April 2017
VDC: Demand for legacy WIndows platforms rapidly waning in rugged handhelds while Android gains traction
VDC Research issued a new report that analyses the approximately US$5 billion global rugged handheld and rugged smartphone market. VDC states that although a majority of available rugged handheld devices are still Windows-based, demand is rapidly waning for legacy Windows platforms such as Windows Mobile/Embedded Handheld 6.5 and Windows CE. Google’s Android continues to gain traction among enterprise users looking to leverage Android’s active app development ecosystem. Rugged OEMs are responding to the need to bridge the performance and functionality gaps with consumer mobile technology. Many are taking this OS shift as an opportunity to upgrade their aging portfolios. [See Taking Stock of the Rugged Handheld and Rugged Smartphone Product Portfolio] -- Posted Tuesday, April 25, 2017 by chb
Zebra Technologies unveils SmartPack Trailer solution to optimize loading operations
Zebra Technologies Corporation announced SmartPack Trailer which provides the transportation and logistics industry with real-time operational visibility. SmartPack Trailer captures load density, trailer fullness, packages scanned and loaded per hour, and other relevant data and visuals, helping organizations achieve optimal performance and profitability. This is in line with Zebra’s Enterprise Asset Intelligence strategy of capturing operational data at the point of activity and then analyzing that data to derive actionable insights for personnel and dock managers. [See Zebra media release and SmartPack Trailer page] -- Posted Friday, April 14, 2017 by chb
Juniper Systems Geode sub-meter GNSS receiver
Using modern positioning technology to determine location on the planet within two or three meters is incredible. But sometimes it's not good and accurate enough. That's where sub-meter accuracy comes in. In a recent Juniper Systems blog post, John Florio discusses their Geode sub-meter GPS receiver, a powerful, easy-to-use, and affordable GPS solution that works with Windows, Windows Mobile and Android devices. Geode can be mounted on a pole, in a pack, or held in your hand. The systems offers all-day battery life, optional GLONASS capability, and connects either via Bluetooth or wire. The Geode is also compatible with Juniper Systems Aspect software, and many other mapping applications available such as Esri Collector for ArcGIS, ArcPad, and more. [See Let’s talk Geode Sub-meter GPS Receiver] -- Posted Monday, April 10, 2017 by chb