“Starting in 2007, six big airlines will install iPod connections in their in-flight entertainment systems, Apple said Tuesday,” Roger Yu reports for USA Today. “The on-board connection will be available on selected flights of United, Delta, Continental, Air France, Emirates and KLM airlines.”
Yu reports, “Phil Leigh, an analyst at Inside Digital Media, says the move reflects the airlines’ recognition that iPod is ‘a central component of future entertainment systems.’ Apple may benefit because the deal gives consumers one more reason to choose iPod over other MP3 players, he says.”
“Available starting mid-2007, the connections would power and charge iPods in flight. They would allow travelers to watch and listen to videos and songs that they brought along, instead of having to watch airlines’ programming. It works with regular iPods and iPod Nano, a smaller version of the original. It doesn’t work with iPod Shuffle, another less-expensive version,” Yu reports. “Instead of using the small iPod screen, passengers will be able to watch TV shows or movies on larger seat-back monitors. They range from 7 inches to 23 inches, depending on the cabin class.”
Full article here.
Like they need another reason. Still, keep piling on those new reasons, Apple! Apple is really doing an excellent job of competing against themselves.
Related articles:
Apple teams with Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM & United to deliver iPod integration – November 14, 2006
I love it! Get’s us off the pay-per-view the airlines charge also…wait a minute, will they charge us a connection fee then?
Makes sense. Certainly beats “Sophie’s Choice.”
Shit hot, I fly Emirates at least 6 times a year to the Middle East and I have a 60gig iPod. Yahooooo!
I knew a programmer that spent a great deal of time working on an in-flight entertainment system designed for airliners. The complexity was astounding, and the marriage of the hardware and user software was very difficult.
How much simpler now for the airlines to provide power and a screen for iPods. I’m sure that they will also now rent iPods preloaded with video and music. Much easier to replace a broken iPod than a broken A/V equipment built into the seat (which is very common).
23″ seat back monitors?!?!
I’m obviously flying in the wrong part of the plane….
The Zune is already so meaningless. Microsoft should just kill it now instead of watching it die a slow useless death. On second thought I would like to see that.
Now I can enjoy my fav eps of Top Gear in the flight. This is awesome!
MDN Magic word “later” as in see ya later zune!
Can you imagine the horror of getting on a flight and having them announce they are Zune-compatible? I’d get off that plane as quickly as possible.
The only problem with this is that coach will probably get this last. Airlines always add this value added features to first and business class hoping to encourage people to upgrade.
If the airlines went along with a Zune scheme like this (never likely I accept), imagine the effects of viruses running riot in an aircraft system. Hey Mum, look I’m flying the plane…!
Zune meaningless? Au contraire!
Zune is going to be BIG. This week’s fabulously well received introduction is only the start of a brave new world of personal entertainment for Microsoft and consumers. Finally a technology company willing to free us from the morass of iPod dominance and who better than the folks in Redmond. Who isn’t tired of Apple kicking us around with their ease-of-use, interoperability and clean design. I’ve had it. Thanks for taking a bold stand Microsoft.
Now boarding all rows for a first-class experience Apple could only dream to create. Don’t forget to bring your points.
Welcome to the Social.
This is no less than great!
I’d like to know which airline will have a 23″ screen!
Well its easy to say where the 23″ inch displays are.. in the cockpit. They should be able to watch in flight movies just like the passengers. Just hit a little switch and all that sophisticated hardware churning out complex mumbo-jumbo turns into a decent in-flight theater with surround-sound.
I may finally get off the couch and complete flight school now.
Yet another reason as to why the zune is ‘stillborn’.
Microsoft might as well just throw the towel in – they are finished in the music market period and they lost big time to little ol’Apple.
I bet Universal are regreting the deal with M$ now and I bet Steve Jobs aint taking any of they’re calls either!
Buy a zune if you a total idiot!!
Zune meaningless? Au contraire!
Zune is going to be BIG. As in, “Herpes” big. This week’s fabulously well-spread infections are only the start of a brave new world of “socially-communicative diseases” for Microsoft and its sheep-like consumers. Finally a technology company willing to free us from the boredom of safe sex and antibiotics and who better than the folks in Redmond. I mean, who isn’t tired of Apple kicking us around with their ease-of-use, interoperability and “clean” (read: uninfected) designs? I’ve had it. Thanks for taking a bold stand Microsoft. A bold stand against virus-free lifestyles.
Now boarding all rows for a first-class body fluid and code-infected experience Apple could only dream to create. Don’t forget to leave your rubbers and dental dams at home.
Welcome to the Venereal.
MDN has hit upon the one of the fundamental differences between Microsoft and Apple:
Microsoft behaves like a monopolist even when they don’t have a monopoly, and Apple behaves like a competitor even when they have the market power of a monopolist. A monopolist does not have to compete, it just has to have products or services that are just barely good enough to keep people from choosing a substitute or doing without. A competitor has to always improve her product or service so that customers will continue to choose her business.
Microsoft thinks that it is OK to take someone else’s product, make the barest of changes (most of which remove any excellence the copied product has, and substititue mediocrity or worse), put out crappy software to run it, and then market it like the resulting mediocritized rehash is something new and great.
In fact, they think that is the way to do business, because that is always the way they have done business.
Hey, I wonder if they’ll let me play some of my home movies with the “boys”! Yes, I want to exercise my First Amendment rights and play “boy toy” videos on my next flight- go Apple!
Today I read in the business section of one of Holland’s leading newspapers a comment from KLM (part of Air France): “We know of no deal with apple. Yes, there are talks, but chances are in favour of not closing a deal.’ Apple was not available for comment. Christmas is coming, so get your potential customers in the mood. See comments for proof.
God, sometimes you guys make me gasp; comments are once in a while so damn right on.
VERY good, Nugent; nay, EXCELLENT. Well done.