The next WAEA Technology Committee meeting (July 12-14 in Los Angeles) has been touted by its organizers as the ``biggest and best ever.`` Well, a look at the recently updated TC agenda on the WAEA website certainly supports that claim. The meeting features no less than four airlines presentations on four of the hottest topics in IFE today:

* Continental Airlines is talking about onboard wireless

* United and American Airlines - digital media servers

* Alaska Airlines - digital content for portable players

* American Airlines - audio file servers

This meeting looks to us to not be your typical ``techies TC meeting,`` but a real-world sharing of experiences right from the airlines themselves - followed by a no-holds-barred debate by experts on the issues.

One TC organizer told us he expects way more than 100 attendees, and they`ve added more inducements to get there early (like company tours and networking on July 12) and stay late (a drawing for door prizes on the afternoon of July 14). The TC organizers are however keeping mum on one important point, and left IFExpress staff wondering ``Who is the surprise entertainment on Tuesday night?`` We can`t wait to see this one, and though we have watched some of the recent TC meetings via webcast, this is one event that we will attend in person. Ahhh, the Universal CityWalk in July... reporting`s a tough job but somebody`s got to do it!

This is definitely the ``cannot miss`` IFE event of the summer, and our hat is off to the WAEA for putting this together.