Products: Portable Media Players: eDigital eVU: general

I once described the eVU as the IFE portable media player (PMP) industry workhorse and it still is today.  Whilst other PMPs have come and gone (some to the huge dissatisfaction of the customers who purchased the latest device untried and untested...), the eVU continues to improve.  The exceptional eDigital team lead by Fred Falk have a product to be proud of, and one that Mezzo can deploy with utmost assurance that we can deliver reliable IFE day in, day out.  It has been for some time the PMP with the longest battery life; with up to 26hrs with a standard battery (no need for an extended life battery here!)  It is software and hardware optimisation carried out over the years that delivers this and another reason why new is not always best.  The eVU can also be used without a battery unlike many COTs products, making it probably the lightest PMP in use.  There is a range of four basic options; 7" and 8" screen, with or without touch screen, in black or grey as standard, or Mezzo can colour it with any design you can think of.

All PMPs get damaged, and the story of the lady who stepped on an eVU to reach the overhead locker is a classic, although Neil McColl, Mezzo Operations director can stand on the eVU without breaking the screen...but then he doesn't wear "heels".  So perhaps one of the best features is how easy it is to repair, which means that most repairs are carried out locally, so turn around is typically 2 days...It is detail like this that enables Mezzo to offer IFE reliability onboard that is unsurpassed by installed systems.  Maybe it's time for those airlines flying old 777s transatlantic to rip out those analogue 5" screen systems and replace it with one of the best most reliable IFE systems flying today.

About Portable Media Players

I have been asked to speak on a panel at the WAEA/APEX Education committee (Monday 13th September WAEA conference Long Beach) on the subject of "Repurposing COTs for IFE Versus Purpose-built Platforms".  I can think of many more questions that would be far more relevant to the passenger experience than this, as I am sure that the vast majority of passengers really won't give two hoots as to the origin of the device, as long as there is one available, it works and that the content is what they really want to watch.

Let me pick up on the the reliability issue as I know the reliability of IFE installed systems is a subject that keeps many Airline Engineers busy till all hours, as well as their Finance Directors frowning at the costs and the older the system the worse it is of course.  There is an alternative, and it comes in the shape of Portable Media Players; extremely high reliability and if there is a failure, easily remedied through replacement.  I would hazard a guess that it is possible to achieve 100% screen availability with portables...and with the arrival of the iPad, portables have been given a much needed boost in the cosmetic department that i think has already got people thinking about just how much of a premium price the embedded seat back system should command...

Meet Dave at WAEA/APEX

I'd love to meet you so why not come along to the WAEA/APEX Exhibition in Long beach 14th - 16th September.  I will be at stand 2007 hall B/C.  Drop me an email to confirm a meeting time.