Top Stories
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Do Hailo and Uber taxi e-hail apps defy a NYC judge’s orders? Nobody knows
TransportNew York City’s much-anticipated e-hail app program was cut short by a temporary restraining order (TRO) just days after launch, but that hasn’t halted the operations of the two startups that were already approved for participation. Hailo and Uber‘s cab drivers continue to pick up passengers via the companies’ mobile e-hail apps every day. Why do they [...]
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Google Glass: No relief from privacy invasion even at the urinal
DigitalThe future came crashing down on me this week at the Google I/O developer conference while I stood at a bathroom urinal. I had just wrapped up a conversation with a man who owned a pair of Google’s Internet-connected glasses, Google Glass. He had explained that one of the gadget’s greatest features is the ability [...]
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How Google creatively maps terrain too tight for cars
DigitalMost people know about the fleet of Google cars that go around filming streets. But what about the submarines and the tricycles and the backpacks? At Google I/O this week, the company showed off the collection of off-road gear it uses to map the places the cars can’t go.
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Best travel ads this week: Holland argues it’s cooler than Brooklyn
TransportTrave ads seek to inspire and excite viewers into booking a trip. The methods used to elicit such sentiments include fast-paced music, flashy images, and emotional voiceovers; and ultimately they aim to convince viewers that a better time is just a plane ride away. This week Holland defends its traditional way of life as the [...]
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Amtrak upgrades Wi-Fi giving business travelers another reason to choose rail
DigitalComing soon on Amtrak: fewer excuses to not work while commuting. The national railroad, which operates 21,000 route miles, is upgrading its Wi-Fi service to 4G on many routes across the country. Amtrak says the aim is to offer increased wireless speeds and greater reliability. Hopefully, this will enable a wider set of online features [...]
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Cheapskate Ryanair considers in-flight Wi-Fi & TV options, hesitates over cost
TransportRyanair is weighing options for on-board passenger wi-fi, with firms including US-based LiveTV having pitched solutions to the carrier, the IrishIndependent has learned. The airline has been reluctant so far to roll out an in-flight wi-fi system because it would need to justify the installation cost with the return it might generate. The airline could eventually plump [...]
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Distracted flying? Pilots text controllers about flight conditions
TransportPilots and air-traffic controllers texting each other? OMG! Your airline flight is finally starting to communicate the way the rest of the world does. Controllers and pilots aren’t using their cellphones to text, even though many passengers now do using apps and in-flight Wi-Fi. Instead, planes with modern cockpit systems can log on to new [...]
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TripIt reveals preferred seat tracker details for TripIt Pro subscribers
TransportTripIt made good on its pledge and released a Seat Tracker feature in its premium TripIt Pro product. Subscribers to the $49 per year TripIt Pro service can share their itineraries, identify their seat preferences (window or aisle, front or back of cabin, exit row or bulkhead), and then Seat Tracker alerts travelers when a [...]
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Google updates its maps to become a reflection of each user
DigitalAt its annual developer conference yesterday, Google announced a complete overhaul of its maps. Among other things, changes include a cleaner interface, integrated Google Earth, and maps that learn as you use them. If you search for a curry, it will suggest other South Asian restaurants. If you’re friends with lots of people who visit libraries, it may direct [...]
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Choice Hotels’ big three priorities on tech: cloud, mobile, big data
DigitalChoice Hotels‘ tech team has identified three tech trends it hopes to capitalize on in the next few years: cloud-based technology, mobile and big data. Having Choice’s property management system housed in the cloud–which [it] says is the first of its kind–means owners and managers can access a property’s performance data from anywhere at any [...]
