JLT Mobile Computers offers free guide on how to boost productivity and throughput in ports and container terminals
JLT Mobile, a leading supplier of reliable computers for demanding environments, is making available the benefits of its expertise in a series of 'how to' guides designed to help new and existing customers make the right strategic technology decisions to optimize their operations. Focusing on the IT problems faced by port and container terminal operators, the third expert guide in the JLT series identifies five key areas that challenge a port's throughput, and gives IT and operations managers practical tips on how to turn these IT headaches into their port's smartest assets. The new JLT guide for rugged IT environments in ports and container terminals is available for free download here. [See JLT Mobile media release] -- Posted Thursday, March 25, 2021

Getac's Mighty Class of 2021
In a special feature, we're highlighting what we're calling "Getac's Mighty Class of 2021" — the three most recent or most recently upgraded and overhauled machines out of their round dozen of Getac rugged tablet and Getac rugged laptop computing platforms. It's three terrific machines, each having a different purpose and focus. The Getac B360 and B360 PRO, state-of-the-art modern versions of the quintessential rugged laptop, and currently the highest performing rugged machines we've tested. The Getac UX10, a thoroughly modern 2.7-pound Windows tablet that brings desktop performance into the field and doubles as a laptop with its optional detachable keyboard. And the Getac V110, a laptop convertible that's been around for a many years, all updated to 2021 speed and technology. [See Getac's Mighty Class of 2021] -- Posted Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Brother unveils new Titan industrial label printers built with unmatched functionality for high-speed warehouse, manufacturing and supply chain operations
Brother Mobile Solutions, Inc. (BMS), a premier provider of mobile, desktop and industrial printers and handheld labeling tools, today announced the expansion of the Brother Titan Industrial Printer series. Building on the brand's initial launch in late 2020, the five additional high-performance and enhanced 4-inch industrial barcode label printers will deliver increased speed and precision along with enhanced features including internal rewinders for broader usability. With durable metal construction, larger ribbon capacity, dual Wi-Fi/Bluetooth option, and PLC integration, this mid-range series provides solid value at the speed and quality today's fast-paced operations require. [See Brother media release] -- Posted Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Kyocera launches DuraForce Ultra 5G UW, first ultra-rugged Android smartphone for Verizon 5G ultra wideband network
Kyocera, launched its first 5G ultra-rugged Android smartphone today, DuraForce Ultra 5G UW, which delivers ultra-durability, ultra-fast speeds and ultra-low latency on the Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband (UW) network. DuraForce Ultra 5G builds on Kyocera's 10+ years of rugged device expertise to create the most advanced, rugged smartphone to date for public safety, enterprise, small business and adventurous consumers alike. [See Kyocera media release] -- Posted Friday, March 12, 2021

Durabook unveils all-new S14I laptop with advanced computing power
Durabook, the global rugged mobile solutions brand owned by Twinhead International Corporation, announced today that it is taking rugged computing performance to new heights with its all-new S14I 14-inch semi-rugged laptop. The S14I laptop pushes the boundaries of semi-rugged design and innovation to deliver ultimate mobile computing experiences. The new generation S14I will be available in April and includes the following upgrades: the new Intel® Tiger Lake 11th generation processors, the latest NVMe PCIe SSD solution and the Intel® Iris Xe graphics or the option of NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 1050 discrete graphics. [See Durabook media release] -- Posted Thursday, March 11, 2021

Handheld Special Edition: great rugged deployments
Few purveyors of rugged hardware and solutions keep their existing and potential customers as well informed as the Handheld Group. Their Rugged Informer is among the best blogs, and Handheld publishes case studies, success stories, and solutions reports in an informative, modern format. The latest issue highlights borehole surveying with their ALGIZ 8X, scanning timer inventories with the NAUTIZ X2, and search and rescue with the ALGIZ 10X and side-scan sonar. [See Handheld's latest newsletter edition] -- Posted Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Full review: DT Research DT362GL 6-inch full Windows handheld
With Windows CE and Windows Mobile gone, is Android the only migration path? For many applications it is, but sometimes Android just isn't enough and only full Windows 10 will do. And that is where the DT Research DT362GL comes in. It is a modern, rugged, state-of-the-art handheld computer that brings Windows 10 with all of its power and features to the popular large smartphone form factor. Geared towards numerous applications in military, field services, public safety, transportation and logistics, marine, and manufacturing and warehouse management, the DT362GL may just be what a lot of customers have been waiting for. [See full review of the DT Research DT362GL] -- Posted Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Medical Tablet PC mH-150 by Estone Technology provides cardiac mHealth support through pre-op, surgery and post-op
Estone Technology, a leader in mHealth solutions, has partnered with a medical company from California to develop the mH-150 medical tablet PC. With a bright 15.6" touch LCD, the mH-150 is designed to collect data, update device firmware, and assist in medical procedures. The mH-150 has connection capabilities designed to communicate with ICDs and ECGs to mobilize mHealth solutions. [See Estone Technology media review]
-- Posted Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Union Built PC Inc. and Durabook Americas announce strategic alliance
Union Built PC Inc., a leader in labor specific hardware solutions, and Durabook Americas, Inc., the global rugged mobile solutions brand owned by Twinhead International Corporation, have entered into a strategic alliance agreement with the goal of providing Labor Unions and Organizations with cost-effective, ruggedized laptops and tablets. These are high-performance products designed to increase productivity, drive a clear return on investment, and deliver a low total cost of ownership. [See Durabook media release] -- Posted Friday, February 26, 2021

faytech and Kastus bring light-powered antiviral & antibacterial protection to touchscreens
The global pandemic has transformed how we interact with touchscreen surfaces forever. Businesses had to rethink sanitation and hygiene practices like never before as consumers and staff are concerned about exposure to germs and viruses when using touchscreens. It's not surprising when you consider that recent scientific studies have shown that Human Coronavirus can last on surfaces such as glass for up to 28 days. [See faytech media release] -- Posted Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Panasonic updates fully rugged 2-in-1 TOUGHBOOK 33
Panasonic announced enhancements to its fully rugged 2-in-1 TOUGHBOOK 33. Bringing better performance, greater flexibility, enhanced functionality and more security, the TOUGHBOOK 33 updates were driven by the evolving needs of mobile workers in extreme field conditions every day. Since its introduction to the market in 2017, the TOUGHBOOK 33 has been one of the best-selling fully rugged models of any laptop, 2-in-1 or tablet. [See Panasonic media release] -- Posted Wednesday, February 17, 2021

JLT Mobile Computers opens customer pilot program for new Android 10-based rugged vehicle-mount computer
JLT Mobile, a leading supplier of reliable computers for demanding environments, announces the launch of a pilot program for its state-of-the-art Android 10-based JLT6012A vehicle-mount computer designed to boost productivity in warehousing and other logistics deployments. Bringing Android 10 to the popular JLT6012 platform brings convenience and exciting new opportunity into forklifts and many other types of vehicles. JLT delivered its first advance JLT6012A unit to a customer last month and additional interested customers can now apply to the limited pilot program. [See JLT Mobile media release] -- Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2021

American drone manufacturing plant takes root in Connecticut
Aquiline Drones (AD) meets the increasing demand for "Made in America" drones by opening the first drone manufacturing and assembly plant in Connecticut. The Hartford-based aviation cloud solutions provider and commercial drone manufacturer now produces Drone Volt's Altura Zenith and Hercules 2 drones — re-branded by AD as the Spartacus line of drones: Spartacus MACKS and Spartacus HURRICANE. [See Aquiline media release] -- Posted Monday, February 8, 2021

Zebra Technologies improves worker productivity with its first individually assigned enterprise mobile computer
Zebra, an innovator at the front line of business with solutions and partners that deliver a performance edge, today announced the EC5x series, a new category of individually assigned mobile computers designed to keep workers connected and informed while improving individual productivity, collaboration and the customer experience across multiple industries. Featuring the look and feel of a consumer smartphone with the Android™ 10 operating system (OS), an optional integrated scanner and a robust software suite specifically designed for front-line workers, the durable EC5x series is Zebra's thinnest, lightest mobile computer. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Wednesday, January 27, 2021

First impressions: the new Getac S410 semi-rugged laptop
Semi-rugged laptops remain very popular. They are way tougher than consumer laptops and cost quite a bit less than fully rugged versions. As a result, there's fierce competition in this market. With their latest generation S410, Getac went all out. 11th gen Core processors, standard PCIe NVMe solid state storage, tougher, much more battery capacity, many new options. Impressive! [See description, analysis and specs of the latest Getac S410] -- Posted Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Getac S410 provides extensive gains in CPU, graphics & WiFi performance
Getac Technology Corporation, a leading producer of rugged computing hardware and integrated solutions today announced the release of its next-generation semi-rugged S410, an industry milestone that combines a host of unique-in-class advanced technologies with Getac's legendary durability and the Getac Select® program's turnkey hardware, software, accessories and professional support solutions for specific end-user tasks. [See Getac media release] -- Posted Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Intel reports 2020 financials
Intel reported full-year fiscal 2020 revenue of $77.9 billion, up 8% from 2019's $72,0 billion. Total operating income for 2020 was $23.68 billion, up from $22.04 billion in 2019. Almost 2/3 of operating income came from the Client Computing group, i.e. the company's PC processor and related component sales. "We significantly exceeded our expectations for the quarter, capping off our fifth consecutive record year,” said Bob Swan, Intel CEO. “Demand for the computing performance Intel delivers remains very strong and our focus on growth opportunities is paying off. [See Intel 2020 Financial Results] -- Posted Thursday, January 21, 2021

Datalogic launches the new Skorpio™ X5, the most advanced key-based mobile computer
Datalogic is pleased to announce the Skorpio™ X5, a new ultra-fast, high-performing key-based mobile computer featuring the largest multi-touch display in the Portable Data Terminal (PDT) market. Maintaining rapid, accurate and seamless data capture to provide real-time visibility is essential in applications like warehousing, fulfillment, inventory, store operations, shipping & receiving. The new Skorpio™ X5 enables Retail, Transportation, Logistics, Manufacturing and Healthcare companies to reach new levels of reliability and flexibility. [See Datalogic media release] -- Posted Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Review: Winmate rugged USB Type-C display
Industrial displays come in many shapes and forms. And sometimes there is a need for one that's not only tough and rugged enough to stand up to use and abuse, but that is also easy to clean and disinfect, looks clean and elegant like a modern consumer tablet and — drum roll — needs just one single cable for power and video. And that is what Winmate's rugged USB Type-C display does. [See review of the Winmate W10L100-GCH2-C rugged USB Type-C display] -- Posted Monday, January 18, 2021

Elo introduces M50 Android-powered mobile computer
Elo, a leading global provider of Android-powered interactive devices, today announced the Elo M50 mobile computer. The new M50 joins Elo's robust portfolio of Android-based devices used by world-class retailers, restaurant brands and manufacturers around the globe for applications from POS and self-order to endless aisle and automation. [See Elo media release] -- Posted Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Interview with Mr. Allan Lin, CEO of Winmate Communication US Inc
Periodically, we ask industry leaders in the rugged computing and communications market questions about their products, their views, and their opinions on trends, emerging technologies and a variety of other issues. Winmate is a pioneer in rugged computing technology and RuggedPCReview had the chance to interview Mr. Allan Lin who is CEO of Winmate Communication US Inc. [Read Interview with Winmate's Mr. Allan Lin] -- Posted Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Full review: DT Research LT330 convertible laptop
2-in-1 hybrids have become quite popular, but not everyone likes the keyboard and the computer separate. That's where the new DT Research LT300 convertible laptops come in. They look and work like standard rugged laptops, but you can also flip the screen around in a unique way and they become tablets. RuggedPCReview analyzed and benchmarked the brand-new 13.3-inch DT Research convertible laptop (they also come in 11.6 and 15.6 inch versions). Read our full report. The LT330 is an impressive, very high performance rugged machine with unmatched battery capacity. [See full review of the DT Research LT330 convertible laptop -- Posted Monday, January 11, 2021

DT Research delivers first military standard 360 degree convertible laptops with antimicrobial enclosures
DT Research, a leading designer and manufacturer of purpose-built computing solutions for vertical markets, today announced the new LT300 line of fully-rugged, 360 convertible laptops designed for ultimate versatility, durability and reliability in harsh conditions. Each laptop has an antimicrobial enclosure to inhibit the growth of microorganisms on the surface of the unit. The LT320, LT330 and LT350 laptops have a 360 degree rotating display purpose-built for military, first responder, law enforcement, field service, and warehouse environments with IP65, MIL-STD-810G/H, MIL-STD-461F ratings, EPEAT certification and TAA compliant. [See DT Research media release -- Posted Monday, January 11, 2021

Winmate launches E430RQ8 next-gen rugged handheld
Winmate a global leader in developing advanced rugged mobile technologies for industries operating in some of the most challenging environments, is proud to announce the launch of the next-generation 4.3-inch rugged handheld computer E430RQ8 powered by Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 660 mobile platform and running on Android 9.0 operating system. [See Winmate media release] -- Posted Thursday, January 7, 2021

Introducing Intel RealSense ID facial authentication
Intel introduced Intel® RealSense™ ID, an on-device solution that combines an active depth sensor with a specialized neural network designed to deliver secure, accurate and user-aware facial authentication. Intel RealSense ID works with smart locks, access control, point-of-sale, ATMs, kiosks and more. [See Intel media release] -- Posted Thursday, January 7, 2021

Motorola Solutions expands cybersecurity services to secure mission-critical operations
Motorola Solutions today announced expanded cybersecurity services to help public safety and enterprises continuously secure their mission-critical operations. Today, cybersecurity breaches are occurring at a rate and level never before seen. Motorola Solutions' expanded cybersecurity services help public safety and enterprise customers better defend their information networks, employees and assets against today's threats. [See Motorola Solutions media release -- Posted Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Public safety agency successfully trials Motorola Solutions' new cloud-based radio network core
Floridians are no strangers to dramatic weather events such as hurricanes or floods. For over 70 years, Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI) has worked with counties across the state to provide them with mission-critical communication solutions to help keep communities safe. This October, Sumter County completed a successful test of CirrusCentral Core, a cloud-based secondary core for ASTRO® 25 Project 25 (P25) land mobile radio (LMR) systems, that eliminates the need for public safety agencies to maintain a physical, in-building secondary core site. [See Motorola Solutions media release] -- Posted Monday, December 14, 2020

Making sense of rugged computer certifications & standards
An important difference between rugged mobile computers and consumer tech products is that the former are built to ruggedness standards and then tested and certified according to military and other testing procedures, whereas the latter generally aren't. But what, exactly, are all those standards and certifications? Tom Wang, who is President of Durabook Americas, published an excellent article about it all in Utility Products. [Read Making sense of rugged computer certifications & standards] -- Posted Monday, December 14, 2020

Verizon and Motorola Solutions bring interoperable broadband communications to public safety
Verizon Public Sector and Motorola Solutions today announce Group First Response, a mission-critical push-to-talk solution that leverages LTE to enable first responders to communicate seamlessly via voice, data and video across a variety of devices — improving situational awareness and operational efficiency. Group First Response can be integrated with land mobile radio (LMR) systems, extending interoperable push-to-talk communications to public safety users without radios or outside coverage areas.[See Motorola Solutions media release] -- Posted Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Qualcomm redefines premium at Snapdragon Tech Summit Digital 2020
During the first day of the Snapdragon Tech Summit Digital, Qualcomm Incorporated President, Cristiano Amon took the virtual stage with global industry leaders to highlight the critical role Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 8-Series mobile platforms have played to drive experiences forward for the next generation of devices. Qualcomm Technologies' innovation in the premium tier, coupled with the evolution of 5G, is accelerating and continuing to redefine immersive consumer experiences. The proliferation of these premium tier experiences has and will continue to enrich the lives of billions of smartphone users around the world. [See Qualcomm media release] -- Posted Wednesday, December 2, 2020

History: 2002 T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone
On August 1, 2002, T-Mobile introduced in the US the T-Mobile Pocket PC, a device that fully integrated cellphone and PDA functionality a full five years before the iPhone was launched. Does that make it the first true smartphone? We're inclined to say yes. At the time we said, "The elegantly designed T-Mobile Pocket PC combines a full Pocket PC with a high-end cellphone... No one knows just yet if the world is ready for a convergence between cell phones and PDAs." It'd take another five years until the world knew for sure, and the rest is history. [Read 2002 review of the T-Mobile Pocket PC] -- Posted Friday, November 27, 2020

Interview with Mr. Rick Hwang, President of Rugged & Video Solutions Business Group at Getac
Getac is one of the major players in the global rugged mobile computing industry. RuggedPCReview had the chance to interview Mr. Rick Hwang who is president of the Rugged & Video Solutions Business Group at Getac. [Read Interview with Mr. Rick Hwang, President of Rugged & Video Solutions Business Group at Getac] -- Posted Thursday, November 19, 2020

Zebra Global Shopper Study: Pandemic accelerates technology spending plans for six-in-10 surveyed retailers
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the front line of business with solutions and partners that deliver a performance edge, today revealed the results of its 13th annual Global Shopper Study. This is the industry's only market tracker that analyzes the attitudinal behavior of shoppers, retail associates and retail executives and examines the retail and technology trends impacting shoppers' purchasing behavior both in-store and online. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Datalogic launches the HandScanner™, the smallest and lightest wearable scanner available
Datalogic, a global leader in automatic data capture and factory automation, is pleased to announce the launch of the new HandScanner™, the smallest and lightest non- intrusive hands-free scanner designed to streamline workers' daily operations. This wearable device allows workers to use both hands for faster picking of goods or parcels, expanding their productivity dramatically. [See Datalogic media release] -- Posted Friday, November 13, 2020

Full review: Juniper Mesa 3 Windows
Juniper Systems now offers its indomitable ultra-rugged Mesa tablet platform both in Microsoft Windows 10 and in Android 9 versions. The two machines look almost identical, but inside each is built and optimized for its respective operating system and so Juniper customers now have a choice. After having reviewed the Android version of the Mesa 3 we've now also completed a comprehensive review of the Windows 10 version of the Juniper Mesa 3. [See full review of Juniper Systems' Mesa 3 Windows 10 ultra-rugged tablet computer] -- Posted Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Zebra Technologies announces Q3 2020 financials
Zebra Technologies reported sales of US$1,132 million in Q3 of 2020 compared to US$1,130 million in Q3 of 2019. Net sales in the Enterprise Visibility & Mobility segment (i.e. what used to be the enterprise business of Motorola Solutions) were US$788 million in Q3 2020 compared with $757 million in Q3 2019. Net income for Q3 2020 was US$116 million, compared to net income of US$136 million in Q3 2019. The company expects fourth-quarter 2020 net sales to increase approximately 3% to 7% from the fourth quarter of 2019. [See Zebra press release] -- Posted Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Havis VSX console redefines the workspace for public safety professionals
Havis, Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of mobile office solutions, announced the launch of an evolutionary solution. The vehicle specific console for the 2020-2021 Ford Interceptor Utility redefines the vision of the public safety console from the ground up. The advanced style of the new Havis console catapults public safety vehicle cabins into a new era, redefining the workspace for public safety professionals. This innovative approach provides end users with a comfortable space by organizing control heads, arm rests, cup holders, and other essential equipment. Built on the Havis history of quality and safety, the console incorporates new materials with key legacy features to ensure mission-critical accessories are compatible. [See Havis media release] -- Posted Thursday, October 29, 2020

Getac becomes first manufacturer to bring integrated LiFi technology to rugged mobilecomputing market
Getac, has announced that it is bringing integrated light-based LiFi technology powered by pureLiFi to the rugged market for the first time. The announcement means customers across a wide range of professional sectors will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of fully rugged reliability and innovative LiFi connectivity in a single device, unlocking a host of powerful new applications and use cases. [See Getac media release] -- Posted Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Havis Launches universal next-gen touch screen display
Havis, Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of in-vehicle mobile working solutions, is excited to announce the launch of the 12.5" Capacitive Touch Screen Display with Integrated Hub. The latest mobile office solution from Havis, TSD-201, provides a fully rugged Touch Screen Display solution for all mobile office workers. Featuring 10-point capacitive multi-touch technology and an integrated hub, the TSD-201 unlocks the full potential of tablets, laptops, and DeX equipped devices without the need for a separate hub. [See Havis media release] -- Posted Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Full review: Handheld Group Nautiz X41
The Handheld Group's Nautiz X41 offers state-of-the-art performance and contemporary Android functionality in a tried-and-true keypad handheld form factor. The device is ergonomically designed to easily fit into the hand. It is small enough to go and fit anywhere, and light enough to reduce fatigue on the job. [See full review of the Handheld Nautiz X41] -- Posted Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Full review: Winmate M101P-ME Rugged Tablet PC for healthcare
There are all sorts of markets that benefit from using ruggedized mobile computers instead of relying on fragile consumer tech, and healthcare is one of them. The M101P-ME 10.1-inch rugged Windows tablet from Winmate is an interesting example of a mature, field-proven tablet computer solution that is now available in a special version for healthcare deployments. RuggedPCReview.com examined the M101P-ME in detail. [See full review of the Winmate M101P-ME rugged tablet for healthcare] -- Posted Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Zebra Technologies empowers interdisciplinary care with innovative healthcare offerings
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the front line of business with solutions and partners that deliver a performance edge, today announced new healthcare solutions designed to enable positive patient identification, increase operational efficiencies, and deliver improved patient care. The new purpose-built CS60-HC Series scanner and TC21-HC and TC26-HC mobile computers further Zebra's ongoing commitment to serve the needs of hospitals and integrated delivery systems, with the goal of improving delivery of care. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Monday, October 12, 2020

Full review: Cost-efficient MobileDemand xTablet Flex 10A and Flex 10B
With their two 10-inch xTablet Flex 10 tablets, MobileDemand presents a couple of entry-level rugged tablets with entry-level prices. The Android 9 version is $495, and the Windows 10 version $595. Both tablets employ MobileDemand's unique concept of merging basic modern consumer tablets with specially designed and preinstalled ruggedness armor. The protective layered casing is better than pretty much any after-market case. These rugged tablet offerings bust the old adage that you get what you pay for; MobileDemand gives you more than what you pay for. There are some concessions, of course, but these deals are almost too good to be true. [See full review of MobileDemand's xTablet Flex 10A and Flex 10B] -- Posted Thursday, October 8, 2020

Getac debuts V110 rugged laptop with class-leading connectivity options
Getac, a world leader in rugged computing solutions, today announced the release of the latest generation of its highly successful V110 laptop aimed at professionals in such challenging work environments as law enforcement, emergency medical response, field-utility installation and repair, military, and manufacturing. [See Getac media release] -- Posted Tuesday, October 6, 2020

DT Research designs line of antimicrobial 2-in-1 rugged medical tablets purpose-built for healthcare mobility during COVID-19 pandemic
DT Research, the leading designer and manufacturer of purpose-built computing solutions for vertical markets, today announced three medical rugged tablets with a unique 2-in-1 design that provides the flexibility to use the unit as a handheld tablet or part of a mobile medical cart solution. The tablets are antimicrobial, UL60601-1 certified, IP65 rated and available with a 6-inch (362MD), 10.1-inch (301MD) or 13.3-inch (313MD) brilliant capacitive touchscreen display. Built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, data capture modules, and optional 4G Mobile Broadband, make these medical tablets an effective tool to monitor, record and retrieve patient information in a range of environments. [See DT research media release] -- Posted Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Datalogic launches the new PDA Memor™ K — a powerful and pocket-sized PDA for any application
Datalogic, is pleased to announce the availability of the new Memor™ K mobile computer, a powerful, pocketable companion for any data capture application in your retail store, manufacturing floor, or distribution center. Leveraging its light weight, great ergonomics and pocketable size, personnel can use the device all day long without any stress or fatigue. It can be kept in the pocket and used whenever needed. The Memor K combines an extremely thin design with a very rugged assembly. It can sustain repeated drops up to 1.2 m / 4 ft onto concrete, and its IP54 rating guarantees strong endurance. [See Datalogic media release] -- Posted Thursday, October 1, 2020

Durabook Z14I fully rugged laptop offers endless customization possibilities
Durabook Americas, Inc., the global rugged mobile solutions brand owned by Twinhead International Corporation, offers boundless customization capabilities to users of its Z14I fully rugged laptop. The unit's endless configuration possibilities assure users of the power, flexibility, functionality, and data security that they need for their specific applications. [See Durabook media release] -- Posted Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Full review: Janam XT3
With their XT3 rugged high-performance handheld, Janam offers customers a substantial upgrade over the XT2 and XT2+ predecessors. The XT3 is quick enough to please smartphone users spoiled by rapid technological advance, and that can make or break a deal. About the size of a modern smartphone, the Snapdragon SD660-powered XT3 has integrated GPS, NFC/RFID reading, mobile broadband and industrial-grade 1D/2D imager for bar code reading. The dual cameras (13mp and 5mp) are among the best we've seen in rugged devices. And there's a modern USB-C port. [See full review of the Janam XT3] -- Posted Monday, September 28, 2020

Preview: RuggON VULCAN X
RuggON's just announced VULCAN X vehicle mount computer is of interest for those who seek a compact Intel Core-powered and fully-rugged onboard system that's easy to use and operate either via touch or via programmable buttons. The very bright (1200 nits) 10.4-inch display fits almost anywhere, and there's plenty of legacy and state-of-the-art I/O. [See description, analysis and specs of the RuggON VULCAN X] -- Posted Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Preview: DT Research DT382GL
The DT382GL, introduced by DT Research in August 2020, is an 8-inch rugged tablet that runs Windows 10. It was designed primarily for two-factor authentication and long range asset verification. At a time where CACs (Common Access Cards) are standard issue ID for military personnel, civilian and state employees as well contractor personnel, a compact handheld Windows tablet with a built-in CAC reader addresses very real needs. [See description, analysis and specs of the DT Research DT382GL] -- Posted Monday, September 21, 2020

faytech joint venture CLEAR-BOND celebrates the production of its 200th ton optical bonding blue
In 2017, faytech invented a new optical bonding process suitable for the mass production of large format optically bonded touchscreens. Since 2018, faytech has been the world leading supplier in this niche market. Based on its market position, the process was since then steadily improved further with tailored machines to improve the yield and bond-line thickness control. During this time period, parts of the optical bonding process was patented by faytech as well. [See faytech media release] -- Posted Monday, September 14, 2020

NVIDIA to acquire ARM for $40 billion, creating world's premier computing company for the age of AI
NVIDIA and SoftBank Group Corp. (SBG) today announced a definitive agreement under which NVIDIA will acquire Arm Limited from SBG and the SoftBank Vision Fund (together, "SoftBank") in a transaction valued at $40 billion. The combination brings together NVIDIA's leading AI computing platform with Arm's vast ecosystem to create the premier computing company for the age of artificial intelligence, accelerating innovation while expanding into large, high-growth markets. [See Nvidia media release] -- Posted Sunday, September 13, 2020

Getac's next generation UX10 fully rugged tablet delivers seamless mobile performance for professionals in challenging work environments
Getac, has today announced the launch of the next generation UX10, a powerful fully rugged tablet that's built to thrive in challenging working environments, such as those found in the public safety, utilities, natural resources and manufacturing industries. Building on the success of Getac's original UX10, this next generation tablet delivers improved performance, storage, connectivity and rugged reliability in a stylish new chassis, all while retaining the same proven form factor of its predecessor. [See Getac media release] -- Posted Thursday, September 10, 2020

Preview: DT Research DT362GL
The DT362GL, introduced by DT Research in August 2020, is a 6-inch rugged handheld that runs full Windows 10. It was designed primarily for two-factor authentication and long range asset verification. At a time where CACs (Common Access Cards) are standard issue ID for military personnel, civilian and state employees as well contractor personnel, a small handheld Windows device with a built-in CAC reader addresses very real needs. [See description, analysis and specs of the DT Research DT362GL] -- Posted Thursday, September 3, 2020

Intel launches world's best processor for thin-and-light laptops: 11th Gen Intel Core
Intel today unleashed a new era of laptop performance with the launch of its next-generation mobile PC processors and the evolution of its broad ecosystem partnerships that are propelling the mobile PC industry forward. New 11th Gen Intel Core processors with Intel Iris Xe graphics (code-named "Tiger Lake") are the world's best processors for thin-and-light laptops with unmatched capabilities for real-world productivity, collaboration, creation, gaming and entertainment across Windows and ChromeOS-based laptops. [See Intel media release] -- Posted Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Trimble announces the next evolution of its flagship GNSS solution<
Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) introduced today the Trimble® R12i GNSS receiver, the latest addition to its Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) portfolio. The Trimble R12i incorporates Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)-based tilt compensation using Trimble TIP™ technology, which enables points to be measured or staked out while the survey rod is tilted, empowering land surveyors to focus on the job at hand and complete work faster and more accurately. [See Trimble media release] -- Posted Wednesday, September 2, 2020

The Coral Reef Research Foundation has relied on Durabook's rugged computers for over 14 years
Durabook Americas, Inc., a leading manufacturer of rugged computing solutions, has been honored to be playing an active part in the work done by Coral Reef Research Foundation (CRRF) in Palau in the tropical western Pacific. The non-profit corporation has been depending on Durabook rugged laptops for over 14 years in a variety of research and educational projects it is conducting on the diverse reefs and marine environments of the island nation of Palau. [See Durabook media release] -- Posted Saturday, August 29, 2020

DT Research 6 and 8-inch handheld rugged tablets running Windows 10 power two-factor authentication and long range asset verification
DT Research, the leading designer and manufacturer of purpose-built computing solutions for vertical markets, today announced the DT362GL and DT382GL, unique 6-inch and 8-inch rugged tablets running Microsoft® Windows® 10 IoT Enterprise with a built-in Common Access Card (CAC) reader, 2D Barcode Scanner and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) RFID reader. The small-form, IP65 rated rugged handhelds can perform secure ID and vehicle verification necessary to access government and corporate buildings, restricted areas as well as secure logical access to computer networks. The tablets' built-in UHF RFID reader accelerates physical asset verification by reading tags on items up to 30 feet. [See DT Research media release -- Posted Monday, August 24, 2020

Chicago Bears gain a performance edge with Zebra Technologies' on-field tracking technology
As the kickoff to the 2020 NFL season nears, Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the front line of business with solutions and partners that deliver a performance edge, today announced it is capturing essential data for the Chicago Bears to help provide the team with a competitive advantage. Zebra will use its best-in-class RFID technology to track player and ball information for each of the Bears' practice sessions and games for the upcoming season, allowing the team to better strategize and evaluate on-field performance. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Monday, August 17, 2020

Review: Handheld Algiz RT8 rugged Android tablet
There's a sizable market for tough and rugged Android tablets with screens bigger than the biggest smartphone, but still small and light enough to go anywhere. We examined the Handheld Group's 8-inch Algiz RT8 Android tablet and found much to like: Android 9, excellent display, USB Type-C, powerful battery, bolt-on expansion interface, great GNSS, all in an elegant 1.4-pound package that's brimming with functionality. [See full review of the Handheld Algiz RT8 rugged Android tablet -- Posted Wednesday, August 5, 2020

trinamiX Beam Profile Analysis works where facial recognition fails due to face protection masks
trinamiX, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BASF, today announced its acclaimed Beam Profile Analysis technology can help existing facial recognition systems to recognize an owner and unlock their device, even while wearing a protective mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19. trinamiX user authentication technology recognizes living skin and simultaneously measures the 3D features of a face. It also integrates seamlessly with standard 2D facial recognition algorithms. [See trinamiX media release] -- Posted Monday, August 3, 2020

VIA announces Mobile360 AI Forklift Safety Kit
VIA Technologies, Inc. announced the launch of the VIA Mobile360 AI Forklift Safety Kit to prevent accidents and avoid losses from damage to goods in busy warehouses and supply chain hubs. With it real-time 360° SVS (Surround View System) video and DMOD (Dynamic Moving Object Detection) capabilities, the kit enables forklift operators to identify potential safety hazard threats in time to take appropriate action to avert a collision. [See VIA media release] -- Posted Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Zebra reports Q2 2020 financial results
Zebra Technologies reported sales of US$956 million for Q2, 2020, down from US$1,097 million a year ago. Operating income for Q2 2020 was US$119 million, down from US$160 million for Q2 2019. “We believe our sales bottomed in Q2 and second half trends will improve. We continue to be very optimistic regarding our longer-term prospects as secular trends to digitize and automate workflows accelerate as a result of the pandemic,” said Anders Gustafsson, chief executive officer of Zebra Technologies. [See Zebra Q2 2020 financials] -- Posted Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Zebra Technologies to acquire Reflexis Systems, Inc.
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the front line of business with solutions and partners that deliver a performance edge, today announced it intends to acquire Reflexis Systems, Inc., a privately-held, leading provider of intelligent workforce management, execution, and communication solutions for organizations in the retail, food service, hospitality and banking industries. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Full review: Panasonic TOUGHBOOK A3
With the TOUGHBOOK A3, Panasonic offers a compelling Android tablet solution in the 10-inch class. The A3 is thin enough and light enough to go anywhere, and it offers the extra onboard connectivity and display real estate that may be required on the job even with Android-based applications. The tablet provides the toughness and ruggedness Panasonic mobile computers have long been known for. Suitable for handheld tablet use or mounted in forklifts or any other vehicle, the TOUGHBOOK A3 combines Android ease-of-use with enterprise grade functionality, performance, and security. [See full review of the Panasonic TOUGHBOOK A3] -- Posted Monday, July 20, 2020

FLIR Systems announces Hadron, industry's first thermal and visible sensor module for drone, robotic, and imaging manufacturers
FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) announced FLIR Hadron™, the industry's first dual sensor module for drone, robotic, and imaging original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Designed to help reduce development costs and improve time-to-market, the lightweight, low power, and compact form factor includes a 12-megapixel visible camera paired with the FLIR Boson® 320x240 resolution thermal camera with up to a 60-hertz framerate. [See FLIR media release] -- Posted Sunday, July 19, 2020

Full review: Getac B360 fully rugged laptop
Rugged computing pretty much began with rugged laptops a quarter of a century ago. And even today, with all the billions of smartphones and handhelds and tablets, there are still many jobs where only a fully rugged full-size laptop computer will do. RuggedPCReview examined, in detail, the newest such laptop, the Getac B360. Slimmer, lighter and much more powerful than ever before, the Getac B360 has set a new standard of excellence and innovation in this class. [See review of the Getac B360 fully rugged laptop] -- Posted Tuesday, July 14, 2020

OnLogic's 3 Article Edge Computing Crash Course
"Edge computing" refers to processing that is done at or near the source of collected data instead of relying on the cloud or a remote data center. The folks at OnLogic have posted three great introductory articles on edge computing: They are "How to find the Best Edge Computer — The Three Types of Edge Computers," "Differences in Edge Computing Hardware — Six Characteristics you Need to Know," and "What is AMD Embedded, and Why Now?" -- Posted Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Janam unveils most affordable temperature sensing kiosk
Janam Technologies LLC, a leading provider of rugged mobile computers and contactless access solutions, today unveiled the newest addition to its Guardian family of access management hardware solutions. With advanced thermal imaging and facial recognition technology, GT2 is an extremely affordable and easy-to-deploy temperature sensing kiosk that quickly and accurately reads the body temperature and confirms the identity of individuals entering a facility. [See Janam media release] -- Posted Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Review: Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme Tablet
The Dell Latitude 7220 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. Oh, and it's also one of the very fastest rugged devices we've ever tested. And it has a 1,000 nits display, offers excellent battery life, and comes standard with super-fast PCIe NVMe storage interface technology. [See full review of the Dell Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme Tablet] -- Posted Monday, June 29, 2020

First look: Zebra TC21/TC26
Zebra, one of the early adopters of Android, has extensive experience with the platform by now. Recently they introduced the economically-priced entry-level Android 10-based TC21/TC26 rugged enterprise handheld touch computers. The TC21 (WiFi only) and TC26 (WiFi + cellular data) replace the earlier TC20/TC25 and offer substantial upgrades in display, battery, performance, and overall functionality. [See description, analysis and specs of the Zebra TC21/TC26] -- Posted Thursday, June 25, 2020

Acer launches Enduro lineup of rugged notebooks and tablets
Acer today launched Enduro, its new line of rugged notebooks and tablets specially designed to provide the durability, portability and performance needed by professionals working in the field. First responders and industrial manufacturing workers will find the Acer Enduro N7 to be a reliable companion, while event producers and outdoor hobbyists will appreciate the thin-and-light yet durable Enduro N3. A series of Enduro tablets are also available for retail, warehouse and manufacturing usage scenarios. [See Acer media release] -- Posted Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Zebra Technologies introduces five rugged mobile computers to increase front-line worker productivity
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, today announced the industry's first enterprise-class mobile computers running on the Android 10 operating system (OS): the TC21/TC26, TC52x/TC57x and MC3300x. With integrated scanning and unique software capabilities enabled by Mobility DNA, the five new devices are designed for retail, transportation and logistics (T&L), field mobility and warehouse environments to improve front-line worker productivity and effectiveness. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Juniper Systems introduces Uinta mapping and data collection software
Juniper Systems introduced Uinta, a powerful, hassle-free and highly customizable Windows 10 data collection software that includes detailed professional mapping with points, lines, areas, form-based notes for digital record-keeping, as well as an easy-to-use report generator that exports data in three commonly used formats (PDF, Excel, and KML). [See Juniper Systems Uinta page] -- Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Winmate presents COVID-19 health monitoring solution for businesses and public places
It has been almost six months since the first COVID-19 patient was identified. Governments all around the world took epidemic prevention measures varying from self-quarantine to suspended business operations. Now cities and countries around the world will eventually need to re-open safely. Winmate together with its partner in North America offer an innovative and timely health monitoring solution for businesses and public places to get ready for a massive returning to work. [See Winmate COVID-19 Health Monitoring Solution] -- Posted Saturday, June 6, 2020

Zebra Technologies introduces proximity sensing, alerting & contact tracing software for the enterprise
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, today launched Zebra MotionWorks® Proximity. The solution offers proximity sensing with user-level alerting and contact tracing to enable employers to help protect their employees' health while in the work environment.[See Zebra media release] -- Posted Thursday, June 4, 2020

New Getac B360: Lightest, brightest, fastest, toughest 5G-compatible notebook in today's marketplace
Getac Technology Corporation, a leading producer of rugged technology, today debuted the new B360 fully rugged notebook as a direct answer to those who contend that full ruggedization and ultra-power portable computing cannot co-exist in the same form factor. Featuring 10th Generation Intel® Core™ Processor with maximum turbo frequencies up to 4.90Ghz and 12mb Intel Smart Caches, the B360 is also the first fully rugged laptop to be engineered for 5G in today's marketplace, enabling enterprise mobility buyers to meet all levels of performance without sacrificing MIL-STD-810H compliance. [See Getac media release] -- Posted Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Review: Winmate M700DQ8 7-inch rugged Android 9 tablet
There are well over 2.5 billion Android devices out there, most of the smartphones, but quite a few tablets. That means a huge user base that is already familiar with Android. So how about a tough, truly rugged, but also state-of-the-art compact Android tablet? Winmate has one, the 7-inch M700DQ8. It is as tough as it gets, runs Android 9 on a quick SnapDragon processor, has very good cameras, and USB Type-C. The tablet is designed for mobile field deployment but is equally suitable as a vehicle-mount. [See review of the Winmate M700DQ8] -- Posted Monday, June 1, 2020

Docking Solutions for Getac UX10: Havis continues developing partnership with Getac
Havis, Inc., is pleased to announce the release of its new tablet docking series for the Getac UX10 Tablet. Havis, a leading designer and manufacturer of in-vehicle mobile working solutions, is excited to continue developing products with Getac. The Getac UX10 Tablet is a versatile and cost-effective device that drives performance on any job. The Havis UX10 dock ensures portable performance for the tablet in the most demanding environments like public safety, utility services, material handling, industrial manufacturing, and more. [See Havis media release] -- Posted Thursday, May 28, 2020

Durabook unveils first rugged tablet with Intel's 10th Gen Intel Core™ processor
Durabook Americas, Inc., a leading manufacturer of rugged computing solutions, including the Durabook line of laptops, mobile tablets, and all-in-one computers, today announced they have upgraded the popular U11. The new model is the first to feature the 10th generation Intel® Core™ processor, an exclusive quick-removable PCIe SSD, and a fanless design. Setting the pace for today's 'new normal' world, the Durabook U11 tablet is TAA compliant, improves performance by almost 260%, and is easy to clean and disinfect. [See Durabook media release] -- Posted Tuesday, May 19, 2020

iPad with MobileDemand rugged cases donation to county hospitals allows isolated COVID-19 patients to virtually visit friends and family
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) announced the donation of 300 iPads to its four hospitals to facilitate patient-family communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. The gift is through a partnership with the Annenberg Foundation, Brilliant Corners, and the Los Angeles County Center for Strategic Partnerships. A second donation, by MobileDemand, provides rugged, protective healthcare iPad cases to protect against damage and loss. The rugged case also has an adjustable easel attached, providing effortless viewing for patients who are too weak to hold a tablet. [See news release] -- Posted Monday, May 18, 2020

Full review: Winmate Stainless B Series Panel PCs
With their Stainless B Series, Winmate offers a very innovative solution for projects where touch is required, but also the ability to rapidly respond to emergencies or suddenly changing conditions. Those potentially crucial functions are implemented with large hardware controls that can be used to instantly control functions or external machinery or processes. This can cut cost, increase safety, enhance productivity, and eliminate relying on onscreen menus. [See full review of the Winmate Stainless B Series Panel PCs and monitors] -- Posted Monday, May 11, 2020

U.S. rugged device manufacturer Juniper Systems sees strong demand as global supply chains are impacted by COVID-19
While rugged device manufacturing giants are experiencing manufacturing shutdowns, supply shortage of parts, and extended product lead times, U.S. rugged device manufacturers like Juniper Systems are seeing strong product demand. "We've seen a lot of new resellers and users coming to us recently due to our unique short lead times," said Phillip Biggs, inside sales manager. "A lot of them tell us that other rugged tech manufacturers are months out on product because of everything going on." [See Juniper Systems media release] -- Posted Monday, May 11, 2020

First look: Datalogic's new Memor 20
There's huge opportunity in enterprise and industrial markets for state-of-the-art handhelds that look and behave like modern smartphones, but have more features and can handle a lot more abuse. That's what Datalogic is aiming for with their new Memor 20. We're taking a look at the Memor 20, what it is, and what it can do. [See description, analysis and specs of the Datalogic Memor 20] -- Posted Monday, May 4, 2020

Garmin TeamX unveils the 7-inch format aera 760 portable aviation GPS
Garmin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), announced the aera® 760, a premium aviation portable that is purpose-built for the pilot and the cockpit. The aera 760 boasts a 7-inch bright, sunlight readable touchscreen display complete with comprehensive chart options in a compact and dedicated portable GPS. Additional features of the aera 760 include the option to load instrument approach procedures, arrivals and departures, approach chart overlay on the map, Garmin Connext® wireless connectivity, as well as the option to integrate it with select Garmin avionics. [See Garmin media release] -- Posted Thursday, April 30, 2020

Zebra Technologies announces first-quarter results
Zebra Technologies announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020. GAAP net sales were US$1,052 million in the first quarter of 2020 compared to US$1,066 million in the first quarter of 2019. Net income for the first quarter of 2020 was US$89 million, compared to net income of $115 million for the first quarter of 2019. "The year started off strong for Zebra, yet late in the first quarter, COVID-19 developed into a global pandemic and we experienced global supply chain disruptions, as well as weaker-than-expected demand in China. As a result, we missed our first quarter sales and profitability outlook,” said Anders Gustafsson, Chief Executive Officer of Zebra Technologies. The company expects second-quarter 2020 net sales to decrease approximately 11% to 17% from the second quarter of 2019 due to an anticipated recessionary global environment from COVID-19. [See Zebra Zebra First-Quarter 2020 Results] -- Posted Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Full review: Winmate M133WK Rugged Tablet PC
Sometimes a small screen and just enough performance is all it takes. Other times you need a big screen and all the performance you can get. An that's what Winmate's M133WK Rugged Tablet PC is all about. The M133 platform has been around for a few years, but Winmate keeps updating it and adding new models. Powered by an Intel 8th generation Core processor, very fast PCIe NVMe storage, and a bright, excellent display, the M133WK delivers, and then some. [See full review of the Winmate M133WK Rugged Tablet PC] -- Posted Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Getac unveils A140 G2, the 14" fully rugged tablet with industry-leading processing power
Getac announced the launch of its A140 G2 fully rugged tablet. The new device builds on the proven track record of Getac's popular A140 G1, offering professionals across a wide range of industries a powerful yet versatile tablet that excels in demanding work environments. The A140 G2 delivers extraordinary processing power and responsiveness with no performance drop-off, even when running large numbers of applications simultaneously. [See Getac media release] -- Posted Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Getac issues rugged mobile computer decontamination document
Quickly adapting to a new reality of cleaning and disinfection standards, Getac published a document outlining recommended mobile computer decontamination procedures. These are based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend general guidelines for cleaning surfaces and considered best practices for the prevention of Coronavirus and other viral respiratory illnesses in office, community, and home settings. [See Getac Rugged Mobile Computer decontamination] -- Posted Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Full review: Getac UX10 fully rugged high-performance Windows tablet
With the addition of the fully rugged 10-inch UX10, Getac now has a comprehensive lineup of tablet computers designed for even the harshest working conditions. RuggedPCReview.com examined the 10.1-inch Getac UX10, which perfectly hits the sweet spot for many applications: it has a display larger than those of even the biggest smartphones, but still small enough to go anywhere. With its selection of 8th generation Intel Core processors, the UX10 is plenty powerful enough for any application, yet it also runs a long time on a single charge. It can be used as a tablet or as a 2-in-1 hybrid, and a highly modular design with three expansion areas allows easy customization for virtually any type of deployment. [See full review of the Getac UX10] -- Posted Monday, April 13, 2020

Winmate announces mobility solution for military applications
Winmate has announced their latest ultimate mobility solution for military applications in the form of 8.4-inch, 10.4-inch and 13.3-inch ultra-rugged tablet computers with the latest processing and data storage technologies. These powerful computing platforms with their rugged mobile housing are designed for use in extreme conditions and meet specific defense department defined specifications. [See Winmate newsletter on latest rugged tablets] -- Posted Friday, April 10, 2020

Medical tablets and medical cart computers for healthcare applications
In another timely blog post, DT Research highlighted the many uses ruggedized and specialized tablet computers and medical cart computers have in today's world. These range from registration and check-ins, to bedside medication administration, to use on medical carts, and a long list of other applications. [See DT Research Medical tablets and medical cart computers for healthcare applications] -- Posted Tuesday, April 7, 2020

ARBOR solutions for epidemic spread prevention
ARBOR's website now contains a section on Epidemic Prevention, highlighting technology that can help the fight against infection. ARBOR shows portable temperature screening stations, compact temperature screening solutions, continuous temperature monitoring, handheld temperature screening and more, all taking advantage of sensor technologies, infrared, edge computing, IoT, cloud solutions, etc. [See ARBOR Epidemic Prevention Solutions] -- Posted Monday, March 30, 2020

First look: RuggON's speedy new VIKING MT7030 Android 9-based compact vehicle computer
RuggON today announced the VIKING MT7030 as a durable, powerful all-in-one vehicle terminal for fleet management, asset management, and Electronic Logging (ELD) applications. It's a rugged, super-compact 7-inch vehicle-mount computer that combines state-of-the-art Android software and underlying Snapdragon 660 hardware with the kind of comprehensive wired and wireless connectivity (including both legacy and USB-C) required in vehicular applications. [See description, analysis and specs of the RuggON VIKING MT7030] -- Posted Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Getac launches #SheShowsTheWay campaign as a platform for everybody to share their female role models
Getac celebrated the recent International Women's Day (March 8) with a special "Show Us Your Heroes!" feature. Getac, acknowledging that a lack of role models discourages and limits the entrance of female professionals into critical fields such as IT, law or engineering, created the #SheShowsTheWay campaign, highlighting some of their own female leaders and professionals. Getac noted that the #SheShowsTheWay campaign will continue as a platform for everybody to share their female role models. To participate, send an email to Getac-eMKTG-Global@getac.com or post on social media with the hashtag #SheShowsTheWay and share your story! [See SHOW US YOUR HEROES!] -- Posted Wednesday, March 18, 2020

First look: Handheld's thoroughly modern Android keypad Nautiz X41
There are great designs that, through no fault of their own, are replaced by something new and different. Sometimes such replacement leaves a void, as well as lost convenience and productivity. The flip phone was such an example. Likewise, most rugged handheld computers are touch-only these days, even though keypads can be very useful. Which is why the Handheld Group created their new, state-of-the-art rugged Android Nautiz X41 WITH a keypad. [See description, analysis and specs of the Handheld Nautiz X41] -- Posted Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Full review: Teguar TM-4433-10 compact, versatile industrial-grade medical PC
Computers used in medical settings inhabit a special niche somewhere in between consumer/enterprise and industrial-grade panels or embedded systems. Medical-grade PCs must use special anti-microbic materials, must be easy to clean and disinfect, must have generous I/O, must be easy to mount just about anywhere, and must comply with all sorts of medical certifications. We took a detailed look at Teguar's compact 10-inch TM-4433-10 Healthcare PC and found it well designed, very well made, and exceptionally versatile for all sorts of medical/clinical deployments. [See full review of the Teguar TM-4433-10 medical PC] -- Posted Tuesday, March 3, 2020

MobileDemand: Forklift-mounted tablets increase productivity
MobileDemand published a case study on how Minnesota-based Japs-Olson — a privately held company that has been producing bulk direct mail and commercial print items for over 100 years — wanted to optimize the movement material throughout the plant. They found the answer in the xTablet T1600 from MobileDemand. The result was less data lost, greater productivity from the forklift operators, and less involvement of IT support. [See Forklift-mounted tablets increase productivity] -- Posted Monday, February 24, 2020

Reasons why police departments love rugged tablets
In its latest blog entry, DT Research explains why so many police departments love their rugged tablets for on-duty fieldwork. Those include touch screens large enough for easy reading and ease of use on the job; integration with mapping and other field-specific software solutions; and the kind of durability that make for reliable operation even under the harshest conditions. [See 3 Reasons Police Departments Love DT Research Rugged Tablets] -- Posted Monday, February 24, 2020

Kingston encrypted IronKey D300 Series achieves NATO restricted level certification
Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced its IronKey D300 Encrypted USB Flash Drive series has achieved NATO Restricted Level Certification. This indicates that, after a detailed validation process, the Kingston IronKey D300, IronKey D300S and IronKey D300SM have been listed in the NATO Information Assurance Product Catalogue (NIAPC) for security products that meet NATO's nations, civil and military bodies' operational requirements. [See Kingston media release] -- Posted Wednesday, February 19, 2020

The new intrinsically safe Getac UX10-EX tablet delivers powerful performance in hazardous environments
Getac has announced the launch of the new UX10-EX intrinsically safe (ATEX / IECEx Zone 2/22) fully rugged Windows tablet, delivering powerful, reliable Intel 8th generation Core processor computing performance to professionals operating in hazardous environments. Key features include a 10.1-inch Full HD glove-capable LumiBond touchscreen display with 1000 nits of brightness, offering crystal clarity in all weather conditions. MIL-STD-810G and IP65 ratings ensure operation in temperatures ranging from -6°F to 145°F and drop resistance of up to 6ft. [See Getac media release] -- Posted Friday, February 14, 2020

Zebra announces Q4 and full-year 2019 financials
Zebra Technologies announced net sales of $1,192 million in Q4 2019 compared to $1137 million in Q4 2018. Net income for Q4 2019 was $169 million, compared to $115 million for Q4 2018. Full year 2019 sales were $4.485 billion compared to $4.218 billion in 2018. Net income for 2019 was $544 million, compared with a net income of $421 million in 2018. Net sales in the Enterprise Visibility & Mobility ("EVM") segment (formerly Enterprise segment) were $813 million in Q4 2019 compared with $770 million in the Q4 2018. Asset Intelligence & Tracking ("AIT") segment (formerly Legacy Zebra segment) net sales were $379 million in Q4 of 2019 compared to $367 million in the prior year period. The company expects full-year 2020 net sales to increase approximately 4% to 6% from 2019. [See Zebra Q4 and full year 2019 financials] -- Posted Thursday, February 13, 2020

My-T-Soft enters its fourth decade
My-T-Soft has been around since 1995, done business in four different decades, decades that have seen massive advancements in technology. Back in 1995 Microsoft had just ditched Pen Windows and replaced it with the optional wimpy Pen Services 2.0 in Windows 95. Handwriting recognition was still seen as the key to success for tablets and handhelds. The My-T-Soft folks knew better: it was all about the (on-screen) keyboard. So ever since, they've been selling a growing number of programmable, configurable, customizable onscreen keyboards for any platform and application. Job well done, My-T-Soft! [See My-T-Soft enters fourth decade. Welcome to the Twenties!] -- Posted Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Long-time rugged IT supplier JLT Mobile Computers sets itself up for continued success with new brand identity
JLT Mobile Computers, a leading developer and manufacturer of reliable computers for demanding environments, is continuing its growth strategy under a new brand identity. Having significantly outperformed the competition in its serviceable markets in recent years and posting record sales of SEK 142M in 2019, the new-look JLT is setting sights on further expansion of its market share with a fresh growth strategy centering around expanded product, service, and solutions offerings, with strengthened sales channels, strong R&D and strategic partnerships. [See JLT Mobile media release] -- Posted Wednesday, February 12, 2020

RuggON SOL PA501 certified as SOTI MobiControl ready
RuggON, a leading manufacturer of rugged solutions announced that its Android 9-based and octa-core powered flagship rugged tablet SOL PA501 is now SOTI MobiControl certified. Empowered by SOTI's enterprise mobility management (EMM) technology, the next-generation tablet is ideally suited for 24/7 on-duty mobile workers, as they often need to deploy multiple devices (handhelds/tablets/laptops) during missions. [See RuggON media release] -- Posted Thursday, February 6, 2020

Handheld launches the Algiz RT8, a new ultra-rugged Android tablet
Handheld Group, a leading manufacturer of rugged mobile computers, today announced the new Algiz RT8 — an ultra-rugged 8-inch Android tablet that makes field work faster and more efficient. The new Algiz RT8 ultra-rugged tablet is prepared for whatever the outside environment delivers — extreme temperatures, vibration, drops, water, and dust. Running Android 9.0 this unique 8-inch tablet allows faster and more efficient work in the field. [See Handheld Group media release] -- Posted Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Dell: Do You Have What It Takes? Top 20 Most Rugged Jobs in America
Have you ever scaled a 20-foot tree, hung off the side of a skyscraper, been 700 meters underground, or labored on a ship for 36 hours straight? How about run diagnostics on a 15-foot electricity pole, taken pipeline readings in zero-degree weather, or checked refinery equipment in a thunderstorm? It's hard to imagine that this is a normal day of work for some people... and it's for this reason that Dell is excited to celebrate them by sharing the Top 20 Most Rugged Jobs in America. [See Dell media release, the video showing Dell's Rugged PCs, video showing Dell's ruggedness test lab, and the Top 20 Most Rugged Jobs graphic.] -- Posted Thursday, January 30, 2020

Full review: with modular design, exceptional battery life, high performance, and great attention to detail, Panasonic's Toughbook 55 is a winner
Panasonic's Toughbook 55 is for those who can't risk having their laptop break down on the job. They may not necessarily need a fully-rugged computer with its higher weight and substantially higher cost, but they want the reassurance that comes with getting a reliable tool for the job. Our detailed review shows that the Toughbook 55 delivers in every respect. [See review of the Panasonic Toughbook 55] -- Posted Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Introducing the Mesa® 3 Rugged Tablet running Android by Juniper Systems
Juniper Systems is excited to announce the release of the Mesa 3 Rugged Tablet running on the Android operating system. Built on the success of the Mesa 2, the Mesa 3 running Android is the next evolution in rugged handheld computing and data collection for all Android-based application needs. Offering performance increases across the board, the Mesa 3 is backed by Juniper Systems' world-class support and durability promise. The Mesa 3 running Android is now available and shipping worldwide. [See Juniper Systems media release] -- Posted Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Gamber-Johnson continues to expand its international sales team
Gamber-Johnson, a leading international supplier of rugged mounting systems for public safety vehicles, fleet vehicles, forklifts, and other mobility applications, announced today that they have expanded their international sales team by hiring Alberto Varela to fill their Latin America sales manager position and by promoting Ian Davies, European Sales Manager to Director of International Sales. [See Gamber-Johnson media release] -- Posted Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Leading German car manufacturer chooses Getac for worldwide provision of rugged mobile devices and solutions
Getac, a leading rugged mobile computing manufacturer today announced it has been selected by the BMW Group to supply rugged mobile devices and solutions across its global network for a wide range of applications including R&D, production, warehouse logistics and workshop diagnostics. The announcement expands on an existing technology partnership between the two companies, which has seen Getac supply rugged equipment to the BMW Group for vehicle and application testing over the last six years. With the partnership renewed, Getac has received a large new order from the BMW Group for its S410, V110, F110, A140, UX10 and T800 series rugged notebooks and tablets. [See Getac media release] -- Posted Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Zebra Technologies unveils new intelligent automation solution at NRF 2020
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, today introduced SmartSight, a new intelligent automation solution that improves front-of-store operations and enhances the shopper experience at mass merchants, grocers, and supermarkets/hypermarkets. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Janam unveils rugged tablet
Janam Technologies LLC, a leading provider of rugged mobile computers that capture data and communicate wirelessly, today introduced the most powerful and advanced 8-inch rugged tablet. Designed to improve line of business applications including put-away and replenishment, cross docking, shipping and receiving, inventory management, merchandising and clienteling, the new HT1 combines stylish design, military-grade ruggedness and the latest technological advancements to propel businesses forward. [See Janam media release] -- Posted Monday, January 13, 2020

Introducing the Mesa 3 Rugged Tablet by Juniper Systems, now shipping
Juniper Systems is excited to announce the release of the Mesa 3 Rugged Tablet. Built on the success of the Mesa 2, the Mesa 3 is the next evolution in rugged handheld computing and data collection. Offering performance increases across the board, the Mesa 3 is backed by Juniper Systems' world-class support and durability promise. The Mesa 3 is now available and shipping worldwide. [See Juniper Systems media release] -- Posted Friday, January 10, 2020

Datalogic vision technology for self-checkout highlighted at NRF 2020
Datalogic, a global leader in the automatic data capture and process automation markets, is pleased to announce it will be showcasing new vision technology for self-checkout that helps eliminate shopper frustration and fight checkout shrink — major areas of concern for retail enterprises, grocery stores and store operations. These self-checkout technologies will be shown at the National Retail Federation (NRF) Big Show 2020 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City in Datalogic's booth #5337. [See Datalogic media release] -- Posted Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Innolux Corporation and Tanvas partner to deliver TanvasTouch Surface Haptics in an automotive-qualified display
Tanvas, Inc., pioneers of the next generation of multi-touch haptic technology, has partnered with Innolux Corporation to produce a 15" automotive-qualified touch display using TanvasTouch, programmable textures and haptic effects on smooth, physical surfaces. Traditional vibrotactile and electromechanical haptics are not suitable for large and curved automotive displays because they require movement of the display. With TanvasTouch, there are no moving parts. Software-defined haptics enable an unlimited range of effects that can be felt with the swipe of a finger. [See Innolux media release] -- Posted Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Durabook Americas, Inc. expands operations with new business units
Durabook the global rugged mobile solutions brand owned by Twinhead International Corporation, today announced the establishment of two Durabook Americas, Inc. business units: a federal business unit servicing military and federal government customers; and, a commercial business unit, focusing on commercial, enterprise, public safety, state, and local government entities. The move comes in response to growth in sales over the past few years. These changes will be effective at the beginning of the company's 2020 fiscal year in the US market. [See Durabook media release -- Posted Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Handheld introduces MaxGo manager, a smart MDM solution for improved efficiency
Handheld Group, a leading supplier of rugged mobile computers, today announced the release of MaxGo Manager, a free Mobile Device Management (MDM) software solution for Handheld Android devices. The MaxGo software suite is designed to facilitate easy staging and security configurations for Handheld's Android customers. [See Handheld media release] -- Posted Friday, December 13, 2019

JLT Mobile Computers reinforces its position as performance leader in the rugged computer space with upgraded VERSO Series
JLT Mobile Computers, a leading supplier of reliable computers for demanding environments, announces the launch of its upgraded VERSO Series vehicle-mount computers. Customers with high demands on computing performance now have the choice of powerful state-of-the-art Intel® Core i3 or Core i7 processors with the 7th generation Kaby Lake CPU architecture. [See JLT Mobile media release] -- Posted Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Panasonic TOUGHBOOK cements its status as European rugged notebook and tablet leader
Panasonic TOUGHBOOK has cemented its position as Europe's leading manufacturer of rugged notebooks and tablets — extending its run as Europe's rugged notebook leader to an 18th consecutive year, according to research from specialist analyst firm VDC Research. Panasonic TOUGHBOOK's rugged notebook and tablet share of sales by revenue (48%) was larger than its nearest four competitors combined in 2018. [See Panasonic media release] -- Posted Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Full review: RuggON's powerful PA501 rugged Android tablet
Unlike in consumer phones where Android dominates, both Microsoft Windows and Android have meaningful marketshare in industrial and enterprise tablets. As as a result, it makes sense to offer both Windows and Android versions of rugged tablets. RuggON does just that by adding a high-performance Android version, the SOL PA501, to its lineup of rugged 10-inch class tablets. RuggedPCReview has analyzed the octa-core Snapdragon 660-powered SO PA501 and found it to be a very compelling rugged tablet solution for those who need, or prefer, Android on the job. [See full review of the Android 9-based RuggON SOL PA601] -- Posted Monday, December 9, 2019

ARBOR Launches new ARM-based 10.1" medical terminal for healthcare and kiosk applications
ARBOR Technology, a leading provider of embedded computing solutions, is delighted to announce the release of ARBOR M1016 Healthcare Infotainment Terminal — a new 10.1" medical touch terminal in its bedside infotainment series. Powered by Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A35 CPU, the Android ready M1016 is fanless in design and features low power consumption, making it a perfect solution for beside infotainment and medical thin-client applications. To satisfy the needs of healthcare industry, the M1016 is also IEC & EN 60601-1 and 60601-1-2 certified. [See ARBOR media release] -- Posted Monday, November 25, 2019

Panasonic Toughbook 100,000 feet drop spec...
Netmotion published a terrific video showing a Panasonic Toughbook CF-20 attached too a balloon and sending it up to the stratosphere. They did that to test seamless connectivity transition from Wi-Fi to a 4G LTE cellular network. It passed that test flawlessly, then kept on climbing until the balloon burst at around 100,000 feet and the Toughbook fell back down to earth. Upon crashing into a grassy meadow, with the Toughbook apparently surviving unscathed. [See Netmotion Takes to the Skies... with Toughbook and Teams...] -- Posted Sunday, November 17, 2019

Motorola Solutions' leading mobile technology developed in Glasgow to be rolled out to Police Scotland officers
Police Scotland have begun the rollout of Motorola Solutions' digital policing application suite Pronto as part of an overall mobile working solution for officers in Glasgow. The rollout, which began earlier this year in Dundee, Perth and Kinross, marks a major milestone in strategic plans to introduce the technology to 10,000 Police Scotland officers. [See Motorola Solutions media release]
-- Posted Tuesday, November 12, 2019

New Dell Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme: most powerful 12" fully rugged tablet on the market
Dell today announced the Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme tablet, built to meet the demands of workers in harsh environments; from the factory floor to ambulances, desert sandstorms to Arctic conditions. The lightest and most powerful rugged 12" tablet on the market today is designed to provide the mobility and connectivity to help field users stay productive; its durability offering peace of mind for those in some of the dirtiest, wettest, most challenging and most critical workplaces. Updated features include an enhanced 1000 NIT FHD glove-capable display with anti-glare coatings, access to FirstNet, more powerful processors and ancillary technology. [See Dell media release] -- Posted Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Intel introduces Tremont microarchitecture
At the Linley Fall Processor Conference in Santa Clara, Calif., Intel revealed the first architectural details related to Tremont. Intel's newest and most advanced low-power x86 CPU architecture. As far as rugged mobile computing goes, Intel's offerings are either complex, high performance Core processors, or much simpler low-power Atom processors (the Pentium and Celeron names are selectively used for certain versions of either). "Tremont" is, in essence, the next Atom processor architecture, a good deal quicker overall and optimized for client, data center, 5G and IoT. The large price difference between Core and Atom has always made it tempting to use Atom chips, not always with great results. We'll see what Tremont will bring. [See Introducing Intel Tremont Microarchitecture] -- Posted Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Motorola Solutions revolutionizes body-worn cameras with WatchGuard V300 with detachable 12-hour battery
Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MSI) today announced the new WatchGuard V300 body-worn camera, the first in the industry to address law enforcement's need for cameras that remain operational beyond a 12-hour shift. Swappable battery packs, 128 GB of memory and secure wireless uploading enable it to operate continuously. The WatchGuard V300 will become part of the Motorola Solutions mission-critical ecosystem of unified voice, data, video and analytics. [See Motorola Solutions media release] -- Posted Sunday, October 27, 2019

Motorola Solutions' next generation APX NEXT smart radio brings new intelligence and technology to public safety
Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MSI) today announced the launch of APX NEXT, its next-generation mission-critical Project 25 (P25) public safety radio with LTE for enhanced communications and data-centric application services. The company also announced ViQi, a public safety virtual assistant that provides vital information to first responders in the field and allows users to operate APX NEXT via voice control. [See Motorola Solutions media release] -- Posted Thursday, October 24, 2019

Troy (NY) Police Department improves emergency response with Zebra rugged tablets
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, today announced that the Troy (NY) Police Department (Troy PD) has improved its patrol-car technology, officer mobility and emergency response with Zebra XSLATE R12 rugged tablets. The Zebra XSLATE R12 rugged tablets have helped officers prioritize police calls from dispatch and improved incident reporting leading to more efficient police work. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Thursday, October 24, 2019

Full review: DURABOOK Z14I fully-rugged notebook
There aren't too many fully-rugged notebooks to choose from, and some of the traditional leaders are getting long in the tooth. With its new DURABOOK Z14I fully-rugged laptop, Durabook Americas now offers a thoroughly modern tool for customers who require high-performance computing power out there in the field, in vehicles, on the shop floor, or wherever else a tablet or a handheld or even a semi-rugged laptop just won't do. It's an attractive, impressive machine with a very bright, reflection-free 14-inch wide-format display, good connectivity, good battery life, and excellent performance. [See full review of the DURABOOK Z14I fully-rugged notebook] -- Posted Thursday, October 17, 2019

Leica Geosystems again counts on Getac to make hidden utility networks visible
Getac announced that Leica Geosystems has selected its fully rugged F110 tablet to provide utility companies, repair and maintenance contractors, surveyors and civil engineers with a complete, intelligent solution for detecting, visualizing and mapping underground utilities. Leica Geosystems combines the tablet with its own Leica DSX utility detection solution to provide highly reliable subterraneous information on any terrain and in any weather conditions. [See Getac media release] -- Posted Thursday, October 17, 2019

Getac S410, F110, V110 get significant technology upgrades.
Getac announced generational upgrades to its popular F110 tablet, S410 notebook und V110 convertible notebook. All three have been upgraded to Intel 8th generation "Whiskey Lake-U" quad-core processors, making for substantial performance boosts. The F110 and V110 benefit from a much appreciated resolution increase from 1366x768 to 1920x1080 pixel, the S410 gets increased sealing against the elements, from IP52 to IP53, substantially increasing resistance to liquids. Maximum primary mass storage has doubled to 1 Terabyte. WiFi, Bluetooth and ancillary technologies have all been upgraded as well. -- Posted Monday, October 14, 2019

Dell Rugged on the ocean
Like last year, Dell partnered with the Clipper Race Fleet in the Dell Latitude Rugged Ocean Sprint. In a demanding sailing event where only the toughest, most durable technology will do, the Dell Rugged portfolio helped ensure that the Clipper Race teams can navigate, communicate, blog and send imagery back from onboard 70 yachts as they race across the worlds oceans. In this year's race, after 31 hours of racing, a single second decided between 3rd and 4th place. [See Dell Latitude Rugged Ocean Sprint news] -- Posted Monday, October 14, 2019

Teguar blog: What is MIL-STD-810?
Many rugged tablets and some industrial computers come with an MIL-STD-810 rating, which ensures that the computer or tablet can withstand drops, shocks and vibrations. It confirms the ruggedness of a product and it reassures our customers that their computer will not break from machine vibration or their rugged tablet will survive a fumble. In military applications including aviation, aerospace and marine, operators rely on computer systems for mission critical tasks and those computers are required to meet MIL-STD-810 standards. [Read Teguar blog: What is MIL-STD-810?] -- Posted Thursday, October 10, 2019

Review: Winmate M900P fully rugged tablet and VG100 vehicle gateway
The Winmate M900P is one of the few available 8-inch fully-rugged tablet, offering full Windows 10 on an excellent display that's larger than the largest phone while being smaller, lighter and handier than 10-inch tablets. What sets the M900P further apart is the availability of the dedicated VG100 vehicle gateway that provides CAN bus, RS485, digital I/O and vehicle power to the tablet. This vastly increases the tablet's deployment potential into SAE J1939, OBD2, CANopen and many other CAN bus-based applications. [See review of the Winmate M900P rugged tablet and VG100 vehicle gateway] -- Posted Monday, September 30, 2019

Getac Select delivers comprehensive, specialized solutions to customers across a wide range of sectors and applications
Getac has today announced the launch of its new Getac Select program, offering a fast and reliable way for customers to solve complex IT challenges. Getac Select combines carefully chosen, pre-configured rugged devices, software, accessories and professional services into a series of specialized solutions, optimized for individual applications and user groups. Each solution draws on extensive customer feedback and Getac's deep industry experience to create particularly advantageous combinations of products and services that can't be found anywhere else as a single offering. [See Getac media release] -- Posted Monday, September 30, 2019

Introducing the Geode GNS2 sub-meter GPS receiver
Juniper Systems is excited to announce the release of the Geode GNS2 Sub-meter GPS Receiver. This new release of the Geode now features connectivity with a range of iPhone and iPad devices providing users with an even more versatile and powerful tool. This is made possible by the Geode's new MFi certification. MFi stands for Made For iPhone, iPad. The Geode GNS2 retains all the features and connectivity of the original Geode while adding this support for iPhone and iPad. [See Juniper media release] -- Posted Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Review: Winmate FM07 vehicle-mount computer
Wenn it comes to vehicle-mount computers, size can matter. When it does, customers need a tough, rugged, reliable unit small enough to fit anywhere and not get in the way, but still large and powerful enough to run Windows 10 software. Winmate's FM07 fits the bill with a very bright 7-inch procap screen, great customization potential, and excellent wired and wireless onboard communication. [See review of the Winmate FM07 7-inch vehicle-mount PC] -- Posted Monday, September 23, 2019

Iridium and OneWeb to collaborate on a global satellite services offering
Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) and OneWeb today announced they have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together toward a combined service offering. This combined service offering would be designed to make it easier for their mutual partners to offer unique bundling and co-marketing opportunities for the Iridium Certus® L-band services and OneWeb's Ku-band service. The offering would leverage the strengths of their respective low-Earth-orbit (LEO) networks. This is the first time that LEO operators have collaborated to deliver services in L-band and Ku-band. [See Iridium media release] -- Posted Tuesday, September 17, 2019

New line of DT Research POS rugged tablets lower TCO for restaurants, hospitality and retail businesses
DT Research, the leading designer and manufacturer of purpose-built computing solutions for vertical markets, today announced the DT306CR, DT318CR and DT310CR rugged tablets, developed with built-in Point-of-Service (POS) features in a rugged form designed to stand up to the tough environments within restaurants, hospitality, retail and logistics businesses. The tablets are MIL-STD 810G rated to withstand four feet drops, liquid spills, vibrations, dust and extreme temperatures. [See DT Research media release] -- Posted Thursday, September 12, 2019

DURABOOK S15AB semi-rugged notebook-server elevates the standards for performance
Durabook Americas, Inc. has just announced the release of the 2nd Generation S15AB semi-rugged laptop, maintaining its best-in-class performance, mobility and durability. At just 1.5" thick and weighing only 5.76 lbs. with a 15.6" Full HD Display, the S15AB is designed for a mobile workforce with IP5X and MIL-STG-810G certifications. The S15AB features an 8th Generation Intel processor to handle data intensive tasks and includes an optional multi-drive storage configuration, making the S15AB into a highly-mobile working server. [See Durabook Americas media release] -- Posted Thursday, September 12, 2019

Review: Panasonic Toughbook 55
With their latest semi-rugged, the new Toughbook 55, Panasonic has now caught up with, and in several areas surpassed, their competition. Anyone in need of a competent, highly configurable, powerful and remarkably light notebook that can go where consumer laptops can't will find the Toughbook 55 a very attractive option. [See description, analysis and specs of the Panasonic Toughbook 55] -- Posted Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Panasonic unveils TOUGHBOOK 55 mobile computer with customer-driven modular design
Panasonic is pleased to introduce a worker's best friend: the Panasonic TOUGHBOOK® 55 mobile computer. Building on legendary reliability, versatility, performance and ruggedness, the TOUGHBOOK 55 offers unrivaled flexibility with its modular expansion packs and accessories that can accommodate a multitude of work environments and personal preferences. The TOUGHBOOK 55's modular design supports the demands of public safety, enterprise and government customers alike which offers unparalleled customization that can simplify ordering, shorten lead times, decrease downtime and help futureproof their purchase as work needs change. [See Panasonic media release] -- Posted Tuesday, September 10, 2019

US Navy will scrap touchscreen controls on its destroyers
Sometimes there is just too much of a good thing. USNI News reported that the US Navy, which usually jumps on emerging technology, is taking a step back. The Navy will begin reverting destroyers back to a physical throttle and traditional helm control system in the next 18 to 24 months, after the fleet overwhelmingly said they prefer mechanical controls to touchscreen systems in the aftermath of the fatal USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) collision. Anyone who's ever fumbled with car touch screens where a no-look switch or knob would have been so much better can likely relate. [See Navy Reverting DDGs Back to Physical Throttles, After Fleet Rejects Touchscreen Controls] -- Posted Friday, August 16, 2019

Full review: Winmate M133K 13.3-inch high performance rugged tablet
Winmate was one of the first to come out with a large screen rugged tablet designed for those who need to do serious Windows work in the field. We reviewed the Winmate M133K, the newest member of the company's 13.3-inch tablet line. It's a feature-rich, high-performance professional computing tool for the field, one with an excellent display, full-shift-plus battery life, extensive connectivity, industrial-grade scanning and data collection options, all in a 5.3 pound package that's just 1.2 inches thick. [See full review of the Winmate M133K rugged 13.3-inch tablet] -- Posted Monday, August 12, 2019

Review: Teguar TRT-A5380-10S rugged Android tablet
Tablets fill a unique role. Bigger and roomier than even the biggest phones, but not as cumbersome and bulky as laptops can be. Consumer tablets won't do in the field, so there's a need for something that's much tougher and much more durable, without being too thick or weighing too much. And that's exactly what Teguar's 10-inch 2-pound TRT-A5380-10S tablet offers. [See review of the Teguar TRT-A5380-10S rugged Android tablet] -- Posted Monday, August 5, 2019

Intel announces first 10th gen 10nm Core processors
After teasing about the upcoming 10th gen of Core processors in May 2019 at Computex in Taipei, Intel has now formally announced 10th gen, 10nm "Ice Lake" processors, a total of 11 dual-core and quad-core U and Y Series models with Thermal Design Powers as low as 9 watts and as high as 28 watts. While Intel emphasizes the "laptop experience," the 9 and 15 watt chips in the lineup will undoubtedly appear in rugged tablets as well. Also new: the naming structure now includes the graphics level (example: Intel Core i7-1065G7). [See Intel announcement] -- Posted Friday, August 2, 2019

San Benedetto aims to improve digital processes with Panasonic TOUGHBOOK devices
San Benedetto, a leading company in the non-alcoholic beverage sector in Italy, has issued its production line employees with 65 Panasonic TOUGHBOOK A2 10.1-inch fully rugged tablets for use in its factories. The company, with 2,000 employees globally, operates in more than 100 countries and has a production capacity of 4.6 billion bottles per year. [See Panasonic media release] -- Posted Thursday, August 1, 2019

DURABOOK unveils revolutionary 14-inch fully rugged laptop
Durabook Americas, Inc.has unveiled the Z14I fully rugged laptop, engineered for the extreme conditions faced by military and field service personnel around the globe. The sleek design of the Z14I features an unprecedented range of built-in customization possibilities, proprietary DynaVue® technology, 14-inch Full HD sunlight readable multi-touch display, and hot-swappable battery technology for non-stop power. [See Durabook Americas media release] -- Posted Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Full review: Zebra ET56 enterprise Windows tablet
Business customers often face a difficult decision when shopping for tablets. Inexpensive (but fragile) consumer tablets? Tough (but heavy and expensive) fully rugged tablets? Many are looking for something in-between those two. And that's where Zebra's ET51/ET56 Enterprise tablets come in. RuggedPCReview took a detailed look at the surprisingly light and compact 8.4-inch Zebra ET56 Windows tablet and found much to like. [See full review of the Zebra ET56 Enterprise Tablet] -- Posted Friday, July 26, 2019

Getac and Microsoft support scientific expedition
Getac and Microsoft have teamed up to provide technological equipment to support Progretto Wonderfull, a scientific expedition by sea and by land along Italy's seven coasts, whose aim it is to raise awareness of environmental sustainability and responsibility. In the project video, Getac's popular V110 notebook convertible makes several appearances. [See Progetto Wonderfull video] -- Posted Friday, July 26, 2019

Panasonic equips exploration expedition Under The Pole III with rugged mobile devices
Panasonic, Europe's leading rugged computing device provider, has equipped the scientific underwater exploration expedition "Under the Pole III" with TOUGHBOOK 33 devices. The Under The Pole expedition team is crossing the polar seas from the Arctic to the Antarctic on board the polar schooner, "WHY", in order to explore the biodiversity of the ocean twilight zone and push the boundaries of underwater exploration. [See Panasonic media release] -- Posted Friday, July 26, 2019

Full review: Estone Technology MDK-100 rugged hard handle tablet
Estone Technology is a Toledo, Ohio based provider of OEM/ODM solutions focussing on tablet and Panel PC products. Estone offers about a dozen different tablet platforms of various sizes, some targeted at medical markets, others as general purpose rugged tablets for various industrial and vertical markets. RuggedPCReview.com examined the Estone MDK-100 rugged 10-inch Windows hard handle tablet with special emphasis on flexibility and suitability for OEM customers, resellers, and turnkey solutions providers. [See full review of the Estone Technology MDK-100] -- Posted Tuesday, July 23, 2019

RuggON's new rugged Android tablet: first impressions
After Apple put the capacitive tablet form factor on the map with the launch of the iPad in 2010, rugged computing equipment manufacturers were quick to launch rugged Android tablets. They initially didn't catch on as expected. In the meantime, Android's commanding smartphone marketshare has renewed interest in rugged Android tablets, and here are our impressions of RuggON's newly launched SOL PA501. [See description, analysis and specs of the RuggON PA501 rugged Android tablet] -- Posted Saturday, July 20, 2019

Zebra introduces Android ultra-rugged tablet with superior flexibility and durability
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, today introduced its new high-performance L10 Android ultra-rugged tablet. It is part of Zebra's extensive portfolio of government and enterprise tablets as well as purpose-built mobile computers for the rigors of challenging warehouse, manufacturing, construction and field operations environments. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Thursday, July 18, 2019

Zebra blog: Ask the expert: What is a Nit? And what is it not?
If you’ve ever shopped for a rugged tablet, laptop or even a regular TV before, you’ve probably seen the term “nit” in some variation (nits, Nit, Nits, NIT, NITS, NITs, etc.) on a product webpage or spec sheet. But do you know what it means? Not everyone does. And so Zebra's blog team asked rugged mobility expert Kyp Walls to help the set the record straight on this confusing, but commonly used term, in their latest installment of “Ask the Expert.” [Read Zebra blog: Ask the expert: What is a Nit? And what is it not?] -- Posted Monday, July 15, 2019

DURABOOK expands 11 Inch rugged tablet line with R11L
Durabook Americas, Inc., the North American subsidiary of Twinhead International Corporation, today announced an expansion of its 11-inch rugged tablet portfolio. The brand currently offers the ultra-rugged U11, which meets the needs of workers in the most extreme environment, like those found in the military and public safety, as well as the higher performance R11, which features 8th Generation Intel® Core processors, ideal for complex computing and graphics needs often found in markets like oil and gas, and field service. [See Durabook Americas media release] -- Posted Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Full review: Handheld Group Nautiz X6 rugged Android phablet
Users love big screens and the look and feel and power of a modern smartphone. But they don't want to baby their device and stick it in a case. With the Handheld Group's tough and rugged Nautiz X6, customers don't have to. We reviewed the 6-inch, 13.4-ounce, Android 8-based and Snapdragon 626 octa-core powered Nautiz6 in detail and found much to like. It's a smooth, elegant and very functional IP67-sealed device with a USB-C port, powerful externally accessible battery, uBlox GNSS, card slot, and available Honeywell imager via expansion port. [See full review of the Handheld Group Nautiz X6] -- Posted Monday, July 8, 2019

Getac releases high-performance, multi-purpose rugged 10-inch tablet
Getac has released the Getac UX, a rugged 10-inch tablet available with an optional keyboard that converts the tablet into a full-function notebook. With a 1,000 nits display, a choice of four high-performance Intel 8th gen Core processors, very powerful batteries, and extensive customization possibilities, the Getac UX10 is not only a Panasonic Toughbook 20 competitor, but also a strong entry in the 10-inch rugged tablet market. [See description, analysis and specs of the Getac UX10] -- Posted Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Zebra study: Six in 10 plan warehouse automation to augment labor by 2024
Zebra Technologies Corporation announced the results of its 2024 Warehousing Vision Study, analyzing IT and operations decision makers' current and planned strategies for modernizing their warehouses, distribution centers and fulfillment centers. The study reports on the forward-thinking fulfillment strategies companies are focusing on to keep up with the growth of the on-demand economy. 77% of respondents agree that augmenting workers with technology is the best way to introduce automation in the warehouse, but only 35% have a clear understanding of where to start automating. 87% of decision makers are currently in the process of or planning to expand the size of their warehouses by 2024, with 82% anticipating an increase in the number of warehouses during this timeframe. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Tuesday, June 18, 2019

JLT Mobile Computers presents next generation vehicle-mount computers at TOC Europe
JLT Mobile Computers, a leading developer and manufacturer of reliable computers for demanding environments, showcases its game-changing JLT6012 vehicle-mount computer at the TOC Europe global container supply chain event in Rotterdam from 18-20 June 2019. Well suited for the high reliability and security requirements of port settings, the JLT6012 mobile terminal can be custom-built to fit the exact needs of shippers, carriers, port authorities, global operators, and third party logistics.[See JLT Mobile media release] -- Posted Thursday, June 13, 2019

Full review: Estone Technology MJ-80 rugged Android tablet
Estone Technology is a Toledo, Ohio based provider of OEM/ODM solutions focussing on tablet and Panel PC products. Estone offers about a dozen different tablet platforms of various sizes, some targeted at medical markets, others as general purpose rugged tablets for various industrial and vertical markets. RuggedPCReview.com examined the Estone MJ-80 rugged 8-inch Android tablet with special emphasis on flexibility and suitability for OEM customers, resellers, and turnkey solutions providers. [See full review of the Estone Technology MJ-80] -- Posted Sunday, June 9, 2019

Full review: Juniper Systems' Geode sub-meter GPS receiver
GPS is everywhere today, and it's accurate enough for most consumer applications. Professionals, however, often need better accuracy than the 15-25 feet consumer tech can provide. This used to be quite expensive (and still is if true survey-grade accuracy is needed), but there are now dedicated sub-meter GNSS receivers that can bring remarkable accuracy to handhelds and tablets. One such device is Juniper Systems' Geode ((US$1,400), that we're examining and explaining in detail. [See full review of the Juniper Systems Geode sub-meter GNSS receiver] -- Posted Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Intel 10th generation Core processors introduced, sort of
At Computex 2019 in Taipei, Intel introduced the 10th generation of Core processors, codenamed "Ice Lake." The 10nm Ice Lake platform brings the first really new micro architecture, codenamed "Sunny Cove" since the 6th generation "Skylake" platform. It includes new transistor technology that can accelerate AI applications as well as leveraging machine learning. There's a new graphics engine and integrated Thunderbolt 3. Initial processors will be for mobile applications with TDPs of 9, 15 and 28 watts, and up to four cores/eight threads. These will come in two chip packages, a tiny one for Y-Series processors and a slightly larger one for U-Series chips. Intel has not announced actual chips yet. [See Intel media release] -- Posted Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Trimble releases next-generation integrated smartphone and GIS data collector
Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) introduced today the Trimble® TDC600 handheld, an ultra-rugged, all-in-one smartphone and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data collector for Geographic Information System (GIS) and field inspection applications. The next-generation smartphone data collector boasts an Android 8.0 operating system, bright sunlight-readable 6-inch display, powerful 2.2 GHz processor, 4 GB memory and an enhanced capacity all-day battery. [See Trimble media release] -- Posted Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Android Contemplations 2019
RuggedPCReview.com editor-in-chief Conrad Blickenstorfer presents thoughts on the current state and future of Android, especially in the rugged space, based both on personal experiences as well as numerous Android product and status reviews going back to Android's very beginnings. [Read Android contemplations 2019] -- Posted Monday, May 20, 2019

Review: Juniper System's Cedar CT8 rugged Android tablet
There are jobs that require the absolutely most rugged mobile computing equipment available, at a price. For many other jobs, however, customers seek budget-friendly solutions that balance ruggedness with cost. Juniper Systems has both an ultra-rugged line and also their budget-friendly Cedar-branded handhelds and tablets. We've reviewed Juniper's US$999 8-inch Cedar CT8 rugged Android 8.1 tablet and found much to like. It's tough, quick, handy, has a replaceable battery, very good cameras and GNSS, and can be expanded via bolt-on attachments. [See description, analysis and specs of the Cedar CT8 by Juniper Systems.] -- Posted Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Zebra Technologies celebrates 50 years of innovating at the edge
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, celebrates its 50th anniversary as it continues to empower the front line of business. Since the inception of its first printing prototypes in the late 1960s, Zebra has evolved into a trusted advisor to its partners and customers based on its legacy of innovation to help transform the enterprise. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Friday, May 10, 2019

Purpose-built rugged tablet for accurate real time measurements
DT Research, a leading designer and manufacturer of purpose-built computing solutions for vertical markets, today announced the DT301X-TR Rugged Tablet, a lightweight military-grade tablet that is purpose-built to enhance the precision for bridge and construction inspections, 3D surveying, mapping of underground utilities, and crime and crash scene reconstruction. [See DT Research media release] -- Posted Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Full review: DT Research DT301X high-performance 10-inch tablet
The 10.1-inch DT Research DT301 Series of Windows tablets is one of the company's most successful platforms. Sporting a modern, attractive design that instantly makes it clear that this is a rugged, businesslike piece of productivity hardware, the DT301 is a primary example of a tablet product created for serious work and use in all sorts of operating conditions. RuggedPCReview tested the latest version, the DT301X powered with a quad-core Intel 8th generation Core i7-8550U CPU and using PCIe NVMe storage. It put in a spectacular performance, clocking the highest PassMark 6.1 score we've ever seen in our lab, all while going very easy on the battery. [See full review of the DT Research DT301X] -- Posted Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Panasonic delivers FirstNet Ready TOUGHBOOK devices for first responders on FirstNet
Panasonic, an industry leading manufacturer of mobile computing devices supporting customers' digital transformations with smart answers to tough challenges, today announced that the TOUGHBOOK 33 (CF-33 EM7511) and TOUGHBOOK 54 (CF-54 EM7511) are FirstNet Ready, so they have been tested and approved for use on the FirstNet communications platform. [See Panasonic media release] -- Posted Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Zebra launches Android-based MC9300 mobile computer
Zebra's MC9000 line of rugged pistol-grip scanner handhelds has been around for the better part of two decades, selling over 3 million units. The company has now released the latest version, the Android-based MC9300, with thoroughly updated technology, a choice of four scanning engines and five keypad layouts, as well as special "freezer" and intrinsically safe versions. [See description, analysis and specs of the Zebra MC9300] -- Posted Friday, April 19, 2019

Planzer deploys Panasonic TOUGHBOOK handhelds to improve scanning capabilities
Planzer, the Swiss logistics company, has equipped its drivers with 2,000 rugged Panasonic TOUGHBOOK handhelds for use in transportation of temperature-controlled pharmaceutical goods, as well as parcel and overnight delivery services. The company, with 59 locations in Switzerland and nine more internationally, chose Panasonic TOUGHBOOK handhelds for their durability and fast, ergonomic scanning capabilities. [See Panasonic media release] -- Posted Thursday, April 18, 2019

ProCustom Group (PCG) announces official release of their Ruggedized External Blu-Ray/DVD Drive
ProCustom Group (PCG) has announced the official release of their Ruggedized External Blu-Ray/DVD Drive. The MIL-DVD provides a rugged solution for reading and writing recordable media in the field. By isolating and sealing a high-quality multi-format DVD-R/W (P/N PCG-DVD-EXT-S) or Blu-ray (P/N PCG-BLU-EXT-S) transport mechanism in a rugged machined aluminum case protecting the drive from shock and vibration found in deployed conditions. [See ProCustom Group media release] -- Posted Friday, April 12, 2019

Elbit Systems U.S. subsidiary signs definitive agreement to acquire Harris Night Vision business
Elbit Systems Ltd. announced today that its U.S. subsidiary, Elbit Systems of America, LLC ("Elbit Systems of America"), has signed a definitive agreement with Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS) ("Harris") for the acquisition of Harris' Night Vision business ("Harris Night Vision") for a purchase price of $350 million. [See Elbit Systems media release] -- Posted Friday, April 5, 2019

Juniper Systems explains: What is GPS Week Rollover?
The hard fact that the future will inevitably happen is sometimes ignored by programmers and data architects. That happened when the original designers of the Global Positioning System allocated just a miserly 10 bits of data for telling time, which meant that GPS time resets to every 1,024 weeks. That is not a good thing and must be accommodated in GNSS hardware and software. Juniper Systems explains in its Get Rugged Blog what the GPS Week Rollover is, and why it does not affects Juniper's products. [See What is GPS Week Rollover?] -- Posted Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Winmate launches Android version of its FM10 vehicle mount PC
While the majority of rugged vehicle mount tablets have been Windows-based, Android is coming on strong in that segment as well. Winmate just launched the FM10Q, a Qualcomm Snapdragon-based version of its 10.4-inch VMC that runs Android 8.1. The FM10Q has a magnesium housing, is IP65-sealed, and offers a 1000 nit high-bright display. [See Winmate's FM10Q Android VMC] -- Posted Thursday, March 28, 2019

JLT Mobile Computers First to Sign Five-Year Navis Ready Agreement
JLT Mobile, a leading developer and manufacturer of reliable computers for demanding environments, today announced the signing of a long-term partnership with the Navis Ready Program. This makes JLT the first hardware provider to ensure that all its rugged computers for the port segment will be validated for use with major upcoming Navis N4 Terminal Operating System (TOS) releases for the next five years. [See JLT Mobile media release] -- Posted Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Zebra Study: Seven in ten enterprises cite E-commerce driving need for faster field operations
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, today announced the results of its latest vision study on the Future of Field Operations. The study reveals mobile technology investment is a top priority for 36% of organizations and a growing priority for an additional 58% to keep up with rapidly evolving and increasing customer demand. The findings indicate investments will be made in disruptive technologies and enterprise mobile devices to enhance front-line worker productivity and customer satisfaction in field operations including fleet management, field services, proof of delivery and direct store delivery workflows. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Thursday, March 21, 2019

Honeywell: The Benefits of a Unified Platform for Mobile Computing
Honeywell's latest newsletter announces a whitepaper entitled "The Benefits of a Unified Platform for Mobile Computing: 4 Reasons to Use Mobility Edge for Your Device Deployments." Honeywell also says it currently is the only manufacturer committed to delivering Android R support. You have to supply your name and email to be able to download the white paper, but it may be worth it. [See Honeywell newsletter] -- Posted Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Analysis: Dell's 2019 rugged notebooks
Late 2018, Dell introduced successors to both its semi-rugged and fully rugged 14-inch laptops. The new machines are the Latitude 5420 and 5424 Rugged on the semi-rugged side, and the Latitude 7424 Rugged Extreme at the fully rugged end. RuggedPCReview is providing an overview of all three new machines, including comparisons, a brief discussion of each model, and benchmark performance testing. [See a detailed overview of Dell's 2019 rugged laptops] -- Posted Thursday, March 14, 2019

Trimble's dynamic 2019 lineup of rugged handhelds and tablets
Trimble's Mobile Computing Solutions Division has been busy as of late, adding three major new field productivity handhelds and tablets over the last few months. The 7-inch Yuma 7 brings Windows 10 performance into the field, the Ranger 7 does the same in an innovative form factor with keyboard handle, and the Nomad 5 handheld brings Android to the party. All three can accommodate Trimble's EMPOWER expansion and customization modules. [See a detailed overview of Trimble's 2019 lineup] -- Posted Tuesday, March 5, 2019

The advent of 1TB microSD cards
When the original IBM PC XT arrived in 1983, customers were blown away by its cavernous 10megabyte hard drive. It eliminated the need for cartons full of floppy disks and rang in a new era of personal computing. Well, Western Digital's SanDisk and Micron just announced 1TB microSD cards. That's 100,000 times as much storage as that old PC XT had, on a card the size of a fingernail. SanDisk's 1TB card will initially cost US$449, but prices will likely fall quickly. -- Posted Monday, February 25, 2019

Panasonic: Solving real world problems with mobile thermal imaging
Panasonic's Rugged Mobility for Business blog posted an interesting article on the emerging uses of mobile thermal imaging. These include finding heat loss or escalation, taking no-contact measurements, and recording photo documentation. Panasonic's article also looks into easier inspection of hidden electrical systems and components, more proactive mechanical inspections, and safer and faster law enforcement interventions. As is, Panasonic's FZ-G1 tablet can be equipped with an integrated FLIR infrared camera, saving the cost of a dedicated thermal gun. [See Panasonic blog Solving real world problems with mobile thermal imaging] -- Posted Monday, February 25, 2019

Janam delivers 40% decrease in water meter reading time
Janam Technologies LLC, a leading provider of rugged mobile computers that scan barcodes and communicate wirelessly, announced today that Stone Oak Property Owners Association (POA) is using XT2 rugged mobile computers from Janam to improve its water meter reading processes. Decision makers at Stone Oak POA selected Janam's XT2 because of its compact size, rugged design and superior barcode scanning technology. [See Janam media release] -- Posted Thursday, February 21, 2019

Full review: DURABOOK S14I
With the S14I semi-rugged laptop, Durabook Americas presents a thoroughly modern tool for customers who require high-performance computing power out there in the field, in vehicles, on the shop floor, or wherever else a tablet or a handheld just won't do. It's an attractive, businesslike machine with a very bright, reflection-free 14-inch wide-format display, good connectivity, excellent battery life, and superior performance, everything that's needed to make the DURABOOK S14I a very strong offering in the hotly contested market of semi-rugged laptops. [See full review of the DURABOOK S14I] -- Posted Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Zebra announces Q4 and full-year 2018 financials
Zebra Technologies announced net sales of $1,137 million in Q4 2018 compared to $1,026 million in Q4 2017. Net income for Q4 2018 was $115 million, compared to $4 million for Q4 2017. Full year 2018 sales were $4.218 billion compared to $3.722 billion in 2017. Net income for 2018 was $421 million, compared with a net income of $17 million in 2017. Net sales in the Enterprise Visibility & Mobility ("EVM") segment (formerly Enterprise segment) were $770 million in Q4 2018 compared with $675 million in the Q4 2017. Asset Intelligence & Tracking ("AIT") segment (formerly Legacy Zebra segment) net sales were $367 million in Q4 of 2018 compared to $351 million in the prior year period. The company expects full-year 2019 net sales to increase approximately 4% to 7% from 2018. This expectation includes an approximately 1 percentage point positive impact from the acquisition of Xplore Technologies. [See Zebra Q4 2018 financials] -- Posted Thursday, February 14, 2019

Added: DT Research DT340T rugged 14-inch tablet for demanding mobile and in-vehicle operation
The primary purpose of tablets is to bring everything you can do on a smartphone to a bigger screen, and do so while still being reasonably light and handy. That's why most tablets have screens in the 10-inch range. But what if you need a bigger screen and more power? That's what DT Research made their big, high-performance 14-inch DT340T tablet for. [See description, analysis and specs of the DT Research DT340T] -- Posted Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Iridium declares victory; $3 billion satellite constellation upgrade complete
Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) today hailed the completion of its $3 billion satellite constellation upgrade campaign known as Iridium® NEXT, during a press conference held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. During the press conference, the company also used the opportunity to introduce a new small-form-factor transceiver known as the Iridium CertusSM 9770, which will enable creation of new consumer and industrial applications that are highly portable and IoT-friendly, optimized for small size and low cost, yet with higher speeds than in the past thanks to the upgraded Iridium satellite network. [See Iridium media release] -- Posted Wednesday, February 6, 2019

What happend in rugged computing 10 years ago: February 2009
In February 2009, we reviewed the RMT Duros 1214 fixed-mount computer. Intermec was on a roll in Australia and Saudi Arabia with its CN3 handheld, and ended its fiscal year with no debt. Fujitsu published a paper on the many uses of capacitive touch (but also backed WiMAX over LTE). Lenovo designated eight ThinkPad laptops as "semi-rugged." Trimble introduced the 7-inch Yuma tablet and support the Iditarod with rugged Nomad and Yuma computers. General Dynamics moved its rugged business (née Itronix) from Spokane to Florida. Microsoft introduced Windows Mobile 6.5 and an app store. ARM announced Cortex-A9 multi processing on the Symbian OS mobile OS. HP began selling Getac rugged PCs. Dell updated its Latitude XT2 tablet with enhanced multi-touch. [See February 2009 rugged computing archives] -- Posted Monday, February 4, 2019

New: Datalogic Memor 1 general purpose touch device
Many jobs in assisted sales, on manufacturing shop floors, in backend receiving, in warehouse distribution and many more depend on reliable, effortless scanning. More often than not, such devices are big and bulky, but not the new Datalogic Memor 1. It's a light and handy Android touch device that comes in versions with or without a pistol-grip. It has integrated industrial-grade scanning, wireless charging, and is economically priced. [See description, analysis and specs of the Datalogic Memor 1] -- Posted Friday, February 1, 2019

Havis offers new docking solution for Getac K120 products
Not all rugged mobile computers are carried around on the job. Many are mounted on job sites, inside vehicles, on shop floors and in many other ways and settings. That's where Havis docking and mounting solutions come in. A recent entry in the excellent Havis blog highlighted the company's new docking solution for the Getac K120 12.5-inch rugged tablet. These docking stations offer computer charging, security and connection to peripherals for enterprise, medical and in-vehicle workplaces. [See Havis blog on Getac K120 docking solutions] -- Posted Wednesday, January 30, 2019

New: Datalogic Memor 10 enterprise smartphone/PDA
Consumer smartphones are designed to be as slender and glitzy as possible, which makes them fragile and unsuitable for serious enterprise use. Datalogic's new Memor 10, on the other hand, combines the technology and ease of use of a modern smartphone with the durability and functionality of a rugged handheld computer. And it has wireless charging, an available pistol-grip, and industrial-grade scanning. [See description, analysis and specs of the Datalogic Memor 10] -- Posted Monday, January 28, 2019

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

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

Police Scotland to deploy Motorola Solutions Pronto, a leading digital policing application developed in Scotland
Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI) has been awarded a three year contract to roll-out its Pronto digital policing application software to 10,000 officers across Scotland. The contract is part of a broader deal between Police Scotland and EE, part of BT Group, to deliver its National Mobile Working Solution. [See Motorola Solutions media release] -- Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2019

FLIR launches Scion Thermal Monocular for public safety professionals
FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) announced today the launch of the FLIR Scion Professional Thermal Monocular (PTM) for public safety professionals. The Scion PTM is powered by FLIR's high-performance Boson® thermal core for greater image quality and features connectivity with FLIR TruWITNESS® to allow real-time encrypted thermal video streaming to provide professionals with greater situational awareness. [See FLIR media release] -- Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2019

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

JLT Mobile Computers to showcase repair and maintenance services, portable rugged Android and Windows IT solutions at ProMAT
JLT Mobile Computers, a leading developer and manufacturer of reliable computers for demanding environments — and renowned for its high-level of support and flexibility in addressing customer challenges — will be presenting end-to-end rugged mobile IT solutions for the manufacturing and supply chain industry at ProMAT 2019, Booth S4273. Visitors to the JLT Booth S4273 will be able to see the latest Android and Windows rugged tablets and handheld computers, get introduced to the new JLT RepairEngine online maintenance management tool, and learn about JLT's expanded repair services, which now include third-party products from most manufacturers, including Honeywell, Zebra, LXE and Intermec. [See JLT Mobile media release] -- Posted Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Janam unveils RFID sled for XT2 Series of rugged touch computers
Janam Technologies LLC, a leading provider of rugged mobile computers that scan barcodes and communicate wirelessly, today announced the availability of a high-performance UHF RFID sled for its XT2 series of rugged touch computers. With industry-leading read range, Janam's newest mobile computing accessory instantly transforms the XT2 and XT2+ into lightweight, rugged, handheld RFID readers. [See Janam media release] -- Posted Tuesday, January 15, 2019

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

Speed Demon Top 10: Rugged Tablets
By and large, performance matters in computers as much as it does in vehicles and a lot of other machinery and items we use in our daily lives. Performance, of course, isn't everything. Unless you're a race car driver and need so and so much performance to be competitive, the extra cost of the highest possible performance is a luxury rather than a necessity. What it boils down to is getting as much performance as is needed. That said, we love performance and so we're listing the "speed demons" among the rugged tablets we've tested over the past several years. Gold, Silver and Bronze galore. [See 2018 Speed Demon Top 10: Rugged Tablets] -- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2018

MobileDemand: Rugged tablets in the cold
MobileDemand points out in its always informative blog that with winter upon us, ice and snow won’t be the only thing that may pose a problem. If you work out in the field, consumer grade technology won’t last long in the frigid environment. They’re designed for use in stable, indoor climates. So how do you prepare for the winter months ahead? With specialized technology. Most consumer grade tablets have a limited operating temperature between 32°F (0°C) and 95°F (35°C). While this may seem like an impressive range, very few environments maintain these temperatures year-round without some form of climate control. Depending how far north you travel, temperatures can fall as low as -45°F (-42.78°C) or lower. [See Rugged tablets in the cold] -- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2018

VDC: Watch out, Windows: Android is making serious waves in the enterprise tablet market
In its latest report, VDC Research says that, already the dominant force in the consumer-grade mobile OS arena, Android is now steadily encroaching on Windows’ turf as a viable OS for fully rugged tablet solutions. Security concerns have been mollified by robust improvements. EMM vendors have built support capabilities for Android deployments, no longer forcing enterprises into a Windows box. And with lower cost tablets to boot, Android is giving Windows a run for its money.VDC's latest report, The Global Market for Enterprise Tablets, examines the opportunity for rugged and non-rugged slate tablets and 2-in-1 detachable devices supporting enterprise workflows. Key trends around OS, display size, cellular connectivity, form factor, target market and application are covered. [See VDC Executive Brief] -- Posted Friday, December 21, 2018

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 Wednesday, December 5, 2018

What happend in rugged computing 10 years ago: December 2008
In December 2008, we reported that Trimble had added the powerful Juno SB and SC handhelds with integrated GPS, Two Technologies had introduced the Safari handheld, Sonim partnered with Land Rover to make rugged phones, and DRS had received a $531 million Army contract extension for rugged systems. We reviewed the Handheld M3 Mobile, took a GD-Itronix MR1 rugged UMPC on a maritime dive expedition in Honduras, ran case studies on rugged mobile printers in mining operations and the use of rugged digital video systems on police motorcycles, announced that Toshiba was first in offering 512GB SSDs, and discussed the importance of being able to lock USB ports on compromised computers. [See what happened in rugged computing five years ago in October 2008] -- Posted Monday, December 3, 2018

Zebra on the Xplore Technologies acquisition
After Xplore Technologies, one of the very pioneers of rugged tablets that had toughed it out for many often difficult years, was suddenly acquired by Zebra, there were a lot of questions and concerns. In a blog entry entitled "Integrity drives our business growth," Zebra explains its reasonings and plans. [See blog entry] -- Posted Thursday, November 29, 2018

How bright is your screen? (Lumens, Nits and Watts)
Handheld Group's Rugged Informer blog ran RuggedPCReview.com Editor-in-Chief Conrad Blickenstorfer's contributing article "How bright is your screen? (Lumens, Nits and Watts)." In it, Blickenstorfer explained the importance of screen brightness to productively using a rugged handheld, tablet or laptop outdoors. He explained technical terminology — watts, lumens, lux, etc. — and the concept of luminance, which is generally measured in "nits," and called for all rugged mobile computing specs to include luminance ratings. [See "How bright is your screen? (Lumens, Nits and Watts)"] -- Posted Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Added: Panasonic Toughbook 31 Mk6
The Panasonic Toughbook 31 is definitely a classic. Not only is it the original Toughbook that eventually spawned all the other Toughbooks and Toughpads, but it is also a design that has hardly changed at all in over two decades. This workhorse is for those who value a tough laptop that works with pretty much every Toughbook accessory and dock ever made and runs the same old custom software that has gotten the job done for years and years. And the Toughbook 31 now has the latest tech under the hood. [See RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the Panasonic Toughbook 31 Mk6] -- Posted Monday, November 12, 2018

Gearing up for the coming logistics revolution
The ground is shifting in the logistics arena, and lucrative new markets are opening up. As in any revolution, there will be both big winners and big losers. Wholly new ideas, and rapidly changing concepts, such as the IoT, AI, big data, robotics, and drones, are driving amazing new applications that are creating these new markets today. Innovation such as blockchain and cryptocurrencies could fundamentally undermine traditional business models, disintermediating entire market segments and leaving many long-established organizations without a role to play. This article, contributed by RuggON Corporation, examines key applications and technologies, together with product strategy concepts that can help you navigate the evolving world of logistics today and well into the future. [Read Gearing up for the coming logistics revolution] -- Posted Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Enhanced TOUGHBOOK 31 device meets evolving needs of today's mobile workers in the federal, utilities and public sector industries
Panasonic, announced the U.S. launch of its newly upgraded TOUGHBOOK 31 laptop computer. Specifically designed for the mobile workforce, which has relied on the TOUGHBOOK brand for two decades, the TOUGHBOOK 31 offers improved safety and functionality to optimize productivity for workers in challenging and extreme environments. Upgraded with the latest Intel Core i5-7300U vPro processor, the TOUGHBOOK 31 is more powerful than ever before, offering peak performance, enhanced graphics, standard features such as faster 16 GB DDR4 memory and a 256GB SSD, an advanced LTE module, in addition to several additional new improvements. [See Panasonic media release] -- Posted Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Military contractor case study shows value of Durabook semi-rugged devices in extreme environments
Durabook Americas, Inc., the North American subsidiary of Twinhead International Corporation, today announced the release of a new case study focused on the use of a semi-rugged Durabook computer by a military contractor. The contractor needed to find a laptop that would be able to withstand the extreme environmental conditions he was scheduled to face in Afghanistan and the Middle East, including sand and snowstorms, severe temperatures, and heavy rain. After careful reviews of available rugged devices, a Durabook semi-rugged laptop was selected for its offer value and ability to work reliably in demanding conditions. [See Durabook Americas media release and read the full case study at http://bit.ly/Durabook-Contractor -- Posted Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Future technologies and the impact on mobile workforces and their devices
Big Data, the Internet of Things (IoT) and sensors will be the technology trends most impacting mobile workforces over the next 12 months, say mobile technology buyers in the latest research from Panasonic. When asked to rate the importance of technology trends for use by their mobile workforce, buyers rated Big Data (52%) the most important, closely followed by IoT (51%) and Sensor technologies (41%), including atmosphere, temperature and biological sensors. The main drivers for the technologies were improved business efficiency and productivity. [See Panasonic media release] -- Posted Tuesday, November 6, 2018

FirstNet Momentum: More than 3,600 public safety agencies subscribed
More than 3,600 Public Safety Agencies SubscribedMore than 3,600 public safety agencies across the country have now joined FirstNet. That's a nearly 50% increase in the number of agencies subscribing to the nationwide public safety communications platform in less than 2 months. With more than 250,000 connections on FirstNet, first responders from federal, state, local and tribal public safety agencies continue to turn to FirstNet for the communications capabilities they need, especially during emergencies and large events. [See FirstNet media release] -- Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Dell introduces powerful new semi-rugged and rugged laptops
Dell has introduced their new line of 14-inch semi-rugged and fully rugged laptops. The new line — which will replace the previous 14 Rugged and 14 Rugged Extreme models — includes the semi-rugged 4.9-pound Latitude 5420 Rugged, the 5.5-pound Latitude 5424 with media bay and extra expansion, and the fully rugged Latitude 7424 Rugged Extreme. All models are available with Intel 6th, 7th, and 8th generation Core processors, all come with Full HD displays, and all are available with fast PCIe NVMe drives, and all can accommodate over 100 watt-hours of battery power. [See RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged, the Dell Latitude 5424 Rugged, and the Dell Latitude 7424 Rugged Extreme] -- Posted Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Juniper Systems: 7 questions about phone batteries answered by an electrical engineer
Everything mobile runs on batteries, which means batteries become ever more important. But what do we really know about batteries? In a recent blog, Juniper Systems electronics engineering manager Eldon Peterson answered some of your burning questions about, yes, phone and mobile device batteries. [See 7 questions about phone batteries answered by an electrical engineer] -- Posted Monday, October 22, 2018

Juniper System launches attachable keyboard for the Mesa 2 Rugged Tablet
Sometimes a physical keyboard works better than touch-typing on a tablet. There are some tablets with integrated physical keyboards, but that either makes the tablet larger or the screen smaller. Which may or may not be an issue. Juniper Systems offers an alternate solution with its new 54-key snap-on keyboard for their rugged Mesa 2 tablet. No tools needed. See how it works at "The Mesa 2 Rugged Tablet Attachable Keyboard is here or watch the video that shows how it works. -- Posted Thursday, October 18, 2018

Review: Bak USA's rugged 8-inch Seal Windows tablet
There's a new kid on the rugged tablet block. It's Bak USA, a company that describes itself as a "social enterprise that builds computers." And they do it in the US, in Buffalo. RuggedPCReview examined and benchmarked the 8-inch, Intel x7-Z8700-powered, IP65-sealed Bak USA Seal Windows tablet that starts at US$699. It's for real. [See review of the Bak USA Rugged Seal Tablet] -- Posted Monday, October 15, 2018

Panasonic Toughbook hits the road to educate customers as they prepare for FirstNet
Today, the Panasonic Toughbook Truck begins its journey to support first responders' transition to FirstNet, the nationwide public safety communications platform dedicated to America's public safety community. The 40-foot Toughbook Truck is designed and outfitted to offer an educational, immersive mobile experience across the U.S. in partnership with AT&T and Sierra Wireless. For a complete list of cities and dates, visit ToughbookFirstResponder.com. -- Posted Monday, October 1, 2018

How does SBAS improve GPS?
In its Get Rugged blog, Juniper Systems explains what SBAS is — a regional network of ground and satellite technologies that work together to boost the accuracy and dependability of GPS data. The increased accuracy is critical for aviation and is widely used by the geospatial industry. Author Jackson Murphy explains how SBAS works, where there is SBA coverage, what SBAS systems are under development, and where to download SBAS coverage maps. [See Juniper System's How does SBAS improve GPS?] -- Posted Monday, October 1, 2018

Zebra Technologies unveils next evolution of enterprise mobile touch computing solutions
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, today unveiled the next generation of enterprise-class handheld mobile touch computers designed to help retail, manufacturing and transportation and logistics companies empower their front-line workers to deliver a superior level of customer service and satisfaction. These new models add to Zebra's industry-leading portfolio of Android-based, enterprise-class mobility solutions available to customers and to Zebra's PartnerConnect community. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Thursday, September 27, 2018

Getac announces 12.5-inch rugged tablet with detachable keyboard option
Getac introduced the K120, a fully rugged 12.5-inch tablet designed to meet the challenges faced by public safety personnel around the world, but suitable for numerous other demanding applications. Implemented as a "detachable laptop," the K120 can be used either as a tablet or in conjunction with an optional value-added keyboard dock that allows use as a full-function laptop. The K140 further shines with an all quad-core 8th generation Intel Core processor lineup of available CPUs. [See RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the Getac K120] -- Posted Wednesday, September 19, 2018

DT Research designs 7-inch multifunctional rugged tablets that deliver unparalleled versatility
DT Research, the leading designer and manufacturer of purpose-built computing solutions for vertical markets, today announced the DT372AP and DT370CR rugged tablets, which have been precision designed to serve the needs of a myriad of users across an organization. DT Research tapped into decades of experience within construction, field services, government, healthcare, hospitality, logistics, manufacturing, military, transportation and warehousing to design a sleek, military-grade tablet with a 7-inch sunlight-readable display that is high performance, yet energy-efficient and includes robust information capture and wireless communications for seamless indoor-outdoor workflow. [See DT Research media release] -- Posted Monday, September 17, 2018

Janam boosts workforce productivity with new Android-based rugged mobile computer
Janam Technologies LLC, a leading provider of rugged mobile computers that scan barcodes and communicate wirelessly, today introduced its newest and most technologically advanced addition to its XG series of gun-shaped, rugged mobile computers. The XG200 features industry-leading design, delivers superior barcode scanning technology and enables peak performance in the most demanding work environments. [See Janam press release] -- Posted Thursday, September 13, 2018

Honeywell mobile computers validated for Google-led Android Enterprise Recommended program
Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced that three of its rugged mobile computers used by distribution center, logistics, delivery and retail workers have been validated for the Google-led Android Enterprise Recommended program, which helps businesses select the right devices to meet their needs. Inclusion in the program demonstrates that Honeywell's mobile computers meet strict technical specifications and extended lifecycle support requirements. Devices in the program provide customers with easy enrollment options, timely software and security updates, business-ready hardware features and support for multiple versions of the Android operating system. [See Honeywell media release] -- Posted Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Xplore rugged tablets enable MH Equipment's migration to fully paperless sales, service operations
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, announced that MH Equipment has successfully transitioned to a fully paperless operation using a rugged tablet-based mobility solution from Xplore Technologies, which was recently acquired by Zebra, and TPI, a Platinum Xplore Partner. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Waterproof, dustproof: Mobile device IP ratings, explained
In its latest Get Rugged blog entry, Juniper Systems discusses ingress protection rating, i.e. the system that condenses a device's resistance to dust and water into a simple 4-digit code. The article represents a great summary Q&A, including how, exactly, IP68 differs from IP67. [See Juniper's Waterproof, dustproof: Mobile device IP ratings, explained] -- Posted Thursday, August 23, 2018

Getac Technology first half 2018 sales up, buoyed by rugged PCs
According to DigiTimes, Getac Technology is optimistic about its performance in the second half of 2018, and expects to post a double-digit revenue growth for the whole year thanks to brisk demand for rugged PCs and automotive components, according to company chairman James Hwang. Getac had consolidated revenues of US$370 million for the first half of 2018, up 11.45% on year. In the first half of 2018, the ratio of revenues from sales of rugged computers surged to 48% from 42% in 2017, serving as a major revenue growth driver for the period. [See DigiTimes news] -- Posted Monday, August 20, 2018

Added: Panasonic Toughbook FZ-M1
Panasonic's compact and handy 7-inch Toughpad FZ-M1 has been around for a while. It's a tried-and-true design. Between that and Panasonic's frequent updates to the M1, the tablet remains fresh and relevant. The latest upgrades enhanced tech, changed the name to Toughbook, and made the M1 available in several application-specific models, including versions with depth and thermal cameras. [See description, analysis and specs of the Panasonic Toughbook FZ-M1] -- Posted Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Enhanced Panasonic FZ-G1 and FZ-M1 tablets deliver customized choices for evolving needs of mobile workers in demanding and extreme environments
Panasonic, an industry leading manufacturer of mobile computing solutions that are purpose-built for the way people work, announce the launch of the latest version of its acclaimed FZ-G1 and FZ-M1 tablets. These fully-rugged tablets are both leaders in their categories: the FZ-G1 remains one of the world's bestselling 10.1" tablet and the FZ-M1 is one of the lightest and thinnest in its class at just 1.27 pounds. [See Panasonic media release] -- Posted Thursday, August 2, 2018

First look: Panasonic Toughbook FZ-T1
On July 25, 2018, Panasonic announced the Toughbook FZ-T1, a rugged, elegant 5-inch Android v8.1-based combination of smartphone and handheld computer to further expand the company's lineup of rugged, durable devices for mobile workforces in a wide range of roles and industries, including retail and hospitality, manufacturing, transportation and logistics. IP68-sealed and able to handle 5-foot drops, the Toughbook T1 offers industrial-grade scanning and comprehensive onboard communication. [See description, analysis and specs of the Panasonic Toughbook T1] -- Posted Thursday, July 26, 2018

First look: Panasonic Toughbook FZ-L1
On July 25, 2018, Panasonic announced the Toughbook FZ-L1, a slim and sleek 7-inch Android v8.1-based tablet designed for data collection in retail stores, warehouses field service, transportation and delivery or many other environments where a fragile consumer tablet just won't do. Weighing less than a pound, the IP67-sealed Toughbook L1 includes an integrated barcode reader that is field-configurable for landscape or portrait modes. [See description, analysis and specs of the Panasonic Toughbook L1] -- Posted Thursday, July 26, 2018

Rugged and refined Toughbook N1 delivers the power and tools that workers demand
Panasonic, an industry leader in mobile computing solutions that are purpose-built for the way people work, today announced a major update to its popular and acclaimed Toughbook N1 rugged handheld device. The latest 4.7-inch device has been refined to meet the challenges of today's workplaces, with hardware and features designed to make capturing, sharing and analyzing data faster and easier than ever. [See Panasonic press release]
-- Posted Tuesday, July 24, 2018

A closer look at Panasonic's updated Android Oreo-based Toughbook FZ-N1 handheld
Panasonic originally launched the Android-based 4.7-inch Toughpad FZ-N1 early 2016, together with a Windows 10 IoT Mobile Enterprise-based sibling, the Toughpad FZ-F1. The Android version went on to be very popular, whereas with Microsoft's withdrawal from the mobile space, the FZ-F1 is now gone. To prove its commitment to the handheld space, Panasonic has upgraded the FZ-N1, now under the Toughbook brand, with a faster processor, enhanced electronics, more memory and storage, and various refinements. RuggedPCReview takes a first look at Panasonic's updated Toughbook handheld. [See description, analysis and specs of the Panasonic Toughbook FZ-N1] -- Posted Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Full review: Winmate M101BK tablet/vehicle-mount hybrid with integrated keyboard
The Winmate M101BK is not your typical tablet. It's a Windows 10 tablet with an integrated physical keyboard, one large enough to be actually useful. It has ten function keys. It's also a vehicle-mount computer that's light and handy enough to be used as a standalone tablet, with enough battery to power it through extended data collection and other tasks. [See full review of the Winmate M101BK -- Posted Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Winmate and JLT Mobile Computers to co-host InfoAG Conference
Winmate will be co-exhibiting at the InfoAG Conference with JLT Mobile Computers, a key partner that specializes in providing rugged wireless computers and IT solutions to the agriculture industry. The conference, titled “The Premier Event in Precision Agriculture,” taking place July 17-19 at Union Station in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, has been the premier event for the discussion and advancement of precision agriculture, drawing interest from agriculture professionals globally. [See InfoAG Conference and to register] -- Posted Monday, July 16, 2018

Case study: Panasonic's partnership with the grants office helps Colorado first responders
Two small cities in Colorado, Canon and Trinidad, were looking to implement mobile technology for their first responder network. However, like many small public sector agencies, they were worried about having room in their budgets for these much needed new mobile computers. But working with Panasonic enabled them to discover new avenues for funding that they didn’t know were available to them. [See Panasonic's partnership with the grants office helps Colorado first responders] -- Posted Friday, July 13, 2018

Juniper Systems donates $88k worth of data collection devices to Utah State University's College of Natural Resources
Since the beginning, Juniper Systems has put an importance on education, conserving natural resources, and serving the community. By donating 25 Mesa 2 Rugged Tablets, 6 Geode Sub-meter GPS Receivers, and all the appropriate accessories to Utah State University’s Quinney College of Natural Resources, we strive to continue this focus. These data collection tools will be used to educate undergraduate students on the basics of modern GIS and field data collection and to support graduate student and professor field research projects around the world. [See Juniper Systems donates $88k worth of data collection devices to Utah State University's College of Natural Resources] -- Posted Thursday, July 5, 2018

Full review: RuggON Rextorm PX501
Now in its 3rd generation, RuggON Corporation's Rextorm PX501 has always been one of the toughest, most polished rugged tablets available. Designed as a general purpose rugged tablet, the PX501 can be used for a vast variety of applications. Its sharp and bright 10.1-inch display makes it especially suitable for graphics-intense mapping and positioning deployments where precision and minute details matter. The powerful Intel "Kaby Lake" processor makes for excellent performance and very good battery life. A very compelling rugged tablet solution that convinces on every level. [See full review of the RuggON Rextorm PX501] -- Posted Thursday, July 5, 2018

Zebra Technologies to acquire Xplore Technologies
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), and Xplore Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: XPLR) today announced that their boards of directors have approved a definitive agreement in which Zebra will acquire all outstanding common stock of Xplore for $6.00 per share in cash. Under the terms of the agreement, Zebra plans to effect the acquisition via a tender offer. [See Zebra press release] -- Posted Thursday, July 5, 2018

Xplore Technologies reports fiscal 2017 financials, announces acquisition by Zebra
Xplore Technologies reported financials for all of their fiscal 2018 that ended ended March 31, 2018. For the entire fiscal year 2018, Xplore reported revenues of US$86.9 million, up 11.6% from US$77.9 million for fiscal 2017. There was net profit of US$0.3 million for the full year, compared with a net loss of US$2.6 million in 2017. Xplore reported revenue of $20.3 million for fiscal Q4, 2018, up 20% from the $16.9 million in the year-ago fourth quarter. CEO Tom Wilkinson stated: “Our success as the #2 global provider of rugged tablets and strong growth outlook earned the notice of Zebra Technologies, the global leader in rugged mobile computers, barcode scanners and barcode printers. This morning we announced an agreement to be acquired by Zebra for $6.00 per share." [See Xplore fiscal 2018 financials] -- Posted Thursday, July 5, 2018

Case Study highlights how OEM-level diagnostic solutions provider partnered with ruggedized computer manufacturer resulting in valuable service bay tool
Durabook Americas, Inc., the North American subsidiary of Twinhead International Corporation, announced today the release of a new case study outlining the unique and flexible relationship AE Tools and Durabook Americas have established, resulting in the marriage of AE Tools' OEM-level diagnostics solution and Durabook's SA14 semi-rugged laptop. The combination of these two organizations, both known in their markets for quality, innovation, and commitment to their customers, means automotive aftermarket service centers have a world-class diagnostic solution they can rely on for years to come. The new case study can be downloaded at: http://bit.ly/Durabook-AETools [See Durabook Americas press release] -- Posted Friday, June 29, 2018

Full review: ARBOR Technology SCP Cube
Uninterruptible power supplies are crucial in today's world. And especially so with sensitive electronic systems. One problem is that the batteries in UPS systems are heavy, pose fire risks, have limited life cycles, and relatively narrow operating temperature ranges. An interesting option are supercapacitor-based systems such as ARBOR Technology's SCP Cube, a 2-in-1 supercapacitor power and environmental monitoring solution offers compelling alternative to battery-based systems in terms of safety, maintenance, longevity. [See full review of the ARBOR Technology SCP Cube] -- Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Honeywell's Dolphin CN80: Move to Android. Keep the keys.
Honeywell points out that with the various mobile Windows versions' end-of-life officially announced, it’s time to start thinking about transitioning to Android. To that extent, Honeywell offers the new Dolphin CN80, a thoroughly modern and ultra-rugged Android device with integrated industrial-grade scanning that's ready to tackle the transition to Android. With the help of integrated hardware keypads for those legacy apps still in use. Makes perfect sense. [See description, analysis and specs of the Honeywell Dolphin CN80] -- Posted Monday, June 25, 2018

Affordable, quick NVMe-based storage
Solid state disks (SSDs) have pretty much replaced hard disks in mobile technology, and especially in tablets. In rugged systems, the advantages of SSDs is huge. Much smaller, much tougher, much faster, and increasingly not much more expensive. So we see plenty of SATA SSDs in the products we test. What we don't see a lot of is NVMe-based SSDs that use a PCIe interface, usually in M.2 card form. Compared to SATA SSDs, PCIe-based SSDs are much faster, with 5-6 times the peak throughput. We'd love to see more rugged device manufacturers take advantage of that. Our friends at HotHardWare.com just did another informative review of NVMe-based storage that points out the advantages. [See Affordable, quick NVMe-based storage] -- Posted Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Full review: Xplore XSLATE L10 Rugged Tablet Platform
With the new XSLATE L10 platform Xplore Technologies evolved their latest rugged tablet into a comprehensive tablet ecosystem covering a wide range of performance and functionality demands. Available as a pure tablet (XSLATE L10), a version with hard handle and an optional integrated barcode reader (XPAD L10), and a 2-in-1 laptop replacement (XBOOK L10), the versatile platform is available with powerful quad-core 8th generation Intel Core processors as well as an entry-level Pentium processor. [See full review of the Xplore XSLATE L10] -- Posted Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Getac launches 7th generation of its rugged B300 laptop
Anyone in the market for a traditional, full-size rugged laptop computer rejoice: Getac has just upgraded its long-running, field-proven B300 to state-of-the-art processing and ancillary technology. Available with four different Intel 8th generation ("Coffee Lake") quad-core Core i5 and i7 processors, Getac offers very significant performance and efficiency upgrades to its workhorse rugged laptop that remains compatible with peripherals and mounts of every other B300 ever produced. [See description, analysis and specs of the Getac B300 Gen 7]. -- Posted Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Universal Stylus Initiative elects Board of Directors and adds Members to support adoption of Open Active Stylus Standard
The Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) elected eight member companies to its 2018 Board of Directors including representatives from Google, Hanvon, Intel, Lenovo, Solomon-Systech, Synaptics, Wacom and Waltop. "USI has a strong Board of Directors, an active and growing membership and the first and only open, non-proprietary active stylus specification," said Peter Mueller, chairman, USI. "Indications are that there will be released products based on the USI 1.0 Specification available this year. The industry adoption of USI will provide consumers with more stylus options, new capabilities and great performance across multiple classes of devices." [See USI press release] -- Posted Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Make IP67 the minimum standard for rugged handhelds
Few outside of the rugged computing and perhaps a few other sectors know what an "IP" rating means, or the specific significance of "IP67." Those inside those markets, however, cherish the designation for what it is — a degree of protection that brings peace of mind. If an electronic device is "IP67-sealed," that means neither dust nor water will get in. IP67 should be the minimum standard for any industrial handheld that may be used outdoors or near liquids. [Read RuggedPCReview.com EIC Conrad Blickenstorfer's "Make IP67 the minimum standard for rugged handhelds"] -- Posted Tuesday, June 5, 2018

The Google Chrome vs Android situation
SlashGear ran an article provocatively entitled "Tablets are dead, long live Chrome tablets!" in which the author argued that with Google's somewhat inexplicable lack of interest in Android on tablets, it'll only be a matter of time until Android is done on tablets and that "Chrome OS and Chromebooks are being groomed to do what Android tablets have not been able to in terms of productivity and usability." That may or may not be so, but it's indeed puzzling how Google essentially ignores Android on tablets. To this day, every Android rev acts as if it's on a phone and all device info is "About phone." So will Android tablets indeed become Chrome tablets? [See Tablets are dead, long live Chrome tablets!] -- Posted Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Mitsubishi Electric's Graphic Operation Terminal GOT2000 Series to add rugged model for use under extreme conditions
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) announced that its Graphic Operation Terminal GOT2000 Series, a type of human-machine-interface (HMI), would add a Rugged Model on May 30 to enable workers to monitor, operate and adjust machines that operate under extreme conditions, including very high temperatures, extra-bright lighting, strong vibrations or shock, and high water pressure. [See Mitsubishi press release] -- Posted Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Honeywell introduces future-proof Dolphin CT40 Android mobile computer with industrial-grade scanning
Honeywell continued fleshing out its line of enterprise-oriented Dolphin mobile computers with the introduction of the Dolphin CT40 on May 23, 2018. The new Android 7.1.1-based, Qualcomm Snapdragon 600-powered Dolphin CT40 was designed to be a one-stop device for retail store associates and other mobile workers that can handle everything from order picking at a distribution center to in-store merchandising to home delivery and more. [See description, analysis and specs of the Honeywell Dolphin CT40] -- Posted Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Added: Unitech PA730 5-inch rugged Android computer
The Unitech PA730 is an excellent solution for applications where consumer smartphones in a case just won't do. Sporting a super-sharp and very bright 5-inch screen with capacitive multi-touch, high resolution cameras, and excellent connectivity, the (Verizon-certified) Unitech PA730 also comes with battery hot-swapping, industrial-grade scanning, and ruggedness far beyond anything a consumer device can offer. [See description, analysis and specs of the Unitech PA730] -- Posted Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Added: Xplore Technologies M60 rugged Android handheld
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

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

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

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

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

Updated: Full review of ARBOR Gladius GT-500 and GT-500-V
ARBOR has updated their popular rugged 5-inch GT-500 Android handheld computer from Android 5.1 to Android 7.0 "Nougat." Android 7.0 improves device performance and operation in many ways, including optimized management of background processes, faster system updates, notifications overhaul, split-screen operation, power management. ARBOR also launched a special Verizon-approved version, the Gladius GT-500-V, which includes additional improvements. [See updated full review of ARBOR GT-500 and GT-500-V] -- Posted Monday, May 7, 2018

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

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

IDC: 334 million smartphones shipped Q1 2018
According to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, smartphone vendors shipped a total of 334.3 million units during the first quarter of 2018 (1Q18), resulting in a 2.9% decline when compared to the 344.4 million units shipped in the first quarter of 2017. Samsung was on top with 78.2 million, Apple second with 52.2 million, and then the Chinese trio of Huawei, Xiaomi and OPPO. For comparison, back in 2010, it was 55 million phones, with the ranking Nokia, RIM, Apple, HTC and Motorola. [See IDC release] -- Posted Wednesday, May 2, 2018

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

News managed by NewsPro.