Mobissimo Blog - Travel Gear

Seat 12F - Building the Perfect Airline Seat - Impossible? Perhaps Not

blog@mobissimo.com (Mobissimo) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:40:54 -0700

Don't know if it is really possible. After all, sitting in a metal tube at 35k feet and eating food that's been cooked 2 weeks ago is not natural. Sitting in a chair, any chair for over 2 hours is not natural either. But alas, designers are looking out for your lumbar, more here via Wired.

Some refer to it as economy class syndrome. To others it's know as a coach class clot. But whatever you call it, sitting squeezed into an airplane seat until you develop deep vein thrombosis is no way to die. And that's why this strange new seat is worth checking out.

The Cozy Suite (sort of a cheesy name, we know) is a staggered seat configuration designed to give passengers a better shot at getting some shut-eye during their flight. Delta just put in a big order for the seats, and surprisingly, plans to install them in the often overlooked coach class cabin.

PodCasting - Words are Worth a Thousand Pictures?

blog@mobissimo.com (Mobissimo) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:38:22 -0800

I don't really know anything about podcasting, but I guess you can do a monologue about something and put on the web and then other people can listen to you ramble. Great* You always see those tourists in the museums with them on, why not do it for the larger city in general. Here's a guide on how to do it.

Lets face it when it comes to highlighting diverse and wonderful locations around the world, words sometimes dont cut it. Travelers want images. They want sounds. They want local flavor. They want authenticity. They want the next-best-thing to actually being there.

Tricks of the Trade - Confessions of a Flight Attendant

blog@mobissimo.com (Mobissimo) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:22:50 -0700

Read this list, didn't think it was anything earth-shattering, but some decent information. But c'mon, I mean, give trail mix to the flight attendants? Anyway, if you're in need of 'perks'. Here's something about smiling. Yay*

Smiling is job one
Airlines put would-be flight attendants through four or five interviews before hiring them. The interviewers specifically look to hire people who are sweet and smile as much as possible--and what better testing ground for that than a few rounds of job interviews? After getting hired, I attended five weeks of flight training

My Private Jet is Bigger Than Yours - Chinese Billionaire to Buy 787

blog@mobissimo.com (Mobissimo) — Wed, 23 May 2007 08:49:12 -0700

Ja, we all know about Larry and Sergey of Google having a 737 for their personal geek fests, but a 737 is a mere tricycle compared to a 787. The latest greatest from Boeing, the 787 redefines the commercial airplane. Yet not just for the Uniteds and Continentals of the world, a posh Chinese businessman has put in an order for his.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - news) said on Tuesday it received an order for a private 787 airplane from Hong Kong real estate tycoon Joseph Lau.

The order for Boeing's new carbon-composite 787-8 model, which would seat up to 250 people if configured as a normal airliner, is valued at $153 million at list prices, the planemaker said.

In all, Boeing said it now has seven orders for private 787s, or "787 VIPs" as it calls them. It is pitching this mega-business jet at wealthy entrepreneurs, especially in Asia, where business people tend to travel longer distances.

The commercial launch is set for 2008. Mobissimo all ready has ours on order, forget about water skiing, we fly.

Looking for Mr. Good Sleep: The 1st Class Sleeper

blog@mobissimo.com (Mobissimo) — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:22:02 -0700

Unless you're one of the monied or frequent flyered class, sleeping on an airplane is a bit like trying to get comfortable in a closet. No matter how many different positions you try, it always SUCKS. We've tried everything here at Mobissimo, neck pillows, face pillows, Vicodin, Percocet, and the numerous little bottles of alcohol made available to us during int'l flights. The best we've done is black out and wake up naked in toilet. The worst we won't share with you today. Regardless, we're always on the look out for something that might work and our good friend Will Volk over at Gadling pointed us in the direction of yet another tantalizing product promising sleep, the 1st Class Sleeper. From the picture though, we're thinking it's not going to be much use in today's ~~cattle car~~ space challenged airplanes. But we're willing to try one out. Anybody use one before? Let us know.

Ricardo's Self-Weighing Luggage

(PolloLoco) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 09:01:11 -0800

Self-Weighing Luggage, come on now guys; that's pretty awesome. Also, it's a good way to avoid that stupid $50.00 over-50 pound weight limit for luggage that you are checking. Be the first (and probably the only) one in the airport with Ricardo's self-weighing luggage that features a built-in digital scale that instantly weighs your bag and whatever is packed inside. Rugged and high tech, this luggage should hold it's own on those abusive baggage carousels. Gives a whole new meaning to check your package.

Never Forget Your Charger Again: Charger Bag by Built NY

(PolloLoco) — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 10:16:07 -0800

I love this bag. I am forever getting somewhere only to find out that I have left my power cord at home or better yet left the stupid thing I was planning to charge. This badboy has 6 clever little compartments and a heavy duty zipper to help keep you organized on the road. Built NY has some pretty cool bags (and baby bibs) on their site, check them out!!

The World of International Phone Calls

blog@mobissimo.com (Mobissimo) — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 10:46:23 -0700

If you're a frequent traveler, you know while mobile phones have made communication much easier, calling to/from a foreign country is not that easy. Trust me, ever try to make a phone call from Brasil to Argentina with an American phone? A little more here:

Cingular Wireless is often cited by readers as the best domestic service for enabling your cellphone to work internationally, though not necessarily the best for domestic service. Verizon, often cited as the best cellphone service domestically, is also often cited as among the worst for enabling your cellphone to work abroad.

There you have it. I have two phones, one for the US and one for abroad so I can switch out the SIM card, read the rest of the article to find out what may be your best solution.

Top 10 Travel Gadgets - Everything and Nothing for Your Favourite Traveler

blog@mobissimo.com (Mobissimo) — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 11:14:01 -0700

Travel gadgets are exactly that - gadgets. In reality, all you need to travel these days is a mobile and an ATM card. However, there are things out there that can make the pass the time, enhance your visit, and keep you comfortable. This comes from our friends over at TechEBlog. What are the readers saying about some of the items?

12 listas de 10 gadgets sorpendentes por categorías

No sabiamos muy bien como poner el título de esta noticia porque el tema se las trae, se trata de 10 listas de 10 gadgets de distintos tipos y varían en función del tipo de gadget hacia extraño o mejor.
Las listas las public

US Relaxes Travel Restrictions for Flying

blog@mobissimo.com (Mobissimo) — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 09:30:41 -0700

While you cannot bring your own gels and liquids onto the plane, you may now purchase such items once passing through security. Items bought in the airport stores will be allowed on planes.

WASHINGTON - The government is partially lifting its ban against carrying liquids and gels onto airliners, instituted after a plot to bomb jets flying into the United States was foiled, an administration official said Monday.

Homeland Security Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not yet been made, said that most liquids and gels that air travelers purchase in secure areas of airports will now be allowed on planes.

Nice. My personal, favourite toothpaste is not allowed but the sure to be $10 tube from the airport store is? While a concession, my conspiracy theory says that TSA and the airport stores union have colloborated on this with a 70/30 split for overcharging passengers. Mobissimo of course will sleuth this out.

Definitive Guide to US Airport Wireless Connections

blog@mobissimo.com (WorldTraveler) — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 14:19:36 -0700

I like the finality of that sentence. The definitive. There is none better. So say the folks over at TravelPost who have compiled an extensive list of hot spots in airports across the nation. Good work lads and lasses. Add a search box to make it easier to find the airports in your next version please.

Protect Your Bags With Travel Bag Alarms

blog@mobissimo.com (Mobissimo) — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 16:49:37 -0700

So, if you've ever traveled through Europe backpacking you've heard the stories of thieves pulling backpacks through train windows and doors or pickpockets lifting passports from purses and bag. There are several devices you can use try to deter or stop theft:

TagAlarm Warning System: Attaches to your bag or purse and emits a warning if someone tries to open them.
Wireless Luggage Alarm: Two pieces, a receiver and a transceiver. The transceiver attaches to your bags, and if it gets out of a pre-determined range, the receiver emits an alarm.
Motion Alarm: Small portable alarm that attaches to baggage or electronics and emits a sound when moved.

International Calls At Local Prices

blog@mobissimo.com (Mobissimo) — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:03:51 -0700

If you're a globetrotter suffering from massive cell phone roaming bills, Rebtel service might just be your savior. Sign up for the service, add your international friends to the list, and a local number is generated for you to call them, free of international charges. Don't believe us? Read more at the UK Guardian, a source far more authoritative than us or visit the Rebtel site directly to find out more.

Easy On The Shoulder Laptop Bag

blog@mobissimo.com (Mobissimo) — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 11:36:59 -0700

Ok, so it looks strange but it seems like good solution for laptop back problems. The strap obviously distributes the weight across you shoulders to make carrying your laptop more ergonomically. This bag retails for $200 from OGIO.

Puma Train Away Travel Running Gear

blog@mobissimo.com (Mobissimo) — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 12:10:37 -0700

Puma and W hotels have introduced an interesting marketing and product tie-in for travelers who want to run:

All the gear fits into a self-contained bag and the site provides indoor and outdoor running maps and interactive MP3s for Berlin, New York, London and Paris. Each MP3 takes the runner through the course, pointing out landmarks, history and facts along the way with sound effects and music. Pretty cool. Though all the runs probably start at the W and you need a download code that you receive from buying the collection. Anybody have one they want to share? But it's a cool concept if someone built this out to more cities and locations we'd definitely pay a small fee for the info.

Via GoBlog.