travel

May 14 2013

Airbnb adds new host tools, calendar management

Airbnb

Approve, deny and request information on guests right from the app

In an attempt to bring its Android app up to parity with the features of the iOS version, Airbnb has added a few new features that should make the experience of setting up travel arrangements a bit easier. The main focus is on the hosting side of the service, where you're setting up a residence to have others come and stay at. The new update now lets hosts pre-approve, deny or request information about the guests without going to the web, which is a huge improvement. You can also now completely manage your calendar from the app, making it easier for guests to find availability dates for residences.

Airbnb also says it has made a "truck full of bug fixes", including a fix for push notifications. Along with the new features and a nice visual refresh, the app has really come together to feel like a more complete experience. If you're an Airbnb user this update will be a worthwhile one to get.

By Andrew Martonik • airbnb, Applications, hotel, travel • 0

May 2 2013

TripAdvisor refines interface, adds currency switching

TripAdvisor

Higher emphasis on photos improves the browsing experience

TripAdvisor is refreshing its Android, iOS and mobile web experiences today to bring the entire platform together with a revamped interface. The new design makes it easier to find places and plan trips, with a higher focus on photos. The entire interface is cleaner and simple to navigate, with a tabbed interface and smooth scrolling lists. Detailed information can be found for each of the locations, along with user-submitted photos that can open full-screen. Users traveling abroad can also now simply lock their settings to the correct currency for ease of use.

It's a big step forward for TripAdvisor, but we wouldn't mind if it were just a bit snappier (it's clear much of the app is just a set of web views) in future updates. You can't beat the wealth of information on food, sight seeing and flights that's available all in one app, though. Grab a download from the Play Store link above.

By Andrew Martonik • flights, food, News, travel, tripadvisor • 0

Apr 12 2013

Actual pilot downplays theoretical takeover of an airline by way of Android app

Ask the Pilot

Could an exploit via an Android app really hijack a plane? Not so, says a prominent pilot/author

Finally, some sanity. After many a blog post this week re-reported Help Net Security's "Hijacking airplanes with an Android phone" piece -- in which security consultant and pilot Hugo Teso apparently demonstrated how he could theoretically interfere with an aircraft's flight management system -- and headlines grew more and more alarmist, Patrick Smith, editor of the popular "Ask the Pilot" blog has a few things to say about the matter.

Starting with, "This is my pre-emptive plea, an open letter to the media to rein in this silly airplane story before it gets too much traction."

We're listening.

By Phil Nickinson • airplane, flying, hacking, News, travel • 0

Apr 9 2013

Boingo, AT&T sign deal that gives access to Wifi worldwide

AT&T International Wifi

You'll need to already have an AT&T roaming option on your plan, though

Boingo today announced a deal that will give the former access to the latter's Wifi hotspots at locations worldwide for no additional charge. AT&T customers already have access to Boingo hotspots in major international airports; this expands the coverage even further.

There is a slight catch, however, as you'll need to go through AT&T's Wi-Fi International app to get access, and that requires you to have one of AT&T's international roaming plans. The 300MB plan runs $60 a month, or you can get 800MB for $120 a month. Then you'll get up to 1GB of Boingo Wifi data on top of that.

Reciprocally, Boingo customers traveling in the U.S. will be able to use AT&T's Wifi hotspots while they're here.

Source: Boingo PR

By Phil Nickinson • AT&T, boingo, News, travel, wifi • 0

Mar 27 2013

Google Translate app updated with offline support

Google Translate offline

An update to the Google Translate app for Android is going out today, adding support for offline translations for fifty languages. It's a big upgrade for Google Translate, which until now has required an internet connection. (We all know how expensive international roaming can be.)

The new version supports Android 2.3 Gingerbread and above, and languages can be downloaded from the new "Offline languages" menu. A word of warning -- downloading an entire language to your phone takes just as much space as you'd imagine. With only English and German installed, we'd already taken up a hefty 280MB of internal storage.

There are also some limitations to offline mode -- it's currently text-only, so voice translation and image translation don't work offline.

If you've already got Google Translate installed, hit the Play Store to get the latest update. If not, you can use the handy Google Play link above.

Source: Google

By Alex Dobie • android, App, Applications, google, google translate, languages, News, offline, travel • 0

Mar 19 2013

Google Flight Search now available in Europe

Google Flight Search

Previously limited to journeys starting in the U.S., Google Flight Search is making its European debut this morning. Starting today users in UK, France, Italy, Spain or the Netherlands can use Flight Search to compare trips to the hundreds of supported destinations. As well as searching the most affordable travel times and airlines, Flight Search allows you to compare alternative airports in the same country or region, and there's a handy map view to make this a little easier.

Sure, there are many other sites offering this kind of functionality, but Google's implementation is clean and functional. And interestingly, Google seems to use your search and location history to pre-populate the list of "destinations for you," which could be either pretty awesome or pretty creepy depending on your perspective.

Google Flight Search is live now at google.com/flights on the web, and there are full-sized and mobile versions of the site available.

More: Google Flight Search; Source: ITA Software by Google

By Alex Dobie • google, google flights, News, travel, web • 0

Mar 7 2013

Gogo: Airborne Android use up 400% in two years

Android Inflight Wifi

If you're using in-flight Wifi on a plane over the United States, you're using Gogo's ground-to-air Internet service. And today the provider dropped a few statistical tidbits our way.

The broad strokes are that 26 percent of smartphones connecting to Gogo's service are Android, with the rest running iOS. (BlackBerry and Windows Phone total just 0.016 percent.) That might not seem like a lot, but Gogo is showing a 400 percent increase in total Android use from 2011 to 2013. That's assuming the devices are correctly reporting what they're running of course, so if anything those numbers are probably low.

Check out the full infographic at the link below.

Source: Gogo

By Phil Nickinson • gogo, inflight wifi, News, travel • 0

Feb 11 2013

Indian Rides: get ready for the return of Indian Motorcycle

Indian Rides

Indian has been around since 1901, and they're getting ready for a re-launch of the Indian Motorcycle brand in 2013 by releasing the Indian Rides app. While the app is branded by Indian, you don't have to be an active motorcycle rider to take a look at this app though, as it has a little something to offer for travelers of any type.

Read on past the break for a few quick highlights and screenshots of the app's interface.

By Andrew Martonik • gps, indian motorcycle, maps, motorcycle, Software Reviews, travel • 0

Feb 1 2013

Delta updates its Android app with v2.0 makeover [DYKWIA?]

Fly Delta for Android

Airline still lacking a proper tablet app, however

A bit of good news tonight for those of you who a decent amount of time at 35,000 feet. Delta has updated its Android application to Version 2.0, just a couple weeks after it dropped for iOS. With it you'll get a brand-new user interface, as well as a bevy of new options, including the ability to purchase domestic flights from your phone (they're still working on international flights), or add economy comfort seats and other trip extras.

A Delta representative on the Flyer Talk Forums expanded a bit on the update, saying:

Just like we’ve added in the iPhone version of the app, we’ve included the ability to find, compare and book flights. We’ve also updated My Trips to give you a quick and easy way to purchase Economy Comfort and our Trip Extras, including Wi-Fi and Priority Boarding. You’ll also be able to use the Track My Bags and Check Flight Status features to improve your day of travel experience.

At the core of the new functionality, we’ve optimized (and in some cases completely re-written) our backend systems to provide you with faster response times in all areas of the app. Additionally, we have updated the look and feel to help you find the most important features easily.

Missing -- still -- is any sort of tablet application. That's been annoying enough in the past (never mind that the phone application has worked just fine when sideloaded on tablets), but it's especially disappointing given the awesomeness that Delta brought in its iPad app, particularly when it comes to seeing what's on the ground beneath your flight at any given time.

More: Android travel apps

By Phil Nickinson • airlines, airplane, Applications, delta, travel • 0

Dec 17 2012

This week’s sidebar poll: Are you traveling with your Android device this holiday season?

Travel

This time of year plenty of people are away from home, visiting family or friends for their respective year-end holidays. We understand travel around these parts, because so many of us do it so often. We also know that having the right device and the right apps make it a much better experience. The right apps for navigation, making your way through the airport, or finding the right place to stop and eat or stretch your legs help make a trip easier and more fun.

What about you guys and gals? Hitting the road (or the rails, or the airways) this year? We've set up a poll to find out. You'll find it in the sidebar to the right, or you can click past the break for it. Let your voice be heard, and fill the comments with ideas and suggestions about apps to make it better!

Before we go, a look at last week's poll.

Are you gifting an Android device to someone this holiday season?

Sidebar Poll results

It looks like a good many people will be getting a new Android device this year for the holidays! That's news we love to hear.

By Jerry Hildenbrand • News, poll. sidebar poll, travel • 0

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