Left — the original compact form factor is available as a) the basic C model, b) the X model that includes 3.75G voice and data, and a special M model for the military.

Center — a taller, but still slender form factor is available with enhanced 1-2 meter accuracy GPS either with voice and data (XG model) or without voice and data (CG model).

Right — a second "tall" form factor with a thicker top is available in basic configuration with scanner (CS model), voice & data configuration with scanner (XS model), and voice and data configuration with both scanner and enhanced GPS (XGS model).

Under the hood, the Trimble T41 is based on a processor that supports both Windows and Android, the DM3730 from Texas Instruments. This is an OMAP-compatible package with an ARM Cortex-A8 core, a NEON SIMD coprocessor, and a POWERVR SGX Graphics Accelerator. The T41 can be ordered with an 800MHz version or one with a clock speed of 1GHz, with the exception of the enhanced GPS "G" models that require the faster processor.

The large 4.3-inch capacitive multi-touch display offers 480 x 800 pixel WVGA resolution, with both the touch technology and the screen resolution closer to current smartphone standards than to legacy handheld computer technology. Other impressive tech includes an 8-megapixel camera (that can automatically add time and location data from the GPS receiver), a micro-SD card slot that can accommodate cards up to 32GB, speedy 802.11n WiFi, optional 3.75G mobile broadband, and — this being a Trimble device — integrated WAAS/SBAS capable GPS with an MCX port for an optional external antenna. If the standard 2-4 meter accuracy isn't adequate for a job, Trimble offers optional real-time enhanced GPS with 1-2 meter accuracy.

For wired communication there is a special screw-on custom connector that can provide connectivity to a USB device, a 9-pin serial device or a battery charger.

That's because Trimble went in-house when looking for an RFID module that met their lofty requirements. RFID specialist ThingMagic, which Trimble acquired in 2010, became the supplier of the T41 R models' embedded Mercury6e-Micro RFID module. The M6e-Micro comes in a package that measures just 46 x 26 mm. To make that possible, Trimble had ThingMagic pack the guts of their standard (and larger) M6e reader onto their smaller Micro form factor. As a result, RFID versions of the Juno T41 offer:

• Powerful RFID reading and writing in a light and compact device.
• Orientation-insensitive integrated antenna for fast, accurate reads even with multiple tags.
• Configurable performance settings and parameters via Trimble's SearchLight app.
• SDK to customize all settings, including read-range and power consumption.
• Consistent read-range of over 12 feet for standard 2-inch UHF tags.
• Transmission at up to +30dBm (1 watt) for demanding applications.
• Support for 902-928 MHz bands (US), 920-926 MHz (Australia and New Zealand), and 865.6-867.6 MHz (Europe) bands. The T41 will be automatically configured for the proper band.

Ruggedness

Trimble Juno T41: An amazingly versatile platform

Equally impressive is Trimble's ability to deliver so much functionality and so many option in a single rugged mobile computing platform. Between real-time enhanced GPS with 1-2 meter accuracy, full smartphone voice and data capability, dedicated or camera-based scanning, resistance to extreme exposure, and even full, extended immersion in water, Trimble has all the bases covered with the Juno T41, and it's all done in the form of an attractive, elegant, and technologically up-to-date device.

What all this means is that Trimble's Juno T41 represents a definite step forward into an era where workers on the job can enjoy smartphone-class functionality and ease of use instead of having to put up with dated technology and fumble with a little stylus. And it all comes in an industrial-grade device with industrial grade components.

Active and passive tags — there are passive tags that simply respond when a reader signal is sensed. Those are inexpensive and do not need their own power source. There are also active tags that use their own power, resulting in longer read distances. There's also a differentiation between read-only tags, and tags that can be written to, either appending existing data, or overwriting data.

Different frequencies — note that RFID uses a variety of radio technologies. There are low (LF), high (HF), and Ultra-High (UHF) frequency readers, with each having is pros and cons. For mobile data capture applications, UHF RFID is usually best as it has a longer read range (up to 30 feet) than LF (under a foot) and HF (up to three feet).

Replacing bar codes? — will RFID—which is very fast and does not rely on line-of-sight—replace bar codes? Probably not. Both technologies will likely co-exist, it's just a matter of picking the right one for an application.

The EPCglobal Gen 2 RFID standard — EPCGlobal is an organization dedicated to worldwide adoption and standardization of electronic product code technology. The EPC, which consists of a barcode and a set of numbers, replaces the old UPC (Universal Product Code). EPCGlobal Gen 2 defines the design parameters for both readers and tags for RFID systems operating in the 860 to 960 MHz range. Among Gen 2 features is a "dense reader" mode that precludes interference or duplicate reads in situations where readers are operated close together.