∞ Boeing 'Dreamliner' gets Android touchscreens

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Australian Business Traveller:

According to Mark Larson, technical manager at Boeing’s Dreamliner Gallery, all 787s now in production will be fitted with Android-based servers and touchscreens.

The Android systems will be used for in-flight entertainment systems throughout first class and coach seating on the giant airliner, according to the report. Panasonic has built Android touchscreens certified for use by Boeing in the 787s.

The report says that “Boeing’s decision effectively locks out Apple [and others]“ from being installed on the 787. Not such a big deal, considering how many of the 787′s passengers are likely to be carrying iOS devices anyway.


  • http://twitter.com/Moeskido Moeskido

    Hope flight attendants don’t have to root it to turn off the in-flight movie.

  • Steven Fisher

    It’s all about choice.

    Or maybe it’s all about cheap.

    I forget.

  • http://twitter.com/CoreyTamas Joel In Real Life

    “Locks out”? Because installing iOS on their shitty in-flight pocket calculators was actually a possibility?

    • Peter Cohen

      Yeah, it’s an unfortunate turn of phrase, as it suggests Apple was even interested in competing in that space. Nothing that I’ve seen from this article or anywhere else indicates that Apple made any effort to get its products onto the Dreamliner.

      • http://twitter.com/CoreyTamas Joel In Real Life

        That’s what I’m getting at. It’s like saying you shut out a hockey team that never shows up to play.

      • http://twitter.com/CoreyTamas Joel In Real Life

        That’s what I’m getting at. It’s like saying you shut out a hockey team that never shows up to play.

  • Anonymous

    Linux is often used for this type of thing.

    • Peter Cohen

      Effective enough for ordering drinks and sandwiches on Virgin America flights. But I usually stick with my iPad when it comes to actual entertainment, or getting things done.

  • Zac Caslin

    I wonder how much they paid for them if anything. I wouldn’t be suprised if they gave them away just to gain some market share they desperately need.

  • Anonymous

    apple doesn’t license it’s software for things like this, so how did Boeing lock apple out?

  • http://www.smiley-dread.com Ian

    It makes sense for Boeing (or as the case is here Panasonic). They can adapt the devices (“firmware”) as desired by the airliners just like the handsets manufacturers do for the cell phone carriers. Just an evolution on the screens / information setup that they used at present. It almost sets a precedent* — touchscreen handsets/tablets with a specialized back-end system. I do not believe that passengers will see anything remotely “Android-like” when using them.

    *I do know that Apple has sold specialized iPods to museums and other institutions and that companies can take advantage of iOS’s Enterprise Program but this is an opportunity for others to offer locked in hardware/software solutions such as cashier/inventory for storefronts or automobile original parts and repair solutions. Its time we stop calling them Android devices and start using the generic *ix moniker.

    On a side note has anyone else noticed that in all of the Microsoft notices and media about Windows 8 – Metro that MS strongly avoids using the term tablet and calls Metro devices PCs

  • http://mangochut.net/ mangochutney

    I imagine this saves Boeing quite a bit of money.
    I wonder if Google foresaw that Android would become the basis for platforms that itself has almost no influence over.

    • http://www.smiley-dread.com kiil

      even worse — there is in all likelihood no seach integration and hence no chance for search related revenue.