Smartphone/tablet use to be allowed during takeoff and landing in the US

[dks]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2482694/US-lifts-ban-air-travellers-using-iPads-mobiles-Passengers-able-use-devices-landing--long-airplane-mode.html

The US is relaxing its rules to allow air passengers to listen to music, play video games and watch films on their phones and tablets during takeoffs and landings.
 
The change allowing the use of electronic devices from gate-to-gate will not, however, extend to making mobile phone calls during flights.
 
Connections to the internet to surf, exchange emails, text or download data will also still be banned below 10,000 feet and heavier devices like laptops will have to be stowed

It is about time   

[stealth007s]

I saw this the other day as well. I haven't turned off or put my iPhone in airplane mode to fly in years.

[dks]

I saw this the other day as well. I haven't turned off or put my iPhone in airplane mode to fly in years.

   I got a reply !!!   

I do turn my phone/netbook off but usually someone forgets to on each flight.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I usually turn my phone and laptop off for the flight too, but it always bothered me that leaving them on would somehow end with all of us in a fiery wreck.  It seemed like a plane was a bit too big of an investment to possibly lose simply because someone didn't turn their phone off.

Of course, by the same token, I always felt that it was such a small thing to ask that I never really had any issues turning it off when asked.  While one cell phone may not have caused a significant amount of interference, I would imagine the cumulative interference of a hundred cell phones, fifty laptops and fifty tablets might be a different story entirely.

Def

[detron]

I did not mind complying with whatever was asked of me, however it did seem odd that I could not have my old e-reader on (pre wifi ereader) when the guy next to me had watch with more dangerous features.