Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

iPhone vs. Android Battle Goes To Afghanistan

Posted by Soulskill on from the no-blood-for-apps dept.

redlined writes "Cell phones are tired of waiting for the troops to come home and are going to war themselves. Tech startup Berico Tailored Systems, Lockheed Martin and apparently an army of Slashdot users are currently making tactical 3G cellular networks and smartphone applications for the military to use overseas. While DARPA has held a competition to develop iPhone and Android applications, tactically-deployable 3G networks from companies like those above should open up a slew of opportunities for Apple and Google to duke it out on an actual battlefield."

8 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. Android by XPeter · · Score: 5, Insightful

    For a few key reasons:

    1. Swappable battery without sending the phone back to Apple.
    2. Open development
    3. Custom ROMs

    --
    "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits" - Albert Einstein
    1. Re:Android by AnonGCB · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The point isn't about replacing the battery because of wear (though that is a plus, and the fact that you don't have to unscrew the whole damn backplate to get at it), it's about carrying a 6 pack of batteries when you're going on a mission and swapping them as needed.

      --
      http://CryoLANparty.com/ A lan I'm staff on!
    2. Re:Android by spyder-implee · · Score: 5, Insightful

      1. Actually a removable battery is very important and you have completely missed the operational reason. Soldiers carry a bunch of equipment which use batteries (NVG's, LRF's, NAD's, Radio's, Illuminated sights, not to mention simple things like torches etc...) and it's important they all (where possible) use the same type of batteries. Simply put, if the battery in my Night Vision Goggles die and I have run out of spares, I want to swap the battery from my phone into my NVG, since it's more critical piece of equipment for my current task. Soldiers are entirely capable of keeping their kit free of dust & grime (I'm capable of stripping down an m4 to the ejector claw without getting dust through it, why wouldn't I be able to manage a phone?)

      --
      Take what ye can. Give nothing back!
  2. Outsourcing by cosm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So we're outsourcing our flame wars now as well?

    --
    'We are trying to prove ourselves wrong as quickly as possible, because only in that way can we find progress.' RPF
  3. Not surprising to me... by DSS11Q13 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Actually, you would be surprised at how much 3g coverage there some spots in in the Middle East, or at least Edge network. I did a lot of volunteering in the Palestinian Territories...in the wilderness and desert. While I didn't have a 3g smartphone I had my Kindle with me, and I never once lost 3g coverage. Here is a map of the Kindle coverage which should give at least a general idea http://client0.cellmaps.com/tabs.html#cellmaps_intl_tab Frankly I'm surprised they haven't set up these networks already, especially for military ops.

  4. There's an app for that... by robot256 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Need to look up the best way to get a Humvee out of a mud pit? There's an app for that.

    Need to find the nearest supply depot while avoiding roadside bombs and enemy fire? There's an app for that.

    Need to see the location of every friend and foe within a 100m radius without any additional devices or infrastructure? There's an app for that.

  5. iOS has the apps by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The good/great ballistics apps are on iOS, so I reckon it has the general edge.

    http://isnipe.webdiligence.ca/
    http://www.knightarmco.com/bulletflight/
    http://ballistic.zdziarski.com/

    There are a couple for Android, but they aren't as good as iOS has.

  6. an open platform matters by LodCrappo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If the military wants a device that meets certain physical specifications (ruggedness, waterproofing, shielded from EMI, bulletproof, god knows what) then they have very different options with an iPhone vs an Android phone:

    With Apple's platform, they must ask Apple nicely and hope for the best. They would have to rely on a single source for the devices.

    or

    With Android, they can publish their specs and let any manufacturer that cares to try build a device (or contract with one or a few to specifically build something). They can have multiple sources for the hardware and switch as desired.

    Similarly, if the military wants specific features in the operating system, they can:

    Ask Apple nicely and hope for the best

    or

    Modify Android any way they'd like, or contract pretty much anyone to do this for them.

    Seems Android has some pretty clear advantages.

    --
    -Lod