Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Cool

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  • nic.wise,

    I used to think the AirNZ inflight system was a little buggy, and a little laggy, until I few 14 flights in 6 weeks from NZ to the UK via Asia, and experienced what other airlines call inflight entertainment.

    Lufthansa came close. Singapore wasn't tooooo bad, Thai was non-existant, but none came close to AirNZ's AKL -> LAX or SFO (or london/HK, I imagine) experience. The only thing which out did it was on Lufthansa (Japan to Frankfurt, seperate trip) - inflight internet. A little slow, but really good when I'd not seen or really talked to the Mrs for 2 weeks, and would not see her for another 3.

    As for the US carriers...... oh dear. Old, decrepid, stuck in the 90's. And I've never had my bags come with me on a trip thru the US....

    <sigh>

    ipod nano 8G with video is still the best option for me, loaded with content from BBC iPlayer. But a dock will help a lot. Hope they have them in by Sept when we come back to NZ for a holiday!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 87 posts Report Reply

  • Gary Hutchings,

    The el'reg item notes this system is to be installed on the A320s and 767s, ie the short haul hopes that serve the Tasman and Asia, ( Although I would expect them to eventually install the same system in the 787s and dreamliners when they come on stream in the near-medium term, ( The current Win CE based system is a bit buggy and can really toss its toys from time to time, but as said it is better than a number of others)

    The ability to take your own content is a great step, (given the music choice of most airlines, the movies and TV ain't too bad, everyone I flew on recently seemed to have enough Mythbusters and top Gear episodes to keep me happy)

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 108 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    well anything has to be better - I've seen people stare at window's blue screens of death for the entire trip across the Pacific

    While I suspect the ipod dock is to let you charge and maybe to screen your own movies wouldn't it be cool if they took the radical step of simply providing a simple standard headphone jack? so we can plug in our own noise cancelling headphones or comfortable earbuds rather than having to fiddle with hard to find adapters that keep falling out

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • barnaclebarnes,

    New AirNZ System + Mux Tape would be pretty cool. Share your playlists and listen to other peoples iPods. Then have a link to buy the song of iTunes...The possibilities are endless. You could also download city guides to the iPod Touch and do all sorts of other interesting things once you have the device connected.

    @nic.wise I booked Virgin America for a flight because I wanted to check out the in flight system which is meant to be great. 2 days before flying I get an email saying it won't be switched on during the flight! Nooooooo!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 90 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    I used to think the AirNZ inflight system was a little buggy, and a little laggy, until I few 14 flights in 6 weeks from NZ to the UK via Asia, and experienced what other airlines call inflight entertainment.

    Air NZ should be good, they came into the game a decade after everyone else. You are comparing their new generation in-flight system with legacy systems. Myself, I still prefer Singapore's over anybody elses.

    The secret is always to carry ones own headphones.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Samuel Scott,

    I always borrow my dads Bose headphones and although the noise canceling is great sometimes they make me feel like my ears are going to explode.

    The current in flight system on Air NZ long haul seems fine to me. Certainly miles better than any other air line i have flown...but i haven't flown Singapore.

    The thing i would love to see on long haul flights would be AC power and ethernet cables at all seats......and soy lattes.

    South Wellington • Since Feb 2008 • 315 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    from a technical poiint of view AC power to seats on an aircraft is a real nightmare - the customer can plug ANYTHING in - and fires are such pesky things

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    The thing i would love to see on long haul flights would be AC power..... at all seats.

    Singapore's A380s provide exactly that

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • James Green,

    the customer can plug ANYTHING in - and fires are such pesky things

    to say nothing of electric chainsaws...

    Limerick, Ireland • Since Nov 2006 • 703 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    I think AirNZ do in biz class too - just not for the plebs (and their chainsaws)

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Not quite on topic but almost

    noise canceling is great sometimes they make me feel like my ears are going to explode.

    Is this because silence something that is almost impossible on this planet, there will always be some sound whether it is the wind in the grass or the birds in the trees, that when we encounter silence it is so unnerving that the brain just can't really hack it?
    Or is it that you just turn the things up so damned loud?
    Anypoo, I have never seen the point of going to all the trouble of loading video onto an ipood or whatever, it just seems a bit too contrived and you lose the spontaneity/randomness of what you can actually see in the real world when you're outside your comfort zone. Whenever I travel with a media player I always take an extra set of headphones and an two way adapter so's I can share. So much better than isolating yourself from others.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    to say nothing of electric chainsaws...

    I'm hoping that you have to check all electric chainsaws into your bags to go in the hold.

    Because if someone sits next to me having put one of them in the overhead locker, I'm getting off the plane, power supply or not.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    The thing i would love to see on long haul flights would be AC power and ethernet cables at all seats

    Hmmmm......electric chairs ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    I always take my noise cancelling headphones on long flights - they basically turn loud engine whine into gentle white noise - I unplug them but leave them turned on when I want to sleep - I'm not sure how one turns up noise cancelling headphones (or rather the noise cancelling bit)

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    It did help with Singapore air flights to and from Europe being able to watch movies and tv and do some very basic language courses.

    Unfortunately I'm tall and if the person in front lent back even slightly I had to dislocate my neck to see the screen properly.

    Talking of iPod-enable airplanes makes me think of an ad I saw boasting that a car had bluetooth. I couldn't help thinking in terms of remote controls: "and if i press this button, i can make it turn right"

    sometimes they make me feel like my ears are going to explode.

    I do wonder if they end up converting sudden noises into pressure changes or do strange and alarming things outside the audible range. Doesn't stop me enjoying my blackbox set on the train and - very effective - on airplanes (they dealt with the turbo prop to queenstown quite thoroughly), The do hiss quietly when NR is on.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Lucky bastards. Until recently I was doing weekly trips around Australia, often only short flights however. I'd love to have been able to plug in my iPod to watch my own video content. Qantas coach and business class don't have this function and so you're stuck with 'blockbuster' movies on tiny screens.

    As an aside, the 'business class' crew is oddly diverse on some routes - none more so that Sydney to Perth where, thanks to the impact of skill shortage, you're just as likely to be seated next to a sparky as you are a day-trader (possibly more so given the recent sharemarket performance).

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Lufthansa had in-flight WiFi, but they took it out, citing lack of demand (which I don't believe - it was only EUR20 a sector or so as well - it may well have been really crap and slow).

    One thing with better entertainment is that at the moment, one main reason to upgrade is so one can spend the flight eating and sleeping. If I had internet, I'd be quite happy with a free seat next to me in the back (which you normally get when at gold airpoints).

    The A320s are (or were) used for certain internal flights, usually around midday. So you might be able to experience this kit without leaving NZ, albeit for 20 minutes (and if they even switch it on).

    Oh and I can confirm that the front of long haul Air NZ planes does have power. Though if you pay for the seat, the price would buy you six laptop batteries with plenty of change to spare.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Thomas,

    damn, i'm flying an Air NZ 747 to hong kong tomorrow. they don't even have humidifiers for the air con.

    and what is it with the ubiquity of the ipod? me and my creative zen player are feeling a bit marginalised. an ordinary usb charger socket or power socket would be nice.

    oh well. i've got a big book and some earplugs.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    yeah the screens on AitNZ cattle class suck - I'm not tall, but I do have bifocals - the screens plain don't work if the person in front leans back - there's nowhere I can put my head where I can focus on the screen and that doesn't involve extreme neck pain

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Ballantyne,

    Singapore's inflight entertainment system would be a lot better if they didn't insist on playing two or three commercials before every movie.

    Air NZ, on the other hand, could do with a better selection of movies -- but I welcome the opportunity to catch up with popular rubbish I don't want to pay money to see. I used to be film reviewer, don't ya know, but I wouldn't want have liked watching crap like Pirates of the Caribbean 3 even in a little preview theatrette. Thanks to AirNZ I was able to see as much of it as I needed to feel informed, with fast forward ad lib.

    I always take my Blackbox noise cancelling earphones when I fly -- I reckon they're worth about half a class upgrade.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 27 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Unfortunately I'm tall and if the person in front lent back even slightly I had to dislocate my neck to see the screen properly.

    That's why God gave you sharp knees. Spilling hot coffee on the offender's head can also help.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Unfortunately I'm tall and if the person in front lent back even slightly I had to dislocate my neck to see the screen properly.

    I think I'm even taller than Lyndon. My one experience with a personal screen I never had this problem, but PEOPLE WHO PUT THEIR SEATS BACK WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE BEHIND THEM are inviting plane rage of unprecedented proportions.

    Seriously, did you not see me walk past you and sit down? Didn't you look up as I walked down the aisle with my head bent sideways to avoid it hitting the plane ceiling and think "wow, that guy is really tall. bet he'd be good at basketball".

    And can you not feel my knees digging into your back? It's not because I'm doing it deliberately, it's because that's how long my legs are. They don't compress for your comfort!

    If the seat wasn't there would you lean all the way back and fall asleep on my lap? No? Cause the chair is having the same effect on me.

    Excuse me while I feed my daughter (allergic to salicylate acids) tomatoes and onions and then hold her up over your head waiting for her to vomit. Oh sorry about that.

    </public service announcement>

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Spilling hot coffee on the offender's head can also help

    ...as can

    feed my daughter (allergic to salicylate acids) tomatoes and onions and then hold her up over your head waiting for her to vomit

    obviously.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    It wasn't back far you understand, just back at all.

    That's why God gave you sharp knees.

    Actually, straightening my legs under the set I could've kicked them in the ankles.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    " " se*a*t " "

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

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