Amazon debuts a data archiving service that travel tech companies may like, Inden sells Solare Hotels a translation app for hotel guests, Cathay Pacific may give in to ancillary sales pressure, and more items in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion on 21 August.
Amazon Glacier is a new custom web service for backing up users’ files
Yesterday Amazon Web Services debuted a service for backing up data called Glacier. Unlike its S3 product, Amazon Glacier is catered to long term storage options, meaning that users not be able to take out their data for some time once it’s stored.
The cost is a US penny per gigabyte per month on the cheapest plan. Each archive can hold up to 40 terabytes of data. It’s available in many parts of the U.S. as well as Ireland and Japan.
A Japanese hotel chain gives foreign guests iPads to use as quick translation toolÂ
This week, large Japanese chain Solare Hotels & Resorts began offering a free translation service, called Smart Assist, for guests at 20 of its 75 properties, reports Travel Daily News Asia.
The chain hands guests iPads that have a translation chat app designed by Inden Consulting. Guests use the app to ask questions which can be translated for concierges and front desk staff.
But those hotel iPads might be dirty
“Housekeepers often find in-room iPads in the bathroom, next to the toilet after a guest has checked out,” reports HotelChatter, via an attendee at the annual conference of the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals.
That makes iPads potentially dirtier that remote controls, which at least stay out of hotel bathrooms.
Bloggers can turn their blogs into apps
New York startup Appguppy lets bloggers launch a bare bones mobile app for iPhone or Android of their site in “about five minutes.” There’s a demo video online.
The startup has participated in the accelerator: Women Innovate Mobile. One catch: Apps produced in beta remain free for users but don’t appear in App stores.
When will Cathay Pacific give in and start adding ancillary fees?
Cathay lost $120 million in the first half of this year. How long until it copies other airlines and begins charging fees for services such as  checking in baggage and carrying hand baggage on board? The South China Morning Post says it could be soon.
Mesa Air Group is the first regional airline to receive an OK from the Federal Aviation Administration to use the Apple iPad as a Class I Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), or the hardcopy manuals in the flight deck. It’s more proof that pilots love iPads.
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