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Army Special Operations Command Ditching Android For iPhone, Says Report (gizmodo.com)

Posted by msmash on from the making-the-switch dept.

The United States Army's Special Operations Command is ditching its Android phones for the "faster" iPhone, according to a report. The source cited in the story says that Android phones were freezing unexpectedly, which was one of the reasons they decided to give the iPhone 6s a spin. Gizmodo adds: The smartphones allow members of the Special Operations Command to access rich information about the battlefield. There's also quickly accessible information, like a weapons and ammunitions guide. Other apps can help with high altitude jumps; another can detect radiation. While DARPA helped develop the program on Android due to the operating system's open platform, Apple's hardware is apparently superior enough to warrant the switch.

8 of 254 comments (clear)

  1. My first first? by Compumyst · · Score: 2, Insightful

    But seriously? iPhone superior to Android? Were they buying budget phones?

    --
    What's done's in the past, forever shall last.
    Work is work; life is life; fair is not!
    1. Re:My first first? by Mycroft-X · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The real difference is in the software.

      Nope, the real difference is in the ability and willingness to navigate the military procurement process.

    2. Re:My first first? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      In the corporate world, sure.

      When lives are on the line? Fuck off with that bullshit.

    3. Re:My first first? by clonehappy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      But seriously? iPhone superior to Android? Were they buying budget phones?

      Never used an iPhone, eh?

    4. Re:My first first? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Or somebody realized that Android is not very secure. What is it now, 99+% of all malware targets Android? How many ways can an Android phone be infected? Perhaps thousands...

      iPhone, Windows phone, Blackberry, etc. ALL ARE SAFER than Android. Protect yourself from hacking, protect your contacts (friends and family) from getting their information compromised from your address book. Friends tell friends to use ANYTHING but Android.

      Example 1: https://www.google.com/search?... Example 2: https://www.google.com/search?...

    5. Re:My first first? by macs4all · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But seriously? iPhone superior to Android?

      Yes, seriously. Do you want the list in Alphabetical Order, or in Order of Importance?

      Remember, we're talking about the Military here. They could give a rats ass about your precious "Sideloading", and "Cyanogenmod" crapola. They are interested in just a couple of things: Reliability and Responsiveness of hardware and software, and Security of the OS.

      Overall, iPhone "wins" on both counts, sorry.

      Oh, and not having Google datamining every single thing is probably a consideration in a Military application, too...

      And I would imagine that it also helps that Apple is the only U.S.-based cellphone manufacturer.

  2. That's nonsense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If they're switching, it's because somebody's getting a kickback.

  3. Re:Until apple gets all peace warrior by Maury+Markowitz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    > A DoD contract would mean a LOT of money to Apple,

    Meh. They could sell what, a couple thousand phones to SOC? 10k maybe? That's what, an hour of retail?

    This isn't the 50's.