Planes, satellites, and automobiles

This is sweet. Apple is pushing the envelope while Zune is still dealing with installation problems.

Air France, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, KLM and United Airlines will begin offering their passengers iPod seat connections, which power and charge iPods during flight and allow the video content on the devices to be viewed on seat-back displays, Apple said.

Ballmer is out there pushing the Microsoft 10+1 strategy. Hey how about get the “1″* right before you look at 9 through 10:

Ballmer said it would be easier to combine phone features into a device that just plays music. The current Zune’s three- inch video screen would make a phone larger than many customers want, he said.

*Note: “1″ would be the install.

Meanwhile, SeekingAlpha is speculating on an Apple-Sirius-XM merger/buyout thingamajiggy. Nah gonna happen.

AAPL has been a rumored acquirer of either XMSR or SIRI over the past few months. Patents that have been dug up from last year have shown that Apple has been interested in experimenting with satellite services. However, in December, Sirius Satellite Radio’s CEO asked for a deal with Apple but was rebuffed.