GeekSugar

Tons of Geeky Amenities on the Airbus A380 - Even in Coach

GeekSugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:00:11 -0700

My pal Savvy mentioned what $14,635 can get you on an Airbus A380 flight from JFK to Dubai on Emirates Airlines (in first class, of course). But I'm more interested in the amenities I can get for only $1,500 in coach! A drop in the bucket, I know. Coach passengers on the 14-hour flight get to enjoy their own personal 10.4-digital widescreen display with over 500 channels to choose from, plus each seat has its own power source and USB connection. A gyroscopic cup holder keeps your drink level at all times, and in-cabin lighting simulates the time of day at your destination, so jet lag will be less of a problem when you land.

But the coolest feature I found in coach on the Airbus A380 is their ICE system. No, I'm not talking about chilling your drink; this ICE stands for Information, Communication, and Entertainment. To see more details on this cool system, read more.

The best part about the ICE system has to be the "I" for information. At each seat, you can pinpoint your location on a map, and even take in the sights from the plane's external cameras. Yup, I said external cameras! So when you're at cruising altitude, take in a little tour of what the world looks like from 30,000 feet!

Plus, you can call, text, or email your pals on the ground, or even call someone seated elsewhere on the plane with your in-flight device. And entertainment? Well, let's just say they have that covered - Emirates Airlines is already playing films like Iron Man and Kung Fu Panda that you can pause, rewind, and fast-forward. Anyone have a spare $1,500 lying around?

Source

No Cell Phones On Planes, FCC Says

GeekSugar — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 03:25:11 -0700

Despite recent talk about the future of cell phones on planes, the FCC has decided to keep a rule in place that requires cell phones to be turned off during airline flights. According to the AP, the reasoning behind the decision was technical.

"These days it's impossible to get on a bus without at least one person hollering into their cellphone, invading the private space of everyone around them," one member of the public wrote in an e-mail to the FCC. "That's bad enough when one can get off in 10 minutes. To have to suffer through HOURS of such torture, with nowhere to go and miserably cramped conditions - someone is going to explode."

Unlike the Federal Aviation Administration, which bans the use of cellphones and other portable electronic devices for fear they will interfere with navigational and communications systems, the FCC's concern is interference with other cellphone signals on the ground.

In January, the New York Times reported that Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, installed satellite-based technology that allows voice calls and text messaging on one of its Boeing 777’s late last year and expects to begin offering the service to passengers on an international route. Emirates said calls will work at altitudes above 9,800 feet to avoid potential interference with land systems. The downside is users will reportedly be billed at $3 to $3.50 a minute for outbound and inbound calls.

Will Airlines Allow Integrated iPod Service?

GeekSugar — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 14:35:58 -0800

Just when I thought I couldn't find a person on earth without the token white iPod headphones stuffed in their ears, iPods have taken to the skies too. Apple has announced it will team up with a handful of international airlines and integrate iPods into their in-flight entertainment systems. Macworld magazine reports that Continental, Delta, Emirates and United are among a fleet of airlines that will soon offer iPod seat connections to charge and power iPods during flights. The airlines will also allow fliers to watch the videos that are stored on their iPods on the mini airplane back-of-the-seat monitors. For more about this, read more

The news isn't all happy tunes though. Apparently Air France and KLM have disputed Apple's announcement and claim it's too early to confirm any details regarding an agreement.

As someone who has jumped on a plane or two only to realize my iPod battery was painfully low, I see this announcement as a really exciting thing. I do however, wonder if airlines will consider making the system compatible with other MP3 and video players.

Airline Will Allow Cellphone Service During Flight!

GeekSugar — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:09:31 -0800

There has been endless debate over the use of cellphones on airplanes during flight, and while most of us know you can use a cell phone without disrupting the plane, we still aren't allowed to use it - until now. According to the New York Times, Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, installed satellite-based technology that allows voice calls and text messaging on one of its Boeing 777’s late last year and expects to begin offering the service to passengers on an international route yet to be announced early next month.

Apparently, calls will work at altitudes above 9,800 feet to avoid potential interference with land systems. The downside is users will reportedly be billed at $3 to $3.50 a minute for outbound and inbound calls. For more about this, just read more

A handful of other airlines, including Air France-KLM, Ryanair and Qantas, are expected to offer similar service in Europe and Australia later this year. Travelers in North America will await the outcome of reviews by the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Aviation Administration, the NYT said. While some might argue it isn't necessary to have access to cell phone use when you are 10,000 feet above the ground, I see this as an exciting trend. Pretty soon we'll all be using wifi in the sky too!