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admin
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 Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:40 pm Post subject: LodgeNet Announces Mac mini-based IPTV+ System |
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LodgeNet Announces Mac mini-based IPTV+ System
Monday, June 22, 2009
Posted by: Glenn
LodgeNet today announced a new Mac mini-based IPTV+ system designed for the hotel industry. According to the company, this solution presents hoteliers with an entirely new set of capabilities to create compelling in-room interactive experiences, and provides an exceptional new opportunity to communicate brand messages to their guests, deliver a broad range of on-demand entertainment, present hotel information, and even support the sale of hotel products and services through in-room technology. The solution also supports the delivery of television and web-based entertainment, and provides a platform for the development of next-generation interactive applications.
The company said they designed this IPTV+ solution to leverage Apple's Core Animation Technology as well as the processing power of the new NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processer. This enables LodgeNet IPTV+ to provide compelling new user experiences including robust animated effects and extensive image and video layering features. Also, by choosing the new Mac mini as part of its solution, LodgeNet is offering its customers an environmentally friendly solution for in-room processing that meets the EPA's new Energy Start 5.0 specification, and which features an energy-saving function that consumes less than 13 watts in idle mode.
LodgeNet will be showcasing the product at HITEC 2009 in Anaheim, California from June 23rd to the 25th.
http://www.123macmini.com/news/story/1244.html |
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RickB
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Location: Vegas
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| Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 12:02 am Post subject: |
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That sounds pretty cool. I know of serveral casinos and hotels in Las Vegas that use Mac minis for other stuff. Like on the game floor and in kiosks.
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heulenwolf
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| Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 11:01 am Post subject: They want to put a mac mini in every roo ? |
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They want to put a mac mini in every room? This idea must be targeted at high-end hotels. It would be pretty pointless to have all that processing and video power without a high def screen. At $600 for a mini and $1000 for a HDTV, the cost per room will add up quickly. I wonder if there's a wholesale rate for minis?
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Bandit Bill
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Joined: 07 Jun 2005
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Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 11:33 am Post subject: Re: They want to put a mac mini in every roo ? |
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| heulenwolf wrote: | | They want to put a mac mini in every room? This idea must be targeted at high-end hotels. |
I've been working on the road and staying in hotels for the past 10 years. Just about every hotel that has been built or renovated within the past 2-3 years has a 40"+ flat screen tv.
Even the crappiest dive hotel (with crack heads in the parking lot) that I stayed in this year had a crappy 17" tv/monitor in the room.
It's extremely difficult to buy tube tv's nowadays, so I don't see the flat screen transition being much of an issue.
BTW in my province (Alberta, Canada) the average room rate is about $120-$140 (up to $200 in remote locations) per night at franchise hotels and at least $60-$80 per night at small dives.
I think hotels would be more inclined to offer a more traditional computer/monitor set-up in their executive/business suites over a mini hooked up to a television at this time. With the dual video out on the new mini, both the IPTV solution and tradition business solution can be offered off of one mini. |
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heulenwolf
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| Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: They want to put a mac mini in every roo ? |
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| Bandit Bill wrote: | | Just about every hotel that has been built or renovated within the past 2-3 years has a 40"+ flat screen tv. |
Hmm...if that's the case and Lodgenet subsidizes the equipment cost via service fees to the hotel or ad revenue, I can see this working. Otherwise, I wonder what upside the hotel owner would see. I'm no hotel owner so, for all I know, the hotels sell the eyeballs to Lodgenet rather than the other way around.
I know I'm impressed with the HTPC capabilities of my - now slightly outdated - Mac Mini. With some dedicated development, I can see Lodgenet making a nice system. Unfortunately, I'll be surprised if its implemented as much more than yet another advertising opportunity.
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aquaman
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| Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 4:40 pm Post subject: Re: They want to put a mac mini in every roo ? |
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| heulenwolf wrote: | | I wonder if there's a wholesale rate for minis? |
I don't know what the levels are, but I'm sure they offer volume pricing to schools and business. Some of these high-end hotels are like gold mines though. They can afford to put a Mac mini in every room and then some. My neighbor that lives across the street used to work for a predominant hotel in Las Vegas as the gaming manager. You should hear the stories he tells me about money flying around, and this was in the 70s and 80s. |
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ESUNintel
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Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 11:39 pm Post subject: |
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I would do what Kinko's does, and charge per minute 
...no, that be mean.
The idea sounds really cool. I would assume Apple has some discount rate for such sales ...they probably even benefit from it, cause it'll get the hotel customers to like the Mac and maybe even buy one for home eventually. |
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