As if you weren't already super into Google maps, now geek airline supreme
Virgin America is getting Gmaps integrated into its Linux-based Red seatback system. As with other seatback GPS systems, users can see position, airspeed, and temperature, but we're stoked to finally get a flight ETA and some interactivity up in here. VA's implementation lets users have eight levels of zoom, as well as pan off the aircraft if they want to go exploring the city they just flew over. Plus, all the map data is cached on the plane's local network, so it'll be even faster than sitting across the street from Google HQ at a Starbucks in Mountain View.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Señor Swanky @ Jul 17th 2007 9:57PM
Holy boredom, Batman! 36,000 ft. 35,998 ft. 36, 007ft. Peanuts. 32, 000 ft. Vomit. 42, 330 ft. Plan lawsuit. And that's just the first twenty minutes.
Ryhan @ Jul 17th 2007 10:30PM
At least Virgin doesn't suffer from computer glitches and crashes every few weeks...
I think its nice to see someone actually trying to do something interesting (at least to me), rather than simply overbooking seats and losing luggage in the "system" (grr... Northwest)
Andrew @ Jul 17th 2007 10:38PM
What's new about eta display? Virgin Atlantic have had that for 5+ years!
Rick @ Jul 17th 2007 10:49PM
jetblue has it too. they seem to switch between mapquest and google maps, though.
Mike @ Jul 17th 2007 11:13PM
Psh! Block, I thought you were smart enough to use Google's free Mountain View WiFi than to pay stupid starbucks for their internets.
Also, I'm pretty sure the Google Wifi is faster than Starbuck's.
Teddy @ Jul 17th 2007 11:29PM
What I want to know is will we get younger, better looking FAs. On my last flight, I swear they were all over 50. Then again, maybe experience is more important, you know in case of a crash or something, however some aisle candy would be nice.
Special_K @ Jul 18th 2007 12:54AM
My experience with "Super Advanced™" IFE systems has been poor, to say the least. The worst was Air Canada's touch-screen system. When explaining how to operate it, the flight attendant warned the passengers not to touch the buttons in quick succession, or else the system would crash. Well, there was no way to tell whether the system had registered a touch, so once I touched a button I had no idea if the system was actually doing anything. Me being impatient, I hit the button again. The screen stood still, and I figured out what was going on. I gave up on watching the news, and switched over to my magazine. Five minutes later, the screen shifts over to the news screen. I tap the channel I want, the same thing happens, except this time it actually crashed. Absolutely awful, and pitiful considering that AC had just upgraded all their IFE systems. Overall, I've never flown on an airline with flawless IFE, and I doubt Virgin America will be able to overcome the issues inherent in providing on-demand entertainment to hundreds of people at 35000ft (whether they use Linux or not).
diverguy @ Jul 18th 2007 1:36AM
lol... "geek airline supreme" "VIRGIN america"...XD
pauly @ Jul 18th 2007 10:24AM
Make your own Google map it's easy!
http://www.econym.demon.co.uk/googlemaps/
http://www.robotliving.com/wp-content/RoboMap.html
Mark @ Jul 18th 2007 1:54PM
Any idea if google has plans to use the ETA functionality obviously within this, to the mobile version of their software. It would be nice to get directions on my blackberry to a destination and be able to track updates to this based on current position with GPS.....
michael @ Jul 18th 2007 9:10PM
Now if only we knew when Virgin America was going to finally start selling tickets....
matt @ Aug 16th 2007 12:47AM
granted, this is new and different. but what’s the value of it. my opinion: big hype around a well known brand name without any benefit for the passenger. i saw an interactive moving map product on etihad (a middle east airline). it's the latest version of the ‘airshow’ you see on most international flights. very cool: points of interest with slide show and lonely planet info, high res city maps… will check out virgin america asap but don't believe the hype.