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Wireless Networking Entertainment

United's Latest Jets Will Offer Bluetooth For In-Flight Entertainment (theverge.com) 117

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: United Airlines is adding a long-awaited feature to the in-flight entertainment seatback screens of its new Boeing 737 Max 8 jets -- support for Bluetooth headphones. The company is making the upgrade as part of "United Next," a new plan to expand and modernize its fleet with what it says are larger, fuel-efficient jets and a more comfortable in-flight experience. Adding seatback screens made a huge difference in how tolerable flying is, but it's been held up by lagging audio support that The Verge has even written a guide to getting around. And this isn't a problem unique to United. Other airlines like Delta or JetBlue have been offering seatback screens for years, but have also saddled flyers with analog audio. United just might be one of the first airlines to start the next wave of inflight entertainment improvements (hopefully).

However, there's room for things to go a bit sideways. As part of its upgrades, United's new 737 Max 8 jets offer 10 or 13-inch inflight entertainment screens on the backs of all seats, which might mean a lot of people trying to connect to Bluetooth at once. That could cause interference, and might also make the process of connecting your headphones more of a chore if you're having to hunt through multiple devices trying to pair in the same menu. United currently only offers Bluetooth on its Max 8 jets which it says should start flying this summer. The company didn't share how it plans to address issues with Bluetooth, but said it's still "studying the technology."

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United's Latest Jets Will Offer Bluetooth For In-Flight Entertainment

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  • by Harold Halloway ( 1047486 ) on Wednesday June 30, 2021 @08:06AM (#61536740)

    but have also saddled flyers with analog audio

    The indignity. How did the poor lambs cope?

    • I think the problem is that the courageous kids of today don't have wires on their headphones.

      • I think the problem is that the courageous kids of today don't have wires on their headphones.

        Yup.

        * plugs in wired headphones *

        Be brave, young one. Goes well with your ignorance.

        • by Falos ( 2905315 )

          * plugs in wired headphones *

          lol do you really think I'm going to read this entire guide

      • by I75BJC ( 4590021 )
        Great Comment!

        I've made many trans-Atlantic flights without bluetooth and did Not suffer a bit. Ear buds with cable were provided and I could use my cabled headphones without a problem.

        Each person could watch any movie, show, etc. and listen to any music without interference from the selection of any one else.
        On the other side, the airline/aircraft should be able to provide enough bandwidth so that bleedover from another person's selection.
        I just hope that the airlines don't revert to the bygone day
    • Thank you. I was wondering why that nebulous statement was in there. Analog is bad? It works! Each time, every time. Plug the cable in, done.

      We strive to make the simple as complicated as possible in the desire for advancement.

  • And seat back screens lead to parents complaining the their kids can see the r rated movie on the next screen. What United need is more robust WiFi including internet access when on international flights. This Bluetooth thing is just part of the marketing push sent out yesterday. It is not likely to effect the average flyer. One item in the advert is more premium seats. So less room for economy, more opportunity to encourage people to upgrade.
    • And seat back screens lead to parents complaining the their kids can see the r rated movie on the next screen. What United need is more robust WiFi including internet access when on international flights.

      500MPH plane flying along at 35,000 feet to get humans to their destinations NOW, and what do they want?

      Broadband big enough to stream 4K cartoons on a 5" screen.

      Don't suppose for the Spoiled Generation that enough is ever enough? No? Didn't think so.

      We better hope we keep this thing call the internet running at all times. Only way to avoid mass suicides.

      • Sad isnt it? On car trips I have my son pick a few digital movies from our library or netflix and download them for offline mode. He can cycle through 10-15 hrs of content if he is bored. Otherwise hes welcome to try and play punch-buggy, lol.
        • Sad isnt it? On car trips I have my son pick a few digital movies from our library or netflix and download them for offline mode. He can cycle through 10-15 hrs of content if he is bored. Otherwise hes welcome to try and play punch-buggy, lol.

          Hopefully you spray painted the windows black so he can't see just how beautiful nature is. That could ruin a kid for life.

          • Depends on the trip and where in the trip. Lol. Some areas are not that great of a view. They say birds fly upside down over Indiana. Its not worth shitting on. ;-) usually I start my trips at 3am just so the first 5 hrs most people are asleep.
            • usually I start my trips at 3am just so the first 5 hrs most people are asleep.

              Good move! Short circuits the "Are we there yet?" chorus for a while.

              • usually I start my trips at 3am just so the first 5 hrs most people are asleep.

                Good move! Short circuits the "Are we there yet?" chorus for a while.

                Kids still do that? Don't we have hardcore drugs for that now? Isn't that the answer?

                Could've fooled me, Ritalin Generation.

                • usually I start my trips at 3am just so the first 5 hrs most people are asleep.

                  Good move! Short circuits the "Are we there yet?" chorus for a while.

                  Kids still do that? Don't we have hardcore drugs for that now? Isn't that the answer?

                  Could've fooled me, Ritalin Generation.

                  When they told me that wanted to put my son on Ritalin - I told them they were most welcom to go fuck themselves.

                  Put him in Competitive Ice Hockey instead. Most of his male classmates are badly screwed up now. He's doing well.

                  Drugging normal children into submission should be criminal child abuse. After the male teachers were chased out of schools, you know - only makes have sex with students - the lady teachers wanted boys to behave like the girls - who are always better mannered. ADHD and Ritalin to

                  • ...After the male teachers were chased out of schools, you know - only makes have sex with students - the lady teachers wanted boys to behave like the girls - who are always better mannered. ADHD and Ritalin to the rescue!

                    Ironically enough, all those strong female teachers who were taught to stand tall and be as "empowered" as their (former) male counterparts, are getting busted fucking young boys now.

                    Ah, the circle-jerk of life...

                    • ...After the male teachers were chased out of schools, you know - only makes have sex with students - the lady teachers wanted boys to behave like the girls - who are always better mannered. ADHD and Ritalin to the rescue!

                      Ironically enough, all those strong female teachers who were taught to stand tall and be as "empowered" as their (former) male counterparts, are getting busted fucking young boys now.

                      Ah, the circle-jerk of life...

                      Older guys have learned how toxic modern women are, and avoid them, so the ladies turn to children to boink. And yeah, mid 30's women fucking children is sick and toxic. People can make jokes about it, but it's as wrong as an adult male teacher yencing a 13 year old girl. Oh, and since the ladies are pansexual, girls are targets to hit on as well.

                      Funny how that purge was supposed to make the schools a safe place.

          • by Cederic ( 9623 )

            Clearly you haven't driven distance in the UK. If you can see past the rain on the windows you get to enjoy the spectacular beauty of the slopes and fences used to deflect road noise away from the grey shitty urban spread that infests the whole fucking country now.

            Driving in other countries can be far more enjoyable.

            • Clearly you haven't driven distance in the UK. If you can see past the rain on the windows you get to enjoy the spectacular beauty of the slopes and fences used to deflect road noise away from the grey shitty urban spread that infests the whole fucking country now.

              Driving in other countries can be far more enjoyable.

              No I haven't - And you haven't made me want to! 8^)

        • On car trips I have my son pick a few digital movies from our library or netflix and download them for offline mode.

          I do something similar on car trips. My son can pick a few digital movies from our library or netflix and ... think of them fondly if he'd like. Screw digital entertainment in the car. If he's bored, tough shit. Knowing how to deal with being bored is a very useful skill. He and I actually end up taking time to talk about stuff. It's horrible, I know.

        • punch-buggy

          It's called "slug bug" you monster.

      • 500MPH plane flying along at 35,000 feet to get humans to their destinations NOW, and what do they want?

        Whenever I see someone get upset over a delay or something, I have to wonder if they've ever driven across the country.

        Then there are the people who take the window seat and immediately close the shade for the entire flight. You're in a 500MPH plane at 35,000 feet! Look out the window! It's amazing! That IS my in-flight entertainment!

      • by ceoyoyo ( 59147 )

        Holy shit, the comments are full of crotchety bitterness.

        Back in my day, when only half the children survived past their second birthday, men were men, women were property, and we could entertain ourselves for hours wondering whether that minor cut was going to kill us!

        • by Pascoea ( 968200 )

          Holy shit, the comments are full of crotchety bitterness.

          That matches my assessment as well.

          Back in my day, when only half the children survived past their second birthday, men were men, women were property, and we could entertain ourselves for hours wondering whether that minor cut was going to kill us!

          I'm not quite old enough to remember that, but I am definitely part of the pre-Internet-generation. People that harken back to "the good old days" can stuff it. They weren't that good. Sure, things APPEARED simpler back then, but it was sure a hellhole if you weren't a white middle-class straight man.

          • by ceoyoyo ( 59147 )

            It was a hellhole for them too, just not as much. The past was the worst. I'm also not old enough to remember 50% infant mortality either, but in 1950 it was six times what it is now in the US, and it was at 23% worldwide, versus 4% today (live births, dead before 5 years).

            On any metric you care to look at, other than "back in my day," the past is awful.

            • by Pascoea ( 968200 )

              On any metric you care to look at, other than "back in my day," the past is awful.

              And they didn't have internet porn. You had to go buy/rent/steal it from a store like a damn caveman.

      • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        12 hours, nothing to do, nothing to see, tiny cramped seat... I've been on flights where the entertainment failed, they were loooong. Not just for me but for the cabin crew with a bunch of bored people in their hands. Luckily there were not many kids or it would have been even worse.

        • 12 hours, nothing to do, nothing to see, tiny cramped seat... I've been on flights where the entertainment failed, they were loooong. Not just for me but for the cabin crew with a bunch of bored people in their hands. Luckily there were not many kids or it would have been even worse.

          Sad that people have become that focused on a singular entity to provide entertainment. Fuck books. Fuck magazines. Fuck an MP3 player. Fuck talking to another human.

          Damn, it's almost as if they're addicted to the internet, but that would be crazy right? I mean, no way in hell the WHOLE fucking plane is addicted, right?

          Right?

          Bueller?

    • Personally I'll just download a few movies onto my laptop/tablet when travelling. It's not that hard to plan ahead, and all the streaming services let you download movies to your device. I really don't see the huge draw of having WiFi on a plane. It's kind of nice to be disconnected few a few hours.

      • Personally I'll just download a few movies onto my laptop/tablet when travelling. It's not that hard to plan ahead, and all the streaming services let you download movies to your device. I really don't see the huge draw of having WiFi on a plane. It's kind of nice to be disconnected few a few hours.

        OK, boomer.

    • Agreed. The audio/video entertainment question was completed when airlines allowed a bring-your-own-device.

      The seat-back devices are all sub-optimal. Whether it's screen size, UI, angle, arm rest controls...all worse than an iPad/Kindle/etc. And frankly I'm not sure why the airline would want to pay for screens, the maintenance/replacement...I dunno maybe they know what they are doing.

      My main complaint with BYOD is that the airline apps seem to change tablet OS requirements more frequently than is really

      • Agreed. The audio/video entertainment question was completed when airlines allowed a bring-your-own-device.

        The seat-back devices are all sub-optimal. Whether it's screen size, UI, angle, arm rest controls...all worse than an iPad/Kindle/etc. And frankly I'm not sure why the airline would want to pay for screens, the maintenance/replacement...

        This. Just provide a USB charging port and be done with it.

        No WiFi? They should have planned ahead.

        • A charging port plus a tensioned grip to mount it to the seat back. Who wants to hold a tablet for a 10-hour flight?

          • I was thinking the same thing reading this thread.

            Power and a way to mount any device on the seat back should replace pretty much their entire seat back except for the tray.

  • Pairing fun (Score:5, Funny)

    by hackertourist ( 2202674 ) on Wednesday June 30, 2021 @08:34AM (#61536822)

    Yes, let's put 300 BT transmitters in allow-pairing mode and play roulette with which headset gets paired to which screen.

    • by Aczlan ( 636310 )

      What could possibly go wrong with ~150 sets of headphones in range of each seat with less than 50 models of headphones and no way to change what shows up as the advertised headphone name?

      Aaron Z

    • by OrangeTide ( 124937 ) on Wednesday June 30, 2021 @09:12AM (#61536976) Homepage Journal

      I assumed this is what was meant by in-flight entertainment. Pairing Bluetooth repeatedly and swearing at it for 3 hours.

    • by GoRK ( 10018 )

      This was my first thought also. This will be a nightmare for regular people, and a field day for pranksters.

      Not to mention the issues with rf channel saturation...

    • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

      They could use a QR code to pair. NFC for phones that support it too. I imagine pairing broadcasts will be disabled.

      They will have to have the TX power on minimum but it should work.

      • Re:Pairing fun (Score:4, Insightful)

        by omnichad ( 1198475 ) on Wednesday June 30, 2021 @11:56AM (#61537522) Homepage

        Do your Bluetooth headphones scan QR codes? Mine don't.

        • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

          You have it backwards, it's the transmitter that needs to scan the QR code. Or more likely NFC, the headphones they supply will have it.

          If you bring your own then some do have NFC, or maybe then there will be a manual pairing option.

          Some phones also support sharing credentials of known devices via QR code on the screen. The entertainment units have cameras now, there was a story on here about it creeping people out.

          • I don't think they're providing headphones. There would be literally no reason to use Bluetooth if they were providing them. NFC is not common enough to bother with. And you were talking about using NFC with a phone, which doesn't even make sense.

            • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

              A lot of the modern ones have a USB socket for your own media, makes sense to add pairing your own phone.

              If it has Chromecast built in they can charge for WiFi so people can watch Netflix etc.

              Do they not provide free cans on long haul in the US? Every fight I've ever been on with an entertainment system has provided a basic pair for free. These days the premium economy ones have basic noise cancelling.

      • by PPH ( 736903 )

        My ear buds are in my ears and I'm leaning back within two or three inches of the display unit for the seat behind me. Who do you think is going to win the power war?

  • Please tell me they shielded the mission critical software from the entertainment system.

    I know it should be a no-brainer, but I am no longer entirely sure...

    • entertainment system overseas coder other stuff US based Jr coder.

    • by laird ( 2705 )

      Yes, the entertainment system on the seat back isn't connected to flight control - it's completely different hardware and software. Same deal as cars - the entertainment system can be off and you can still drive the car just fine.

      • You know, in this case the car analogy isn't exactly very comforting.

      • by amorsen ( 7485 ) <benny+slashdot@amorsen.dk> on Wednesday June 30, 2021 @09:47AM (#61537082)

        Yes, the entertainment system on the seat back isn't connected to flight control - it's completely different hardware and software. Same deal as cars - the entertainment system can be off and you can still drive the car just fine.

        This is not actually the case with cars. Yes, you can still drive the car, but the head unit is generally sitting on the same bus as the ABS and power steering controls. All the more exciting when modern cars have autosteer.

        • by Cyberax ( 705495 )

          Yes, you can still drive the car, but the head unit is generally sitting on the same bus as the ABS and power steering controls.

          At least on Tesla the head unit does not sit on the CAN bus. Instead all communication is gated through a dedicated 'gateway' module.

        • by PPH ( 736903 )

          All the more exciting when modern cars have autosteer.

          MCAS - My Car Automatically Steers.

      • by PPH ( 736903 )

        Yes, the entertainment system on the seat back isn't connected to flight control

        It isn't connected yet [federalregister.gov]. Boeing has asked for an received an exception to the 'separate network' rule for the 787.

    • Even the flight controls are bluetooth. The pilot will announce when he's paired his phone and controller in the cockpit, then passengers can begin pairing their devices.

  • I can leave my USB cable at home!
    • even though the ink cartridges look huge, there is never even an ounce of liquid in them, therefor safe to bring on board.

      I'll bring a laminator and we can make fake ids while in international airspace.

  • There are millions of people with bluetooth headphones - they're extremely popular. And likely a big overlap with people that fly. So it makes sense for the airline to support them, rather than force people with perfectly good bluetooth headphones to buy a set of horrible airline headphones just to plug in for the flight.

    As for people worrying about confusion between headsets, keep in mind that you only see devices that are in pairing mode, which is only for a few seconds - from when you put them in pairin

    • by tsqr ( 808554 )

      rather than force people with perfectly good bluetooth headphones to buy a set of horrible airline headphones just to plug in for the flight.

      Can I possibly be the only person on Slashdot who owns a pair of noise-cancelling headphones equipped with both Bluetooth AND a wired jack?

      • I have a Sony WH-1000XM3 bluetooth headphones with a wired jack. I most certainly don't carry the TRS cable around with me though. Do you?
        • by tsqr ( 808554 )

          Every time I'm going to board an airliner, sure. Otherwise, not so much. We were talking about commercial aiines, right?

    • The last time I flew was back in 1995, and the plane I was on used *accoustic* headphones. Like a stethoscope. A hollow plastic tube that 'plugged' into a hole in the arm rest where the actual speaker was at. It sounded just as good as you would imagine.

      I also had the original Game Boy and I played some Zelda: Link's Awakening for a bit on that flight.

      No screens, no Netflix, and no Karens getting into brawls causing the plane to require a fighter jet escort to the nearest airport.

      • by ceoyoyo ( 59147 )

        Hell, you could even light up a smoke or two to relax!

        • I think by 1995 airlines have gone non-smoking. At least I don't recall anyone lighting up on that flight.

          • by ceoyoyo ( 59147 )

            Yeah, 1995 is too late. They had TVs and stuff by then too. The golden age of flying was earlier. Smoke all you want, mandatory short skirts for the stews, and good old square windows. None of this oval shit.

            • Some flights did have TVs but it was rare in 1995. Likely the ones that did had smeary passive matrix displays (cost even in bulk) and this kind of IFE would have been very expensive back in. Even as a marketing lure, the cost would likely not have been seen as worth it for such a limited system that would've been running off of video tape rather than DVRs. Cheaper just to project the movie on a regular movie screen and pipe the audio through those terrible accoustic headphones.

  • Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Wednesday June 30, 2021 @09:01AM (#61536948)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • "Apple's decision to omit the headphone jack, and Google et al's moronic, slavish, decision to follow"

      Among the many things that Apple did not invent are cell phones without 1/8th inch headphone jacks.

    • 2. The decision means Bluetooth headphones are now what many people carry around

      No it's not. Technology is the reason why Bluetooth headphones are now what many people carry around. Even those of us (like me) who have headphone sockets have precisely zero desire to screw around with cables. The last time I used corded headphones away from my desk was in 2016 when the cable got snagged by my hand on the running machine and sent my smartphone flying across the room. 2016 is relevant because this was BEFORE Apple removed the jack.

      Apple could have done nothing, it wouldn't have stopped me

  • Long hauls (Score:4, Insightful)

    by codeButcher ( 223668 ) on Wednesday June 30, 2021 @09:23AM (#61537008)

    I used to fly long hauls. Not an American, so I don't fly inland routes that often.

    You wanna know what makes "a more comfortable in-flight experience" and "a huge difference in how tolerable flying is"? Number one on the list is

    ==> legroom <==.

    That, and not breaking guitars [davecarrollmusic.com].

    • by PPH ( 736903 )

      ==> legroom <==

      Short guy built like a gorilla here. Give me more shoulder room any day.

      • I feel you! Broad shoulders are a problem for me too (second or third on that list?). Need at least 2 good, full pillows to be able to sleep on my side without trips to the chiropractor...

        I was once sitting, waiting for everybody to board, when a guy came to sit in the seat next to me. Youngish, not overweight or abnormally tall/short - just normal looking. Couldn't fit his hips in between the armrests. Said it was his first time on an airplane... In the end they made him sit in a jumpseat and the off-duty

    • I used to fly long hauls. Not an American, so I don't fly inland routes that often.

      You wanna know what makes "a more comfortable in-flight experience" and "a huge difference in how tolerable flying is"? Number one on the list is

      ==> legroom <==.

      You can sometimes get more legroom if you pay extra for it. Depends on the airline. But you know why you don't have it all the time? Because American consumers have made it clear that literally every single part of the flying experience, including actually putting you on the plane you booked, is optional and up for negotiation in exchange for the lowest price possible. So with all these consumers fighting for low prices, they airlines have to squeeze in more passengers. If you live in Europe, you c

      • Those caveats make all the difference...

        I'm 6'4" / 193 cm. By sheer coincidence I have become good friends with a travel agent who is pretty tall too, so she understands my problem. While I can book flights and choose seats online, she used to make sure that I'm in the emergency exit aisle and don't get bumped out (favours!). Or, that used to be the case. I haven't flown in a while and she's taken another job (seems that is a dying career...)

  • Bluetooth has many security holes and CVE's, some fixable, some not. I just don't trust that airline to install the latest and best, but use new old stock (NOS) and dated designs. I can imagine some joker pairing with 0000 or 1234 defaults, that stereotypes every pax in a very derogatory way. Oh 34C, why yes, we did a vomit cleanup on that seat. Obligatory wet fart noises, I like cockpit terrain terrain warnings, There ARE cheap wideband linear amplifier chips to boost your bluetooth, and cause connections
    • by amorsen ( 7485 )

      Don't worry, it's a 737 Max. It won't stay airborne long enough for the Bluetooth vulnerabilities to be found.

    • terrain terrain PULL UP!

    • CVEs are great and all, but a quadruple amputee can count on no hands the number of times an attack on bluetooth of any remote significance has been carried out.

  • It makes sense for the 737 Max. Without a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones you get deafened by the screaming passengers as the plane dives into the ground.

    • Doesn't matter. The flight attendant will tell you to take them off during the safety video. So you can't hear the audio. But you can hear the kid behind you screaming.

      • I'm ASS-U-MEing that the i flight video is ADA compliant and will have captions for the hard-of-hearing. And they still stock the seats with those pamphlets that have the same info as the saftey video?

        • by PPH ( 736903 )

          I'm ASS-U-MEing that the i flight video is ADA compliant

          Not everyone flies to/from US locations and on US airlines.

        • The ADA does not apply to aircraft. Which is why there are no wheelchair provisions, no accessible lavatories, and the aisle is only 16" wide.
  • I have a very hard time believing that "lack of Bluetooth connectivity" to those crappy seatback screens ever came up in any customer satisfaction poll. How about jets that do not override the pilot and crash? How about leg room? How about not being treated like cattle going to slaughter and getting stuck on the tarmac for hours because we are "safe" on the plane and the flight crew is about to time-out? How about not charging $100 for a couple bags? How about not asking for a government bailout every time

  • With so many BT headsets within such a close proximity I wonder if interference is going to be an issue. I'm sure they must have worked it out but how?
  • How long before people start naming their bluetooth headphones with 'funny' (i.e. offensive) names that then show up on everybody else's screens whey the try to connect their own headphones.

    3..,2.., opps someone already did

    People already do this with wifi hotspots in places like airports

  • The company didn't share how it plans to address issues with Bluetooth, but said it's still "studying the technology."

    Some stupid CEO or something at United Airlines thought it would be a good idea, then after hearing that it would be nearly impossible, went ahead with the press release anyway with the premise that "studying the technology" means he's hoping on that nearly impossible bit to be solved by engineers held at gunpoint like in movies.

  • we'll give you 10 minutes of free WiFi!!!

  • Pair me with a short-acting sedative. Air flights are to be endured - all attempts at enjoyment are futile.

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