November 2014
IDC: Worldwide tablet growth slows to 7.2% in 2014
According to IDC, worldwide tablet market growth slowed to 7.2% in 2014 as device lifecycles for tablets have continued to lengthen, increasingly resembling those of PCs more than smartphones. Of OS platforms, the worldwide marketshare in tablets and 2-in-1 devices saw Android in the lead with 67.7% (159.5 million devices), then Apple's iOS with 27.5% (65 million), and Windows with 10.9% (10.9 million). IDC expects Windows' marketshare to grow to 11.4% by 2018, at equal expense of Android and Apple. [See IDC press release] -- Posted Wednesday, November 26, 2014 by chb
Report: Tablets and the European Productivity Revolution
UK research company Dynamic Markets published the findings of a comprehensive studies of tablet use in European business in a beautifully illustrated report. The study, conducted on behalf of Panasonic Toughpad, found a strong belief that tablets are changing the way people work to make them more efficient and effective. However, respondents also voiced their design and functionality frustrations. Tablet manufacturers must continue to tailor their devices to the varying different needs of vertical industries, with hot swappable batteries, daylight viewable screens, more rugged tablets and the opportunity to include or attach a range of peripherals to the devices, such as cameras, scanners, bar code readers and payment options. [View Tablets and the European Productivity Revolution] -- Posted Tuesday, November 25, 2014 by chb
Full review: MobileDemand xTablet Flex 10
With their new xTablet Flex 10 10.1-inch tablet, MobileDemand breaks new ground by combining a modern, competent Intel Bay Trail-powered Windows 8.1 tablet with a specially designed and preinstalled case that provides very respectable ruggedness. The whole package, including the industrial-grade briefcase carrying handle and heavy duty handstrap costs less than an iPad Air 2! Yet, the 2.25 pound tablet's specs are impressive. Quad-core Z3770 CPU, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, 10-point capacitive multi-touch, and a 1920 x 1200 pixel IPS display. [See full review of the MobileDemand xTablet Flex 10] -- Posted Monday, November 24, 2014 by chb
MobileDemand announces 11.6-inch rugged xTablet T1600
MobileDemand announced the xTablet T1600, a rugged "thin & light" tablet with a large 11.6-inch 10-point capacitive multi-touch display, Intel "Haswell" U-Series Core i5 power, good onboard connectivity, optional 1D/2D scanner or HF RFID, as well as IP65 sealing and a 3-foot drop spec. Pricing starts at US$1,995. [See description, analysis and specs of the MobileDemand xTablet T1600] -- Posted Monday, November 17, 2014 by chb
Data Ltd introduces two Bay Trail-based rugged mobile POS multi-touch tablets for either Windows or Android
Data Ltd introduced the 8-inch DLI 8 and the 9.7-inch DLI 10 compact rugged tablets. Both are based on the 1.83GHz Intel "Bay Trail" N2930 processors, both offer capacitive multi-touch, and both can run either Android 4.4.4 (KitKat) or the full or embedded versions of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. While suitable for a variety of markets and applications, want sets these new DLI tablets apart is the availability of an add-on 5-in-1 module that adds RFID/NFC, MSR, scanning, smart card and pin pad for full-service mobile payment processing. [See description, analysis and specs of the Data Ltd DLI 8 and Data Ltd DLI 10] -- Posted Thursday, November 13, 2014 by chb
DTResearch releases GS Series of high-accuracy GNSS tablets
DT Research announced the addition of a new line of rugged tablets with GNSS modules for mapping applications. The GS Series includes the 9-inch DT391GS available with either a Hemisphere single or dual frequency sub-meter GNSS module, or a Trimble triple frequency centimeter module. Also available are the 7-inch DT307GS and the 9-inch DT395GS with uBlox 7P GNSS for Precise Point Positioning (see here). [See DT Research press release and lineup of GS-Series tablets] -- Posted Monday, November 10, 2014 by chb
Full review: Samwell RUGGEDBOOK PC-760
The Samwell RUGGEDBOOK PC-760, geared towards mobile point-of-sale and data collection applications, provides Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 functionality in a refreshingly unique rugged tablet form factor. Slender and weighing under three pounds, the Intel Bay Trail-powered PC-760 has a sharp and bright 10.1-inch touch screen with 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, capacitive multi-touch, and includes an industrial-grade 1D/2D scanner. Available options include bolt-on magnetic card and Smart Card readers, as well as HF RFID. [Read our full review of the Samwell RUGGEDBOOK PC-760] -- Posted Friday, November 7, 2014 by chb
MobileDemand opens online shop
It worked for Dell and Apple, so why not have a company store for rugged tablets? That's what MobileDemand thought when they decided to sell their latest thin-and-light xTablets in their own online store. The tablet shop allows anyone to purchase xTablet Flex 10 and xTablet Flex 8 tablets along with numerous accessories and replacements. Pricing starts at $595 and the checkout process is fast and secure. Visit MobileDemand's online shop. -- Posted Monday, November 3, 2014 by chb
Full review: ARBOR Gladius G0975 rugged Bay Trail tablet
RuggedPCReview tested the elegantly designed and Intel Bay Trail N2930-powered ARBOR Gladius G0975 tablet that provides full Windows functionality in a rugged tablet form factor. Intended for use in field service, transportation, mobile point of sale and logistics work and weighing just over two pounds, the Gladius is considerably lighter than most traditional full-size rugged tablets. Its bright 9.7-inch multi-touch screen with XGA resolution offers enough space to run Windows comfortably and even works with thin gloves. There is sufficient wired connectivity on board, as well as a wealth of wireless functionality. [See full review of the ARBOR Gladius G0975] -- Posted Monday, November 3, 2014 by chb