Virgin Megastores Launch MegaPlay Kiosks Nationwide
Virgin Megastores have placed custom-built Virgin MegaPlay kiosks throughout their North American Megastores. The MegaPlay kiosks are the most advanced entertainment preview system in the market today, which will allow customers to ‘try it before they buy it’ by instantly accessing a database of over 2.4 million CD tracks and 10,000 DVD movie trailers, through an easy to use touch-screen interface.
“Holiday shopping can often be stressful and time consuming, so our goal was to create an enjoyable and interactive holiday shopping resource to reward our loyal customers,” said Glen Ward, CEO, Virgin Entertainment Group, NA. “Through the use of the MegaPlay kiosks customers can now search, browse and receive recommendations for the perfect gift for the entertainment enthusiast in their life.”
RedDotNet Kiosks Placed In Rhino Record Stores
edDotNet is helping to take the guesswork out of buying music with the placement of its Kiosks in Rhino Record stores.
At Rhino, customers can swipe the bar code of any CD across a reader at four kiosks. The kiosk enables customers to preview albums by scanning the package bar code or by selecting items via the Dot’s touch screen and dial technology. The Dot delivers sound samples, cover art and product reviews. Over 1,700,000 albums are sampled every week on the RedDotNet system. Customers can scroll through selections at will. The RedDotNet system has samples from 2.5 million album cuts.
With the RedDotNet system, any home entertainment product can be highlighted, including DVD’s, audio books and video games. Dots, about the size of a Frisbee, can be mounted in the product bins, placed on an endcap, installed on a wall or placed as a standalone kiosk.
Applied Science Fiction Testing Self-Service Photo Kiosk
Applied Science Fiction, Inc. (ASF) is testing a self-service kiosk featuring Digital PIC, a dry film processing technology. The Digital PIC system, delivers high quality digital image files as well as prints in less than 10 minutes. Consumers simply drop their exposed 35mm film into the kiosk for automatic film processing, printing and the creation of digital image files.
Users can select the images they want printed and can edit them by removing red eye, cropping and adjusting brightness or contrast before making enlargements.
The Digital PIC kiosk also offers digital camera users a fast and easy way to get prints. Using an easy-to-use touch screen menu, consumers can make enlargements up to 8x10".
Sony Introduces PictureStation Photo Finishing System
Sony Electronics has introduced the PictureStation, designed to provide digital camera users with fast, easy-to-use digital photo printing services at retail. The PictureStation comes in a counter top unit and a freestanding kiosk.
The countertop PictureStation system allows retailers to provide personalized behind-the-counter service to customers. The freestanding kiosk allows customers to order their pictures and print them out at one convenient terminal. The PictureStation systems accept images recorded on standard electronic media. The PictureStation will display a preview of each photo on its screen. A touch screen lets the consumers select the pictures they want, the size and the number of prints. A high-speed digital printer in the unit then creates high quality prints immediately.
Charm Kiosks Showcase Jewelry Products
Rembrandt Charms, Buffalo, NY, wanted to place kiosks in jewelry stores nationwide.
The company deployed “Charm Kiosks,” which allow customers to view over 2,600 charm styles; search for particular charms by category, key word or style number; and print photo receipts of the charms they like best.
Each Charm Kiosk features rich colors and a sleek, elegant design to draw in traffic and entice shoppers to search through the charm styles.
The modestly-sized 2'x2' kiosk functions as an artistic accessory for the jewelry stores yet also provides customers with all the information they need on Rembrandt’s charms.
The Charm Kiosk was produced by KIS, a designer and manufacturer of indoor and outdoor kiosks, located in Louisville, CO.
Best Buy Expands High Speed Internet Options Available In-Store
Best Buy has installed new in-store Activation Stations, providing customers with access to a wide selection of high-speed connectivity options. Best Buy now offers 15 high-speed Internet cable, DSL and satellite broadband options. The Activation Stations make selection, comparison and purchase of broadband services fast and simple through the straightforward GetConnected interface.
To use the Activation Stations, customers first enter the address where they would like to get broadband service. The system then pulls up participating providers in the area who offer service to that location. The customer compares the specific features, functions and prices as well as any special offers for the high speed Internet options and chooses a plan. The station then prompts the customer to select equipment such as a DSL modem, cable modem or satellite dish needed to activate the broadband service. Once the customer completes the order, it is automatically sent to the provider.
Compar Corporation, a Markham, ON-based Canadian supplier of kiosk solutions, introduces the Omni Kiosk, featuring a highly flexible, modular design. The Omni Kiosk can be wall mounted, freestanding or group configurable with optional interchangeable upper and lower pods. The Kiosk is available with a swipe or dip card reader, printer, scanner, pin pad, telephone handset and PC options. For more information about interactive kiosks for display applications, contact Compar Corporation, 85 Spy Court, Markham ON Canada, L3R 4Z4 Canada; (Tel) 905-475-8508, 1-866-888-COMPAR, (Fax) 905-475-1722, (Web Site) www.comparcorporation.com.
Earth Computer Technologies, a San Capistrano CA-based manufacturer of LCDs, has launched the PPC-12 flat panel kiosk. The display is comprised of LCD glass, finished with a resistive touch membrane and a steel enclosure with a powder coat finish. PPC-12 includes a Pentium based Intel 815 chip set, 128 MB of memory, 733 Mhz processor and a 20 GB removable hard drive with custom configurations available. PPC-12 comes standard with a 12.1" or 15" LCD. For more information, contact Earth Computer Technologies, 32701 Calle Perfecto, San Juan Capistrano, CA, (Tel) 949-248-2333, (Fax) 949-248-2392, (Web Site) www.earthlcd.com.
Kiosk Information Systems specializes in manufacturing self-service interactive kiosks and vending machines. KIS offers a full line of standard kiosk designs and and also handles custom kiosk development projects. For more information, contact Kiosk Information Systems, Inc., 346 S. Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027; (Tel) 303-466-5471, (Fax) 303-466-6730, (Web site) www.kis-kiosk.com.
Verizon SuperPages Sponsors Bilingual Kiosk At Wal-Mart
Verizon SuperPages recently helped the Lexington, KY Public Library launch Information Station/Estacion de Informacion, a Spanish-English e-Branch Library kiosk.
The kiosk project, nicknamed Leo, which is Spanish for “I read,” provides Latino and underserved communities with access to library services.
The kiosk will permanently be placed in the Northside Wal-Mart, which is located in the section of Lexington/Fayette County with the greatest numbers of underserved and Latino populations.
The Information Station/Estacio de Informacion has the potential to be used by 40,000 shoppers per week.
The bilingual kiosk will provide users with local library information and an online catalog, health information, community information and access to the Internet and electronic news services.
Video Display Replicates Stonehenge At The Millenia Mall
Capitalizing on an ancient astrological mystery and the awe it inspires, the Mall at Millenia located in Orlando, FL, added a dramatic visual effect replicating Stonehenge to its eight-story Grand Court. Surrounding the 44' diameter circular terrazzo are 12, 35-foot high masts, each topped with a specially designed, curved LED video display. The displays act as a replica of Stonehenge’s ancient megalithic stone circle.
Daktronics, a supplier of electronic display systems, manufactured and installed the LED ProStar VideoPlus full-color LED display system that is the main visual element of the Grand Court. Each display is capable of showing graphics and live video. All 12 displays can be controlled individually or simultaneously.
For more information, contact Daktronics, Inc., P.O. Box 5128, Brookings, SD 57006; (Tel) 605-697-4000, (Web) www.daktronics.com.
Blue Man Group Places Listening Booths At Virgin Megastores
Blue Man Group in conjunction with Virgin Entertainment Group, North America, has created a custom DVD booth that will showcase the 5.1 surround sound mix of its Grammy nominated debut album, AUDIO. The booth marks the first custom artist listening experience in a major music retail store, a step that demonstrates Virgin Entertainment's commitment to think outside the box of traditional retail promotions.
The booth is 8' H and 7'W and resembles a giant PVC tube, like those Blue Man Group uses in its hit shows. The booth makes its debut in the Virgin Megastore, Las Vegas. The overall look of the booth parallels Blue Man's world of tubes, black lights and modern art. The booth design and the sound system provided by Bose create an intimate surround sound experience. In addition to the audio, a plasma TV screen will showcase slides from Blue Man Group’s Las Vegas show.
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