July 2010

Webinar: The New Motion J3500 Overview
On August 10, 2010, Motion Computing offers a free webinar explaining the features and benefits of the new Motion J3500 tablet computer. RuggedPCReview.com recently reviewed the Motion J3500 (see here) and came away more than impressed with the new machine's speed and amazingly useful dual-touch technology that combines iPad-style capacitive touch with the precision of a Wacom electromagnetic digitizer. Those in the market for a J3500 note: attend the webinar and get US$500 off a new Motion J3500! [Register] -- Posted Thursday, July 29, 2010 by chb

HP files "PalmPad" trademark application
Hewlett Packard has supposedly filed a trademark application for the term "PalmPad." There have, of course, been PalmPads before. The GRiD PalmPADs of the late 1980s and early 1990s were early tablet computers, and though GRiD was taken over by AST Research, which was then bought by Samsung, there is some lineage: Geoff Hawkins, who later launched Palm, was the driving force behind GRID's tablets. -- Posted Tuesday, July 20, 2010 by chb

Rapid growth predicted for tablets
According to an article in the Wall Street Journal and several other news sources, Barclay Capital predicted tablet unit sales of 15 million this year and almost 30 million in 2011, and that those sales will impact the netbook market. Barclay also suggested that strong tablet sales will benefit Google with its Android OS, companies that offer ARM-based processors, potentially HP with its newly acquired WebOS software technology, and, of course, Apple. Microsoft, on the other hand, may suffer a weakening of its long-held dominance in OS software, and Dell also may find the tablet market difficult. [See WSJ article] -- Posted Thursday, July 8, 2010 by chb

Intel's Classmate PC design to be sold as Toshiba CM1 in Japan
Intel's rugged convertible Intel Atom-based Classmate PC reference design, which we reported on back in April, will be jointly sold in Japan as the Toshiba branded CM1 by Intel and Toshiba. The Classmate platform offers up to 8.5 hours battery life, a user interface optimized for eReading applications, water-resistant keyboard, touchpad, improved ruggedness with drop test from desk height, bump and scratch resistance, and an optional anti-microbial keyboard. Toshiba and Intel plan on promoting the CM1 to elementary and junior high schools. -- Posted Friday, July 2, 2010 by chb