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Several airports installing iPads for public use
OTG Management is a company primarily known for running those expensive shops and restaurants in airports, but they're about to do something new and very cool -- installing iPads that are available for use by anyone waiting for a flight. The first airports to see these new devices are New York's LaGuardia, Toronto Pearson International, and Minneapolis-St.Paul International. You won't be able to just pick up a free iPad and wander around the terminal with it, however. The iPads are locked to a table and running apps for doing those important things -- browsing, looking at Facebook updates, playing some games, or shopping online. There's a method to OTG's madness of providing free iPad use. The iPads are used to point customers to their other properties as kind of a concierge for airline passengers. Enter your flight number and you can see if it's been delayed or if the gate has changed. If you have a while to wait, the iPad suggests that you go find a restaurant to relax in. The virtual concierge also recommends items for purchase in OTG Management stores -- you can browse and buy items, and then have them delivered to your gate for pickup. The iPad stations can also be used to plug in your phone or laptop for charging. OTG Management's CEO Rick Blatstein told GigaOM's Erica Ogg that the company is "bullish on the iPad" -- they're expecting to purchase anywhere from 25,000 to 100,000 devices as they expand the reach of the program throughout the U.S.
Customer service avatars coming to JFK, La Guardia, Newark airports (video)
When you're running late, you're weighed-down with DIY in-flight entertainment and your gate number gets switched at the last minute, the last thing you need is a real-life human trying to be helpful. The Port Authority knows that, which is why it's promising to install "computerized, hologram-like avatars" in La Guardia, Newark and JFK terminal buildings by early July. The virtual assistants aren't actually holographic -- judging from the video after the break (courtesy of Transportation Nation), they appear to consist of either projected or LCD video displayed on a vaguely human-shaped static board, although given their reported $250,000 price tag we might (hopefully) be missing something. Oh, and they aren't even interactive, unless you try to push them over. [Photo Credit: Jim O'Grady/WNYC]
Delta's JFK terminal now home to 200 iPads, a few more enticing eateries
America can't say that it wasn't sniped by Malaysia Airlines when it comes to having iPads in the airport, but we'll take late over never any day of the week. New York's JFK airport is now home to 200 iPad tablets, all of which are located within Delta's terminal. They're being installed in cooperation with OTG Management, mostly in eateries -- "Croque Madame, a French restaurant at Gates 21 and 22 in Terminal 2; and Bar Brace, a casual Italian restaurant at Gate 15 in Terminal 3." As you'd expect, customers can order food from the iPad in order to have it delivered directly to them. It lacks that certain Sonic Drive-In appeal, but the ability to also use the iPad to check your email, have a look at the latest sports scores and attempt to jailbreak it for the next patron more than compensates. OTG doesn't plan to put a time limit on the usage here (you'll still need to make your connecting flight, remember?), and it's hoping to engage in a similar installation over at LaGuardia in due time. No word on whether these things will censor any and all Google searches on "uncomfortable TSA pat-downs," though.
