May 2005

Here is great from Loic Le Meur’s blog on his experience with using the Connexion by Boeing broadband internet connection. Skypeing at a higher level……indeed!

Boingo Wireless Inc. announced a deal with Connexion by Boeing to provide direct billing to their accounts for users of the Connexion wireless broadband service. See this article by IDG News Service for more information about this partnership and a few interesting thoughts (pro and con) of the Connexion by Boeing service…….

According to a post from Borland’s Chief Scientist Danny Thorp , Memphis and DFW airports are terrible for finding power outlets, but he says that a good strategy (that seems reasonable for all airports) is to seek out the shoeshine stand niches, and that there’s always power where a kiosk was intended.

Thorp says Atlanta’s Hartfield airport now has new banks of "recharge stations" that have been added to the B and C concourses, offering a simple shelf, stool, and 120 volts outlets. Also, at SFO there’s an outlet at the foot of every pillar in the seating areas.

The new Vaio T350 (and other model varients in the T-series line) ultra-lightweight, ultra-portable laptop has integrated wireless Wide Area Network (WAN) Technology that allows access to the Cingular Wireless National EDGE Network to help extend your wireless coverage beyond LAN access networks and hotspots. So your wireless internet connection would no longer be limited to just your home, coffee shops or airports…..

Also standard is a 10.6" screen with XBRITE™ Liquid crystal display (LCD) Technology
–adding a whole new dimension to any graphic-intensive application, video game or photo slide show.

Weighing in at just 3.1 pounds, less than an inch thick, offering a claimed 8.5 hour battery life and a DVD+R Double Layer/DVD±RW drive, I would say Sony has again provided the traveling professional with some of the best lightweight on-the-go computing hardware available. These updated models will begin shipping in May and June ‘05.

In the Wall Street Journal article Loo Skies,  Andrea Bennett describes how the highly visible,  yet relatively low cost bathroom spaces are being renovated by airlines in order to project a "premium" image at a relatively low cost.

In other words, why spend $500,000 per plane for Seatback TVs, when you can upgrade the bathrooms for a fraction of the cost? At an average of one bathroom for every 30 passengers, and more than 450 passenger visits during a typical five-hour flight on a Boeing 777, you can impress a lot of people.

For example:

• Southwest has replaced the old metal countertops with "creamy vanilla"-colored Corian and added toilet seats that ease down gently, using hydraulics.
• Air New Zealand will install wall-mounted vases filled with fresh flowers.
• Plans for the Boeing 787 include larger bathrooms with windows. 
• Coming on Malaysia Airlines: bidets.
• Delta carrier, Song, unveiled last week pleasant smell, soft-glow lighting and floors that looked like real hardwood on some flights.

Song says the bathroom upgrades are part of its effort to appeal to women (who have higher design standards than men)  and who fly for both business and leisure — "Discount Divas," it calls them.

If you are a fan of noise cancelling headphones (or have at least been curious about them but were turned off by their bulkiness and price)…..now there is a less expensive and lighter solution.  These new 1oz. compact earbuds (model E2c) block ambient noise while offering some very decent sound reproduction. They come with a choice of soft foam or flexible plastic bud sleeves (3 pairs each: small, medium and large) and a nice zipper tote.  I found mine at the Discovery Store at our local mall. Or buy them direct from Shure.

Lufthansa, one of Europe’s leading international air carriers, will be offering inflight wireless broadband (provided by Connexion by Boeing℠) at no cost during May 17-23. The service, called FlyNet® is available on over 35 routes   systemwide and should be on all of Lufthansa’s long-haul planes by the summer of 2006.

View the pdf for further details, or check out the Connexion by Boeing℠ site to start browsing the internet/sending & receiving email and accessing your Company Intranet on your next long haul flight.

For me, one of the considerations in choosing which airline (or airport) for an upcoming business trip is the quality and usefulness of the lounge that might be available…..

This URL from Skytrax, includes separate rankings of both First Class and Business Class Lounge’s.
Also, for comparison purposes, here is a Feature article from Forbes Magazine that I found helpful.