Pen Computing and Rugged PC Review - your source for mobile and rugged computing reviews and specsfunction getCalendarDate(){ var months = new Array(13); months[0] = "January"; months[1] = "February"; months[2] = "March"; months[3] = "April"; months[4] = "May"; months[5] = "June"; months[6] = "July"; months[7] = "August"; months[8] = "September"; months[9] = "October"; months[10] = "November"; months[11] = "December"; var now = new Date(); var monthnumber = now.getMonth(); var monthname = months[monthnumber]; var monthday = now.getDate(); var year = now.getYear(); if(year < 2000) { year = year + 1900; } var dateString = monthname + ' ' + monthday + ', ' + year; return dateString;} // function getCalendarDate()function getClockTime(){ var now = new Date(); var hour = now.getHours(); var minute = now.getMinutes(); var second = now.getSeconds(); var ap = "AM"; if (hour > 11) { ap = "PM"; } if (hour > 12) { hour = hour - 12; } if (hour == 0) { hour = 12; } if (hour < 10) { hour = "0" + hour; } if (minute < 10) { minute = "0" + minute; } if (second < 10) { second = "0" + second; } var timeString = hour + ':' + minute + ':' + second + " " + ap; return timeString;} // function getClockTime()//-->/************************************************ DD Tab Menu script- © Dynamic Drive DHTML code library (www.dynamicdrive.com)* This notice MUST stay intact for legal use* Visit Dynamic Drive at http://www.dynamicdrive.com/ for full source code***********************************************///SYNTAX: ddtabmenu.definemenu("tab_menu_id", integer OR "auto")ddtabmenu.definemenu("ddtabs3", 0) //initialize Tab Menu #3 with 1st tab selected Pen ComputingRugged PC ReviewsHandheld ComputingTablet PCDigital CameraDigital Camera RoundupPersonal MediaScuba Diver Info  Our proud sponsors:                I ran webstats yesterday for unique visitors originating from each of our online advertising sites, between June and yesterday, and Rugged PC Review ranked at the top. -- One of our premier sponsorsLove your site, its packed with great information! -- Brendan O'ConnellThree assets put you in a class of your own: world class technical knowledge, historical perspective gained from working in the field, and excellent writing. 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Motion updates LE1700 semi-rugged tablets Motion Computing announced an update to its successful line of LE1700 semi-rugged Tablet PC slates. As before, there is a performance and an economy version, but both now use Core 2 Duo processors. For demanding applications, there is now an optional 60GB Samsung solid state disk. The biggest news is the availability of an incredibly sharp SXGA+ 1400 x 1050 pixel display. It has a 170 degree viewing angle in all directions and can be ordered in a highly effective sunlight-viewable "UltraView Anywhere" version. Read a full review of the updated semi-rugged Motion Computing LE1700. -- Posted Wednesday, September 3, 2008 by chbMIL-STD-810F 509.4 and thoughts on salt water exposureMIL-STD-810F 509.4 (Salt Fog) is one the less-often cited testing methods described by the United States Department of Defense. Yet, salt water and fog can be absolutely deadly to computing equipment. Any rugged machine intended to be used in a marine environment should therefore be built with salt fog exposure in mind. [Read more on salt water exposure] -- Posted Tuesday, September 2, 2008 by chbThey-Got-Nerve department: Microsoft's "Ultimate Steal" programAfter having killed pretty much the entire wordprocessing, spreadsheet, presentation and database industry by undercutting and buying up competitors, Microsoft is "re-introducing The Ultimate Steal program this school year, inviting students who are actively enrolled at educational institutions to purchase Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 at a low student price of $59.95." So they stole the market by initially giving away their software, and now it's a steal that students get to pay for it? Way to go, Microsoft. -- Posted Thursday, August 21, 2008 by chbElitebook 2730p: HP's Tablet PC convertible gets Centrino 2 upgrade and more HP introduced the HP Elitebook 2730p, a Tablet PC convertible and successor to the earlier 2710p. The 2730p comes with Centrino 2 processor and chipset upgrades, and has a wide-format WXGA (1280 x 800 pixel) 12.1-inch display with antiglare coating and an LED backlight. A sunlight-viewable version is available. A gigabyte of fast 800MHz memory is standard, and you can bump it up to a full 8GB. Quick 5400rpm SATA disks are available with 80 or 120GB capacity, or you can opt for a Solid State Drive. The Elitebook 2730p is not a fully rugged machine but it is definitely durable thanks to a magnesium-alloy chassis, chemically-strengthened glass, and goodies like HP DuraKeys and 3D DriveGuard. [Read description and specs of the HP Elitebook 2730p] -- Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008 by chbPalm introduces unlocked WinMo 6.1-based Treo Pro  Palm introduced the unlocked Treo Pro, a smartphone for businesses that seek to simplify their IT infrastructures and reduce costs. With its streamlined design and Palm shortcuts layered on top of Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, the Treo Pro, powered by a 400MHz Qualcomm MSM7201 processor, supports HSDPA/UMTS/EDGE/GPRS/GSM and includes Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities, a 320 x 320 transflective touchscreen, a 2mp camera, and a microSDHC slot. See description and specs of the Palm Treo Pro. -- Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008 by chbArchos releases new internet tablets Technology innovator Archos introduced the ARCHOS 5, the ARCHOS 5g and ARCHOS 7 "Internet Media Tablets." Featuring either a 5-inch (from US$349) or 7-inch (from US$449) WVGA (800 x 480 pixel) touchscreen, the slender ARM Cortex-powered tablets have hard disk storage capacities up to 320GB, and 802.11b/g WiFi to bring web browsing, media ad television to a small handheld device. The 30GB 5g model (US$549) has an internal 3.5G radio for fast internet access almost anywhere. Add the DVR station to turn your TV into a multimedia platform connected to the Web. [see the new ARCHOS Internet Media Tablets] -- Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008 by chbOQO may release Atom-powered deviceAccording to InfoWorld, QOO demonstrated an Intel Atom-based device at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco, suggesting a possible Intel design win in a space where VIA has been strong with its low-power C7 processor. The device, tentatively labelled as "OQO MID" looks like an updated version of the company's current slide-bodied UMPC models. -- Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008 by chbXplore launches top-of-the-line ultra-rugged iX104C4 tablet  Xplore Technologies introduced the latest addition to the iX104 line of ultra-rugged tablet computers, the iX104C4. The new machine provides improved performance with a power-efficient Core Duo processor, new wireless technologies (including 802.11N), as well as enhancements to several technologies pioneered by Xplore. The company's AllVue sunlight-viewable display is now even brighter, the dual-mode RF/touch digitizer is standard on all models, and the machine can be ordered with an optional 32GB Solid State Drive. A TPM 1.2 module has been added for security, completing a smart technology update to what already was one of the best rugged Tablet PCs on the market. [Read description and specs of the Xplore Technologies iX104C4 ultra-rugged Tablet PC.] -- Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 by chbRAM announces Tough-Box consoles There are many solutions when it comes to mounting and securing computers in a vehicle, but it is almost impossible to find versatile, high quality vehicle consoles that easily integrate with computer mounts. National Products/RAM-Mounts has been working on an evolution of common police vehicle console products and has taken a huge leap forward with a line of Tough-Box™ consoles that are fully compatible with the industry-leading RAM one-inch and half-inch pedestal systems, as well as with AMPS and VESA hole patterns, ensuring endless mounting possibilities and the ultimate in versatility. [Read about RAM Tough-Box consoles] -- Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 by chbThe waterproof, ultra-rugged Two Technologies Hydrus Two Technologies has introduced the Hydrus, a PXA270/Windows CE 5.0 powered ultra-rugged handheld computer with stunning battery life in the 40-hour range. The 2.4 pound Hydrus carries IP68 sealing, which means it is totally waterproof. It can also handle extreme temperatures, and includes a 5-megapixel CMOS imager for pictures and barcode reading. The 55-key keypad is customizable and there is between 2GB and 32GB of Flash. [Read description and specs of the Two Technologies Hydrus] -- Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 by chbScanbuy launches 2D barcode app for Apple iPhoneScanbuy, a leader in mobile marketing solutions, announced that its ScanLife 2D barcode application is now available for free on the iPhone App Store. Scanbuy's technology uses the phone's camera to give users an instant connection to information, without needing to search by keyword or type in a lengthy URL. Individuals can also create and scan Personal EZcodes to link to their blogs or networking sites by registering an account at www.scanlife.com. -- Posted Wednesday, August 13, 2008 by chbFull review: Motion Computing F5 "Field Tool" After Motion Computing, ever the pioneer in innovative tablet computers, introduced the Motion C5 Mobile Clinical Assistant in February of 2007, the response was overwhelmingly positive. The concept and execution of the lightweight tablet turned out to be so successful that the company decided to follow up with the Motion F5 "Field Tool" for mobile field workers. What's different about the F5, and how well does the handy tablet -- which includes a camera, scanner and optional RFID reader -- work in the field? [Read review of the Motion Computing F5] -- Posted Friday, August 8, 2008 by chbWhatever happened to Transmeta?You remember Transmeta, the chip company that promised lower cost and lower power consumption with its chips that did part of the work in software? That didn't work out so well, but Transmeta stayed in business licensing the innovative technologies and related intellectual property they had developed. They just granted NVIDIA a non-exclusive license to their Long Run and LongRun2 technologies for advanced power management, for a one-time, non-refundable license fee of US$25 million. It's a living. -- Posted Thursday, August 7, 2008 by chbTablet PCs in academicsSeveral years ago, we published an article by Dr. Dave Berque of DePauw University on pen computing in education. Dr. Berque and several others involved in pen computing were then putting together the first Workshop on the Impact of Pen-based Technology on Education (WIPTE). Dr. Berque has since continued to be a firm supporter of Tablet PCs in education. Read "Prof. Dave Berque Discusses "Academic Possibilities" of Tablet PCs." -- Posted Wednesday, August 6, 2008 by chbiPhone software update 2.01 hellThe iPhone 2.01 software update caused our iPhone to go into an indefinite backup/restore loop, creating useless backups. All data was lost from the iPhone. iTunes removed all purchased applications both from the phone and from its database, so we lost the applications we paid for. iTunes then downloaded music and photos from scratch. Not good. -- Posted Tuesday, August 5, 2008 by chbJuniper Systems releases new version of the ultra-rugged Allegro Field PC Juniper Systems, Inc., a provider of innovative field computer solutions for rugged applications, announced the new Allegro MX Field PC. Based on the company's Allegro CX but including many technology updates, the ultra-rugged Allegro features Windows Mobile 6.1, IP67 rating, a robust full keyboard, integrated Bluetooth and a Wi-Fi 802.11b/g option, long-term battery life, host and client USB, and large and highly outdoor-visible displays. The Allegro MX runs Microsoft® Windows Mobile® version 6.1 and is powered by the 624MHz version of the Marvell PXA270 processor. Durable in extreme environments, the Allegro is a premier choice for those who need a rugged field computer with a full keyboard. [See description and specs of the Juniper Systems Allegro MX Field PC] -- Posted Monday, August 4, 2008 by chbRuggedPCReview.com underwater video makes a splash! Within a short time, the underwater review of an xTablet rugged Tablet PC by MobileDemand conducted by our sister site RuggedPCReview.com is creating a big splash. It can be seen on some of the popular video clip sites and has been viewed almost 14,000 times. Click the image of an editor operating the device underwater to see the video on blip.tv. But remember: Those guys are trained professionals. Do not try this at home. -- Posted Monday, August 4, 2008 by chbSpeech-to-speech tablet for military applications  Rugged Portable Systems, a division of Santa Ana, Calif.-based Secure Communication Systems, offers the Lynx ruggedized mobile speech-to-speech translation system for military and other applications. The 4-pound package includes special array microphone and speaker for real-time two-way speech translation over a distance up to 12 feet using Two Way Speech-to-Speech software such as SRI International's IraqComm, BBN's TransTalk, IBM's STST, and others. [Read description and specs of the Secure Comm Lynx rugged speech translator tablet] -- Posted Thursday, July 31, 2008 by chbThe mighty PalmsRemember when Palm ruled the mobile world? Peruse Pen Computing's historic reviews of over 60 Palm devices from Palm, Sony, Handspring, TRG, Symbol, Kyocera, AlpaSmart and Samsung. -- Posted Tuesday, July 29, 2008 by chbPalm: Two million Centros soldPalm said it has sold its two-millionth Centro smartphone, confirming the $99 product's growing momentum with traditional mobile phone users who want to move up to a phone that offers more functionality. Palm is now offering Centro in more than 25 countries in North America, South America, Europe and Asia Pacific. [See what the Centro is all about.] -- Posted Tuesday, July 29, 2008 by chbFull review: Palm Treo 800wIt has been quite some time since Palm has come to the table with a new Windows Mobile Professional device: enter the Treo 800W, WM 6.1. At first glance it doesn’t appear all that different than its predecessor, the Treo 750W. But there are some subtle and not so subtle differences. Read Tim Hillebrand's comprehensive review of the Palm Treo 800w. -- Posted Monday, July 28, 2008 by chbFull Facebook on your Mobile PhoneHave you ever wished you could be notified automatically on your phone what’s happening on your Facebook site? Better yet, what if you could see what’s transpiring and be able to interact with Facebook on your phone just as you would on your desktop? A free application from Macrospecs, Inc. called FriendMobilizer makes this possible. [Read review of Friend Mobilizer] -- Posted Monday, July 28, 2008 by chbFull review: RMT Duros rugged tablet We reviewed the RMT Duros, a time- and field-tested rugged tablet computer made by one of the most respected manufacturers in the business. The compact tablet has a footprint of 10.2 x 7.8 inches and weighs just over four pounds. The body is made of aluminum and feels exceedingly solid and invulnerable. The bright 8.4" display has a responsive and very configurable touch screen. The Duros is a very rugged unit that is totally sealed against dust and can also handle water jets from all sides. It has a very wide operating temperature range (-4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit) and you never have to worry about it getting damaged. [Read full review of the RMT Duros rugged tablet computer] -- Posted Thursday, July 17, 2008 by chbPalm releases handy Windows Mobile-based Treo 800w Palm introduced the Treo 800w, a Windows Mobile 6.1-based smartphone for the Sprint network. The new Palm Treo measures 4.4x2.2x0.7 inches and weighs five ounces. It has a small 2.5-inch 320 x 320 pixel display, integrated GPS, a thumb-type keyboard, a 2-megapixel camera that can do video and a microSD card slot. The 800w is larger than the Palm Centro, but smaller and handier than the old Palm Treo 700. [Read description of the Palm Treo 800w] -- Posted Wednesday, July 16, 2008 by chbPana migrates CF-52 and CF-74 to Centrino 2Panasonic announced upgrades to its semi-rugged Toughbook CF-52 and Toughbook CF-74 including migration to the new Intel Centrino 2 processor technology, enhanced video and graphics capabilities, increased hard drive capacity (160GB) as well as expanded Wi-Fi performance with the addition of 802.11 Draft N. A CF-52 Value model will have an Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz, the CF-52 Premium an Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 2.4GHz, and the CF-74 the 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 2.4GHz. Intel's Centrino 2 includes 45nm Core 2 Duo processors, the Mobile Intel 45 Express Chipset and Intel WiFi Link 5000, and represents an effort by Intel to sell chipsets and WiFi in addition to just processors, and to create the impression that a "Centrino 2 Inside" sticker represents a better computer. -- Posted Wednesday, July 16, 2008 by chbMake space for WinterfaceVito Technology, one of the leading Windows Mobile developers, has just added an exciting new workhorse to its stable of finger-friendly iPhone-like applications. It’s called Winterface and functions as a program launcher, system monitor, and task manager. [Read Winterface review] -- Posted Monday, July 14, 2008 by chbGarmin releases Oregon series of waterproof touchscreen GPS devices  Garmin introduced the Oregon series of handheld GPS devices for outdoor, marine and general applications, combining a touchscreen, rugged design and a variety of preloaded mapping options. The waterproof (IPx7 sealing) Oregon models weigh less than seven ounces, have a microSD card slot, barometric altimeter and electronic compass, and run 16 hours on two AA batteries. The Oregon 400t has 3D U.S. topographic maps. The 400i offers shoreline details, depth contours and boat ramps for U.S. inland lakes and rivers. The 400c provides charts for the coastal U.S. and Bahamas. The Oregon 300 has a worldwide basemap with shaded relief, and the Oregon 200 a basemap that can be supplemented with additional mapping. These new devices seem ideal to supplement rugged applications. Click for a full product comparison table] -- Posted Thursday, July 10, 2008 by chbiPhone 3G: initial reviewsAccording to news.com, the first few reviews on the iPhone 3G are in. Here are the findings: 1) Battery life no better or less, perhaps due to higher power demand of 3G; 2) GPS reception and performance unexpectedly good; 3) dramatically improved audio quality; 4) $360 extra service costs for basic service over the 2-year contract negates hardware savings; 5) data speeds 3-5 times faster. For initial reviews click: Walt Mossberg, David Pogue. -- Posted Wednesday, July 9, 2008 by chbExtreme testing -- we're taking a Tablet PC underwaterRugged computers are usually tested in accordance with stringent military procedures. But what do these environmental specifications mean in the real world? What happens when you spill more than a soda onto a computer? For example, could you take an IP54-rated rugged Tablet PC underwater? Rugged Tablet PC vendor MobileDemand encouraged us to find out. Click on the video window to see what happened, or view a larger version on blip.tv. -- Posted Monday, July 7, 2008 by chb3G iPhone: In-store activation onlyThinking of getting an iPhone 3G when it goes on sale Friday, July 11? Better prepare for a long wait and some hassle as this time you must have it activated in the store. Apple and AT&T probably decided to do it this way to cut down on unlocking and reselling iPhones. For us regular folks, it's just more hassle and further proof that the phone companies now own the market and even companies like Apple have sold out to them. -- Posted Monday, July 7, 2008 by chbInterKey Keyboard for Windows MobileThere is a proliferation of SIP keyboards for Windows Mobile touch screen devices lately. A longtime favorite is Tengo because it uses only six keys to get the basic job done. Some other new arrivals include TouchPal and ZoomBoard, both interesting choices to consider as well. InterKey derives its name from its International aspect by supporting 36 languages and 60 keyboard layouts: “Inter” for international and “key” for keyboard=InterKey. [Read review of the InterKey keyboard] -- Posted Sunday, July 6, 2008 by chbFiling made easy with SimplyFileIt is probably safe to say that most of the world uses Outlook. As Windows Mobilers, we use it on our handhelds as well. So, what happens on the desktop usually carries over to the handset. Accordingly, I would like to tell you about an application that I recently discovered that I think will make your life easie It’s called SimplyFile. [Read review of SimplyFile] -- Posted Saturday, July 5, 2008 by chbHoneywell announces Dolphin 9900 Series Hand Held Products, now part of Honeywell's Imaging and Mobility group, announced the Dolphin 9900 Series of ruggedized data collection and communications terminals. The 9900 runs Windows Mobile 6.0 on a 624MHz Marvell PXA270 processor, has 256MB of RAM and a full gigabyte of Flash. It can scan 1D and 2D symbologies, and supports WiFi, WWAN and GPS. There's a choice of two shifted and full alphanumeric keyboards and the battery lasts for over ten hours. [Read description and specs of the Honeywell Dolphin 9900 Series] -- Posted Thursday, July 3, 2008 by chbAT&T jacks up rates for new iPhone 3GThe good news is that the new Apple iPhone, which will become available on July 11, goes for US$199 (8MB version) and US$299 (16GB version). The bad news is that AT&T is jacking up the rates. Whereas basic service (450 minutes + unlimited data) used to be US$59.99 including 200 SMS messages, the new basic rate is US$69.99, without any SMS messages included. 200 SMS messages are US$5, so AT&T jacked up the rates by 25% for a comparable individual service plan. -- Posted Tuesday, July 1, 2008 by chbFull review: Advantech MARS-1031N rugged handheld Rugged Windows CE-based handheld terminals are used in tough jobs around the world by the hundreds of thousands. The Advantech MARS-1031N is a prime example of an ultra-rugged yet compact and lightweight handheld computer for a large variety of field service, logistics, and data capture applications. Based on field-proven technology (Windows CE 5.0 running on a Marvell PXA 27x processor), the MARS-1031 is a highly configurable workhorse that can handle data and voice communications and 1D/2D scanning in addition to conventional data capture. The availability of two different keyboards (16 and 44 keys) helps in customizing the unit for a given task. [Read full review of the Advantech MARS-1031N] -- Posted Tuesday, July 1, 2008 by chb210,000 signatures on Save Windows XP petitionInfoworld has submitted to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer a petition with over 210,000 names to continue to make Windows XP available. As is, while XP will be available on certain laptops and as a "downgrade," you can no longer just buy Windows XP after today (June 30, 2008). Infoworld, and many others, felt that given the endless problems with Windows Vista, XP should remain available. [Read Infoworld's final plea to save Windows XP] -- Posted Monday, June 30, 2008 by chbReview: SPB Backup 2.0SPB allows you to create backup copies of your entire Windows Mobile system, not just your data. So, in the event of a crash, you can restore the whole system just as it was without having to go through the laborious process of reinstalling all your applications and re-registering them. [See review of SPB Backup 2.0] -- Posted Monday, June 30, 2008 by chbChrysler launches in-vehicle wireless internetThe good news: Chrysler is launching uconnect web, an in-vehicle wireless internet connectivity system that seamlessly combines WiFi and 3G to provide web access in the vehicle. The bad news: $449 for the router, dealer installation, activation, and another $29/month for Autonet Mobile service. -- Posted Thursday, June 26, 2008 by chbWho makes notebooks?Who makes notebook computers? If you think it's HP, Dell, Apple, Toshiba and the like, think again. 90% of all notebooks are made by five Taiwanese companies for HP et al. Even the Japanese are only making a small percentage of their notebooks inhouse. -- Posted Thursday, June 26, 2008 by chbPanasonic introduces rugged UMPC With the CF-01 rugged PDA no longer available, Panasonic introduced a rugged ultra-mobile PC, the Toughbook CF-U1. It's a magnesium-bodied tablet built around Intel's highly energy-efficient Atom Z5200 processor that promises up to nine hours of operation from twin batteries. The U1 has a 5.4-inch 1024 x 600 pixel touchscreen, an expanded thumb keyboard, and great connectivity both onboard and via expansion modules that can accommodate a SmardCard or RFID reader. Also available are 1D/2D barcode readers, GPS and a 2 megapixel camera. Pricing starts at US$2,499. [Read description and specs of the Panasonic Toughbook U1] -- Posted Thursday, June 26, 2008 by chbFree seminar by Intermec and Microsoft on benefits of WIndows Mobile 6.1On June 30, 2008, Intermec will host a free webinar, Windows Mobile 6.1: Benefits for Mobile Computer Users. The one-hour, educational online event will provide insight from both Intermec and Microsoft on how the Windows Mobile 6.1 platform enhances the performance, security, device management, battery life, virtual memory and capabilities of mobile computing. The event begins at 9:00 a.m. Pacific/12:00 p.m. Eastern and features Intermec Principal Product Manager Kelly Ungs and Microsoft Pre-Sales Engineer Jason Johnson. [Click to sign up for the free webinar] -- Posted Wednesday, June 25, 2008 by chbNokia to buy the rest of Symbian, make it royalty-freeFirst there was Psion with its elegant but commercially unsuccessful handhelds, then the Symbian OS jointly managed by a consortium. Now Nokia will pay $410 million for the the 52% of Symbian shares it does not already own. And Nokia says it will make its software royalty-free to boost smartphone sales and respond to emerging rivals. As is, Symbian is said to be used in two-thirds of all smartphones (WinMo is on 13%) and 6% of all mobile phones. -- Posted Tuesday, June 24, 2008 by chbUsing a rugged Tablet PC as a hammerIn its latest video, MobileDemand shows a man using an xTablet Tablet PC as a hammer to drive several large nails into a board. An accelerometer is attached to the computer to record impact data. [See "We could use a hammer..." or view the video on blip.tv] -- Posted Monday, June 23, 2008 by chbDatalogic Kyman now with Windows Mobile 6.0 We added the Datalogic Kyman rugged handheld computer, a modern data capture device now available with Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional. The IP64-sealed Kyman, which can be ordered with either a 36 or 58-key keypad, has a very powerful battery, a variety of data capture options (RFID, imager, laser, long-range laser), supports GSM/GPRS/EDGE, and is able to survive 6-foot drops and opeate in a wide -4 to 122 degree Fahrenheit temperature range. [See description and specs of the Datalogic Kyman rugged handheld.] -- Posted Sunday, June 22, 2008 by chbReview: Tritton AxVisor BT Car KitOne of our major beefs with Bluetooth is that it can be frustrating to get devices connected and shaking hands properly. If this is an issue for you, try the Tritton AxVisor Bluetooth Car Kit! [Read review of the Tritton AxVisor Bluetooth Car Kit]. -- Posted Wednesday, June 18, 2008 by chbLXE updates rugged MX3X handheld and VX3X fixed-mount LXE introduced new versions of its MX3X rugged handheld and very similar VX3X rugged fixed-mount computer. Both use the "open book" design with a half-VGA display and integrated keyboard, a design that originated with early Windows CE devices and is now regaining popularity in the UMPC space. One problem with half-VGA displays was that most were older STN technology LCDs. LXE fixed that with the introduction of the MX3XPlus and VX3XPlus, both of which are available with either a high-bright 350 nit indoor TFT or a transflective sunlight-readable outdoor display. [See description and specs of the LXE MX3XPlus and LXE VX3XPlus]. -- Posted Wednesday, June 18, 2008 by chbMicrosoft releases Windows Embedded NavReady 2009Microsoft announced the availability of Windows Embedded NavReady 2009, Microsoft's first embedded operating system designed specifically for OEMs building handheld portable navigation devices (PNDs). Windows Embedded NavReady 2009 helps developers and OEMs quickly bring to market smart, connected, service-oriented PNDs that easily connect to online services, mobile phones using Bluetooth, Windows-based PCs and the Internet. Embedded NavReady 2009 is based on Windows Embedded CE is Microsoft's second device category-specific offerings after Windows Embedded POSReady. -- Posted Tuesday, June 17, 2008 by chbFujitsu's little U810 wins eWeek Excellence awardFujitsu announced that its LifeBook U810 convertible mini-notebook won the 8th Annual eWEEK Excellence Awards in the desktops and notebooks category. Fujitsu bested Hewlett-Packard's HP Compaq dc7800 and Lenovo's ThinkPad T61. [see description and specs of the Fujitsu Lifebook U810] -- Posted Monday, June 16, 2008 by chbSnagIt 9 even betterIt is difficult to imagine that there have been significant enhancements to SnagIt. We thought it had pretty much reached its zenith, but SnagIt 9 manages to improve an already superb product that captures screen shots of all kinds in a flash.Read Tim's review of SnagIt 9] -- Posted Sunday, June 15, 2008 by chbMotorola launches MC75 enterprise digital assistant Symbol's ruggedized MC70 "enterprise digital assistant," launched a couple of years ago and selling nearly half a million units, received an update in the form of the now Motorola-branded MC75. While retaining the PXA270 chip, the new model had twice the memory, a full VGA display instead of just quarter-VGA, and a more powerful battery. The MC75 runs on Windows Mobile 6.0, can be equipped either with a 1D linear scanner or a 2D imager. The device is fully VoIP-capable and also supports 3G HSDPA and CDMA-EVDO. [Read description and specs of the Motorola MC75] -- Posted Monday, June 9, 2008 by chbTSA checking e-boarding passes with Psion Teklogix handhelds In an effort to reduce the vulnerability associated with fraudulent boarding passes, the United States Transport Security Administration (TSA) has partnered with Continental and Northwest Airlines to create paperless encrypted boarding passes displayed on passengers' cellphones or PDAs. At the checkpoint, TSA Officers are using Psion Teklogix WORKABOUT PRO rugged handhelds to read the bar code to verify the authenticity of the boarding pass. [See TSA release and Psion Teklogix press release] -- Posted Wednesday, June 4, 2008 by chbAtom-powered Wind Ten or 15 years ago a generation of subnotebooks didn't fly, but now everyone is trying again. With the Wind ("WiFi Internet Device") MSI Computer claims to have the first 10-inch notebook powered by Intel's super-efficient Atom processor. The 2.6-pound little marvel has a 1.6GHz chip, 512MB RAM, a 1024 x 600 pixel display with LED backlight, a 80GB SATA drive, 1.3MP webcam, Bluetooth and WiFi. The Wind goes for US$499 with XP Home, or $100 less with Linux. -- Posted Tuesday, June 3, 2008 by chbNVIDIA releases powerful rival to Marvell PXA chipsNVIDIA introduced the Tegra family of processors, a single-chip package smaller than a dime capable of the high definition and internet experiences you'd expect from a PC, but on small pocket type devices. Tegra uses multiple processors, each designed for a specific class of tasks - an 800 MHz ARM CPU, a HD video processor, an imaging processor, an audio processor, and an ultra-low power GeForce GPU. Expect to see Tegra in some stunningly powerful new Windows Mobile devices and other smartphones/internet access gadgets. [See NVIDIA Tegra page] -- Posted Monday, June 2, 2008 by chbFull review: GETAC E100 -- light and handy tablet Getac introduced the E100 in early 2008 as a light, versatile rugged Ultra Portable Tablet PC for field and customer service applications. It's smaller than a standard sheet of paper and weighs just a bit over three pounds. It has a magnesium housing and an integrated numeric keypad makes rapid data entry easy. The E100 is totally silent as there is no fan. The Intel A110-powered tablet also has a SmartCard reader, an ExpressCard slot, and that it can be equipped with integrated GPS and your choice of 3G wireless network connectivity. The 8.4-inch display is sunlight-readable and the battery is strong enough to last almost four hours. [Read full review of the Getac E100 rugged Tablet PC.] -- Posted Sunday, June 1, 2008 by chbVDC: Solid growth in handheld scanners aheadVenture Development Corporation is bullish on handheld bar code scanners, predicting solid growth through 2012. Global handheld bar code scanner revenues were US$861.5 million in 2007 and are expected to grow to $1.24 billion in 2012. -- Posted Thursday, May 29, 2008 by chbFull review: Advantech MARS 3100R rugged Tablet PC We reviewed the Advantech MARS-3100R, a rugged industrial tablet computer from an experienced Taiwanese embedded and industrial systems company with a worldwide presence. It's small and handy, and weighs just five pounds. A 1.2GHz Intel Core Duo U2500 processor provides a good balance between performance and battery life. The aluminum-alloy body is very solid, sealed to IP54 specs, and can take a beating. Combined with full 1024 x 768 pixel XGA resolution on a 10.4-inch display with dual panel input, the MARS-3100R excels in applications that require as much screen real estate as possible in a very compact, rugged computer. [Read full review of the Advantech MARS 3100R rugged Tablet PC] -- Posted Tuesday, May 27, 2008 by chbHandheld US introduces slender, versatile rugged PDA Handheld U.S., a North American subsidiary of Europe's HHCS, announced the M3 Mobile handheld computer that combines extreme ruggedness, versatility and a slim profile to make a compelling package for a variety of applications and markets. The M3 Mobile runs the Window Mobile Phone Edition, but can also accommodate a laser scanner or imager, and GPS. It has an integrated 2 megapixel camera with LED illuminator and a Mini-SD slot for memory expansion. It can survive drops from 5 feet and carries IP64 sealing. [Read description and specs of the M3 Mobile by Handheld U.S.] -- Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2008 by chbTrimble releases major tech upgrade to GeoExplorer series Trimble introduced a major tech upgrade to its GeoExplorer series of ruggedized GPS handhelds. Now called the GeoExplorer 2008 Series, the line consists of the GeoXM, GeoXT, and GeoXH models, all designed for use in geographic information systems applications. They are technologically identical except for varying degrees of GPS accuracy and performance. The new models, now based on Windows Mobile 6 Classic, are faster, have twice the memory and Flash, have full VGA (480 x 640 pixel) resolution, have faster WiFi, offer better water sealing, and have an even wider operating temperature range. [See description and specs of the Trimble GeoExplorer 2008 Series] -- Posted Friday, May 16, 2008 by chbEye-Fi expands lineup of WiFi SD cards Last year,  What's New?  Palm Treo 800w RMT Duros rugged slate Advantech MARS-1031 rugged handheld Panasonic's rugged CF-U1 UMPC Panasonic Toughbook CF-30, latest version Sectera: General Dynamic's military smartphone Ricoh 500SE: shock/waterproof barcode scanner camera HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion DRS ARMOR C12 Dell Latitude XT Tablet PC Toshiba Portege R500 HTC Shift Juniper Systems Archer Neonode N2 GETAC V100 rugged notebook convertible Palm Centro smartphone Trimble Nomad HP iPAQ 910 HP iPAQ 610 HP iPAQ 310 HP iPAQ 210 HP iPAQ 110 iPhone: Apple changes the world. Again. iPhone: The Wait. The Day. The Phone Itronix GoBook VR-2 Itronix DynaVue Technology GETAC A790 rugged Palm Foleo Outdoor readable screens 07 Living with the iPAQ hw6915 HP iPAQ hw6925 Palm Treo 755p GETAC M230 slim rugged Motion Computing LE1700 Symbol/Motorola MC35 Motion Computing C5 HP iPAQ 500 Series UMPC at the end of 2006 Palm Treo 750 Toshiba Tecra M7 Otterbox rugged case Itronix Factory Tour Mid-2006 TPC with outdoor-readable screen Inductive vs. resistive The NeoNode N1 UMPC: Samsung Q1 UMPC: Update Hot: Location-Based Services TPC with Outdoor-Readable Screen Search Webpencomputing.com Featured Reviews iPhone: Apple changes the world. Again. Itronix GoBook VR-2 GETAC A790 ruggedGETAC M230 slim ruggedMotion Computing LE1700Symbol/Motorola MC35Motion Computing C5HP iPAQ 500 SeriesHP iPAQ rx5900Palm Treo 750Toshiba Tecra Mt7Portege M400 road testDRS Hammerhead XtremeElectrovaya Scribbler SC-3100Toshiba Tecra M4Motion LS800Twinhead Durabook N14RAToshiba Portege M400Itronix GoBook VR1Motion LE1600HP Compaq tc4200Itronix Duo-TouchOQO model01Motion M1400Garmin iQue M5iPAQ h6315Dell Axim X50vAsus A730wItronix GoBook IIIItronix GoBook VR1WalkAbout RT900/XRTGetac A770Panasonic CF-29Casio IT-3000iPAQ 1700/3000/4700Motorola v710Electrovaya SC2000HP TC1100Fujitsu Stylistic ST5000Sharp Actius TN 10WTungsten T3Sony UX50Dana WirelessTungsten ETapwave ZodiacSamsung i500Sony CLIE NX80VIntermec CT60Electrovaya ScribblerXplore iX104FIC SlateVisionHP iPAQ 4000 SeriesHP iPAQ h2215Danger HipTopPalm Zire 71Tungsten CTungsten WSony NZ90Kyocera 7135HP iPAQ 5450HP iPAQ 1900Dell Axim X5Palm Tungsten TAlphaSmart DanaViewSonic V35Toshiba e335Toshiba e740New iPAQsAcer C100Compaq TC1000Fujitsu Stylistic ST4000Motion M1200Toshiba Portege 3500ViewSonic V1100T-Mobile PPCSony CLIE SJ20 & SJ30Bluetooth vs TreoCLIE NR70VTreo 270Treo 90Panasonic 07Panasonic 01IBM TransNotePalm m515Palm m130Handspring Treo 180Palm i705Sony T415iPAQ 3800 SeriesToshiba e570Casio E-200Sony S320 & MYLOSony N610CPalm m125Visor Neo & ProHP Jornada 568Casio IT-700Itronix GoBookFujitsu 3500Sony Clie 710cNEC MobilePro 790Kyocera SmartphoneCasio BE-300HandEra 330Palm m500 and m505HP Jornada 525Intermec Model 70UR There @migoFujitsu LT C-500Handspring Visor EdgeVisorPhonePalm m105All Palm devices Classics Panasonic Factory TourThe Tablet PC projectThe Jeff Hawkins Story Older Features Technology: NeoMagic Pen Reader Q&A Pen review oldies Treo 700w software Origami revealed 2006 CES Report RuggedPCReview.com Tablet PC Q&A MEA '05 Mobile Impact Awards |
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