Janam is a New York-based rugged mobile computing vendor with worldwide distribution. The company was established in 2006 as a provider of purpose-built rugged handheld computing devices for mobile workers. In October 2020, the company introduced the Janam XG4, a thoroughly modern gun-style rugged mobile computer designed to provide effortless scan-intensive operation in a compact device that doesn't weigh its users down.
The new XG4 is the latest model in Janam's XG Series that was initially launched with the Windows CE and Windows Mobile-based XG100 back in 2009. From the start, the XG Series brought innovation to the market. An example was placing the battery into the ergonomically shaped handle, which lowers the center of gravity for a light and well-balanced feel. A couple of years later, Janam added the XG105 that brought laser-based barcode scanning instead of a CMOS imager and other improvements, most notably a full VGA display. The Janam XG3 followed in 2015 with more tech updates and also the latest available scanner engines. And now the new XG4 brings the latest available mobile computing technology to the XG line once again.
The gun-style form factor remains optimal today for a large number of scanning applications. It's a quick and easy way to scan and it can be less tiring in scan-heavy jobs. Unlike ergonomic principles, however, technology — both hardware and software — steadily moves on, and that's the primary reason for the new Janam XG4. There is no need to comply with the latest smartphone trends in these scanner handhelds; it's functionality, durability and productivity that matter. Janam says the XG4 was designed to optimized to "turbocharge" workflows in warehouses, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, plant floors, loading docks and back-of-store retail, and they claim the XG4 is the most affordable industrial-grade rugged mobile computer in its class.
What has changed since Janam's last XG model is that Windows Mobile and Windows Embedded Handheld are definitely gone and it's all Android now. There is no more need to "hedge the bets" by offering both Windows and Android versions of a handheld, which were often compromises. New products like the XG4 were designed and optimized from the ground up for Android, taking full advantage of everything Android has to offer.
This means that the Janam XG4 is a far more powerful platform than the predecessor XG3 could be. For processing power, there's a 2.2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon SD660 chip, and in our benchmark testing, the XG4 was as quick as Janam's speedy XT3. There's 4GMB of RAM and 64GB of storage (compared to 512MB of RAM and 1GB of storage in the XG3), and even more storage via a user-accessible micro-SDHX card. On the software side, the XG4 is based on Android 9 and includes GMS, the "Google Mobile Services" that contains all the popular Android apps everyone is familiar with. Android versions change frequently, and so Janam made sure the XG4 is software-upgradeable. The Janam XG4 is also Android Enterprise Recommended, which means it conforms to Google's strict enterprise hardware and software requirements.
But on to describing the XG4 in more detail. Smartphone displays are becoming ever larger. Too large isn't practical for an industrial scanner handheld, but a bit larger than the old XG3's would be more contemporary and also better suited for a modern software platform like Android. So the bright (500+ nits) portrait-oriented screen now measures 4.3 inches diagonally, and uses 480 x 800 pixel VGA resolution. That makes for 215 pixels per inch, not as much as high-end smartphones, but plenty enough for the job. The display, of course, is capacitive multi-touch and everything is completely touch-optimized.
For size, the XG measures about 3 by 8.5 inches, with the gun-style handle making the device a bit over seven inches tall. The system, including handle, weighs about 1.15 pounds. Customers have the choice between a 31-key numeric, a 42-key function-numeric or a 52-key alpha-numeric keypad keypad. Different scan jobs have different requirements, and with three layouts to choose from, customers can pick the one that works best for them.
Just like different keypads suit different types work, so do different types of scan technologies. With the XG4, Janam offers the extended read range Honeywell N6703 with both laser and LED aimers, and the extended FlexRange Honeywell EX30 that can read an extremely wide range from four inches all the way to about 65 feet. That's because in warehouses and distribution centers, there's often a need to read barcodes close-up but also far away on shelves.
Wireless communication and absolutely reliable connectivity is imperative on many jobs today, and there the XG4 holds a big edge over the older XG3. Wi-Fi is now of the much faster 801.11a/b/g/n/ac variety and Bluetooth is at Version 5. The 802.11 d/h/i/k/r/v extensions refer to additional features and improvements, such as handling global roaming, interference elimination, enhanced security, fast roaming, optimized network performance, power savings, and client/infrastructure protection.
In the ruggedness and durability department, the XG4 can handle multiple seven-foot drops onto concrete, so it can not only survive being dropped during use, but even stay unharmed should it fall from high shelves. Environmental sealing is at the IP65 level, meaning the XG4 is completely dust-proof and can also handle water jets from al directions. The device has a very wide operating temperature range from -4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, which means it can be used almost anywhere. The powerful 21 watt-hour replaceable Li-Ion battery is good enough for full-shift operation.
With the new XG4, Janam has completely broken free the gun-handle mobile computer form factor from the last vestiges of Microsoft's once dominant but by now discontinued Windows CE and Windows Mobile operating platforms. The XG4 is a modern Android-based and Android-optimized handheld computer for scan intensive applications. Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, May 2021
