We’re taking off. I’m wondering what kind of connector this is. Googling it. About 10 years ago, the Panasonic IFE multimedia system (which seems to have been used on B773ER and A333, I’m on a Boeing 777ER) featured a new port named eXport. It was a 9-pin mini-DIN connector for iPods. You could buy an adapter cable made by Griffin that essentially served as a bridge between the 9-pin mini-DIN and the 30-pin dock connector of iPods. Do you remember such connectors on iPods? And do you remember iPods at all? This cable allowed you to charge the iPod, control it via the IFE system, and transmit media from it to the IFE system. Time flies so fast. Looked up when the airplane was made – 14 years ago. That is, 14 years ago it still made sense to integrate a proprietary connector into the seats that essentially worked only with iPods.
I’m not even writing about RJ-45 above. White-orange orange, white-green blue, white-blue green, white-brown brown
Update from a page that has been gone for ten years, but the archive org remembers everything
And how does all this work? Here are some visual materials for clarity and facts from Panasonic (…about the biggest and highest-flying accessory for iPod in the world (as someone from Apple put it)
1. Allows audio and video signals to be transmitted from a passenger’s iPod to the IFE system, while also providing power and charging the iPod.
2. The eXport solution consists of two main components: the eXport connector (installed in the seat) and the eXport cable (connects the iPod to the eXport connector).
3. The crew will provide the eXport cable to passengers during the flight.
4. The solution is the world’s first Apple-certified Made for iPod” and Made for iPhone” solution, specifically designed for commercial airliners.
5. Natively supports Apple authentication technology.
6. In the near future, Panasonic will introduce additional functionality that will allow two-way communication between the iPod and the IFE system.
7. Supports both iPod and iPhone (in airplane mode”).
The reason a special cable is needed is that Apple does not allow video to be transmitted via USB. The only alternative would be to have three RCA connectors and an AC power socket onboard. But it’s expensive (installing an AC power system) and not worth the extra weight. Plus, it takes up legroom under the seat. Moreover, having three RCA connectors is a lot of ‘ports’ (red, yellow, white), which can confuse passengers (imagine a night flight in a darkened cabin). It only increases the workload on the crew, who are responsible for safety and comfort, not tech support.”
Hi, I'm Rauf Aliev. 