iLounge

In-flight e-device guidelines still up in the air

“...so why should I?”

Because the crew ask you to. Conditions of carriage -
e.g.
“contravene any instruction or direction of the crew or the Carrier - whether oral or by notice - issued for the purpose of securing the safety or security of the aircraft and of persons or property and/or the comfort or convenience of passengers, including, but not limited to, instructions concerning security, seating, smoking, consumption of alcohol or use of drugs, use of electronic equipment including, but not limited to, mobile/cellular telephones, laptop computers, PDAs, portable recorders, portable radios, CD, DVD and MP3 players, electronic games or transmitting devices such as radio controlled toys and walkie talkies.”

When you can afford your own airline, then you can do as you please, but until then try existing without having to play games or (worse scenario imaginable)talk on the phone for the few hours you’re at 38,000 feet….

Posted by Bob Levens in UK on May 19, 2013 at 5:45 AM (PST)

In-flight e-device guidelines still up in the air

According to the airlines and pilots the most vulnerable time for an aircraft and its instruments are during takeoff and landing. Okay… so can someone explain to me how my wifi iPad, which has no wifi connection in the air is mre dangerous to the plane than the transmissions of the THOUSANDS of cellphones, DOZENS of TV and radio towers, and DOZENS of cellphone towers the plane flies. directly through and over while taking off and landing?

I think this is a solid case of “we just don’t like the idea so we’ll say anything to keep passengers from getting what they want”. I’m certain the pilot sn’t shutting his iPad off while he uses t for electronic charts and flight manuals (approved by the FAA by the way), so why should I?

Posted by Daniel on May 19, 2013 at 4:18 AM (PST)

Report: BBM iOS app won't support iPad at launch

RIM/BlackBerry never had a clue what to do with a tablet anyway (read: PlayBook), so why is this any surprise?

Posted by BeyondtheTech on May 17, 2013 at 12:33 PM (PST)

Watch ABC app streams live TV programming

Thanks for the information, Phil. Streaming TV and movies are something I do a lot of, especially when things get slow during my shift at DISH. I’ve tested just about every streaming app around, and I’ll try ABC’s app. However, if I had to have an app for every network I subscribe to, I would have to have over 250 apps on my phone! That’s why I love my DISH Anywhere app; it streams all of my live channels, and DVR recordings as well. That gives me full access to my DVR, just about anywhere I go.

Posted by Hunter on May 16, 2013 at 4:33 PM (PST)

Moshi debuts aluminum USB Cable with Lightning Connector

By the looks of it, that “fancy aluminum jacket” on the Lightning side may make it difficult (or impossible) to fit with many cases.  Why the extra thickness compared to the stock cable?

The Amazon knock-off has the same issue and it won’t fit my Belkin case, which has a large relief cut out around the Lightning opening, but not enough to stuff these fatboys in.  I’ll take a plastic body any day if I can use it without having to remove my case.

Posted by rockmyplimsoul on May 16, 2013 at 12:58 PM (PST)

Otterbox debuts Commuter Series 3D iPhone 5 case

Will these be available in stores anywhere?

Posted by S Moore on May 16, 2013 at 9:56 AM (PST)

In-flight e-device guidelines still up in the air

I am concerned that aircraft manufacturers cannot make a plane resilient to mobile technology! Hospital equipment manufacturers managed it.

Posted by Cyberman in nr Heathrow, London on May 16, 2013 at 9:21 AM (PST)

In-flight e-device guidelines still up in the air

I meant to write “failed to turn off” their cellphones. I’ve found mine on in my pocket upon landing several times as I take two to three air trips per month.

Posted by sallenmd on May 15, 2013 at 6:05 PM (PST)

In-flight e-device guidelines still up in the air

The only time I still read the occasional old-fashioned paper magazine is during the electronic device ban time. Seriously though, as much as people, myself included, forget to turn of their cell phones and fail to fully power down their laptops, tablets and music players, planes would be dropping from the sky daily if they posed a real danger. If a Kindle can crash a plain or make it so it can’t navigate, planes must be so dangerous and vulnerable that we are all fools for flying.

Posted by sallenmd on May 15, 2013 at 6:03 PM (PST)

Siri now quotes Strunk, Jefferson, chiding users' speech

So, I had the lovely experience of dealing with Siri’s new attitude and must say, it STINKS!

Instead of lecturing me about the advantages of speaking in short, concise and precise sentences, including quotes form too many famous people before asking me to repeat the question, why couldn’t she just ASK me to make the request shorter? Siri, are you following your own advice?

Oh, the irony…

Posted by ahMEmon on May 15, 2013 at 6:45 AM (PST)

Third-party iPhone apps: one at a time, never in background

Whenever the iPhone users switch to another application like answering the phone, or checking their email, the application they were previously using——————
a. quits
b. keeps running
c. resumes as soon as the other application is terminated
d. may or may not resume depending on the application
e. anything else

Posted by Abhinav on May 15, 2013 at 1:34 AM (PST)

Watch ABC app streams live TV programming

Given that this is such an obvious response to Aereo, its odd that the first markets aren’t NYC, Boston and Atlanta…

Posted by Glenn on May 14, 2013 at 1:55 PM (PST)

Siri now quotes Strunk, Jefferson, chiding users' speech

Personally, I’d much rather Apple work on core function improvements for Siri as opposed to cute gimmicks…

Posted by Ken on May 14, 2013 at 10:10 AM (PST)

Report: AppleCare to undergo major changes in fall

The only way this makes sense if this is just for the out of standard warranty period AppleCare services, while those within the 1 year period still get instant swaps. Then I guess it works as intended: discourages people from buying into what has probably been a barely profitable if not outright losing program where they get 3 years of coverage on devices built to last 2.

If a more general change, this sounds like a PR nightmare waiting to become very real. The Genius bar is booked close to 100% of the time at my Apple store with walk-ins being told to come back hours later if not being scheduled the following day…

Now, picture all those people with genuine hardware problems going through the process to get in for an appointment being sent home problem unfixed and no-iPhone / iPad / MacBook and then coming back, when?, a week later? They can barely handle their load of 15 minute face-to-face diagnose & replace appointments. I can’t imagine the backlog of repairs that will pile up if that’s the case.

Posted by Code Monkey in Midstate New York on May 13, 2013 at 5:56 AM (PST)

Apple's accessory grip slips due to Lightning, Bluetooth

Apple misjudged this one. They intentionally shifted the momentum “war” to favor their competition. Previously, the majority of devices out there in the wild were 30 pin devices, now the majority are micro-USB, and since Apple is the only vendor crazy enough to go newly proprietary in 2012, that’s how it’s going to stay.

That the lightning cables are proving even less durable than 30 pin based ones and cost considerably more, isn’t helping my feelings about their bone headed choice one bit. Including the ones that came with our devices, we’ve had 7 different lightning cables, 5 Apple, 2 Amazon. 1 Apple already failed completely, and 1 Apple and 1 Amazon already have intermittent shorts. ~6 months into the lightning era and nearly half the cables have failed in some way, and these are first/major party affairs costing a lot of money.

Posted by Code Monkey in Midstate New York on May 9, 2013 at 6:55 AM (PST)

Apps: The Doors, PDFpen 1.5.2, Rovio Account + Viber 3.0

Hi,
This is an official representative from Viber.
We are thrilled about our new releases, and we hope that our users and fans out there will make the most out of them!

As usual, we’re here to address our users’ questions and doubts directly. If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to let us know

Best regards,
the Viber Team.

Posted by Viber on May 8, 2013 at 1:42 AM (PST)

iOS 7 redesign risks delays, may miss September

While the consensus seems to be that the interface is going to be overhauled (flatter, less texture) it doesn’t seem likely to me that it is for that reason Apple is moving resources to iOS. If they are adding programmers, it must be for core functions. Bringing new functionality to the platform without breaking the old has to be a genuine challenge. Unless Apple is ready to go all-in as they did with the transition from the legacy Mac OS to OS X. This promises to be a very interesting year.

Posted by Andrea on May 7, 2013 at 5:18 PM (PST)

Adobe debuts Project Mighty cloud pen, Napoleon ruler

I can’t stand triangular shaped pens. No sale.

Posted by beetsnotbeats on May 7, 2013 at 11:06 AM (PST)

Google denies Google Now for iOS drains battery

Located at the bottom of the main Google search page is an odd place to find Google Now. I keep forgetting about it.

Posted by JohnParry Jones on May 5, 2013 at 11:02 PM (PST)

Report: iOS 7 to have 'very, very flat' interface

I don’t know what “flat” means for iOS, but I certainly don’t want a Windows phone.

I’ll just have to place my faith in Jony Ive’s stewardship.

Posted by Norton on May 3, 2013 at 3:47 PM (PST)

iOS 7 redesign risks delays, may miss September

I’ve ought stick with hardware. No one, I mean no one who uses apple products wants it to look like a Samsung or even smell like one. It will put apple right in the cross hairs of the competition. N apple will loose n I will sell all of my many shares. Stick with skeumorphism. That’s what made n will sustain apple!!!  Why would I pay apple prices for Samsung/google clones designed by apple. Its Stupid. Remember. I said it first.

Posted by Mark on May 2, 2013 at 1:19 PM (PST)

Report: iOS 7 seeks greater in-car integration

I have an idea, how about making the Music app more user friendly in a car?  The buttons and fonts are too small to use while driving.

Posted by Eric on May 1, 2013 at 8:32 AM (PST)

Report: iOS 7 to have 'very, very flat' interface

@2: Perhaps a code name of “Flatulence” would be better in this case?

Posted by rockmyplimsoul on April 30, 2013 at 5:45 AM (PST)

Report: iOS 7 to have 'very, very flat' interface

I will be extremely disappointed if this is true and they are getting rid of skeuomorphism. What is the effin point in having a retina display if they are getting rid of all of the rich HD visuals that makes it so worthwhile!?

Idiots! Steve jobs must be spinning in his grave!

I will very much be looking else wear for my new tablet come next year. Bye Apple. Nice knowing ya.

Posted by Rick Lowe on April 30, 2013 at 2:09 AM (PST)

Report: iOS 7 to have 'very, very flat' interface

If I ever flatten an interface I’d make sure to codename it ‘Innsbruck’, too. Can’t think of a place that looks as non-flat as this city in the mountains.

Posted by Felix on April 29, 2013 at 11:01 PM (PST)