USB Airplane Fan/Hub

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, USB

Since the summer heat is upon us, and in some cases more than usual, maybe it is time to hook up a fan to your PC. This USB Airplane’s blades are soft to protect the young and it comes with an off/on switch. It also doubles as a 4-port hub. Plug it in and you get takeoff sound effects for 5 seconds. Available in white or silver, the plane carries a MSRP of $14.00.

Read More | gadget4all

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Boeing 747-200 Jumbo Hostel

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Transportation, Wireless / WiFi

We thought it was innovative enough using an old plane as a home. We guess those behind the Jumbo Hostel in Arlanda, Sweden took the hint and came up with their idea of sleeping arrangements. Opening in December, the former Boeing 747-200 has 25 rooms, 6 x 3 meters each, with three beds per room. They all have flat screen TVs, wireless broadband, and access to bathrooms and a café where you can order coffee or warm up the Pop-Tarts you brought along. And if you want the deluxe suite, you can stay in the cockpit. Aside from not wanting to be in another plane between flights, who would want to hear the roar of takeoff while trying to catch some zzzs?

Read More | Jumbo Hostel

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Boeing 727 Home

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Household, Misc. Tech

Pay attention, airlines. Here is a way to recap some of those losses. Imagine having a Boeing 727 as a home. The plane set Joanne Ussary back $2,000.00, cost $4,000.00 to move, and $24,000.00 to renovate. That’s not bad for a $30,000.00 investment. The stairs open with a garage door remote, and one of the bathrooms is still intact. And let’s not forget the personal jacuzzi in the cockpit. Sweet. The Boeing home is featured as part of a collection of creative conversions.

Read More | Web Urbanist

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Oriens Glider

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Transportation

It is very kewl to come up with an energy-efficient vehicle like the Hy-Bird, but even better to design one that is recyclable. Roland Cernat’s Oriens Glider combines “an ecological energy concept and sustainable materials, with an organic design language and bionic inspired details.”

Translated, this means a frame of a lightweight flax bio-compound and a body of polycarbonate. The wings have photovoltaic cells and its electric motor has a propeller that retracts when gliding. A fuel engine and generator make the plane a hybrid. Cernat’s prototype was so impressive it recently won the Lucky Strike Junior Designer Competition.

Read More | Roland Cernat via Inhabitat

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JetBlue testing In-flight email and IM

Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Corporate News, Internet, Transportation, Wireless / WiFi

It’s no secret that the airline industry has spared no expense in terms of inflight entertainment, from iPod connectivity to DirecTV channels to interactive gaming and more. But secretly, we bet many of you just want to catch up emails and chat via Instant Message…right? Well JetBlue is on the case: starting today, one of its A320 planes will be equipped with Wi-Fi.  Yahoo! and Wi-Fi-enabled Blackberry users will be able to read email and IM their buddies during flights. And you know this is only the beginning: for better or worse, we’re sure in a few short years we’ll be able to surf the ‘net from our laptops while flying the friendly skies. Cool….

Read More | Consumerist

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Paper Airplanes Can Fly Electrically

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Toys

Now you can launch your paper airplanes electrically. Designed by Middlesex University by specialized teachers of teachers, the Kit can launch your plane at a speed of up to 31 mph. Included are the base plate, plastic discs with pulley, motors, battery box, 4 connecting sleeves, suction cups, screw driver, and hardware. Available for $14.95, we hope that the kit and its guidebook will finally teach us how to actually construct something aerodynamically launchable out of paper.

Read More | Online Science Mall

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Steve Fosset Search Continues on Google Earth

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Google, Internet, Misc. Tech, Science

Adventurer Steve Fosset and his plane still have not been recovered after about 2 weeks. A few organizations teamed up to find him with the use of a GeoEye satellite that is tracking the Nevada territory where he was last thought to be. Using Google Earth, you can get in on the search. You will have to download a KML file and cut and paste the coordinates in the “Fly To” box. Think of the ramifications for finding others missing that using this technology will be able to accomplish in the not so very distant future.

Read More | Live Science

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