VegasChatter

Tags: iPad Apps / Technology / The Mirage / → All Tags

Why The Mirage's iPad App is a Vegas Geek's 'Must Have'

Have you wanted to plan a Vegas vacation but are unsure what you want to do or where you want to eat? First, we recommend reading VegasChatter for the latest in what's hot and what's not on the Strip (heh.)

Second, if you're staying at The Mirage, just download their handy new iPad app which will allow you to book a room, make reservations at Stack, and reserve tickets to see Terry Fator (although you may want to see LOVE instead.) You also have the ability to make room, dining, spa and show reservations through this app.

Plus, the app will work when you're not at the hotel. If you decide on the cab ride back to the room that you want a late-night snack or turndown service, the iPad app has you covered. You can send your requests to guest services and have your crisp new sheets and a chocolate sundae in minutes!

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Tags: Geek Week / Lolita's Cantina / Holographs / Town Square / Happy Hour / Nightclubs / Technology / → All Tags

Now Presenting the Holograph Dancers at Lolita's

Don't forget it's Geek Week on VegasChatter! We're doing Vegas tech-stylee all this week. Today we have a guest post from one of our favorite Vegas Twitterers, @amandahimes, on the art of the Tweetup.

Ever wonder what sets Lolita’s Cantina apart from other hot spots in Sin City? Well, it's definitely not the food or décor which falls short of expectations. Instead, it's their dancers. But these aren't your average Vegas dancers.

Lolita’s Cantina is America’s first holographic nightclub. While that may sound like you will be able to get your groove on with a sexy go-go dancer without fear of rejection, you won’t.

Lolita’s utilizes Digital Illusions, LLC state-of-the-art fire retardant polymers and high-definition video that create an illusion second to none.

The life like illusions on stage never miss a beat, the performers never have to call in sick, and the performances will always be flawless.

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Tags: Luxor / Technology / Cell Phones / Only in Vegas / → All Tags

Why Has Someone Created a $1 Million Luxor Phone? Please Advise.

We love Luxor for their low room rates and the occasional stop-in at Tacos and Tequila but beyond that, we're keen to try other places on and off the Strip instead. So it's safe to say that if we had a million dollars lying around in chump change, we would definitely not buy this new Luxor Las Vegas Jackpot Phone from Gresso. ZDnet.com sums up our skepticism about this ridiculuxe phone perfectly:

Admittedly, the Luxor Las Vegas Jackpot is made from several precious materials, including 18-karat gold, black diamonds, sapphires, and…200-year-old African Blackwood. (Is that a selling point?) Sounds more like the makings of a beautiful tiara rather than a cell phone.

The reporter has also heard that the phone in person looks like a "blinged out crappy device." Ah-ha! So it DOES resemble Luxor in a sense.

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Tags: Snapshot / Technology / Aria / Mini-Bars / → All Tags

For the Price of a Room at Hooters, You Can Buy a Technology Kit at Aria

Sorry, the Hooters jokes never get old here but to put our $20 room in perspective, we found this inside our room at Aria where we headed yesterday after fleeing checking out of Hooters. It's a technology kit and it's available for $20 from the mini-bar.

The box includes all sorts of adapter contraptions for several types of phones, a hook up for your iPhone/iPods, a USB cable and an ethernet cable. Call us crazy but we actually think this might be worth it if you ever forgot your charger.

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Tags: Snapshot / New York-New York / Technology / Valets / → All Tags

Introducing Robo Valet At New York New York

We’re at risk of developing a serious crush on New York New York this week. First the revelatory WiFI experience at the ESPN Zone, now this: the Robo Valet, that we noticed the other day.

Instead of waiting for a guy in the booth to scan your ticket, you do it yourself, it logs you into the system, and you wait for the valet to bring it up. As little girls who grew up wanting to work in a supermarket just so we could scan stuff, this makes us very happy.

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Tags: Aria / Technology / CityCenter / Hotels / Hotel Rooms / Control4 / → All Tags

Is There Too Much In-Room Tech at ARIA?

Full disclaimer. We’re not the most tech-savvy gal in the world. We don’t own an iPod. Or an iPhone. And we definitely don’t have our sights on the latest and so-called greatest iPad. We like modern conveniences, but when we checked into ARIA Resort & Casino a few weeks ago as part of a CityCenter hosted media trip, the Control4 in-room technology system proved to be a royal pain-in-the-ass and we lost count how many times we cursed the almighty bedside and televised command central.

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Tags: Snapshot / Paris / Technology / Survival Strategies / → All Tags

Looking For the Restroom? Paris Makes It Easy

With its cobbles and its boulevards and all its signs in French (le concierge, anyone?), Paris can be a confusing place. And nobody wants to be confused when they’re looking for the toily, so we were relieved (hur hur) to see this interactive Directory of Bathrooms the other day.

It’s not just a directory of bathrooms, though; no, there’s listings and maps of the whole property, covering dining, entertainment, nightlife, gaming, spa and shopping, convention rooms and hotel services as well. It’s touchscreen, so you just press the one you want, and it takes you to the map, and your nearest facility. Sorted!

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Tags: Snapshot / Excalibur / Technology / Survival Strategies / → All Tags

Got Drunk, Forgot to Charge Your Phone? Excalibur To The Rescue

How good is this? We went into the Excalibur the other day to see if, like our commenter VegasVeteran, we’d be stopped from taking photos. Luckily for us, nobody batted an eyelid, even when we were snapping away on the casino floor (which makes the Luxor ban even weirder).

And good thing they didn’t, else we wouldn’t have been able to take this picture of the Automated Charging Machine by (what passes for) the Business Center round the back of the casino.

For $5, the ACM promises to charge your iPod, Blackberry, cellphone “and more” by up to 60% in just 10 minutes. So instead of remembering to charge up before you go to sleep (we understand habits go out the window in Vegas), you can get drunk without worrying, and come here the next day.

The geek in us loves the all the little leads they’ve got going on here:

The only problem is where to stand while you’re charging up. The Business Center is pretty gross, and the casino isn’t a whole lot better. But then again, it’s 10 minutes. A beer will see you through that easily.

Tags: Live from CES / CES / Geeks / Technology / Taylor Swift / → All Tags

Happy CES Geeks Are Working Hard, Playing Hard, and Watching Taylor Swift in 3D

Sony CEO Howard Stringer. Someone who does let Taylor Swift finish her speeches

The future of gadgets? 3D. And the immediate future of CES delegates? Very happy indeed. We’ve been following the techie tweets this morning and even though they’re up pretty early, getting their techie game on at 8am, they seem remarkably excited. Good news for all of us.

Our friend is currently raving about a 3D Samsung TV (he says “it will blow your mind”) and Sony have been showing off 3D PS3s. They too have 3D TVs – in fact, little Taylor Swift did an impromptu concert on one last night as part of the presentation.

But it’s not all work and no play. Our favourite tweet comes from DJ Irie from Miami, who’s not only doing the CES stuff, but DJing at Tao tonight. And he was up for a 7am flight to Vegas this morning:

Gettin' ready for 24hrs of Vegas tomorrow! CES in the afternoon then rockin' at TAO at night! Vegas Check-In!

That’s the spirit. DJ Irie, geeks of CES, we salute you.

[Photo: Brainstorm Tech]

Tags: Live from CES / CES / Technology / → All Tags

What’s In a CES Geek’s Suitcase?

We like to think of ourselves as tech-savvy when traveling, but we have to admit to being outdone by our friend who’s currently in Vegas for CES. We wanted to know what a CES geek takes with him to impress the other tech-heads, so he sent us over this picture of his kitbag. The Macbook Air is pretty recognizable but if you’re stuck on the rest of cables and doodahs, here's a rundown:

Macbook Air

Blackberry Curve

Sony Ericsson cellphone

Samsung camera

Kodak ZI8 camcorder

Memory sticks and cards (various)

Shitloads of leads and chargers.

And yes, this is the same friend as the one who’s staying at the Venetian. Please don’t burgle him now. We’re sure there are much richer pickings at the Bellagio.

Tags: MGM Mirage / Concierges / Technology / → All Tags

Another Reason To Always Carry Your Cellphone: MGM Grand Discounts

We’re all about services and amenities that make our life easier, especially if they help save us money. MGM Grand understands our needs and has launched its new Mobile Concierge program.

Here’s how it works: Book your reservation and a pre-arrival email will appear in the trusty inbox of your cell phone, iPhone or PDA. You’ll have the option to pick and choose what amenities and offers you receive information on, including discounts at MGM Grand’s restaurants, spa, Cristophe Salon, nightclubs, Tabú Ultra Lounge and Studio 54 and shows, KÀ and Crazy Horse Paris.

Redeeming the offers is simple – just present the text to an MGM Grand concierge or participating venue.

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Tags: The Palms / Green Vegas / Pools / DJs / Music / Technology / → All Tags

The DJ Booth at The Palms Pool is Actually Good For the Earth

The next time you find yourself laying out by the pool at The Palms, feeling slightly guilty because you've been drinking too much, eating too much, flirting too much and gambling too much, here's a thought to quell your fears about over-partying---that music coming from the DJ booth and to which you are dirty-dancing is actually helping the environment.

That's right. The DJ booth by the pool is solar-powered--a first in Las Vegas.

The DJ booth, built by Sustainable Waves, uses Sharp solar panels to capture power directly from the pool deck and Outback inverters to convert the sun’s energy into 110 volts of electricity to rock the pool. Palms Pool sponsor Miller Lite is also a sponsor of the solar-powered DJ booth.

So keep on doing the Soulja Boy "Crank Dat" dance or the Tootsee Roll or whatever it is the kids are doing these days. It's good for the earth!

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