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I understand why airlines and other industries are using off-the-shelf parts; I actually prefer this because it gets us closer to more modular IFE systems like

I understand why airlines and other industries are using off-the-shelf parts; I actually prefer this because it gets us closer to more modular IFE systems like what Delta/GoGo are doing on the A220, which means airlines can conceivably upgrade their IFE systems more frequently and at lower costs. What I don’t understand is why there aren’t commodify parts available sans cameras, given the myriad of use-cases and the customer volume for camera-free Android/Linux/QNX (I doubt QNX is even a player given their royalties but just thinking of what embedded systems are available) tablets. Anyway, it would take very little effort to assuage customers by blocking the cameras. If a 2¢ cover is too much, gaffer tape would work. It’s disappointing — though not surprising — that the airline industry hasn’t done this.

r00fus 8y ago
It makes one question if there was an ulterior motive. That or complete disconnect with customer priorities (oh, they won't care).
- na85 8y ago
  It's actually a complete "connect" with customer priorities. Most people don't care (yet) about their privacy, as evidenced by the scads of money that scummy data companies like Facebook et al are making selling our lives to advertisers.
  - yesenadam 8y ago
    That's no kind of evidence. There is at least one hidden premise to your argument, something like "If people cared about their privacy, they wouldn't use Facebook et al", which doesn't seem true to me at all. You first need evidence for that. But these points have been debated a thousand times on HN already... (Anecdatally, I hate that such sites sell peoples' information, but I use FB)
askvictor 8y ago
What's the market for Android tablets (units per year) for airlines, compared to retail? I would suspect retail vastly outnumbers it, hence being considerably cheaper. What other use cases are you thinking of that would have significant volume?
- filmgirlcw 8y ago
  Medical facilities, government (where cameras are almost always disabled at the software/MDM level), any secure area where a front-facing camera isn't ideal. Military and hospitals alone would strike me as being a big enough market to at least deserve a SKU/option.
  - pixl97 8y ago
    Most medical facilities that I know use Apple tablets, and there isn't a chance in hell that Apple is releasing a tablet without a camera. Mostly, making just one SKu drops the price and inventory handling so incredibly much that it isn't worthwhile. Especially when most people believe it is secure enough just to disable it in software. That said, most security minded people may not believe that, but it seems they are in the minority when it comes to business decision making.
jbay808 8y ago
>> What I don’t understand is why there aren’t commodify parts available sans cameras, given the myriad of use-cases and the customer volume for camera-free Android Yes. In fact, an acquaintance of mine is staying at a psychiatric hospital being treated for schizophrenia. He has absolutely nothing to do all day and wants to read books from the library. But he can't easily access the library. This is possible (but slow and inconvenient) to do with an e-reader, but very convenient with a tablet. However, devices with cameras or microphones are not permitted in the psych ward. They can be used to compromise the privacy of other patients. So the hospital would not allow tablets. I "upgraded" a cheap tablet for him by permanently disabling the microphoneaand camera using a power drill and some epoxy. He's thrilled with it and the hospital has asked for more!
- azernik 8y ago
  Sounds like a good use case for Alibaba - see how big the market is!
- _emacsomancer_ 8y ago
  It's amazing how much quality-of-life improvement can be had with a relatively cheap Android tablet. I gave one as a gift to a relative who's in a care facility (no issues with microphone or cameras there, so I didn't have to do any modifications) and it's made a noticeable difference.
- xg15 8y ago
  > Yes. In fact, an acquaintance of mine is staying at a psychiatric hospital being treated for schizophrenia. He has absolutely nothing to do all day and wants to read books from the library. But he can't easily access the library. Nice. I guess this is the psychological equivalent of crappy hospital food right when your body is recovering and has the highest need of nutrients.
duxup 8y ago
It would be nice if there were non camera / no mic parts. Or even just those with a physical switch that cuts power to them ... for everyone. Maybe a backup switch that can be "broken" that effectively permanently cuts power to them? So you sell the same tablet, but you stick a key in a spot, turn, and they're disabled for good.
TorKlingberg 8y ago
My guess is they were planning to offer in-flight video calls. Then they never did because it would use too much bandwidth, cost too much to implement, and wouldn't work with Facetime/Skype/WhatsApp to the other party would have to install a special app first.
tensor 8y ago
Personally, I want cameras on these things. It's an airplane, not a private space. And a camera is useful for all sorts of things from video conferencing to gesture based interaction.
- filmgirlcw 8y ago
  I said this in another comment, but it really depends on the type of flight and class of cabin you're in. Singapore Airlines has showers in first class. Emirates, Qatar, Singapore, and Air France all have private first-class suites with doors or full-length curtains. The big trend in international business class (both with US domestic and foreign carriers) is to make the seats as private as possible. Delta has doors on the A350, Qatar does something similar on the QSuite (which can be configured even for four people to have their only little pod and a double bed for couples), and others are following suit. For those of us who travel extensively for work (especially international travel) and are expected to be ready to go upon landing (I sometimes have meetings or stage rehearsals within ours of landing after a 10+ hour flight -- though I usually try to arrange my travel so I have at least a night before to adjust, that isn't always possible), sleeping on planes is imperative and it's why you pay thousands of dollars for a lay-flat seat in a private cocoon for business class. Also, people who do video conferencing on airplanes are the worst. The absolute worst. (Unless you're in one of the private first-class suites I'll never be able to afford, then knock yourself out.)
JohnFen 8y ago
> What I don’t understand is why there aren’t commodify parts available sans cameras Me too. Given what I use tablets for, all other things being equal I would absolutely prefer one that didn't have a camera and microphone over one that did.

r00fus 8y ago

It makes one question if there was an ulterior motive. That or complete disconnect with customer priorities (oh, they won't care).

na85 8y ago
It's actually a complete "connect" with customer priorities. Most people don't care (yet) about their privacy, as evidenced by the scads of money that scummy data companies like Facebook et al are making selling our lives to advertisers.
- yesenadam 8y ago
  That's no kind of evidence. There is at least one hidden premise to your argument, something like "If people cared about their privacy, they wouldn't use Facebook et al", which doesn't seem true to me at all. You first need evidence for that. But these points have been debated a thousand times on HN already... (Anecdatally, I hate that such sites sell peoples' information, but I use FB)

askvictor 8y ago

What's the market for Android tablets (units per year) for airlines, compared to retail? I would suspect retail vastly outnumbers it, hence being considerably cheaper. What other use cases are you thinking of that would have significant volume?

filmgirlcw 8y ago
Medical facilities, government (where cameras are almost always disabled at the software/MDM level), any secure area where a front-facing camera isn't ideal. Military and hospitals alone would strike me as being a big enough market to at least deserve a SKU/option.
- pixl97 8y ago
  Most medical facilities that I know use Apple tablets, and there isn't a chance in hell that Apple is releasing a tablet without a camera. Mostly, making just one SKu drops the price and inventory handling so incredibly much that it isn't worthwhile. Especially when most people believe it is secure enough just to disable it in software. That said, most security minded people may not believe that, but it seems they are in the minority when it comes to business decision making.

jbay808 8y ago

>> What I don’t understand is why there aren’t commodify parts available sans cameras, given the myriad of use-cases and the customer volume for camera-free Android Yes. In fact, an acquaintance of mine is staying at a psychiatric hospital being treated for schizophrenia. He has absolutely nothing to do all day and wants to read books from the library. But he can't easily access the library. This is possible (but slow and inconvenient) to do with an e-reader, but very convenient with a tablet. However, devices with cameras or microphones are not permitted in the psych ward. They can be used to compromise the privacy of other patients. So the hospital would not allow tablets. I "upgraded" a cheap tablet for him by permanently disabling the microphoneaand camera using a power drill and some epoxy. He's thrilled with it and the hospital has asked for more!

azernik 8y ago
Sounds like a good use case for Alibaba - see how big the market is!
_emacsomancer_ 8y ago
It's amazing how much quality-of-life improvement can be had with a relatively cheap Android tablet. I gave one as a gift to a relative who's in a care facility (no issues with microphone or cameras there, so I didn't have to do any modifications) and it's made a noticeable difference.
xg15 8y ago
> Yes. In fact, an acquaintance of mine is staying at a psychiatric hospital being treated for schizophrenia. He has absolutely nothing to do all day and wants to read books from the library. But he can't easily access the library. Nice. I guess this is the psychological equivalent of crappy hospital food right when your body is recovering and has the highest need of nutrients.

duxup 8y ago

It would be nice if there were non camera / no mic parts. Or even just those with a physical switch that cuts power to them ... for everyone. Maybe a backup switch that can be "broken" that effectively permanently cuts power to them? So you sell the same tablet, but you stick a key in a spot, turn, and they're disabled for good.

TorKlingberg 8y ago

My guess is they were planning to offer in-flight video calls. Then they never did because it would use too much bandwidth, cost too much to implement, and wouldn't work with Facetime/Skype/WhatsApp to the other party would have to install a special app first.

tensor 8y ago

Personally, I want cameras on these things. It's an airplane, not a private space. And a camera is useful for all sorts of things from video conferencing to gesture based interaction.

filmgirlcw 8y ago
I said this in another comment, but it really depends on the type of flight and class of cabin you're in. Singapore Airlines has showers in first class. Emirates, Qatar, Singapore, and Air France all have private first-class suites with doors or full-length curtains. The big trend in international business class (both with US domestic and foreign carriers) is to make the seats as private as possible. Delta has doors on the A350, Qatar does something similar on the QSuite (which can be configured even for four people to have their only little pod and a double bed for couples), and others are following suit. For those of us who travel extensively for work (especially international travel) and are expected to be ready to go upon landing (I sometimes have meetings or stage rehearsals within ours of landing after a 10+ hour flight -- though I usually try to arrange my travel so I have at least a night before to adjust, that isn't always possible), sleeping on planes is imperative and it's why you pay thousands of dollars for a lay-flat seat in a private cocoon for business class. Also, people who do video conferencing on airplanes are the worst. The absolute worst. (Unless you're in one of the private first-class suites I'll never be able to afford, then knock yourself out.)

JohnFen 8y ago

> What I don’t understand is why there aren’t commodify parts available sans cameras Me too. Given what I use tablets for, all other things being equal I would absolutely prefer one that didn't have a camera and microphone over one that did.