July 2010

Datalogic reports sales and earnings growth
Datalogic has reported the fifth consecutive quarter of profit growth. Q2 2010 sales reached US$132 million (up 33.3% from Q2 of 2009 and up 13.2% from Q1 of 2010), with a net profit of US$9.3 million (compared to a loss of US$11.7 million in Q2 of 2009 and up by 72.2% on Q1 of 2010). The first half of 2010 closed with consolidated sales revenues of US$248.6 million, up by +28% vs. the first half of last year (results converted from Euros at 7/30/2010 exchange rate) -- Posted Friday, July 30, 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

Outsourcing to Taiwan
Most remaining Japanese computer makers proudly display their "Made in Japan" labels, but high production costs in Japan are putting increasing pressure to move manufacturing elsewhere. According to Taiwanese tech news agency Digitimes, Fujitsu plans to increase its outsourcing of low cost notebooks to Taiwanese makers, bringing total notebook outsourcing to Taiwan from 30% in 2009 to almost 50% in 2010. -- Posted Thursday, July 29, 2010

MobileDemand Tablet PC used by the Red Bull Racing NASCAR Teams
Rugged Tablet PC provider MobileDemand is sponsoring the red Bull Racing NASCAR team . The Red Bull team is using MobileDemand's rugged xTablet T7000 Tablet PC to provide mission-critical data collection and computing right on the spot, where it matters most. The video shows how the red Bull racing team is using the tablets. Also see MobileDemand Tablet PC Used by the Red Bull Racing NASCAR Teams. -- Posted Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Synaptics ClearPad 7200 Series
Synaptics announced its ClearPad 7200 Series technology geared towards OEMs designing a wide range of multi-touch (up to 10 simultaneous touches) products such as clamshell notebooks, slates/tablets, and "fourth screen" devices like digital photo frames and electronics readers. Designed to support glass-based screens up to 10.1", the ClearPad 7200 Series uses a multi-ASIC based architecture and supports both I2C and USB interface.
-- Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010

RRC to Distribute Intermec Solutions in Russia and CIS
Intermec has entered into a distribution agreement with international IT distributor RRC. The relationship will strengthen Intermec's distribution channel and enable resellers and systems integrators in Russia and CIS to join the recently launched global PartnerNet program and experience a wide range of benefits, from training, project registration, joint marketing and account management support. [See Intermec press release] -- Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Full review: Fujitsu's tiny UH900 mini-notebook
What is a big full-size notebook is much too big, and even a handy netbook is still too large, but you do need full Windows 7 functionality and a high-res screen? Then you should look at the Fujitsu UH900 mini-notebook. The little 1-pound marvel, powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 chip, sports incredible 1280 x 800 pixel resolution on its jewel-like 5.6-inch display, offers multi-touch, has a full-function keyboard and a speedy 62GB solid state disk, onboard Garmin Mobile PC GPS, and good connectivity, both wired and wireless. And even the price is not out of line. So how well does it all work? [Read full review of the Fujitsu Lifebook UH900] -- Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Microsoft licenses ARM architecture
ARM and Microsoft announced that they have signed a new licensing agreement for the ARM architecture. The agreement extends the collaborative relationship between the two companies. Since 1997 Microsoft and ARM have worked together on software and devices across the embedded, consumer and mobile spaces, enabling many companies to deliver user experiences on a broad portfolio of ARM-based products. [See press release] -- Posted Friday, July 23, 2010

Socket Mobile reports Q2 2010 financials
Socket Mobile reported revenue for Q2 of 2010 was US$3.7 million, compared to revenue of US$4.1 million for the same quarter a year ago. Net loss for Q2 of 2010 was $575,000, compared to a net loss of $945,000 in Q2 of 2009. Kevin Mills, president and CEO, commented, "Our SoMo 650 handheld computer continues to gain increasing customer acceptance and traction in the business mobility market and generated record sales in the second quarter. Handheld computer sales were up 19% over the previous quarter and up 9% over the second quarter a year ago, and represented 48 percent of our second quarter revenues. -- Posted Friday, July 23, 2010

Datalogic tracks baggage in Italy's busiest airport
Datalogic announced it has realized 30 omnidirectional reading tunnels to improve baggage handling for the Leonardo da Vinci airport in Rome, Fiumicino--the busiest Italian airport with four terminals and over 33 million passengers a year. Datalogic-powered reading stations for baggage handover and pick-up points are in all the airport terminals, thus managing to gather useful data on each piece of baggage and to monitor its movements. [See press release] -- Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010

Intermec and Epicor announce alliance
Epicor Software Corporation and Intermec announced an expanded global alliance to deliver mobile computing solutions. Intermec also recently named Epicor as a Platinum Partner, which is the highest level of recognition given to members of the newly launched Intermec PartnerNet Program. [See press release] -- Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010

Juniper introduces the Mesa Rugged Notepad
If the new Mesa Rugged Notepad by Juniper Systems looks large, it's because it is. Aiming to offer the best of Tablet PCs and a rugged handhelds (but none of the drawbacks), the Marvell PXA320-powered Mesa runs Windows Mobile 6.5.3 on its exceptionally large 5.7-inch VGA display. Larger size means larger battery, too, and the Mesa runs up to 16 hours on a charge. Add to that exceptional ruggedness and IP67 sealing, and you have an interesting option for any number of outdoor jobs that require a bit of extra screen real estate. [See description and specs of the Juniper Systems Mesa Rugged Notepad] -- Posted Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Carrefour adds Datalogic rugged handhelds
Carrefour, the largest retailer in Europe and the second largest retailer in the world, teamed up with Datalogic Mobile for the supply of mobile computers in its retail stores. This time, the Memor and Falcon handheld devices will be used for Carrefour’s retail in-store solutions. [See Datalogic press release] -- Posted Wednesday, July 21, 2010

New Summit software makes DFS channels viable for roaming clients
Summit Data Communication announced a software upgrade that makes the 5 GHz frequency band with its up to 23 non-overlapping channels more attractive for business-critical mobile devices by now offering accelerated passive scanning to greatly reduce the time to roam between WiFi APs in environments where some channels require dynamic frequency selection (DFS). -- Posted Wednesday, July 21, 2010

AIS releases CAN-bus industrial Panel PCs
American Industrial Systems (AIS) introduced a line of Industrial Touch Screen Panel PCs featuring CAN-bus (controller-area network) interface support for industrial automation, marine, and automotive applications. Offering Intel chips from Atom to quad core, the Operator Panel PCs feature 5.7 to 20.1-inch industrial grade LCDs, and a variety of touchscreen technologies (resistive, capacitive, surface acoustic wave (SAW), and Infrared) to meet demands in various environments. -- Posted Tuesday, July 20, 2010

RuggedPCReview.com attending SIGGRAPH 2010
RuggedPCReview.com is headed for SIGGRAPH 2010 in LA to get a heads-up on emerging developments in advanced graphics that are becoming ever more important in rugged computing. Contributing Editor Taylor Allread will seek and examine technologies, both hardware and software, that are either dedicated to rugged and hazardous environment usage or are already deployed in the field. and to report about their progress. -- Posted Tuesday, July 20, 2010

SuperShuttle selects NEXCOM tablets
SuperShuttle International, the nation's largest shared ride airport shuttle company, along with NEXCOM has begun rolling out the tablets to all its franchise drivers. The tablets, which appear to be Atom Z530-powered NEXCOM 2100 Series models with 8.4-inch SVGA displays, are expected to enhance customer service by providing prompt pickup service and efficient routing, on-board promotion, convenient billing, onboard navigation, etc. -- Posted Monday, July 19, 2010

Motion offering enhanced tablet functionality with ritePen 4.0
Motion Computing announced that it will resell ritePen 4.0, the latest tablet input solution from Ritescript, a division of Evernote Corporation -- Posted Monday, July 19, 2010

In-Stat sees slow adoption of 4G wireless
In-Stat predicts that almost 70% of all mobile devices will be WWAN-enabled by 2014. However, the transition to 4G wireless technology will be slow, with just 3.6% of WWAN-enabled devices using it by 2014. And despite the early 4G lead of WiMAX, the rivaling LTE technology will have over 60% marketshare in 4G-enabled device by 2014. -- Posted Thursday, July 15, 2010

Anoto survey shows paper-based forms still widely used
Swedish Anoto firmly believes that paper isn't dead by a long shot, and that paper forms will be with us for some time to come. However, that doesn't mean Anoto is resisting progress. Au contraire; Anoto's unique digital pen technology represents one of the fastest and most reliable ways of converting handwritten text into a digital format. In essence, the pen knows the form you're using, records whatever is written, then downloads it into a computer. This way you have both print and digital copy. -- Posted Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Datalogic Mobile releases OS White Paper
Datalogic Mobile announced the release of a new white paper Rugged Mobile Computers - Which Operating System is Right for You? In rugged or semi-rugged mobile devices targeted at vertical applications, the OS of choice has been Microsoft Windows CE. However, over the past several years, new OS platform options have emerged that have made the mobile operating system landscape more complicated. Request Rugged Mobile Computers - Which Operating System is Right for You? white paper] -- Posted Tuesday, July 13, 2010

LifeRing PDA-COP system receives DISA certification
LifeRing, the PDA SOF TactiCell command control and communication software from Advanced Ground Information Systems, has received DISA (Defense Information Systems Agency) certification with 100% ratings for Blue Force Tracking, map white-boarding, instant messaging and full-motion video. According to the company, "AGIS LifeRing is designed to meet the differing demands of the military, government agencies and first responders. It operates simultaneously on cellular, mesh networks, satellite--and military and first responder radios." [See AGIS PDA (we wish they'd update the featured hardware, though)] -- Posted Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Avalue introduces 10-inch Digital Signage Computer
Avalue Technology has introduced the fanless MPC-10W5 Digital Signage Computer for small panel installations. Powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom D510 processor, the MPC-10W5 has a wide-format 10.2-inch WSVGA resistive touch screen, a front-mounted LED indicator alarm, full-aluminum housing with IP65-sealed front panel, miniPCIe and CF slots for expansion, and optional PIR, CIR, light sensor and RFID are available. The device weighs less than three pounds and is less than two inches thick. -- Posted Monday, July 12, 2010

Garmin beats back another invalid patent
Garmin announced it has beaten back another invalid asserted by a non-practicing patent holding company. "We are pleased with this judgment – it reaffirms our belief that courts are willing to take decisive action against bad patents when presented with solid evidence of their invalidity. Companies like Garmin, that employ innovators, manufacture products, and sell goods in the market, should not be forced to settle lawsuits that assert patents that never should have issued from the Patent Office," said Andrew Etkind, Garmin’s Vice President and General Counsel. -- Posted Saturday, July 10, 2010

Trimble partners with Timmons on Wetland Delineation System
Trimble announced it has partnered with Timmons Group to provide an integrated system for the field collection, management, and submittal of wetland delineation data. The solution combines Trimble Mapping & GIS handhelds with the WetCollect wetland delineation software from Timmons Group to comply with the reporting requirements of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE). -- Posted Friday, July 9, 2010

Psion Teklogix unveils global partner program
Psion Teklogix announced a new global Partner Program focused on open innovation that aims to let Psion’s VARs, systems integrators, application providers and resellers leverage the best parts of existing mobile devices and customized proprietary devices. The Partner Program will offer the company’s set of tools, features and services, including discounts, marketing materials and funds, technical support and training. -- Posted Thursday, July 8, 2010

MobileDemand launches Public Sector Group
MobileDemand, a leading provider of rugged Tablet PC computers for mission-critical computing, announced the formation of its Public Sector Services Group focused on the development and deployment of mission-critical applications and solutions for federal, state and local governments. With, according to analyst firm VDC, the field service mobility market growing by an annual rate of 13% through 2013, MobileDemand President Matt Miller is confident that his company's lineup of rugged Tablet PCs can offer ultra-mobility, reliable performance and exceptional efficiency to public sector agencies. The new group will concentrate on public safety, including law enforcement, emergency management, fire investigation, building code compliance, homeland security, etc. MobileDemand also announced its Application Development Partner Program aimed at helping VARs develop solutions for rugged tablets that are field-ready and compliant with public sector specs. [See our review of the MobileDemand xTablet T7000] -- Posted Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Android facing challenges
It's like the historic Apple versus Microsoft wars all over again, only this time it's Apple's iOS versus Google's Android. Once again it's Apple's proprietary hardware and software challenged by a copycat OS available to any hardware vendor who wants to use it. Google's involvement, of course, means Android can count on considerable resources, but there are inherent problems to the Android "open system" approach. Read this excellent article by Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies on The Trials and Tribulations of Team Android. -- Posted Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Samwell sponsors Delta Lloyd Solar Boat Team
Samwell, makers of the RUGGEDBOOK line of rugged notebooks, convertibles, and tablets, announced its sponsorship of the Dutch Delta Lloyd Solar Boat Team. The team, a student project at the Technical University of Delft, has been successful in prior Frisian Solar Boat challenges, also known as the World Cup for Solar Powered Boats. Samwell supplied its RUGGEDBOOK Rugged Tablet PC SR820 to the team for tracking and performance monitoring. [See RUGGEDBOOK newsletter] -- Posted Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Datalogic invests in vision-based technology
Datalogic announced the acquisition, through its subsidiary Datalogic Scanning Holdings Inc., of Evolution Robotics Retail, a California company with unique expertise in visual pattern recognition technology, including scanning-based loss prevention systems that can do item-level recognition and alerts even if a code wasn't scanned. Datalogic says the acquisition provides for a broadening of their solution-based offerings, adds an innovative and key technological capability and offers a high-growth business prospect. -- Posted Tuesday, July 6, 2010

RadiSys announces ruggedized ATCA C2 server
Not all mobile systems are, in fact, mobile as in carrying around. Some are designed to facilitate and support a mobile computing and communication infrastructure out there in the field. ATCA (Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture) falls into that category, and RadiSys has just introduced their Promentum C2 Server, which it calls the industry's first ruggedized ATCA platform for mobile command and control. The C2 Server has a ruggedized chassis meeting many MIL-STD-810 tests as well as providing higher performance platform with less weight and lower power consumption. [See RadiSys Promentum C2 Server] -- Posted Friday, July 2, 2010