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With the advent of air travel, long distance flight of several hours or more became the norm (e.g., the non –stop flight from New York City to Singapore takes 18 hours). How to spend time  besides reading a book on such long flight became a problem. Initially, during the late 50s and early 60s, showing a movie on a big  screen at the front of a darkened cabin was the solution (with audio provided by plugging in  rented earphone into an outlet onthe arm rest of the chair). Later on the big screen was replaced by TV sets (one for each 9 or 12 seats) mounted under overhead luggage racks. Audio  was also imporved to feature several channels in addition to the movie dialogue on one channel.These TV sets were replaced  by LCD flat screens later on as new technology developed. Finally flat screen panels were placed at  each seat (either stored in arm rests or mounted on seat back) and entertainments  were totally individualized where customer can choose from multiple movies, TV programs, and new features. One would think this is the ultimate in entertainment on a plane.  However, on a recent flight of a new Airbus plane, I found something even more up to date.There are no more flat panel displays nor earphone  plugs on the arm rest of each chairs. NOTHING! Instead, the airline assumes that  everyone are  in possession of a iPad or Smart phone. They just provide Wi-Fi  and Internet access  during flight so that passengers can choose whatever they want. Airlines save a lot of money.  Clever way of passing expenses onto the passengers!