December 2010

DAP Technologies has introduced the M4000 series of modular rugged handheld computers. Aiming to be a rugged, powerful, yet lightweight addition to DAP's full line of handhelds, tablets and panels, the Marvell PXA270/Windows CE 5.0 powered M4000 comes in two versions (numeric and alphanumeric keypads), both of which have a 3.5-inch QVGA display, 1D laser and 1D/2D imager options; WiFi, Bluetooth and optional WWAN and GPS. Sealed to IP65 specs, able to survive 5-foot drops and operate in a wide temperature range (-4 to 122F), the M4000 series models are designed to be versatile, expandable workhorse handhelds for a variety of manufacturing, warehousing, public safety, security and field service applications. [See description and specs of the DAP M4000 series]

Psion announces upcoming low-cost EP10 rugged PDA
Psion Teklogix launched the new Psion EP10 handheld computer in Shanghai. Available in Q2 2011, the EP10 will list at less than $2,500 and is part of the company's "Open Source Mobility" modular technology platform strategy. The EP10 will be based on an 800MHz TI Sitara 3715 OMAP3 processor (XT10 has 600MHz version); have a 3.7-inch VGA display; offer WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G cellular (both CDMA EVDO Rev A and GSM HSPA+); and include digital compass, gyroscope, accelerometer and proximity sensor. Psion hopes the EP10 will attract business users who currently use standard, non-rugged consumer smartphones in the field. [See Psion press release on the EP10] -- Posted Thursday, December 9, 2010 by chb

Clear Channel Europe deploys 800 Psion Ikôns
Psion announced that Clear Channel France has deployed more than 800 Psion Ikôn PDAs to help its technicians in the field with the daily real time management of its electronic billboards. Clear Channel technicians use the Ikôn along with software from Psion partner Rayonnance Technologies to receive orders and to report back on the display, cleaning and repair of its billboard panels up to 54,000 times each month.
-- Posted Tuesday, December 7, 2010 by chb

Motorola Solutions introduces MC55A0 rugged handheld
Motorola Solutions has introduced the MC55A0, a significant technology refresh of the MC55 platform of rugged handhelds. The new MC55A0 should be much faster thanks to a Marvel PXA320 processor, the new "PenTile" VGA display is very bright and sharp thanks to the addition of an additional white sub-pixel, the device is better sealed (IP64) and more rugged (6-foot drop), camera (3.2mp) and scanners (1D SE960 or 2D SE4500) have been improved, and it's now running WinMo 6.5. Note that there's VoIP but no WWAN on this model (for that you want to look at the MC65), and there is a healthcare version of the MC55A0. [See detailed description and specs of the Motorola MC55A0] -- Posted Tuesday, December 7, 2010 by chb