4 ms·

So would a seat back video investment been worth it, considering now they are obsoleted by smartphones? The operating time of a plane is way longer than infota

So would a seat back video investment been worth it, considering now they are obsoleted by smartphones? The operating time of a plane is way longer than infotainment equipment. That's why I won't buy cars with nav systems, etc. I'll still be driving that car in 10 year, while the infotainment will be obsolete and unsupported. All I car for in a car is a way to amplify what's coming out of my phone.

bruceb 9y ago
Phones are not bigger than seatback systems. Do people have the time or remember to load movies ? Make sure their device is charged? Seatback systems may not be great but they might be good enough to last a while longer.
- derwiki 9y ago
  On United flights, you can use your smartphone/tablet to connect to wifi and stream their movies for free. I guess charging is still an issue.
  - lotsofpulp 9y ago
    The newer planes all have charging ports with sufficient power for mobile devices. United's streaming option, especially with the Amazon partnership seems like the way forward.
    - OscarTheGrinch 9y ago
      Lord help the next passenger using that port after Samy Kamkar has his way with it.
      - lotsofpulp 9y ago
        Hah, it's usually a power outlet that I plug my USB adapter into.
- madengr 9y ago
  In general, yes.
- citruspi 9y ago
  > Do people have the time or remember to load movies ? I'm not sure how prevalent it is, but I know some carriers like United[1] and Delta[2] (via Gogo) stream media to your personal device over the aircraft's WiFi. > Make sure their device is charged? Many flights now have USB ports and/or power outlets under the seats. [1]: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/entertainment/personal-device-entertainment.aspx https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/ent... [2]: https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/onboard-services/how-to-stream.html https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/on...
  - jcoffland 9y ago
    Mainly so they can charge you for it. United's app is awful. It barely works on Android.
    - untog 9y ago
      My experience is different - I've always had free access to movies via Wi-Fi and the selection has been better than the in flight system. As long as there is a USB port I'm in favour of it.
    - chipperyman573 9y ago
      United is also free to stream movies (or at least, it was when I flew a few weeks ago). The wifi is decent - I was able to stream 480p video without interruptions, which is way better than I expected.
      - jcoffland 9y ago
        If you set your expectations low enough any experience can be great. Which coincidentally is United's new slogan.
      - deleted 9y ago
        [deleted]
    - citruspi 9y ago
thrownblown 9y ago
It was really the timing and scale of the innovation that mattered. Seat-back video in economy? In 1991? [0] Hugely innovative. $10 Million in 90's money is like $18 Mil now [1](according to this site i don't fully beleive). $2.5 Bil = $4.5 Bil. That's a lot of money to keep the kids happy. [0]https://www.virgin.com/travel/how-has-inflight-entertainment-developed-over-time https://www.virgin.com/travel/how-has-inflight-entertainment... [1]http://www.in2013dollars.com/1991-dollars-in-2017?amount=10000000 http://www.in2013dollars.com/1991-dollars-in-2017?amount=100...
- CamperBob2 9y ago
  That's a lot of money to keep the kids happy. Kids eventually grow up and buy plane tickets of their own.
  - thrownblown 9y ago
    plus parents will pay gladly pay more to have entertained children for a trans-atlantic flight.

bruceb 9y ago

Phones are not bigger than seatback systems. Do people have the time or remember to load movies ? Make sure their device is charged? Seatback systems may not be great but they might be good enough to last a while longer.

derwiki 9y ago
On United flights, you can use your smartphone/tablet to connect to wifi and stream their movies for free. I guess charging is still an issue.
- lotsofpulp 9y ago
  The newer planes all have charging ports with sufficient power for mobile devices. United's streaming option, especially with the Amazon partnership seems like the way forward.
  - OscarTheGrinch 9y ago
    Lord help the next passenger using that port after Samy Kamkar has his way with it.
    - lotsofpulp 9y ago
      Hah, it's usually a power outlet that I plug my USB adapter into.
madengr 9y ago
In general, yes.
citruspi 9y ago
> Do people have the time or remember to load movies ? I'm not sure how prevalent it is, but I know some carriers like United[1] and Delta[2] (via Gogo) stream media to your personal device over the aircraft's WiFi. > Make sure their device is charged? Many flights now have USB ports and/or power outlets under the seats. [1]: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/entertainment/personal-device-entertainment.aspx https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/ent... [2]: https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/onboard-services/how-to-stream.html https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/on...
- jcoffland 9y ago
  Mainly so they can charge you for it. United's app is awful. It barely works on Android.
  - untog 9y ago
    My experience is different - I've always had free access to movies via Wi-Fi and the selection has been better than the in flight system. As long as there is a USB port I'm in favour of it.
  - chipperyman573 9y ago
    United is also free to stream movies (or at least, it was when I flew a few weeks ago). The wifi is decent - I was able to stream 480p video without interruptions, which is way better than I expected.
    - jcoffland 9y ago
      If you set your expectations low enough any experience can be great. Which coincidentally is United's new slogan.
    - deleted 9y ago
      [deleted]
  - citruspi 9y ago

thrownblown 9y ago

It was really the timing and scale of the innovation that mattered. Seat-back video in economy? In 1991? [0] Hugely innovative. $10 Million in 90's money is like $18 Mil now [1](according to this site i don't fully beleive). $2.5 Bil = $4.5 Bil. That's a lot of money to keep the kids happy. [0]https://www.virgin.com/travel/how-has-inflight-entertainment-developed-over-time https://www.virgin.com/travel/how-has-inflight-entertainment... [1]http://www.in2013dollars.com/1991-dollars-in-2017?amount=10000000 http://www.in2013dollars.com/1991-dollars-in-2017?amount=100...

CamperBob2 9y ago
That's a lot of money to keep the kids happy. Kids eventually grow up and buy plane tickets of their own.
- thrownblown 9y ago
  plus parents will pay gladly pay more to have entertained children for a trans-atlantic flight.