Udo's Techblog

I can't decide whether this AP story on CNN is sponsored by some airline association, or rather directly by filtering software companies. Claiming to act in the best interests of their customers, airlines will eventually install WLAN on their planes (hefty surcharges apply, no doubt) but won't give them unhindered access because that would supposedly aggravate luddite passengers.

See, if you had free (as in not filtered) internet on planes, people would be "yapping endlessly" on VOIP, which is so much more disruptive than today's non-tech loudmouths who believe their neighbors really want to hear awesome stories about their personal achievements to no end, or the constantly crying and bickering children of the jumbo-sized family in row 15. Of course the censoring of VOIP connections would have absolutely nothing to do with the horrendously expensive cell phone and in-cabin phone access the airlines will be offering soon.

It's not really like you can vote with your feet, either, mainly because they all provide equally sucky service and equally horrendous prices at an equally low service level.