Ask travelers what they most desire in a hotel stay and they’ll put free wireless Internet at the top of their list, above comfy beds and extra pillows, according to a new survey of 53,000 travelers.

The survey by J.D. Power & Associates found that free Wi-Fi was the most important for guests in nearly every segment of the hotel industry, from luxury hotels to budget lodging.

As most travelers know, not every hotel offers free Wi-Fi. In fact, the survey found that the most expensive hotels were the least likely to offer it free of charge.

Of guests staying at mid-scale hotels, 96% said they got free Wi-Fi, as did 64% of guests at budget hotels, according to the survey of guests who stayed in hotels from May 2009 to June 2010. None who stayed in luxury hotels said they got free wireless Internet.

Hotels are likely to feel more pressure to offer the service free of charge, said Stuart Greif, vice president and general manager of the global travel and hospitality practice at J.D. Power. He noted that travelers can now get free Wi-Fi from many businesses, including Starbucks coffee shops and McDonald’s restaurants.

At the Ritz-Carlton luxury hotel chain, the fee for Wi-Fi access is a top complaint among guests, said Ritz-Carlton spokeswoman Vivian A. Deuschl. (The new Ritz-Carlton in downtown Los Angeles charges $12.95 a day.)

“We know that it is an irritant to guests to have to pay for Internet access,” she said. “It comes up very frequently.”

Although some Ritz-Carlton hotels offer free Internet access in the lobbies and other public spaces, the hotel chain based in Maryland will continue to charge for the service in guest rooms, she said.

“We have no immediate plans to change the policy, but it’s an ongoing subject of discussion,” Deuschl said.

• American Airlines is upgrading its planes

American Airlines, owner of the nation’s largest fleet of MD-80s, is moving to replace its 250 or so aging McDonnell Douglas aircraft with more efficient and roomy Boeing 737-800s.

The upgrade began last year and is expected to be completed by next year.

The new Boeing planes burn 20% to 30% less fuel and can seat about 20 more passengers than the MD-80, depending on the seating configuration.

American Airlines also announced a few months ago that it had hired Boeing to retrofit its existing fleet of 737s to include all the amenities in the newer 737-800.

The upgraded planes include economy seats that have a higher reclining pivot point, offering more knee room even when the passenger in front of you reclines. The cabin will also include several electrical outlets and drop-down 10.4-inch LCD monitors to watch movies and TV shows.

The overhead bins have been redesigned to nearly double the storage space.

Despite the added bin space, American Airlines spokeswoman Courtney Wallace said, the air carrier will continue to impose the same limits on carry-on bags mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

“We are trying to make the travel experience the best for our passengers,” Wallace said. “But we will continue to follow FAA guidelines.”

• Keep children away from other passengers?

Even with roomier, more comfortable cabins, an airline flight can bewe a hair-pulling experience if you get seated next to a fidgeting child or a screaming infant.

That may explain why nearly 80% of respondents said they support the idea of creating a “family-only” section on planes, according to a poll on Farecompare, a travel website.  Although no one mentioned the idea of separate metal detectors to help transition kids on to the planes with their families more smoothly.  There were no suggestions for establishing separate walk through metal detectors for children only to make them more kid-friendly.

The other 20% objected to the idea of separating parents and their children from other passengers, calling it a form of “family bashing.”

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MY TAKE:    I’d think that there might have been a large demand or interest in a better selection of in-room entertainment, including options to download new movies on in-room flat screens, not just access to a pay-per view site where the movies are already chosen for you.  With options for movie downloads you might as well go one step further and ask for TIVO so you can save your selections in case you have to get to a meeting or if traveling can take the selection to your next destination and pick up watching where you left off.

Airlines can also upgrade air cargo security if you ask me. The degree to which we spend waiting for planes to manage cargo handling in the name of security is outrageous.

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OTHER RESOURCES

United Kingdom wants Action

A rather significant amount of arguing has been occurring between various members of entertainment companies and artists regarding the “Stop Online Piracy Act” which several internet companies protested against in large numbers with many large music companies sitting on the other side of the fence to support it. The act is on hold in the US Congress, but it would seem that members of the music industry in the UK think that faster action should be done on the subject as they aren’t into offering royalty free music to their fans and feel that money is being lost through online piracy.

Automated Improvements for Web Hosts

Getting a website up and running isn’t always the easiest thing to do for companies that plan on having a significant presence on the web, but one of the signs that the website host that has been chosen isn’t otherwise a good idea is the fact that they don’t have a reliable and automated payment system for their services. A company that is providing a service such as web hosting should always allow customers to make their payments swiftly through a professional payment system and any company that does not should be suspect regarding the level of their services.

Legal Resources For Accident Victims

If you’ve been involved in a car accident of think you may have a case against New York doctor for mistreatment or even malpractice, you might want to consider hiring an attorney.  A Brooklyn medical malpractice lawyer navigate the intricacies of malpractice jurisprudence so that you know your options before you embark on an expensive case.  A New York City car accidents lawyer is qualified to help you recover damages from another party you believe is responsible for an accident that has left you inured, unable to work, or worse.

For both musicians and the melodically challenged, the iPhone music app. If you know how to play a real instrument, it functions as a pocket-sized version for impromptu jamming. If you can’t pick a string to save your life, you can still pluck out a song on the app- it’s even programmed to stay on key, if that’s what you’re into.

A main goal for many of these apps’ developers is to introduce nonmusical people to music, and musical people to different kinds of music. And when taken less as a serious instrument and more as a sampler for the wide world of music, these devices are wildly successful.

For those dying to shred, however, they leave something to be desired.

The majority of apps in this category try to cram a fully functioning instrument into an interface that, while touch-sensitive, is still only three inches wide. It’s about the same width as a guitar neck, so six strings fit reasonably well. Still, only a few frets can be covered at once, and even the simple acts of plucking a string and forming chords take a significant degree of finger wrangling.

Similarly, while many apps offer recording features, synching up separate apps without external recording software is difficult, unless you spend a lot of time behind a mixing console.

So the essential question becomes, are music apps real tools for artistic expression, or are they in the same league as, say, Bejeweled or other time-killing games?

“When it all comes down to it, these are all games, pretty much,” said Turner Kirk, community marketing manager for Smule, whose Ocarina is one of the simplest yet most inventive musical apps on the market. “We’d like to think of them as expressive musical instruments, even though we might be limited by hardware. But really, it’s like a toy.”

Ocarina proves that simplicity works in this environment. An actual ocarina — a simple wind instrument, frequently found with only four holes — is among the simplest music makers, and its virtual version is perfect for the iPhone interface. One has only to blow into the device’s microphone to control the instrument — almost identically to the way one would an actual ocarina.

Because it’s an iPhone, of course, users can take the experience to different levels, with the ability to change pitch, upload their recordings and span the globe to listen to others’ tunes. An online songbook lets even a beginner ocarinist play Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”

Other simple apps that have been successful include Normalware’s Bebot, where one can make a tuxedoed cartoon robot sing electronic notes by dragging a finger across the screen. Tones and settings are customizable; one option places strings across the interface. It’s always perfectly in tune and is incredibly diverting. “Because apps like this handle the difficult part of making music — producing a good sound and playing the right notes — they free the user for the fun part of the process: getting expressive,” said David Battino, co-author of “The Art of Digital Music.”

Even real musicians use Bebot; a recent San Francisco Chronicle article on musical applications led with Dream Theater’s keyboardist, Jordan Rudess, playing it on the iPhone during a performance in San Jose, Calif.

Real, huge instruments may prove to be problems at the airline baggage screening, so thank goodness for these new apps. Regardless of the package’s size or the length of its travel, arrange your transport through a trusted name in air cargo.

Sheer simplicity, however, isn’t the only route to success. Moocow Music, which offers apps for bass, guitar, piano and organ, suggests on its Web site that its creations can be used “as a ‘musical notepad’ for working out riffs to play back in the studio on a real (instrument).” This is true. It’s also a tacit admission that the apps are not meant to replace real instruments.

Still, the care that goes into these apps’ creation is obvious. Rather than simply offering one sound per note, Moocow has loaded multiple guitar and bass samples for each fret and string, which are played randomly when that note is struck. Because real guitar strings are plucked or strummed slightly differently each time, this lends a subtle air of authenticity to the sound.

Several guitar apps feature preloaded scales, chord forms and tablature features for those looking to work out ideas. They make for terrific notation tools for pros and theory tools for novices. But as for actual instrumentality, well, there aren’t many people who say an iPhone feels better in the hand than a guitar. Or a drumstick. Or a cowbell.

And this is where it gets back to being like a video game. Many musical apps offer the ability to record a track, then add layers on top of it. Doing this between disparate apps is impossible without external recording software, but a multi-instrumental app like Moocow’s Band gives novices the opportunity to record and edit tracks with drums, bass and guitar, and make sure it all sounds pretty good (even if one doesn’t know how to play a lick of music). It’s as much a game as Guitar Hero, only instead of trying to keep up with prerecorded music, the goal is to make music of one’s own.

If there’s gray area, it’s with the synth mixing and sound creation programs. The BeatMaker from Intua, for example, combines drum machines, samplers and sequencers. It allows users to layer tracks, then loop them as one would in a full-fledged studio. It’s a powerful application (and, at $19.99, one of the most expensive musical apps on the market), but it’s all too easy for a novice to become lost in its features within moments of loading it up.

For companies like Sound Trends, whose Looptastic series allows for the creation of multilayered beats via mixing and matching of audio samples, there’s little pretense of being a studio replacement.

“We wanted to capture something that’s in the moment and fun,” said Sound Trends’ president, Aaron Higgins. “There are a few apps out there that are intimidating and lack the fun. You can play around with them, but once you open up the control panel it’s like opening the hood of a car. We made a conscious decision that that wasn’t the direction we wanted to go.”

Reasons for that decision are plentiful, but one stands above the others: the casual novice market is a whole lot bigger than the hard-core musician one. The user who would just as soon loop a few beats together as blow up a virtual Russian army while taking the train to work is key to Mr. Higgins’s reasoning.

Even when it comes to the professional music makers, this iPhone app is a godsend. How many hours of idle strumming goes into each gut-wrenching song? Instead of cheapening the guitar experience, this app has the potential to make inspiration all the more accessible- by  making it mobile and consistently available. And, I hear it can make phone calls, too.

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My Take: I once go-fered a music producer, who told me that pretty soon, all an artist would have to do is to sing a scale and he would mix it into a stellar performance. I’m fairly sure that in the future, they won’t even have to sing a scale.

So, this iPhone app that stays in key- to me it’s like a drum machine that doesn’t lose rhythm. If you’re that dedicated, why not take the time to legitimately learn how to play your chosen instrument?

Not that I’m an absolute hater, either. When my brilliant friend showed up at my door with her iTouch version of a guitar, I was over the moon. Now, I could insist that she play for me without making her carry her guitar and amp all over creation.

In the end, this app has the same potential as a video camera. Yes, the means of production are far more accessible, so anyone can produce something of passable quality. Still, there will never be a replacement for inspiration, skill, and dedication.

Until there’s an app for that, too.

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Other Resources

Did You Buy a Lemon?

Well, the California Lemon Law was created just for that reason! A California lemon law attorney can give you the information and resources you need to understand the Lemon Law. In fact, they can offer the support and services you need to send your case quickly and get through the difficult times. They have the experience and knowledge that will help you reach a satisfactory completion to your case. Loreover, this law firm of lemon Law cases since it was established in 1991. They offer free consultation and accept cases on a contingency fee basis.

Lamp Life

You should know that manufactures set the TV to the highest contrast and brightness settings.  In fact, most rear projection televisions are delivered with their color setting on the brightest picture setting because it looks best on the showroom floor of your local electronics store.  This can reduce the estimated BP96 lamp life to less than half.  To avoid getting a DLP replacement lamp you should change the preset and select the setting with the lowest light output.  Once you have adjusted the brightness down to your liking, the longer the lamp life.  You should also clean the air filters on a monthly basis.

New Jersey IT Management

New Jersey IT services are a single-source provider of all the business technology solutions you need. Whether you want us to work as your IT department or simply support your current staff, they offer the agility you need to succeed in today’s ever-changing marketplace, boosting your company’s productivity while saving you money.  That a state-of-the-art facility, highly trained and certified professionals are ready to assist your staff at any time. Additionally, with leading-edge technology, they can monitor performance your NJ Microsoft SharePoint as well as diagnose and fix problems quickly without disrupting your workplace.  One of the benefits of partnering with this team of technology experts is the superior quality of maintenance and support you will receive.

Energy-Saving Lights

The true power of a light is measured based on its Lumens Per Watt ratio (LPW).  The commercial lighting fixtures have Ceramic Metal Halide that provides about 300% more power than halogen and incandescent lights, while using only a fraction of the energy.  This leading supplier of energy efficient, product and answer like has developed quality lighting for a wide variety of industries that includes jewelry and optical stores, beauty salons and galleries.  These energy efficient lighting fixtures are manufactured based on their cornerstone lighting principles.  The products are the perfect combination of energy efficiency, power, color and longevity.

Gone Green!

It is difficult to think of any retailer as one of those “going green” companies.  However, this light bulbs vendor features “green” blogs and detailed information about everything to do with lighting.  The topics range from energy saving tips, light ballasts, LED grow lights and DIY lighting projects.  They have the answers you are seeking.  They list each blog as well as the most recent postings from various authors.  They provide a green blog map so you can find the subject you are looking for.  You can’t even submit a post of your own and be part of the “green” community.

Cars for Cash

If you have an unwanted vehicle you would like to dispose of, the service offers one of the easiest and efficient ways for you to sell wrecked, junk, damaged cars for cash.  This service buys 1000s of totaled, damaged, wrecked cars every year. Today you can sell any car for cash. It is simple and the best way to get money for any car, truck or SUV. Go ahead and call them to get paid and make arrangements to have your vehicle towed for free. You will receive the money from the agreed upon price the day they pick up your vehicle.  Now that’s easy!

CA Lemon Laws

The California Lemon Laws are officially known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, found in California Civil Code sections 1790 et seq. and is a law designed to protect consumers who purchase or lease warranted motor vehicles. If a motor vehicle is determined to be a “lemon,” the motor vehicle’s warrantor must repurchase or replace the motor vehicle from the buyer.  Any Riverside County lemon law attorney will tell you that for vehicle must have problems covered by a warranty. There is a simple rule “no warranty, means no Lemon Law case.”

Locksmith Skills

Lock picking is the skill of unlocking a lock by analyzing and manipulating the components of the lock device, without the original key. Although lock picking can be associated with criminal intent, it is an essential skill for a locksmith. Lock picking with lockpicks is the ideal way of opening a lock without the correct key, while not damaging the lock, allowing it to be rekeyed for later use, which is especially important with antique locks that would be impossible to replace if destructive entry methods were used.  Without lock picking practice, a locksmith would not even be able to use a Slim Jim to open the car.

Installing or Reinstalling Your OS

Have you got the dreaded blue screen?  It could be your operating system is acting up, you have tried everything and sometimes the best remedy is to start fresh.  This computer repair service can help you start over with a fresh install of your operating system.  They will also ensure that all the proper drivers are loaded so all your devices work such as your printer, sound, video, Ethernet, etc. they can also help you reinstall the software your computer had before.  They can also help upgrade your operating system if that is what you prefer.  They will also run a virus removal program to make sure it is not a virus.