In most parts of Asia, when we greet each other, we don’t say: “How are you?” We ask: “Have you eaten yet?”

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From RFID and comms systems to biometrics and the TV-cum-cabin porthole, what are the best pieces of technology every cruise ship should have?

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From RFID and climate control to HDTV and the ultimate, ever-changing room with a view, what are the best pieces of technology every hotel room should have?

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In recent months there has been plenty of discussion about some of the opportunities that DMOs have when it comes to the mobile space.

I also discussed how destinations have the leg up when it comes to aggregating local and regional content.

It would seem that some DMOs are actually making some positive steps towards embracing and potentially leveraging the mobile space to market their destinations more effectively.

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Dubai-based airline Emirates is behind an amazing new Apple iPhone application which acts as a translation tool by taking a picture of the handset users mouth and then animates to produce a range of phrases.

Built to translate English into French, German and Arabic by Lean Mean Fighting Machine in London, the app is a bit rough around the edges and difficult to set up - but it works.

Here is a demo video.

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Words are not required to describe how well designed this gadget is. And how unique it is.

Mobile Desk is a foldaway chair and mini-table, one suspects, primarily for business travellers, although conference attendees might prefer its ergonomic advantages to traditional event chairs.

It measures 38 inches in length and costs a hefty $500.

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Priceline introduced a free Hotel Negotiator app for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch that enables you to bid for and book a Name-Your-Own Price hotel room up to 11 p.m. ET on the evening of your hoped-for stay.

Mobile applications are particularly geared for these last-minute -- or, should we say, last-hour -- bookings as travelers, who find themselves without a room, can use their iPhones to secure a room whether the would-be customers find themselves at an airport, stranded at an endless business meeting, or at the local saloon.

Last month, Priceline President and CEO Jeffery Boyd talked of envisioning a day when consumer behavior would change so that it would become more commonplace for people to book a room once they arrive at a destination instead of before the trip.

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Adventure travel anyone?

VholdR just began shipping the ContourHD1080p wearable camcorder. It seems to be perfect whether you are jumping off a cliff or biking along the boardwalk.

Check out the specs: The company says: "ContourHD1080p offers several unique features including four HD settings (1080p, 960p, and two at 720), two frame rates (30fps and 60fps), lighting you can configure (contrast, exposure, metering, and sharpness), an adjustable microphone, and a new feature not previously announced: Three bitrates (default, high, and max)."

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It's heartening to learn that Verizon Wireless has been dispatching generator-powered mobile sites to Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., where Thursday's New York Yankees-Anaheim Angels baseball playoff game will be held.

Although, as of this writing, the home-team Angels have lacked for energy, the COLTs (Cells on Light Trucks) units are designed to boost "rapid and short-term network response," says Verizon Wireless, for calls, and text and pic messages transmitted by fans at the stadium or just regular folks in its environs.

We hear that AT&T, beset with complaints about lack of adequate 3G network coverage for its Apple iPhones, likely could use some COLTs, too.

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Fledgling UK travel start-up PitchUp has secured what could be an interesting partnership in its early days after collaborating with TomTom, Europe's biggest satellite navigation firm.

Vistors to the site with a TomTom device can send the location and details of any of the site's 5,000 properties (such as campsites, caravan parks) or an equal number of points of interest from around the UK and Ireland.

The "Add To TomTom" functionality works by opening the user's satnav's desktop tool on its host computer and automatically placing the relevant content onto the device.

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