Yeehaw -- finally! Singapore Airlines has installed full iPod and iPhone music and video connectivity in all classes on its newest plane.
The new iPod and iPhone connectivity is on its newest Airbus A330-300 aircraft which will enter service on March 30 servicing several Australia to Singapore routes.
The new function allows passengers to listen to music and watch videos on their iPod or iPhone through the inflight entertainment system built into the seat.
The connector is included in a multi-port panel placed next to the 26cm inflight entertainment screen on the seat back.
Above: the seatback ports. The iPod connector looks like an S-Video connector but is actually a proprietary "iPod Connectivity Cable" port (Singapore Airlines lends the cord free of charge to any passenger who wants to connect an iPod.)
In addition to the iPod and iPhone connectivity, there's also a regular USB port, allowing customers to listen to their own music, view photos or read PDFs.
The system also provides a standard audio-video input, which enables you to plug in any portable media player that offers A/V output and watch videos on the seat-back screen.
The function first made a quiet appearance on Singapore Airlines' A340-500 aircraft last year — but you might not have heard about it because that plane is decked out as 100% business class seats and only flies between the US and Singapore.
Australians will be the first to have access to the new economy class features, with the A330 entering commercial service on the Brisbane to Singapore route on March 30, before being phased into Perth and Adelaide routes in April and June respectively.
The plane will also fly from Singapore to Japan after making its trips from Australia to Singapore.
Singapore Airlines says some other small improvements have been made to the inflight entertainment system such as installation of the handset on the seat back for easier reach, a non-intrusive reading light installed underneath the seatback screen, and an in-seat power supply for laptops.
Oh, and there's a front mounted footrest, height adjustable leather headrests with side panels which can be folded for head and neck support, a coat hook on the seat and "spectacle receptacle", and a Givenchy-designed fabric seat cover to seal the deal.