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Janam XG200
Powerful Android mobile computer designed for maximum productivity in scan-intensive environments.
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)
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On September 13, 2018, Janam, a New York-based rugged mobile computing vendor with worldwide distribution, introduced the newest and most technologically advanced addition to its XG series of gun-handle rugged mobile computers. The XG200 was designed to deliver effortless handling and superior barcode scanning performance in the most demanding work environments.
The XG200 has history. It is the latest in Janam's popular XG Series that was initially launched with the Windows CE-based XG100 in 2009 and then complemented with a Windows Mobile version later that year. From the start, the XG Series brought innovation to the market. An example was placing the battery into the handle, thus lowering the center of gravity and making for a light and well-balanced feel. In 2012, Janam added the XG105 with laser-based barcode scanning and a higher resolution full VGA display. May 2015 brought the Janam XG3, designed for scan-intensive operation and, at the time, the lightest industrial-grade device in its class.
And now there's the XG200 that's lighter yet, just 20.7 ounces. And unlike the earlier XG3 models that hedged the bets with both Windows Embedded Handheld and Android available, the XG200 is fully optimized for Android. As is always the case with Janam rugged handhelds, this new model brings updates and enhancements, but retains what worked well before. That includes the pistol grip design for effortless operation, and two different keypad layouts for different tastes and types of work. Below you can see what the two versions of the XG200 look like.
For size, the XG200 handheld itself has a 3.1 x 8.1 inch footprint, with the gun-style handle making the device about seven inches tall. The system, including handle and its unusually powerful battery, weighs a very modest 1.3 pounds.
Hardware
In terms of hardware, the Android 7 "Nougat"-based based XG200 display measures 4.3 inches diagonally, uses Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for protection, and offers 480 x 800 pixel WVGA resolution. That translates into 217 pixels per inch, plenty sharp enough for the tasks at hand. Operation is via capacitive multi-touch.
The XG200 is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 410 APQ8016 processor, essentially the same chip that is in Janam's recently introduced XT100 and XM75 handhelds, but without integrated cellular radio functionality. There's 16GB of onboard storage, but no memory expansion slot.
Wired connectivity includes a high-speed USB 2.0 type-C port and surface-mount contacts for use with an optional dock. On the wireless side, there's Class 1 (that's the powerful kind that can reach over 300 feet) Bluetooth 4.1, and quick dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n. If you look at the specs it actually says 802.11a/b/g/n/d/h/i/k/r/v, where d/h/i/k/r/v refer to various amendments and enhancements to the 802.11 LAN standard.
For data collection, there's a choice of either the very fast Honeywell N6603ER 2D imager or the Honeywell EX25 near/far imager that can read codes as close as six inches and as far away as 50 feet.
Ruggedness
On the ruggedness front, the new XG200 can survive multiple six-foot drops onto concrete at ambient temperature, carries IP65 sealing, and can handle a very wide operating temperature range from -4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. That means it's fully dustproof, can handle immersion in water, and can be operated just about anywhere, including freezers.
The Janam XG200
In Janam's press release at the introduction of the XG200, Janam CEO Harry Lerner pointed out that the XG200's elegantly hidden 22.9 watt-hour battery had 57% more capacity than was available in competing devices. That may have been directed at Zebra's MC3300 whose standard 10 watt-hour battery indeed only has 43% as much capacity. Using percentages is always confusing, but it's quite clear that the XG200 has a much bigger tank.
Between its clean and ergonomic design, exemplary ruggedness, the big battery, the availability of different keypads and different scanners, Janam's new Android-based XG200 certainly is a compelling proposition for warehouses, distribution centers, loading docks and other environments where rugged, gun-handle mobile computers are deployed. -- Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, September 2018
Janam Technologies LLC · janam.com · 1-516-677-9500
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