January 2016

Stealth.com, which provides industrial computers and peripherals market, has released two new projected capacitive multi-touch Panelmount LCD Monitors in 17.3" and 21.5" sizes with 1080p resolution (1920 x 1080) in widescreen 16:9 format. They are shock and vibration tested and well equipped with VGA/HD15, DVI-D, Composite and S-Video video input connectors, and will easily integrate into an enclosure, cabinet, console, wall, kiosks or other applications. [See Stealth media release]

It's Smart-Ex now.
Sometimes you have a great brand that you worked hard on, and then something happens and the name isn't so great anymore. That's what happened to iSiS-Ex, the company that's been oil and gas industry HMI specialists, building intrinsically safe computing gear for over 20 years. So they changed their name to Smart-Ex. [See Smart-Ex media release] -- Posted Monday, January 25, 2016

Did Apple get the Pencil right?
Having professionally worked with, examined, and reviewed pens, pen-based, and touch-based mobile computing systems since 1993, we here at RuggedPCReview have an opinion or two on the matter. So did Apple get their highly promoted Pencil right? Umm... no. Why? Read our Follow-up on iPad Pro and Apple Pencil. -- Posted Sunday, January 24, 2016

Review: ultra-rugged Broadwell-powered RuggON Rextorm PX-501 with dual-mode input and excellent hi-res display
RuggON is a relatively new Taiwanese manufacturer of rugged tablets and vehicle-mounts with a growing lineup of impressive hardened mobile computing products. RuggedPCReview has had a chance to examine the company's flagship tablet, the Intel Broadwell-powered Rextorm PX-501, in detail and found a compelling modern tablet solution with dual-mode input and a terrific, super-bright 10.1-inch 1920 x 1200 display. [See full review of the RuggON Rextorm PX-501] -- Posted Thursday, January 21, 2016

Xplore Technologies takes top spot in America’s rugged tablet market share for second quarter in a row
Xplore Technologies announced it has secured the number one market share in rugged tablets in the Americas for the second quarter in a row, according to VDC Research. Reported in the 'Enterprise & Government Mobility Hardware Report on Rugged Mobile Quarterly Shipments', Xplore recorded significant Q3 2015 market leadership growth, growing from 28.3 percent to 37.1 percent market share. In addition to strong growth in the Americas, Xplore also grew its markets share in APAC to almost 11 percent. [See Xplore media release] -- Posted Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Trimble Kenai — positioning experts deliver a sensible, state-of-the art 10-inch class tablet suitable for almost any job
While Trimble is best known for its GPS products and expertise, the company integrates all sorts of positioning technologies (GPS, laser, optical and inertial) with application software, wireless communications, and services to provide complete commercial solutions. With the Intel Bay Trail-powered Kenai, Trimble adds a rugged, versatile 10-inch class Windows 10 tablet with full 1920 x 1200 resolution and finger, stylus and glove capable capacitive touch. [See description, analysis and specs of the Trimble Kenai] -- Posted Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Juniper releases fully rugged IP68-rated 7" Windows 10 tablet
Juniper Systems introduced the Mesa 2, the company's first ever handheld device to run full Windows. The Intel Bay Trail-powered Mesa 2 has a 1280 x 800 pixel 7-inch glove- and wet-capable capacitive multi-touch display with Dragontrail protective glass, runs Windows 10, and weighs just 1.5 pounds. Available with battery life up to 15 hours, the Mesa 2 is the only rugged Windows tablet with an IP68 rating, meaning it's totally waterproof. Juniper offers special GEO, barcode and RFID reader versions. [See media release and RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the Juniper Mesa 2] -- Posted Monday, January 18, 2016

Panasonic Toughbook continues sponsorship with NASCAR's Hendrick Motorsports, now with Kasey Kahne's #5
Panasonic announced that Panasonic Toughbook will become a primary sponsor of the No. 5 Chevrolet SS team of driver Kasey Kahne in 2016, continuing its nearly decade-long relationship with 11-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports. [See Panasonic press release] -- Posted Saturday, January 16, 2016

Unitech launches ultra-rugged keypad PDA
Unitech introduced the PA820, a Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5-based keypad PDA designed specifically for work in the most challenging environments imaginable. The PA820 can handle 6-foot drops, has a very wide -4 to 140 degree Fahrenheit operating range, and IP66 sealing. It includes a full-VGA capacitive touch display, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth and 3.75G WWAN, as well as GPS and camera and laser scanner. [See description, analysis and specs of the Unitech PA820] -- Posted Thursday, January 14, 2016

VDC Research: global rugged hardware market over US$1 billion Q3/2015 thanks to strong rugged handheld sales
VDC Research reports that in Q3 2015, the total rugged mobile hardware market grossed just over US$1 billion in revenue shipments. Global year-to-date (YTD) revenue shipments totaled $3.2 billion and YTD unit shipments totaled over $3.1 million units across the globe. Q3 also showed a market with weakened global demand for rugged notebooks, but strong revenue shipments for handheld devices. Overall, the rugged hardware market continued to maintain a strong global presence, even in spite of some areas of weakness and additional competition from consumer-grade technologies. VDC Research addresses these issues and more in Rugged Mobile Quarterly Shipments Q3 2015. -- Posted Friday, January 8, 2016

Zebra introduces innovative TC8000 mobile computer
Zebra Technologies introduced the enterprise-class Android-based TC8000 mobile computer whose novel, innovative design the company says can save an hour per worker per shift. Completely re-architected compared to standard pistol-grip handhelds, the 17-ounce, IP65-sealed TC8000 has a 4-inch 800 x 480 pixel multi-touch display, comes with either a Zebra SE965 laser or SE4750 imager, as well as All-touch TE software that transforms legacy "green screen" applications into all touch HTML 5-based apps without coding. [See Zebra press release and RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the Zebra TC8000] -- Posted Thursday, January 7, 2016

Handheld Group's January 2016 newsletter
Handheld Group's latest newsletter highlights the Algiz 10X. The rugged tablet that saved countless worker hours for coal miners (see case study) and provided powerful all-day data collection for storm researchers (see case study) is now available with even better specs — and a lower price. Handheld also reports on Swiss motorcyclist Mike Biedermann who's traveling the world with his bike and an Algiz 7 rugged tablet. Biedermann is using the Algiz 7 for daily navigation tasks and to post trip updates on his blog (see here). [See Handheld Group January newsletter] -- Posted Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Panasonic launches affordable, semi-rugged 12.5-inch Toughpad FZ-Q1 Windows tablet
Panasonic introduced the 12.5-inch Toughpad FZ-Q1 as the newest member of its Toughpad family of enterprise-grade rugged tablet computers. The FZ-Q1 addresses the emerging demand for larger-screen tablets, and it does so in a cleanly designed, versatile package that's reasonably priced. We also like the availability of two distinctly different performance levels, and the thought Panasonic put into creating a product that's tough enough for use away from the office, but not weighed down by the price and weight of a fully rugged design. [See description, analysis and specs of the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-Q1] -- Posted Tuesday, January 5, 2016