Apple, airlines offer iPod integration
updated 08:55 am EST, Tue November 14, 2006
iPod airline integration
Apple today announced 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. These six airlines will begin offering their passengers iPod seat connections which power and charge their iPods during flight and allow the video content on their iPods to be viewed on the their 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."
In-flight iPod connectivity will be available to Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United passengers beginning in mid-2007. Additionally, Apple is working with Panasonic Avionics Corporation to bring even more leading airlines in-flight iPod connectivity in the future.
Apple said that its iPod ecosystem continues to flourish with more than 3,000 accessories made specifically for iPod that range from fashionable cases to speaker systems, and more than 70 percent of 2007-model US automobiles currently offer iPod connectivity. Apple also said that over 70 million iPods have been sold and that over 1.5 billion songs have been purchased and downloaded worldwide. The iTunes Store now features over 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-flight movies
11/14, 09:28am reply
The video part came as a bit of a surprise, but a good one. Obviously you don't need the airlines' help to listen to your iPod in the air, but being able to access the bigger in-seat screen is pretty cool.
I'm still waiting for the video nano. Well waiting is too strong a word since I'll be getting another nano shortly, so let's call it "looking forward to." Maybe in late 2007? Any ideas?
malax
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2006
the 'eco-system' grows...
11/14, 09:52am reply
And I wonder how soon the nearest competitor can claim an 'eco-system' that includes practically all car makers, Hi-Fi equipment makers (JBL, Altec Lansing...), now even airlines...! It is well established that any new entrant in this market has an uphill battle agains the iPod phenomenon. Well, the hill keeps getting steeper and steeper. Good luck with your Zune, Microsoft!
vasic
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Joined: May 2005
Too much success?
11/14, 10:32am reply
I wonder how much more pervasive iPod connectivity will get before a competitor will cry 'monopoly' and try to sue so they can include an iPod dock connector on their device for interoperability purposes.
phillymjs
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Joined: Jun 2000
wow
11/14, 10:38am reply
ya know, that's a pretty damn good idea.
Rezzz
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Joined: Jan 2006
what about Zune?
11/14, 11:22am reply
but... but... they won't integrate my Zune player?
Waaaaaaaah!
Maybe M$ could give the airlines a buck for each Zune sold in order to get them to integrate Zune players :-p
climacs
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Joined: Sep 2001
what's next?
11/14, 11:24am reply
OK how about iPod integration with vibrators so you can watch your p*** while masturbating?
climacs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2001
BRILLIANT!
11/14, 11:48am reply
BRILLIANT!
What's Zune ? like you really think that's suddenly going to catch up to iPod sales?
MS has no business in hardware, they just do it coz they can afford to waste their money - it's not like it's their passion.
whackjob
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Joined: Aug 2005
RE:what's next?
11/14, 11:50am reply
"OK how about iPod integration with vibrators so you can watch your p*** while masturbating"?
If you like , we make.
whackjob
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Joined: Aug 2005
how easy?
11/14, 12:16pm reply
I don't have a video iPod or I'd probably know this. Can you take any Quicktime movie and load it onto your iPod (via iTunes)? Is there any easy way to grab content of YouTube and load that to your iPod? The Apple site only talks about video podcasts and iTS content.
malax
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Joined: Aug 2006
re; how easy
11/14, 12:36pm reply
I've never tried to compress YT video to .mp4 but it would probably look like s*** since YT video already looks like s***.
there is an export option in QT Player Pro, 'export to iPod'. It has no parameters to set, you just name the file and let it rip. It is SLOW unless you have a fast machine.
You can also use any other compression utility (I use Compression Master) to convert to .mp4 but you need to know how to set the parameters correctly to fit the frame size for iPod. As far as I know, .mov does NOT work with your video iPod.
climacs
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Joined: Sep 2001