It has long been rumored that Boeing‘s new 787Dreamliner will be the quietest commercial jumbo jet in its class. Take a look at the back of select engine nacelles on the airframe and you can see an obvious difference. That egg crate design is in place for improved acoustic performance, which means a better experience for not only passengers but the people living near airports and flight paths.
Boeing just published a video showing some of the other improvements and the testing that they’re working on. Take a look at the show above.
Welcome back to Gadling’s newest series, Dreaming of Bali. Visiting the exotic Indonesian island of Bali is truly a feast for the senses. First time visitors and expats alike frequently remark on this island’s rich tapestry of exotic stimuli: the brilliant orange glow of a sunset as it slides gently into the sea; the wafting scent of kerosene and crushed chilis at a roadside food stall; the soft vibration of a gong as it’s struck in a temple. These are sensory experiences that bury themselves in your subconscious, sticking in your mind long after your return from a journey – they are ultimately the impressions that help to crystallize our understanding of our travels.
Words are only one way to tell a story. Borrowing an idea from Gadling blogger Stephen Greenwood, I’ve tried to capture my impressions of Indonesia through the medium of sound. Embedded below are four “soundscapes” from my recent visit to Bali and the nearby island of Java. Click on play, close your eyes, and prepare to be transported far away to the islands of Indonesia:
Sitting on the beach at dusk, listening to waves crash on the beach – a symphony of frogs croak at the onset of dark:
A group of musicians practices their Gamelan performance at a temple in Ubud:
Walking inside Ubud’s morning produce market:
Most of Indonesia, with the exception of Bali, is muslim. Here’s the afternoon call to prayer in Yogyakarta, Indonesia:
Dreaming of your own visit to Bali? Read more about Gadling’s “visit to paradise” HERE.
The locals hate midtown, and we just got another reason why.
It turns out that visiting the most heavily trafficked neighborhood in Manhattan could be hazardous to your health. Noise is the problem. Of course, it comes as no shock that parts of Manhattan can be quite loud. People, taxi horns and construction represent just part of the list that can rattle your ears and, eventually, cost you your hearing.
According to a study being released today at the International Conference on Urban Health at The New York Academy of Medicine, there are several neighborhoods where the risk to your hearing is substantial, especially for residents who become accustomed to it over time.
Most readings – even in several small parks meant to be oases of green and calm – were above 70 decibels. People whose daily noise exposure tops an average of 70 decibels can lose some of their hearing over time, said Richard Neitzel, a University of Washington research scientist and another of the study’s authors.
The result, of course, is that people have nowhere to go for a little peace and quiet.
Some of the noisiest spots in the city aren’t where you’d think to find them. Of course, midtown is noisy, but First Avenue above 14th Street? Broadway in Inwood? Well, these are the city’s trucking routes, which kicks up the decibels a bit. The Lower East Side, East Village and West Village, it seems, have fewer buffers and the added complication of nightlife – not a problem on the Upper West Side (I can assure you), which is fairly quiet.
My daily deal for today is for a decent lineup of discounts on some pretty popular headphones.
Included in the sale is something for everyone. From $100 off the Creative Labs Aurvana X-FI noise canceling headphones (reviewed here last year) to 5 different in-ear isolating earbuds, starting at just $4.99.
Do yourself a favor, and get some decent noise isolating/canceling headphones, you’ll really appreciate getting some peace and quiet on your next flight!
Remember, any order over $25 ships for free, and Amazon prime members can get free 2 day shipping.
Forget those $300 noise canceling headphones – adding a little peace and quiet does not come any cheaper than these $7 Philips noise canceling headphones.
The inventory is very low, and at the moment only 3 are left in stock, with more on the way, so you may have to wait a little to actually get your hands on them, but at a price this low, I don’t think you’ll be complaining. If they do sell out, other Amazon retailers can help you out, but you’ll pay about $4 more.
Reviews on them are generally good, plus the package comes with an airline audio adapter, which you may need on some older airlines.
Update: The $7 version did indeed sell out, the current seller is offering them for $10.68 with $6 shipping, still very cheap!
