e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

[Orygun]

New stuff on the PEA: good reading.

http://www.airfax.com/airfax/features/viewstory.asp?filepath=jun2004\peawebstory.htm

"If an IFE system weighs 4,000 pounds and allocates a $200 per pound cost per year in wheels, tires, brakes, and service, as one airline does, we are looking at $800,000 in IFE-carry costs per airplane, per year! And thus, the paradigm shift…

The Portable Paradigm:

It’s no wonder that the portable entertainment devices have appeared on the horizon, specifically designed for aircraft applications. Or perhaps we should say mobile applications. In the past 12 months we have seen and/or heard about 4 such devices and in this article we will explore the Portable Entertainment Appliance, or Pea, from IMS.

First we should discuss the two key issues that separate portable IFE from its hardwired brethren. The short answer is – power and connectivity. The long answer incorporates the first two and includes: lower cost, potential profits, greater passenger satisfaction, lower weight, virtually no required power, greater reliability, and probably 5 or 6 other things that we don’t know about yet! The Pea solves the connectivity problem by networking the portable units and partially solves the battery and storage problem by providing a nest, or POD, on the aircraft.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s look at the Pea in its first form, the Standard Portable Entertainment Appliance. Our readers should note that there is soon to be a Mini Pea and later on a Premium Pea.

If the Pea looks a lot like a laptop that is because the IMS folks saw a market timing advantage by using COTS laptop technology and packaging for the Standard and future Mini Pea. Here are some specs to on the Standard unit whet your appetite.

Display: 10.5” XGA
Disc Storage: 60 GB
Power: Inseat power or a 10 hour battery
Weight: 4.5 pounds
Options: IEEE 802.11b/g technology and credit card reader

Now that we have defined the appliance, let’s talk about “the network”. If you check out the June 08, 2004 news release from IMS you will note the following statement, “The key to the Pea is the comprehensive content management system itself that aggregates and delivers the content quickly, securely and economically, enables transactions, and provides return data.” This means that IMS has found a way(s) to expedite and manage the content problem. We understand that they have a data loader, which supports onboard content updating either in an overhead baggage bin or multiple bay installation, or via a specially modified food service-type card, or a multiple compartment tote bag. If you haven’t guessed it by now, each Pea plugs in to its own POD and the PODs will reside in the aforementioned locations. In other words, the Peas can be plugged in their PODS in locations either on or off the aircraft and have the ability to charge the batteries and update the content using a proprietary interface. These feature alone should force airlines who are sitting on the “to Pea or not to Pea” fence to cross over.

While we use the word “connectivity” in the title of our article, we do not mean air-to-ground connectivity. We are talking about the airline network and media source connectivity but we should also note, a unit with onboard connectivity like IEEE 802.11 has gone a long way toward that goal. Further, by batch processing the Pea data once per day from the Pods, usage and future applications are enhanced. Consider this: If GPS or aircraft data location is downloaded to each unit on a particular aircraft at a particular time, an airline would know where its movable assets are at least once per day! Further, Pod relocation of the units after a flight would also be a way of onboard asset management, real-time or batched."