June 2016

Janam Technologies announced that Trunks & Leaves, a non-profit organization focused on the ecology and conservation of wild Asian elephants, is using the Android-powered XT1 rugged mini-tablet from Janam to more efficiently capture data about how human activities affect wild elephants in Sri Lanka. Janam’s XT1 allows Trunks & Leaves research biologists to work more efficiently – ultimately generating faster results and providing more time for additional data gathering and analysis. [See Janam media release]

Xplore reports record revenue for fiscal 2016
Xplore Technologies reported financials for all of their fiscal 2016 that ended ended March 31, 2016. For the entire fiscal year 2016, Xplore reported record revenues of US$100.5 million, up 136% from US$42.6 million for fiscal 2015. There was net loss of US$0.36 million for the full year, compared with a net loss of US$0.25 million in 2015, attributable in part to expensed integration costs related to the Motion acquisition. Note that fiscal 2016 revenue benefited from a significantly expanded product line, as well as new addressable markets and global sales capabilities through the Motion acquisition in April 2015. Xplore is now #2 in global rugged tablet marketshare. [See Xplore financials release] -- Posted Thursday, June 30, 2016

Zebra introduces comprehensive wearable computing solutions for enhanced warehouse worker productivity
Zebra Technologies introduced Total Wearable Solutions, a dedicated family of wearable technology components aimed at making hands-free, speech-directed scanning and picking more accurate, more comfortable, and more productive. Centered around the Android-based WT6000 wristmount industrial computer, the solution includes quick-connect headsets, a variety of ring-style 1D and 2D scanners, and dedicated software to pull it all together. [See Zebra news release and RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the Zebra WT6000] -- Posted Thursday, June 30, 2016

Logic Supply's World's grimiest PC contest
Look at what the ever-inventive folks at Logic Supply (the guys who make all those bright-orange industrial PCs) are doing now. They're giving away a CL100 Fanless Mini PC to the person who submits the best picture of their dusty, dirty, or otherwise gross computer and includes the hashtag #GoFanless. They want to highlight the benefits of fanless computing, and what better way than to show just how grimy fanned PCs can get. The contest is live now at www.logicsupply.com/go-fanless and runs until August 10th. [See how you can enter the contest] -- Posted Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Non-incendiary Juniper Mesa 2 for hazardous locations now available for purchase
Juniper Systems reports that their non-incendiary Mesa 2 Hazloc, designed for use in hazardous locations, is now available for purchase. Certified Class I, II, and III, Division 2, the Mesa 2 Hazloc can be used safely in areas where explosive gases, liquids, vapors, dusts, or fibers and flyings may be present. [See Juniper release] -- Posted Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Getac announces significantly enhanced 2nd generation of its compact, rugged 8.1-inch T800 tablet
Getac announced the next-generation Getac T800, an enhanced version of its compact IP65-sealed 8-inch tablet designed for one-handed operation. Now with an Intel "Cherry Trail" processor and a variety of tech improvements, the new version switches to a sunlight-readable IPS display with perfect viewing angles, hard-tip stylus, glove and wet modes, and beefed-up security. [See description, analysis and specs of the Getac T800 G2] -- Posted Tuesday, June 28, 2016

DigiTimes: Getac expects strong second half of year
According to DigiTimes, Getac Technology chairman James Hwang is optimistic about the second half of 2016. He expects the replacement trend in the enterprise sector brought by Windows 10 to be the main growth driver of Getac's revenues, in addition to developing solutions that include software, hardware and services, and the police surveillance cloud computing platform, Veretos that has already been adopted by police departments in South Carolina and Minnesota. -- Posted Friday, June 24, 2016

MEN launches dedicated Rail and Public Transport site
German MEN Mikro Elektronik announced it has launched a website specifically dedicated to rail and public transport technologies and solutions. MEN has been developing solutions for the railway market since the mid 1990s, having been certified to the IRIS railway quality management system in 2009. Their public transport product offering benefits from their core competencies such as robust and safe designs, modular concepts, and flexible FPGA architectures. [See MEN Rail and Public Transport site] -- Posted Thursday, June 23, 2016

AMREL partners with Airbus Defense and Space for easy access to geospatial data for GEOINT operations
AMREL announced it is partnering with Airbus Defense and Space to integrate GATOR (Geospatial Appliance Targeted for Operational Response) into a rugged one-box laptop solution called the GATOR Rugged Geospatial Laptop. In the most difficult and demanding areas of the world, this encapsulated geospatial server enables easy access to geospatial data even when the internet isn’t available. [See AMREL media release] -- Posted Thursday, June 23, 2016

Foxconn's strategy to get Sharp back on track
DigiTimes reports that at an investors' conference, Foxconn presented a plan on how to get Sharp back on track. That includes a) converting patents into actual products, b) taking a critical look at expensive joint ventures, and c) evaluate individual employees instead of just teams. -- Posted Thursday, June 23, 2016

Rugged Computing Case Studies: The Power to Save Lives — Handheld technology helps develop reliable electricity sources for healthcare in developing countries
Healthcare is essential to human survival. Access to trained practitioners, clean facilities, and vital medications and supplies makes the difference between life and death, especially in the developing world. But effective modern healthcare requires electricity. Without reliable power, the best doctors and clinics can be left helpless. Thanks to forward-thinking work from Great Lakes Energy and the powerful mobile technology of the rugged Handheld Algiz 7 tablet, rural healthcare clinics in Rwanda are helping create a model for efficient, dependable energy production that will save lives. [See case study] -- Posted Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Janam certifies Century Software
Janam Technologies, announced that it technically certified Century Software’s TinyTERM Enterprise mobile application access software for its Android-based XM5, XM70, XT1 and XT2 rugged mobile computing solutions. This validation helps ensure system interoperability between Janam’s Android-based rugged mobile computers and legacy host applications running on IBM and UNIX servers. [See Janam media relese -- Posted Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Quanmax releases OPS module-based multi-touch panels
Quanmax, a Taiwan-based embedded computing technology provider, announced their MoniQ Series of OPS-module-pluggable 10-point multi-touch flat panel monitors in 15, 17 and 19-inch versions. OPS (Open Pluggable Specification) is an Intel standard created to cost-effectively develop, deploy, manage, upgrade and maintain various size panel PC systems in digital signage and numerous other applications. [See Quanmax media release and MoniQ-1500/1700/1900 product page] -- Posted Monday, June 20, 2016

Case study: Stainless steel industrial PCs control and display processes in the production of flavors
Silesia Gerhard Hanke GmbH & Co. KG — a German-based producer of food flavors with subsidiaries in 18 countries — relies on dustproof and waterproof hardware that also has completely smooth surfaces without any gaps or joints to keep bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms from hiding and growing, and potentially spoil or damage the valuable flavors. They found it in the noax Steel Series line of rugged computers which, running SAP-based application software, are used for various operation and process visualization tasks. [See the noax Technologies case study Stainless steel industrial PCs control and display processes in the production of favors] -- Posted Monday, June 20, 2016

Xplore rugged tablets chosen as German premium automotive manufacturer’s primary mobility solution for 12+ years
Xplore Technologies reported it is celebrating its collaborative mobility achievements with one of Germany’s biggest premium automotive manufacturers. For more than 12 years, the automotive manufacturer has been placing continuous orders for Xplore rugged and ultra-rugged tablet PC solutions to mobilize multiple workflow applications within its factory and warehouse environments. Thousands of enterprise-ready Xplore XC6 series tablets (see our review) and Motion F5m by Xplore tablets (see our review) have taken the place of inefficient paper-based processes, delivering the future-proof flexibility and scalability the customer required of its mobility solution as manufacturing technology designs have evolved. [See Xplore media release] -- Posted Saturday, June 18, 2016

Winmate shows E500 rugged, modern, well-equipped, highly configurable 5-inch industrial Android PDA
For customers who need more than a smartphone in a case but less than a full-blown industrial handheld, Winmate introduced the E500RM8 industrial PDA. Featuring 1280 x 720 resolution on a 5-inch procap display, the E500 runs Android 5.1 on an octa-core ARM Cortex A53 processor, can be equipped with an industrial-grade scanner, fingerprint reader and Smart Card reader. [See description, analysis and specs of the Winmate E500RM8 industrial Android PDA] -- Posted Friday, June 17, 2016

ARBOR adds 8-inch IoT-800 compact panel PC
ARBOR Technology introduced the compact Android-powered IoT-800 with an 8-inch capacitive multi-touch screen for emerging Internet of Things projects as well as Point-of-Sale/Service deployments, retail, hospitality, and a myriad of other other projects that require a compact, friendly, versatile panel to interact with all sorts of systems. [See description, analysis and specs of the ARBOR IoT-800] -- Posted Thursday, June 16, 2016

Getac sees May sales increase
According to DigiTimes, Getac Technology reported May 2016 sales of US$47.8 million, up almost 10% from May 2015. Getac is expected to see its sales grow steadily in the second quarter after it signed an agreement with Ingram Micro to sell its ruggedized PC products in western Europe. DigiTimes also mentioned a 5-year contract Getac signed with DHL for handling Getac's logistics and after-sale services in Europe. -- Posted Thursday, June 16, 2016

Logic Supply introduces inexpensive rugged fanless CL100
Industrial & Embedded computer manufacturer Logic Supply introduced the all-metal CL100 Fanless Mini PC, an ultra-compact computer based on Intel's Next Unit of Computing (NUC) motherboard form factor. Powered by a quad-core Intel Celeron N3150 processor, the 4.6 x 4.4 x 1.5 inch CL100 starts at just at $343. [See media release and Logic Supply CL100 product page] -- Posted Wednesday, June 15, 2016

IST selects Janam to power its facilities management solution
Janam Technologies announced that IST Management Services, the nation’s largest, independently-owned facilities management services provider, has deployed Janam XM5 rugged mobile computers with dual-OS support to improve mailroom and package delivery, copy center and equipment management, and hospitality services. Harry B Lerner, CEO, Janam Technologies said, "IST Management Services is one of the fastest-growing facilities management companies in the industry. With Janam's laser focus on excellence, we are honored to have helped IST achieve exceptional levels of service that meet or exceed client expectations.” [See Janam media release] -- Posted Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Free Juniper Geode webinar June 16, 1:00-1:30PM EST
Juniper Systems will be demonstrating their new universal Geode sub-meter GNSS receiver in a free webinar, held on Thursday, June 16th, 1:00 to 1:30PM Eastern Standard Time. Learn about the Geode, and how it can easily go with you mounted on a pole, in a pack, or held in your hand to collect real-time sub-meter GNSS data in harsh environments, using almost any handheld device. [Sign up for free Juniper Geode webinar] -- Posted Monday, June 13, 2016

Why are some rugged tablets immune to typical corrosion?
Anyone living on a coastline knows about the perils of rust. And salt fog (or sea air) is especially corrosive, with frequent exposure leading to oxidation that can deteriorate any type of metal or electronic device over time. A new Xplore blog entry discusses what makes a rugged mobile computer fit for ship, submarine, or port operations, or for military maritime duty. [See Xplore blog Maritime Mobility: Why Some Rugged Tablets are Immune to Typical Computer Corrosion -- Posted Monday, June 13, 2016

Juniper introduces the Geode rugged sub-meter GNSS receiver
Rugged data collection solution provider Juniper Systems, announced its newest product, the Geode—a real-time, sub-meter GNSS receiver. The IP68-sealed Geode features one-button simplicity and can be used with any of Juniper Systems’ rugged handhelds, as well as a wide range of Windows, Windows Mobile, and Android devices, ideal for bring-your-own-device workplaces. [See Juniper's media release and tthe Juniper Geo page] -- Posted Thursday, June 9, 2016

Wireless Network Solutions selects Janam for inspection management system
Janam Technologies announced that its XT1 rugged mini-tablet has been selected as the preferred mobile computing platform for organizations using Wireless Network Solution’s Inspector+ software in an industrial environment. Inspector+ is a cloud-based Android application that allows businesses in the airline, healthcare and oil and gas industries to replace pen and paper tracking. Harry B Lerner, CEO, Janam Technologies said, "a major North American airline is now using the XT1 with the powerful Inspector+ application to ensure regulatory compliance with Air Transport Association of America guidelines for jet fuel quality control. We are thrilled to be teaming with Wireless Network Solutions to deliver a powerful mobile computing solution that eliminates many of the operational hurdles associated with conducting inspections.” [See Janam media release -- Posted Thursday, June 9, 2016

Full review: MobileDemand's versatile and very affordable rugged 10.1-inch Windows xTablet T1500
With the xTablet T1500, MobileDemand complements their existing and similarly sized Flex 10 with a tablet device that offers a significantly higher degree of ruggedness, while still keeping costs remarkably low. Starting at just US$995, the T1500 has a superb display, industrial-grade scanning, very good cameras, and ample online connectivity. [See full review of the MobileDemand xTablet T1500] -- Posted Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Getac upgrades ultra-rugged B300 notebook
Getac announced a major upgrade to its B300 ultra-rugged 13.3-inch notebook computer. This time, Getac significantly beefed up security by combining several layers of hardware and software protection technology to guard against breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The newly enhanced B300 also benefits from Intel 6th generation ("Skylake") i5 and i7 processors, boosting graphics performance and efficiency over the previous generation of the platform. [See Getac media release and RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the next generation Getac B300] -- Posted Tuesday, June 7, 2016

iRuggy Systems launches versatile iRUGGY G10 Mobile Tablet
iRuggy Systems announced their next generation Windows 10 IoT-based iRUGGY G10 10-inch Mobile Tablet, which features a modular design for user configurability through mix-and-match ADD-f(x) function modules. “We engineered the iRUGGY G10 to be versatile,” according to Mark Wallace, iRuggy executive vice-president. “The ADD-f(x) modular design allows us to continue expanding the suite of vertical applications supported and offers a future upgrade path for our customers.” First out ADD-f(x) module options include a 1D/2D scanner, biometric fingerprint reader, RFID, encrypted MSR and EMV-certified smart card reader. [See iRuggy media release] -- Posted Monday, June 6, 2016

Xplore secures additional order with major telecommunications provider for two rugged tablet platforms
Xplore Technologies announced it has secured an additional order for its Xplore Bobcat and XSLATE B10 fully rugged tablet computers from a major telecommunications provider. The telecommunications provider deployed the Bobcat and XSLATE B10 tablets in 2014 and 2015, and recently placed a follow-up order, bringing the total number of Bobcats and XSLATE B10s to more than 7,000 tablets. [See Xplore media release] -- Posted Monday, June 6, 2016

Handheld Group adds e-ticketing capabilities to its versatile Algiz RT7 Android rugged tablet
Handheld Group announced the Algiz RT7 eTicket, a new version of its Algiz RT7 Android tablet that adds a specialized RFID reader so transit workers can use it for mobile ticketing tasks. The 7-inch Algiz RT7 eTicket tablet offers an optimum combination of functionality, transaction speed, light weight, reliability and ruggedness for mobile transit environments. The contactless electronic link between card and reader provides a fast interface to handle a high volume of transactions. The integrated Arcontia smart card reader makes for fast and dependable contactless payment collection. The reader is MIFARE compatible, supports ISO/IEC and ISO14443 A/B RFID tags/cards, and has two integrated Secure Access Modules (SAM) for secure transactions. [See Handheld media release]
-- Posted Thursday, June 2, 2016

What happened in rugged computing 5 years ago: June 2011
In June 2011, GD-Itronix introduced the GD3015 tablet and the GD8200 ultra-rugged notebook, and signed an Android license with Microsoft. Panasonic showed an upcoming 10.1-inch Android tablet and sold 5,300 Toughbook 19s to Italian ENEL. DAP introduced the small M1000 handheld. Getac sold 12,500 tablets via British SBL and introduced the X500 rugged notebook. We added the LXE Marathon tablet (just when Honeywell said it was buying LXE parent EMS Technologies) and the Elecsys Radix FW960 ultra-rugged handheld. Dell updated its rugged ATG and XFR laptops. Nordstrom wasn't sure if it should buy thousands of rugged devices or go with iPods in a case. We reviewed the Advantech TREK-510 and the Winmate G-WIN rugged Panel PC. [See RuggedPCReview May 2011 archives] -- Posted Thursday, June 2, 2016

MobileDemand launches rugged xTablet T8650 capable of dimensional data acquisition
MobileDemand announced the xTablet T8500, an innovative rugged 8-inch Windows 10 tablet computer with integrated Intel RealSense R200 camera system that can not only enhance productivity by quickly performing near-field automatic length and volume measurements, but also has the potential to revolutionize the generation of photorealistic 3D models as well as provide an entry to the emerging field of dimensional data acquisition. [See description, analysis and specs of the MobileDemand xTablet T8650] -- Posted Wednesday, June 1, 2016