As the Hamburg show continues to grow, new products and trends in IFE are beginning to form as airlines embrace the latest digital technology and new satellite-based communication is introduced. More than 350 exhibitor booths and over 11,000 attendees brought aircraft interiors, in-flight entertainment and aerospace testing into the forefront last week and IFExpress was there to help you spot the trends in our favorite subject. We will bring more complete coverage of the hot topics at the show in the coming weeks, but here is a partial list of the forthcoming subject matter: 1) A new IFE system from an OEM equipment provider, featuring their smashing new Ku Band antenna. 2) An aircraft OEM manufacturer who signs with a communication service provider to begin the process of installation and testing of a passenger cellphone-based system, on an aircraft. 3) A sophisticated, wireless data bus designed to control aircraft lighting, with lots of future growth potential, slated for commercial aircraft. This new product passes information between nodes in order to digitally control lighting on Boeing`s new 787. 4) At least five new, portable IFE VOD players that are network based and designed for connectivity and content upload. 5) A resurgence of satellite based in-flight television -- at least one with a viable business model that includes airline hardware purchase. 6) Economy seating with a powered seat actuator and a pneumatic adjustable lumbar support. 7) A vendor who demonstrated a USB power charger for cell phones and MP3 players, and another vendor who demonstrated a fiber optic network from the head-end to the seat-back display - both firsts. 8) New headset technology that will provide a more comfortable ear muff and another which may offer a solution to the in-flight cell phone yakking problem.

Watch for future issues of IFExpress to focus on these products and new technologies. We will give you the low down and tell you who to watch in the coming weeks. Stay Tuned!