Virgin Australia’s free Wireless In-flight Entertainment system

[ishkaban]

Virgin Australia streaming IFE

App available now on the app store
virginaustralia.com/wireless

Starts next week on VH YID with more aircraft to be rolled out shortly

 

[AaronBradford]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

No love for Android

 

[KCMil]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

Soon to be released, don't stress!

 

[mannej]

Virgin Australia streaming IFE

Where is lovestotravel? ;-) [jokes]

 

[markis10]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

I would hope you can download a client on board!

 

[elbarto]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

Why couldn't they make a single app for both iphone and ipad??

 

[Fruitcake]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

Where is lovestotravel? ;-) [jokes]

Rapidfire criticism FAIL!

I would hope you can download a client on board!

For android it would be easy (just serve an apk file over http). Those locked into Apple's little corner of the world would have a harder time, I don't think you're able to install anything through any means other than the app market, which would require internet access.

I'm surprised an app is needed at all, my assumption is that laptops would be able to access this too, I thought it would be served up via the web browser.

 

[serfty]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

...
I'm surprised an app is needed at all, my assumption is that laptops would be able to access this too, I thought it would be served up via the web browser.

[-]This is pure speculation, but it's quite possible the streaming will be encrypted for copywrite and other reasons.

Hence the need for a dedicated app to decode and possibly prevent program content interception.[/-]
[edit]

Oh well, so much for that speculation id Silverlight works fine.​

[/edit]

 

[moa999]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

#Android devices, Blackberry devices, Windows Phones and Tablets and MacBooks are currently not supported on the Wireless In-flight Entertainment system. Virgin Australia is working to increase the availability of the system on selected devices during early 2013.

PC laptops work using a Microsoft Silverlight (DRM protected) setup, Macbooks don't

 

[777]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

PC laptops work using a Microsoft Silverlight (DRM protected) setup, Macbooks don't

I have silverlight on Macbook air, tested it already (on the site) and it works fine.

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

Where is lovestotravel? ;-) [jokes]

Not flying Virgin that's for sure

They have just released another very heavily discounted domestic J sale for travel from late Jan into late March, seems they still can't fill J seats at a good price

I have no interested in streaming their content onto my own device and having it sit on a tray table

 

[concordepax]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

this sounds cool! has anyone tried it yet?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

Streaming is still only on one aircraft I believe, but I've now tried the Samsung Galaxy tab in J. What an absolutely hopeless idea that is. All the downsides mentioned come true. I was lucky to have a seat spare beside me so used their tray table, but looking sideways was not conducive to a comfortable flight and the earphone wire is not really long enough. There is no room to have a meal and watch the tablet if you can't use the next seat. When you do have it on your table it's too low to watch comfortably for long and when handed to me it had 79% charge so I'm not sure whether they're supposed to be charging them when in storage. The content loaded at the moment was drivel so I gave it back after about 15 minutes. Seat back mounting is the only way to go.
Streaming and in-flight internet.....OK (provided it works).
Portable devices......not OK (prefer nothing at all, which at the moment, is the only workable plan).

 

[concordepax]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

Interesting swanning_it
doesnt sound v comfortable

 

[Shano]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

My flight MEL-BNE on the 15/1 was equipped with IFE streaming. I downloaded the iPad app from the app store while waiting for everyone to board.

Could get music to stream OK, but not the video content. There was a reasonable selection of TV shows, movies and music.

As I was in row 13 I didn't find it too uncomfortable to watch - although not that I really got to watch anything

I have my own Sure in-ear phones that come with an extension cable, so this was not a problem.

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

Streaming is still only on one aircraft I believe, but I've now tried the Samsung Galaxy tab in J. What an absolutely hopeless idea that is. All the downsides mentioned come true. I was lucky to have a seat spare beside me so used their tray table, but looking sideways was not conducive to a comfortable flight and the earphone wire is not really long enough. There is no room to have a meal and watch the tablet if you can't use the next seat. When you do have it on your table it's too low to watch comfortably for long and when handed to me it had 79% charge so I'm not sure whether they're supposed to be charging them when in storage. The content loaded at the moment was drivel so I gave it back after about 15 minutes. Seat back mounting is the only way to go.
Streaming and in-flight internet.....OK (provided it works).
Portable devices......not OK (prefer nothing at all, which at the moment, is the only workable plan).

Exactly what I have been saying from the start

The Qantas 767 solution where it's mounted on top of the seat is a great idea

Virgin could easily make this IFE "solution" far better by having an attachment to put the tablet on the headrest/top of the seat in front of you

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

Virgin could easily make this IFE "solution" far better by having an attachment to put the tablet on the headrest/top of the seat in front of you

Along with charging to all seats. If they expect clients to BYO, then surely they must be thinking about charging options.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

Interesting swanning_it
doesnt sound v comfortable

No, but hey.....AFF description.......Firstworldproblem!

 

[samh004]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

Along with charging to all seats. If they expect clients to BYO, then surely they must be thinking about charging options.

Saw something on AusBT about how the J pax now get power across a third of the fleet, but batteries shouldn't run out across a day of travelling domestic anyway, so it shouldn't be an issue for most.

Virgin Australia powers up Boeing 737 business class - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[bullerdude]

Re: Virgin Australia streaming IFE

Saw something on AusBT about how the J pax now get power across a third of the fleet, but batteries shouldn't run out across a day of travelling domestic anyway, so it shouldn't be an issue for most.

Virgin Australia powers up Boeing 737 business class - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Yet another one of those things where you have no idea if you will get it until you board the plane.