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Hilton will design suites and sleeping quarters for Voyager’s private Starlab space station
What better company to design a cramped living space than a major hotel chain?
Alienware may have created the ultimate gamer hotel suite
In the past, we've seen hotel rooms and even entire hotels specifically designed for those who prefer the orange glow of de_dust2 to a sandy beach. But Alienware's new gaming suite in Hilton's Panama City location might well be the easiest place yet to let a week of your life completely pass you by. Room 2425 offers guests the chance to avoid the rich culture of the Central American capital and enjoy the company of a monstrous Alienware gaming PC, Oculus Rift VR headset and Xbox One Elite. Move between the racing seat centerpiece and beanbags, foregoing the stunning view of the South Pacific Ocean to instead bask in the warm glow of the room's 65-inch 4K TV.
Hilton plans to offer a smart hotel room system next year
From a Watson-powered concierge to in-room VR porn, hotels are getting more and more tech-savvy and connected. There's an Amazon Echo in every room when you stay at Wynn's Las Vegas hotel, and more destinations are adding ways to watch your own Netflix and Chromecast when you stay. Now Hilton is ready to roll out a new mobile-centric connected room. The smart room system is currently in beta at one Hilton hotel and set to deploy to several more in the coming weeks. A full deployment to all Hilton hotels is planned for next year.
Hilton data breaches lead to $700,000 penalty
The attorneys general of New York and Vermont both announced today that their joint investigation into two Hilton data breaches has resulted in a $700,000 penalty and a promise to strengthen security. In February of 2015, Hilton was made aware of a cybersecurity breach that occurred between November and December of 2014. A second breach that exposed sensitive customer data between April and July of 2015 was uncovered that July, but the company waited until November of that year to inform those affected by the breaches. In all, over 363,000 credit card numbers were exposed.
Hilton Honors members can spend their points on Amazon
Folks in the Hilton Honors reward program have a new reason to hoard points: They can now pay with them when shopping on Amazon. Not for everything, mind you, as most digital content (Kindle downloads, music, Amazon Video, and so on) are off-limits. But you can spend your Hilton Honors points on the rest of your oddball needs and late-night purchases.
Uber is deeply integrating with other apps
Uber has been pushing to get its services better integrated into third-party apps in recent years, and new widget and branding features will bring a more complete experience than ever before.
IBM Watson powers Hilton's robotic concierge 'Connie'
IBM Watson is training for yet another job at the Hilton McLean in Virginia. The hotel has recently welcomed a new concierge named "Connie," you see, and it's actually a Nao robot powered by IBM's AI. Connie, named after the chain's founder Conrad Hilton, can greet guests when they arrive and answer questions about hotel amenities, schedule and services. It was designed to improve the more it interacts with people by storing every question guests ask for future reference. Besides answering inquiries about the hotel, Connie will also be able to recommend tourist spots, restaurants and other destinations, since it has access to WayBlazer's travel platform.
Hilton confirms malware accessed payment info at its hotels
If you've stayed at one of Hilton's hotels in the past year, you might want to check your credit card history. The chain has confirmed a report that malware compromised its payment systems, putting your data at risk. The intruders got in between November 18th and December 5th in 2014, and between April 21st and July 27th this year. The malware didn't expose home addresses or PIN codes, but it did get access to card numbers, security codes and names -- enough that hackers could potentially make purchases.
Hilton and MC Dean fined by the FCC for blocking guests' WiFi
MC Dean and Hilton have joined Marriott in the FCC's list of companies that block personal hotspots. In fact, the commission has proposed a $718,000 fine against MC Dean, Baltimore Convention Center's sole WiFi provider. The investigation on MC Dean began last year when a company that sells equipment exhibitors can use to set up hotspots in convention centers filed a complaint. Apparently, the WiFi provider charges visitors as much as $1,095 per event for WiFi access, and it has since admitted that its system automatically blocks hotspots by default. Its blocking capability is so powerful, it even affects connections outside the convention center, even those inside passing vehicles.
Hilton looks into claims its hotels' shops were hacked
If you've been spendy at one of Hilton's hotels in recent memory, you may want to double-check your financial records. The company is investigating claims by security guru Brian Krebs that hackers compromised banking card data at a "large number" of Hilton's gift shops and restaurants, ranging from Doubletree locations all the way to posh Waldorf Astoria hotels. The intruders reportedly broke into point-of-sale machines as far back as November 2014, and it's possible that their attacks are continuing to this day.
The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for July 28, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. Be sure that your podcast software is set up to subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
Hilton turning your iPhone into a front desk, room key, and more
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. has spent over a half-billion dollars to provide new technology that will ease choosing hotel rooms, checking into hotels, and even unlocking the door to a room -- from your iPhone or iPad. As announced in a Wall Street Journal post yesterday, guests are already able to check in or out of any US Hilton property using the free Hilton HHonors app, and can also make or modify reservations, get special offers, have items delivered to a room upon arrival, and more. By summer's end, travelers will be able to select their own rooms by phone at six of the Hilton brands. But the real push comes next year, when guests arriving at a Hilton property will just pass by the front desk and unlock the door to their room with their iPhone or iPad. The company expects that capability to be in most worldwide properties by the end of 2016. Making this massive rollout possible is the result of a project that has been underway since 2007 during which Hilton took 13 different property management systems (one for each brand) and melded them into one, then upgraded servers, back-office equipment, and more. Hilton's setup allows guests to interact directly with its reservation system, eliminating the need for front-desk employees to input guest information. The company also expects that since guests will be able to perform a number of functions from a smartphone, they'll also see efficiencies in the future as fewer front-desk personnel will be required. Other hotel companies, including Starwood, Marriott, and InterContinental, are also moving in a similar direction.
Hilton will let you use your phone as a hotel room key
Starwood isn't the only hotel chain that wants you to use your smartphone as a hotel room key; Hilton is launching an initiative that lets you use your Android or iOS device to control virtually every aspect of your stay. Later this summer, a Hilton app will let you choose your preferred room, make special requests, check in and check out. You'll only have to speak to staff when it's time to pick up or return your keys. And in 2015, you won't even need to do that much -- your phone will also unlock your room, letting you make a beeline for your bed after a long flight.
DirecTV DVRs available in over 100 hotels, never miss the restaurant opening times again
On-demand TV viewing continues to secrete itself into the fabric of your lives and now its squeezing more viewing hours out of you from hotel rooms across the US. DirecTV's HD DVRs pack the typical programming guide and recording options, plus the ability for hotels to add up to 50 channels of their own content to the recorders -- meaning plenty of hotel infomercials dying to be paused, live. DirecTV has now officially launched its Residential Experience, bringing its DVR technology to 110 hotels across the country. Fortunately, the systems also include the hygienic touch of an anti-microbial remote. Classy.
Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, and Starwood Hotels reward your loyalty with free WiFi
Free WiFi is practically a given at coffee shops and motels, yet lots of luxury hotels hit you with an extra $10 - $15 a day to ride their waves of wireless internet. Good news is, well-heeled world travelers won't be paying those fees much longer, because several high-end hotel chains are now giving temporary tenants complimentary wireless internet. Loyalty program members for Hilton, Hyatt, and Starwood Hotels get online gratis if they have Gold or Platinum status, while Marriott lets all who sign up for its rewards program get WiFi for free. Seems ridiculous that some folks still pay extra for internet when a room runs several hundred dollars, but a little free websurfing is better than none. We can only hope that towel retention technology will provide a sufficient boost to their bottom lines to eventually allow access for all.
HP ePrint BlackBerry app brings mobile printing to FedEx Office, Hilton hotels, and more
Why should iOS 4.2 users have all the fun? HP has announced a deal to bring wireless printing to select FedEx Office locations, Hilton hotels, Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges, and PrinterOn guest printing locations via the ePrint app for BlackBerry. The whole affair looks pretty straight forward: Download the app from App World (or from the source link), select your email or attachment, select a location, send the print job, stop by Gadzooks for a chain wallet and a pair of JNCOs, and then swing by your ePrint site to grab your documents. Simple, right? What are you waiting for? Go, get! [Thanks, Bryson]
Partying at BlizzCon
Tickets are only going on sale today, but already people are planning the most important part of BlizzCon: the parties. There's a whole crew of people planning to meet up at the Hilton, and if the past few years are any indication, all of the restaurants and bars around the area will be hosting roaming groups of World of Warcraft and Blizzard fans after the show every night. Whether you're meeting up with your guildies or just sitting down with random strangers to talk about whatever Blizzard announced previously in the day, partying at Blizzard's big event is always a good time.Most plans are still up in the air, though we do have one event for you to mark on your calendar: our regular WoW Insider meetup will be held as usual on Thursday night again this year (that'll be August 20th). We haven't quite figured out a location yet -- unfortunately, I think we've finally outgrown The Lost Bar, as last year it was not only packed to capacity, and not only did my throat wear out from yelling to the crowd, but the bar's lone bartender has soured us on going back there. We're looking around for someplace a little bigger, preferably with a stage and a mic, where the drinks can flow freely.Wherever we end up, it's sure to be a hoot -- we'll likely have giveaways, WoW Insider editors and staffers aplenty will be in attendance, and, probably the best part, you'll get to meet all of the fellow readers who fill the comment fields next to you. If you're grabbing tickets today (or even if you're just planning to be there anyway), stay tuned as we get closer for more news on where the meetup is going down. BlizzCon 2009 is coming up on August 21st and 22nd! We've got all the latest news and information. At BlizzCon you can play the latest games, meet your guildmates, and ask the developers your questions. Plus, there's some great looking costumes.
Hilton uses Vicious Engine for 'salt' training game
Click to Hilton-size Vicious Cycle Software has announced that Virtual Heroes used the Vicious Engine to craft a Hilton hotel employee training game, which we first reported in January. The press release notes that the PSP game, titled Hilton Garden Inn Ultimate Team Play -- catchy -- was deployed to all Hilton Garden Inn hotels in February. Don't bother yourself with puzzling questions as to why a company would retroactively announce that the "game" uses its engine. Just forget about that. You want to know about the gameplay ... and we've got you covered.There's some drivel in the press release about it, but why bother reading that when you've got screenshots? Judging from the image above, the game involves luring customers with piles of toast -- while menacingly keeping the patrons in your crosshairs -- and managing your hotel's supplies of precious salt.%Gallery-50095%
Hilton's Sight+Sound suites deliver DirecTV, HD niceties
As the HDTV movement continues to reshape the average hotel room experience, Hilton has made sure it doesn't get left behind. Recently, the chain launched 25 "home theater-like" Sight+Sound rooms at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare International Airport, while 30 guest rooms at the Hilton San Francisco received the makeover. Among the amenities are a 42-inch LG plasma, Yahama's YSP-800 Digital Sound Projector, Monster cabling, DirecTV programming including 14 HD channels and a number of XM radio stations, and a high definition menu system from LodgeNet. Additionally, guests can hook up their DAPs or external audio sources to a unique "connectivity panel," and just in case you forget to pack an extra bag of cables, the specially equipped rooms should provide all the copper you need. Notably, this here setup sounds like one of the most fully-featured HD offerings found in a "standard" hotel, and now that it's been available for a few months, have any of you had an opportunity to indulge?
Lindsay Lohan's Blackberry gets Parised
Ring any bells? It seems everyone's favorite Herbie Fully Loaded actress has gone and gotten her Blackberry compromised this week, which was then used to send her pals "disgusting and very mean messages." Lohan's spokesperson assures us that the messages weren't sent by Lindsay herself (whew), so if you've gotten a text from her recently telling you to buzz off, rest assured, she still loves ya. Furthermore, she's suggesting that the culprit might be one Paris Hilton, herself a victim of trendy device theft not long ago -- we think the lesson to be learned here is that mobile devices with full keypads are best kept out of celebs' hands.[Thanks, Jimmie Geddes]
