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Haptics is here, with Motorola's new ROKR phone. Their iPhone-esque "ModeShift" design changes the graphics on the interface depending on what you're using the device for at any given moment, but they take it one step further with tactile feedback--click-vibrations you feel when pressing a "button."
One thing we're curious about is the "airplane mode" touted by this and tons of other devices currently on the market. Our experience has been that when flight attendants see you with headphones on or futzing around with any electronic device, you're ordered/threatened to turn it off immediately. In other words, they don't seem to know or care that Motorola figured out how to disable the wireless. Have any of you used this technology to successfully overcome a flight attendant's protestations?
Comments
On Blackberry's there's a symbol displayed for airplane mode. Something like waves with an x through it. Normally when the flight attendants give me a hard time I just show them that, and hope that they understand. Works like 50% of the time.
what is this all about? flight attendants are trained to know about these kinds of things and airplane mode is nothing new. a post just about the rokr would've been better but who even cares about that
I've only flown Southwest recently, but they always say you can use cell phones as long as they're in airplane mode. I've never used one, but people around me have and they've never said anything.
It's not the flight attendants. Here in Germany for example it's strictly forbidden by law to use a cellphone, even in airplane mode. They even tell you specifically so on some airlines.
And if it's forbidden: better not do it.
And maybe it's not what you are currently doing, but what you can possibly do with it (turning normal mode on).
It's like telling the flight attendants "Look, the knife is IN my pocket. It causes no harm." when in reality you could take it out any time.
I also get the 50/50 response. More to the reason they don't like you using it during the takeoffs and landings has to do with emergencies, if the pilot has to hit the brakes when going 100, your laptop/cellphone/iTHing can make for a pretty nasty injury.
I know ALL electronics must be turned off during take off and landing, but in-between you are able to use your electronics without hassle.
Flight attendents on a recent flight i was on to Barcelona seemed pretty savvy about the whole technology:
After take off they announced that electronics could now be used in 'flight mode'.
During take-off and landing, the crew needs passengers to be able to hear instructions in case of an emergency, so whether in airplane mode or not, I can understand the flight attendants' concern. Afterall, safety is their responsibility.
For the rest of the time, I keep a printout the device manufacturer's explanation of Airplane mode and keep it handy to give to the crew if they have a concern about the phone's transmitters; it clearly explains what works and what doesn't: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305724
i've noticed recently that all electronic devices "need" to be shut-off on take-off and landing. ipod/phone/what have you. i get the whole airplane mode, but shuting it off completely?!
paul: all electronic devices have some emissions just from operating, even if they aren't intentionally transmitting. Some devices have surprisingly powerful unintentional emissions, and the flight attendants don't have a way to knowing which are which. The idea is that takeoff and landing are critical times and they don't want to take the risk of something intefering with the plane systems. At altitude, if something goes wrong, they have time to ask everyone to shut their stuff off and recover before they hit the ground. During takeoff, they don't.
Just turn it off more often! Not only in airplanes.
Don't pollute the airways and airwaves.