Beyond The Specs

So i know there are lots of applications out there for travelers, as someone who travels a lot i still havent found what i am looking for. When i travel i have a few routine needs.

1. Flight Times & Calendar Integration
i need to know what time my flight is, and have that information put on my calendar. I need that information updated automatically if it changes, either by my direction or by the airline (e.g. Cancellation).

2. Upgrades & Seat Assignments
i need to be able to request and view status of upgrades and also view and change my seat. Would be great to have seatguru.com information integrated to help with my selection.

3. Flight Status Notifications
while #1 will reflect that in my calendar. I need some type of notification feature to pop up and tell me there has been a change. Right now i get a sms from my airline and an email. Which is nice but would love it to be part of this app too, and run as a system process so it could just pop up in my notification area on my mobile.

4. Weather forecast
i need to pack for these trips. Would be great the night before to tell me what the weather forecast is for the trip duration and location i am heading to and tell me the day i return as well (not fun to leave chicago a 50 for BKK and come back to a blizzard).

Thats all i want! What about flight tables for all the airlines, flight tracking, schedules for airports? I just dont do that. For that stuff i pick up the phone and it’s handled for me. There are very few business travelers who will try to self manage their flight plans when a major incidents arises that would mandate the need to know flgiht tables, airport schedules, etc.

I want all of this in an app that has both a widget for my homescreen and a full app if i want more. I want the notifications to run in the background. I want to be able to just link this to my travel records with my frequent flier account information. And i would pay about $100 for it. This is real utility that right now takes time out of my day to do and i would rather have that time back for my family and friends, and i think a lot of really frequent fliers would use it.

Some may say Worldmate. I do like that program but its not fully integrated. I want my information in context to the way i run my life. Ideally i never have to open up the main app.

United as you listening? I am a Global Services member, help us out? Or Worldmate team, lets get going!

Anyone out there have something they love?

Chock this up to a rant, but the advancement of technology and minituarization has been amazing over the last decade. What the latest wonder devices can do is truly amazing. Its great that my phone can record video, get email, stream BBC, update my friends on my lastest conquest. But what good is all that if you can only do it for 6 hours. I am en route home from a business trip to LA where we had an exec board meetings. So as we are all gathering for the midday meeting, and greeting one another, about 3/4 of us were searching the room for plugs for our phones and/or computers. I will admit i am a “power user” but i believe the devices that are marketed to me should perform their intended function for the duration needed by users. The mighty iphone on a corporate exchange server will last no more than 6 hours with actual use (e.g. Actually writing the people back that write you), Blackberries do fair significantly better lasting a good day or real use, but they suck for anything more than email. The mighty Nokia N900 i am typing this on has lasted only 8 hours and thats with it in offline mode for about 4 of those houirs (though i am writing this post on it). If we turn these devicespassive and just let them recieve information vs create then youl might make a day, but then whats the point of that? The web in your hand but don’t actually check the scores.

At this point i want no new features from the mobile landscape, i want more time to use them. Part of the problem is design driven. Designers all wan thin, small, and light. Don’t get me wrong. I like those too. But only when they enhance function. Take the n900 and the Motorola Milestone (or Droid is verizon). They basically have the same specs but the Moto is thinner and has a bigger screen and has a bigger battery. In the next round i am sure that Nokia will become smaller and svelte but screw that, stay this form and beef up the battery. I want 2500 mah in a handheld. I know it can be done aftermarket, but there are compromises when the aftermarket community has to make up for manufacturers. Take the Mobijuice pack. Those things are huge! Your ihpone is no longer the slender pocketable partner in crime. It becomes a jug of a device, but is instantly useable the entire day. Manufacturers need to solve for this at the high end/ business targeted end of the market. I bet Apple could do a much better job build additional battery capacity at the onset of design than Mobijuice can create an appendage. Now we as consumers and users are at fault as well. Rise up! Stop making excuses for your devices. The tech exists, ask for a couple more grams and a fewq more millimeters so you can make it through your day. Don’t say you can carry another battery, or the device is a tech marvel you can’t expect it to last an entire day. Hogwash. And for those that say carry a spare battery? With the exception of the Samsung Blackjack i have yet to see a viable portable way to keep a spare battery charged. I freaking loved that little spare battery and case that had a micro usb connector. Not to mention good luck keeping a spare back battery cover around, because the plastic tabs that keep them attached break after about 100 removals or so.

The point is the utility of all the technology in the world goes to zero without the power needed to run it. So manufacturers please more power please, so i can do everything i see in the commercials… Anytime during the day i want…

My rant is now over…my n900 is about to die. Shame that when i go to the Civial Rights Museum in memphis after i land that i won’t be able to take any pictures. But man the last 8 hours have been grand.