October 2017

Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), the market leader in rugged mobile computers, barcode scanners and barcode printers enhanced with software and services to enable real-time enterprise visibility, today introduced the TC20, a rugged, value-driven mobile computer designed to meet the specific needs of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). [See Zebra press release and RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the Zebra TC20]

Added: New Datalogic Rhino II vehicle mount panel
Datalogic announced the Rhino II vehicle mount panel computer in early October 2017. The Rhino II replaces the previous Rhino 10 panel and comes in 10.4 and 12.1-inch versions, with a special "Freezer" version for ultra-low temperatures. The Rhino II can run either Windows Embedded Compact 7 (and soon Android 6.0) on an ARM Freescale platform, or the embedded versions of Windows 7 and Windows 10 on an Intel E3826. The standard versions now use capacitive multi-touch whereas the freezer versions stays with resistive touch. [See Datalogic press release and RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the Datalogic Rhino II] -- Posted Tuesday, October 24, 2017

DT Research announces first complete vehicle mount tablet solution purpose-built for first responders, field service and military
DT Research, the leading designer and manufacturer of purpose-built computing solutions for vertical markets, today announced a complete vehicle mount tablet solution that includes a 12.5 inch Full HD display tablet (optional 4K Ultra HD) with a slim folding keyboard cradle. This is the first rugged tablet and vehicle mount solution designed by one manufacturer to ensure guaranteed compatibility and seamless interoperability for superior information capture/transfer and mobile communications through a dual pass-through antenna. [See DT Research press release] -- Posted Monday, October 23, 2017

Honeywell introduces new hardware and software platform for its mobile computers, helping customers maximize their technology investments
Honeywell announced a new hardware and software platform for the next generation of its mobile computers, which are used globally by distribution centers, transportation and logistics providers, hospitals, and retailers to increase worker productivity and capture critical data. The Mobility Edge Platform comprises common hardware architecture and a suite of tools on which Honeywell and its partners will build future mobility solutions, which include rugged handheld computers, wearable devices, voice-directed technology, tablets and vehicle-mounted computers. [Our take:] This is relevant in two ways: 1) Honeywell strongly endorses Android with the Mobility Edge Platform, and also addresses Android's version fragmentation and obsolescence issue by supporting the current and the next three versions of Android. 2) The also announced Dolphin CT60 handheld only comes with Android; Windows has been dropped (the predecessor CT50 offered both) [See Honeywell press release] -- Posted Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Review: Tablet Technologies Conker NS6: 6-inch rugged full Windows 10 handheld
Big-screen smartphones are the norm now, so why not big-screen rugged handheld computers with integrated scanners? For that, Tablet Technologies offers the Conker SX6 with a very good 6-inch, 245ppi, 430 nits capacitive multi-touch IPS screen. It runs full Windows 10 on a quad-core Intel Atom X5-8350 chip, can be equipped with Zebra 1D or Honeywell 2D barcode readers, and is tough and rugged enough for any job in the field. [See review of the Tablet Technologies Conker NS6] -- Posted Monday, October 16, 2017

Review: Tablet Technologies Conker SX6: 6-inch rugged Android handheld
Big-screen smartphones are the norm now, so why not big-screen rugged handheld computers with integrated scanners? For that, Tablet Technologies offers the Conker SX6 with a very good 6-inch, 245ppi, 430 nits capacitive multi-touch IPS screen. It runs Android 5.1 on a quad-core SnapDragon chip, can be equipped with Honeywell 1D or 2D barcode readers, and is tough and rugged enough for any job in the field. [See review of the Tablet Technologies Conker SX6] -- Posted Monday, October 16, 2017

Datalogic announces the Rhino II Vehicle Mount Computer
Datalogic, a global leader in automatic data capture and industrial automation markets, introduces the Rhino II Vehicle Mount Computer (VMC) designed to survive the rugged use found in warehouse, factories and distribution environments. This new VMC is offered with a wide array of operating system choices including WEC7, Windows Embedded Standard 7 and Windows IoT. The WEC7 version offers a path for optional field upgrade to Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system. [See Datalogic press review] -- Posted Monday, October 16, 2017

Handheld US appoints new President and CEO
Handheld announced the appointment of a new President and CEO for its North American subsidiary, Handheld US. New Handheld US President and CEO Jim Rimay has served as Vice President of Sales for Handheld US since April 2015. He has decades of experience as an executive and sales manager in the rugged computing industry, including positions at Motion Computing, Getac North America, Walkabout Computers and DRS Tactical Systems. [See Handheld Group press release] -- Posted Saturday, October 14, 2017

Windows 10 Mobile in maintenance mode
Windows 10 Mobile -- part of Microsoft's Windows 10 "unified core" project where applications have a single binary that can run on any device once they have been adapted to a class of devices -- was supposed to be Microsoft's Phone OS and also the replacement for the old Windows Mobile and Windows Embedded Handheld. Unfortunately, developers didn't fall in line and Windows 10 Mobile never really got out of the starting blocks. Microsoft's VP in the OS Group, Joe Belfiore, has now gone public with tweets saying that while Microsoft will continue to support the platform, "building new features/hw aren't the focus." Which we take as meaning that Windows 10 Mobile has now been relegated to maintenance mode. [See On MSFT story] -- Posted Monday, October 9, 2017

Datalogic introduced the 4.3-inch, Android-based Joya Touch A6 for Healthcare settings and applications
Healthcare settings have their special requirements for electronic gear, ranging from interoperability to security to ease of cleaning and disinfecting, and more. Datalogic introduced the handy Joya Touch A6 with integrated industrial-grade scanner and available pistol-grip to address a variety of healthcare needs in patient bedside care, lab, pharmacy, admittance, billing, etc. [See RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the Datalogic Joya Touch A6 Healthcare] -- Posted Wednesday, October 4, 2017