Move on over, Delta. The 200 iPads at your JFK terminal may entertain some folks waiting to board, but before the years out, American Airlines will start switching out 6,000 in-flight entertainment systems with Samsung 10.1-inch Galaxy Tabs. Sammy will be customizing the Honeycomb slates with flight related “features” including AA’s streaming service mentioned last month, and possibly even adding “expanded memory” for the devices — no word on how, though. Panasonic’s console has some competition it seems. It’s notable that these will only be available in “premium cabins” on a handful of long-distance routes, and unless you’re flying in a 767-200, WiFi access — a separate purchase, by the way — may not be available. We’ve embedded some PR with the details for all you jet-setting tablet enthusiasts after the break.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab spreads wings, flies to premium seats on American Airlines

Samsung Galaxy Tab spreads wings, flies to premium seats on American Airlines originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B Active Noise-Cancelling Closed-Back Headphones

• ATH-ANC7B QuietPoint noise-cancelling headphones feature ANC circuitry that effectively reduces environmental noise by up to 85%
• Lightweight, compact, fold-flat design is ideal for travel
• Ideal for use with Apple iPod, iPhone and iPod touch portable music and DVD players, laptop computers, in-flight entertainment systems, other devices
• Closed-back headphones feature large-aperture 40 mm drivers with neodymium magnet systems for impactful bass, extended treble and higher fidelity
• Comfortable earcups with generously cushioned padding and a shape that fits easily over any ear

Arrive refreshed after a long flight, avoid distractions in a noisy office, or find peace & quiet in your living room…with ATH-ANC7b QuietPoint® Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones. These lightweight, compact headphones effectively reduce distracting background noise by up to 85% while offering the superior audio quality that has made Audio-Technica a worldwide leader in electro-acoustic technology. Ideal for use with MP3, CD, DVD & in-flight entertainment systems, ATH-ANC7b QuietPoint® closed-back headphones deliver clear, high-resolution sound, with impactful bass, a detailed midrange, extended treble and accurate imaging in an immersive soundfield. Their earcups have been redesigned for greater comfort, with generously cushioned padding and a shape that fits easily over any ear. The ATH-ANC7b QuietPoint® headphones feature large-aperture 40 mm drivers with neodymium magnet systems and extremely high 109dB sensitivity to provide generous volume levels from any music source. The

Rating: (out of 92 reviews)

List Price: $ 219.95

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Google Gadgets in OpenSolaris

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Can airlines make money off the iPad?
At least one airline hopes so. Australian low-cost carrier JetStar plans to make the iPad the center of a new in-flight entertainment program, …
Read more on USA Today

It seems that the TSA is slowly backing down rules that were implemented after the foiled Christmas Day bombing. According to a Reuters report flight crews will now be a sort of Judge Dread enforcer. It will be up to the pilot and crew to determine if passengers need to stay seated or if they can have items in their lap. In-flight entertainment that shows the plane’s relative location will also be under their jurisdiction.

With this much power in their hands, you better be good for the sake of everyone else on board. A simple request for a glass of OJ might result in everyone having to put their heads down for the rest of the flight.

The TSA declined to comment on the Reuter’s story, but a JetBlue tweet seems to confirm it. [via Business Insider]

But Joel Johnson might be on to something here. The real solution is probably just to fire the TSA.

Panasonic big screen TVs! Privacy screens! A bottle of human-rendered growth hormone with every seat! That’s what you get in the First Class cabin on Swiss International Airlines, the carrier of oligarchs, tax-evaders, and their rich, violently anorexic molls. The video was put together by this woman who apparently goes a-travellin’ for a living.

The seats include iPod docks and the entire thing is controlled via touchscreens, allowing the wizened Swiss monkey-woman who bought out the entire front row of first class so she had somewhere to stow her luggage to hide from the help.

via Giz

Flying United the other day, I was treated to an episode of Top Chef on a stained 10″ CRT with wonky colors, listening to crackly audio on garbage headphones, unable to rewind, fast forward, or choose anything else. What a fun flight it was!

It’s essentially the same thing as it was 30 years ago. Several revolutions in content distribution and they’re still probably using Beta tapes. Of course, nimbler and more progressive airlines like Ryanair and Singapore are able to change with the times, and are outfitting their planes with plugs and USB cords rather than weak screens playing bad copies of bad movies.

Virgin’s Red system is another path to take, but it’s got to be insanely expensive and airlines are looking to decrease costs. Think about it: adding to an entire fleet hundreds of screens with built-in computers, video servers, licensing content, and keeping everything running has to be insanely expensive.

People would be just as happy with a plug and a USB port at every seat. Toss a little wireless in there, too, and people will happily while away the hours twittering, checking their Facebook page, and doing god knows what.

Here’s an idea: have a locally stored webpage we can navigate to that has streaming shows that go over the plane’s WLAN. Oh my god, I’m a genius.

Obviously the transformation of an entire industry takes time, but this is analogous to the music industry, where they should have seen it coming a long way off and prepared for it, instead of scrambling and pointing the finger at the last moment.