Virtualized Air Force war games put Top Gun to shame
Every year for the past four decades, the US Air Force and its NATO allies have staged a series of mock battles — dubbed Red Flag events — to provide soldiers with “real-world” experience before actually throwing them into active combat. But this year’s Red Flag marks a significant departure from its predecessors in that the 2015 exercise will be the first to virtually integrate warfighters from around the country using cutting-edge flight simulators.
Red Flag events are put on by the United States Air Force Warfare Center (USAFWC) and typically held at Nellis Air Force Base, just outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. This site provides 15,000 square miles — roughly half the size of Switzerland — of open airspace in which participants can operate.
However, real conflicts rarely happen within such a small area. That’s why the USAFWC is leveraging a network of connected flight simulators to virtually expand the theater of operations from 15,000 square miles to a whopping 1.3 million square miles. This integration allows for many more friendly troops (Blue Flags) to match up against enormous simulated enemy forces (Red Flags).
“The benefits to the warfighter of integrating ‘virtual’ into Red Flags are that it allows us to bring in more of the combat-realistic threat envelope, and we’re now able to maximize the air tasking order with the most amount of ‘Blue Forces’ in both the virtual and live sides of a joint air operations area that is 1,200 by 1,100 nautical miles, compared to the Nevada Test and Training Range which is about 100 by 100 nautical miles,” Lt. Col. Kenneth Voigt, 505th Test Squadron commander, said in a statement.
That’s not to say that everybody involved gets to fly (either physically or virtually). In fact, most of the remotely participating forces will be providing simulated ground surveillance and support for the planes that are actually above Nellis AFB, though there will also reportedly be a few virtual aerial assets in the mix.
“What we’re going to do is take a virtual Joint Stars, or VSTARS, to pick up movers – live trucks on the range – and broadcast that to live strike assets, F-16 (Fighting Falcons) or F-15 (Eagles), to go employ on a dynamic target mission,” Voigt continued. “The Nellis Test and Training Range personnel on the range are a crucial partner for LVC [“Live-Virtual Constructive”] integration. The ability to track and send location data to the VSTARS is due to their experts.”
Red Flag will reportedly even include scenarios involving both live and virtual Patriot units — despite each missile costing nearly $1 million to transport out to the event. In all, hundreds of pilots are expected to participate.
And it’s not just the cost savings that has the USAF crowing over the virtual integration: “By combining LVC training, we’ll be able to show how we can maximize our footprint in LVC, push the technology envelope, see where we need to go in the future with our end-goal being able to integrate fifth-generation fighters and bombers with our fourth-generation assets, while being able to provide them with realistic threats to go against,” Voigt explained. “The combined efforts in the months leading up to 15-2 will pay huge dividends for all the participants, as they’re going to get the most combat-realistic environment in the Air Force.” At least until combat UAVs like the Taranis or the nEUROn take over and relegate every Air Force pilot to the role of remote operator.
[Image Credit: USAF]
Via: The Aviationist
Source: USAF Air Combat Command, Wiki
Chainfire roots T-Mobile Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge prior to official release
It’s pretty rare to see an Android device that doesn’t get rooted at some point in it’s life cycle, and it looks like Samsung’s Galaxy S6 isn’t going to escape that fate. Chainfire’s famous root method has already been confirmed to work on T-Mobile Galaxy S6 and its Edge variant, and those devices aren’t publicly available yet.
Apparently there weren’t many changes that needed to be made, so T-Mobile isn’t going to be locking this one down like some other carriers inevitably will be. Chainfire does mention that rooting the device is very likely to trip Samsung’s KNOX security measures, and an untripped KNOX will probably be required for phone based payments. If you root the device, say goodbye to one of the biggest selling points of the GS6.
Either way, we’ve got at least a month to go before the S6 hits T-Mobile’s network officially, so you’ve got some time to think it over.
source: Chainfire
via: 9 to 5 Google
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Xiaomi planning on releasing a smartwatch of its own
Xiaomi, is looking to respond to the Apple Watch with a smartwatch of its own. Also known as ‘China’s Apple’, the Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer is reportedly gearing up to take on Apple in a new product category. As per the rumors, the Xiaomi smartwatch is expected to feature a round dial and a brushed […]
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T-Mobile to bring ‘Data Stash’ to Pre-Paid on March 22nd
When T-Mobile announced Data Stash for the post paid customers of the magenta flag it was hit and miss when it came to customer excitement. Regardless if it was good for your life and account, the fact remained that it was a good move for consumers who were keeping to data limits. AT&T deemed it […]
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Porsche Design Passport concepts might offer a glimpse into the future
While BlackBerry and Porsche Design took the covers off the P’9983 Graphite earlier, there’s still another Porsche Design device slated for this year under the codename ‘Keian’ in honor of Keian Blundell and it’s widely rumored, expected and hoped to be a variation of the BlackBerry Passport.
Apple reportedly readying 25 channel TV service
Apple is reportedly in talks with content producers to launch a 25-channel TV service by September.
The service will reportedly be similar Dish Network’s recently-launched Sling TV, and will run on Apple devices such as the Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad. According to The Wall Street Journal:
The technology giant is in talks with programmers to offer a slimmed-down bundle of TV networks this fall, according to people familiar with the matter. The service would have about 25 channels, anchored by broadcasters such as ABC, CBS and Fox, and would be available on Apple devices such as the Apple TV, they said.
The Wall Street Journal goes on to note that Apple could be targeting a price range of $30 to $40 per month, and is aiming for an announcement in June, with a launch following in September.
Just last week, Apple announced a partnership with HBO to bring its standalone streaming offering, HBO Now, to Apple devices months ahead of the competition. It appears that the deal may have been Apple testing the waters for its own upcoming streaming service:
That deal was designed as a kind of appetizer for the main meal plans to be served later this year, according to a person familiar with the matter.
This information lines up with a previous report from February that Apple has already shown off a demo of such a service to content partners in some capacity.
If true, it will be interesting to see if an offering from Apple will make waves in the relatively young streaming television field. If the proposed September launch date is correct, Apple will be entering the field among fierce competition from the aforementioned Sling TV, which will have had several months to flesh out its service before Apple enters the fray. However, unlike Sling TV, Apple would have control over not just the service, but also the hardware running it, which could give the tech giant a leg up over the competition.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Apple Planning to Launch Streaming TV Service Featuring ABC, CBS, Fox and More
Apple is in talks with programmers to launch a subscription-based streaming TV service anchored by networks ABC, CBS and Fox, according to The Wall Street Journal. The report, citing sources familiar with the matter, claims that the service would have about 25 channels and be available on Apple TV, iPad and iPhone.
BREAKING: Apple in talks to launch online TV service in the fall with about 25 channels, featuring ABC, CBS and FOX networks – WSJ
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) March 17, 2015
Apple’s web-based TV service will reportedly be a lightweight package consisting of popular channels such as ABC, CBS, ESPN and FX, but not smaller stations typically included in a standard cable TV package. The service is rumored to cost between $30 to $40 per month and debut at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June ahead of a September launch in the United States.
The report adds that NBCUniversal content will be notably absent due to a falling-out between Apple and NBC parent company Comcast. The two sides were allegedly in negotiations as recently as last year, although Apple believed that Comcast was too focused on its own X1 set-top box for web-based streaming. The breakdown in discussions may have prevented Apple from launching its online TV service sooner.
WSJ: Apple’s TV service due this fall with about 25 channels
With the thawing of the spring we have a renewal of an old favorite: Apple TV rumors. After Re/code suggested a month ago that Apple might go its own way Sling TV-style instead of working with cable companies, the Wall Street Journal is reporting similar details. According to WSJ, Apple is negotiating to launch a “slim” package of 25 or so channels for streaming this fall for $30 – $40, but there’s a twist: there’s no negotiations so far with Comcast-owned NBCUniversal, because of a falling out between the cable giant and the tech company. The rumors go so far as to claim Apple felt Comcast was intentionally stringing it along while it developed its X1 cable box. So far Sling seems to be doing ok without Syfy and the rest, but we’ll see if that changes after The Expanse launches. With an Apple TV price drop and similar services either launched or on the way, we’ll move the Apple TV rumor alert level up to a still-skeptical (see my reasoning here) chartreuse.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Apple
Source: Wall Street Journal
WSJ: Apple’s TV service due this fall with about 25 channels
With the thawing of the spring we have a renewal of an old favorite: Apple TV rumors. After Re/code suggested a month ago that Apple might go its own way Sling TV-style instead of working with cable companies, the Wall Street Journal is reporting similar details. According to WSJ, Apple is negotiating to launch a “slim” package of 25 or so channels for streaming this fall for $30 – $40, but there’s a twist: there’s no negotiations so far with Comcast-owned NBCUniversal, because of a falling out between the cable giant and the tech company. The rumors go so far as to claim Apple felt Comcast was intentionally stringing it along while it developed its X1 cable box. So far Sling seems to be doing ok without Syfy and the rest, but we’ll see if that changes after The Expanse launches. With an Apple TV price drop and similar services either launched or on the way, we’ll move the Apple TV rumor alert level up to a still-skeptical (see my reasoning here) chartreuse.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Apple
Source: Wall Street Journal
Google’s interactive cards head to YouTube videos
Interactive cards are a recurring feature among various apps and services produced by Google. They offer more information at a glance than almost any other alternative. Google Now uses these cards to spread apart content and suggestions. Play Movies & TV displays them for a quick look at information regarding the film/show, actor, director, and other items. Since they are so useful, the interactive cards are being made available to content creators on YouTube.
On YouTube, the interactive cards come in six variations: Merchandise, Fundraising, Video, Playlist, Associated Website, and Fan Funding. Each is rather self-explanatory. They are described as an “evolution of annotations” for viewers to explores additional content and areas. Without question, this new form of a popup looks better than what YouTube had been using for years.
The interactive cards on YouTube will work across web, phone, and tablet platforms.
Source: YouTube Creator Blog
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