FocuS on inflight entertainment
Getting embedded digEcor has partnered with Gulf Air to create an embedded version of its L7 portable player. The embedded L7 from digEcor places it as the first of the handheld IFE vendors to have a seat-centric system in commercial service. The first embedded L7s began service in April
on a B737. Gulf Air plans to convert more aircraft to integrate the L7, including 10inch versions branded L10. Gulf Air ceo Samer Majali said: “The
embedding of L7 players on Gulf Air’s fleet is a further demonstration of service-enhancement for our passengers. With its new features and functionality, I am sure the embedded L7 player in seat backs will raise the passenger inflight entertainment to the next level as we introduce the major revamp to our onboard entertainment in coming months.” Aeroflot and Alaska Airlines, long term digEcor customers, have also upgraded to L7 players. The new L7 players contain hard drive, solid- state memory and new GUI to enable better visibility for reading electronic magazines.
Gaming
3D moving maps Thales IFE Systems’ new generation system, AVANT, is also a seat-centric solution. Using the Android operating system, AVANT features HD video, solid state hard drives, and faster processors over previous systems. It provides new navigation, animation, menu layout, and an interactive 3D moving map. Passengers can track the aircraft as it flies over a high-resolution 3D globe represented by satellite images. They can also track the aircraft in real-time during the taxi, take-off, flight and landing phases. Thales won the Judges Commendation Prize for
its Touch Passenger Media Unit, a menu-driven handheld device running the Android™ operating system and controlled with a 3.8 inch (9.7cm) touchscreen.
Tenth generation launch The largest IFE system vendor, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, launched eX3, the tenth generation in the X Series. With Android, solid state disc drives, fewer components, improved BITE (built-in test equipment) accuracy, and real-time system monitoring through connectivity, it is designed to be more reliable than earlier solutions. With a simplified, lighter architecture, eX3 can help reduce weight and therefore, fuel burn. The Panasonic system boasts an elegant new
British company Mezzo launched tablet-style devices using android touch screen technology to offer gaming and a new GUI of ‘gesture’ command functionality. The devices are offered under the CareSystem Platform. The platform provides revenue-generation
solutions for airlines, including onboard rental, advertising, pay per view, pay per play, retailing and passenger research. Lumexis exhibited its fibre-optic solution called
Fibre to the Screen (FTTS). Its first customer is flydubai which launched at last year’s show.
Above: Lumexis seatback screens (FTTS system) as seen on flydubai
design, seamless interior integration, capacitive touch, proximity sensors, new viewing angles, touch screen handsets and next-generation processors. eX3 will be able to offer broadband connectivity and GSM services, high definition, the highest levels of personalization, onboard social networking, high-end video games, video conferencing, and a home theatre entertainment experience. At the Panasonic stand AIX Expo visitors
could engage in live demos. There was a chat application, a very clear GUI, as well as pop-up ads for ancillary revenues.
Seat integration Another trend evident at the show was seat integration. Seat vendors and IFE vendors have created various integrated seats that airlines can install without the long integration processes of the past. Thales showed AVANT integrated into seats from B/E Aerospace, Recaro, Weber and also from Contour. EADS Sogerma and Panasonic are partnering to create a seamless
integration of Panasonic’s IFE into Sogerma’s Premier Business Class and First Class products.
Connectivity All the major service providers had stands at the Expo. OnAir, owned by Airbus, is rolling out contracts with major airlines including Air New Zealand, Oman Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Egyptair. The service enables use of mobile phones and other personal devices, for calls, text messaging, email and mobile data. Singapore Airlines, Aeroflot and Libyan Airlines will also launch OnAir later this year. OnAir is partnering with Thales as part of the
Thales TopConnect system. Thales announced it would be listed in the Airbus A350 catalogue for next generation Ka-Band connectivity. • Row44 has launched on its first European airline. Norwegian Air Shuttle is offering wi-fi on selected European routes with more to follow. Row44 also has a fleetwide contract with Southwest Airlines. • Panasonic continues to rollout wi-fi service on Lufthansa’s transatlantic routes. • Peryphon Telecom Electronic Industries launched a GSM onboard service to enable passengers to make/receive voice calls and SMS. • Rockwell Collins continues to score big with the dPAVES single-aisle system with the new High Definition media server of 160gb of content, PRAM and Airshow moving map. Recent contracts include Ethiopian Airlines and Shandong Airlines. • An unusual prototype designed for interactive games caused something of a stir at the Expo. The pod style drew visitors to Contour Aerospace which had partnered with Factorydesign. Under the banner ‘Not for Wimps’ the seat is designed to host the latest gaming entertainment. The design can be adapted to become a docking station for passengers to use their own devices without having to remove the whole seat.
www.gethinsinflight.com
CONTACT US
IFE Focus is now a regular feature in OnBoard Hospitality. If you have a new product, new technology, a relevant report, or a new partnership to announce please email sally@
gethinsinflight.com (text only, please). Please send any picture files, marked IFE in the subject line, direct to
jo.austin@
onboardhospitality.com.
www.onboardhospitality.com 43
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