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Apple’s New Weapon
NEWSWEEK ^ | April 18, 2009 | By Benjamin Sutherland

Posted on 04/18/2009 3:02:07 PM PDT by Swordmaker

To help soldiers make sense of data from drones, satellites and ground sensors, the U.S. military now issues the iPod Touch.

Tying the hands of a person who is speaking, the Arab proverb goes, is akin to "tying his tongue." Western soldiers in Iraq know how important gestures can be when communicating with locals. To close, open and close a fist means "light," but just opening a fist means "bomb." One soldier recently home from Iraq once tried to order an Iraqi man to lie down. To get his point across, the soldier had to demonstrate by stretching out in the dirt. Translation software could help, but what's the best way to make it available in the field?

The U.S. military in the past would give a soldier an electronic handheld device, made at great expense specially for the battlefield, with the latest software. But translation is only one of many software applications soldiers now need. The future of "networked warfare" requires each soldier to be linked electronically to other troops as well as to weapons systems and intelligence sources. Making sense of the reams of data from satellites, drones and ground sensors cries out for a handheld device that is both versatile and easy to use. With their intuitive interfaces, Apple devices—the iPod Touch and, to a lesser extent, the iPhone—are becoming the handhelds of choice.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: apple; bestcomputer; ilovebillgates; iwanthim; iwanthimbad; macintosh; microsoftfanboys; spamiswindows; spammer
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1 posted on 04/18/2009 3:02:07 PM PDT by Swordmaker
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~; 1234; 50mm; 6SJ7; Abundy; Action-America; acoulterfan; Aliska; aristotleman; ...
The US Military is sending Apple's iPod touch to war... PING!


Apple goes to War Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

2 posted on 04/18/2009 3:04:47 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
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To: martin_fierro

PING


3 posted on 04/18/2009 3:05:21 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
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To: Swordmaker

Cool...


4 posted on 04/18/2009 3:06:51 PM PDT by Star Traveler
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To: Swordmaker
One more use for the iPod Touch Military version:

We're trying... we're trying real hard to cling to our pacifist ways. But damn if
the fusion of this US Army M110 Sniper Rifle and mounted iPod touch running
the BulletFlight external ballistics calculator (available via the App Store)
doesn't make us want to kill. Tap in the variables such as weather conditions,
ammunition type, distance to target, and wind speed before exhaling and
gently squeezing back on your second amendment right. God bless America.
Endgadget

5 posted on 04/18/2009 3:13:03 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
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To: 6SJ7; Allegra; ambrose; Bella_Bru; Born Conservative; Cagey; Caipirabob; CarrotAndStick; ...
iPod
Send FReepmail if you want on/off iPing list
WARNING: This is a high-volume Ping list. Turn your headphones down
The List of Ping Lists

6 posted on 04/18/2009 3:16:08 PM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: Swordmaker

So the free market works better than bureaucrats? Who knew?


7 posted on 04/18/2009 3:16:44 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: Swordmaker

I would never buy one of al gores’s computers.


8 posted on 04/18/2009 3:24:10 PM PDT by allmost
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To: Swordmaker
( The US Military is sending Apple's iPod touch to war... )
From another FR article/thread :
" Joel Brenner, head of the U.S. Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive, has warned skilled cyber attackers can remotely turn on a camera on your home computer, convert your cellphone into a listening device and even convert the earphones of your iPod into microphones. "

Just hope that the enemy don't use it ( iPod ) against our troops and use it to locate our troops position.
9 posted on 04/18/2009 3:24:57 PM PDT by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM .53 : 1 The FOOL hath said in his heart, there is no GOD.)
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To: Swordmaker

He still sit’s on the board right?


10 posted on 04/18/2009 3:25:47 PM PDT by allmost
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To: Swordmaker

Next iPod Touch update to include phaser application.


11 posted on 04/18/2009 3:29:59 PM PDT by hugorand
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To: allmost

Al Gore sits on Apple’s board, big deal. Didn’t stop Rush from buying multiple Macs.


12 posted on 04/18/2009 3:34:25 PM PDT by Terpfen (Ain't over yet, folks. Those 2004 Senate gains are up for grabs in 2 years.)
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To: Terpfen

So you say. Gotta love that Gore company...


13 posted on 04/18/2009 3:35:50 PM PDT by allmost
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To: Swordmaker

Doesn’t that presuppose the subject can read?


14 posted on 04/18/2009 3:37:34 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (Pretending the Admin Moderator doesn't exist will result in suspension.)
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To: Terpfen

I wonder how the crunchies will feel about their beloved cult-company becoming “war profiteers.”

Bwhahahahahaha.


15 posted on 04/18/2009 3:41:35 PM PDT by bolobaby
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To: Swordmaker

Wait until they find out about the Chinese backdoor hacks.


16 posted on 04/18/2009 3:42:53 PM PDT by Last Dakotan
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To: 1010RD

Open to suggestions of audio books to put on my i Phone.


17 posted on 04/18/2009 3:48:05 PM PDT by Mercat (Scary middle aged people take to the street!!!)
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: Prophet in the wilderness

You can turn off the WiFi in an iPod Touch. No other iPod has any kind of wireless feature. As far as the iPhone, it’s just like any cell phone in regard to the security problems, which is why the government won’t let them into sensitive areas.


19 posted on 04/18/2009 3:49:57 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: Swordmaker

SNiPod. Cool.


20 posted on 04/18/2009 3:50:31 PM PDT by PLMerite ("Unarmed, one can only flee from Evil. But Evil isn't overcome by fleeing from it." Jeff Cooper)
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