October 2015

MobileDemand published a new case study on Minnesota-based Japs-Olson, a producer of bulk direct mail and commercial print items. The company's forklift-based computing solution suffered from intermittent WiFi connectivity and lack of reliability and performance, slowing down operations. A switch to MobileDemand's rugged xTablet T1600 with custom external WiFi antennae resulted in less data lost, greater productivity from the forklift operators, and less need for IT support. [See MobileDemand case study and case study video]

ARBOR secures rugged tablet order from heavy equipment manufacturer for forklifts
ARBOR Technology Corporation announced it has secured a volume order for ARBOR's Gladius G0975 rugged tablet with the VMC 975 dock from a heavy equipment manufacturer. At the completion of the project, the manufacturer will install the Gladius G0975 on 200 forklifts across six factories. The tablets will be used to direct the driver while performing picks in the factory, and it will interface with a standalone barcode scanner, which collects the inventory information about what is being collected and distributed. -- Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2015 by chb

Getac releases rugged IP65-sealed Core M-powered RX10 and RX10H tablets for healthcare and field deployments
Getac introduced the RX10 and RX10H twins, adding to its growing roster of rugged tablet computers for various enterprise, government and industrial markets. The two versions of the Intel Core M-powered 10.1-inch and IP65-sealed tablets are specially configured for their respective markets, the RX10H healthcare market version with an anti-microbial housing and RFID/NFC, the RX10 field version with a faster processor, larger storage, and 4G mobile broadband. Both have a super-bright 800 nits 1920 x 1200 pixel capacitive multi-touch display with wet and glove capability. [See full review of the Getac RX10 and RX10H] -- Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2015 by chb

After 20 years, the Toshiba dynaPad is back!
Toshiba's Digital Products Division announced the dynaPad, which the company calls the world's thinnest (6.9mm) and lightest (1.25 pounds) 12-inch Windows tablet. The picture above shows the 1994 Toshiba dynaPad T200 on the left and the 2015 Toshiba dynaPad on the right. As early as 1968, computer visionary Alan Kay had described the DynaBook as a "dynamic medium for creative thought, capable of synthesizing all media -- pictures, animation, sound, and text -- through the intimacy and responsiveness of the personal computer." Today, 47 years later, Toshiba's release says that "we are closer to achieving the vision: truly personal computers that act as a complete medium for learning and expression." There's been progress for sure. The new dynaPad weighs less than a third of the 1994 version, its larger display has 8 times as many pixels, and its processor probably runs at about 50 times the clock speed. But there's still the Wacom pen, and still the dream of the ultimate digital notebook. [See Toshiba dynaPad media release] -- Posted Tuesday, October 13, 2015 by chb

Xplore: Mobile workers take note of tablets' handwriting skills
Handwriting recognition was once supposed to be the feature that put tablets on the map. It didn't work out that way because recognizing cursive is very difficult. Handwriting recognition technology still exists, though, and is built into virtually every tablet (Microsoft bought many of the initial HWR systems). A new entry in Xplore's blog discusses this issue, and how it's high time to take another look at handwriting recognition. [See Xplore's "Mobile Workers Take Note of Tablets’ Handwriting Skills"] -- Posted Tuesday, October 6, 2015 by chb

AMREL adds slim, lightweight ROCKY DS11 tablet
AMREL introduced the Rocky DS11, a powerful rugged 10.1-inch tablet targeted at military and industrial deployments. Powered by an Intel "Ivy Bridge" Core processor, the DS11 weighs just over three pounds and is only 0.8 inches thick, yet includes plenty of onboard connectivity. The capacitive touch display offers 1,000 nits luminance and provides a "no light" or night vision option. [See description, analysis and specs of the AMREL Rocky DS11] -- Posted Saturday, October 3, 2015 by chb

The Seattle Times keeps delivery drivers connected with rugged Windows tablets
MobileDemand reports that The Seattle Times faced a challenge when the tablets they used to assist drivers in documenting each delivery and pick-up were failing due to weather and mishandling. After testing several hardware alternatives, The Seattle Times found that the MobileDemand xTablet Flex 10 was the ideal solution for their delivery drivers. [See MobileDemand case study] -- Posted Friday, October 2, 2015 by chb

Are we seeing Pen Computing 3.0?
A new article on Microsoft on Seeking Alpha on Microsoft highlighted Microsoft's strong position in Surface laptop/tablet hybrids. In their recent Q4 results, Microsoft's Surface tablet revenues grew 117% to $888 million, and full-year Surface sales rose 65% to exceed $3.6 billion. In fiscal 2014, Surface sales were $2.19 billion, up from 2013's less than $1 billion. That means that Microsoft's current year Surface revenue are almost as much as we estimate the entire worldwide rugged computing market -- handhelds, tablets and notebooks combined -- to be (about US$4 billion). Given that both Surface and the new iPad Pro emphasize the importance of the pen, are we seeing the emergence of Pen Computing 3.0, after Pen Computing 1.0 1991-1993 and Pen Computing 2.0 2001/2002? -- Posted Friday, October 2, 2015 by chb