GeekSugar

January Jones Goes Mad For Macs at LAX

GeekSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:06:09 -0800

I'm so used to seeing the cast of Mad Men interact with such awesome vintage tech that I almost didn't recognize January Jones in her natural state (you know, not as Betty Draper), and toting a laptop as she went through LAX security on Sunday. The amazing season finale of Mad Men was packed with lots of retro typewriters, phones, and office tech, but January takes it to the 21st-century off set with her shiny new MacBook Pro - a powerful alternative to the MacBook Air I'd wire her with.

Unfortunately, we have to wait until next year to see what's next on the Mad Men tech horizon, but in real life, a girl's gotta stay connected - even if her day job is to play a woman who doesn't know what a cell phone is . . . yet!

You May Already Have an Airport Security-Friendly Laptop Bag!

GeekSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 02:02:34 -0700

It turns out that you may not have to sacrifice style for convenience after all. After announcing that the TSA would approve certain laptop bags that you wouldn't have to take your computer out of in the airport security line, the first prototypes were underwhelming, and had me thinking I'd just continue to take my laptop out of its bag. But now it seems that's unnecessary, because the TSA has approved a few common laptop styles that you won't have to remove your laptop from!

They are: Butterfly style, trifold style, and sleeve style, and this policy went into effect on Saturday.

The TSA specifically says no to backpack and accordion styles, and of course, gives the stipulation that carrying these styles doesn't guarantee that you won't have to pull your laptop out of its bag. But still, baby steps.

Would You Use FlyClear to Get Through Airport Security?

GeekSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:00:49 -0700

After a recent mini vacay, I was walking through the airport and caught an application for something called FlyClear - a "fast pass" aimed to get you through airport security quicker. With having just been through a few insane security lines of my own, the idea of a fast pass (that is totally tech savvy to boot) did pique my interest. We all know how annoying it is to be behind "that guy" who takes five minutes to find his laptop, ask if his digital camera is safe, and shuffle through his bag for his camcorder . . . all while you're racing the clock to make your flight!

It seems to be a simple process to get your FlyClear on: a completed application, and a visit to a FlyClear office to get your photo, fingerprints, and iris (yes, iris) scanned. Then at the airport, all you have to do is present your FlyClear card and boarding pass, scan your iris, and off you go, whizzing through security faster than all those other Joe's waiting in that long line. A little bit Total Recall, no? Plus, security agents will help you get all your gadgets into bins of their own to move you along even quicker. At $128 bucks for the first year, and limited usable locations, I'm not sure I fly enough to warrant a security pass, but it seems like a totally cool and geeky idea! Would you use it?

Geek Tip: Your Camera Safety At Airport Security

GeekSugar — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:00:32 -0700

Before I owned a digital camera I would take my 35mm film camera everywhere I went. One concern I always had was whether or not my film would be ruined going through airport security checkpoints. With traditional film cameras, there's a higher risk that film will be damaged by the X-Ray machines during security screening, even though this hasn't happened to me. Just to be on the safe side, have your camera checked separately by hand or ask the security staff if the X-Ray machines are safe for film - usually the posters in the area will indicate whether or not you need to remove film. As for digital cameras, your pictures should be completely safe.

Clear Lanes Airport Security Pass Is Bankrupt, Closing Doors

GeekSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:54:37 -0700

Did you have aspirations of being a Clear pass holder - the paid service that let you breeze through airport security? Every time I went to the airport and saw the empty Clear Lanes line - contrasted with the long line of all us regular peoples, I promised myself: One day, I'd have a Clear pass. Well, my dream will never come true, because Clear and its parent company, Verified Identity Pass, Inc., have just filed for bankruptcy and are closing down.

On their website, they assure their current customers (whoever you lucky dogs were) that your information will remain secure, but that they won't be able to issue refunds. And you'll have to go back to waiting in the security line with us regular folks and our cats.

What Do You Want in a Laptop Bag: Looks or Convenience?

GeekSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:45:51 -0700

Ahhh, philosophy! Today I tackle the question: If it's ugly, will you carry it? Laptop bag manufacturer Skooba has started producing bags, which will be TSA approved and can be carried through airport security so you won't have to remove your laptop from them. Awesome, right? Except, um, they're pretty fug.

Here's the thing. I've been schlepping a laptop through airport security for a long time, and I've got it down. Whether it's a sleeve or a separate laptop bag, I can breeze through security because I'm ready to unlock and unload. The point is: If this fabulously convenient no-remove laptop bag stays unattractive, I can leave it. Call me vain, shallow, whatever. You see how I drool over sexy laptop bags here all the time, so why would I suddenly switch because I'm saved a millisecond in the security line?

But am I alone? What would you pick, especially in the realm of the security line: Convenience or attractiveness?

Is Airport Security Getting the "Go Ahead" to Search Devices For Illegal Content?

GeekSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0700

What is seriously up with airport security anyways?! First they get permission to seize and search your laptop or any other electronic device when crossing the border; then they make the only "TSA approved" laptop bag the ugliest laptop tote on planet earth; and now they're going to be able to search your gadgets (iPod, cell phone, laptop) for illegally downloaded media content?!

According to the Telegraph, leaders of the G8 are meeting this week to decide whether or not to ratify the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) which is aimed at preventing piracy. And if it gets the go ahead, customs agents would be able to search media players for illegally obtained content - ouch! This reminds me of Napster days where people would be downloading songs and all of a sudden a lawsuit would arrive on their doorstep, and sometimes handcuffs - double ouch! What do you guys think about all of this? I'm starting to think airports are becoming the "privacy free zones" - as soon as you step into them, anything is fair game!

Source

Postage Sleeve For the MacBook Is Checkpoint Friendly? Wow

GeekSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:47:56 -0700

Shocker! I can barely get my laptop through airport security when it's sans a bag, so don't even get me started about attempting to try a checkpoint friendly bag! Two things instantly struck me about this vintage postage sleeve ($37) for a 13.3-inch MacBook - first of all, it's in a league of all compared to other laptop sleeves, and secondly, I can't even imagine TSA allowing this (with your laptop inside) through the security machine!

Certainly something you'd see in one of our unique laptop sleeves slideshows, this padded MacBook sleeve is made up of four separate sections that wrap around your laptop like a present for just the right fit. I don't know if I'd say it's a fashionable tech accessory, but if it does get you through the security checkpoint faster, then that makes its geekiness well worthwhile.

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Make Your Laptop a Distinctive Multitasker

GeekSugar — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 10:25:19 -0700

Whether you have a habit of leaving your laptop in a computer-filled Starbucks or your household has more than one of the same laptop (my boyfriend and I frequently pick up and start using the other's Mac), there's a lot of usefulness in the That Laptop is Mine accessory.

Just six bucks on sale, the brightly colored square (available in lime green, pink, or brown) sticks on your laptop and has a pocket, a pen pouch, and a business card pouch. It's also great for quickly identifying your computer post-security line at the airport, as the Container Store suggests.

Do You Trust Checkpoint-Friendly Bags?

GeekSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:04:29 -0800

Ever since the concept of a checkpoint-friendly bag came onto the scene, I've been underwhelmed. So far, the bags produced haven't been so stylish, including these newly-released checkpoint-friendly bags by MobileEdge "for her."

The main reason I'm wary to purchase a new bag is that I just don't believe I'll get through the security line without having to remove my computer from one of these special bags. And I would not be about to argue with airport security either with a, "Oh no, you don't understand, this bag is checkpoint-friendly!"

Adding fuel to my theory is that the TSA approved some common styles of laptop bag for this purpose, but at no time on my recent flights has anyone assured me that I could leave my computer in its sleeve.

Therefore, I don't necessarily trust that I'd be able to breeze through airport security, laptop in laptop bag the whole time - not quite yet, anyway. Do you?