1) What is the size of the bluebox screen?    
    2) Does bluebox support widescreen formats?    
    3) What is the format (size, shape, colour) of the mount?    
    4) Can I have a full technical specification of the system?      
    5) How does bluebox work in a J class environment with sleeper seats / suites /  privacy screens?
    6) What is the certification process?      
    7) What level of maintenance/service can we expect?      
    8) What does bluebox cost?      
    9) What does your per seat estimate include?      
    10) Do I need to have a wireless network already installed, or can you provide that?
    11) Is the system approved by the Hollywood studios for airline-release movies?  
    12) How are the bluebox units powered?      
    13) Can I use my existing seat power or do I need a new system?      
    14) What is the storage capacity for content?      
    15) What are the lead times from agreement to installation?      
    16) What is the downtime required for installation?      
    17) How do we replace a faulty unit?      
    18) What are the heat emissions from bluebox?      
    19) How secure (physically) is each unit at the seat?      
    20) What happens if a unit fails during flight?      
    21) Can bluebox interact with flight attendant call buttons?      
    22) Does bluebox use a PCU or are the controls touch-screen?      
    23) Where is the audio connection, in the armrest or on the mount?      
    24) What kind of controller is used for games? Where or how is it connected?      
    25) How is integration handled?      
    26) How is content loaded onto the system?      
    27) Does bluebox support the use of multiplexing for audio? How does it handle subtitles?
    28) Are there any wires?      
    29) Is there a server?      
    30) Is bluebox currently flying on any aircraft?      
    31) Who provides content for bluebox      
    32) Can the GUI be customised?      
    33) bluebox has a deal with BBC World for news – can I choose another news supplier?
         
         
   
           
           
    1) What is the size of the bluebox screen?      
    • the core bluebox unit is 7", but it can drive any screen up to 50" at HD quality. At the other end of the scale, bluebox ultralite features a 4" screen.      
         
    2) Does bluebox support widescreen formats?      
    • Yes, 16:9 versions for the above are available.      
         
    3) What is the format (size, shape, colour) of the mount?      
    • The mount is customised to fit the particular seat type chosen but fundamentally is made up of a sandwich design incorporating the main hardware unit in the front half of the mount along with break-out connections such as h/p, USB etc. The back half of the mount contains hard drives, USB hubs and other electronics.  
         
    4) Can I have a full technical specification of the system?      
    •This is available subject to appropriate non-disclosure agreements.  
         
    5) How does bluebox work in a J class environment with sleeper seats / suites / privacy screens?  
    • Just like a conventional screen, bluebox can be incorporated into first and business class seats using deployable arms or a swinging mount. For larger sleeper seats/suites, the same bluebox unit is used, however it is housed inside the seat, with a connection to a large-screen monitor. bluebox can drive up to 50" monitors, and at hi-definition resolutions.  
         
    6) What is the certification process?      
    • The normal seat certification process is followed as for any change to a seat structure. We are happy to work with your seat manufacturer to facilitate certification.  
         
    7) What level of maintenance/service can we expect?      
    • We can offer a range of support packages ranging from a train-the-trainer service for your engineers through to a full meet-and-greet service if required.  
         
    8) What does bluebox cost?      
    • Every project is different but for a full installation on a widebody aircraft the cost is roughly $5,000 per seat.  
         
    9) What does your per seat estimate include?      
    • The estimate includes the cost of the bluebox unit and the cost of the mount, but excludes in-seat power and the LAN. Seat certification would be a separate cost as well. Seat costs vary dependent on cabin variations and whether full or partial aircraft fit.      
         
   

10) Do I need to have a wireless network already installed, or can you provide that?

  
    • bluebox can work with wireless networks such as Connexion By Boeing or OnAir. If these are not available we can provide an onboard LAN at a very reasonable cost. However the LAN merely works with the bluebox system and does not provide an external connection.  
         
    11) Is the system approved by the Hollywood studios for airline-release movies?  
    • With bluebox on your aircraft you will be able to enjoy the current airline-release dates offered by all of the Hollywood studios, just as you would with your current tape-based or VOD system. Being a service management company we have always worked closely with Hollywood and bluebox is no exception. We have consulted all of the major studios and independent distributors at every step throughout the bluebox development process, and each of them is aware of our DRM system which is compliant with studio and MPAA regulations.  
         
    12) How are the bluebox units powered?      
    • The units have a range of power options, from long life batteries on the bluebox lite system to multiple power supply options from 110V AC to 12/15V DC seat power systems.  
         
    13) Can I use my existing seat power or do I need a new system?      
    • bluebox only requires a power harness to be installed to connect to your current seat power systems. However your system must be capable of supporting the extra load.  
         
    14) What is the storage capacity for content?      
    • bluebox uses COTS peripheral technology, and currently around 360Gb of disk storage can be installed. However as 3.5" disk capacity increases and becomes cheaper bluebox can be expanded easily. We anticipate that during 2007 about 500Gb will be feasible.  
         
    15) What are the lead times from agreement to installation?      
    • Installation lead time depends on many factors, the main one being any requirement to obtain an STC or seat/aircraft fitment. However as bluebox is the only scalable solution on the market today you could begin with an initial portable solution and upgrade to the fully integrated solution when STC is complete and at the most convenient installation schedule for your aircraft.  
         
    16) What is the downtime required for installation?      
    • Downtime is directly related to which bluebox system and how many devices and options your are fitting. For an average 200 seat aircraft it will only be possible during C-Check down time (5 - 8 days).  
         
    17) How do we replace a faulty unit?      
    • bluebox is a fully serviceable solution that allows cabin crew to replace faulty units inflight. If a seat unit fails it is simply removed with a security key and replaced with a spare unit. Alternatively portable bluebox lite units can be carried for service recovery loaded with the same content and features.  
         
    18) What are the heat emissions from bluebox?      
    • bluebox is a non-forced air cooled system and uses low voltage CPU and LCD panels to keep heat to a minimum and so has very little impact on cabin environment.  
         
    19) How secure (physically) is each unit at the seat?      
    • When bluebox is mounted to a seat it can only be removed using a security key device but this only releases the CPU and LCD panel. The movie content, audio, etc. is all installed in the rear of the system and this can only be removed by an engineer.  
         
    20) What happens if a unit fails during flight?      
    • bluebox is a fully serviceable solution that allows cabin crew to replace faulty units in flight. If a seat unit fails it is simply removed (with a security key) and replaced with a spare unit or portable bluebox lite units can be carried for service recovery with the same content and features.  
         
    21) Can bluebox interact with flight attendant call buttons?      
    • No. bluebox is not designed to integrate with the aircraft cabin services system although it can accept and transmit a PA. The call bell, lights, etc. can continue to be controlled by the aircraft manufacturer OEM cabin interface.  
         
    22) Does bluebox use a PCU or are the controls touch-screen?      
    • bluebox can utilise either touchscreen control or a custom handheld navigation controller that doubles up as a game pad.  
         
    23) Where is the audio connection, in the armrest or on the mount?      
    • In the seatback version, the audio connection is in the bluebox mount which utilises built-in noise cancellation circuitry. As a handheld version, bluebox lite utilizes USB audio for superior quality sound.  
         
    24) What kind of controller is used for games? Where or how is it connected?  
    • The games controller is built into the custom handset but bluebox does have the capability of using any USB game pad device that is supported by the bluebox software.  
         
    25) How is integration handled?      
    • Integration is achieved using the custom bluebox Integration Tool.      
         
    26) How is content loaded onto the system?      
    • In two ways for the embedded system: (1) upload via a media loader to the CMT, which then transmits wirelessly to all other machines; (2) A wireless upload to the CMT via a gate 'handshake' from a master load server, either in the airport or elsewhere, the process continuing as per method (2). For bluebox lite, the units are updated off-aircraft via a batch content loader.  
         
    27) Does bluebox support the use of multiplexing for audio? How does it handle subtitles?  
    • Yes. Multiplex file structures are supported as is CC versioning.      
         
    28) Are there any wires?      
    • There are no wires related to digital media playback as there is no content streaming from a centralised server. The only wiring involved is for power.  
         
    29) Is there a server?      
    • There is no server in the bluebox system in the traditional sense. The CMT machine acts as a server only in terms of central command functions and the optional delivery of uploaded news. All other media is loaded per seat and is entirely autonomous.  
         
    30) Is bluebox currently flying on any aircraft?      
    • Yes, bluebox is currently flying on bmi in the UK.      
         
    31) Who provides content for bluebox      
    • The supply of bluebox is not tied to any service or content provision agreements. We are happy to provide those services, and are well qualified to do so, but an airline is free to work with any service provider it wishes. We liaise closely with source content providers, such as the Hollywood studios, to ensure that key content is freely available for bluebox.  
         
    32) Can the GUI be customised?      
  • Yes. The GUI architecture is database driven and flexible enough to support any depth and breadth of content and special features. In navigation terms we have devised what we see as the optimal intuitive model, although it can be adapted. Its look & feel is entirely up to the airline, and multiple skinning is possible to reflect cabin class or user preferences (e.g. a fun kid-friendly option).  
         
    33) bluebox has a deal with BBC World for news – can I choose another news supplier?  
    • Yes. BBC World was the first news supplier to support the bluebox near-live news proposition. Others, including CNN, are also enthusiastic about its potential. We are happy to work with any broadcast news provider with the necessary internet presence or other means of live content delivery.