Yes. I still make GhettoIFE systems. I’m guilty as charged. For those of you who are new to Economy Class and Beyond and are wondering what the heck is a GhettoIFE system, or why my iPhone is in a sickbag, grab some popcorn and a thought.
A GhettoIFE system – put simply is a method of mounting a phone or small handheld device in a holder of some-sort that you can find on a plane – normally, a sick bag to use as an In Flight Entertainment System .
Here’s a couple of recent examples:
A slightly older GhettoIFE system, based on an Apple iPhone 5 (Content – Pokemon Origins)
A rather modern GhettoIFE system, made with an Apple iPhone 6 (Content: Dilbert – The Cartoon).
So why do I still choose to make these devices? There are a variety of very good reasons.
- The plane doesn’t have video IFE… or any sort of IFE – IFE on short haul runs can be akin to hens teeth (Impossible to find). Similarly, there are planes used on transcontinental trips or long 4 to 5 hour flights with no entertainment loaded onboard. And I’m sorry, there’s only so long you can look out of the window or the seat in front of you.
- The plane has a big screen system – Big screens have their place… in the early 2000s and beyond. The installation of big screens whilst trying to entertain everyone with the same thing is valiant… but people have different tastes
- The plane has an old IFE system that loops around – In the appetite to fil time on a plane, sometimes the content loaded on an IFE is in a loop, and you have to wait for all the programmes to finish before the loop begins again.
- The plane has bad content loaded in its IFE system – Whilst there are many reasons why I make GhettoIFE systems, this is probably the biggest reason for me. The lack of appealing content in the system for me is a make or break situation – and it doesn’t matter who the carrier is to be honest. Some carriers have strong selections one month, another time the content can be downright awful.
As the proliferation of tablets computers being offered on planes continues (such as Jetstar, American Airlines 767 services, certain British Airways service, Scoot, Alaska Airlines), one can hope that these systems have the content to back up the hardware being offered.
Or else, it’ll be down to you as a customer to load up your own tablet or phone with your content to enjoy the long journey ahead…
And yes – I’ll still make GhettoIFE systems. Partially out of habit, but mostly to watch the content I want to watch for however long I’m aboard a plane.
You don’t get rid of GhettoIFE that quickly I’m afraid 😉
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