How do airlines stack up when it comes to fuel efficiency?

Posted By on August 12, 2010

747landing_jefflowe_sign For personal transportation miles-per-gallon watchers, like many VW TDI drivers I know, an article in Thursday’s WSJ that translated US based airlines fuel efficiency into automotive MPG standards, might be of interest. In the past, frugal flyers may have looked at the numbers in order to save a buck, but now more and more travelers are conscientious based on environmental reasons. Let’s see who is focused on being green and who is not. (Photo credit Jeff Lowe)

The method that was used by WSJ’s travel writer Scott McCartney, calculated the MPG per seat and concluded that newer midsized airplanes traveling at moderate speeds are more fuel efficient if they are not just taking short flights or are heavily fueled to travel long distances. The more fuel for longer flights increases weight making them less efficient; the up-down takeoff climb/descend for aircraft  traveling shorter distances also used more fuel for every mile they traveled. Unfortunately for the major airlines, they do both.

wsj_airlinesmpgperseat10081

The conclusion is that airlines with newer aircraft who’s routes avoid overseas long distance travel and short hub-hops generally have a good chance of higher MPGs per seat … although the more important key for airlines is to be sure those seats have  paying customers. Suffices to say, the airlines with the youngest fleets like Alaska Airlines, jetBlue Airways and Continental Airlines, all are more efficient in this calculation when compared to the airlines with older and larger fleets of aircraft. I found it interesting that the aircraft crowned “the champ” is the stalwart Boeing’s 737-900; it carries 180 passengers and can offer 99 mpg on flights of 1000 miles.

 

Both Gordon Deal (Podcast MP3) and Kelly Evans (embedded video at bottom) interviewed Scott McCartney (MiddleSeat) about the article – names are Twitter URL links.
 

The Dell Streak tablet/smartphone ‘tweener’ device

Posted By on August 12, 2010

Walt Mossberg from the Wall Street Journal (mp4) calls the Dell Streak a “tweener” device … with a lot of glitches.

Download now or watch on posterous

081110ptech_1500k.mp4 (57428 KB)

 Operating System

Android 1.6
  Processors

QSD 8250
  Bands :

UMTS 2100 / 1900 / 850 MHz
GSM / EDGE 1900 / 1800 / 900 / 850 MHz
HSDPA / HSUPA:HSDPA 7.2 Mbps / HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
  Display

5″ (12.7 cm) WVGA (800 x 480) in-cell TFT LCD supporting multi-touch
  Camera

5.0M Rear-Facing Auto-Focus Camera + VGA Front-Facing Camer
  Video

H.263 / H.264, .3GP, MPEG4, WMV
  Sound

MP3, WMA, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR, Midi, WAV
  Messaging

SMS, MMS, Email, IM
  Browser

WebKit (Android)
  Memory

512 MB ROM + 512 MB SDRAM + 2 GB non-user accessible MicroSD for system & applications files only
  Storage

1 user accessible MicroSDTM cardslot ( 16GB pre-installed)
  Connectivity

WLAN 802.11b/g, Bluetooth®  2.0 with EDR, USB 2.0
  Dimensions

6 x 3.1 x 0.4 in
  Weight

7.7 oz
  Battery

1530 mAh
  Others

Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Accelerometer, e-compass, GPS, Capacitive sensor keys

Posted via email from RichC’s posterous

How low will a political candidate go to attack Sarah Palin?

Posted By on August 11, 2010

According to a friend who lives in New Hampshire, at least one political candidate seems willing to go pretty low – link.

In a Facebook post (below) which referenced the airplane crash in Alaska which took the life of long time Senator Ted Stevens, New Hampshire Democratic candidate Keith David Halloran posted, "Just wish Sarah and Levy were on board…" I’m glad I’m not the only one reading this and wondering where some peoples decency has gone?

HalloranFBComments100810

This November is shaping up to be pretty ugly.

SMS celebrates 25 years of text messaging this month

Posted By on August 11, 2010

According to Sherri Wells, a leading expert on SMS messaging, the “SMS (Short Message Service) was developed in 1985 by a collaborated effort between Germany and France and was created by Friedhelm Hillebrand, Bernard Ghillebaert, and Oculy Silaban .” Ms. Wells also states that the first practical message was “Happy Christmas” and was sent in on December 3, 1992 over the Vodafone GSM network in the United Kingdom. Neil Papworth of Sema Group used a personal computer to message Richard Jarvis of Vodafone.

In those early years, carriers were slow to implement the short 160 character messages as they looked for ways to monetized the service. The per message charges deterred those already paying significant charges for motorolapagermobile devices as carriers’ systems slowly matured. Today SMS text messaging has grown exponentially and the volume is now above 1.5 trillion messages annually, in the just the United States! “Over the full-year 2009, worldwide text messaging generated in excess of $150 billion and that figure is forecast to reach $233 billion by the end of 2014.”

My earliest encounter with SMS was with “text messaging pagers” (photo was my last text pager). A good friend of mine wrote a software program in the early 1990s called ePage which was used by dispatching services as a way to delivery more than a ‘beep’ to a device (aka: Beeper or Pager). Prior to receiving “text,” a subscriber or company employee would call-in to retrieve the message, many without the convenience of a cellphone.  My “unpaid” role was to test the service through Pagenet in Ohio from my friend in Florida. Thinking back, one forgets that other methods of written communication were slow by comparison; we either connected by slow dial-up modems directly and chatted through costly long distance or pay a per-minute fee to a service like Compuserve in order to send email messages – sending a text message to a Motorola text pager to a persons belt anywhere in the coverage area was impressive … and all for the cost of a text message.

Happy Anniversary SMS!

NetTalk offers new videophone software for PC

Posted By on August 10, 2010

netalkvideophoneThe VOIP service called NetTalk now has a videophone software application for both it’s new DUO and TK6000 device. To used the videophone, the device must be plugged into the USB port rather than functioning as a stand alone box that plugs directly into the router (one of it’s most compelling features). I have not opted to set up the videophone device as of yet, so no review.

(press release below)

Miami, FL – August 9, 2010netTALK.COM, INC. (OTCBB: NTLK), a publicly traded Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) has revealed its newest service application, a videophone that allows DUO and TK6000 users to stream live video to other netTALK users for free.

All calling features are included on the videophone: voicemail, 411, E911 and free calling to any phone number in the US and Canada. Additionally, netTALK has announced that their patent pending netTALK DUO device that allows callers to make free calls throughout the U.S. and Canada from anywhere in the world is now officially shipping.

“We listen to our customers. Their feedback is valuable to us and keeps us continually striving to meet, and hopefully surpass, their needs,” said Anastasios (Takis) Kyriakides, CEO of netTALK. “Our new application allows our users to have a peer-to-peer video call with any other netTALK customer for free, adding to netTALK’s impressive array of offerings and giving it a much more global appeal.”

Through this revolutionary application, domestic and international netTALK users who want to make free local and long distance calls can now take advantage of being able to see their loved ones, no matter how far away, through this convenient video phone platform.

All customers will be able to download the beta application for free at www.netTALK.com. All the same calling benefits like 411 and E911 are still available in addition to the following features on the videophone application:

  • Contact list that allows users to quickly call another video number or regular telephone number
  • Complete call history log
  • Video + record option that allows customers to record communication sessions.
  • Auto answer
  • Do not disturb
  • Conferencing (3 way calling)
  • Make free calls from PC-to- landline phone, landline phone-to-PC and PC-to-PC (for video calling)

“We continue to stay abreast of the most innovative technologies that are sure to please our customers’ cravings for superior products. We are currently developing other products and will be debuting these in the near future,” says Kyriakides.

The DUO can connect directly to a router/modem. There is no need to rely on a computer for phone service. But what really sets the DUO apart from the competition is its ability to also connect through a PC when travelling or when a router connection is not available. Should you choose to connect using your computer, the addition of a videophone that can stream live peer-to-peer video calls enhances the entire PC calling experience.

With the new videophone, there is officially no reason to hold onto your traditional phone service because now you can carry over all your traditional landline features plus the ability to make computer based video calls at no additional charge.  Its sleek design is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, making it the most portable device of its kind.

The DUO comes with everything you need for a quick set-up, including a 3-foot Ethernet cable, USB cable and USB adaptor for easy plug-and-play functionality. All the user needs to get started is high-speed Internet and a traditional telephone. netTALK even has nationwide phone number availability for customers in the continental US who want to keep their local area code.

The netTALK DUO is available for $69.95.  This includes the entire first year of service and only $29.95 each year thereafter (no monthly fees or long term contracts) at www.netTALK.com.

To request more information on netTALK DUO and the new videophone application, please contact PR representative Jenny Coleman at (305) 576-1171    (305) 576-1171  x24 or jennycoleman@maxborgesagency.com.

About NETTALK.COM, INC.

NETTALK.COM, INC. is a publicly traded company (OTCBB: NTLK) and is fully engaged in the design, distribution and sale of products and ultra-low cost services for the use of Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”). netTALK’s Patent Pending TK6000 and DUO plus future products are designed to allow customers full mobile flexibility, offering consumers free nationwide calling to any landline or mobile phone within the U.S. and Canada from anywhere in the world.

Statements about the company’s future expectations, including future revenue and earnings and all other statements in this press release, other than historical facts, are “forward looking” statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time.  The company’s actual results could differ materially from expected results.  In reflecting subsequent events or circumstances, the company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

Media Contacts:

Jenny Coleman

Account Executive

Max Borges Agency

(305) 576-1171   (305) 576-1171  x24

jennycoleman@maxborgesagency.com

Old but good “one-liner” on criticism

Posted By on August 9, 2010

“Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way you are a mile away, and you have their shoes.”

Posted via email from richc’s posterous

Twitter Email to Twitpic photo posting problem

Posted By on August 9, 2010

I’ve been having problems emailing photos from my Palm Pre (or computer) to Twitpic since last week, which is photo sharing service tied to my Twitter account … not that it’s all that important … but the digging turn up just how rapid the growth has been.

twitpicvalue100809

Pretty rapid: In the couple of years since one of the first photos were posted to Twitpic servers Noah Everett’s apartment, the website has risen to what is now is estimated as one of the top 200 destinations on the Internet. Hmm … with over 4 million unique visitors per day, I wonder if I’ll ever get the ‘email to TwitPic’ service fixed?

Bermuda gets wind & surf from Colin, now a tropical depression

Posted By on August 8, 2010

colin100809

As a follow up to a post mentioning tropical storm Colin as it passed just off to the the west but close to Bermuda. Colin  was downloaded to a tropical depression and has dumped rain, strong wind and large waves onto the south shore reefs colin_waves_bermudasouthsho and beaches of the island. According to meteorologists pinpointing Colin’s center, the storm is now northwest and its center passed west of the island. Predictions were for up to 3 inches of rain with coastal flooding as large waves on the south facing beaches.

I’ve been particularly interested in this rare for Bermuda tropical storm because we’ll soon be heading there on a vacation and selfishly would rather not be dealing with any damage or disruptions.

Stewart’s airshow & our Chapter’s Taildragger Fly-In

Posted By on August 7, 2010

With Airventure in Oshkosh Wisconsin recently ending and preparations for our EAA chapter’s Labor Day weekend Taildragger Fly-In/Pancake breakfast underway, this might be a good time to mention that Saturday, September 4th is also the Stewart’s annual airshow at 40I. If camping under the wing of your plane and pancakes on Sunday morning aren’t enough to get you excited about coming (walk, ride, drive or fly), maybe an airshow video will help put you in the mood? (Thanks Steve for highlighting the ‘excellent HD video which is worth watching in full screen mode.)

 

Full disclosure — the ol’ time country airshow on the Stewart’s grass strip in Waynesville OH  is just a tad bit smaller than what this video represents.

Video: Technical specs for the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta detailed

Posted By on August 6, 2010

2011vwjetta-med Probably not the most enjoyable 16 minute video clip to watch or listen to (below), but VW Product Manager Mark Jo does offer an overview of what will be included in the new ‘lower price for 2011’  Volkswagen Jetta.

Hmm, the “diesel coming out later this year” comment which mean the TDI will probably not be available in October of 2010.

The new Jetta will be available in dealers’ showrooms in October 2010. A TDI clean diesel-powered version will be available later in the year, and a hybrid version is expected to be introduced in 2012.
LINK

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
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