InHand Electronics introduces the Soldier e-ink military PDA

Concept military tech is usually pretty out there, but soldiers need battlefield data any way they can get it -- which is why InHand Electronics' new Soldier Flex PDA seems so much more practical than all those HUD-driven cyberhelmets we've seen. Utilizing a flexible e-ink display and some proprietary battery management software, the SFPDA weighs less than one pound but runs for 6 hours off a single charge, while still providing Ethernet, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity. No word on pricing or availability, but when your target market is the Pentagon, it probably doesn't really matter.

[Nex @ Sep 18th 2007 3:03AM]

maybe in a year ill be issued one and i can do an unboxing and a first look hands on.. probably not but hey a guy can dream right

[Gary @ Sep 18th 2007 3:18AM]

next gen rio karma?

[Twitchy @ Sep 18th 2007 4:05AM]

Less than a pound? But "weight is a sign of quality...reliability. If it doesn't work, you can always hit them with".

[August @ Sep 18th 2007 11:25AM]

+1 for Boris quote.

[Ian @ Sep 18th 2007 4:13AM]

i say the price should freakin matter... with out debt these days. but make goddamn sure its good quality for the price, because i'd rather have something expensive that works on a battlefield than something that was cheap that doesn't, if i was a soldier. well anyway we need cheaper shit for the government

[Thursday @ Sep 18th 2007 4:26AM]

"We need cheaper shit for the government"
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am sorry to inform you thatthe government has all the shit it needs. It produces its own shit, and is not looking for outside vendors at this time. Should the situation change, the government will be most interested in your shit, and will contact you with the necessary details. Thank you for your interest in being our shit provider, and we hope to have many shitty dealings with you in the future.
Your malevolent overlord. . . er I mean obedient servant,
Government

[Ian @ Sep 18th 2007 4:33AM]

lol well im not sure if i should laugh or be scared because i know at lest part of that is right. scary, yet you forgot about the debt, what do you say about that my malevolent overlord... i mean obedient servant

[vileta2 @ Sep 18th 2007 4:20AM]

6 hours... is not good enough considering how long soldiers may be away from their chargers.

[riggs @ Sep 18th 2007 8:15AM]

actually an arm band would work better since it relieves them of a hand instead of holding and "touching" with both

[Dan Rowland @ Sep 18th 2007 2:28PM]

Actually, this product was developed for the military under the Future Force Warrior project. The six hour run time is just that - run time not standby time. In fact, the unique property of electronic paper is that it will retain it's image after power is removed. If the soldier turns this unit off or puts it into sleep, the last information displayed will be visiable for years! If the unit is only used once per hour for a few minutes than the result could be weeks or months of usage on a single battery charge.

[Stephen Lang @ Sep 18th 2007 4:01PM]

Buttons? Keypad? The upcoming iKill will totally destroy this device.