flight WiFi. Last year Transaero flipped the switch on some up in the air connectivity, and now it sounds like another carrier from Russia is getting in on the in-flight fun.

If all goes according to plan Aeroflot will be wiring the necessary bits and pieces right into their planes, as they look to get the in-flight WiFi up and running on plenty of planes before the end of the year. In total there will be like 26 planes getting the new technology, as it appears the airline will be initially focusing on some of their long-haul aircraft. Airbus A330s are up first, and then some Boeing 777s will get into the mix as well.

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The Deal with United and Their Long Haul WiFi Options

January 18, 2013 at 9:09 AM | by | Comments (0)

In-flight WiFi is no longer the latest and greatest in airplane technology, but we still get a kick out of logging on and doing our thing miles above the earth. For some time the WiFi was limited, as it was only possible over larger landmasses due to the fact you needed antennas on the ground to beam the signal around. Thankfully satellite technology has now arrived as well, and United has started to give it a try aboard some of their international flights.

Earlier this week they launched their very first plane with the long-haul WiFi option, but it sounds like they’ve got more planned for sooner rather than later. For now it’s available on just one Boeing 747, but eventually they’ll get stuff installed, switched on, and available in like 300 of their airplanes. The goal is to have things ready to go by the end of 2013, so they’ve still got plenty of time.

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Swap Your Auto Before Starting Up with Hertz's New Mobile Functions

January 9, 2013 at 9:03 AM | by | Comments (0)

They might not rely on mobile apps and technology like the new kids on the block over at Silvercar, but Hertz does know a thing or two about the rental car experience. They’re leveraging their mobile capabilities to reward some of their best customers, and they’re introducing a nifty little feature that might brighten your day as your approach the rental car garage.

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards members now have the ability to switch up their rental car selection right from their phone. That means changing your mind before buckling up, as Hertz will let you choose and switch to a different car with a few clicks, swipes, and gestures.

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Emirates' Crew Will Take Their Tablets Just as the Doctor Ordered

November 28, 2012 at 10:05 AM | by | Comments (0)

Initially it was just passengers getting access to in-flight entertainment in the form of all those tablet devices, but slowly we’ve seen the technology find its way into the hands of cabin crews as well. From pilots to flight attendants it seems like everyone is getting in on the touch-screen fun, and now it looks like another airline is doing the same.

Emirates has just plunked down a chunk of change for a whole bunch of HP ElitePad 900 tablets. These will be powered by Windows 8 and should be arriving up in the air at sometime in January—they’re kind of like on backorder. The airline says that the new tablets will be loaded up with what they call KIS—or Knowledge Driven In-Flight Services. This provides all kinds of tidbits of information based on the airline, on the flights, the passengers, and pretty much everything else.

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American Airlines Ups Their App Game and Throws in Bonus Miles

November 27, 2012 at 9:58 AM | by | Comments (0)

Just in time for the hectic holiday travel season it looks like American Airlines has released an update to some of their travel apps. That’s a good thing, because it’s almost a guarantee that you’re going to need to do the gate, terminal, or concourse shuffle on your way home—or on your way out—to visit friends and family.

The app updates for iPhone, iPad, and iPod build upon their former offerings. Expect more flight information with the ability to change seats, load up your boarding pass, and set reminders to figure out where the heck that you parked your car. iPhone and iPod updates bring additional Passbook support, but many of the bigger enhancements are heading straight to the iPad app.

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Rental Cars as WiFi Hotspots. It's Happening in Italy.

Where: Italy
November 26, 2012 at 10:16 AM | by | Comments (0)

Italy has a lot of good stuff we don’t have here at home, but the thing we’re missing most here—besides an abundance of gelato—is WiFi in our rental cars.

All the car connection magic comes from the folks over at Hertz and their rental car empire. It’s called Hertz Mobile WiFi, and it’s a little pocket-sized thing that’s offered up to rental car customers in collaboration with Wind Mobile. Basically it sounds like a mobile hotspot that goes right in your car and gives you all-the-time access to the internet no matter how many wrong turns you take or exits you miss.

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