June 2017

Sometimes one just needs a big screen on the job, and that's why Getac introduced the A140 14-inch tablet. The super-bright display offers capacitive multi-touch and a hard tip capacitive stylus. Customers have an option of four Intel Skylake Core processors. There's plentiful onboard I/O and the A140 can be configured with integrated scanning, RFID, various security options, as well as custom interfaces. [See RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the Getac A140]

Panasonic Europe introduces 12-inch "business-rugged" Kaby Lake-powered 2-in-1 hybrid Toughbook XZ6
On and off, Panasonic brings some of its Japanese domestic market Let's Note notebooks to other parts of the world under the Toughbook brand. That's the case with the Toughbook XZ6, an impressive state-of-the-art 12-inch 2-in-1 hybrid. There's 2160 x 1440 resolution, an Intel "Kaby Lake" Core i5-7300U chip, optional active pen, full-scale mechanical keyboard, and exemplary connectivity. The XZ6 doesn't rival a real Toughbook in ruggedness, but it's a lot less expensive than a Toughbook 33 with which it shares many specs. [See RuggedPCReview description, analysis and specs of the Panasonic Toughbook XZ6 -- Posted Tuesday, June 27, 2017 by chb

MOBIL-INN picks ARBOR IoT-800 to equip Brittany waste management vehicles with iSmartCollect solution
Beautiful French Brittany works hard to preserve its beauty. That includes equipping a growing number of recycling and waste collection vehicles with Mobil-Inn's iSmartCollect solution that simplifies collection management, including seasonal variations, smart control, and circuit modifications, reducing operating costs via real-time maps sharing, human and material resource management, and route modification. On the hardware side, Mobil-Inn chose ARBOR Technology's IoT-800 Android terminal. [See ARBOR media release and RuggedPCReview's report on the ARBOR IoT-800] -- Posted Monday, June 26, 2017 by chb

9 Ways to Create and Maintain a Successful Business Partnership
Juniper Systems has one of the best and most active blogs in the rugged mobile computing market. In a new article, Juniper's marketing writer Sarah Keyes describes how building and maintaining business partnerships takes time, patience, and understanding. When maintained correctly, partnerships can act as one of the driving factors of success and revenue. The key is understanding how to keep the relationship healthy and flourishing, while implementing these understandings into day-to-day interactions. [See Juniper Systems' 9 Ways to Create and Maintain a Successful Business Partnership] -- Posted Friday, June 23, 2017 by chb

New screen coating makes reading in sunlight a lot easier
Screens on even the newest phones and tablets can be hard to read outside in bright sunlight. Inspired by the nanostructures found on moth eyes, researchers have developed a new antireflection film that could keep people from having to run to the shade to look at their mobile devices. The antireflection film exhibits a surface reflection of just .23 percent, much lower than the iPhone's surface reflection of 4.4 percent, for example. Reflection is the major reason it's difficult to read a phone screen in bright sunlight, as the strong light reflecting off the screen's surface washes out the display. [See press release and full article: "New Screen Coating Makes Reading in Sunlight a Lot Easier. The Secret? Moth Eyes -- Posted Friday, June 23, 2017 by chb

MyScript Launches Next-Generation MyScript Developer
MyScript, a pioneering market leader in accurate, high-performance handwriting recognition and digital ink management technology, announces the enhanced MyScript Developer portal. The completely redesigned platform better enables developers to build next-generation applications that leverage digital writing across all popular OS platforms. The enhanced developer program eliminates the cost of entry for developers and reduces application time-to-market. Developers experience no cost to gain access to MyScript’s digital writing technology and to test the applications prior to release. [See MyScript press release] -- Posted Tuesday, June 20, 2017 by chb

Xplore to lead $16M+ workforce mobilization project with major telecommunications provider
Xplore Technologies announced that it has received the first orders under a mobile workforce technology refresh agreement that is expected to exceed $16M over the next two years. The Construction & Engineering Group at the long-time Xplore customer, one of the largest telecommunications service providers in the United States, is standardizing on XSLATE B10 Fully Rugged Tablet PCs and accessories as the primary mobile computing platform for thousands of field-based professionals across the U.S. [See Xplore press release] -- Posted Tuesday, June 20, 2017 by chb

Full review: MobileDemand xTablet T1550 rugged Tablet PC
Ruggedness in mobile computers comes at a price, and that can keep customers away. That's why for some time now, MobileDemand has been offering a variety of economically priced rugged tablets. An example is the Intel Cherry Trail-powered 10.1-inch Windows 10-based xTablet T1550. RuggedPCReview examined the T1550, which starts at US$999, in detail and found much to like. Such as solid construction, good connectivity, useful productivity options (including industrial-grade scanning), a good display, and impressive ruggedness. [See full review of the MobileDemand xTablet T1550] -- Posted Thursday, June 15, 2017 by chb

Fire and EMS departments meet critical mobility needs with DURABOOK R11 rugged tablet
GammaTech Computer Corporation, the North American branch of Twinhead International Corporation, today highlighted recent sales to Fire and EMS departments across the United States. These public safety agencies are turning to the DURABOOK R11 rugged tablet as a cost-effective solution that addresses critical needs for performance, functionality, and reliability. Fire and EMS departments in North Carolina, Oregon, Minnesota, Colorado, Washington, Louisiana, South Carolina, and California recently purchased the DURABOOK rugged tablet. [See GammaTech press release] -- Posted Friday, June 9, 2017 by chb

DT Research unique 2-in-1 Medical Tablet Cart System delivers unmatched flexibility for Mobile Point-of-Care
DT Research, a leading designer and manufacturer of purpose-built computing solutions for vertical markets, announced the DT313-MD, a 13.3" medical tablet system mounted on a slim-line, lightweight cart. The purpose-built system offers maximum computing mobility in a variety of medical environments. Healthcare professionals can efficiently monitor, record and retrieve patient information with the anti-microbial DT313-MD tablet, which includes DT Research's signature hot-swappable battery pack to avoid downtime in time-critical situations. [See DT Research press release and RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the Medical Tablet Cart System] -- Posted Monday, June 5, 2017 by chb

Xplore reports fiscal 2017 financials
Xplore Technologies reported financials for all of their fiscal 2017 that ended ended March 31, 2016. For the entire fiscal year 2016, Xplore reported record revenues of US$77.9 million, down from US$100.5 million for fiscal 2016. There was net loss of US$2.6 million for the full year, compared with a net loss of US$0.36 million in 2016. Xplore reported revenue of $16.9 million for fiscal Q4, 2017, compared to $20.6 million in the year-ago fourth quarter. CEO Mark Holleran stated: “Fiscal 2017 was a transformative year for Xplore, characterized by fully integrating and refining the acquired Motion product lines, working through industry-wide disruptions that affected our first and fourth fiscal quarters, rebuilding of our sales team and a 21% reduction in full-year operating expenses. [See Xplore financials release] -- Posted Thursday, June 1, 2017 by chb