May 2018

Winmate to see strong 2018 sales
According to DigiTimes, Winmate's 2017 revenues were up 5.06% to NT$1.414 billion (US$47.2 million). Winmate is expected to see 2018 revenues of US$50 to$53 million, and chairman Lu Ku-ching said tablet products will account for 50% of all revenue. [See Digitimes article] -- Posted Wednesday, May 30, 2018 by chb

Winmate presents next gen 10.1-inch high-performance rugged Windows tablet
Several years ago, Winmate was among the first to introduce a state-of-the-art rugged Windows tablet, the 10.1-inch M101B, geared towards users demanding future-oriented design and technology that was on par, or ahead of, with what was available in the consumer media tablet space. The M101B was then joined by the performance-oriented M101H version. The just released M101S represents the next generation of Winmate's high-end M101H tablet, offering Intel 7th generation Core processor power, USB 3.0 Type C, a brighter display, dual microphones and faster wireless communication. [See description, analysis and specs of the Winmate M101S] -- Posted Monday, May 21, 2018 by chb

Added: Xplore Technologies M60
Answering their customers' request for smaller rugged devices, Xplore Technologies released their new Xplore M60 handheld computer. Powered by an octa-core Snap Dragon 625 processor and running Android Version 8 "Oreo" on a retina class 6-inch screen, the 13-ounce M60 is IP68 sealed, runs up to 22 hours on a charge, has dual cameras (5/13mp), USB Type C, and offers an industrial-grade 2D scanner. Starting at US$999. [See RuggedPCReview.com's description, analysis and specs of the Xplore M60] -- Posted Friday, May 18, 2018 by chb

Juniper Systems Celebrates 25 Years of Business
Juniper Systems’ 150+ employees celebrated the company's 25th anniversary by enjoying a night filled with company memories, good food, all kinds of entertainment, and loads of laughter. CEO DeVon Labrum addressed the company by reflecting on the earliest product successes, the current exceptional growth, and all the individuals who made the past 25 years a success. [See Juniper Systems Celebrates 25 Years of Business] -- Posted Friday, May 18, 2018 by chb

Ultimate rugged xCase for iPad Pro 10.5" model with industry-leading functionality introduced by MobileDemand
MobileDemand continues to lead the way in the rugged tablet industry, constantly innovating and developing new products for mobile workforce productivity. The company is introducing its military-grade rugged xCase for the iPad Pro 10.5" model, its first rugged case for iPad users following tremendous success with its rugged case for the Microsoft Surface Pro tablet. [See MobileDemand press release] -- Posted Thursday, May 17, 2018 by chb

Xplore unveils the M60, its first rugged, ultra-mobile Android handheld computer
Xplore Technologies Corp. announced today that it is introducing a 6" handheld computer to its expanding rugged mobility portfolio: the Xplore M60. This Qualcomm Octa-Core powered and Android 8.0 Oreo ultra-mobile device will be available in two enterprise-ready configurations when it starts shipping in June 2018 — with and without a built-in barcode scanner (base U.S. MSRP $1199 and $999). [See Xplore press release] -- Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2018 by chb

Panasonic: Technology buyers favor spreading the co
According to a study by Panasonic (Mobile Computing as a Service), technology buyers are in favor of spreading the cost of equipping their mobile workforces with notebooks, tablets and handheld devices, the latest research reveals. 78% of UK technology buyers said they would be interested in a subscription-based solution to equip mobile workforces. Currently buyers say their top considerations when purchasing mobile devices for their workforce are cost (72%) and life expectancy of the product (54%). Yet the majority of buyers still expect to replace their mobile workforces' devices every 2-3 years. Buyers said an "As a Service" approach for mobile hardware, as opposed to paying out in advance with a large, one-off capital expenditure, would help them to purchase up to date technology more quickly (54%), manage costs better (49%) and free up budget to purchase more accessories (34%). [See Panasonic media release] -- Posted Saturday, May 12, 2018 by chb

First-in-Market xKeyPad application by MobileDemand expands Windows tablet mobile workforce capability
MobileDemand, a leading rugged tablet provider, has introduced xKeyPad, a patent-pending software utility to complement the company's Family of Tablets, Microsoft Surface Bundles, or any tablet running Windows 10. xKeyPad is a productivity tool used to enter numbers faster with a persistent numeric keypad, also offering optional barcode scanning that utilizes the integrated camera to scan 25 different types of barcodes. The app enables data collection on a single device in a mobile environment, without the need for add-on keyboards, expensive integrated barcode scanner options, or separate handheld scanner. [See MobileDemand press release and RuggedPCReview's assessment of xKeyPad] -- Posted Thursday, May 10, 2018 by chb

Juniper Systems celebrates 25 years of business
Juniper Systems is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a leading manufacturer of innovative, ultra-rugged solutions for mobile data collection. In these 25 years, Juniper Systems has grown from a small company focused on seed research to an internationally-recognized manufacturer serving a variety of markets. "We have always put a focus on developing long-term relationships by understanding our customers and the work they are doing, providing quality products and solutions to meet those needs, and supporting and taking care of them after the sale," said Juniper Systems President and CEO DeVon Labrum. "This approach to business has served us well over the years, and is still the foundation of everything we do. Celebrating this milestone is significant to Juniper Systems. While there are always ways we can and need to improve, it is a measure of the trust our partners and customers have in us." [See Juniper Systems press release] -- Posted Tuesday, May 8, 2018 by chb

Added: Trimble TSC7 Controller
Trimble Trimble describes the Windows 10-based TSC7 Controller as a new field solution for land and civil construction surveyors, and that the TSC7, combined with specialized software, defines the next generation of data collection and computing for mobile workers. To accomplish that, Trimble took a 7-inch tablet and merged it with a large handle that includes both a small QWERTY keypad as well as a separate numeric keypad and function keys. Interesting solution! [See description, analysis and specs of the Trimble TSC7] -- Posted Monday, May 7, 2018 by chb

VDC: Rugged tablet market to reach $840 million by 2021
According to VDC, the competitive environment for the global rugged tablet market is the most dynamic it has been in years and is expected to reach $840 million by 2021. Overall, Windows remains the dominant operating system for rugged tablets; however, traction for Android has been growing rapidly due to the rising costs of supporting legacy Windows platforms. While the use cases for tablets with smaller displays are not yet mainstream, VDC expects these deployments to hold the greatest upside potential for vendors to explore. [See VDC report outline] -- Posted Friday, May 4, 2018 by chb

IDC: Chrome OS detachable tablets paint a brighter future while tablet market struggles
According to IDC, global tablet shipments in the first quarter of 2018 (1Q18) reached 31.7 million, declining 11.7% from the prior year. However, the growing niche of detachable tablets like the Microsoft Surface and iPad Pro did experience more than 2.9% year-over-year growth and captured 15.3% share as newer models came into play. Meanwhile, the decline for traditional slate tablets continued as vendors managed to ship 26.8 million units, down 13.9% from the prior year. Apple's leading position remained unchallenged during the quarter as the company managed to ship 9.1 million iPads. Of that, 1.8 million were iPad Pro tablets, making Apple the leader in the detachable market as well. [See IDC press release] -- Posted Friday, May 4, 2018 by chb

Full review: Handheld Group's Nautiz X9 rugged Android PDA
Handheld Group introduced the Nautiz X9 as a design that provides all the ease of use of a modern Android device but also offers professional-grade data collection. And the attractively styled 5-inch Android 7 mobile computer is the company's brawniest and most rugged Android handheld yet. There's one less reason to use brittle consumer tech on the job, even if it's in a case. [See full review of the Handheld Group Nautiz X9 -- Posted Tuesday, May 1, 2018 by chb

Durabook Americas expands executive team to fuel continued growth
Durabook Americas, Inc., the North American subsidiary of Twinhead International Corporation, announced today that due to increased demand for its DURABOOK product line and an aggressive growth strategy, the company has expanded its executive ranks. Former President, Tom Wang will now serve as Chief Operating Officer, and industry veteran, Joe Guest, will take the helm as the company's new President. Mr. Guest will focus on expanding the team's sales force, and building customer-driven rugged computing solutions for the military, law enforcement, field service and other markets with highly mobile workforces operating in demanding environments. [See Durabook Americas press release] -- Posted Tuesday, May 1, 2018 by chb