Apple iPad - TSA Says you don't need to get it out....

According to Yahoo and Blogger Bob's TSA Blog, you don't need to get your iPad or any Slate type product out for screening.

The TSA state

"Electronic items smaller than the standard sized laptop should not need to be removed from your bag or their cases. It’s that simple."

and

Only electronics the size of a standard laptop or larger (for example Playstation®, Xbox™, or Nintendo®), full-size DVD players, and video cameras that use video cassettes must be removed from their carrying cases and submitted separately for x-ray screening.

First pedantic point... what the heck is a "Standard sized laptop"?

Second pedantic point... who's going to be first to take an iPad through a screening point and find they have to get it out to share with the world?

Third pedantic point... if you produce the evidence that it's ok to keep in your bag will you get told "Do you wish to fly today?"

Comments and experiences welcome on this one - I have feeling THIS is going to run.

iPhone Apps - Is there an App for your airline or alliance?

Update History:
- List Created 27/02
- Last Updated 13/10, Welcome Austrian Airlines!

I hate and love the iTunes App Store with both a single breath - least of all when I'm hunting for decent travel applications.

Even when hunting for Airline Apps, it can be a bit of a challenge - so to help things along, I'm going to try and build a list of Airlines who have iPhone apps - with links to the iTunes store. For ease of use, I'm going to split it along the lines of alliances

Now, before we go much further - This list is pretty incomplete. If you spot an airline who sneaks out an App, please let me know so I can add it to this list!

OneWorld

• Oneworld Timetable
• Aeromexico
• American Airlines 
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific (CX Mobile)
• DragonAir
• Qantas

Star Alliance

• Air New Zealand
• Air Canada
• Air China
• Austrian Airlines
• Continental Airlines
• Asiana
• Lufthansa
• Swiss
• TAM
• Turkish Airlines 
• United *** (Not an Official App)

SkyTeam

• AeroMexico
• Air France 
• Alitalia
• Delta Airlines
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
• Korean Air
  

Non Aligned

• Air Berlin
• Alaksa Airlines/Horizon Airlines
• AtlasJet
• Belavia
• China Airlines
• China Eastern
• El-Al
• Etihad
• GermanWings
• GOL
• Jeju Air
• LuxAir
• Malysian Airlines
• Meridiana
• Nok Air
• Olympic Air
• Fly Pegasus
• SATA 
• Southwest Airlines
• Viva Macau
• Virgin Atlantic Flight Tracker

Ghetto IFE on... the Apple iPad

Well for those of you who haven't lived under a rock today would had heard of Apple releasing it's newest toy... The iPad

For Ghetto IFE users, what's the interest in this device?

Take you standard iPod Touch. Now pimp the screen. There you go. All the usual tools (including Safari, Mail, Photos, etc etc are there).

In terms of entertainment, there is a nice large screen for music and video, with an alleged 10 hour runtime of VIDEO. In other words, LHR-BKK, LHR-SIN, LHR-SFO, SFO-TYO etc range is the name of the game.

In travel terms, it should fit in your bag nicely - least of all it's only 1/2" thin, 1.5lb/685gramms heavy, with 16GB storage to start with, up to 64GB (non expandable), and it'll load all your Application you've got from the App Store.

One of the new features is it's also going to be an Ebook Reader. This I've got a few concerns about (you try staring at a bright backlit screen for hours - doesn't do your eyes any good). An eInk based reader might be a better option.

For those who are going try to use this for business (and good luck getting on your accounts), iWork will also make an appearance too.

For a device like this, WiFi and 3G (The WCDMA2100 standard - not EDVO or WCDMA1700) will make an appearance too. It's SIM unlocked, so it should be able to be used in any country you like with whatever data plan.

Overall....

I'm sorry, I would had expected a bit more - but I thought overblown iPod touch would be the order of the day... and I'm not off the mark.

It's pricing is about cheap netbook level, and a bit beyond that if you add 3G Radio. As it's pre-pay, I don't expect operators to subsidise this at all as a lot of operators still have to get over charging silly amounts per megabyte still.

The lack of multi-tasking is quite frankly getting to the point of unacceptability, and is a point to address in the next iPhone software - and the unwillingness of Apple to open up the platform to Java and Flash is getting downright annoying.

• A business tool? Hardly.
• A nice thing to have around the home? Maybe
• An Ebook Reader? I'd strongly urge you to compare with a eInk based reader compared to an LCD screen, and tell me which one is easier on your eyes. eInk is superior and more "natural" in this respect.
• Will this head the way of the Newton? I don't think so - least of all there are a lot more Apple Fanbois out there these days.
• Would it make an excellent IFE Device? I'd say yes - but you'd need to find a way of mounting the thing.
• Will I be rushing out to get one? I'll wait for the UK pricing and decide not to. Just like all the other slate/pad/tablet devices....