Aircell may have skipped out on having a presence at
CES this year, but that doesn't mean that nothing is going on in the wide, wacky world of
in-flight internet. The company confirmed to us via email that it's planning a new video download service for 2010, a little something that'll go by the name
Gogo Video.
PC World was able to sit down with Eric Lemond, director of product management for the company, and they found that the service will be a lot like the iTunes Video Store in function. Users will be able to tap into their onboard WiFi in order to suck down TV shows and film rentals, which will be available for viewing up to 24 hours from the time of purchase. The files themselves will remain on the laptop (as in, this isn't just a streaming service), and while the exact launch date has yet to be nailed down, we are told that it will only be available for Windows laptops initially. Prices should range from $2 to $4 based on the programming, though we're still waiting to hear what kind content partners will be signing on. Fret not, jetsetters -- the unfriendly skies are about to get a bit more bearable.
posted January 10th 2010 10:02AM
You can't use any electronic devices anymore I'm told, so how is this suppose to work?
@Wwhat
No kidding...by the time you get your movie downloaded it will be time to pack away your laptop and prepare for your landing...that will be taking place in a little over an hour.
@DaveBach cuz that guy REALLY wanted to watch NEMO .... again...?
No doubt the pic is an Engadget staff member heading to the CES on one of their private jets.
The in-flight video download service is a nice one, but I would be interested in knowing the effects on other users. If one or two people begin downloading a movie will it bring the system to a crawl?
@TheLoveDr I bring my own video :D.
Wait - I thought computers weren't allowed on planes anymore. I guess this is for the rest of the world.
Why would i want to download the media when I can just watch it on the in flight entertainment system?....so I can watch it later?..no.
JOHN MCCAIN
@WhatHappened
No that's Obama...can't you tell...just look at his screen and the document he has open. The speech he's reviewing clearly reads...
"My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world.
I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it."
@WhatHappened
I think that's Biden
@WhatHappened McCain does not use computers.
Why dont they just have a NAS with a couple of teras worth of films, and stream them over the on board wifi...?
@Oli D That's pretty much what they are offering.
See even rich people prefer Windows to OSX!
Now that looks like the Ted Danson plane!
Is that $2 to $4 after you pay for the $10 internet service? I hope not. Either way, I'll stick to bringing my own media.
@chaos215bar2
Heh, unfortunately the service rates are much worse than that. For the "Ultra" plan Aircell offers (3 mbps), they want operators to pay a flat-rate monthly fee of $2000/month. That's the reason you're charged so much for by-the-minute internet usage on commercial flights. : /
@Jyncus Thats faster than my internet at home :(
Note: The majority of Aircell's products are geared more toward the corporate / general aviation market rather than commercial. And in the corporate market, an owner can use pretty much whatever electronic device they want - particularly on a Part 91 aircraft.
Currently, I know of only one manufacturer that offers a NAS-like device for aviation use. The problem is, when you start talking about streaming media content over Wi-Fi using something like DLNA, you run into massive FAA certification resistance. It's not that it can't be done - it's that it takes an absurd amount of time and money to approve/certify the installation.
woah man, look at the rich white guy. probably made his money off of killing innocent people. fuck the elite.
@skaterdude
that brought a tear to my eye
@skaterdude
Well this guy is using a PowerBook so...
@skaterdude im just completely sickened by corporations today. their greed shows no ending. its just getting worse.
That picture is highly exploitable.
And this is a no-brainer, people will totally go for this when the in-flight movies are crap, and people are used to seeing some kind of portal when they log into public wi-fi, so they won't mind being sold to in that context.
@Ethan Yeah, it would be good if you could get the movies without buying internet access, it would be cheaper. Of course you could just download one before leaving.
Really though, I want true high-speed rail in the Eastern US instead of more technology to make a plane ride slightly less horrendous but still awful.
That guy's not even typing, he's clearly using his MBP (or...is that a PowerBook?) as a hand warmer.
Whoa, whoa, WHOA! Let's stick to getting in-flight WiFi up across the airlines before we start on this! I had a WiFi connection on a frickin US Airways flight that did absolutely nothing. It didn't even assign me an IP address!