The tablet wars are being fought between Google and Apple on the ground — and in the air. We already knew that Boeing’s committing to using Android in its next-gen 787 Dreamliner planes. Now Qantas is trialling iPads for inflight distraction purposes.
Plane flights are boring, boring things. I’ve spent nearly forty hours on planes over the past two weeks alone, and did so (as any obsessed gadget junkie would) with a bevy of technology on hand, including two tablets to cover me for if the inflight entertainment system crashed. Or if the movies were rubbish, which, let’s face it, they nearly always are. Fast & Furious 5 — why did I watch that?
Anyway, according to reports from Australian Business Traveller, I may be able to leave the tablets at home, as airlines are rushing to implement them for inflight entertainment. Qantas is setting up to trial iPad 2s for inflight entertainment next month for WiFi streaming of movies and music via a dedicated ‘Q Streaming’ app.
Inflight provided iPads will be locked down to just that App to discourage theft, but the plan is to allow customers to bring their own in the long term if the trial is a success. [AusBT]
Luke
Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 9:25 AMJust dont fly cattle class if you want any of these benefits.
Alex Kidman
Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 9:29 AMActually no; Qantas is trialling it for all passengers according to the article (although business class ones do get a stand as well, apparently)
Luke
Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 9:37 AMWell… the more you know. Normally economy misses out on those types of things.
I think there was an airline that was going to take out the economy seats and put some weird hybrid standing/ leaning thing in its place.
Ryan
Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 4:05 PMRyanair were looking into it – for flights one hour or less you could stand for about 20 pounds.
Andrew Browne
Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 11:53 AMNormally Economy on Qantas misses out on these type of things – not so with Etihad or Emirates
Sean C
Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 12:20 PMMate of mine works on this project. Said to me last week that this should be going onto QantasLink also. And the WiFi access used by Qantas’ iPads can be accessed via your personal devices – should come in handy with my wifi iPad :)
matt g
Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 10:07 PMThey should just replace the crap screen on the seatback with an ipad, which is tethered to the seat. Take it out, pop it back in. Also gets rid of those damn tethered remotes that end up coiled around everything. Seems like a winner to me.