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The Unofficial New Flight Security Rules, thus Far

Bob — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:11:02 +0000

Thanks to the latest attempt to blow a U.S.-bound flight out of the sky, air travel has once again had security tightenedto a higher level and the rules for flying changed. As of this writing there has been no official procedure announced. But we do have the scuttlebutt as to whats going on and where.

News agencies are reporting and speculating on changes but nothing official as of yet has been released. However, there are a few things that are for certain, if your flying there are no concrete rules changes as of yet, so what you hear or read from the grapevine about airport security at your local airport may not be the situation at another.

The Transportation Security Administration wrote in a press release here, that “These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same thing everywhere.”

News agencies are reporting that the toughest measures are being enforced on flights entering the U.S. from abroad. Sources tell us that some carriers are posting new rules on their web sites, changes such in bound US flights passengers will have to remain seated during the last hour of a flight, a few airlines are saying travelers will not have access to their carry-on baggage, and cannot have anything on their laps to include pillows and blankets. Some travelers have reported pat-down searches and more thorough bag checks.

Again our sources tell us travelers and carry on bags will be screened at all security checkpoints and gates, no exceptions. As for domestic flights the only thing we can tell you is the only predictable element is unpredictability. As for our beloved gadgets, it sounds like their permitting use to use them only between liftoff and landing. Where as some flights are allowing the use of electronic items up until the last hour, a few are the last thirty minutes.

Jetblue announced there will be no in flight entertainment system; “no movies, no tv, no xm radio, the system is required by federal government to be shut down.”

Note: Just in via Gizmodo, TSA security directive confirms a ban on in-flight Wi-Fi, entertainment systems, and access to any and all carry-on luggage or devices one hour before landing.

Have you flown since Friday’s incident? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

Here is that leaked TSA security directive spelled out for us below

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration

Aviation Security Directive

Subject: Security Directive
Number: SD 1544-09-06
Date: December 25, 2009

EXPIRATION: 0200Z on December 30, 2009

This Security Directive (SD) must be implemented immediately. The measures contained in this SD are in addition to all other SDs currently in effect for your operations.

INFORMATION: On December 25, 2009, a terrorist attack was attempted against a flight traveling to the United States. TSA has identified security measures to be implemented by airports, aircraft operators, and foreign air carriers to mitigate potential threats to flights.

APPLICABILITY: THIS SD APPLIES TO AIRCRAFT OPERATORS THAT CARRY OUT A SECURITY PROGRAM REGULATED UNDER 49 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR)1544.101(a).

ACTIONS REQUIRED: If you conduct scheduled and/or public charter flight operations under a Full Program under 49 CFR 1544.101(a) departing from any foreign location to the United States (including its territories and possessions), you must immediately implement all measures in this SD for each such flight.

1. BOARDING GATE

1. The aircraft operator or authorized air carrier representative must ensure all passengers are screened at the boarding gate during the boarding process using the following procedures. These procedures are in addition to the screening of all passengers at the screening checkpoint.

1. Perform thorough pat-down of all passengers at boarding gate prior to boarding, concentrating on upper legs and torso.
2. Physically inspect 100 percent of all passenger accessible property at the boarding gate prior to boarding, with focus on syringes being transported along with powders and/or liquids.
3. Ensure the liquids, aerosols, and gels restrictions are strictly adhered to in accordance with SD 1544-06-02E.

2. During the boarding process, the air carrier may exempt passengers who are Heads of State or Heads of Government from the measures outlined in Section I.A. of this SD, including the following who are traveling with the Head of State or Head of Government:

1. Spouse and children, or
2. One other individual (chosen by the Head of State or Head of Government)

3. For the purposes of Section I.B., the following definitions apply:

1. Head of State: An individual serving as the chief public representative of a monarchic or republican nation-state, federation, commonwealth, or any other political state (for example, King, Queen, and President).

2. Head of Government: The chief officer of the executive branch of a government presiding over a cabinet (for example, Prime Minister, Premier, President, and Monarch).

2. IN FLIGHT

1. During flight, the aircraft operator must ensure that the following procedures are followed:

1. Passengers must remain in seats beginning 1 hour prior to arrival at destination.
2. Passenger access to carry-on baggage is prohibited beginning 1 hour prior to arrival at destination.
3. Disable aircraft-integrated passenger communications systems and services (phone, internet access services, live television programming, global positioning systems) prior to boarding and during all phases of flight.
4. While over U.S. airspace, flight crew may not make any announcement to passengers concerning flight path or position over cities or landmarks.
5. Passengers may not have any blankets, pillows, or personal belongings on the lap beginning 1 hour prior to arrival at destination.

AIRCRAFT OPERATOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT: The aircraft operator must immediately provide written confirmation to its assigned PSI indicating receipt of this SD.

AIRCRAFT OPERATOR dissemination required: The aircraft operator must immediately pass the information and directives set forth in this SD to all stations affected, and provide written confirmation to its PSI, indicating that all stations affected have acknowledged receipt of the information and directives set forth in this SD. The aircraft operator must disseminate this information to its senior management personnel, ground security coordinators, and supervisory security personnel at all affected locations. All aircraft operator personnel implementing this SD must be briefed by the aircraft operator on its content and the restrictions governing dissemination. No other dissemination may be made without prior approval of the Assistant Secretary for the Transportation Security Administration. Unauthorized dissemination of this document or information contained herein is prohibited by 49 CFR Part 1520 (see 69 Fed. Reg. 28066 (May 18, 2004).

APPROVAL OF ALTERNATIVE MEASURES: With respect to the provisions of this SD, as stated in 49 CFR 1544.305(d), the aircraft operator may submit in writing to its PSI proposed alternative measures and the basis for submitting the alternative measures for approval by the Assistant Administrator for Transportation Sector Network Management. The aircraft operator must immediately notify its PSI whenever any procedure in this SD cannot be carried out by a government authority charged with performing security procedures.

FOR TSA ACTION ONLY: The TSA must issue this SD immediately to the corporate security element of all affected U.S. aircraft operators.

FOR STATE DEPARTMENT: Retransmittal to appropriate foreign posts is authorized. Post must refer to STATE 162917, 201826Z Sep 01, Subject: FAA Security Directives and Information Circulars: Definitions and Handling, for specific guidance and dissemination.

Gale Rossides
Acting Administrator

via Lifehacker and Gizmodo

Ubuntu 9.10 ‘Karmic Koala’ Final and Released

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:07:43 +0000

Today is a very special event for Linux fans: Canonical and Ubuntu developers, have released the final version of Ubuntu 9.10, named “Karmic Koala”. With the latest release of Ubuntu. Developers has taken its already user-friendly Linux distribution and made a concerted effort to gain ground with the business/enterprise community.

If you're a regurlar here you know we're big fans of Firefox, Ubuntu includes Mozilla Firefox 3.5 for faster and safer browsing. For a choice of other open-source web browsers visit the Software Centre and take your pick.

Ubuntu 9.10 is the best desktop Linux yet, it pays attention to real computer users doing real everyday work which is a rarity in the IT world. Best part is it’s free. Some of the new features are a more presentable and faster graphical boot sequence that’s just a little over 10 seconds. They also added a revamped audio framework that improves sound control across multiple applications, and a new Software Center that visually simplifies the Add/Remove Applications tool.

Email and chat through Empathy which integrates: Yahoo, Gmail, MSN, Jabber, AOL, QQ and many more. Evolution gives you email, an address book and a calendar and works well with colleagues and friends using MS Outlook.

The Software Center is the big one. Ubuntu has moved away from the old Add/Remove Software tool in favor of the Software Center. This tool is still as user-friendly as the old one, along with the new visual improvements they added a new feature, commercial software. I know it hard to believe but the developers did it. Ubuntu is now going to include commercial software in its software installation tool. Therefore, Ubuntu fans can now install commercial software and the usual smorgasbord offering of open source software from the Software Center. This is good news for the business community.

Instant access to thousands of free and open-source applications via the Software Center. Categories include: Education, Games, Sound and Video, Graphics, Programming and Office. Just choose the apps you want to use and the Software Center will add them to your computer. No CDs, no licenses, no hassle.

Ubuntu One, the Cloud backup and sharing system has also been added which installs CouchDB in the background to synchronise local data with a server on the network. They also replaced Pidgin with Empathy as the default instant messaging client which integrates: Yahoo, Gmail, MSN, Jabber, AOL, QQ and many others. Evolution gives you email, an address book and a calendar and works well with colleagues and friends using MS Outlook.

There are 400 free cool games you can install. There are some serious games here. Solitaire is not the only game in town. All you have to do is click the Software Centre to browse, select and install games.

By default, Koala uses the Ext4 file system, the GNOME 2.28 desktop environment and the GRUB 2 boot manager. Kernel version 2.6.31 offers kernel-based mode setting, which allows the use of recent Intel graphics drivers. DeviceKit and udev have replaced HAL as the system’s hardware interface. Some subsystems are being moved away from HAL, such as suspend/hibernate which in the past has been an issue.

You can create professional documents, spreadsheets and presentations with OpenOffice 3.0. It's compatible with all office applications including Microsoft Office. The big difference is that OpenOffice is totally free and promises never to introduce that ignoring Mr Clippy

The Ubuntu Server Edition is built on the solid foundation of Debian which is known for its robust server installations, and has a strong heritage for reliable performance and predictable evolution.

It’s available in desktop/Laptop, server edition, and netbook editions are available to download. For those that prefer the KDE desktop there is Kubuntu 9.10.

Palm WebOS 1.2.1 now available, repairs iTunes media sync

Bob — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:47:52 +0000

Palm has once again pushed back at Apple, releasing a new version of WebOS for the Palm Pre that enables it to be synced with the latest version of iTunes. What do you mean push back?

Back in May it was discovered that by plugging a Palm Pre into a Mac it would sync content with iTunes with no issues. Once Apple found out that didn’t last long at all Apple quickly released an update to iTunes that prevented syncing from non-Apple devices.

Apparently, Pre isn’t happy about all this as we are now with another update reversing the situaction back like it was before. So Pre owners get it while the getting is good before Apple strikes back again.

Here is a list of all the changes made

• Resolved an issue affecting Exchange 2007 users whereby they could no longer synchronize with their Exchange account for Email, Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks.
• Resolves an issue preventing media sync from working with 9.0.1 (Ed—Emphasis added)
• Media sync now synchronizes photo albums, maintaining the album structure in the Photos app
• Media sync now allows for synchronizing photos without requiring the full-resolution originals
• Resolved an issue where if a user tried to play streaming music or video, the media stream might drop out or have a long delay before starting.
• Addresses a security issue encountered by webkit developers

Video: webOS 1.2 is available now

ojunior — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:00:03 +0000

We were tipped off for quite some time now that webOS 1.2 was coming, and thankfully it arrived today. Among the many new features packed into the update include improved copy and paste functions. Browser downloads are not possible as well as downloading music from the Amazon.com app can be completed sans a WiFi connection (once EV-DO is enabled).

But most importantly is the update to the App Catalog. It has finally left the beta stage which means that paid apps are a go. So far no paid apps are available but there are over 100 free apps available. If you have a Pre you can download the app now. If not, (and you’re sad), you can go out and buy one.

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