What’s four pounds, rugged and essential for the smartphone toting soldiers of the future? Why it’s a portable LTE network in a box, of course. BTS and Radisys recently demoed their CoreTx and Trillium products, which may one day bring 4G connectivity to dangerous spots like disaster areas and battlefields. BTS already delivers 3G to areas of Afghanistan and is now working on this upgraded system with support for both LTE and HSPA+. You’ll find a few more details in the PR after the break.

Continue reading Portable LTE network in a box demoed, ready to deliver 4G to war zone near you

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While I’m sure 9 out of 10 rioters prefer being shot with a rubber bullet over a regular one, there’s nothing pleasant about being hit by a small object going a couple hundred miles per hour. And at close range, “non-lethal” ammo can easily be just as lethal as something made to kill. Lund Technologies, in a Defense-funded project, has proposed a new weapon system that uses hydrogen gas to propel its projectiles (that’s a lot of “pro”s), and implements a rangefinder to determine the distance to the target, and adjusts the thrust accordingly.

The idea, I suppose, would be to incapacitate the target but not permanently. Because wars are more frequently being fought by small forces inside cities (as opposed to thousands and thousands in large battlefields), civilians are in constant danger from stray bullets. Of course, no one wants to catch stray fire of any kind, but if I had to take a shot to the leg, I’d rather it was a rubber round going just fast enough to hurt like hell, and not a 7.62mm meant to go straight through me.

It’s still in the early stages right now, but with any luck they’ll be deployed before the next time I take it to the streets.

Poker is a tremendous game of not only luck, but of skill. Think of it as a battle of wills. Players sitting around the poker table are trying to “will” the other into submission with a finely played bluff, or confidence in the hand they are holding. Almost like two kings on ancient battlefields trying to get into the mind of their opponent before they strike. Today, you don’t have to battle wits with a person across the table. You can play a computerized opponent with a poker program.

Programs for playing poker have been around for quite some time. In the earliest days, the playing was quite rudimentary, and barely playable. Today’s poker programs are much more sophisticated and are even used by online video casino’s as a way to offer challenging poker play. Of course, the program itself is working on a principle of randomness; so there is still some skill involved.

While, you can’t bluff a computer program, or a video poker machine, you can still take your chances in either holding cards or throwing out cards. This is really the skill of poker. Of course, there is also chance involved, but having a knack for keeping some cards and changing out others is a development that can come over time, whether you are playing real poker or a poker program.

There are also different styles of poker. You can play Texas Hold ‘em, 7-Card Stud, Anaconda, Chicago Hi-Low, and even Poker Roulette. While the principle is the same, the game play in all of these varies from game to game. For instance, in Poker Roulette you can have from three to five players. If you have more than five players an additional deck is required. Players are dealt one face down card, plus to more face down ‘active’ cards, and one more face up card. Players must match the active cards with either the suit or number of the face up card. These are placed in a stockpile while those that don’t are thrown into a discard pile.

This continues in Poker Roulette until the deck is used up. Once that is done, then the players must try to assemble the best 5 card hand out of their stockpile. The betting now begins.

Whether you are playing poker in the traditional sense, testing your skills with a video poker game, or poker program, or are playing a different variety of the game – playing poker is a fun, and exciting, pastime. Learn the skills and you can even make a few dollars.

Ensemble Studio’s Halo Wars has been out for about five months now, and in what has become the normal practice for RTS games, it’s time for some downloadable content. It’s not a full blown expansion, but rather a series of maps of various difficulties and sizes.

We liked the initial game, and having played it quite a bit myself, I can honestly say the gameplay is engaging. This is surprising to me, since I’m a fan of the keyboard and mouse school of RTS. The new content pack (available for 800 points, roughly $10) will contain four new maps, and a new achievements worth 100 points each. Here’s the specifics from the press release:

New Melees & Playgrounds Await Fans in the “Historic Battle” Game Add-on Pack for “Halo Wars”

UNSC or Covenant legs, mobilize your troops and report for duty at your next assignment in “Halo Wars,” the best selling real-time strategy game on any current generation console. Microsoft and Robot Entertainment expand the field of engagement with four new multiplayer Skirmish maps that highlight key turning points in the UNSC/Covenant war. Take on ruthless A.I. or live opponents in these brand new battlefields with the “Historic Battle” Game Add-on Pack, available on July 21 for 800 MS Points in all Xbox LIVE enabled regions.

“Historic Battle” expands the universe for “Halo Wars” fans with four new multiplayer maps with varied terrains for players to find their competitive edge by using unique features of each map. The four new maps include:

· Barrens (1v1 Map): Difficult terrain channels units into killing zones. The side that controls the Forerunner artifacts will have the advantage.

· Blood River (1v1 Map): Secure base locations on nearby cliffs overlook this naturally red-tinged river. The soldiers that fought over its two narrow crossings gave the river its name, which has since taken on a greater meaning.

· Glacial Ravine (3v3 Map): A snow-topped mountain range forms a natural barrier that cuts this region in half. Control of the two energy walls at the narrow central pass often determines the outcome of the battle, though clever use of the Sentinel Factories may play a role as well.

· Memorial Basin (2v2 Map): The high ground in the middle offers good cover for infantry, while the generally open terrain transforms organized battle plans into bloodbaths.

“Historic Battle” also adds four new Achievements worth a total of 100 points:
· Tour Coming Through: Hot drop 50 squads to your Covenant Leader in a single game on Memorial Basin (30 points)
· Never Leave a Man Behind: Finish a game with 5000 net resources contributed to your teammates on Barrens (15 points)
· Drain Cleaner: Kill 20 enemy squads with a continuous Covenant Leader Power on Memorial Basin (30 points)
· Killjoy: Disrupt 5 active Leader Powers in a single game on Blood River (25 points)