You can now play with your phone on the plane!

Globe-trotting laptop workaholics and electronic media junkies will soon no longer fidget helplessly during the beginning and ending of their flights: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has lifted the ban on use of personal electronics during the take-off and landing of airplanes, provided that the electronic devices are used in airplane mode.

Over the next few months, each airline will enact their own policies that will permit their passengers to use their own devices through an entire flight.

Airplane passengers, in most cases, will be able to read electronic books and magazines, watch videos, play video games, listen to music and work on their computers throughout an entire flight.

Their devices must be in airplane mode, however, which will not allow them to be used voice communications or data transmission through mobile networks. The devices can, however, connect with an airplane's Wi-Fi service, if one is offered. Short-range, device-to-device communication, through Bluetooth for instance, is also permissible.

This change in policy has been long called for, at least by voracious users of electronic devices, who saw the ban as unnecessary.

Currently, airline passengers in the U.S. are required power down their smartphones, tablets, laptops and electronic readers when the airplane is taking off or landing.

Since people started bringing personal electronic communication devices on flights, the FAA assumed a cautious stance of limiting their use, fearing the devices would interfere with the airplane's radio frequency communications.

The FAA's Personal Electronic Device Aviation Rulemaking Committee concluded in a report earlier this year that most commercial airplanes can tolerate radio interference signals from portable devices. For the new ruling, the FAA also took feedback from airlines, aviation manufacturers, passengers, pilots, flight attendants and the mobile technology industry.

New Article Under What's New: Storage 101

This helpful article will give you basics on storing data and your options of storing data on your computer, network or in the cloud. Check it out on the left here!

30% of adults get their news from Facebook....What have we come to?

Most people don't go on Facebook in search of news, but many find it there, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center.

"Overall, about half of adult Facebook users, or 47 percent, 'ever' get news there," Pew said in its report. "That amounts to 30 percent of the population."

The survey of 5,173 U.S. adults, conducted between Aug. 21 and Sept. 2, found that 78 percent of those who consume news on Facebook do so after visiting the site for another reason. Just 4 percent said Facebook is the most important way they get news. In general, many think that Facebook is a good way to hear about breaking news without actually seeking it out.  Even so, "the survey provides evidence that Facebook exposes some people to news who otherwise might not get it," Pew said. For instance, 38 percent of "heavy news followers" say Facebook is an important way to get news, compared to 47 percent who follow news less often.

One respondent even said that if it wasn't for Facebook, "I'd probably never really know what's going on in the world because I don't have time to keep up with the news on a bunch of different locations."

When I think of all of the bias misinformation I see on Facebook, this truly scares me.

One Broken Google Promise...Banner Ads

Despite a long-ago vow to retain its well-regarded simple and clean web design, Google has started testing banner ads on its search results pages.

A Google spokesman Thursday confirmed  that it has begun testing the banner ads.

"We're currently running a very limited, U.S.-only test, in which advertisers can include an image as part of the search ads that show in response to certain branded queries," said a Google spokesman in an email. "Advertisers have long been able to add informative visual elements to their search ads, with features like Media Ads, Product Listing Ads and Image Extensions."

The test, which appears to have started about a week ago, is said to include Southwest Airlines among a handful of advertisers.

"There will be no banner ads on the Google homepage or web search results pages," former Google exec Marissa Mayer said in a blog post on Dec. 22, 2005. "There will not be crazy, flashy, graphical doodads flying and popping up all over the Google site. Ever."

Dan Olds, an analyst with The Gabriel Consulting Group, said it's easy to figure out the reason for Google's apparent change of mind -- money.  "I have to think that this is all about money, and getting more of it from advertisers," he added. "My gut reaction? I don't like it. If the banner advertiser isn't what you're looking for, then you have to scroll down the page to see other results. Call me old fashioned, but I like my search results quick and clean."

Google's motto has always been, "Do No Evil"....unless it makes us some money.

If you bought it in July, it's already old

The average lifecycle of new consumer electronics products such as tablets, smartphones and notebooks, has shrunk significantly to only about three months currently, down from six months originally, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

The shrinkage is mainly due to the frequent changes in consumer purchasing habits as the fierce competition is providing consumers more choice.

To respond to consumer changes, many vendors have already turned to giving short-term orders to their upstream suppliers instead of signing long-term contract as in the past.

Some brand vendors, which used to outsource most of their component orders to 1-2 major suppliers to save costs, are also starting to reevaluate their strategies which could impact suppliers.

So don't feel bad, just buy another!

The battle of the Password Managers

With so many passwords to keep track of now, which password manager should you choose? Check out this nice comparison article between Keepass and Lastpass.  One open source, the second paid.  Truth be told, both are nice and you should use one to keep tabs on all those passwords.