Internet Access in the Sky

Say your flying to a conference, a seminar or a training session. During your trip, you want to check your email or send a message home to your family. Well now, you’re in luck.

In 2006, Aircell won a 10-year contract from the FCC to provide air-to-ground broadband for the airlines. The plan is for each plane to have a standard Wi-Fi network that works with all standard devices (cell phones, laptops, etc).

Aircell's service, called Gogo, has already been rolled out on American Airlines and Virgin and seems likely to become a for-pay feature on the majority of airlines. It uses antennas mounted on the outside of the plane to send a signal to the ground, where it is handled by a dedicated network of cell towers. (The service is only available in the U.S.) With Gogo, you can expect to experience speeds similar to the mobile broadband you experience on the ground.

Email, web, IM service, all your favorite Internet toys are available. However, the connection isn't robust enough yet to provide voice applications. This may be a good thing: Imagine 100 passengers all talking on the phone at the same time. VoIP services are also not currently available.

Gogo has partnered with VeriSign to secure your communications. VeriSign is the leading Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption system used by many of the world’s major banks and financial institutions to secure sensitive financial transactions.

For more information on the service and how to register , visit the Gogo Web site at www.gogoinflight.com.

So if you really need to get some work done the next time you're flying to LA from NY, you can get online. Now, it would be great if we had a place to plug in the laptop.

Jets v. Patriots

Here's the game we've been waiting for. The stage is set for Brett Farve to do his thing. Bring that Hall of Fame swagger.

Oh crap, I can't watch it. I DON'T HAVE THE NFL NETWORK!!!!

The Power of Twitter

Did you know that in part President-Elect Barack Obama won the election via the internet. Lets take Twitter.com, a social networking website. On the site, Barack Obama was able to communicate with over 125,000 individuals that followed his campaign. Compare this with John McCain who had about 5,000.

Follow me at http://www.twitter.com/anthonymgray

Commitment to Excellence?

Since I was a little kid, there are some things I have always hated. Lima beans, bananas, going to my guitar lessons and the Oakland Raiders. I was a Steeler fan growing up so the Raiders were the AFC arch enemy. After what I saw yesterday, I have to change my tune. Al Davis has lost it! The Raiders are in disarray and I think the ownership/front office is to blame. Oakland hasn't been competitive since the Rich Gannon (from my alma mater University of Delaware) days. The NFL needs to have the Raiders back to the level they once were. Hopefully this will happen soon, that way I can get back to hating them.

Google Chrome - New Age Browser

Well, now that I’ve got the spotlight, let's talk about something new and shiny. On September 2, Google released its new web browser, dubbed "Chrome." Google's intent is to help users focus on the applications and pages they are viewing, rather than on browser toolbars and buttons. Chrome appears to do the same things that other browsers do, but utilizes a different approach.

Google Chrome also brings a new spin to some common web browser features. For example, it uses dynamic tabs that can be dragged in and out of an application. These tabs can also be rearranged according to the user's preferences. The tab feature has a speed-dial aspect that allows you to pick from your nine most visited pages. This tab also includes your recent searches, recently bookmarked pages, and recently closed Tabs. The address bar, known as the "Omnibox," has an auto-complete feature that allows for searching as well as web addresses.

By far, the browser’s standout feature is its internal engine. Built from scratch, the engine will allow for faster execution of web-based applications.

Chrome also has some built-in privacy and security features. The browser offers "incognito" browsing. Using incognito mode, you can open web pages and download files without these actions being logged into your browsing and download history. Any added cookies are also deleted when you close the incognito page. For safer browsing, Chrome also warns you if you're about to visit a suspected phishing, malware, or unsafe web site.

Chrome isn't bad for a first-time effort, and it certainly can’t hurt to have more competition in the browser arena. However, Chrome still has a long way to go. Internet Explorer is still king with 74% (see statistics) of the market share. So for now, it looks like most people will stick with Internet Explorer as our standard web browser.

My BMW is Back to Normal

This is for all those E39 BMW owners out there. I'm sure many of you have experienced this problem. Missing pixels in the instrument cluster. I endured this problem for a couple of years until I stumbled upon a posting in www.bimmerfest.com forum. I learned that there is relief for all of us who need to see all of the on-board computer's information.

If you contact BMW of North America they may be able to help you. In my case, my car (2000 540i) has long been off warranty. I contacted BMWNA and spoke to a representative about my issue. From me, he requested some information, mileage, year & model. He also asked that I fax in a copy of my registration (I guess to verify VIN# and ownership). A few days went by and I received a call stating that my request for a replacement had been approved. He asked for a BMW dealership near to me and he arranged for the new part to be delivered to the dealer.

A service manager from the dealer contacted me. We set up an appointment and I later brought my car in. The repair took all of forty minutes and I was on my way. The final cost $92.16.

Even after 8 years, I am still riding in my "Ultimate Driving Machine."

Our Wonderful Engagement Party

Wow!

Lydia & I are honored, thankful & blessed to have so many family and friends that love us. Thank you all for braving the rain and to those who drove long distances to celebrate with us.

The food was off the hook! Special thanks to Vaina (Lydia's mom & future mother-in-law), Hermanie (Lydia's grandma & future grandma-in-law), Marie, Joanne, Tania, Gary & Gaston for all their hard work in putting it all together.

The Planning In Getting Married

My fiancee & I have recently embarked on the wedding planning process. I must say it will be fun knowing that we have a planner to handle much of the leg work. Recently, we were asked to participate in an article for a local newspaper. Check us out.

Somehow the one picture they decided to use has me looking very disinterested. Ladies and gents that's not the case. You can ask my bride-to-be, I have been very involved and helpful.


http://www.gazette.net/stories/022108/entenew151758_32386.shtml