Photo of the Day (12.7.10)

by Stephen Greenwood on

I love travel gear shots. I’m always curious to know what people consider essential items & what tech gadgets people can’t live without on the road. This photo was taken in 2005 and at first glance, seemed pretty outdated.

These days, it’s rare to see a camera that shoots on DV tapes, a Powerbook, or an iPod without a touchscreen (gasp)! It just makes me wonder what we’ll consider outdated in 5 years from now – laptops? Full-sized SLR’s? Guide books / printed materials altogether?

This photo was taken in Canada by Flickr user Jon Rawlinson. Thanks for sharing what was in your bag Jon! If you’d like to share your travel essentials leave a comment below or take a quick photo and post it in our Flickr Group – we may just include it as our next Photo of the Day.

TSA announces that 11″ MacBook Air computers can remain in their bag at the checkpoint

by Scott Carmichael on

In a spot of good news for proud owners of the new 11″ MacBook Air, the Transportation Security Administration has announced that passengers may leave their machine in its bag when passing through the checkpoint.

A similar exception was previously made for the Apple iPad – which brings me to the question – why did they never announce these exceptions for the hundreds of similar machines passengers have used in the past? Before I started traveling with a checkpoint friendly bag, TSA officers always demanded that I remove my computer from its bag – even when the machine was just an 8 or 10 inch netbook.

The 13″ MacBook Air is sadly deemed too large for the exception – but that only raises even more questions – given that both machines are essentially the same on the inside, why can officers scan an 11″ machine when it is in a bag, but require special access to anything larger? The whole thing proves that the chairman of British Airways was right when he complained about inconsistent screening by the TSA.

And to clarify – the news comes from CNN who received it from a TSA spokesman – the TSA has not issued any kind of formal statement. Have you passed through security with a new 11″ MacBook Air? Did you notice any leeway in the screening procedure?

Update: According to the TSA blog, the rules for smaller computers were indeed relaxed earlier this year. In their words: Electronic items smaller than the standard sized laptop should not need to be removed from your bag or their cases.

In other words, there is no special exception for the 11″ MacBook Air – it simply falls under existing rules for smaller computers.

[Image credit: Getty Images]

Celebrity Cruises taps iPads for art tours on its ships

by Ralph Grizzle on

Celebrity Cruises debuted self-guided art tours using iPads on its Solstice-class ships, continuing its adoption of Apple products for shipboard activities.

The iPads will flag select works of art on every deck, allowing the guest to touch the screen to learn more about those pieces, such as the artist’s name and the medium used.

Celebrity said its three Solstice-class ships have more than 14,000 works of original, contemporary art with a vast range of mediums represented, including glass, acrylics, oils, photography, digital prints, video, etchings, sculptures and collages.

The cruise line already uses the iPad for its menus and wine list in its Qsine specialty restaurant, which debuted this year on the Equinox, and its ships are home to “Celebrity iLounges,” equipped with MacBook workstations. Guests on board can take courses and get tips on Mac and iPod use.

“We knew our guests would relish yet another opportunity to capitalize on the latest technology in an entertaining, enriching way,” says Celebrity’s senior vice president of Hotel Operations, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo.

Apple’s iTravel app would connect directly to hotel services

by Melanie Nayer on

Today there’s an app for just about anything you could want. From financial planning to paper-tossing, it’s hard to be unorganized in today’s electronic age. As tech giant Apple continues to roll out new products and platforms, developers continue to create apps that feed the consumer’s mind.

Enter: iTravel, Apple’s most recent patent filing that hooks users up with travel plans from flights to hotels.

The patent prototypes can be viewed on PatentlyApple.com and show that the proposed iTravel app goes beyond booking flights and allows travelers access to transportation services, car rental agencies, hotels, and destination-specific details. The hotel feature, for example, would allow you to pre-order room service, make requests about temperature, and use your iPhone as your room key or a remote control for various electronics in the room.

But can it be done? And if it’s released, how will Apple’s iTravel compete with other hotel apps?The iTravel hotel app would make it easier for consumers to connect directly to hotel services like dry cleaning, room service and the hotel spa, and be used to pay your bill at the end of your stay. Additionally, you could get local information and make restaurant reservations or seek out nightlife.

So, why Apple is competing with the companies that supply thousands of apps for Apple products? The real question is: are they? There are endless hotel applications that allow a traveler to do everything from book rooms to learn the local language where they’re visiting, all through their hotel’s app for iPhone. What precludes another developer from creating an app for a hotel that functions the same way Apple’s iTravel app works?

My prediction: the launch of Apple’s iTravel will simply mean more advanced apps from already existing hotels and travel companies, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Readers: We want to know what you think. What would you like to see from Apple’s iTravel app?

GateGuru 1.5 adds JetBlue leaderboard contest, maps, local ads and more

by Scott Carmichael on

In the world of mobile apps, not much pleases me more than watching a great app slowly evolve into something amazing.

Take for example GateGuru. We first mentioned this fantastic app last year – and since then, the developers have slowly been adding new features.

In its latest version, Gateguru 1.5 really takes things to the next level – the app has added a leaderboard contest, maps and localized ads.

The new leaderboard contest is an awesome way to rewards active users. As you may already know, a lot of the content inside GateGuru comes from travelers – and when you add tips, new amenities or rate a current location, you earn points.

If you earn the most points in your area, you’ll win a $100 JetBlue gift card. The national leader will be awarded two JetBlue tickets. This contest is one of the largest ever held with prizes awarded for virtual points.

The maps are another very welcome addition – it means you can now look up an amenity, and find your way to it, all without having to stop and ask for directions.

With the localized ad feature, you are presented with ads that offer discounts for stores at your airport. During my test, I was offered a rent 1 – get 2 DVD offer for the nearby InMotion airport store. Seriously – if you are going to put ads in an app, this is the kind of stuff I love seeing. The ad discount was worth $5, and all you need to do is show the ad to the store clerk, and you get your discount.

All in all some brilliant improvements – and best of all, the app is still free of charge from the App store.

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