Urban snipers should be able to download wind data from weather sites.
Perhaps they could also report to local police when and where they were used? A 1:1 correlation with murder locations might be grounds to search the owner's hard drive for simpsons porn or something.
Maybe with the upcoming inauguration the US Govt has "released" this app, in the hope that it will help people to miss (or hit depending on your belief of many conspiracy theories).
If only the iPhone's GPS did elevation and direction as well as the regular location service as it could get the weather data from external sources and pre-calculate wind effects for you.
Still, it's a start for RISE OF THE MACHINES phone-powered Skynet sniper platforms. Maybe Apple fitted a crappy camera just to help prevent this very eventuality.
If they're urban snipers then they're in the middle of a microclimate within a microclimate for which downloading windspeeds for the general area would be a bit pointless. Unless they're on top of a weather station the windspeed is most likely wrong.
Now, if it tied local windspeed in with google maps to generate a profile of the buildings and then simulated how the building affected that (running many times to generate a statistical ensemble, given that it's a chaotic system), then
a) your iphone would burn up
b) the president would already be at home in bed (alive)
and c) the police have probably found you because the formerly vacant office (cleared due to credit issues) will be refilled because the recession has ended.
This app will only help if you already know how to shoot properly, it takes the donkey work out of compensating for wind etc. It won't make your average man, or girl, on the street much (if any) more accurate.
There's more to long-range target shooting than pointing the rifle in the right direction and pulling the trigger. Actually, pulling the trigger sharply would be one way of guaranteeing a miss...
I hold a UK Fire Arms Certificat. and as there are a large community of Target sports (magasine of the same title witch can be borte in WH Smiths) all the smart arsed comments above, are just that. and ill guided
I would also suspect that thay would say any one who, downloaded a copy of the london undergrand or went to GAME and perchesed M$ Flight Sim before booking a flight to New York a terrorist??
Anyone else thinking they should add a written exam, preferably with some kind of essay question, to the process of getting a "UK Fire Arms Certificat"??
That someone with such dubious literacy skills as yourself is legally allowed to own a gun worries me deeply.
Would you please highlight which of the above comments were particularly ill-guided? Most of them were clearly meant in jest and referred to the tech aspect of the article, not the gun-toting retard aspect.
Download a copy of the London Underground? A scale one?? I can imagine fitting the Tyne and Wear metro system through my broadband connection but the underground - you must be kidding me!!
"Anyone else thinking they should add a written exam, preferably with some kind of essay question, to the process of getting a "UK Fire Arms Certificat"??"
Actually a Certificat is when you get your pet moggy to sign you off as competent ;o)
Fire Arms sounds like a rather painful condition though. Stops you wiping your nose on your sleeve I expect.
that PDAs have been used for hitting the target. I believe PalmPilots, connected to a laser range finder, GPS module and suitable radio were used by the US Army. The palm would know where you were (GPS), where you were pointing (laser range-finder, with direction component) and was able to send this info to whoever had the bombs/guns.
This was all cheap off-the-shelf civilian kit which cost very little... one can only imagine how much it it would have cost had it been developed through military procurement processes.
It was in New Scientist, for anyone with a subcription to their archives.
So what would you say if, I told you I am dyslexic, and whilst at work can only access the internet from a standalone PC with no spell checker on it!
And there is no exam to get a FAC in the UK. You need to have been a full member of a Home Office licensed Rifle club for a minimum of six months’ and there for trained by an approved instructor. Before you can apply for one witch includes numerous police interviews and background checks.
"So what would you say if, I told you I am dyslexic, and whilst at work can only access the internet from a standalone PC with no spell checker on it!"
If you can access the internet, you have access to a spellchecker. Fail.
Secondary fail for throwing out the dyslexia card. I work with dyslexic students and they all seem to have the intelligence to find a spellchecker if they need one. Shitty spelling != dyslexia.
... at storing generic ballistics information, but the idea has a few flaws in its present iteration.
Every rifle, even of the same type and in the same caliber, shoots differently - a designated marksman needs to hand-load his ammunition to see which combination of components it prefers.
Second, that same marksman will keep his ballistics data on a range-card - how the distance, wind, upward/downward angle of the shot, etc, etc affect the trajectory of the bullet. This data is stored the old-fashioned way - on paper - and taped to the stock or otherwise kept close at hand.
Use someone else's ballistics data - no flippin' way! If it were editable by the user, it might be better yet - but still, my range-card won't break or run out of battery-power.
Why is the KAC PDW one of the presets? A PDW is, by definition, not the sort of weapon that would benefit from this kind of precision aiming jiggery pokery. Does make me wonder how good a job this app does if it's intended for use with weapons it won't make any difference to.
Dyslexia is not the same as a problem with reading. Many dyslexic people learn to read, but have continuing difficulties with spelling, writing, memory and organisation. There are also people whose difficulties with reading are not caused by dyslexia. Dyslexia often causes problems in maths: many dyslexic people have difficulties with arithmetic and with learning and recalling number facts.
The degree to which dyslexia causes problems, in learning and in everyday life, depends on many factors. These include the severity of the dyslexia, the other strengths and abilities that a person has, and the kind of teaching and support they may have been given.
This app looks interesting but probably not as useful as isnipe which has been available on the iphone for some months - so why the sensationalist reporting?
As someone who shoots as a hobby and who makes home-load ammunition it's very useful to be able to customise the initial data set such projectile weight, zero range etc. But, even with all that information at your fingertips the likelihood of you being able to dial in the exact settings and hit a target, at range, with the first bullet, is very small
The line "let any idiot with a sniper rifle take out enemies with ease" belies a lack of understanding of the skills and knowledge needed for accurate long-range shooting.
As for "communicating with your chosen weapon"... can someone tell me where I can buy a rifle with an onboard computer, USB / wifi and a headphone jack?!!!
I suggest you stop digging now. The hole you've made for yourself in this thread is deep enough already.
"But also one each with both of the people that are nominated as referees."
Again false. While they may have done this in your case it is not a requirement of the Firearms Act or ACPO. Other peoples' experience differs from yours, I assure you.
Clearly your Firearms Licensing Department was not entirely happy with your application or referees and needed more reassurance.
"Runaway Technology's BulletFlight is described as a “ballistic computer” that provides you with all the information required to derail a presidential cavalcade."
HTC Touch HD Pocket PC
MWg Zinc II
HTC Touch Pro
HTC Touch Diamond2
Palm Treo Pro Smartphone
Sniper-aiding app arrives for iPhone
Adam Foxton
How it communicates #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 12:29 GMT
Over a Bulletooth connection...
Mycho
Room for improvement #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 12:29 GMT
Urban snipers should be able to download wind data from weather sites.
Perhaps they could also report to local police when and where they were used? A 1:1 correlation with murder locations might be grounds to search the owner's hard drive for simpsons porn or something.
Stuart
iFail #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 12:29 GMT
Afraid its not street legal in the UK ... unless there is a metric option ...
Anonymous Coward
But has anyone tested it? #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 12:34 GMT
Maybe with the upcoming inauguration the US Govt has "released" this app, in the hope that it will help people to miss (or hit depending on your belief of many conspiracy theories).
Tom Haczewski
Coincidence... #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 13:06 GMT
...that's it's out on the same day as the inauguration?
If there ever was a case for bad (or good) timing, this is it!
Jared Earle
Shame about the Compass #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 13:06 GMT
If only the iPhone's GPS did elevation and direction as well as the regular location service as it could get the weather data from external sources and pre-calculate wind effects for you.
Still, it's a start for RISE OF THE MACHINES phone-powered Skynet sniper platforms. Maybe Apple fitted a crappy camera just to help prevent this very eventuality.
Anonymous Coward
"Stay safe, stay second amendment" #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 13:06 GMT
Implement for GTA please :)
Anonymous Coward
@Room for improvement #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 13:06 GMT
If they're urban snipers then they're in the middle of a microclimate within a microclimate for which downloading windspeeds for the general area would be a bit pointless. Unless they're on top of a weather station the windspeed is most likely wrong.
Now, if it tied local windspeed in with google maps to generate a profile of the buildings and then simulated how the building affected that (running many times to generate a statistical ensemble, given that it's a chaotic system), then
a) your iphone would burn up
b) the president would already be at home in bed (alive)
and c) the police have probably found you because the formerly vacant office (cleared due to credit issues) will be refilled because the recession has ended.
Of course if we tied it up to the cloud.....
Robajob
Obviously #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 13:06 GMT
This is much better than some cartoon tits.
Mark_T
Playlists #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 13:06 GMT
What would your average yank-in-a-belltower / grassy knoll type listen to ? - Death Metal?
*RING RING*
"Hello?"
"Aww Mom I told you not to keep calling me at work, I'm busy..... Hold on."
*BOOM!*
"OK Mom, I can talk now...guess who might be on TV tonight?"
John Bayly
Just in time for a certain inauguration today #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 13:06 GMT
Legal notice:
This comment does not condone assassination, or it's less extreme versions of censorship.
John Bayly
Missing wind direction #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 13:06 GMT
It appears to only allow wind speed, but not relative wind direction. No point shooting Bambi by mistake; there's more meat on her mother.
Andrew Wood
Boom headshot! #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 13:06 GMT
Pics and more detail here.
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/01/20/ipod-touch-mounted-on-m110-sniper-rifle/
So the would be assassin can also install an eBook reader and carry his own Book Repository with him!!
Alan Edwards
Only helps if you can already shoot #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 13:30 GMT
This app will only help if you already know how to shoot properly, it takes the donkey work out of compensating for wind etc. It won't make your average man, or girl, on the street much (if any) more accurate.
There's more to long-range target shooting than pointing the rifle in the right direction and pulling the trigger. Actually, pulling the trigger sharply would be one way of guaranteeing a miss...
Alan.
Tony Chandler
Look out, El Reg! #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 13:31 GMT
After all those nasty comments about Mactards and iPhone owners, you might want to keep your heads down now that this app is out and about...
Anonymous Coward
But... #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 13:48 GMT
does it support the Springfield on COD5?
Anonymous Coward
Target Sports #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 14:04 GMT
I hold a UK Fire Arms Certificat. and as there are a large community of Target sports (magasine of the same title witch can be borte in WH Smiths) all the smart arsed comments above, are just that. and ill guided
I would also suspect that thay would say any one who, downloaded a copy of the london undergrand or went to GAME and perchesed M$ Flight Sim before booking a flight to New York a terrorist??
Bill Cumming
But does it.... #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 14:04 GMT
Come with a free "Secret Service" flight to GitMo?
Or
A "Flowers By Iris" van parked in your street for a month?
...Mines the one with the Kevlar lining..
Johnny G
How it communicates?? #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 14:36 GMT
Well, Bruce Willis had a phone that controlled to his weapon (ho hum) in Day of the Jackal
Anonymous Coward
@Target Sports AC #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 14:36 GMT
Anyone else thinking they should add a written exam, preferably with some kind of essay question, to the process of getting a "UK Fire Arms Certificat"??
Jared Vanderbilt
So the iPod finally has a killer app. #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 14:36 GMT
Microsoft can port this over to Vista (oops, I mean XP) then there will be a killer app to justify the netbook.
Anonymous Coward
@Target Sports #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 14:53 GMT
That someone with such dubious literacy skills as yourself is legally allowed to own a gun worries me deeply.
Would you please highlight which of the above comments were particularly ill-guided? Most of them were clearly meant in jest and referred to the tech aspect of the article, not the gun-toting retard aspect.
Download a copy of the London Underground? A scale one?? I can imagine fitting the Tyne and Wear metro system through my broadband connection but the underground - you must be kidding me!!
Mark_T
RE: AC #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 15:01 GMT
"Anyone else thinking they should add a written exam, preferably with some kind of essay question, to the process of getting a "UK Fire Arms Certificat"??"
Actually a Certificat is when you get your pet moggy to sign you off as competent ;o)
Fire Arms sounds like a rather painful condition though. Stops you wiping your nose on your sleeve I expect.
Jessica Werkz
@Target Sports #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 15:10 GMT
Certificat
magasine
witch
borte
thay
undergrand
perchesed
If this isn't an ill guided use of English I don't know what is. Someone get his fire arms certificate off him before he turns into a vigilante.
Dave
Not the first time... #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 16:26 GMT
that PDAs have been used for hitting the target. I believe PalmPilots, connected to a laser range finder, GPS module and suitable radio were used by the US Army. The palm would know where you were (GPS), where you were pointing (laser range-finder, with direction component) and was able to send this info to whoever had the bombs/guns.
This was all cheap off-the-shelf civilian kit which cost very little... one can only imagine how much it it would have cost had it been developed through military procurement processes.
It was in New Scientist, for anyone with a subcription to their archives.
chris roscoe
Target Sports & FAC's #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 16:50 GMT
So what would you say if, I told you I am dyslexic, and whilst at work can only access the internet from a standalone PC with no spell checker on it!
And there is no exam to get a FAC in the UK. You need to have been a full member of a Home Office licensed Rifle club for a minimum of six months’ and there for trained by an approved instructor. Before you can apply for one witch includes numerous police interviews and background checks.
PS Under ground maps come on paper too ;P
Anonymous Coward
@Chris Roscoe #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 21:00 GMT
Erm, I'm pretty sure that one of the major issues with dyslexia is not being able to read correctly, thus not spotting typos.
Complete mis-spelling is thickiness isn't it?
Also standalone PCs are by definition not connected to the internet.
Paris? Becoz she wood huv spled it butter.
Steve
@ chris roscoe #
Posted Tuesday 20th January 2009 21:00 GMT
"So what would you say if, I told you I am dyslexic, and whilst at work can only access the internet from a standalone PC with no spell checker on it!"
If you can access the internet, you have access to a spellchecker. Fail.
Secondary fail for throwing out the dyslexia card. I work with dyslexic students and they all seem to have the intelligence to find a spellchecker if they need one. Shitty spelling != dyslexia.
Anonymous Coward
A noble attempt... #
Posted Wednesday 21st January 2009 09:04 GMT
... at storing generic ballistics information, but the idea has a few flaws in its present iteration.
Every rifle, even of the same type and in the same caliber, shoots differently - a designated marksman needs to hand-load his ammunition to see which combination of components it prefers.
Second, that same marksman will keep his ballistics data on a range-card - how the distance, wind, upward/downward angle of the shot, etc, etc affect the trajectory of the bullet. This data is stored the old-fashioned way - on paper - and taped to the stock or otherwise kept close at hand.
Use someone else's ballistics data - no flippin' way! If it were editable by the user, it might be better yet - but still, my range-card won't break or run out of battery-power.
Bruce
@Target Sports & FAC's #
Posted Wednesday 21st January 2009 09:04 GMT
PS Under ground maps come on paper too ;P
So where can I download these 'paper copies'? I can't find them in any torrents...
Mine's the virtual one...
Tezcatlipoca
PDW #
Posted Wednesday 21st January 2009 09:04 GMT
Why is the KAC PDW one of the presets? A PDW is, by definition, not the sort of weapon that would benefit from this kind of precision aiming jiggery pokery. Does make me wonder how good a job this app does if it's intended for use with weapons it won't make any difference to.
Mark_T
RE: chris roscoe #
Posted Wednesday 21st January 2009 09:04 GMT
First, don't assume that you are the only one here with an FAC ;o)
>And there is no exam to get a FAC in the UK.
True
>You need to have been a full member of a Home Office licensed Rifle club for a minimum of six months’
False, Firearms act says 3 months but most clubs require more. Hunters don't need to be a member at all.
>and there for trained by an approved instructor. Before you can apply for one
False, no such stipulation in the firearms act. Clubs demand this though
> witch includes numerous police interviews
False. One home visit from local Firearms Enquiries Officer.
The Firearms act is publicly available at Hansard if anyone is interested.
Anonymous Coward
Dyslexia #
Posted Wednesday 21st January 2009 10:45 GMT
Dyslexia is not the same as a problem with reading. Many dyslexic people learn to read, but have continuing difficulties with spelling, writing, memory and organisation. There are also people whose difficulties with reading are not caused by dyslexia. Dyslexia often causes problems in maths: many dyslexic people have difficulties with arithmetic and with learning and recalling number facts.
The degree to which dyslexia causes problems, in learning and in everyday life, depends on many factors. These include the severity of the dyslexia, the other strengths and abilities that a person has, and the kind of teaching and support they may have been given.
chris roscoe
FAC interview's #
Posted Wednesday 21st January 2009 11:06 GMT
>> witch includes numerous police interviews
>False. One home visit from local Firearms Enquiries Officer.
Sorry not 100%. One with your self. Yes.
But also one each with both of the people that are nominated as referees.
Lionel Baden
@Dyslexia #
Posted Wednesday 21st January 2009 12:03 GMT
Ok I hate it when people jump on the band wagon about this Fucking condition !
I Have it, I dont shout out every time my shitty spelling shows me up i just swallow my pride and get on with it !!
I have become better at spelling because I have to, I lost my job once because i couldn't spell business, You can bet your ass i can spell it now !
@chris if your on a PC with no spell checker slow down and re-read your Post twice.
Anyway doesnt firefox have auto spell check on anyway (IE too ??? been to long since i used it to know)
Richy1311
"Sniper" app has been on app store for months #
Posted Wednesday 21st January 2009 12:22 GMT
This app looks interesting but probably not as useful as isnipe which has been available on the iphone for some months - so why the sensationalist reporting?
As someone who shoots as a hobby and who makes home-load ammunition it's very useful to be able to customise the initial data set such projectile weight, zero range etc. But, even with all that information at your fingertips the likelihood of you being able to dial in the exact settings and hit a target, at range, with the first bullet, is very small
The line "let any idiot with a sniper rifle take out enemies with ease" belies a lack of understanding of the skills and knowledge needed for accurate long-range shooting.
As for "communicating with your chosen weapon"... can someone tell me where I can buy a rifle with an onboard computer, USB / wifi and a headphone jack?!!!
Mark_T
RE: FAC interview's #
Posted Wednesday 21st January 2009 12:53 GMT
I suggest you stop digging now. The hole you've made for yourself in this thread is deep enough already.
"But also one each with both of the people that are nominated as referees."
Again false. While they may have done this in your case it is not a requirement of the Firearms Act or ACPO. Other peoples' experience differs from yours, I assure you.
Clearly your Firearms Licensing Department was not entirely happy with your application or referees and needed more reassurance.
Anonymous Coward
@James Sherwood #
Posted Wednesday 21st January 2009 12:53 GMT
"Runaway Technology's BulletFlight is described as a “ballistic computer” that provides you with all the information required to derail a presidential cavalcade."
That's just in poor taste...