Tough, rugged and highly customizable 8-inch Android enterprise tablet.
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

On January 13, 2020, New York-based rugged mobile computing vendor Janam announced the Android 9 "Pie" based 8-inch Janam HT1 tablet computer. 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 appealing design, military-grade ruggedness and state-of-the-art technology.

While Janam is primarily known for its growing roster of enterprise handhelds, the company has been testing the tablet waters before. In 2014, Janam's XT1 5.9-inch explored the space between small tablets and the emerging class of ever larger smartphones. The HT1, however, is Janam's first foray into the true tablet space. It's 8-inch display is bigger than any smartphone (as of early 2020, smartphones maxed out at 6.5 inches) and the HT1 clearly sports a tablet design.

Take one look at the backside of the HT1 you there's no doubt that this is a serious tool for the job. There's the big, removable and hot-swappable battery. There are expansion pins for bolt-on modules. It has a 9.25 x 5.75 inch footprint that provides substantial bezel protection and makes the HT1 easy to hold and operate. Yet, the Janam HT1 is remarkably slender for a rugged tablet, just 0.7 inches.

So what we have here is a very intelligently designed device that offers substantial ruggedness, full tablet functionality, and exemplary ease of operation without the bulk, weight and cost of a traditional old-style rugged tablet.

Hardware