iPod as an IFE??

phoenix28 · Post by **phoenix28** » 21 Oct 2005, 06:29

The other day i was talking to an official from an In-seat power supply company, and he said that for entertainment on board he uses the ipod than the other IFE (Inflight Entertainment) systems available. I thought that was a remarkable insight into the future of entertainment, onboard.

With iPod video coming, passengers would much rather use their own devices than they would use the legacy IFE systems or the portable devices for which they have to pay and instead would expect, that, such non-requirement on their part would subsidize their airfare costs.

I just had a doubt as regards, how long does an iPod run before its battery need a recharge?? Will an iPod survive a long haul flight lets say from Singapore to New York without a battery recharge?

Advisor · Post by **Advisor** » 21 Oct 2005, 06:57

That depends on the intensity of use. Personally, on a flight from Spain to India, the ipod kept me company and did not konk off for reasons of battery.

But i guess there are models which are of a lesser capacity.

TCAS_climb · Post by **TCAS_climb** » 21 Oct 2005, 08:55

It usually is available in business class only. Except if you know the aircraft type well enough and get a seat near an electrical plug (if any), then you might have a chance to power your laptop/iPod/dish washer/etc. in "Favela class".

Not sure the iPod's warranty includes electromagnetic interferences and all that crap.

phoenix28 · Post by **phoenix28** » 21 Oct 2005, 09:06

Don't long-haul planes have power outlets for portable computers? Sure these could feed your ipod too? Or is it only in business class?

Yea long haul planes do have power outlets and i think its available across all the classes including economy, but these power outlets are predominantly available on legacy carriers, whereas the low cost carriers haven't been all that warm to the power outlet installations.

But the point is, the low cost carriers which do not have any IFE provision barring a few airlines, could perhaps outsource all the IFE function to the passenger by enabling them to use their own devices than expect to find any IFE provision on board. That is why devices like laptops could be an IFE instrument in itself, but i dont expect everyone to carry a laptop, but i surely do expect more number of people to relatively carry their iPod's or other hand held entertainment devices with them. So if the iPod lasts like 10-12 hours without any battery recharge then guess what Rockwell collins, Thales, Panasonic and others have a new competition and that is Mr.Steve Jobs's Apple Computers.

But i would reiterate my question, how long does an iPod run before it needs a battery recharge? Assuming that the intensity is high, low and medium?

1V1 · Post by **1V1** » 21 Oct 2005, 09:58

I mostly use my i-pod as a storage device for my digital pics. With a fully loaded battery I've got about 15hours music. But I can only load around 1Gb of pics (this can take up to 50min.) Reload in flight is no problem altough most aircraft power outlets give you 115V/400Hz current.
From 15h to 50min depending upon use.

All aircraft have several power outlets in the cabin mostly used by the cleaning (vacuum cleaners) but I doubt it the cabin crew would authorise you to use them.

Post by **luchtzak** » 21 Oct 2005, 10:29

1V1 wrote:All aircraft have several power outlets in the cabin mostly used by the cleaning (vacuum cleaners) but I doubt it the cabin crew would authorise you to use them.

On the SN A319 and Avro RJ cabins you indeed have power-outlets put you need to have a very special plug. Only the cockpit of A330 and A319 is equipped with correct power outlets to attach your laptop/iPod.

Advisor · Post by **Advisor** » 21 Oct 2005, 13:50

Bart suggests to me some good news

lastrow · Post by **lastrow** » 21 Oct 2005, 13:54

Hi,
just to add some issues:

- I think playing video with the state-of-art iPod models results is quite poor battery performance - do not expect more time than needed for seeing a long movie. The battery used in iPods is usually specified for lasting about 1000 recharging cycles. I think this would result in having a couple of recharging cycles for each flight. Thus, a battery does not make any sense in this configuration.

- The iPod is charged via the USB or like on earlier models via firewire. Both supply 5V current, so for anything else you need to supply a transforming module. I think the hard drive and the logic will not operate on any other that 3.3V or 5V current.

- If iPod technology will move into inseat entertainment systems I think it very unlikely that you will find a regular iPod unit mounted into the seat, rather than supporting a larger display, no battery but some power input.

The deal for suppliers would be to use the iPod-Platform if you like to call it this way, because it features an easy to use interface and proven functionality. I might also be quite cheap to buy because of its large sales volume.

However keep in mind that issues unsolved are things like up-to-date information about the plane's location, the outside temperature and such gadgets.

-lr.

TCAS_climb · Post by **TCAS_climb** » 21 Oct 2005, 15:12

What do you think of THAT, uh ?
http://www.ideo.com/portfolio/re.asp?x=85691

lastrow · Post by **lastrow** » 21 Oct 2005, 16:00

this is an amazing device, I see this for the first time. However it is obviously not intended for pagssenger's use but for the cabin crew.

phoenix28 · Post by **phoenix28** » 21 Oct 2005, 16:57

lastrow wrote:this is an amazing device, I see this for the first time. However it is obviously not intended for pagssenger's use but for the cabin crew.

Yea its Lufthansa Technik's Innovation engineering product called NICE. its primarily intended for business and vip jets. But i think they are planning to bring the same to commercial airlines, but that remains to be seen.

www.lufthansa-technik.com/nice

1V1 · Post by **1V1** » 22 Oct 2005, 12:01

Hoi Bart,
It's not "a very special plug", I've got always one in my bag and use it almost each week.

To load the i-pod without USB you just need the (small) transfo, to be found in all stores that sell the i-pod.

greetz

Vinnie-Winnie · Post by **Vinnie-Winnie** » 22 Oct 2005, 12:34

I own a similar device (Iriver IHP 140) and yes with no PTV it's absolutely brilliant! I can get as much as 17 hours of playing time which is very handy to avoid boredom in a plane (Especially on low-cost and charter companies)

But personally would rather use IFE in some conditions. Only experienced it once but watching a movie in my opinion is better than to only listen to music!

To summarize my view:

-If IFE only provides music I use my own device
-if IFE includes PTV I'll use what the airline provides us

phoenix28 · Post by **phoenix28** » 24 Oct 2005, 17:17

All you wanted to know about the iPod.

http://in.rediff.com/getahead/2005/oct/24ipod.htm

The link is to an Indian website, so the prices of iPod are given in Indian Rupees.

lastrow · Post by **lastrow** » 25 Oct 2005, 19:42

I remember faintly that AF had a promotion to give Business Class Customers on transatlantic flights an iPod mini. Did anyone hear about how this has ended?

-lr.

regi · Post by **regi** » 26 Oct 2005, 10:40

Hopefully they will not hand out iPod Nano's. I just saw a test that proves that if you drive over an iPod Nano by car, the screen gets damaged! Imagine that. It even gets worse. If you drop your iPod Nano from 40 feet high , it is destroyed.
So, if a flight attendant would pass you an iPod Nano, and it has already a scratch on the screen, give it back. Otherwise, they will think you drove a car on it.

mttlacroix1988 · Post by **mttlacroix1988** » 02 Nov 2005, 00:50

I used my iPod from YYZ to SNN and in each terminal, and i still had some juice left.

lastrow · Post by **lastrow** » 02 Nov 2005, 09:52

did I say in this context that wireless streaming for in-seat IFE systems would not make sense since a power cord is needed anyway? well looks like I was wrong: streaming video via wifi to notebooks seems to be goal:

http://www.pcworld.com/resource/article ... RSS,00.asp

vc-10 · Post by **vc-10** » 02 Nov 2005, 20:58

Don't Air Cananda's latest IFE have USB ports? and don't AA have cigarette lighter style power ports? You can get a convertor to normal AC power in places like Dixons.

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iPod as an IFE??

iPod as an IFE??

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