[Dilmah G]

Until I see this in action, I'm going to opt for the cheaper alternative. A map. And what happens when your iPhone runs out of battery? 

[NGTM-1R]

Until I see this in action, I'm going to opt for the cheaper alternative. A map. And what happens when your iPhone runs out of battery? 

They already digitized the maps. It's called GPS.

[Colonol Dekker]

At least three squaddies in every troop have laptops nowadays.
 
Regarding new weapons. My must-have upcoming gadget gun is the FMG5. Google magpul or look for both on youtube.
 
Can you say laptop gun folding action?

[Pred the Penguin]

I don't they'd take normal iPods out in the field without some modifications...

[Colonol Dekker]

Not really. We carry waterproof sealy bags everywhere. Keeps our smokes dry. You expect some sort of atmospherically sealed kevlar coated device?
Waterproof bags and smock pockets keep armies going.
 
Edit- additional info.
 
 
In fact the biggest threat to squaddies gucci  kit is other squaddies trying to nick it.

[Dilmah G]

Until I see this in action, I'm going to opt for the cheaper alternative. A map. And what happens when your iPhone runs out of battery? 

They already digitized the maps. It's called GPS.

Back in my day...
 

[MR_T3D]

speaking of the M4 is there any word on the next gen rifle?

It's called the M105, IIRC, and it was due to be the only rifle in service by the end of 2011 last I checked. The design has been finalized for awhile, at least.

As for how everyone crapping on the iPhone's durablity: believe it or not, it can actually do this if you're not burying it in crap. Keep it clean like your rifle and you'll be okay.

what's the M105? my internet searches find a semi-auto carbine firing 9mm parabellum, and looks generally like a hunting rifle. not exactly what i'd call a next-gen military rifle..

[castor]

Somehow military depending on local (in this case foreign) mobile networks doesn't sound good to me..

[pecenipicek]

speaking of the M4 is there any word on the next gen rifle?

It's called the M105, IIRC, and it was due to be the only rifle in service by the end of 2011 last I checked. The design has been finalized for awhile, at least.

As for how everyone crapping on the iPhone's durablity: believe it or not, it can actually do this if you're not burying it in crap. Keep it clean like your rifle and you'll be okay.

i seriously doubt that rifle maintence 101 will get an appendix called "How to dismantle your iPhone and keep it clean, 10 easy steps"


however, the mental picture is more than statisfying

[NGTM-1R]

what's the M105? my internet searches find a semi-auto carbine firing 9mm parabellum, and looks generally like a hunting rifle. not exactly what i'd call a next-gen military rifle..

I probably have the model number wrong.

[Inquisitor]

At FPED over the summer, there were several mobile device intelligence peddlers, nestled in between the robot tanks and the guns that shoot around corners. Blackberries, Windows Mobile, etc. Raytheon is just late in announcing an iPhone version.

And they don't rely on civilian networks, they CAN leverage them, but they don't have to. Even FEMA can set up their own temp cell networks.

[asyikarea51]

I wonder about the touch screen and all the paper-pushing when you deal with something called water.

[Dilmah G]

Waterproof Cover? Government Issued Condom? (As Nuke suggested... I think.)

[Colonol Dekker]

An 80p pack of sandwich bags works wonders as mentioned.
 
If in doubt double, or even triple bag it.

[Mongoose]

That's what she...yeah...

[IceFire]

what's the M105? my internet searches find a semi-auto carbine firing 9mm parabellum, and looks generally like a hunting rifle. not exactly what i'd call a next-gen military rifle..

I probably have the model number wrong.

I can't find anything either... M105 doesn't seem to be it.

As I mentioned before the next gen US army rifle will probably be one of several possibilities including the Bushmaster ACR, XM8 and M416.

[Commander Zane]

And there's a cache of 250 billion USD that I'm not aware of somewhere deep below my house.

[Stormkeeper]

I'm just waiting until Obama's able to run the US via his 'Commander In Chief' application. Seems like budget cuts are taking their toll on you guys, huh?

[ShadowWolf_IH]

I remember experimenting with what we called "heart monitors" when i was in the military,    basically it would monitor the EM field created by a human heartbeat.  You could also bring up a building map and overlay it with the results of the monitor.  Mostly we trained with these in hostage situations, but there were a number of "other" (S&D) uses for it.  I don't even remember the designation anymore.  I just remember that back when I was in, we simply didn't have a technology capable of what we required for successful testing.  Things are probably different now, if they are even still trying to do anything with this.

It was a great idea though.

[headdie]

I remember experimenting with what we called "heart monitors" when i was in the military,    basically it would monitor the EM field created by a human heartbeat.  You could also bring up a building map and overlay it with the results of the monitor.  Mostly we trained with these in hostage situations, but there were a number of "other" (S&D) uses for it.  I don't even remember the designation anymore.  I just remember that back when I was in, we simply didn't have a technology capable of what we required for successful testing.  Things are probably different now, if they are even still trying to do anything with this.

It was a great idea though.

Tom Clancy used that idea for the rainbow six book (though it was used very differently in the games)