A few weeks ago, I wrote about
SeV’s incredible clothing line that’s perfect for travelers since all of their apparel has multiple (like 28) hidden pockets and built-in wires . It’s perfect to thwart thieves. I bring it up because the owner of the company, Scott Jordan, sent me a video message via email to thank me for the business my write-up drove to their website; it’s always nice to know people take my advice. This was the first time I’ve ever received a video message so I tooled around the website that he sent it through and I found a goldmine.
Tokbox is a free service and users don’t have to register to play inbound messages. However, if you want to be able to send them yourself (messages can be up to 10 minutes in length!) or have a video chat with up to 20 friends, you’ll need to spend about 30 seconds to register. It’s all free and as far as I can tell, there are no annoying ads. All they want is your name, email address and age. Then, voila! You’re good to go. Once I logged on, I watched a two-minute video demonstration, which was helpful and then I started inviting my friends to sign up so we can chat. TIP:: It’s better when everyone uses headphones so you don’t get a lot of background noise. So for those days you don’t feel like typing, do what Scott Jordan does and send a video email message. I would send you one right now but I’m working in bed on my laptop (as I do every morning) and I haven’t combed my hair or put on my clothes yet.
Doesn’t it just drive you nuts when you show up early for your flight and it’s delayed -- especially those early morning flights? It irks me even more to know that I could have had a couple more hours sleep if the airline just had the courtesy to notify me if it was obvious there was going to be a delay (they have all of our contact info). I know most of the time when the delays keep getting longer, it’s not the gate agent’s fault and shockingly, I usually get updated departure info before they do since I sign up to the airline’s flight paging service.
However, before I leave the house, I now log on to FlightCaster.com, which recently launched. FlightCaster predicts flight delays by using a proprietary advanced algorithm that scours data on every domestic flight for the past 10 years and matches it to real-time conditions. They help travelers determine if they should change itineraries, notify colleagues or alter their plans before anyone else. The service is free if you log on to the web – remember it works best six hours or less prior to departure -- or you can pay $4.99 for their iPhone and Blackberry apps.
This is for all you travelers who combat plane boredom by watching movies or TV shows on an iPhone or iPod while flying but are sick and tired of having to keep changing hands because your arm gets tired. If you fall into this category, then listen up. Here’s an ingenious product that won’t take up any more space in you carry-on and will allow you to go hands-free without having a glare. Just attach your iPod to the suction cup’s adjustable gooseneck end and lock the adjustable clamp on the side of your tray table and you’re good to go! Cost: $29.95. I know, it’s kind of steep unless you fly a lot.
I bet some of you have never even heard of Qatar Airways. They are based out of Qatar (duh!) and if you don’t know where that is, you better break out a map and start looking around the Middle East. You’d be surprised how many people I come across that have no clue about geography and even worse, have no interest vacationing outside of our borders. Those narrow-minded people are also typically afraid to fly foreign carriers like Qatar Airways. Now that’s a real shame since most international carriers put our U.S. airlines to shame in terms of comfort, service, entertainment, food and possibly even safety. One airline that I’ve heard does just this (though I don’t know first-hand) is Qatar Airways. I met some of their upper management and flight crew
at NBTA
in San Diego a couple weeks ago (I’ll tell you about that conference soon). After sitting
in one of their fine tradeshow display seats I wanted more, which is why I searched for it on YouTube and found this video. The video, which has received of 70,000 views and 4.5 stars, is of their new Boeing 777-300ER, which they fly to and from Doha (the capital of Qatar) out of Houston, New York and Washington D.C. Take a look at this beautiful bird and tell me you don’t want to fly it. I didn’t think so.
