GeneralDynamics
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The army may have laser-equipped vehicles by 2017
The army, in partnership with General Dynamics, is developing a short-range laser weapon designed to protect soldiers against mortars, missiles and drones. The news was broken by Scout Warrior, which reports that the weapon could be implemented in as little as a year. The idea is that the technology would be installed on the roof of an armored personnel vehicle -- specifically a General Dynamics Stryker (pictured). Once operational, the technology will scan the immediate area and destroy anything suspicious that approaches by air.
General Dynamics locks down Android, demos ultra-secure LG Optimus 3D Max
General Dynamics doesn't exactly make the sexiest gear in the world. But, it sure has this secure gadget thing on lockdown. The NSA contractor is moving to ensure that Android is as snoop proof as can be with its new GD Protected software. The heart of the system is a sandboxed virtual instance of Android that delivers the sort of security features demanded by governments and the military (and some particularly paranoid businesses). That isolated OS runs alongside a standard Android install that you can use for personal purposes, while keeping your sensitive data on the secure side -- not unlike BlackBerry Balance. There's two layers of encryption separating the virtual install from the standard one, along with hardware security provided by Fixmo. The company has worked with LG, the DoD and the USMC to build a customized version of the Optimus 3D Max to showcase how the software works. The device even has a dedicated button that lets you quickly and seamlessly switch between the personal and secure personas, indicated by green and red borders, respectively. If you're not really keen on equipping your foot soldiers with last year's mediocre LG handset (and have no need for super secure stereoscopic snapshots) then you'll probably be happy to hear that General Dynamics will be bringing GD Protected to the Galaxy S III as well. The platform has been integrated into Samsung's own security solution, dubbed KNOX, and will be available sometime in Q2 of this year. For a few more details, check out the video demo and PR after the break.
Microsoft inks Android patent deal with Itronix, causes more heads to explode
We've already noted our slip into Bizarro World, a strange and topsy-turvy land where -- thanks to patent-infringement claims -- Microsoft strikes licensing deals with Android device makers. Redmond has used a carrot-and-stick strategy thus far, suing competing manufacturers (Barnes and Noble, Motorola) while reaching a protective royalty agreement with HTC, which, not coincidentally, also makes Windows Phones. Today, another company joins the licensee list: General Dynamics Itronix, known for its rugged computers, some of which do run Windows. Neither company offered much in the way of details, other than declaring that Itronix will pay royalties, but we've no reason to believe it's too different from HTC's arrangement. See the press release after the break for an excellent example of terse, unrevealing business-speak.
Itronix GD2000: a rugged handheld for your skydiving, bullet-dodging, building-scaling lifestyle
Taking a break from BASE jumping to shop for your next rugged computer? If you can't wait for Panasonic's Android Toughbook slate, consider the just-announced General Dynamics Itronix GD2000. The PR mavens promise this handheld performs like a full-sized notebook, thanks to an Intel Core Solo processor. Weighing in at 2.4 pounds, this beast can run for six hours on a lithium-ion battery; it also boasts a sun-friendly 5.6-inch, 1024 x 600 LED touchscreen. Fully integrated satellite GPS will help you reach your top secret rendezvous point, and WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity will keep your Twitter feed updated along the way. But how rugged is it really, you ask? The case is Ingress Protection (IP) 54 rated, the company answers, meaning your new purchase is protected from dust and splashing water. When you're ready to build your own – maybe upgrading the standard 64GB SATA drive and adding cellular networking – prices start at $4,900.
General Dynamics' GD300 is the Pip-Boy that runs Android
Yes, we totally stole this headline from our Spanish colleagues, but they summed it up perfectly -- the General Dynamics Itronix GD300 is right out of Fallout 3, well ahead of HP's model. It's a full-on wrist- or chest-mounted GPS unit with an unspecified version of Android at the helm, designed to deliver both real-time global positioning (with a SiRFstarIII chip and stubby quad-helix antenna) and connect to tactical radios. The eight-ounce ruggedized plastic package is MIL-STD 810G tested for durability and holds a 600MHz ARM Cortex A8 processor, 256MB of memory, 8GB flash storage and a 3.5-inch, 800 x 480 "glove-friendly" and "sunlight readable" touchscreen display. That's only about as powerful as your average consumer smartphone, but you're not going to be painting targets on your Nexus One, we suppose. No word on whether it will pick up post-apocalyptic radio stations as your mission unfolds. We've got a close-up photo and press release after the break, and you can find the full brochure at our source link.
General Dynamics Itronix GD8000 notebook for extreme conditions, or the extremely clumsy
It's been a hot minute since we heard anything from General Dynamics in the tough notebook department, so it's good to see the company come back with a product that really raises the bar. The Itronix GD8000 sports an Intel Core 2 Duo SL9400 processor, 4GB of memory, integrated GMA 4500MHD graphics, 160GB storage, and a 13.3-inch DynaVue sunlight-readable touchscreen display. But that ain't all! This bad boy also features integrated GPS, WiFi, a biometric fingerprint reader, a smartcard reader, and an integrated Gobi 2000 WWAN module. Bluetooth is optional. As far as the toughness goes, with its magnesium chassis and polycarbonate case this bad boy meets MIL-STD 810F standards, able to withstand a drop from 42 inches, 30 gallons of water at 40 mph, and operates in temperatures anywhere from -22°F to 140°F. One more pic after the break. [Via iTech News]
NSA-approved smartphones give Obama some ugly choices
Next week's US presidential inauguration of Barack Obama will have one sour note for the Illinois senator. Sure, he's gonna be the leader of the free world, but the notorious BlackBerry addict will have to give up his smartphone -- and frankly, if given the choice, we'd probably choose cellphone over country. There is hope, however, as CNET outlines two Windows Mobile devices that met the NSA's seal of approval for governmental use back in 2007: General Dynamics' Sectera Edge and L-3 Communications' Guardian. Unfortunately, both options look about as dated as the Treo 650, with exceptionally large antennas to boot. Hey NSA, any chance we can get something a bit sexier on the approval list?
NSA-approved smartphones leaves Obama with some ugly choices
Next week's US presidential inauguration of Barack Obama will have one sour note for the Illinois senator. Sure, he's gonna be the leader of the free world, but the notorious BlackBerry addict will have to give up his smartphone -- and frankly, if given the choice, we'd probably choose cellphone over country. There is hope, however, as CNET outlines two Windows Mobile devices that met the NSA's seal of approval for governmental use back in 2007: General Dynamics' Sectera Edge and L-3 Communications' Guardian. Unfortunately, both options look about as dated as the Treo 650, with exceptionally large antennas to boot. Hey NSA, any chance we can get something a bit sexier on the approval list?
General Dynamics UK touts near real-time 3D maps for soldiers
It looks like soldiers could one day have their own tab key of sorts to call up detailed, 3D maps at will, at least if the folks at General Dynamics UK have their way. As Physorg reports, they've developed a "near real-time" 3D map system that makes use of an array of different technologies including LIDAR, thermal imaging and x-ray backscatter techniques to not only display buildings and streets, but objects and people inside buildings as well. The use of LIDAR also promises to provide measurements of doors, windows, and alleys with "millimeter accuracy." All that obviously makes the system, dubbed Masthead, slightly less than portable, however, although General Dynamics says it'd be able to be carried in the back of a military vehicle or civilian 4x4, or in a plane for that matter. Of course, like most such projects, General Dynamics isn't just setting its sights to military applications, with it also touting Masthead's potential benefits for police forces in planning security measures for large events, to name one example.[Via Physorg]
General Dynamics' Sectera Edge approved by NSA
We know, you probably forgot that a certain smartphone from General Dynamics was even in the running for NSA approval earlier this year, but lo and behold, the Q4 estimate was actually met and the coveted thumbs-up was given to the (totally unfashionable) Sectera Edge. The National Security Agency has reportedly "awarded a contract to General Dynamics C4 Systems enabling military and government users to order" the mobile, and just in case you weren't aware of how lucrative an indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity agreement could be, this particular one has a "potential value of $300 million over five years." Folks that end up with one of these things will have handheld access to the US government's Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet) and Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet), but oddly enough, we're not told whether top secret agencies will be kosher with third-party applications.[Via CNET]
NSA nearing approval of two uber-secure handhelds
If fingerprint readers and eight layers of passwords aren't secure enough for you (or your employer), the National Security Agency is reportedly nearing the end of the approval process for a duo of "secure handheld voice and data communications devices." General Dynamics, more commonly know for its array of laptops, is eagerly awaiting the thumbs-up to be given to its Sectera Edge (pictured), while L-3 Communications' Guardian should actually be available in Q4 of this year. With the coveted NSA seal of approval, "the Defense Department will be cleared to buy the devices under an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract," but judging by the unsightly designs we're seeing on these things, don't bet on employees lining up to snag one.
General Dynamics' GoBook MR-1 gets official
We already had a pretty good handle on General Dynamics' ruggedized, Flipstart-like GoBook MR-1, but the company's now gotten official with it, and is providing a few more specs and clarifications. While the MR-1 shares much in common with the Flipstart, it has gotten a few significant upgrades, including a 1.2GHz Core Solo U1400 processor, some new wireless options (including WWAN by the end of the year), and a hard drive boost to 80GB, with 16GB and 32GB SSD drives also available as an option. Of course, perhaps the most significant upgrade is its newfound ruggedness, which meets or exceeds MIL-STD 810F specifications for temperature, drop, and vibration tests, as well IP-54 specs for dust and humidity. Getting the biggest boost, however, is the device's price, which will come in a hefty $4,450 when it's released in September.
Itronix's semi-rugged GoBook VR-2 gets a day job
General Dynamics Itronix certainly has the rugged computer gig down pat, but the GoBook VR-2 scales things back a bit and only gets the "semi-rugged" treatment. Don't think this bad boy's not a workhorse, however, as this machine was reportedly designed to "meet the demanding needs of mobile workers in a variety of commercial, field service, public safety, and military markets." Among the niceties that make the day-to-day a bit easier is a 13.3-inch XGA DynaVue touchscreen display, Intel's 2GHz T7300 Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB of RAM, up to 120GB of hard drive space, an optional HDD heater for those chilly morns in Killington, DVD burner, PC Card slot, optional ExpressCard slot, VGA output, audio in / out, four USB 2.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/g/n, integrated fingerprint reader, optional WWAN / GPS, Bluetooth, and a three-year warranty that should keep you feeling secure. Of course, this beast can handle a decent amount of shock, dust, and humidity too, but we wouldn't expect anything less with a base price of around $3,500. Click on through for a few on-the-job snaps.
General Dynamics' GoBook MR-1 gives the FlipStart a thick skin
General Dynamics (who purchased Itronix a couple years back) thinks it's tough stuff, and now it's after that hip new UMPC market with those rough and tumble wares. The new GoBook MR-1 is essentially a FlipStart plus rugged, sporting rubber and brushed aluminum protection, port covers and a housing hump for the WWAN antenna. Don't go dunking this one in the drink, it's only semi-rugged, and we're guessing the $4,450 price tag might dissuade you as well from testing this one's robustness. Since it's just a repackaged FlipStart, there aren't many surprises on specs, though GD did pack in a Intel Core Solo processor instead of the FlipStart's weaker Pentium M offering, and put in a 40GB drive instead of the existing 30 gigger. All the rest is all FlipStart, including all the ugly and the two pound weight of the original. General Dynamics expects to start shipping this in September.Read - CraveRead - PC MagUpdate: General Dynamics clarified some of the initial info we had about this thing. Turns out the unit is is indeed "rugged," (not just semi-rugged) up to military specs 810F and IP54 and GD will include a Dynavue touchscreen option by year end. The MR-1 is built by the same people who put together the FlipStart, but from the "ground up," with different specs (like that Core Solo proc), a bundle of wireless options, an 80GB hard drive option and even an SSD alternative.
Itronix unveils lightweight, rugged XR-1 laptop
If any of you have plans to venture towards the Sahara desert or Arctic Circle, but can't bear the thought of making such treacherous journeys without a laptop in tow, Itronix has the goods to keep you connected while fending off the brutal elements. The latest laptop to make it out of Itronix's testing facilities alive is the XR-1, a lightweight and rugged notebook that doesn't sacrifice performance in order to operate in less-than-ideal conditions. The 6.8-pound beast sports a 12-inch XGA touchscreen display, 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 40GB SATA hard drive, 512MB of RAM, and a fancy glow-in-the-dark keyboard to boot. While specs this good aren't usually found in such rough and tough machines, the XR-1 also manages to rock WLAN, WWAN, Bluetooth, and built-in GPS antennas that can all be utilized concurrently to presumably track down a signal from any corner of the globe. Making sure that all this internal goodness remains functional, the company designed the notebook to meet "military standards" for drops, shocks, vibrations, and water / dust resistance, not to mention its ability to survive a "bleach-water" bath if exposed to toxins. For those headed towards a pole, the built-in hard drive / display heaters warm up your fragile components before attempting to boot in sub-zero temperatures (and probably double as a halfway decent space heater, too). While we're impressed with the amount of power found beneath the plates of armor, er, casing, the (practically) everything-resistant XR-1 demands a premium for its abilities, and we'd humbly suggest changing your vacation spot unless the $4,330 (and way up) pricetag doesn't deliver a shock of its own.
