Augmented Reality in Table Top Wargaming .. Whatever Comes Next?

Is this really the future of wargaming? (see the links below .. pause, gasp and then question .. there are fun elements to both approaches):

The Electronic App: 

https://digitalwargaming.com/

The Electronic Table:
https://www.valkyrx.com/

I have to say, the older I get, the more I go back to basics and the more traditional tactile ways of doing things! However if it could sort out "fractious wargaming dilemmas" (over rules) that occur from time to time on a table top, then I would be interested [instead of ringing up or emailing the rules writer]. Having said that, over the years I find I tend to stop wargaming with those types of people anymore, or move away from those sets of rules whose games develop in that way to bring about unnecessary ambiguity. However I would like to see it work for DBA, DBM, DBMM etc rule system that attracts "cunning, clever play" and "rule lawyers" going that extra mile (or "mm") to win. How well will it deal with table top clutter of my wargaming table I wonder? (see below, the helpful 'app in my hand' will tell me the answer - to questions of firing and morale):

https://digitalwargaming.com/

An alternative approach is to be highly restrictive but precise in what the table top, what it displays and means. Smart figures and smart tables (with stupid players). No illegal moves and clear signalling to show valid, legal play (see below, is this the wargaming dream world of the future?): 

https://www.valkyrx.com/

Perhaps, but only time will tell!

Note to self: How to remove Apps from the Windows (11, 10, 8, 7) Start-Up process

I am glad it was easy to do, but just in case I forget this is where I was told how to do it! (see below, thankfully there are some clever and helpful people in this world!)

https://www.avg.com/en/signal/how-to-manage-programs-in-windows#:~:text=To%20stop%20Windows%20startup%20programs%20launching%20at%20startup%2C%20open%20Settings,you%20turn%20on%20your%20computer.

Early Birthday Present to Me: XTR Command Magazine Games #1, #2, #3 and #4 from the 1980's!

The rationale behind this seemingly crazy purchase of (very, very) old and perhaps "superseded" games being .. that it completes a collection and when it is done, it is done and it is also a source of delight to me. I first discovered XTR Command Magazine in the early 1990's, after buying a few editions I then took the plunge and subscribed to it. This allowed me to bag a continuous run from Issue #15 (I Am Spartacus) through to its final edition (sniff) of Issue #54 (When Dragons Fight) as XTR as a company went "pop" (apparently they made a mistake by relocating their print  operation to a Canadian company and suffered from quality issues - that broke them).  Since that time be it through conventions or watching back issue magazine sites [such as Board Game Geek and Second Chance Games]. I managed to get back to Issue #5 (Hamburger Hill). Although I have not (yet) played them all, I have always enjoyed the production quality and replay value, certainly of the ones  I have played. So when the opportunity cane to get them all and 'close the gate' - I thought, "If not now then when?" (see below, the final four compatriots to complete the merry band of fifty two, three of which are magazine and game, one Issue #4 (Lion of Ethiopia) game only): 

Nostalgia: I think my all time favourite XTR Command game is Issue #14 (Victory at Midway), it still makes me sweat - closely followed by Issue #10 Alexandros ;) 

Most innovative - well I think Issue #20 (Cortes: Conquest of the Aztecs).

One of my brother's favourites being Issue #30 (Across the Potomac) when he crushed me in an old school PBM game.

Charity Shop (II) Sci-Fi - 15mm Shuttle

Along side the 50p 10mm house there was a second bargain to be had (£8 .. well I am calling it a win). For fans of 15mm Sci-Fi Traveller, Star Grunt, Dirt Side I and II players .. your ever useful Universal Carrier of the stars - shuttle or scuttle bug (see below, this one looks very workmanlike and suitable more for your engineer and low class Traveller types - VIPs would complain of the cramp conditions and lack of facilities): 

This should go well with my ad-hoc collection of 15mm Traveller figures from Ground Zero Games!

Charity Shop (I) Bargain Terrain Piece

Charity Shop bargain (50 pence), I would call it 10mm terrain (see below, small and yet beautiful with a wargaming purpose in mind):

You don't always get something but it is very satisfying when you do!

Know your Solar Noon no matter where in the wold you are!

The 12:00 on your digital device is not the same as the Solar Noon (as per a a sun dial), to calculate the digital time for your Solar Noon check out this web-site (see below, thank "gawd" for clever people who can do mathematics that I cannot):

https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/

Courtesy of the ESRL Global Monitoring Laboratory, a  big thank you to you!

Vietnam War - US News Broadcast of the (Surprise) Tet Offensive (NBS News Saigon) - You Tube Footage

Sometimes history is thrust upon a sleep walking nation and they are rudely awakened to unpalpable truths (see below, incredible News footage from 1968): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=wA8n114eYXc&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.uk%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo

Amazing that was shown as a "special broadcast" to the US people outside of direct political control!