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The thrilling story of the search for stolen AirPods

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Relentless pursuit and tracking of stolen AirPods with conclusive evidence leading to the thief’s conviction

Losing AirPods due to carelessness while in the jacket pocket

The incident happened on a United Airlines flight from Japan to San Francisco. After Hayden visited her husband who is currently serving in the military in Tokyo. After 9 hours, the plane finally arrived in San Francisco. While she was busy gathering her belongings, she forgot her jacket at the seat in the back of the plane.

Hayden shared: “As I was preparing to leave the plane, I realized that I had left my jacket at the seat. I was one of the last three people to leave the plane, so I asked a flight attendant to retrieve my jacket for me. He did not allow it, as according to federal regulations, I had to leave the plane and wait downstairs. I was quite tired at the time, so when he said he would bring the jacket to me later, I reluctantly agreed.”

Hayden and the lost pair of AirPods

After keeping his promise, the flight attendant brought Hayden’s coat, and she boarded the next flight to Seattle. It wasn’t until then that Hayden took out her coat to look for her earbuds. The coat had two buttoned pockets on the chest, one with the earbuds and the other with some Japanese yen. However, someone had opened the pocket and the AirPods inside had disappeared.

As the plane had already taken off to Seattle. Hayden used Wi-Fi on the plane to track her earbuds using the “Find My” app (an Apple device tracking app). The app showed that her earbuds were at San Francisco International Airport and moving.

She recalls “I tracked the app closely during the flight from San Francisco to Seattle, continuously taking screenshots until I got home.”

Hayden continuously captures AirPods’ journey

Hayden exhausted every possible means to retrieve her beloved AirPods. From texting United Airlines and San Francisco International Airport to seeking help from the San Francisco police department. She even managed to locate the email addresses of United Airlines’ management and staff and sent them messages. However, she only received a meager response of “We are sorry this happened to you.”

Meanwhile, she activated the “Lost Mode” on her AirPods. So if anyone used them, they would hear a notification indicating that the AirPods belong to Hayden, and they could also hear her phone number.

Later, she noticed that her AirPods were moving. The map showed that they were at United Cargo, a cargo area of the airline at the airport, where passengers are not allowed. Then, the AirPods advanced to a highway and stopped at a location similar to a residential address in the Bay Area, where they remained for three days.

The person who helped her a lot in finding her beloved AirPods was a detective from the San Mateo County police department who was working at the airport. He traced the location where the AirPods were transmitting signals and found that it coincided with the address of an airport employee. That employee was a contractor in charge of transporting food onto the planes.

Later, United clarified to Hayden in an email that the person was not a United employee, but rather a contractor.

Hayden stated: “I can’t speculate, but I’m pretty sure the AirPods were still in my pocket when I stood up from my seat, and I wasn’t allowed to go back to the plane. By the time the coat check manager came, the AirPods had flown away. And when I tracked them through the app, they were at the house of an employee.”

United confirmed to CNN that the employee worked for one of their contractors and said the matter had been turned over to law enforcement.

In a statement, the airline said, “United Airlines always selects providers to the highest standards, and the company is working with local authorities on this matter.”

After 2 weeks of searching, Hayden was able to recover her AirPods.

She tracked her AirPods to the man’s house in the following days and noted that “The AirPods should have died because I didn’t charge them before the trip, but I kept receiving notifications from them. That means that the person connected their iPhone to my AirPods.”

A few days later, the detective called her again to inform her that the employee had been questioned by the United Cargo department. He firmly stated that he did not keep the AirPods until he was shown the screenshot of the trace leading to his house. It was only then that the employee admitted to receiving the AirPods from a cleaning staff member at the airport and did not know anything else.

Hayden is happy to find his lost AirPods

Currently, the San Francisco Airport Police Department is handling the case and plans to submit it to the San Mateo County Justice Office.

After 12 days of searching, Hayden finally recovered her AirPods, although they were no longer in good condition. She said, “The AirPods seemed to have been stepped on. They were wrapped in a bubble wrap the size of a toilet paper roll. But it’s okay.”

After notifying United Airlines, Hayden received a form requesting feedback on the company’s website. A week later, Hayden was informed that she would receive $271.91 “compensation” to purchase a new pair of AirPods, along with 8,000 miles of air travel as an apology.

Hayden revealed: “To many people, an AirPods may not be important, but to me, they are no different than a lifesaver and have significant meaning to my husband and me. I don’t need to say much about this issue to those who don’t understand.” She and her husband live far apart, and she needs AirPods to communicate with her husband.

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Gamers fervently demand a simple feature, but Diablo 4 refuses hastily, surprising reasons.

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All things considered, this isn’t an excessively high demand from the Diablo 4 gamers.

Diablo 4 has been receiving a great deal of recognition and praise from the gaming community following the improvements made in the latest version. Furthermore, anticipation is even higher for the upcoming first expansion of Diablo 4, Vessel of Hatred, set to be released next year. However, many gamers are already feeling disappointed as their heartfelt desires and expectations are not being fully met by Blizzard.

Diablo 4

Accordingly, right from the game’s initial release, Diablo 4 players earnestly requested Blizzard to make changes to the inventory system. Firstly, they suggested creating a separate storage space for gems and precious stones. Secondly, they requested a feature that would make it easier for players to manage their items through a sorting and filtering system based on the quality of the loot. The first part of the request was addressed in Season 2, while regarding the loot filtering feature, many were surprised to learn that Blizzard would not be adding this functionality, even in the upcoming expansion next year.

Diablo 4

Originally, this wasn’t an overly difficult or complex request, which is why Blizzard’s hesitancy and delay in responding has left many Diablo 4 players feeling frustrated. To explain their decision, Blizzard states that the changes need to be interconnected to maintain coherence and logicality. Therefore, before considering the loot filtering feature, the company is striving to implement other related adjustments that affect the functionality and diversification of item types. Of course, this response still doesn’t satisfy many people, as this is something relatively simple and could easily be addressed straightforwardly.

Diablo 4

In this first expansion, several new features are being considered, including the removal of the Codex of Power from player’s inventory and changes to health and mana potions, as well as buffs.

Read more: Rumors have been circulating about a live-action film about GTA, the creator of the series spoke out to confirm one thing.

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Rumors have been circulating about a live-action film about GTA, the creator of the series spoke out to confirm one thing.

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Rumors have been circulating about a live-action film about GTA, the creator of the series spoke out to confirm one thing.

With the brand’s popularity, it’s understandable that fans are eagerly anticipating a GTA film. Two of the most shocking pieces of news in the gaming world last week were Nintendo’s announcement of a live-action film based on The Legend of Zelda franchise and Rockstar’s promise to unveil the release roadmap for GTA 6 in December. While seemingly unrelated, recently there has been a surprising rumor circulating online that GTA 6 will serve as a stepping stone for Rockstar and Take-Two to release a film specifically for this franchise.

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Fundamentally, this is entirely feasible as, alongside its immersive role-playing elements that attract a large player base, GTA is also renowned for its storytelling, setting, and notably, a plethora of iconic main characters throughout the game series. This material is sufficient to launch a cinematic work, and GTA fans have every reason to look forward to it. However, Take-Two’s CEO, Strauss Zelnick, quickly denied this and admitted that they are not interested in any film projects in the near future.

a live-action film about GTA

The reason was promptly given right after. Essentially, Take-Two could invest its own money to make a film or a series about GTA, and its chances of success would be significant. However, the publisher seems unenthusiastic about venturing into this new field because it would consume a lot of time and effort. Licensing the brand to a third party to develop a film project is also not worth mentioning because even if the film generates significant buzz, the revenue that Take-Two would receive wouldn’t be substantial, especially when compared to the earnings they have already generated from the GTA brand, particularly during the past decade of milking GTA 5. In summary, from Take-Two’s perspective, producing a film or film series about GTA would not yield profitable results.

Therefore, despite the strong desire, it is highly unlikely that GTA fans will have the opportunity to witness a cinematic work based on this franchise in the future. However, everything can change over time, especially as the trend of adapting games into films has seen significant success recently, as exemplified by the cases of Cyberpunk 2077 and The Last of Us.

Read more: CS:GO Breaks Records with Surging Gamer Engagement and Increased Spending

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Why do private jet aircraft fly at higher altitudes than commercial planes?

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Besides the luxury and convenience to cater to ultra-rich customers, private jets operate at higher altitudes compared to commercial planes.

Typically, most commercial planes operate at an altitude of around 10.6 km (the specific altitude will be determined by the air traffic control along the route) and are certified to fly at altitudes of up to 12 km. Some specific wide-body aircraft, such as the Airbus A380, Airbus A350, and Boeing 787, have certifications for even higher altitudes, reaching up to 13.1 km (with some variants, such as the 787-10 and A350-1000, evaluated at slightly lower altitudes of 12.52 km and 12.6 km). However, due to air traffic constraints, they may not regularly operate at these altitudes.

Meanwhile, most medium and large private jet aircraft typically operate at higher altitudes than this, sometimes surpassing the permitted limits due to reduced air traffic and fewer restrictions. According to Simple Flying, many types of private jet aircraft, including the Gulfstream G650 and G650ER, Bombardier Global Express, or Challenger jet, Cessna Citation X, and Dassault Falcon 7X, are certified to fly at altitudes of 15.5 km. In contrast, Embraer Legacy and Praetor, along with Cessna Citation Longitude and Excel jets, have certifications for slightly lower altitudes, limited to 13.7 km, as reported by Interesting Engineering. There are several explanations for the significant difference in cruising altitude between private jets and commercial planes during cruise mode, according to Interesting Engineering.

Safety Standards

Safety is the top priority for all aircraft, but private jets have more flexibility in regulations and systems. In the event of a cabin pressure loss, commercial planes must rapidly descend to a safe altitude below 3 km to provide sufficient oxygen for passengers.

commercial planes

This requirement demands specific design considerations for the aircraft’s structure and engines, as well as the installation of safety equipment such as oxygen masks and emergency slides. In contrast, private jet engines can facilitate quicker descent, and their cabin pressure and oxygen supply systems may vary. The risk of damage to the fuselage due to engine malfunctions is also lower for private jets, as their engines are located at the rear of the aircraft, far from the pressurized cabin.

Private Jets are Faster and More Efficient

Flying at higher altitudes also brings performance and fuel efficiency benefits. At higher altitudes, the air is thinner and cooler, improving the performance of jet engines and reducing fuel consumption. Of course, this must be balanced with the fuel required for the aircraft to reach such altitudes, which can be a challenge for heavier commercial planes.

The engines of private jets also have a higher bypass ratio, meaning they utilize more air from the core rather than the fan surrounding the core. This optimizes engine performance at higher altitudes.

The Importance of Aircraft Size

Private jet aircraft are designed to be flexible and efficient, with a higher power-to-weight ratio than commercial planes. This means they can climb and maintain speed at higher altitudes, where the air is thinner and there is less drag.

commercial planes

On the other hand, commercial planes are heavier and bulkier due to the need to carry many passengers and cargo. They also require large wings to support their weight at higher altitudes. This is why some aircraft models, such as the Boeing 777X, have folding wings to save ground space.

Smoother Experience at Higher Altitudes

Weather and turbulence in the air also affect comfort and safety during flight. When flying at an altitude of 10.6 km, commercial planes are almost unaffected by weather phenomena, but they may still encounter turbulence caused by wind shear or jet streams. This can cause discomfort for passengers and the flight crew, as well as put pressure on the aircraft’s structure. Private jets can avoid these issues by flying even higher, where the air is calmer and less turbulent. Private jet pilots also have more options to change direction or altitude in case of bad weather or air turbulence.

 Reduced Air Traffic

Air traffic is another factor that influences the choice of altitude. Commercial planes must adhere to predetermined flight paths and altitudes, which are often crowded due to the numerous planes operating at these levels.

This can lead to issues such as flight delays, rerouting, increased fuel consumption, and emissions. In contrast, private jets have more freedom in choosing routes and altitudes, which are less congested than common altitudes. This helps save time and money while reducing environmental impact.

Source: Interesting Engineering

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