Apple Signs $159 Million Gov't Contract for iPhone, iPad

[teh_chem]

Wow, who cares. It seems like Zak Islam went from "Apple news representative," to "Apple news troll" at Tom's. Not everything involving Apple is newsworthy. Seriously, I'm continually embarrassed by his contributions to Tom's now.

 

[master_chen]

Ping:
Well, yes, it does...from now on. %)
But only in Brazil...for now... >_>

 

[JOSHSKORN]

Like the gov't really needs iCrap. Androids are better for this.

 

[scannall]

[citation][nom]JOSHSKORN[/nom]Like the gov't really needs iCrap. Androids are better for this.[/citation]


Subpar support and customer service is standard in the android community. Not something they need at all. Nobody does.

 

[j2j663]

[citation][nom]master_chen[/nom]Bugs:Of course. I just made an example on how Government "officials" (including "Mister President") usually think/act.It's same for almost all westerner countries. We maybe "commies" (LOL!), but at least we don't do such stupid things as these, because we have brains and fine with using them.[/citation]

So many generalizations! This is exactly the kind of thinking that keeps our nation torn. Its a nice thought that there is some solution out there that would magically make all of our problems disappear and that *insert your favorite president to hate here* is keeping it from us because he secretly hates America.

I am not saying that our government is doing a great job by any means. But it is not our government that has the power to make the immediate changes, its the businesses that will do anything to make more money and wouldn't give it up if hungry children were on there door begging.

Damn, there I go down the rabbit hole.

About the article: I worked for the city gov in IT for a bit and we did this exact study which included more than just the police department but many of our other departments too. We found that choosing the iProducts has nothing to do with productivity, exactly the opposite. People choose the iPad and iPhone because they are "cool" and can play games more easily with them.

No one used the device and came back to IT justifying its use because of its productive apps, more than likely the chief said, "I want an iPhone." So IT had to figure out how to make the iProducts even slightly useful for the work place (which believe me is a challenge).

 

[paladinnz]

This has been in the news here in NZ (although not much). The purpose is so that officers who are out in the field can file their basic paperwork at the scene rather than what they currently do which is write everything down in a notebook then drive back to the station and then enter everything in.
Police recon that it'll mean more cops out in the streets and not sitting behind desks, which IMHO is a good thing.
Oh and I agree with the choice of iPhones over Samsung etc, having worked with the police for several years I would want to give them the least complicated option possible. Same reason I recommend IOS devices to my parents etc. even though I use android devices personally.

 

[ericburnby]

[citation][nom]J2j663[/nom]About the article: I worked for the city gov in IT for a bit and we did this exact study which included more than just the police department but many of our other departments too. We found that choosing the iProducts has nothing to do with productivity, exactly the opposite. People choose the iPad and iPhone because they are "cool" and can play games more easily with them. No one used the device and came back to IT justifying its use because of its productive apps, more than likely the chief said, "I want an iPhone." So IT had to figure out how to make the iProducts even slightly useful for the work place (which believe me is a challenge).[/citation]
Anecdotal evidence doesn't mean much. There have been numerous companies in the news who picked he iPhone after doing extensive studies on security, support, capabilities and other factors. Trying to insinuate they were only picked because they're cool is asinine.

 

[paladinnz]

[citation][nom]devBunny[/nom]$4.3 million for 10,000 averages $430 per device. That's a hell of a discount for bulk purchasing. Not!$159 million over 10 years is $15.9 million per year. $1590 TCO per device per annum?!? Whoever their purchasing manager is, I'd like to discuss business! :-D[/citation]

Here in NZ the iPhone 5 retails for about $900 for the basic 16GB version, so $430 isn't exactly a bad price. Remember we're talking NZ Pesos here not USD.

 

[TheBigTroll]

i dont see why everyone complains about iOS. its functional and is simple. it doesnt take a genius to navigate around it. yes, apple maps isnt that good, but at least they fixed the berlin glitch and many others

 

[TheBigTroll]

without a doubt one of the best gadgets to be released this year http://goo.gl/fQq9T

i wouldnt say its one of the best. the specs are pretty medium. its just the price that makes it so attractive

 

[master_chen]

So many generalizations! This is exactly the kind of thinking that keeps our nation torn.

You would be mighty surprised (and probably even pissed off) if I tell you this, but: today's USA actually quite more communistic than USSR was in the middle 60's. Today's Russia is a much more democratic country than USA or majority of EU countries. I am shitting you not. Roles basically reverse little by little with time. It is actually quite nauseating to see this happening with your own eyes, but looks like it's inevitable...
Modern USA basically applies communism while hiding it beneath the false-democracy packaging. While modern Russia runs true democracy as it was meant to be working from the beginning. Of course even the most pure democracy aren't perfect (quite much "not perfect", actually), but today's Russian democracy is much closer to the real democracy in it's true meaning, than the "democratic" USA's false-democracy.

 

[cats_Paw]

Smart move not.
But who cares.

 

[Soda-88]

[citation][nom]master_chen[/nom]You would be mighty surprised (and probably even pissed off) if I tell you this, but: today's USA actually quite more communistic than USSR was in the middle 60's. Today's Russia is a much more democratic country than USA or majority of EU countries. I am shitting you not. Roles basically reverse little by little with time. It is actually quite nauseating to see this happening with your own eyes, but looks like it's inevitable... Modern USA basically applies communism while hiding it beneath the false-democracy packaging. While modern Russia runs true democracy as it was meant to be working from the beginning. Of course even the most pure democracy aren't perfect (quite much "not perfect", actually), but today's Russian democracy is much closer to the real democracy in it's true meaning, than the "democratic" USA's false-democracy.[/citation]
If that was true, you'd have free healthcare.

 

[master_chen]

And we have it. %)
Not everywhere, but we have it.

 

[Nossy]

Given the low computer intelligence level of gov't workers, Apple products makes sense.

 

[devBunny]

[citation][nom]paladinnz[/nom]Here in NZ the iPhone 5 retails for about $900 for the basic 16GB version, so $430 isn't exactly a bad price. Remember we're talking NZ Pesos here not USD.[/citation]

+1'ed.

900 NZD Pesos (lol) = 750 USD
430 NZD = 360 USD
iPhone 5 = 750-800 USD (Newegg)

That's fair enough. 🙂

 

[Hanin33]

[citation][nom]ericburnby[/nom]Anecdotal evidence doesn't mean much. There have been numerous companies in the news who picked he iPhone after doing extensive studies on security, support, capabilities and other factors. Trying to insinuate they were only picked because they're cool is asinine.[/citation]

I currently work for a local government entity, like J2j663 was, and could not find a single legitimate use for either iOS or Android in the work environment for police, fire or the city's other employees. The main issue is that none of the applications they use are available on either iOS or Android and for that matter, Windows Mobile (Phone or whatever they call it at the time) and none of the alternatives available for any of the mobile platforms would allow for easy integration back into their standard Windows based desktop software. Our only hope is that Windows 8 becomes less annoying and the tablet/mobile hardware offerings get better since government software developers don't seem to update often to enable new devices.

 

[devBunny]

Apple has off-the-shelf apps for police and firefighters, etc?

 

[scannall]

[citation][nom]devBunny[/nom]Apple has off-the-shelf apps for police and firefighters, etc?[/citation]

Here is a quick collection. I'm sure you could find more with a little searching.

 

[scannall]

http://www.policeone.com/police-products/communications/articles/2002211-Law-enforcement-inspired-iPhone-and-iPad-apps/

 

[devBunny]

Here is a quick collection. [of iPhone apps for the Police]

Lol. What a pity. I was all ready to be impressed but .... three memory aids for things that only a rookie might struggle with? You don't even need a phone for that. A couple of postcards in a tunic pocket should do the trick. ;-)