Pilot

Pilot of the future: U.S. Army gets wearable tech for the battlefield

U.S. Army, welcome to the future.

If you happen to be in Farnborough, London, this week, you'll be able to see a demo of an Army pilot geared in the latest in wearable military technology -- a portable computing device that fits in a pocket and a display panel that can be strapped to a soldier's wrist.

The entire Aviation Warrior (yes, that's what it is called) system -- which includes a helmet equipped with a flip-down viewing monocle and taps into the cockpit's digital display -- may seem like something that belongs in Battlestar … Read more

The 404 1,076: Where you don't know you're beautiful (podcast)

Hope you're sitting down for this: Jeff actually has positive words about a movie he saw this weekend! Without giving away the surprise, suffice it to say that Jeff's complaints about the lack of creativity in film and his disgust with the movie-going experience disappeared for two hours on Friday.

In advance of Microsoft's mysterious press event today, we'll speculate what's in store for the software giant and how it could fit into the 56-page road map document that leaked over the weekend.… Read more

CoPilot GPS review: You can argue with free

When heavy hitters such as Microsoft and Google can offer iPhone navigation apps with turn-by-turn guidance for free, smaller companies find it tough to compete. ALK Technologies makes a play for continued relevance with its free CoPilot GPS iPhone app, building on the company's previous CoPilot Live Premium apps.

Free always sounds good, and CoPilot GPS makes its case against Google Maps and Microsoft Bing by offering downloadable maps. As part of the setup process, CoPilot GPS presents a list of maps for different regions you can download. With this very thoughtful approach, you can load up the U.… Read more

CoPilot Live Premium: Fill your smartphone with maps

With so many navigation apps available, many for free, it may be difficult to imagine paying for one. But ALK Technologies makes a reasonable case for its CoPilot Live Premium app. Its most compelling feature are the full set of maps it includes, making it possible to navigate without a data connection.

Most people using a smartphone for navigation will be doing 95 percent of their driving in an area with data coverage. But the most critical times for a good navigation app come out on back roads, far away from cell towers. Likewise, high data-roaming charges in foreign countries … Read more

Don't fly this at home: Video of scary landings goes viral

When you're a passenger onboard an airplane, you have no choice but to put all your faith and trust in the pilots. And most of the time, there's nothing to worry about. But sometimes, it's probably better that you don't know exactly what those in the cockpit are dealing with.

For those flying into Dusseldorf, Germany during strong crosswinds, that seems especially true. A video (see below) put together by YouTube user Cargospotter that's making the rounds right now would seem likely to terrify anyone thinking of flying there: the video, a compilation of landings … Read more

The 404 914: Where we hope no one gets died (podcast)

With Justin out for the rest of the week, today we bring in CNET duo Bridget Carey and Mark Licea to run through the ashes of Amazon's Kindle Fire announcement with price cuts for both the BlackBerry PlayBook and the Barnes and Noble Nook Color.

A listener's girlfriend, Laurie, completes her mission to take a photo of The 404 logo at an Apple Store, though Apple employees refuse to take part. We also get a look at the next version of the Android operating system codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich. Finally, Jeff's fear of flying also isn't helped when we learn that pilots can now flip a plane with the push of the wrong button, but Bridget is traumatized even more by the Dead Island trailer and nwo movie.

The 404 Digest for Episode 914

16 GB BlackBerry PlayBook now just $299 at Best Buy Amazon is losing $50 per Kindle Fire Amazon's Silk browser may come to Mac and Windows PCs Airline pilot almost flips a plane by pushing a wrong button Netflix cancellations slowing down Android Ice Cream Sandwich gets leaked Lionsgate to make movie based on Dead Island trailer Fitocracy gets 700+ new 404 group members Bathroom Break #1: Floppy disk drives perform Star Wars' Imperial March Bathroom Break #2: Best NASCAR prayer ever (in song) Episode 914 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

iPad 2 makes Qantas test flight for air travelers

Australian airline Qantas will run a pilot program to test response to the inclusion of iPad 2 units on one of its Boeing 767-300 jets. Qantas has installed a personal iPad 2 for each of the 254 seats on the plane, according to a report from Australian Business Traveler.

The iPad will be able to stream media content over Wi-Fi from a server located on the plane itself.

Qantas has a customized iPad app that will drive the on-demand user experience. Toward the end of the trial run, Qantas plans to allow customers with their own iPads to download the … Read more

ABC previews new TV series as free Kindle e-book

You might not think of the Kindle as a marketing vehicle for a new TV show, but ABC is promoting its new TV series "Revenge" with an e-reader twist: you can download the pilot script for free on your Kindle and a code at the end will allow you to watch the pilot online before the show hits the airwaves.

Amazon reviewers are mixed on the new series, which features the tawny Hamptons as its setting. And some are finding it a little awkward to read a script rather than, well, a book.

Reviewer kacunnin writes:

The most interesting thing about reading the script for the pilot episode of the ABC prime time soap "Revenge" is checking out the differences between what was originally scripted and what was actually put on film. Since the free Kindle version of the script includes a link to the full-length pilot, readers get a rare chance to see how a television show is made and what kinds of changes happen between the writing and the filming.

This little Kindle promotion probably won't determine whether "Revenge" turns into a hit or not, but it's definitely an intriguing PR stunt that other networks may use in the future to market new shows. In 2009, Showtime released the pilot script for "Nurse Jackie" as a free Kindle e-book, but today there are far more Kindles and tablets (that run the Kindle app) in consumers hands.

(Via Beyond Black Friday blog) … Read more

Garmin debuts on-demand GPS iOS app

It's always a good idea to have a premium navigation app on your phone when traveling, one that you can use without a cellular connection.

The problem is most of these apps are rather expensive, with price tags around $30 or more. This makes the app not a very good investment if you just want to use it a few times. This is the problem Garmin is trying to solve with its new GPS app for the iPhone.

The company announced today the StreetPilot OnDemand app for iOS devices. This is a full navigation app with offline maps that … Read more