Which tech-friendly upgrades to NYC transportation have actually proven useful?

Welcome to Friday Open Threads, wherein we'll pass the mic to readers to speak up about topics of interest, distress, horror, etc. Have something you want discussed? Let us know.

The times, they are a-digitizing. Free Wi-Fi is now up and running in all 279 of the MTA’s underground stations (in theory), with above-ground stations, Metro-North stations, and LIRR stations up next. Soon, there will be nothing standing between us and our ability to watch other people loudly stream YouTube videos on the train.

Not to be outdone, a sweet new fleet of MTA buses has also started to hit the streets, equipped with not only Wi-Fi, but also electrical outlets and USB charging ports, in an effort to bring city transit into the 21st century. So far, only a handful of the new buses are operational, but more than 2,000 of them are set to be rolled out over the next five years, replacing more than 40 percent of the current tech-less fleet.

And the latest transpo-tech development: as of Monday, all subway stations will have working cell service, according to DNAInfo. (It’s already up and working at more than 150 of them.)

“This will better connect New Yorkers who are on-the-go and build our vision to reimagine the country’s busiest transportation network for our future,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. In just a few days, we will all be perpetually connected to our loved ones, and perpetually annoyed at our fellow commuters.

So we want to know: what transit tech updates have been useful for you? Do take care of correspondence while waiting for the A? Do you actually care about charging your phone on the bus? Is the idea of making and taking calls underground a dream or a nightmare? Tell us your thoughts, your feelings, and your technical horror stories in the comments.

• Cellphone Service Coming to Every Subway Station by Jan. 9, Cuomo Says [DNAInfo]
• NYC's subway-wide Wi-Fi initiative is off to strong start [Curbed NY]
• First Look at the MTA's New Fleet of Tech-Friendly Buses [Curbed NY]