January 2019

Unlike generic consumer tech, industrial and vertical market computing products must often excel in one specific area, prioritize certain certain functions over others, or tackle tasks that require customization. That's where the term "purpose built" comes in — created or configured for a specific industry or a specific task. A recent entry in the Rugged Tech Talk with DT Research blog examines the "purpose built" concept in more detail. The articles looks into various fields (like military, government, logistics, etc.) and highlights the special requirements of those markets, and how a company like DT Research is equipped to purpose-build their tablet products for those markets. [See What does "purpose built" mean in the rugged tablet world? ]

Detailed preview: Handheld's new 6-inch Nautiz X6 phablet
Handheld Group announced their new NAUTIZ X6, an ultra-rugged phablet — phone plus tablet — that combines the big-screen functionality of a tablet with the go-anywhere performance of a rugged phone. Running Android 8 on a 6-inch screen, the Nautiz 6 benefits from Handheld’s proprietary MaxGo software suite as well as an available multi-shift battery and a snap-on expansion module system. [See description, analysis and specs of the Handheld Nautiz X6] -- Posted Wednesday, January 30, 2019 by chb

Panasonic: Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service equips 50 vehicles with Panasonic rugged tablets
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is transforming life for firefighters on the frontline by equipping them with Panasonic rugged Toughpad tablets to access vital information during operations. The service has deployed 13 inch Panasonic Toughbook CF-D1 tablets in the front cabs of its fire appliances. These Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) are permanently mounted in the front of the vehicle and are connected to the existing Tetra Network. They are being used to provide vital information on the way to a call out, including routing, sending status updates to command and control, meeting risk assessment requirements and locating nearby hydrant locations. [See Panasonic media release] -- Posted Tuesday, January 29, 2019 by chb

Added: DT Research DT372AP high-performance 7-inch GNSS tablet
DT Research also released a faster, tougher 7-inch tablet with a long-lasting big battery and five programmable hardware function buttons. The DT372AP comes in a separate DT372AP-TR GNSS tablet version as well, that one with a built-in survey-grade RTK GNSS module with optional foldable antenna. [See description, analysis and specs of the DT Research DT372AP] -- Posted Friday, January 25, 2019 by chb

Added: DT Research DT370CR multi-functional 7-inch tablet
Despite big-screen handhelds encroaching on small tablets, we're seeing a resurgence of 7-inch vertical market tablets. One of them is DT Research's 7-inch DT370CR that's available with either Windows 10 IoT Enterprise or Android. With a sharp, bright capacitive multi-touch display and programmable hardware buttons, the DT370CR can serve the needs of users in numerous fields. [See description, analysis and specs of the DT Research DT370CR] -- Posted Friday, January 25, 2019 by chb

Full review: The new Trimble Yuma 7
Trimble just introduced the new Yuma 7 today, but RuggedPCReview.com worked with Trimble to bring you a full, detailed review of this remarkable, and remarkably compact, rugged 7-inch tablet the same day. The Yuma 7 was designed from the ground up for the toughest jobs imaginable. And, thanks to its innovative EMPOWER expansion concept, the Yuma 7 is endlessly customizable via bolt-on functionality modules from Trimble itself or from third parties. Customers of the existing Yuma 2 will love the new model's much higher (3X) performance. [See full review of the Trimble Yuma 7] -- Posted Thursday, January 24, 2019 by chb

Full review: MobileDemand's rugged case for the 9.7-inch iPad
iPads remain hugely popular. Lots of people would use them on the job, if they just weren't so fragile and easily broken. MobileDemand offers a compelling solution with their Rugged Case for iPad 9.7, one that completely protects the iPad (it survived 26 10-foot drops in their testing!!), offers numerous handle and mounting options, yet still provides add-on capability for PCI-compliant point-of-sale magstrip readers and PIN pads. [See full review of the MobileDemand Rugged Case for iPad 9.7-inch] -- Posted Wednesday, January 23, 2019 by chb

Durabook Americas case study on warehouse inventory management efficiency
Durabook Americas just published a nicely done case study on the challenges warehouses are facing, the requirements of a system to address those challenges, and the results obtained by implementing a Durabook U11 rugged tablet based solution. For every 100 items received, Durabook is es􏰁ma􏰁ng a 7.8-minute improvement in efficiency and an 11-minute improvement efficiency in the same volume of items picked. [See Durabook Americas' Warehouse Case Study] -- Posted Friday, January 18, 2019 by chb

Oregon Department of Transportation expands use of DT Research high accuracy GNSS rugged tablets statewide
DT Research, the leading designer and manufacturer of purpose-built computing solutions for vertical markets, today announced the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has expanded its use of DT Research GNSS rugged tablets to all 15 of its construction management offices across the state and also use the tablets for biology, geology, roadway and wetland projects. DT Research worked closely with ODOT to design purpose-built rugged tablets that empower state workers to easily collect and transmit geospatial measurements in the field using GNSS Real Time Kinematic (RTK) technologies. [See DT Research media release] -- Posted Thursday, January 17, 2019 by chb

Winmate announces medically certified 10.1-inch rugged tablet
Winmate announced the release of a IEC/EN 60601-1, IEC 60601-1-2 medically certified 10.1-inch rugged tablet for healthcare applications, the M101P-ME. Powered by an Intel "Apollo Lake" CPU and offering full-HD 1920 x 1200 resolution on a 10.1” IPS display, the tablet's housing has antimicrobial properties that make it suitable for use in hospital halls, waiting rooms or nurse stations for communicating and documenting patient information, allowing paramedics and nurses to instantly access and keep patient records. [See Winmate M101P-ME product page] -- Posted Wednesday, January 16, 2019 by chb

Full review: Dell Latitude 12 Rugged Extreme Tablet
The Dell Latitude 12 Rugged Extreme Tablet is for those who a) want an exceptionally well designed and executed tablet for tough jobs, b) want a pure tablet, but one with a perfectly matched optional detachable keyboard, and c) prefer one-stop shopping with a world-leading provider of commercial PCs with large scale production experience and extensive support. In its second iteration, the 11.6-inch Dell rugged tablet sports higher Full HD resolution, lighter starting weight, and much higher performance thanks to a switch from Core M to "full" 6th, 7th, and 8th generation Intel Core processors as well as availability of super-fast PCIe NVMe-based solid state storage. [See full review of the Dell Latitude 12 Rugged Extreme Tablet] -- Posted Monday, January 7, 2019 by chb

Winmate obtains the latest medical device quality management systems standard
Winmate has obtained ISO 13485:2016 and EN ISO 13485:2016 quality management system certification for the design, development, production, installation, and servicing of medical devices. This means that any Winmate displays or tablets that are developed for use in the medcal industry are intrinsically safe and meet all the latest regulatory design requirements. This recertification updates and supersedes the previous ISO 13485:2003 and EN ISO 13485:2012 medical manufacturing certification that Winmate had been accredited with. [See Winmate media release] -- Posted Thursday, January 3, 2019 by chb