Entertainment

When we first blogged about [Snakes on a Plane](http://inflighthq.com/archives/2005/10/snakes_on_a_pla_1.htm) (SOAP), who knew the meme would grow even bigger and now even more snakier! We’ve written about it in our [blog book](http://blogbusinessbook.com/), there’s a [quote tracker](http://snakesonaplane.ning.com/index.php), [music contest and a trailer](http://tagworld.com/snakesonaplane).

So what is SOAP and a meme? See the [Wikipedia entry](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakes_on_a_plane) and one of the [first posts on it](http://www.defamer.com/hollywood/samuel-l-jackson/dudesnakes-on-a-plane-117687.php). Some bloggers like [Steven F](http://stevenf.com/mt/2006/03/snakes_on_a_plane.php) think it’s going to be the last movie they ever need to see.

(I hope there’s a scene where a [cell-phone user](http://inflighthq.com/archives/2006/03/cell_phone_wars.htm) get’s a big ‘ol snake in the face.)

Note: This comic is not for children or those who don’t appreciate swearing.

Byron’s original post about Snakes on a Plane! can be found here.

65% of travelers who have online access used the internet to make their travel plans in 2004.

Business travel comprises 18% of the total U.S. domestic travel.

22% of people flying for business are doing so to attend a convention, conference or seminar, of which 34% combine a ‘pleasure’ activity during their journey.

Travel and tourism create $3.4 billion in economic activity in the U.S. PER DAY.

37% of the U.S. adult population used the internet to get travel and destination information in 2005.

The longest nonstop commercial flight in scheduled service is Singapore Airlines’ daily Singapore-to-New York route, which takes a scheduled 18 hours.

The world record for the longest distance traveled nonstop by a commercial airplane, was a Boeing 777-200LR that flew last November from Hong Kong to London (eastbound), taking 22 hours and 42 minutes and burning 52,670 gallons of fuel–thats 0.255 miles per gallon.

Just last December, according to the TSA, 1,655,072 prohibited items were intercepted from travelers…..most of them knives and scissors.

The French are tops in average yearly vacation days: 39. U.S. workers only averaged 12 (!).

These figures are from the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), based in Washington D.C.

Thank the fabulous folks over at Make for this crazy looking contraption masquerading as an Altoids box. Apparently this little homemade switch box allows you to listen to your iPod and answer your cell phone at the same time. I’ve heard of such things existing before - but never in an Altoids box.

Heaven only knows why I find this Altoids box thing so cool.

Technorati Tags: altoids, switch_box

David Pogue’s column in today’s New York Times heralds the Samsung Z5 as a “thoughtful” new iPod killer that improves on some key features of the world’s most popular .mp3 player. Behind the creation of this new toy was Paul Mercer (subscription required) whose software toolkit was used to build the iPod.

The Z5 has quite a few nifty features that give the iPod a run for its money. The battery runs longer, the menu button takes you all the way to the main menu when you click and hold, the screen prompts you with album art and reminds you when you’ve locked the keypad.

But there are also downsides. Because of the huge battery, the Z5 is “no Nanoesque wafer.” But the biggest problem is that the Z5 can’t play songs downloaded from the iTunes store.

And as Pogue points out, “at least six factors make the iPod such a hit: cool-looking hardware; a fun-to-use, variable-speed scroll wheel; an ultrasimple software menu; effortless song synchronization with Mac or Windows; seamless, rock-solid integration with an online music store (iTunes); and a universe of accessories. Mess up any aspect of the formula, and your iPod killer is doomed to market-share crumbs.”

Ultimately it’s that seamless integration that keeps me coming back to the iPod again and again. Seamless integration that the Samsung Z5, for all its cool features and long-running battery, simply doesn’t have.

Technorati Tags: iPod, iPod_killer, Samsung_Z5

For those business travelers who are so addicted to MySpace that you must have access to it even in the terminal, now you can play around on the site without paying for WiFi at the airport. Just user your Helio phone.

For all you hardcore gamers out there…..PCWorld recently reviewed a new Graphics Card officially known as the GeForce 7800 GTX 512MB DDR3 XXX Edition video card (can someone tell what is up with the overextended nomenclature here?). I will admit I am not much of a gaming fanatic, but it appears that this is the Ferrari of Video Cards (at a proportional price of $749!). Am I wrong, or does this bring a whole new meaning to impulsive extravagence. How big of a difference does a Card like this really make? Makes me curious……..

The business-card sized iPod Nano is becoming more affordable, according to Reuters. Apple just released a lower-cost, smaller hard disk version of the player for just under $150, which puts it at the top of my “things to buy next time I have a little extra money” list.

Also discounted was the iPod Shuffle, which now costs a mere $69.

I’ve often joked that RSS (a blog syndication technology) stands for “really sexy singles” and PodDater, a video iPod dating experience, is proving that it does! You can now date with your iPod, take it on the plane, preview prospective singles, and hook up, [all using RSS](http://poddater.typepad.com/blog/2005/12/face_lift_more_.html).

And when you run out of serious things to do with your InFlight Internet and you just want to screw around - head on over to Gizoogle, the search engine that turns any webpage into gangsta speech.

Warning, it’s not always completely never politically correct and should never be misconstrued as kid-friendly. But translating your company web page may be just the pick up you needed to get you through the next few hours of leg cramps.

Here are a few to start you off:

• Microsoft
• Boeing
• Washington Mutual
• InflightHQ

Enjizzle, my bizzles!

I think the thing looks just a little sinister myself. After all, what would happen if you were sitting on the thing and it started to do that? I know I’d freak out.

According to the Seattle PI, the EyeBud from eMagin Corp. can turn the playback from your video iPod into a big screen theater for one.

It’s particularly good news if you’re a fan of Eva Longoria.

We’ve heard a rumor that Santa has ordered special upgrades to his sleigh from Connexion this year. The jolly old guy in red is now in constant contact with his elves, and he’ll be keeping track of last minute changes in the naughty/nice index. Now that’s doing business at 30,000 feet!

However you celebrate this time of year - we at Inflight HQ send you our best wishes.

Wall Street Journal Reporters Nick Wingfield and Brooks Barnes report that they anticipate an announcement from Tivo today that the company will soon provide a way for users of their DVRs to download captured programs to video iPods.

Apparently the process won’t be a direct link. The idea is that users will first transfer shows to their PC and then from PC to iPod. There is no mention of Macintosh support in the article, and Apple is not officially involved in the plan.

Clearly, skiing can be an expensive sport….and with an estimated $30 billion in annual global expenditures, there appears to be endless opportunities for anyone with a few (make that lots of) extra dollars and the time to spend it. Check out this ranking of the World’s Most Expensive Ski Resorts…..and make (or change) your plans accordingly……

My choice would easily be the Hotel Hermitage at Valle D’Aosta, Italy…..no doubt the best Apre’ ski of the bunch….not that I’m picky, mind you.

And check out the Kempinski Hotel Mall in Dubai…..with the world’s 3rd largest indoor ski resort, and the world’s largest shopping mall outside North America–now there’s a scary combination…..

Digit magazine has posted a comparison of the two most talked about non-pc methods for watching digital video in their article PSP versus iPod: What’s better for video? Here are some general conclusions:

PSP Advantages:
* Much larger screen with a cinematic aspect ratio
* More pixels at 480-x-272 pixels compared to 320-x-240 for the iPod
* Can buy Universal Media Discs that have movies on them and play on the PSP
* Lots of third party programs that help convert computer videos to the PSP
* Better battery life

IPod Advantages:
* Very bright, clear display
* More portable
* Has a hard drive, stores much more than the PSP Memory Stick
* Can play iTunes movies
* Can recharge using USB, PSP requires a wall outlet
* Can hook up to a TV and watch on the big screen