Apple was all-in on WiFi from the beginning, launching the AirPort line of products to much fanfare in 1999. In 2004, along came the AirPort Express—a fully-functional router the size of a laptop charger, that offered audio streaming to boot. As [schvabek] found out that while a lot of older Apple gear has long ago been deprecated, the AirPort Express is still very much supported and functional to this day!
Generally, you wouldn’t expect to plug in a 20-year-old Apple accessory and have it work with the company’s modern hardware. However, upon slotting the AirPort Express into a wall socket and starting the initialization process, [schvabek] noted that it was detected perfectly well by his post-2020 Macs. Only, there was a small problem—the configuration process would always stall out before completion.
Thankfully, there was a simple remedy. [schvabek] found that he could connect to the AirPort Express with his classic white plastic MacBook and complete the process. From there, he was astonished that Apple’s servers let him pull down a firmware update for a device from 2004. After that upgrade, the AirPort Express was fully functional with all his modern Apple gear. He could readily stream audio from his iPhone and MacBooks with no compatibility issues whatsoever.
Everest ransomware group claims to have stolen 1.5 million passenger records from Dublin Airport and personal data of 18,000 Air Arabia employees in latest breaches.
A new security screener that people can simply walk past may soon be coming to an airport near you. Last year, U.S. airports nationwide began adopting HEXWAVE — a commercialized walkthrough security screening system based on microwave imaging technology developed at MIT Lincoln Laboratory — to satisfy a new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) mandate for enhanced employee screening to detect metallic and nonmetallic threats. The TSA is now in the process of evaluating HEXWAVE as a potential replacement of metal detectors to screen PreCheck passengers.
It felt too early for barbecue one morning at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. I was on my way to Omaha to start a multistate barbecue tour last year when I saw a sign near gate A16 for the Salt Lick. The normal timetables for consuming food and drink seem to bend at airports. Ask anyone at a so-called Irish pub with a pint of Guinness before their 8 a.m. flight. So I pondered the breakfast taco for a moment before going right for the biggest barbecue sandwich on the Salt Lick menu.The Chop Chop ($21.99 with a side and drink) is a combination of brisket and smoked sausage chopped together and piled high on a sesame-seed bun. I got a side of slaw so…
There was a time when Sahara Star, with its iconic dome and enviable location near Mumbai Airport, was among the city’s proudest hospitality offerings. A favorite of many visiting the city for business or leisure, it carried a promise of elegance, comfort, and good food. That star, sadly, has faded. My recent experience at the hotel made me wonder if it should be renamed Sahara Scars.
The first impression was nothing short of a red flag. The hotel’s entrance, once grand, now stands neglected, crying out for a fresh coat of paint. Inside, the disinterest continues. The front lobby staff, far from welcoming, seemed more engaged in banter with each other than with guests. Not a smile. Not a nod. Just indifference.
My ordeal began even before I entered my room. We requested an early check in, and were promptly asked to pay five thousand rupees. That is standard practice, I understand. But when we offered to pay by card, the staff insisted on cash, warning us that card payments would include extra taxes. Begrudgingly, we paid in cash. Two hours later, when I asked for a receipt, they finally handed one over — with no tax breakup. That is not just shady. That is unacceptable.
Once inside the room, I hoped things would improve. They did not. Barely warm water in the bathroom. Only one side table with the bed — the other side left inconveniently bare. The socket near the bed did not work, so charging a phone required acrobatics. The AC mysteriously shut down early morning. Curtains too narrow to actually block sunlight. The carpeted hallway leading to the room was a story in itself — worn out, dirty, and faintly smelling of mildew. If this is luxury, I would rather downgrade.
With the General Manager being an ex chef, I thought the food might be the hotel’s saving grace. It was not. We ordered pav bhaji to the room — a dish so bad it does not deserve a second mention. Breakfast next morning was an exercise in frustration. A simple request for scrambled eggs was repeatedly messed up. When they finally served something, it looked like a single egg beaten with air. Toast? Forgotten. Repeated requests for uttapam led nowhere — until I walked to the counter and discovered the kitchen had marked it as served even though it never reached my table.
The final straw came when I requested a pyaaz aloo parantha — my last hope to salvage the morning. Ten minutes passed, nothing came. I walked back, only to find the breakfast counter shut. Timing over. I called the restaurant manager, Abhijeet (if I remember right), who had earlier taken my order. He apologised sincerely, and even promised to send food to my room.
To their credit, the parantha did eventually arrive — but an hour later. By then, I was leaving the room, so I politely declined.
I made several attempts to reach the General Manager, Salil Fadnis. I was told he was not available. No one would share his number. I left him a message on Facebook. No reply. At this point, my patience had run out. And hence this column.
To clarify, Sahara Star is still being run by the Sahara family, though they are reportedly facing significant financial strain, including delays in lease payments to the Airport Authority of India. One of the staff members I spoke to even admitted that employees have been receiving their salaries after considerable delays. That perhaps explains the lack of morale, but cannot justify the complete breakdown of hospitality standards.
Sahara Star, once the crown jewel of airport hotels in Mumbai, is now an ill managed relic of its former self. A star that once shone bright now flickers feebly — a victim of neglect, financial stress, and managerial apathy.
One can only hope that a revival is still possible. Until then, I for one am steering clear of this property. And if you value your time, money and sanity, perhaps you should too.
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