November 2013
Canalysis: tablets to make up 50% of PC market in 2014
Independent analyst firm Canalys predicts that in 2014 tablets will almost outship all other PC form factors (desktops, notebooks, and tablets) combined. The worldwide client PC market grew 18% in Q3 2013, despite desktop and notebook shipments continuing to decline. Tablet shipments accounted for 40% of PC shipments in Q3 2013, less than half a million units behind global notebook shipments. Tablet domination is set to continue, with Canalys forecasting 285 million units to ship in 2014, growing to 396 million in 2017. Apple and Samsung are expected to stay ahead, though competition in the tablet market continues to heat up. [See Canalysis report] -- Posted Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Juniper System blog on the importance of long-lasting batteries in rugged handhelds
Interesting article on Juniper Systems' Get Rugged blog. With some tablets and notebooks now able to go 10+ hours on a charge, one should expect at least as much from rugged handhelds, and Juniper says the "Overtime Technology" battery of its Archer 2 ultra-rugged handheld can double that, and then some. [See Juniper Systems blog on long-lasting batteries] -- Posted Monday, November 25, 2013
State of Outdoor-Viewable Displays Late 2013
One of the big differentiating factors in ruggedized mobile computers is how well the display is suited for work outdoors in bright daylight and in direct sunlight. This can make the difference between a device being useful and productivity-enhancing, or frustrating and nearly useless. Why is this such a big issue? Aren't today's displays so good that the only thing that matters is how large a display you want, and perhaps what resolution it should have? For indoor use that's true, but outdoors it's an entirely different story. RuggedPCReview editor Conrad Blickenstorfer examines the current situation in outdoor-viewable displays. [Read full article] -- Posted Thursday, November 21, 2013
Xplore Technologies blog entries: rugged tablets used in Reebok Spartan Race and Law Enforcement
Xplore Technologies posted two interesting new blog entries at its site. "Rugged Tablets and the Spartan Race" explains how Xplore's RangerX rugged Android tablet is used at the Reebok Spartan Race (the RangerX is actually the official tablet at the Spartan endurance race). "Rugged Tablets Aid Law Enforcement" describes why rugged tablets such as Xplore's iX104C5 are increasingly used in the fast-paced world of law enforcement. -- Posted Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Motion Computing J-Series tablet camera training
Modern tablets have a wealth of powerful features that can greatly enhance productivity, but are not always obvious or easy to use/figure out. Manuals help, but a good instruction video is almost always better. Tablet pioneer Motion Computing knows that and just released the latest in their series of Motion product training videos. This one shows how to best use the camera in Motion J-Series ruggedized tablets, and how to use the many graphics tools available. [See Motion's J-Series Camera Usage instruction video] -- Posted Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Trimble announces special Yuma 2 rugged tablet deal
Trimble Mobile Computing Solutions announced a special deal where customers get a complimentary extended battery pack (a US$279 value) when they order a Trimble Yuma 2 rugged tablet computer before the end of the year. The Yuma 2, a fully-rugged tablet truly designed for outdoor work, boasts IP65 and MIL-STD-810G certifications and a display that uses unique transflective technology to be easily readable in direct sunlight. It is ready for all-day use with a dual-battery set that can be changed out with the external battery pack accessory, giving workers un-interrupted productivity and power. [See Trimble Yuma 2] -- Posted Monday, November 11, 2013
iPad Air teardown -- the cost of thinness
The crafty folks at ifixit.com (whose terrific tools we use at the RuggedPCReview.com's lab) tore down a brand-new iPad Air to see what's inside and how easy it is to repair. As far as the latter goes, not very. They found impressive feats of miniaturization, but at the cost of a "repairability score" of just 2 out of 10. And a diminished battery. Such is the cost of excessive thinness. [See ifixit.com's iPad Air Teardown] -- Posted Thursday, November 7, 2013
Promethean KUNO Android tablet solution for mobile learning
Promethean and KUNO announced a new 9.7-inch Android 4.1-based education tablet learning system, the Promethean KUNO, that is compatible with most district curriculum, software, and applications. Additionally, the tablet comes preloaded with Promethean's ActivEngage2 software. The 1.6-pound tablet combines rugged hardware, device management and student response software to bring digital learning to every classroom. [See press release and Promethean KUNO spec sheet] -- Posted Wednesday, November 6, 2013