DARPA wants military iPhone and Android apps
Bandwagon-bothering boffins at everyone's favourite military tech hothouse DARPA have announced that they would like some apps written for the iPhone or for handsets running Google's Android OS - "with potential relevance to the military specifically and the national security community more generally". The Pentagon deathnerds …
I'm pretty sure I saw Jack Bauer and some of his friends already using Sprint Heros
I for one welcome our DARPA Android Land-Warrior ballistic-calculating drone-navigating iPhone wielding overlords.
One that can do photo recognition and tell you when you've just committed a blue on blue would be nice.
I can understand Android, as many manufacturers could make ruggedised devices, as exist with Windows Mobile, but iPhone?
And yet just last week, medical experts dissed the Iphone as being too shoddy for medical work.
What the iphone needs is a ruggedised, docking hotswappable battery/case device, that doesn't increase the size greatly. Then its medical and military purposes will only be limited by the relability of its systems. I can just see it now, Drone crashes due to incoming phone call...
There are so many external USB battery and solar powered charger solutions I doubt battery life is a problem in practice.
Losing data connection due to incoming phone call... you're thinking of CDMA rather than GSM 3G aren't you?
I hope that sniper doesn't get a call while he's eyeing up his next target.
SymbianOS (not necessarily S60) is rumoured to have been used in a military application. I've no further details.
How long before Saint Jobs comes out and announces "Any Military usage of the iPhone is contrary to Apple's Ethical Statement " - and promptly revokes permission-to-run for all 'military' apps that have been sold via the App Store?
US Military already make extensive use of Apple server kit, though running YDL not OSX, for obvious reasons....
How many of DARPA's apps do you think they'll release on the app store?!?
$$$ > Life as proven time and again in china.
Is to-day March 1st or April 1st.? I think this story has to be a joke, after all there could hardly be a mobile phone less rugged than the iphone. Essentially they are a fashion accessory and as
such do quite a good job. Why those manly, military men would even want one is a mystery. Then just imagine when they have to be on all the time and the batteries need to be replaced will there be customer-service units conveniently out there in "enemy" territory with mountains of spare batteries and specialised service-tools? Multi-tasking would seem to be a key requirement for any sort of military tool yet apple still has to discover how to do this, even the outdated old windows CE software could do it a decade ago !
It has to be a joke, so I guess I (and others) were suckers to be taken in !
"Multi-tasking would seem to be a key requirement for any sort of military tool yet apple still has to discover how to do this, even the outdated old windows CE software could do it a decade ago !"
Another fail-tard who hasn't read any of the articles/comments which clearly say that Apple has turned OFF multi-tasking for 3rd party apps. The device itself is quite capable of multitasking, as long as it's Apple-written apps.
I'm pretty sure DARPA could get their own little exceptions if they asked Apple nicely!
Next to the flimsy pieces of shite that I've previously owned from HTC, the iPhone is extemely well made and put together. Since you've obviosly never held one (you'd know how solid they felt if you had) isuggest you keep you. Thoughts to yourself...
The US Army is /already/ using iPod Touches out in the field, in spite of your well-informed, expert opinion. Those manly, military men don't seem to have a problem with it, unlike you. But then you're not a soldier, are you?
And the lack of basic IT knowledge concerning your comments about "multitasking" - the definition of which is obviously too complex for you - isn't worth commenting on, Oh wait, I did....
@iPhone
The report was knocked together by an intern. For a 19year old intern, smart phone == iPhone.
The overall idea, of using some communications technology newer than 1945 is good, basing it on a locked down propriety hw platform from one company probably isn't.
Why would DARPA offer up the iPhone as a potential platform? because it's great, it's absolutely perfect for military uses, and medical uses, and absolutely any job where you need to test out various smart phones, followed by "disposing of" the ones that turn out to be useless...
That would be awesome. Put me down for one when they come out.
Imagine the software integration you could put in. Google Maps with a touchscreen gesture to launch an ICBM at the spot. Private section of Youtube and Picasa for Bomb Damage Assessment data.
And all you need to do is Buzz "Sgt Joe Bloggs is currently under fire and would appreciate some assistance" and reinforcements would arrive!
From my limited experience in the Navy, I'd want something I can operate with gloves on. Ok, I might have been around the polar circle too often :)
If you need to operate a touchscreen with gloves then simply glue a slice of carrot to the end of the fingertip of your gloves. You could alternatively use a frankfurter sausage as a stylus.
^^You will of course need to moisten the carrot periodically (preferably while not in use)
I spy DARPA nerds who wanted an iPhone for their birthday and have just worked out a way to get one.
I can just imagine though, in the middle of an operation and Apple pull your combat app from iTunes for transgressing one of their tenuous rules or does a firmware upgrade and bricks your phone because it's been unlocked to work on the local carrier.
Hey sarge, look at this bunch of donkeys, too busy watching shit on Youtube on their phones to see the insurgents creeping up on them oh shiiiiiiii...
that could be used for medical or military applications, I believe that Star Trek called it a Tricorder! See, DARPA really is still looking into the future!
Looking into the future by copying a 1960s TV series?
World Domination?
There's an app for that too!
Open source distributions quality assure and source verify the supply chain for tens of thousands of software components coming from very many original suppliers. Proprietary software does not achieve this because intellectual property road blocks prevent this integration from occurring. The outcome for defence supply where lives of troops and mission outcomes depend upon reliable equipment is hardly surprising.
I'm not surprised they excluded Windows. Which version of Windows Pocket Mobile Handheld CE Series 7 Classic Ultimate Edition would potential developers choose? The old one, or the new one that isn't even out yet?
Brings a whole new meaning to "Clippy," doesn't it?
So we're all dead then? See you all down at the pub just as soon's I reach Hell.
Perhaps Apple rigging iPhones to explode was a requirement for national defense?
The most widely used, copied, easy to clean and rugged fire weapon in existance - why ? Because it is simple and does what is says on the tin. If we spent less money on these moronic, high tec (read lkely to fail) answers to military requirements (are they though or toys) we might get somewhere. The merkins are great at over engined answers to simple problems. Take the original M16 it was pants: it broke, it was complex to keep clean and was not fit for combat - don't worry the Brits managed the same feat with the early SA80.
About the only possible value I can see for such a device is internal security work where you need up - to - the minute info on "marks" or whatever the palance is for people the sec forces have an interest in.
"Hi mom , eh no I can't talk right now were in the middle of a fire-fight"
AC as all you experts are lible to correct me.
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