Is the smart phone ruining our holidays?
Siren gives us the lowdown on this week’s social media news:
Whilst we’re all agreed that the smart phone is an incredibly useful tool, especially when it comes to navigating an unfamiliar town on holiday, Huffington Post Travel has revealed the 15 Ways the iPhone Has Sucked The Fun Out Of Travelling. From ignoring the incredible beauty of a historic landmark because we’re too busy deciding which filter to use, to taking the element of surprise out of exploring the local restaurants, the list rings true to all of us on at least a few points. One truly depressing thought from it all, as we quote, "You’re panicked about getting a copy of that group shot sent to your phone so you can Instagram it. Because if you don’t Instagram it, nobody will know you’re having more fun than they are. And if nobody knows you’re having more fun, then you might as well not be on this trip."
Airbnb recently announced new versions of its iOS and Android apps. The startup, which connects travellers to hosts who are renting rooms/sofas, created the new applications to enable hosts to handle logistics and transactions directly from a mobile device. Changes to the applications come after feedback from users suggesting that the older versions were hard to use. The company continues to make the important technical developments needed to keep ahead of the game in a rapidly changing hospitality industry.
The devastating typhoon that struck the Phillipines this week has once again raised the debate of how much is too much when it comes to social media. With instantaneous updates, people are turning to social media to not only follow breaking news but offer support to those affected. Journalism.co.uk discusses this recent phenomenon and best practice for journalists – and non-journalists – getting involved in the online conversation.
New research claims that global airports will be making huge investments in technology in the next few years, with 90 per cent of airports due to increase their spend in 2014. SITA’s 2013 Airport IT Trends Survey also found that the majority of airports will offer kiosk check-in by 2014 and 95 per cent are currently building mobile apps to give travellers more real time updates.
As the end of the year draws closer, we are all feeling a bit of wanderlust in the office. This incredible video allows you to experience 10 months of travel in one-second clips is not helping…
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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