Apple teams with six major airlines to Deliver iPod Integration
Apple Computer said Tuesday it is teaming up with Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United to deliver the first seamless integration between iPod and in-flight entertainment systems.
The six airlines will begin offering their passengers iPod seat connections which power and charge iPods during flight and allow the video content on their iPods to be viewed on seat back displays.
"There is no better traveling companion than an iPod, and now travelers can power their iPods during flight and even watch their iPod movies and TV shows on their seat back displays," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing.
"We're excited to work with Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United to offer iPod users an even better in-flight experience."
The in-flight iPod connectivity will be available to passengers beginning in mid 2007. Additionally, Apple said it is working with Panasonic Avionics Corporation to bring even more leading airlines in-flight iPod connectivity in the future.
In a press release, the Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple said its iPod ecosystem continues to flourish with more than 3,000 accessories made specifically for the players, ranging from fashionable cases to speaker systems. In addition, more than 70 percent of 2007-model US automobiles currently offer iPod connectivity.
Thus far, Apple has sold nearly 70 million iPods, making it the world's most popular digital music and portable video player. Similarly, the iTunes Store is the number one online music store with over 1.5 billion songs purchased and downloaded worldwide.
iTunes Store customers can shop a catalog that includes 3.5 million songs, 65,000 podcasts, 20,000 audiobooks, 5,000 music videos, 250 television shows and over 100 movies from Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films.
In October, Apple also began selling a $59 MagSafe Airline Power Adapter that plugs it into an airline seat power port, allowing its MacBook or MacBook Pro notebooksto maintain power for the full duration of a flight.
The six airlines will begin offering their passengers iPod seat connections which power and charge iPods during flight and allow the video content on their iPods to be viewed on seat back displays.
"There is no better traveling companion than an iPod, and now travelers can power their iPods during flight and even watch their iPod movies and TV shows on their seat back displays," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing.
"We're excited to work with Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United to offer iPod users an even better in-flight experience."
The in-flight iPod connectivity will be available to passengers beginning in mid 2007. Additionally, Apple said it is working with Panasonic Avionics Corporation to bring even more leading airlines in-flight iPod connectivity in the future.
In a press release, the Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple said its iPod ecosystem continues to flourish with more than 3,000 accessories made specifically for the players, ranging from fashionable cases to speaker systems. In addition, more than 70 percent of 2007-model US automobiles currently offer iPod connectivity.
Thus far, Apple has sold nearly 70 million iPods, making it the world's most popular digital music and portable video player. Similarly, the iTunes Store is the number one online music store with over 1.5 billion songs purchased and downloaded worldwide.
iTunes Store customers can shop a catalog that includes 3.5 million songs, 65,000 podcasts, 20,000 audiobooks, 5,000 music videos, 250 television shows and over 100 movies from Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films.
In October, Apple also began selling a $59 MagSafe Airline Power Adapter that plugs it into an airline seat power port, allowing its MacBook or MacBook Pro notebooksto maintain power for the full duration of a flight.
Comments
Additionally, Apple is working with Panasonic Avionics Corporation to bring even more leading airlines in-flight iPod connectivity in the future.
It'll happen. Give it time.
Wish Lufthansa was on the first batch, though.
why is this worth the money spent, exactly? It does not seem like it adds any value to the customer (if you want to listen to your ipod, just take it out of your pocket and listen to it).
Charging it out of thin air?
why is this worth the money spent, exactly? It does not seem like it adds any value to the customer (if you want to listen to your ipod, just take it out of your pocket and listen to it).
Think not about music. Think of video. Maybe you could watch something you actually want to watch on a plane... instead of Fantastic Four. This would be good.
-Clive
Yeah right Apple. It's not possible!
Do you think your fans are ignorant or something?
http://www.nu.nl/news/885979/54/%27i...tuigen%27.html
Basically, KLM and Air France respond simply: We have talked with them, didn't make an agreement yet and now this is out, it will be even more unlikely that it such an agreement will be made.
1) Charge your iPod while you fly
2) Watch video on a larger display
3) Feed the audio/video to others in your row
4) Buy/download music, movies, audiobooks, tv shows, and games to your iPod
5) BUY an iPod from the flight attendant
Awwwww, there, there... look on the bright side, Zune... you come in brown!
-Clive
Please try and keep the threads clean! You have been warned.
Now it won't, instead you can watch what you want on a larger screen.
Second, even more powerful than Apple's DRM is their dock connector.
Once airlines invest in putting an Apple iPod dock connector in they are tied/locked-in to some degree to supporting only iPods.
If you are a business traveler and you see an iPod charging cable available every time you fly, guess what you are going to buy.
Apple is in your home
Apple is in your living-room
Apple is in your car
Apple is in your airplane
There could be lots of utility here:
5) BUY an iPod from the flight attendant
Great idea! and duty free!