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iPads in the Cosmopolitan's check-in counter
I'm staying in Las Vegas for a work event this week, and as I checked in to the Cosmopolitan hotel on the Strip today, I noticed something interesting: the check-in counter has iPads embedded in the countertop. You can see a few more shots of the units below -- you can't remove or hold the iPads (obviously), but you can hit the home button, which then takes you to a homescreen with a folder full of "Blocked Apps," and the standard Guest Services app. The Guest Services app is basically a placeholder of the Cosmo's web page, but the other apps work -- someone had written "Hello Vegas!!" into the notes app. And they're not just for show -- after I gave my ID and credit card to the concierge, he pulled up a screen on the iPad and had me "sign" and approve the purchase with my finger. It was pretty slick. You can check out a few more quick shots of the console units below. We're seeing iPads in all sorts of places lately -- as a cheap and very customizable touchscreen installation, Apple's tablet can't be beaten.
Cosmo isn't down with the Wii
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Cosmopolitan_magazine_doesn_t_like_the_Wii'; We mentioned this yesterday, and now look! There's a helpful scan to illustrate our point. While some female-oriented publications are all about Nintendo's new console, it looks like the good folks at Cosmopolitan aren't quite convinced.Cosmo's take on the Wii craze? Guys assume girls might want one, because the guy really loves the Wii. That's some deep psychologizin' they've got going on there. And in referring to the Wii as the "wrong gift," Cosmo is insinuating that the modern woman just isn't interested. Are they wrong? With all the stories and videos of nongamers embracing the hands-on experience that Wii provides, we're not sure that Cosmo's on the right side of the fence with this one. Can't the modern woman want to decode weird male behavior, agonize over not-so-harmless habits,* and then play a game of tennis after work?The Wii is perfectly poised to help gamers break down some of these walls that we've created to keep the interests of men and women separate. The DS broke some of that ground, but the Wii brings the fun and ease of gaming into the open, making it a social experience that anyone can get into, even if you have to kick off your stylish shoes first.*Actual stories in the same issue.
