Airport concession operator OTG Management, a comparatively new player in the game, was chosen by JetBlue for its Terminal 5 hub at New York's JFK Airport. Known for offering varied cuisine, the terminal has added free iPads for travelers to use, starting with LaGuardia, Minneapolis-St. Paul International and Toronto Pearson International airports.

“The iPads will be locked down and pre-loaded with apps that will allow travelers to check their flights, order food, check email and update Facebook. It’s a great advertising tool for OTG’s eateries and Apple (as if it needed more advertising). So look for an iPad at an airport near you soon!” notes aviation blogger/journalist Benet Wilson. 

The three major North American airports will offer 2,500 iPads for anyone’s use and according to OTG CEO Rick Blatstein, “We’re very bullish on the iPad and customer satisfaction and client satisfaction.” (Blatstein discusses his company’s plans in this video.)Continue reading...

In an unusual partnership, New York rap legend Jay-Z and Proctor & Gamble's billion-dollar Duracell brand are joining forces to market wireless charging systems and deploy wireless hotspots in New York, including one at the multimillionaire’s own 40/40 Club on Madison Square Park in Manhattan.

“Mobile devices have become essential tools in business, entertainment and managing our social lives,” said Jay-Z, an investor in the Duracell Powermat joint venture. “Being able to charge wirelessly is a necessary step into the future.”

The 24-Hour Power System contains a charging mat that serves as a wireless power transmitter and a portable backup battery with micro-USB output and iPhone connection when in between hotspots. The kit is designed specifically for the iPhone 4 and 4S, but Duracell is working on greater device compatibility.

It hits select retailers today (just as Apple announces its new iOS 6 features) and is also available online. The complete system costs $99.99, with additional (colorful) cases for $34.99 and additional batteries for $49.99.Continue reading...

Jimmy Fallon promotes John F. Kennedy's oft-quoted phrase, "Ask not what you can do for your country..." as a rephrased tagline and call to public service, "Ask What You Can Do." The campaign, for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, marks today's 50th anniversary of his inauguration.

The library also just launched a website archive, marking the first time a presidential library has digitized all of its documents and put them online. Today's Google Doodle also honors Kennedy's swearing-in to the White House in 1961, while Life magazine released never-seen photos from the inauguration ceremony. NBC News, meanwhile, released an iPad app in November timed to Kennedy's 50-year presidential anniversary.