Hasta La Gadget!

You’re certainly not alone if you think that the current airport security process is far from ideal. AOptix hopes to streamline and speed up security procedures by replacing manual boarding pass and ID checks with a biometric kiosk called e-Gate. The new system, which verifies passenger identities by matching an iris scan with a boarding pass, just received (IATA) approval, and is currently being tested in three airports around the world. It’s not as slick as a similar concept we saw earlier this summer, but e-Gate could be implemented with a trusted traveler program, creating special lanes for pre-approved frequent fliers — similar to the US Customs Global Entry system in place today. We don’t see it replacing X-ray machines and check-in interviews, but it could remove human error from the equation — at least when it comes to verifying your identity. Jump past the break for the full scoop from AOptix, or you can check out the system for yourself at the Future Travel Experience in Vancouver.

Update: e-Gate is in fact a potential component of Checkpoint of the Future, which we saw conceptualized in June.

Continue reading AOptix e-Gate could improve global airport security, replace ID checks with iris scans

AOptix e-Gate could improve global airport security, replace ID checks with iris scans originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  AOptix  | Email this | Comments

You probably couldn’t carry enough gadgets to fill all the holes in the Energizer iSurge

Energizer’s iSurge travel charger offer the highest density of power outputs I have ever seen. One small block of black plastic has three regular AC outlets, two USB ports (with 2.1-amp outputs so you can charge an iPad in less than a day) and a 30-pin dock up top for your iPhone or iPod.

Round the back the prongs rotate 180-degrees to fit any socket and underneath there is a nightlight (which can hopefully be switched off). Phew. It’s almost like carrying your own mobile power station with you.

The handy little brick will go on sale in October, and will cost a hefty $60, although it might be worth it just for the cables it will eliminate.

Energizer intros iSurge Charging Station for iPod, iPhone [iLounge]

See Also:

• Find Power in Airports
• Matching Travel Plugs for Mac Road Warriors
• Hands-On With Griffin's PowerBlock Charger and Battery Pack …
• Plug-Watch: Cute Power Cube, The Best Adapter Yet?

Have $200,000 to spare for a ticket to space? NASA does, apparently, a few times over. Following the retirement of its Space Shuttle program, the US agency just announced two-year contracts with seven space flight companies, worth a combined $10 million. NASA will partner with Virgin Galactic, XCOR, and five other companies to bring engineers, scientists, and equipment to space, for a variety of experiments in low-gravity environments. The contract provides few financial implications for Virgin, which has already collected $55 million in deposits from future space tourists, but the company did acknowledge it as an “important milestone” in its efforts to grow beyond initial consumer offerings. Space Adventures, which serves as a low-cost carrier of sorts in the industry with its $102,000 flight, may be represented as well, through its partner Armadillo Aerospace — so it’s probably safe to assume that NASA won’t be paying two large huge a pop to blast its personnel to space.

Virgin Galactic, XCOR land suborbital contracts with NASA originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  CBC  | Email this | Comments

It’s always fun to write your name on things — chalkboards, diplomas, speeding tickets, yellow snow… you know, the usual. The folks at Boeing couldn’t agree more, which is why they tasked 747-8 pilots with writing the jet’s name in the sky on a flight test across the US. What could be called the “747-8 wuz here” mission is designed to test the outer limits of the jumbo jet in a max endurance operations test. Taking off yesterday morning from Seattle’s Paine Field, the jet flew across 18 states in a 747 pattern until it landed on the west coast a little after midnight — 17 total hours of mayhem. It seems like everything went swimmingly, which means the brand spanking new jet will be sold to Cargolux, a ginormous cargo airline, later this year. The jet writing does somewhat resemble a drunken righty’s attempt at left-handed writing, but hey, who are we to judge?

Visualized: Boeing 747-8 makes its longest flight to date, writes name in the sky originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Wired, FlightGlobal  |  FlightAware  | Email this | Comments

We’ve seen some rather inventive USB chargers in our time, but surprisingly few have managed to make charging while traveling a painless process. Aviiq’s new Portable Charging Station, on the other hand, has threatened to make the outside world a more welcoming place when it comes to juicing up. Acting as a sort of USB hub in a bag, this little black travel sleeve lets you pack and power three USB devices — even an iPad — with one outlet. What’s more, the station allows for easy syncing by way of a retractable USB port. So $80 ain’t cheap, and it won’t cook up pork and beans while you sing Camptown Races, but if you’re willing to shell out a little extra scratch for a practical USB travel charger, you can get your hands on one at the source link below. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Aviiq Portable Charging Station does kitsch-free USB juicing in small black bag

Aviiq Portable Charging Station does kitsch-free USB juicing in small black bag originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Aviiq  | Email this | Comments