Yeah, i would have to say the military is getting lazy. 
Well of course the computer in bed. Lol 
What else, and for Fathers day.  ;)
Wouldn't that be considered energy efficiency.  ;)

the bugle emulatore in my mind doesn't fit in with the rest of them, as it fulfills a function that in todays world can no longer be adequately perfored by humans.

(i know it could be, but let me explain)

it is not just war casualties that are afforded the honors of a funeral with military honors. there are a number of veterans, personnel that die on active duty (say a guy has a heart attack, accident etc.) and government dignitaries that can be afforded the honor. the units that perform these guards of varying sizes (the number of guns used in the salute for example can vary by rank/position) are reservists or veteran volunteers. there has been a case recently where a commander used non-veteran volunteers for the gun salute and this was nixed by the pentagon. (i can look up the details if anyone is interested, have a fair idea of where to find it). anyhow, these groups are stretched thin and therefore not all of them are able to supply a bugle player at all times. the decision to use the iBugle was therefore made because there was no real alternative. (afaik playing a bugle isn't the easiest thing in the world. tbh i would rather have a decent sounding recording played at my planting than some kid butchering his way through the piece. and at least the visual effect of the bugle is kept. noone stands there with a boom box playing taps.)