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Engadget

Power Assisted Live Luggage Ready to "World Premier"


Well, well... three years and change have passed since we first told you about power-assisted Live Luggage. Now it's finally coming to market -- at least that's what we think they mean by a June 26th 2008 "world premier." The PA series of checked baggage features a 12V NiMH rechargeable battery pack supplying power to the wheels when the handle is gripped and the bag is tilted.

The bags weighs 10.6kg (23-pounds) which is about 3kg (6.6-pounds) more than standard hard luggage, according to the manufacture. The cases are good for about 1.5 miles of assisted travel under a 32kg load. Of interest, the bags are now 2.6kg heavier than the original case which also featured a more powerful (and possibly exploding?) Lithium Ion battery pack capable of 2.5 miles on a single charge. We guess that was the concession made to get, "all the required accreditations and approvals from the global airport authority."

No price was announced so we'll have to stick with the £397 (about $782) until we hear more on Thursday.

Update: Oh boy, after poking around the site a bit we find a price of $1,365 -- twice as much as originally planned.

Don't miss the gallery over at Engadget.

Read -- press release [Warning: PDF]
Read -- Live Luggage

New TSA Blog Fields Complaints About Airport Security



Can a security operation do its job and be transparent about its policies at the same time?

That's the challenge for the Transportation Security Administration as it launches its new blog called 'The Evolution of Security,' where in just a couple of days, more than 700 members of the public have already posted comments on issues ranging from the varying sensitivity of metal detectors to the sometimes mysterious application of rules and regulations to people just trying to get to their flights on time.

The blog's goal is to "facilitate an ongoing dialogue on innovations in security, technology and the checkpoint screening process." In the early going, hot topics range from "shoes and liquids" to "inconsistencies" -- basically the common concerns of airline travellers today.

The site's motto? "Terrorists Evolve. Threats Evolve. Security Must Stay Ahead. You Play A Part."

TSA Administrator Kip Hawley writes that the blog was created to field questions from the public and provide answers, with the overall goal of getting passengers and the TSA "back on the same side, working together."

TSA personnel can't take the time to answer questions while doing their jobs at airport security checkpoints, so the blog was created as a way to explain policies to the public and take suggestions.

The comment policy is pretty straightforward. The TSA states the blog is for facilitating "an ongoing dialogue on innovations in security, technology and the checkpoint screening process." It will not post comments that are vulgar, abusive or off topic, which is common practice for moderated blogs.

Hawley asks for patience and good humor while the blog is in its early stages. Maybe that's good advice if you're standing in a long security line at the airport, too?

From Computerworld.


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