iPhone based test equipment

[MRD]

The ways people are using this platform is very impressive:

If you need to channel your inner MacGyver, there's a tool for that... predictably, it's powered by your smartphone. By connecting an iPhone 4 to the Scout Observer's Toolkit, it's transformed into a spectrum analyzer, power meter, multimeter and Low Noise Block Downconverter (LNB). In English, that means the device lets you locate and verify satellite signals (including other mobile signals), measure their strength, and determine GPS location (amongst other things). The six-pound device replaces the standard 160-pound SATCOM terminal, making it the perfect accessory for covert operations -- if those are the kinds of romps you prefer on the weekend. The company is now accepting pre-orders for shipment sometime in Q4, and hopes to roll out versions for other phones in the near future.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/11/scout-observer-replaces-military-satcom-is-powered-by-the-iphon/

Datasheet
http://www.coolfiresolutions.com/scout.pdf

[USMCPMEL]

How is that possible? I do see any input connectors? Is that for real??

[USMCPMEL]

Wonder what some company will charge to do the calibration on that baby??

[MRD]

Yes I'm sure it's real, they are using the iPhone as a standard display and stable computer.  With over 30 million of the 4th version being sold it's safe to say it's going to be a little bit easier to replace than those AMD K2 processor based PCs in most infiniiums.  Using what appears to be a sectional adapter box to accommidate any hardware changes for the iPhone 5, IMO it's brilliant.  I'm not an apple fanboy but I can see some common sense when it comes to keeping production costs down.  Let someone else innovate your hardware.   

As far as the connectors, I'm sure they are there, they haven't found a way to do everything via wifi and bluetooth.