October, 2006

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Fasten your seatbelts -- and no cellphones, please
"No cellphone" signs could soon replace the "no smoking" placards currently on U.S. jetliners. Airlines may need to start making that switch next year, when new technology is expected to be introduced that will allow fliers to use cellphones during flight. With that service approaching, Reuters writes that "airlines are seeking ways to police potentially annoying on-board phone" calls by using symbols of a crossed-out cellphone -- much in the way the illuminated no-smoking signs told smokers not to light up. And, for carriers that choose not to allow cellphones in flight, the company that’s developing the technology for Airbus jets says cabin crews will be able to remotely turn off phones -- or at least disable their voice function while still allowing text messaging and e-mail. But despite the looming arrival of in-flight calling, many airlines have reservations about allowing anything more than text-messaging or e-mail. "The issue (with voice calls) is how you would get around the problem of disturbing other passengers," a Lufthansa spokesman tells Reuters. In the USA, most travelers appear to be OK with the idea of allowing in-flight texts and e-mails -- but not voice calls. I asked several airlines in March what their thoughts were on allowing in-flight calling. Most were reluctant -- if not outright opposed -- to allowing voice calls. A different answer, however, came from Michael O’Leary, the outspoken CEO of European budget giant Ryanair. When asked by reporters if he was worried that in-flight calls would annoy passengers, he responded: "Why should I care if it is generating some money?" He added: "People are in a confined space. People tend to not want to get into long and involved mobile phone discussions with people sitting around them. I think it will be more people sending texts."

Logitech unveils new cordless laser mice
Computer accessory maker Logitech (LOGI) is introducing a mouse with a free-spinning motorized scroll wheel it believes will help people more efficiently race through pages on their computer screens. The company said Thursday it is launching cordless laser mice with an alloy wheel that spins for up to 7 seconds and can scroll through up to 10,000 Microsoft Excel lines with a single flick. Users can stop the wheel by tapping it. The desktop model can automatically switch back to traditional click-scrolling depending on the application, and can toggle back and forth on its own during a task depending on how fast the user is working. A software program synced to the mouse can sense the user's application, and sends a signal to a small motor to engage or disengage the ratchets that regulate the wheel's speed during click-scrolling. Clicking the wheel also allows users to switch back and forth. Users of the laptop model will need to flip a switch on the base of the mouse to toggle between modes, which the company says is because of its smaller size and lack of internal motor. Both mice are now shipping in the USA and Europe for PCs and Macs. They cost $79 for the laptop model and $99 for the desktop model.

AT&T says hackers accessed credit card info
Hackers illegally accessed a computer system and obtained credit card information and other personal data from several thousand customers who purchased DSL equipment from AT&T's online Webstore, the company said Tuesday. AT&T (T) said the system was hacked into over the weekend and the files of fewer than 19,000 customers were affected. The company said it shut down the online store and would pay for credit monitoring services for the people whose files were accessed. The company notified the major credit card companies whose customer accounts were affected, AT&T said. It also sent notification to customers involved via e-mail, phone and letter.
"We recognize that there is an active market for illegally obtained personal information. We are committed to both protecting our customers' privacy and to weeding out and punishing the violators," Priscilla Hill-Ardoin, chief privacy officer for AT&T, said in a statement. The company said the unauthorized access was found within hours of the breach over the weekend.

October, 2006

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