11.6-inch MacBook Air cleared to remain packed through security, but we’d remove it anyway

Really, TSA? Are you honestly so stoked to disappoint? If you’ll recall, the American Transportation Security Administration got up close and personal with a first-generation MacBook Air after wrongly assuming it was an Apocalypse-bringer, and even after adjusting rules so that iPads, netbooks and other smaller electronics could fly through carry-on screening equipment without being unpacked, we’ve still heard of (and personally experienced) occasions where agents have demanded that tablet PCs be ran through naked. If there’s a lesson to learn here, it’s that the TSA is consistently inconsistent, and you’re probably better off putting everything you own in a separate grey bucket for the sake of covering your bases. The same applies to Apple’s new 11.6-inch MacBook Air, which is cleared to undergo TSA scanning while packed under the aforesaid amended rules. In theory, you shouldn’t have to remove it from your backpack as you struggle to reach your gate, but if we had to guess, we’d say you’ll be ask to take it out and re-run it if you try. But hey, you’re only being victimized and scrutinized in the name of security, so it’s all good. Trust us.

11.6-inch MacBook Air cleared to remain packed through security, but we’d remove it anyway originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 10:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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China’s Shanghai-Hangzhou rail line opens, hits record breaking speed of 262mph

High speed railways, particularly in Asia, have been soaring at around 200 miles per hour for quite some time now, but given just how much pride the Chinese have in their own rail system, it’s no shock to hear the entire nation gloating about a new speed record. Of course, we’re pretty partial to records ourselves, so we’ll happily open up a round of applause when a bullet train hits 262 miles per hour without imploding. The newfangled Shanghai-Hangzhou connection (which connects Hongqiao and Hangzhou) has gone into service today, with most riders treated to a top speed of only 220 miles per hour. Officials have already stated that they’re hoping to improve speeds to over 312 miles per hour, with other nations reportedly anxious to get ahold of their technology. Oh, and if you’re curious about details, the CRH380 train covers 126 miles in just 45 minutes, with seats starting as low as $12.

Update: We’ve learned that a maglev train in China has been known to hit around 268 miles per hour as recently as two months ago — we’re sure semantics are too blame here.

China’s Shanghai-Hangzhou rail line opens, hits record breaking speed of 262mph originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBeijing Review, BBC  | Email this | Comments

Alaska Airlines fires up in-flight WiFi between Anchorage and Fairbanks, promises more in 2011

It’s hard to say if Alaska Airlines’ relationship with Row44 has fizzled, but unlike that WiFi’d route between San Jose and Seattle, the aforesaid airline is relying on Aircell to provide in-flight WiFi on flights between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Reportedly, Gogo service is live today for customers flying between those two locales, with it being completely gratis until the remainder of Aircell’s network in the state of Alaska goes live over the next few months. Best of all, Aircell has promised to “expand its network to include Southeast Alaska by the end of the year,” ensuring that it’s not The Last Frontier in absolutely every possible way.

Continue reading Alaska Airlines fires up in-flight WiFi between Anchorage and Fairbanks, promises more in 2011

Alaska Airlines fires up in-flight WiFi between Anchorage and Fairbanks, promises more in 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 01:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T announces pay-as-you-go international data packages for laptops

It may not be a substitute for an international MiFi rental service, but AT&T is now at least offering a few more options to keep travelers’ laptops connected around the globe. The carrier has just announced a range of new pay-as-you-go international data packages as part of its AT&T DataConnect Pass Global service, which are available in 30-day session increments and provide coverage in more than a hundred countries. Look for them to start at $24.99 for a 20MB package and top out at $199.99 for 200MB. Head on past the break for the full press release.

Continue reading AT&T announces pay-as-you-go international data packages for laptops

AT&T announces pay-as-you-go international data packages for laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 04:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garmin’s $23 Chirp wireless beacon brings geocaching thrills to Oregon, Dakota GPS units

Looking for an avenue to join millions of others in geocaching, eh? We know, there’s hardly a better way to spend a weekend than by playing a sophisticated game of hide-and-seek, and Garmin’s right there with us. If you, like it, are stuck in Kansas with nary a Jayhawk game in sight, this here pebble is the answer to all of your boredom woes. The Chirp is a wireless beacon that’s designed to work with any compatible wireless-enabled Garmin handheld (the Oregon, Dakota and the recently announced GPSMAP handhelds are mentioned by name), and once you’ve set it up to cooperate with your device, it’ll automatically transmit program coordinates so other cachers can find each stage of your multicache — it’s touch-and-go in its simplest form. The whole thing measures just 1.3- x 0.9-inches, weighs under an ounce and can be had for just $22.99. So yeah, good luck sticking to Segway polo with an offer like that.

Update: Video after the break!

Continue reading Garmin’s $23 Chirp wireless beacon brings geocaching thrills to Oregon, Dakota GPS units

Garmin’s $23 Chirp wireless beacon brings geocaching thrills to Oregon, Dakota GPS units originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Balanzza Mini Luggage Scale Makes You Pack Light

Balanzza Mini

If you travel by air frequently, you already know most carriers charge you for checked baggage over a certain weight limit. To avoid paying out of pocket at the check-in counter, it helps to know before you leave the house how much your bags weigh so you can either leave some things behind or redistribute the load. That’s where the Balanzza Mini, a tiny, hand-held luggage scale, comes in. 
Just attach the Balanzza Mini to your luggage and lift up your bag by the scale handle to see how much your bag weighs. The scale has a maximum supported weight of 100lbs, but if you’re carrying that much on a plane in one bag, you’re already got problems. Considering most carriers charge anywhere from $40 to $180 US for overweight bags, the Balanzza Mini’s retail price of $24.95 is a small price to pay to make sure you never pay weight fees again.
 

Micro Samsonite: A Rideable Scooter Suitcase (Finally)

Micro Samsonite.jpg

You know what would make this world a better, more livable place? More scooters. If I were in charge, there would be scooters on everything. Everything, I say! The Micro Samsonite is a good start. It combines the popular, yet seldom overlapping, worlds of luggage and transport.

The unit is, essentially, a three-wheeled scooter with a hard-shelled suit case strapped to the front–the idea, naturally, is to help you get from one side of the airport to the other as quickly as possible.

The scooter part folds back into the Micro Samsonite and the case slips into a plane’s overhead compartment–goofy-looking, sure, but not an altogether terrible idea. I would, however, be a little wary of packing too much weight into the suitcase, so as to avoid a potential mid-terminal crash.

The Micro Samsonite will be available for sale later this year. It runs a lofty £249.99 ($397). The suitcase is the product of three years of development, apparently. At least they weren’t rushing.

Recon-Zeal Transcend: Worlds First Head-Mounted GPS Goggles

recon zeal transcend goggles.jpgWith summer officially over, it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll spend the upcoming snowy months. If you’re a skier, snowboarder, snowshoer, or any other outdoor winter sport enthusiast, there’s a new piece of gear available this season for the first time ever. The Recon-Zeal Transcend goggles is the first set of GPS-enabled goggles in the world to feature a head-mounted display system.

British Columbia-based Recon Instruments teamed up with with Colorado-based Zeal Optics to create the revolutionary goggles that feature an integrated display. According to Recon Instruments’ Web site, “Transcend provides real-time feedback including speed, latitude/longitude, altitude, vertical distance travelled, total distance travelled, chrono/stopwatch mode, a run-counter, temperature and time.” In addition to its GPS capabilities, it features USB charging and data transfer, and free post-processing software.

The goggles come in two models: the Transcend SPPX, which come fitted with SPPX polarized and photochromic lenses ($499); and the Transcend SPX, which feature SPX polarized lenses ($399). Recon is currently offering a limited release for shoppers in Canda. For U.S. pre-orders, check out Zeal Optics. The goggles will be fully available on Oct. 10, 2010.

Check out a promo video after the jump.

Xcom Global international MiFi / data rental service review

A few months earlier in the year, we covered the arduous process of staying connected while traveling abroad. One of the ways we mentioned for jetsetters, backpackers and common tourists to stay jacked in while situated far from their homeland was a MiFi rental service from Xcom Global. The company has only been operating for a matter of months, but we recently took their services for a spin in order to give you a more detailed look at what to expect. The long and short of it? These guys are the guys to contact when you’re about to grab your next passport stamp. Read on to find out why.

Continue reading Xcom Global international MiFi / data rental service review

Xcom Global international MiFi / data rental service review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quirky Unveils the Trek Support Gadget-Charging Backpack

Trek SupportThere are tons of backpacks and bags that come with poorly fitting solar panels or bulky batteries that claim to keep your gadgets juiced up while you’re out and about, but most of them are heavy on gimmick and light on utility. It’s those frustrations that led the community at Quirky to develop the Trek Support, a new backpack that’s both a fully functional charging station for your laptop, phone, and other gadgets as well as a TSA compliant laptop bag that’s safe to travel with and doesn’t look out of place on the street.

The Trek Support is one of their newest products. It features a clamshell design with a large main compartment and zippered outer pockets for valuables, and is made of durable, waterproof nylon that keeps the interior dry. Inside the Trek Support is a padded nylon board with mesh pockets that can fit a 15″ laptop, and up to three other gadgets like an eReader, mp3 player, or camera. At the bottom of the boars is the rechargeable battery that connects to and charges your devices over USB.

Quirky is unique in that its user and design community is responsible for coming up with product ideas, financing them with pre-orders, and then releasing them to the public for general purchase. The Trek Support is currently in the pre-order phase, and if interest is high enough Quirky will manufacture it for broader sale. You can pre-order one now for $130 list price.