January 2006

Policom Mobile Responder portable video for field use
Polycom announced the availability of its Mobile Responder video conferencing system for first responders, emergency management, Homeland Security, police, firefighters, human services departments, educators, and healthcare professionals. The Polycom Mobile Responder is a rugged, compact, easy-to-use, transportable video conferencing solution with a built-in display, camera, microphone, and speaker that will greatly improve field communication. -- Posted Monday, January 30, 2006

Not registered for FOSE yet?
FOSE 2006, the 30th Anniversary show, will be held March 7-9, 2006 at the Washington Convention Center • Washington, DC. FOSE provides a unique opportunity to reach those in government who have the authority, budgets and need to purchase products, services and solutions. No other technology event delivers more government attendees than FOSE and no other show has a bigger impact on purchasing decisions than FOSE. [FOSE website] -- Posted Saturday, January 28, 2006

VisionObjects releases MyScript Notes 2.0
VisionObjects released MyScript Notes 2.0, a ready-to-use handwriting recognition software that converts handwritten notes into digital information for further use in back-end applications such as Microsoft Word, Outlook or Lotus Notes. It can be used with all devices requiring handwritten input, such as digital pens, pen computers, TabletPCs and graphic tablets. A 30-day trial version is available for download. -- Posted Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Port of Houston selects LXE for new terminal
LXE Inc. announced that the Port of Houston Authority (PHA) has chosen LXE to provide a turnkey RF network and rugged mobile computers for its 63+ acre Bayport Terminal, its second fully-automated intermodal containerhandling facility. The solution will include all components of the RF network plus LXE's rugged VX6 vehicle-mounted computers and MX5 handheld computers. The system will interface with the Navis EXPRESS and SPARCS terminal software systems. -- Posted Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Atheros first to launch 802.11n wireless products
If you're happy with present wireless 802.11g (or even 802.11b) speed, the news of the draft next-generation 802.11n specification that describes much faster wireless connections is of little current importance. Not so for the speed demons at Atheros Communications, the folks who managed to convince many major notebook companies to offer their wireless chipsets instead of Intel's ubiquitious Centrino wireless circuitry. The next-generation WLAN solutions will exploit the potential of MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) technology by delivering six times the throughput of 802.11g and 802.11a/g products at extended range and with greater reliability. -- Posted Monday, January 23, 2006

Xplore combines outdoor viewability with stylus/finger touch
Xplore Technologies, a leading provider of rugged Tablet PCs, introduced a durable mobile computer that offers users both active stylus and finger touch input, as well as the optically enhanced AllVue display, all in a single product offering. The Xplore iX104C2DV thus becomes a highly functional, wireless enabled rugged Tablet PC that has both unparalleled input flexibility and viewability in the field. Our take: We have found the implementation to Xplore's AllVue LCD technology to be a superior solution. We also tested Xplore's auto-sensing technology, which allows users to automatically switch between pen input and finger-based touch input, and found it extremely useful. The combination of those two technologies, combined with the iX104's inherent design makes for a very attractive new offering for various vertical markets that require both advanced technology as well as extreme ruggedness. [Full review of the Xplore iX104C2] -- Posted Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Gunze's new anti-reflective touch panels
Gunze USA, a leader in resistive touch panel manufacturing, today announced the availability of its latest line of 4 layer Anti-Reflective (AR) touch panels, which offer lower reflection without affecting the contrast of the screen. Gunze's newest line 4AR touch panels offer an 88% transmissivity rate, and are specifically designed for outdoor applications, including any application in which the panel would be exposed to direct sunlight, such as car navigation systems/GPS, consumer electronics and industrial equipment utilized outdoors. Gunze's anti-reflective technology makes it possible to manufacture touch panels with low reflection that are also highly durable and can utilize both pen and finger input. -- Posted Tuesday, January 17, 2006

PSC introduces rugged, economical PowerScan 7000
PSC Inc. introduced the PowerScan 7000 Standard Range Linear Imaging Scanner that combines ruggedness with value in an industrial scanner. Designed for use in demanding supply chain environments, the PowerScan 7000 has a a depth of field that is unsurpassed by any other standard range imager or laser scanner, industry leading resistance to shock damage (50 two-meter drops to concrete, industry leading IP65 sealing, high performance reading of all 1D symbologies and PDF-417, and a multiple interface architecture. -- Posted Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Durable, waterproof fingerprint reader
Fingerprint authentication hardware manufacturer and network security solution provider Zvetco Biometrics announced a durable new waterproof version of its Verifi P3400 USB fingerprint reader. Zvetco's new Verifi P3400 WP features rugged housing and internal construction proven to withstand the wear-and-tear typical of environments requiring heavy cleaning or exposure to the elements. It enables positive user authentication with a single finger touch and without passwords, extending the security and convenience of biometrics to meet repetitive cleaning in the healthcare and food service industries. -- Posted Tuesday, January 17, 2006

RFID pioneers put on a show
Five of the world's leading companies in the development, implementation and utilization of supply chain automation technology, Intermecs, the METRO Group, Procter & Gamble, DHL and IBM are jointly demonstrating RFID use in the retail supply chain at the National Retail Federation's 95th annual NRF show, New York, Jan. 15-18, 2006. A series of demonstrations, centered around the METRO Group's use of RFID in its supply chain, brings together five RFID pioneers, each of which has played a leading role in applying RFID technology in real-world applications. Booth visitors will be able to see EPC Gen2 standard RFID technology at work in scenarios that recreate key stages in the retail supply chain from factory to consumer. Representatives from each of the companies are on hand to share their knowledge and experience of successfully applying RFID to improve supply chain visibility and efficiency. Featured are fork-lift, portal and handheld systems that include a range of Intermec EPC Gen2-compliant RFID devices, including the Intermec IF5 intelligent reader, IP4 handheld reader, IV7 fork-lift reader and RFID-enabled PM4i label printer. -- Posted Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Symbol releases MC70 enterprise digital assistant
Following up on the success of its highly regarded MC50 industrial PDA, Symbol Technologies released the MC70 "enterprise digital assistant," a ruggedized Pocket PC-style handheld using state-of-the-art technology, and combining PDA, data capture, communications and phone capabilities. Running Windows Mobile 5.0 Premium/Voice and powered by the speedy 624MHz version of Intel's PXA XScale chip, the MC70 sports IP54 sealing and can survice 4-5-foot drops. It can be ordered either with a numeric or QWERTY keypad. 802.11a/b/g, eGPRS/GSM, and BT provide almost universal wireless and phone access. A linear 1D scanner and a 2D imager provide data capture. [full description] -- Posted Thursday, January 12, 2006

WhereNet RFID used for security at major California ports
WhereNet Corp., a provider of wireless solutions for tracking and managing enterprise assets, announced today that PierPASS Inc., a not-for-profit company created by marine terminal operators at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, will equip up to 10,000 drayage trucks serving the two ports with WhereNet active RFID tags to enhance security at the ports. Marine terminals are taking a proactive approach to meet the security requirements of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Coast Guard by ensuring that only those with proper business at the ports will be granted entry. WhereNet is installing RFID readers at each marine terminal to read the truck tag as the driver arrives at the facility and approaches security. -- Posted Thursday, January 12, 2006

Mobile printers with secure data transfer
Zebra Technologies, a leader in delivering on-demand specialty printing solutions for business and process improvement, today introduced the powerful QL Plus mobile printer, an enhanced version of Zebra's QL series. The new QL Plus printers are designed to handle increased levels of wireless security and process complex applications up to four times faster, making them ideal for the secure transfer of encrypted data, from price lists and shipping schedules to customer information and medical records. They come in three versions, with 2, 3, and 4-inch label/receipt formats. [see QL 220 Plus]

-- Posted Wednesday, January 11, 2006

SynTrack RFID-based Mobile Asset Management tracking
Integrated Business Systems and Services announced the SynTrack Mobile Asset Management system, a new product created for organizations seeking more efficient asset utilization by the use of RFID and wireless technologies. Today, organizations spend millions of dollars on expensive equipment only to have it lost or stolen. By having a real time view of where these assets are, when and where they move, and how they are managed, companies can significantly reduce these losses as well as improve worker efficiency in locating critical equipment. -- Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Pelican Mobile becomes TSPI
American Financial Holdings announced the completion of a share exchange with Pelican Mobile Computers, Inc., a provider of proprietary customization, integration and installation of rugged mobile hardware and software solutions to the law enforcement and first responder markets. AFHI will change its name to Tactical Solution Partners, Inc. to reflect its business strategy of providing hardware, software, training, and consulting services to the anti-terrorism, law enforcement, and first responder markets. TSPI has embarked on a plan to drive Pelican's organic growth and acquire companies that will expand its portfolio of capabilities and product and service offerings. -- Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Imagers gain share in North American bar code scanning market
Recent research from Venture Development Corporation (VDC) reveals a regional pattern in the uptake of imaging-based bar code scanning technology. In 2004, imaging technology in North America grew at more than double the rate of traditional laser-based scanning technology. In contrast, the Asia-Pacific region experienced strong growth in laser scanners in 2004. The growth of imagers in the North American market is a trend that appears to have continued in 2005 and is likely to spread across the regional and vertical markets in the coming years. [View entire press release] -- Posted Thursday, January 5, 2006

Larger capacity ToughDisks
Formation, Inc. announced today a 50% increase in storage capacity for its ToughDisk TD7200 Rugged Hard Drive to keep up with industry demand for low-cost data storage in extreme environments. The units now offer 240GBs of storage capacity, up from 160GBs. Formation's TD7200 is a low-cost alternative to solid state data storage built specifically for extreme environments. The system has been favored by many military and commercial organizations for its ability to perform reliably in temperature, shock, vibration, humidity and dust conditions that would destroy conventional hard disks. The hard drives are hot-swappable, self-contained rugged COTS mass memory units at less than 10% the cost of solid-state storage. Formation also makes the 73 and 100GB ToughDisk 3500 Ruggged Hard Disk series. -- Posted Thursday, January 5, 2006