May 2020

42Gears achieves Zebra Technologies validation
42Gears, a Zebra PartnerConnect Independent Software Partner, today announced that it has successfully completed Zebra Technologies' Validated Program for SureMDM, its mobile device management solution. This designation indicates to customers and partners that SureMDM was successfully tested — confirming its performance and functionality with select Zebra devices. SureMDM also supports Zebra's LifeGuard™ Over-The-Air (OTA) updates for Zebra's Android™ devices enabling customers to better secure and manage Zebra's enterprise-class Android-based mobile computing devices, increasing front-line worker productivity. [See 42Gears media release] -- Posted Thursday, May 28, 2020

Docking Solutions for Getac UX10: Havis continues developing partnership with Getac
Havis, Inc., is pleased to announce the release of its new tablet docking series for the Getac UX10 Tablet. Havis, a leading designer and manufacturer of in-vehicle mobile working solutions, is excited to continue developing products with Getac. The Getac UX10 Tablet is a versatile and cost-effective device that drives performance on any job. The Havis UX10 dock ensures portable performance for the tablet in the most demanding environments like public safety, utility services, material handling, industrial manufacturing, and more. [See Havis media release] -- Posted Thursday, May 28, 2020

noax boosts WLAN performance in its logistics computers
Continuous uninterrupted data transfer is essential for smooth operations in warehouses and logistics. New internal WLAN antennas on noax warehouse and logistics computers provide excellent reception capabilities and are designed specifically for mobile use. noax logistics terminals also allow for extensive control over internal wireless settings for optimal connectivity, reduced loss of data, and perfect adaptation to customer infrastructures. [See noax media release] -- Posted Thursday, May 28, 2020

Useful: Kiosk Marketplace Coronavirus/COVID-19 Topic Center
In these difficult times, kiosks represent an attractive non-personal contact option to get information, conduct business, and much more. To that extent, KioskMarketplace.com, the leading source of news about the kiosk industry worldwide, offers a very useful information and comprehensive topic center on COVID-19-related kiosk issues and opportunities. Check it out at Kiosk Marketplace Coronavirus / COVID-19 Topic Center. -- Posted Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Notebook leaders see best April sales ever
Global top-5 notebook brands saw their combined shipments in April grow 12% on month to reach a new record for the month, as parts of their shipments originally scheduled for delivery in March were deferred to April, and demand for notebooks from users working and studying from home in mature markets was stronger than expected, according to Digitimes Research's latest figures from its notebook tracker. -- Posted Monday, May 25, 2020

Motorola Solutions delivers V300 body-worn cameras to support COVID-19 response
Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) today announced the availability of the newest addition to its video security and analytics portfolio, the WatchGuard V300 continuous-operation Body-Worn Camera. The V300 is the first in the industry to address law enforcement's need for body-worn cameras that remain operational beyond a 12-hour shift. Swappable battery packs and 128 GB of memory enable it to operate continuously while officers are in the field. [See Motorola Solutions media release] -- Posted Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Full review: New Durabook U11 with 10th gen Intel Core processor
First in its class with a selection of Intel 10th generation Core processors, Durabook's elegant, versatile and fully-rugged Durabook U11 Windows tablet represents the state-of-the-art. RuggedPCReview performed a full analysis, testing, as well as comparisons to earlier U11 and other Durabook tablets. The fanless Durabook U11 performed exceptionally well and addresses the many requirements of markets such as public safety, oil & gas, the military, and others that require a light, handy and broadly configurable Windows tablet with plenty of performance to tackle any job in the field. [See full review of the Durabook U11 rugged tablet] -- Posted Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Durabook unveils first rugged tablet with Intel's 10th Gen Intel Core™ processor
Durabook Americas, Inc., a leading manufacturer of rugged computing solutions, including the Durabook line of laptops, mobile tablets, and all-in-one computers, today announced they have upgraded the popular U11. The new model is the first to feature the 10th generation Intel® Core™ processor, an exclusive quick-removable PCIe SSD, and a fanless design. Setting the pace for today's 'new normal' world, the Durabook U11 tablet is TAA compliant, improves performance by almost 260%, and is easy to clean and disinfect. [See Durabook media release] -- Posted Tuesday, May 19, 2020

DT Research case study: How the Maysville PD transformed their cruisers into 'mobile offices' with large-screen tablets
Officer.com published an interesting case study that describes how the Maysville, Kentucky, police department upgraded the computing gear in their patrol cars. One of their issues had been that the screens on their prior equipment had been too small. Upon seeing that the U.S Navy selected DT Research rugged tablets for a five-year deployment for Naval personnel working at various shipyards across the country, the Maysville PD examined DT Research as well, and ended up outfitting the majority of their cruisers with large-screen rugged DT313T tablets. [See How the Maysville PD transformed their cruisers into 'mobile offices' with large-screen tablets] -- Posted Monday, May 18, 2020

iPad with MobileDemand rugged cases donation to county hospitals allows isolated COVID-19 patients to virtually visit friends and family
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) announced the donation of 300 iPads to its four hospitals to facilitate patient-family communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. The gift is through a partnership with the Annenberg Foundation, Brilliant Corners, and the Los Angeles County Center for Strategic Partnerships. A second donation, by MobileDemand, provides rugged, protective healthcare iPad cases to protect against damage and loss. The rugged case also has an adjustable easel attached, providing effortless viewing for patients who are too weak to hold a tablet. [See news release] -- Posted Monday, May 18, 2020

What happened in rugged computing 10 years ago? May 2010
In May of 2010, we wondered if 4G was ready for prime time, and whether WiMax was going anywhere. RAM Mounts offered mounting solutions for the new iPad. We reported that Panasonic and Motion were among the first to upgrade from Core 2 Duo to Intel's new Core processors. We reviewed Panasonic's new Toughbook 31, Data Ltd's DLI 8400, and shook our heads when Bill Gates predicted that netbooks would be the future of digital reading. Getac scored two "Best Choice" awards at the 2010 Computex Taiwan. LXE quarterly revenues were up 28% from the year before, but Intermec's Q1 revenues were down. Intel introduced the Atom Z6xx platform, QSI added two new TREQ vehicle terminals, and Juniper Systems announced its partnership with Beijing Water & Land. [See RuggedPCReview archives May 2010] -- Posted Monday, May 18, 2020

Huawei's US woes
According to engadget, Chinese electronics powerhouse Huawei is struggling with US trade bans that include use of Google's full version of Android. The company has resorted to re-releasing phones that go back to before the ban, as well as new phones using Android AOSP, the open source version of Android that does not include access to the Google Play Store or most of Google's popular apps. Engadget said that "Drastically lower sales numbers indicate that the change could be a big turnoff for users." [See Huawei skirts US trade bans with a 'new' P30 Pro] -- Posted Thursday, May 14, 2020

Zebra study: 7 in 10 public safety agencies see need to speed up mobile technology adoption
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, today released study findings that reveal public safety agencies globally will increasingly adopt mobile technologies to continuously improve workflows and community relations within the next five years. The final of Zebra's three-part Future of Field Operations: Public Safety vision study shows that 86 percent of public safety respondents have indicated their agencies are taking a mobile-first approach in their technology strategies, and workflows are designed around first responders and their mobile devices. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Cincoze unveils GM-1000 rugged compact GPU computer
Cincoze, a professional manufacturer of embedded systems, unveils the GM-1000 rugged GPU computer, which is powered by the 9th/8th generation Intel® CPU and supports one MXM GPU module expansion. This GPU computer provides high-performance computing capability with a small footprint design, which is suitable for applications like edge computing, machine vision, image processing, and artificial intelligence. [See Cincoze media release] -- Posted Monday, May 11, 2020

Full review: Winmate Stainless B Series Panel PCs
With their Stainless B Series, Winmate offers a very innovative solution for projects where touch is required, but also the ability to rapidly respond to emergencies or suddenly changing conditions. Those potentially crucial functions are implemented with large hardware controls that can be used to instantly control functions or external machinery or processes. This can cut cost, increase safety, enhance productivity, and eliminate relying on onscreen menus. [See full review of the Winmate Stainless B Series Panel PCs and monitors] -- Posted Monday, May 11, 2020

Janam and Barcodes help the The Dentists Supply Company
As economies around the world slowly ramp up again, inventory management and supply chain issues will play an important role in the path to resume services, reactivate jobs, and catch up on demand. A case study by Janam, a leading provider of rugged mobile computers, shows how Janam and Barcodes, Inc. helped Nevada-based The Dentists Supply Company to set up a more efficient process for shipping and receiving products while optimizing inventory levels and maximizing space within the warehouse and distribution centers. [See Janam and Barcodes help the The Dentists Supply Company] -- Posted Monday, May 11, 2020

U.S. rugged device manufacturer Juniper Systems sees strong demand as global supply chains are impacted by COVID-19
While rugged device manufacturing giants are experiencing manufacturing shutdowns, supply shortage of parts, and extended product lead times, U.S. rugged device manufacturers like Juniper Systems are seeing strong product demand. "We've seen a lot of new resellers and users coming to us recently due to our unique short lead times," said Phillip Biggs, inside sales manager. "A lot of them tell us that other rugged tech manufacturers are months out on product because of everything going on." [See Juniper Systems media release] -- Posted Monday, May 11, 2020

Getac April revenues hit record
According to DigiTimes, ruggedized notebook and tablet maker Getac Technology has reported consolidated revenues of US$85.7 million for April, a monthly record with growth of 19.7% sequentially and 21.0% on year. For ruggedized notebooks and tablets, 40-50% of the demand comes from the government sector including military units, with shipments not affected by the pandemic, Getac noted. -- Posted Friday, May 8, 2020

faytech products added into the portfolio of Dell Technologies
faytech informed us that their products have been added to the portfolio of Dell Technologies as a provider of industrial touchscreen displays. the faytech products are listed in the Special OEM | Embedded & Edge (OE&E) section, and are focused on providing customers with rugged and industrial touch interfaces for multiple application usages. (See our 2016 coverage of faytech) -- Posted Friday, May 8, 2020

Motorola Solutions reports flat revenue versus a year ago
Motorola Solutions reported flat sales of $1.655 billion for Q1 of 2020, compared to $1.655 billion Q1 2019. Approximately $137 million of revenue growth was related to acquisitions. GAP operating earnings were $259 million, versus $229 million same quarter a year ago. For Q2, 2020, Motorola Solutions expects revenue decline of (17%) to (14%) compared with the second quarter of 2019. [See Motorola Solutions press release] -- Posted Thursday, May 7, 2020

Microsoft introduced new Surface devices
Microsoft, the company that quietly and almost stealthily developed their Surface brand tablets and other devices into a multi-billion dollar business, announced two new Surface products. One is the 10.5-inch Surface Go 2 tablet (shown), and the other the Surface Book 3, available in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, and powered by 10th generation Intel Core processors. [See Microsoft media release] -- Posted Thursday, May 7, 2020

Voice-activated technology redefines the Internet of Things
According to an article in IoT World Today, voice-activated technology is redefining the Internet of Things. While the average person speaks about 15,000 words a day, increasingly they’re speaking those words to machines. The long-term ramifications for application development could be considerable. [See Voice-activated technology redefines the Internet of Things] -- Posted Thursday, May 7, 2020

Covid-19 catalyst for commercial drone deliveries?
According to British The Engineer, the first findings of Protolabs’ Horizon Shift report, involving 325 aerospace business leaders in Europe, highlight an increased appetite for 'low space' innovation — from drone manufacturers and urban air mobility providers — and more investment into the fast-track testing of robots and drones. More than half of companies questioned (53 per cent) believe commercial drone deliveries will be commonplace by 2023. -- Posted Thursday, May 7, 2020

First look: Datalogic's new Memor 20
There's huge opportunity in enterprise and industrial markets for state-of-the-art handhelds that look and behave like modern smartphones, but have more features and can handle a lot more abuse. That's what Datalogic is aiming for with their new Memor 20. We're taking a look at the Memor 20, what it is, and what it can do. [See description, analysis and specs of the Datalogic Memor 20] -- Posted Monday, May 4, 2020