In 95 I flew on the first C-17 into Sarajevo during our invasion. It was my first C-17 flight. I remember watching the loady playing solitaire on the plane's computer at his workstation which was running Windows. You've come a long way Air Force.
I used to live with a 'high ranking' Google employee (located within Australia) and, when the iPad was first unveiled, I saw it's potential and showed it to him excitedly.
He also claimed it was 'just a big iPhone without the ability to make calls'.
Do you know how much shit I have given him since then?
Not necessarily just for pilot/co-pilot. Could be for loadmasters, mechanics, and other ground support staff as well. But, likely just half the maximum amount.
Don't be surprised if they go Android for tablets(perhaps even Microsoft win8), they did go android for phones. Paradoxically or maybe not, the same company that builds the c-17 has made a corporate decision to NOT deploy the iPhone at all and go with Android phones. But they will continue to 'explore' enterprise deployment of the iPad. Go figure. I think it is due to the defense dept decision to go with Android phones. They are waiting for the final defense dept decision on tablets. Bottom line IMO- defense dept doesnt like the closed Apple operating system. Microsoft is great at tweaking operating systems to enterprise needs. And Android can be tweaked to their needs. Apple... Take it or leave it. Generally great for Auntie Em user, but not corporate.
The government, like many corporate organizations are looking at the iPad BECAUSE it has a robust developer toolset, has a controlled app delivery system (including corporate-centric app stores that the general public doesn't get to see), and the gov has already dealt with a number of issues from the Microsoft perspective. Microsoft has to provide onsite support staff for most larger corporate customers with wide Microsoft systems exposure, just to keep the systems up and running. Android can not only be tweaked to their needs - it can also provide excellent hacking opportunities as well. You obviously have missed a couple of month's worth of news items reporting on the wide uptake in corporate IT of the iPad and iPhone. My own Fortune 50 company is scaling down BES/Blackberry for iPhone/Android, and has a number of programming teams building corporate apps for our various business operations and have deployed thousands of iPads to staff.
The government, like many corporate organizations are looking at the iPad BECAUSE it has a robust developer toolset, has a controlled app delivery system (including corporate-centric app stores that the general public doesn't get to see), and the gov has already dealt with a number of issues from the Microsoft perspective. Microsoft has to provide onsite support staff for most larger corporate customers with wide Microsoft systems exposure, just to keep the systems up and running. Android can not only be tweaked to their needs - it can also provide excellent hacking opportunities as well. You obviously have missed a couple of month's worth of news items reporting on the wide uptake in corporate IT of the iPad and iPhone. My own Fortune 50 company is scaling down BES/Blackberry for iPhone/Android, and has a number of programming teams building corporate apps for our various business operations and have deployed thousands of iPads to staff.
As I mentioned, our Fortune top 100 has forgone the iphone. I didnt miss it, they did.
BTW IMO and Im no expert, not sure I agree with your hacking rationale... there is many facets to hacking and security etc. I could argue that hacking hasnt gone on much in phones etc because of other oppurtunities. Also, government hacking... well, who knows.
I think it is due to the defense dept decision to go with Android phones. They are waiting for the final defense dept decision on tablets.
There was no decision to "go with Android phones". There has been only one android phone (Dell Android 2.2: the 4.1-inch Venue, which is no longer available) that has so far managed to pass DISA testing.
iOS devices and others are still undergoing testing.
IPad 2s are one of the options for the Air Mobility Command procurement, although it also said it would consider "brand name or equal" devices as long as they are new items supported by a manufacturer's warranty and not from the gray market, according to the presolicitation. My money is on a Android tablet, not because I have any ill thoughts against the iPad as I think it's a good product but traditionally the US Government will go for the lowest bid and that defiantly wont be Apple.
It will be interesting to come back to this story in a few months when they finally purchase the tablets, I got a hundred on Samsung.
Comments
Clearly no one told the brass that 'it's just a big iPhone'
Nope. Clearly it's still just a toy.
Nope. Clearly it's still just a toy.
I used to live with a 'high ranking' Google employee (located within Australia) and, when the iPad was first unveiled, I saw it's potential and showed it to him excitedly.
He also claimed it was 'just a big iPhone without the ability to make calls'.
Do you know how much shit I have given him since then?
A lot!
Wow. 18,000 sounds like a lot, considering that the Air Force only has about 400 "cargo" aircraft.
http://www.planespotters.net/Airline...ates-Air-Force
Maybe the pilots are unionized
Not necessarily just for pilot/co-pilot. Could be for loadmasters, mechanics, and other ground support staff as well. But, likely just half the maximum amount.
Don't be surprised if they go Android for tablets(perhaps even Microsoft win8), they did go android for phones. Paradoxically or maybe not, the same company that builds the c-17 has made a corporate decision to NOT deploy the iPhone at all and go with Android phones. But they will continue to 'explore' enterprise deployment of the iPad. Go figure. I think it is due to the defense dept decision to go with Android phones. They are waiting for the final defense dept decision on tablets. Bottom line IMO- defense dept doesnt like the closed Apple operating system. Microsoft is great at tweaking operating systems to enterprise needs. And Android can be tweaked to their needs. Apple... Take it or leave it. Generally great for Auntie Em user, but not corporate.
The government, like many corporate organizations are looking at the iPad BECAUSE it has a robust developer toolset, has a controlled app delivery system (including corporate-centric app stores that the general public doesn't get to see), and the gov has already dealt with a number of issues from the Microsoft perspective. Microsoft has to provide onsite support staff for most larger corporate customers with wide Microsoft systems exposure, just to keep the systems up and running. Android can not only be tweaked to their needs - it can also provide excellent hacking opportunities as well. You obviously have missed a couple of month's worth of news items reporting on the wide uptake in corporate IT of the iPad and iPhone. My own Fortune 50 company is scaling down BES/Blackberry for iPhone/Android, and has a number of programming teams building corporate apps for our various business operations and have deployed thousands of iPads to staff.
The government, like many corporate organizations are looking at the iPad BECAUSE it has a robust developer toolset, has a controlled app delivery system (including corporate-centric app stores that the general public doesn't get to see), and the gov has already dealt with a number of issues from the Microsoft perspective. Microsoft has to provide onsite support staff for most larger corporate customers with wide Microsoft systems exposure, just to keep the systems up and running. Android can not only be tweaked to their needs - it can also provide excellent hacking opportunities as well. You obviously have missed a couple of month's worth of news items reporting on the wide uptake in corporate IT of the iPad and iPhone. My own Fortune 50 company is scaling down BES/Blackberry for iPhone/Android, and has a number of programming teams building corporate apps for our various business operations and have deployed thousands of iPads to staff.
As I mentioned, our Fortune top 100 has forgone the iphone. I didnt miss it, they did.
BTW IMO and Im no expert, not sure I agree with your hacking rationale... there is many facets to hacking and security etc. I could argue that hacking hasnt gone on much in phones etc because of other oppurtunities. Also, government hacking... well, who knows.
I think it is due to the defense dept decision to go with Android phones. They are waiting for the final defense dept decision on tablets.
There was no decision to "go with Android phones". There has been only one android phone (Dell Android 2.2: the 4.1-inch Venue, which is no longer available) that has so far managed to pass DISA testing.
iOS devices and others are still undergoing testing.
It will be interesting to come back to this story in a few months when they finally purchase the tablets, I got a hundred on Samsung.